MALAIKA FOR LIFE bracelets
About a month ago, I was introduced through a mutual friend to Nastassia Rodriguez, a local ambassador and team leader for MALAIKA FOR LIFE. The organization’s goal is to fight malaria, the number one killer in Africa, while empowering vulnerable communities with the sale of handmade bracelets.
The colorful bracelets sell for just $10 and the money raised goes to purchase lifesaving malaria medication and create an income for the women of Tanzania who handcraft each bracelet. “Buy a bracelet. Save a life.” You can learn all about it (and even purchase a bracelet of your own) at MALAIKAFORLIFE.org.
The work they do is pretty incredible. Just last month, MALAIKA FOR LIFE helped save 2,643 lives in Tanzania from malaria by ensuring health facilities are stocked with the necessary medication to fight the disease. Since October, MALAIKA FOR LIFE has helped save more than 8,000 lives in Tanzania.
I was familiar with the organization, mainly through my friend Tara (aka. @therealtarawong) who regularly sported MALAIKA FOR LIFE handmade bracelets. It was the bracelets that first caught my attention, but it was the organization’s mission that ultimately made me say “of course” when Nastassia approached me about becoming a MALAIKA volunteer. All it took was a couple of conversations about how I could help out, and now I’m managing the MALAIKA FOR LIFE Facebook and Twitter accounts.
While I do love hands-on volunteering, from planting gardens to participating in walks for charity, I also love that new tools like Facebook and Twitter have opened the doors to a new form of volunteerism. It’s this “social volunteering” that can spread the MALAIKA FOR LIFE mission, sell more bracelets and ultimately save more lives from malaria. How could I say no?
So, just when you think a non-profit organization is too far away for you to help – think again. If you have a skill that could fulfill a need for that organization and it can be done remotely, all you have to do is let them know how you can help. It’s a total win-win – they get some great, free help and you get to give back to an organization you believe in.
Now all you have to do is get out there and go for it. 
Connect with MALAIKA FOR LIFE at @MALAIKAFORLIFE and facebook.com/MALAIKA4LIFE.
[...] Giving back by volunteering my time through workshops and even one-on-one consulting and training is a rewarding way I’ve found to stay connected in my community. Whether you have the means to make a donation or not, donating your time and expertise is a great way to enhance the work of someone else and feel good doing it. [...]