FAQ about GAC’s Work
Q: Is Global Action for Children a nonprofit?
A: Yes. Global Action for Children is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization operating in the United States.
Q: How would you explain what Global Action for Children does?
Global Action for Children is an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and highly vulnerable children (OVC) living in poor countries. GAC works to build the public and political will to improve policies and expand resources that benefit OVC. We do this in a number of ways: via direct meetings with policymakers, through media campaigns and coverage and by leveraging other channels to maximize the number of people we educate and inform about vulnerable children and how best to address the challenges they face. By raising public awareness, we seek to motivate individual citizens to call on their elected representatives to prioritize orphans and vulnerable children worldwide. By educating policy makers directly, we seek to motivate them to take bold action on behalf of these children.
A key component of our advocacy work is oversight. GAC focuses on ensuring promises made by governments become reality. We also evaluate the final outcomes of programming to ensure the most efficient use of tax-payer resources and that the results of programs measure up to the originally set goals.
Q: I know GAC is an advocacy organization, but how does it fit in with organizations doing fieldwork or government programs?
U.S. federal policy and funding have a direct impact on the field work our government supports in resource-poor settings worldwide. Some of the most effective programs supporting orphans and vulnerable children are funded by the U.S. government. GAC works to build support in Washington for cost-effective, proven interventions on the ground. GAC is also a key conduit for implementers doing cutting edge work on behalf of children to bring their expertise to the Hill.
Q: Why does GAC focus on Advocacy?
A: Global Action for Children is not about one child: it is about all children. The crisis facing children today is bigger than any small-scale program will ever be able to solve, and simply cannot be addressed one child at a time. We look at the big picture and know the only way to truly improve the lives of children worldwide is through lasting, fundamental change, and that begins with changing policies and increasing funding from those at the highest levels.
GAC educates policymakers and the general public about the needs of children and what can be done to help them, raises awareness in communities and the media, and brings groups together to give a larger voice to the critical concerns we all share.
GAC has led and worked with partners on a number of successful advocacy efforts to date—click here to read about our accomplishments. These actions lead to policy changes that have major impacts. Ambassador Mark Dybul, PEPFAR Coordinator, noted in a recent interview "Orphans and vulnerable children we had not committed much to before. When the emergency plan started, only $30 million across the entire U.S. government went for orphans. Now it’s around $270 million dollars for orphans."
Changes like these come about because GAC and other organizations work with policymakers to help them understand the magnitude of the problem, what needs to be done, and what resources are required to meet those needs.
Q: Why is Global Action for Children necessary? Wouldn’t it make more sense to give money directly to programs on the ground helping children rather than to support an advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.?
Both private and public resources will be necessary in order to achieve a world that works for all children. GAC works to leverage government funding-which can be in the billions-to support the private donations given to programs directly supporting vulnerable children. Without advocates keeping attention on children, history shows us that policy-makers tend to put their attention elsewhere.
Q: Can you give an example of how GAC’s accomplishments have had an impact on the lives of orphans and vulnerable children?
In 2003, GAC partners and others recognized the dire need for increased funding for orphans and vulnerable children and convinced key policymakers to propose an earmark in The United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-25). The earmark dedicates 10 percent of total U.S. global AIDS spending for the care and support of orphans and vulnerable children. This has resulted in the following efforts on the ground on behalf of children via the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR): In fiscal year 2007, $288.9 million was provided for treatment and care services for OVC, including approximately $63 million for pediatric AIDS. More than 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children were cared for in 2007, 86,000 children age 14 and under were receiving antiretroviral treatment and approximately 143,000 individuals were trained to care for OVC.
Q: Besides giving money, what can I do here in the U.S. to help children overseas?
A: You can make a difference in the life of a child right from your computer! One way you can help orphans and vulnerable children is advocating for policies to support them, something that can be done from your own home. Grassroots advocacy is a powerful tool in the fight to improve the lives of children in the developing world, and all it takes is the time and willingness to learn more about an issue, and then telling people it matters to you.
In 2004, a volunteer with RESULTS worked with his local newspaper, The Indianapolis Star, to publish an editorial on the importance of the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2004. Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana had introduced the bill. The editorial showed the Senator the bill was important to his constituents, and encouraged him to push to move it forward. It eventually passed, becoming P.L. 109-95, The Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005.
You can make a difference in the life of a vulnerable child by taking action now to call for an Emergency Presidential Initiative for the World’s Children, Global Action for Children’s primary campaign in 2009.
For young people: if you would like more information about pediatric HIV and AIDS and what you can do about it, please visit our partner, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and take action now!
For More information about Global Action for Children advocacy campaigns, please contact GAC Policy Director, Leila Nimatallah at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Q: How can my organization partner with GAC?
A: As a coalition organization, Global Action for Children values its partnerships with the many organizations with which we work. Our network includes organizations of all faiths, student groups, and others who work for or with children. For information on how your organization can connect with us, please contact Leila Nimatallah at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
To learn more about Global Action for Children and our work to help children worldwide, sign up to receive news and updates in our monthly e-newsletter, the GAC Dispatch.
