A few times a year, I participate in a group called 100 Friends - “a virtual community of friends dedicated to making resources, money and time, available to organizations with a demonstrated, successful track record in dealing with the world’s most pressing problems.” It’s a lot easier than it may sound. We vote on a project-in-need and cut a cheque directly to the charity.

For those of you looking for an effective way to help with the crisis in Burma, you may want to consider Save the Children — it is one of the few non-governmental groups that currently operates programs in all five of the most affected regions with 260 staff working directly on the emergency response.

Cyclone Nargis - Myanmar Emergency

On May 3, 2008 Cyclone Nargis struck the southwest coast of Myanmar with up to 120-mile an hour winds and rain. Myanmar authorities declared five regions, with an estimated total population of 24 million, to be in a state of emergency. Throughout the Irrawaddy Delta region, many villages were devastated, with tens of thousands dead, their homes destroyed, and more than 3,000 schools damaged. The UN estimates that some 1.5 million to 2.5 million survivors are in need of food, water, shelter, and medical care.