Les Animaux

If you're looking for a cool charity (and you know you are), check out Heifer International. I first learned about this program in my social justice class in high school. Basically, they provide livestock to struggling families around the world and then give classes on how to raise healthy, profitable animals. Animals like ducks, sheep, chickens and cows provide an accessible nutrition source through meat, milk and eggs. People can also sell the animals' products and their offspring in local markets. Most farm animals are quite hardy and can survive in even the most challenging of environments, so people in almost any situation can benefit from such a gift.

It's an incredibly simple way to promote self-sufficiency and combat poverty in every country. I gave ducks this year; last year I gave a flock of chicks. Go to the website - you can contribute anything from honeybees to sheep to water buffalo at various prices.