Helping Where We Can

This page was created to showcase a few ways that we can all give back to help our fellow humans and the planet. I hope that you may find inspiration here. (These sites are used for informational purposes only. The Calm Scribe holds no liability for any interactions between the user and the sites listed below. Due diligence and your own research are recommended. The Calm Scribe is not endorsing, affiliated with, or receiving compensation from the sites listed below.)

Kiva.org
Kiva.org is a micro-loan site. It has been around for 10 years and has a good reputation. If you are not familiar with the concept of micro-loans, they are a brilliant idea. It is set up so that many people can fund a loan for someone in need. You can loan as little as $25 (USD) or as much as you want. In this way, if someone needs $100, 4 people each loan $25. The person in need then repays the loan over an agreed-upon repayment plan. Everything is very transparent and easy to trace.

​You can choose who to help, be it a farmer in Kenya looking for seeds and fertilizer, a refugee trying to survive, or providing sanitation to a village in Africa. Each person applying for a loan has a profile, risk assessment, and repayment history. As the loan gets repaid, you can choose to re-invest or pull your money out. It is an excellent way of helping those in need with no other option. This site shows that small steps can make a huge difference.​​

Be My Eyes
If you were grocery shopping and a visually impaired person were to ask you for assistance choosing an item, you would not hesitate to help. After all, it only takes a moment of your time. Be My Eyes works on the same principle. When a visually impaired person needs assistance, they use the app to get help from a sighted volunteer. It only takes a moment, and you can help someone in a time of need. From picking out socks to finding a dog brush lost in the grass, I have been able to help several people and am always excited when my phone rings with an opportunity to help again. Look for the app in your favourite app store.

Zooniverse
With Zooniverse, you become a citizen scientist and contribute time to help causes all around the globe. Assist in hunting muons, identify ridges on Mars, help chimpanzees, identify areas hit by natural disasters, and transcribe historical slavery documents, among other projects listed on the site. Zooniverse is a fantastic way to give back and learn about the world at the same time.

One Tree Planted
Writing uses a lot of paper, and One Tree Planted helps to offset that cost. The Calm Scribe has partnered with One Tree Planted and will be donating a portion of each book sale to help replant trees. Click on the link above for more information and to learn about this fantastic company.

​Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières
Doctors Without Borders is an organization that sends medical help to where it is needed all around the globe. For more information, please visit their site.

Because I Am A Girl
Because I Am A Girl is a wonderful organization that helps women and girls in need worldwide. Please visit their site to read more about what they do and how you may help.

Bullfrog Energy
Bullfrog Energy is a green energy system, which slowly greens Canada's power grid. When you work with Bullfrog, they replace the energy you pull from the power grid with green, renewable energy, thereby making your energy green energy. Slowly Canada's power grid becomes powered more and more by green energy. It is definitely worth looking into!

Ecosia
Ecosia is a search engine that gives back. All you need to do is search the web like you normally would. Each time you use the Ecosia search engine, a tree is planted. While it is not a powerful search engine, it is a great launching pad to begin your search. This is a page that should be bookmarked.