Impact of
our work
in 2020
.now
Financial support for about 3,600 families in sub-Saharan Africa. As soon as governments impose restrictions to stem the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, population groups that already live in extreme poverty often are no longer able to earn a living. Rapid and uncomplicated money transfers by cell phone are particularly helpful for families affected by the crisis and can be crucial in order to survive.
Prevention of about 4,500 rapes in high-risk areas worldwide. A demonstrably effective prevention training program sensitizes girls to potentially dangerous situations and teaches them how to defend themselves verbally and physically in case of a sexual assault. Boys are also trained: they not only learn how to behave properly themselves – but also how to help girls who are at risk.
Gain of about 3,100 years of life without severe depression. Mentally ill women in rural areas of Uganda and Zambia generally have no access to medical or psychotherapeutic help and often face social isolation. A highly effective group psychotherapy program was funded, with the result that many hundreds of girls and women will no longer suffer from severe depression for years.
Activation of about 50,000 voters. The US electoral system prevents many people from voting. Funding was provided for a demonstrably effective organization that targeted particularly disadvantaged voter groups and helped them to exercise their right to vote. Approximately 500,000 new registrations were financed; this enabled an additional 50,000 votes to be cast.
Fight against false messages. Funding was provided to a leading organization in its field in the UK and USA that provides information on how and why false messages are spread around the world – and how they are disseminated via social media. In particular, newsrooms – but increasingly also particularly susceptible population groups – are trained to identify mis-/disinformation and to counter it effectively.
International CO2 compensation platform. The establishment of a multi-state platform was promoted, on which almost all nations with rainforest resources have joined forces. The platform is about to be launched on the market and will enable the trading of CO2 certificates – based on nationally guaranteed protection of rainforests, the implementation and effectiveness of which is externally verified.
US Climate Agenda. A team within a non-partisan think tank was financed. It played a major role in shaping the legal basis for ambitious climate protection in the USA. In total, more than 600 pages of legal text were created, which were presented to Congress as the CLEAN Future Act in January 2020 and have since been further developed. Important parts of it have been incorporated into the Climate Agenda of the newly elected President Biden.
Methane Strategy Europe. Financing of the methane working group of a non-partisan think tank with the aim of sensitizing the European Commission to the issue of methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. If EU imports are taken into account, this sector produces as much greenhouse gas as the entire EU building sector. In the meantime, the Commission has presented its methane strategy – and in some cases tightened it up considerably.
Fridays for Future. Financing of a group within Fridays for Future, which supports the movement in terms of strategy, organization and communication before the important federal elections in 2021 – and thus increases its effectiveness. In order to reach as many activists as possible, a "train-the-trainer" structure will be established and constantly evaluated. In the medium term, the program is to be extended to other countries in Europe.
Climate Plan Germany. In analogy to the successful approach in the USA (see above), the creation of a comprehensive legal framework was promoted with which Germany can actually achieve the necessary climate targets. By the 2021 federal elections, a promising and practicable set of regulations should be in place, on the basis of which binding climate protection decisions can be made in the coalition negotiations.