Since the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, women and girls living in the internally displaced persons camps face alarming rates of rape and other forms of gender-based violence. Through the leadership of Global Associate Malya Villard of partner organization KOFAVIV, men have joined the movement to provide security and advocacy to end all forms of gender-based violence in Haiti.

In the discussions about disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of children used as soldiers in the conflict in Northern Uganda, the voices and perspectives of former child soldiers have too long been ignored. Through the leadership of Global Associate Denis Okello, former child soldiers themselves led a ground-breaking oral testimony process by interviewing over 150 of their peers and together reflecting on common concerns and shared aspirations. Today, these insights are the core of the National Platform for Child Soldier Reintegration.

In war-torn Mindanao, over 70% of the population lacks reliable access to safe drinking water. Through the leadership of Global Associate Susana Anayatin and her team, over 24,000 people now have access to safe water in the region through the installation of water wells at over 100 local schools. In addition to providing a critical resource, this project brings together all sides of the conflict who are working together to “win the peace”.

Since 2007, the Goldin Institute has worked with private and public sector agencies to prevent the victimization of vulnerable young people in armed conflict and help welcome exploited young people back into their communities. Through the leadership of Global Associate Lissette Mateus and partners at the Foundation for Reconciliation, schools in Colombia and around the world are using the ESPERE methodology to promote forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

The current global debate about the efficacy of microfinance is marked by the absence of those who have most at stake in the controversy: loan recipients. The Goldin Institute worked with partner organization Nijera Kori to lift up these voices, most often marginalized women, and restore their perspectives, insights and aspirations to the discussion.

The Goldin Institute is developing GATHER, a tablet-based mobile learning platform to train grassroots activists in Community-Driven Social Change tools. This innovative course will be built for the iPad with the instructional materials and interactive capacity built in to the device as a way to overcome the digital divide that limits many leaders in our network.