Global Citizen (organization)

Last updated

Global Citizen, also known as Global Poverty Project, is an international education and advocacy organization that seeks to catalyze the movement to end extreme poverty and promote social justice and equity through the lens of intersectionality. The organization was founded by Hugh Evans, Michael Sheldrick, Simon Moss and Wei Soo, and aims to increase the number and effectiveness of people taking action to support the cause. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Vision

Global Citizen's vision is, upon itself, a world without extreme poverty by 2030. [8] To achieve this, the organization works with people to make a difference in the present, and focuses on improving the future by changing the systems and policies that keep people in poverty, by utilizing education, communications, advocacy, campaigning, and the media. [9]

The organization researches and selects causes to support, and then suggests actions for its members to take in support of those causes. [10] This can include sending tweets to organizations like the United Nations in support of reducing pollution, signing petitions to support gender equality, sending pre-written emails to politicians to increase international aid, or providing rewards to encourage people to get involved. [10] [11] [12] Each cause supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, one of which includes eliminating poverty by 2030. [10]

History

Global Citizen was founded in 2008 as the Global Poverty Project in Melbourne, Australia [13] and has since opened additional offices in London, Berlin, Toronto, Lagos, and Johannesburg and is now headquartered in New York. [14] Since its launch the organization has:

In July 2017, Global Citizen published its first accountability report for its education commitments. [21] That same year, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also used the organization's platform to call for $3.1 billion, to give 870 million children access to high-quality education via the organization she chairs, the Global Partnership for Education. [22] Over 263,000 organization members sent tweets, emails, and messages to world leaders and corporations in support. In February 2018, donors pledged over $2.3 billion to the cause. [21] [22]

In April 2020, the organization partnered with Lady Gaga and her mother to produce a globally-televised and streamed concert called One World: Together at Home, [22] featuring celebrities singing from their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. The event raised $129.7 million for different charities, including the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. [22] This was followed up in June with Global Goal: Unite for Our Future , a virtual event focused on highlighting the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities. [23]

As of July 2020, $48.4 billion have been pledged to Global Citizen-supported causes, and there have been almost 25 million actions taken by its members. [22] In 2020, Global Citizen won the Webby Award for Public Service and Activism in the category Apps, Mobile & Voice. [24]

Activities

1.4 Billion Reasons

1.4 Billion Reasons presentation is a live multimedia presentation designed to explain why an end to extreme poverty is possible, and the simple actions that every person can take to help bring it about.

Designed in consultation with development and economics advisors, the presentation explores:

• What it means to live in extreme poverty,

• Why the world can end extreme poverty,

• The barriers to overcoming extreme poverty,

• Practical actions any person can take to help tackle extreme poverty. [25]

Patterned after Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth , [26] [27] the presentation is delivered by volunteer presenters across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. [28]

Curtis Scholarship

The Curtis Scholarship is an annual leadership award funded by Global Citizen ambassador and Pearl Jam manager, Kelly Curtis, through the band's Vitalogy Foundation. [29]

Global Citizen Fellowship Program

The Global Citizen Fellowship was started in 2019 in partnership with Beyonce's BeyGood organization. [30] Every year, ten to fifteen South African young adults are enrolled in the program where they serve paid, year-long fellowships with Global Citizen in Johannesburg. [30] [31] Each fellowship focuses on one of GC's four pillars of activities: creative, campaigns, rewards, and marketing. [30] [31] The fellows follow a five phase curriculum, and are assigned a supervisor from the GC Africa team. [31]

Live Below the Line

Live Below the Line is an awareness and fundraising campaign that challenges people to feed themselves with the equivalent of the extreme poverty line. It aims to give participants personal insights into the lack of opportunity and choice available to people living in extreme poverty, and to open a window onto the challenges faced by those living in extreme poverty. [32] [33]

Global Citizen launched the campaign with The Oaktree Foundation in Australia in 2010, and have since taken the campaign to the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand – partnering with international development organizations to raise funds for a variety of poverty tackling initiatives. [34]

The campaign has involved more than 24,000 participants, has ‘started more than 400,000 conversations’ and raised more than $5 million for partner organisations working to fight poverty. [35] Hugh Jackman signed on as a Global Advisor to the Global Poverty Project, [36] [37] and is a public face for the Live Below the Line campaign. [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]

End Polio

Since July 2011, the Global Citizen has worked with Rotary and its End Polio campaign. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years.

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary, End Polio and its partners reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since the first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. This campaign focuses on sharing the story of progress towards polio eradication, while aiming to build public support and momentum required to close the funding gap that is limiting global eradication efforts.[ citation needed ]

Since launch the campaign has gained signatures from more than 25,000 people and secured an additional $118 million in pledges for polio eradication. [44]

In October 2011 the campaign brought 4,000 people together at The End Polio campaign in Perth, where artists, local celebrities, polio survivors and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke about the importance of polio eradication. The next day 4 Governments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed an additional $118 million to global polio eradication efforts.

Global Citizen Festival

The inaugural festival, held in 2012, featured Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Tiësto, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Band of Horses, K'Naan, and John Legend. [45] [46] [47]

In September 2014, as the world's leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, the 3rd annual Global Citizen Festival brought top artists and 60,000 change makers together on the Great Lawn of Central Park to urge leaders and citizens to do more to help end extreme poverty. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi gave a seven-minute speech on the global citizen festival stage, ending his speech by saying "May the force be with you". [48] Beyoncé also made a surprise appearance during husband Jay Z's performance.

The Festival celebrated the progress already made in fighting extreme poverty, secured financial commitments for tackling extreme poverty and disease, totaling US$1.3 billion, and called on thousands of ambassadors to take action for change.

The 2012 event featured Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Tiesto, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Band of Horses and K'Naan - with a special appearance by John Legend. [45] [46] [47] the Global Citizen app launched alongside the event, and was the tool through which interested people had to earn tickets. [49] [24]

On September 26, 2015 the Global Citizen Festival was hosted by Stephen Colbert, Hugh Jackman and popular YouTube personalities Matthew Santoro and AsapScience. [50] [51] It featured performances from Pearl Jam, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay, among others.

Waislitz Global Citizen Awards

The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards are given to four individuals working to end extreme poverty. [52] Each year, $250,000 is awarded in the form of a $100,000 grand prize, and three additional $50,000 prizes: the disrupter award, the citizen's choice award, and in 2020, the COVID-19 response award. [52] In 2020, the grand prize winner was Haroon Yasin, recognized for his educational organization Orenda. [52] The three additional prizes were awarded to Nnameka Ikegwuonu who founded ColdHubs; Farhad Wajdi for Ebtakar Inspiring Entrepreneurs of Afghanistan Organization; and Muzalema Mwanza for her Safe Motherhood Alliance. [52]

Recovery Plan for the World

A year-long campaign to end COVID-19 for all and kickstart a global recovery was launched on February 23, 2021. The plan is based on five pillars: End COVID-19 for All; End the Hunger Crisis; Resume Learning Everywhere; Protect the Planet; Advance Equity for All. [53] The campaign is supported by the World Health Organization. [54]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extreme poverty</span> Condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs

Extreme poverty is the most severe type of poverty, defined by the United Nations (UN) as "a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to services". Historically, other definitions have been proposed within the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Foundation</span> Charitable organization

The United Nations Foundation is a charitable organization headquartered in Washington, DC, that supports the United Nations and its activities. It was established in 1998 with a $1 billion gift to the United Nations by philanthropist Ted Turner, who believed the UN was crucial for addressing the world's problems. Originally primarily a grantmaker, the UN Foundation has evolved into a strategic partner to the UN, mobilizing support to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help the UN address issues such as climate change, global health, gender equality, human rights, data and technology, peace, and humanitarian responses. The UN Foundation's main work occurs through building public-private partnerships, communities, initiatives, campaigns, and alliances to broaden support for the UN and solve global problems. The UN Foundation has helped build awareness and advocate for action on, among others, antimicrobial resistance, regional action on climate change, local implementation of the SDGs, as well as global campaigns such as Nothing But Nets against malaria, the Measles & Rubella Initiative, the Clean Cooking Alliance, Girl Up, Shot@Life, and the Digital Impact Alliance, among others. In March 2020, the UN Foundation was also a key founder of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO), helping to raise over $200 million USD within the first six weeks to support the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Jackman</span> Australian actor (born 1968)

Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor. Beginning in theatre and television, Jackman landed his breakthrough role as Wolverine in the X-Men film series, a role that earned him the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel character", until 2022. Prominent on both screen and stage, he has received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award and two Tony Awards, along with nominations for an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award. Jackman was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulse Polio</span> Indian governmental immunisation campaign

Pulse Polio is an immunisation campaign established by the government of India to eliminate poliomyelitis (polio) in India by vaccinating all children under the age of five years against the polio virus. The project fights polio through a large-scale, pulse vaccination programme and monitoring for poliomyelitis cases.

Make Poverty History were organizations in a number of countries, which focused on issues relating to 8th Millennium Development Goal such as aid, trade and justice. They generally formed a coalition of aid and development agencies which worked together to raise awareness of global poverty and achieve policy change by governments. The movement has existed in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. The various national campaigns were part of the international Global Call to Action Against Poverty campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Campaign</span> Non-profit organisation fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease

ONE Campaign is an international, non-partisan, non-profit advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support policies and programs that save lives and improve futures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oaktree (foundation)</span>

Oaktree is an Australian-based, non-government organisation that specialises in international youth development. Their purpose is to lead, demand and create a more just world. Founded in 2003, the organisation is run by young people aged 16 to 26, and overseen by an advisory board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Evans (humanitarian)</span> Australian humanitarian

Hugh Evans is an Australian humanitarian. Evans is the co-founder of both The Oaktree Foundation and Global Citizen, formerly called Global Poverty Project, and Executive Producer of One World:Together at Home and Global Citizen Live. He has received domestic and international accolades for his work in promoting youth advocacy and volunteerism in order to reduce extreme poverty in developing countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Call to Action Against Poverty</span> Global anti-poverty movement/coalition

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) is a network of over 11,000 civil society organizations (CSOs) dedicated to social justice, established in 2005 during the World Social Forum in Porto Allegre. It represents approximately 58 national groups. It serves as a platform for individuals and organizations to unite against systemic factors perpetuating poverty and inequalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polio eradication</span> Effort to permanently eliminate all cases of poliomyelitis infection

Polio eradication, the permanent global cessation of circulation of the poliovirus and hence elimination of the poliomyelitis (polio) it causes, is the aim of a multinational public health effort begun in 1988, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Rotary Foundation. These organizations, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Gates Foundation, have spearheaded the campaign through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Successful eradication of infectious diseases has been achieved twice before, with smallpox in humans and rinderpest in ruminants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eradication of infectious diseases</span> Elimination of a disease from all hosts

The eradication of infectious diseases is the reduction of the prevalence of an infectious disease in the global host population to zero.

The East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP) is Korea's international initiative for global cooperative development. Led by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a Korean government agency responsible for providing overseas grant aid, the EACP helps tackle climate change in developing countries and promotes green growth in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rotary Foundation</span> International nonprofit organization

The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions.

Live Below the Line is an annual anti-poverty campaign run by the Oaktree Foundation. The campaign began as a challenge in which participants would feed themselves on the equivalent of the extreme poverty line for five days to gain an insight into some of the hardships faced by those who live in extreme poverty, but was later expanded to include other activities to reflect a more diverse understanding of poverty. It also raises money for sustainable development projects across the globe.

The Global Citizen Festival is an annual music festival started in 2012 and organized by Global Poverty Project. It was founded by Ryan Gall and Hugh Evans. Gall said he was inspired by visiting Austin City Limits and seeing the branding on the stage, but wanting to replace the corporate branding with branding from charities.

India National PolioPlus Society is a non-profit organization. The Initiative has achieved significant progress toward its goals. There has been a dramatic decline in cases everywhere in the seventeen years since the target was set in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Polio Eradication Initiative</span> Initiative to eradicate polio

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is an initiative created in 1988, just after the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate the disease poliomyelitis. Led by the World Health Organization, it is the largest international public health initiative in history.

<i>Global Citizen – EP 1</i> 2018 extended play by Los Unidades

Global Citizen – EP 1 is the fourteenth extended play by British rock band Coldplay and their first release under the pseudonym Los Unidades. The project was made available worldwide on 30 November 2018 featuring production by Rik Simpson and musical guests including Pharrell Williams, David Guetta, Stargate and others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) created the Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis in 1995 to independently verify the eradication of wild poliovirus. The GCC certified the worldwide eradication of indigenous wild poliovirus type 2 on 20 September 2015, and wild poliovirus type 3 on 17 October 2019. In addition, five of the six World Health Organization Regions certified their status as free of indigenous transmission of all three serotypes of wild poliovirus :

Michael Sheldrick is an Australian author and policy entrepreneur who seeks to address global challenges such as extreme poverty, global health and climate change. He is the co-founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Affairs Officer at Global Citizen.

References

  1. ↑ Australia to launch global anti-poverty campaign Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today , West Australian , May 18, 2009.
  2. ↑ Obeng-Odoom, Franklin 2010. "Promoting Human Development Through the Global Poverty Project", Development, Volume 53(1):120-126.
  3. ↑ Australia to launch anti-poverty push, The Age , May 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ Global Poverty Project Launches Archived 2012-03-30 at the Wayback Machine , The Tab , February 27, 2010
  5. ↑ Gen Y-not tackles world poverty, ABC News (Australia) , June 25, 2009.
  6. ↑ Tumby group to live on $2 a day Archived 2011-05-17 at the Wayback Machine , Port Lincoln Times , May 10, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Policy guru to outline roadmap to a more sustainable future". www.uwa.edu.au.
  8. ↑ Handley, Lucy (2017-10-16). "Hugh Evans: Being a global citizen". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  9. ↑ Conca, James. "ACTIVATE The Global Citizen Movement To Tackle The Global Clean Water Crisis". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  10. 1 2 3 Hooton, Amanda (2020-07-17). "The Melbourne charity king with Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Hugh Jackman on speed dial". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  11. ↑ "Extreme-poverty warrior Hugh Evans brings the rock to Central Park". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  12. ↑ McKinley, James C. Jr. (2013-05-01). "Fighting Global Poverty, One Mosh Pit at a Time (Published 2013)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  13. ↑ Handley, Lucy (2017-10-16). "Hugh Evans: Being a global citizen". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  14. ↑ Hooton, Amanda (2020-07-17). "The Melbourne charity king with Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Hugh Jackman on speed dial". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  15. ↑ "Australia to launch global anti-poverty campaign". The West Australian. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Global Poverty Project: What we've achieved". Global Poverty Project. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Closing the gap on polio". Girl with a Satchel. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "$50m pledge to stamp out polio". The Age. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  19. ↑ Grant, Sarah (2016-09-15). "Tom Morello, Jon Batiste to Curate NYC Global Citizen Advocacy Concert". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  20. ↑ "Global Citizen Announces Global Citizen Prize Awards Special to be Hosted by John Legend". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  21. 1 2 Handley, Lucy (2017-10-16). "Hugh Evans: Being a global citizen". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 Hooton, Amanda (2020-07-17). "The Melbourne charity king with Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Hugh Jackman on speed dial". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  23. ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-06-22). "Dwayne Johnson To Host Global Citizen's 'Global Goal: Unite For Our Future – The Concert'; Jennifer Hudson, Billy Porter, Charlize Theron And More To Appear". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  24. 1 2 Kastrenakes, Jacob (20 May 2020). "Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards". The Verge. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  25. ↑ "1.4 Billion Reasons - The Presentation". The Global Poverty Project. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  26. ↑ Edinburgh to launch UK's role in world poverty project, The Guardian , September 30, 2010.
  27. ↑ Young and ready to change world, The Australian , September 17, 2008.
  28. ↑ Join former young Australian of the Year Hugh Evans' fight against poverty, The Daily Telegraph , December 2, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Local student wins the prestigious Curtis Scholarship". Red Hook Star-Revue. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  30. 1 2 3 "Two of the Global Citizen Fellowship Program candidates are from Soweto". Soweto Urban. 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  31. 1 2 3 "Global Citizen launches new fellowship programme for South African youth". The South African. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  32. ↑ "Live Below the Line" . Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  33. ↑ Griffin, Michelle. "Eat for $2 a day? You don't have to be lentil as anything to make a meal of it". The Age. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  34. ↑ Dando, Charlotte (27 April 2012). "Live Below the Line: An Interfaith Approach to Tackling Extreme Poverty and Malaria". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  35. ↑ "The Global Poverty Project: What we've achieved". The Global Poverty Project. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  36. ↑ Hugh Jackman goes to UN to join fight against poverty, Herald Sun , July 2, 2009.
  37. ↑ Australian-made campaign urges global action on poverty, ABC News Radio , July 7, 2009.
  38. ↑ Jackman Fronts 'Live On £1 A Day' Campaign, Sky News , April 24, 2011.
  39. ↑ Hugh Jackman urges UK to live off £1 a day [ permanent dead link ], TNT (magazine) , April 27, 2011.
  40. ↑ Hugh Jackman flexes his muscle, Television New Zealand , April 21, 2011.
  41. ↑ The Global Poverty Project Presents "1.4 Billion Reasons" Archived 2009-12-18 at the Wayback Machine , LIFE , December 14, 2009.
  42. ↑ Can you eat for £1 a day? X-Men actor Hugh Jackman calls on Brits to take on the challenge and raise poverty awareness, Daily Mirror , 4/5/2011.
  43. ↑ Eating for £1 a day, The Guardian , April 28, 2011.
  44. ↑ "$50m pledge to stamp out polio". The Age. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  45. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (30 September 2012). "Turning up the volume on Global Poverty". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  46. 1 2 "Neil Young, Black Keys and Foo Fighters rock the Global Citizen Festival". Rolling Stone Music. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  47. 1 2 "Neil Young and Crazy Horse throttle Central Park crowd in free concert also featuring Foo Fighters, Black Keys". Fox News. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  48. ↑ "'How Are You Doing New York,' Says PM Narendra Modi at Central Park". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
  49. ↑ "Thousands attend NYC concert highlighting poverty". CBS News. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  50. ↑ "Huge Global citizens Announcement!". August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Stephen Colbert, Hugh Jackman to Host 2015 Global Citizen Festival". August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  52. 1 2 3 4 Derwin, Jack (2020-08-21). "Billionaire Australian investor Alex Waislitz has backed 4 social entrepreneurs with $350,000 to fight extreme poverty". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  53. ↑ "A Recovery Plan for the World". Global Citizen. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  54. ↑ Leah Rodriguez (February 23, 2021). "Recovery Plan for the World". Global Citizen. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.