Organization:Humanist Global Charity
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. (June 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
 | |
| Abbreviation | HGC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2013 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Legal status | Active |
Region served | Worldwide |
Key people | Phil Zuckerman (Executive Director)
Karen Zelevinsky (Board President) Hank Pellissier (Founder, Program Director) |
| Website | https://humanistglobal.charity/ |
Humanist Global Charity (HGC) is a 501c3 non-profit in California.
HGC was founded by Hank Pellissier, who stated in an interview that the organization "works toward a world with humanist values that respects science, secular education, sustainability, kindness, peace and democracy".[1] The nonprofit provides secular support to at-risk populations internationally, via educational opportunities, technological solutions, health assistance and small business grants. HGC's work funds secular education, humanist students, women's collectives, orphans, safe houses, and helplines. It also offers internships in Africa & India Development.[2]
History
HGC's original name was the Brighter Brains Institute, founder Hank Pellissier launched its activities in 2015 by starting the "world’s first atheist orphanage" in Muhokya, Uganda.[3] The director - Bwambale Robert Musubaho - was orphaned himself at the age of five; he renounced religion in the early 2000s after researching his doubts and finding community on the internet.[4] BBI raised enough money via crowdfunding to also build two ‘humanist’ primary schools and a secondary school near the orphanage. Freedom From Religion Foundation described the schools as "groundbreaking".[5]
BBI expanded its secular activities throughout western Uganda, building classrooms for a remote school in the Rwenzori mountains,[6] and constructing another humanist secondary school in Kanunga, the site of a 2000 Christian cult massacre. Brighter Brains Humanist Secondary School in Kanunga included a Richard Dawkins Science Laboratory[7] and a Christopher Hitchens Freethinker Library.[8] Funds were partially raised via promotion in the UK publication THE FREETHINKER.
In 2020–2021, BBI changed its name to Humanist Global Charity and expanded internationally.[1]
Projects
HGC provides about $100,000 a year for humanitarian aid projects.[1] In addition to founding and supporting several humanist schools and orphanages in Uganda,[5] HGC has funded sixteen humanist clinics that provided free medicine,[1] works to dispel belief in witch doctors in superstitious communities,[9] and distributes sanitary pads (AFRIPads) in Africa, India, and Nepal.[1] HGC has partnered with women's collectives and LGBTQ organizations to emphasize equality and provide sex education, family planning, and birth control.[2]
Board of directors
- Steven Pinker PhD - Honorary Board Member
- Daniel Dennett - Honorary Board Member
- Jennifer M. Hecht PhD - Honorary Board Member
- Alice Greczyn - Honorary Board Member
- Karen Zelevinsky - President
- Phil Zuckerman PhD - Executive Director
- Mandisa Thomas - Board
- Yasmine Mohammed - Board
- Anthony Pinn PhD - Board
- Ophelia Benson - Board
- Jessica Ahlquist - Youth Activism
- Hank Pellissier - Founder, Program Director, Treasurer
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Humanist Global Charity: Doing Good Without God" (in en-US). 2021-05-20. https://www.edhat.com/news/humanist-global-charity-doing-good-without-god.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Transhumanist Hank Pellissier on Being an "Atheist Missionary"" (in en-US). 2016-07-21. https://thehumanist.com/features/interviews/transhumanist-hank-pellissier-atheist-missionary/.
- ↑ "The World's First Atheist Orphanage Has Launched a Crowdfunding Campaign" (in en). 24 February 2015. https://www.vice.com/en/article/wnjbeb/the-worlds-first-atheist-orphanage-just-launched-a-crowdfunding-campaign.
- ↑ Sloat, Sarah (26 April 2016). "An Atheist Ugandan Orphanage Beats Back Superstition and Zealotry With Science" (in en). https://www.inverse.com/article/14744-an-atheist-ugandan-orphanage-beats-back-superstition-and-zealotry-with-science.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Seering, Lauryn. "BiZoHa is groundbreaking secular orphanage - Freedom From Religion Foundation" (in en-gb). https://ffrf.org/faq/state-church/item/23301-bizoha-is-groundbreaking-secular-orphanage.
- ↑ "Nonprofit building 'Piedmont Classroom' in Uganda" (in en-US). 2016-06-22. https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/06/22/nonprofit-building-piedmont-classroom-in-uganda/.
- ↑ Freethinker, The (2019-01-08). "Man reads 'The God Delusion', abandons faith & starts a Dawkins lab" (in en). https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thefreethinker/2019/01/man-reads-the-god-delusion-abandons-faith-starts-a-dawkins-lab/.
- ↑ Freethinker, The (2019-01-17). "Christopher Hitchens Library to open at Ugandan humanist school" (in en). https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thefreethinker/2019/01/christopher-hitchens-library-to-open-at-ugandan-humanist-school/.
- ↑ "Piedmont High students paint to help Ugandan orphans" (in en-US). 2018-03-23. https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/03/23/piedmont-piedmont-high-students-paint-to-help-ugandan-orphans/.
External links
 |  |
