China Program Officer Mike Frick produced a snapshot of the current state of health rights groups in China, based off information gathered from NGOs that participated in Asia Catalyst’s coaching program. China’s civil society sector has grown rapidly over the past ten years, but it is still in an early stage of development. Because most grassroots NGOs are unable to legally register, and because most founders have little to no prior NGO or management experience, they face numerous challenges in the effort to professionalize operations while providing needed services and conducting policy advocacy. Read the full report here.
[RESOURCE] Three Ways To Improve Your Nonprofit Web Presence
By Lizzy Berryman
Running a nonprofit can be hard. There are challenges of budget and of message. It can be difficult to allocate resources effectively, organize volunteers, and to reach key audiences.
Simply staying on timelines and goals can be a huge effort. Many believe that adding changing digital technologies to the mix can just become overwhelming hassle, but it doesn’t have to be. These days, building and maintaining a digital presence through a website and social media platforms is not only necessary, they are also critical tools that can be used to engage audiences and communicate your work in new and interesting ways.
[COMMENTARY] Five Years of Inciting Nonprofit Stability
By Sara L.M. Davis
In November 2006, Chinese AIDS activist Li Dan sent me an email in New York. I had met this young Chinese PhD student turned AIDS activist once or twice, most recently at a dinner honoring him as a recipient of the Reebok Human Rights Award.
“We’re thinking of starting an AIDS law center in Beijing,” he wrote in his message. “Do you know anyone who might be interested?”
I did – in fact, I had just come home from having coffee with Jonathan Cohen of the Open Society Institute, who had mentioned an interest in funding an AIDS law project in China. That project launched both Li Dan’s Korekata AIDS Law Center and Asia Catalyst.
[NEWS] Yirenping Center Reports on Disability Activism
Beijing grassroots group, Yirenping Center (益仁平中心), has had a busy January organizing anti-discrimination activities with local disability activists! They produced a short report with data about their activities, including links to Chinese media sources. Yirenping Center, established in 2006, is a public interest group that focuses on health and discrimination. Download their report here (PDF).
The views represented by Yirenping Center are not necessarily those of Asia Catalyst.
[UPDATE] October-December 2011
CELEBRATING OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
In 2012, Asia
Catalyst is celebrating five years of partnering with grassroots groups in East
and Southeast Asia. In a challenging environment, this new generation of
leaders is developing innovative ways to meet the needs of marginalized
communities. Most of our partners are small start-up groups in Asia and as part
of our 5th Anniversary Campaign, we are asking for donations to help Chinese
health rights advocates to make their voices heard at the International AIDS
Conference in Washington D.C. this July. Please make a tax-deductible
contribution here.