This Month’s Charities

During the months of May & June, a percentage of every purchase will be donated to the following charity:

About this Cause:

"Established in 1996, AYUDA (American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad, Inc.) is a non- profit volunteer-based organization that empowers youth to serve as agents of social change in diabetes communities throughout the world.

Our objectives
• Empower passionate youth to become leaders of social change.
• Motivate young people with diabetes to lead happier and healthier lives.
• Strengthen local diabetes communities by promoting youth leadership.

AYUDA is dedicated to supporting local diabetes communities develop and implement sustainable programs throughout the world. AYUDA’s innovative peer learning model uses international volunteers as catalysts for motivating local youth living with diabetes to live happy and healthy lives. AYUDA’s initial focus emerged from Latin America but has expanded in scope to currently include volunteer programs in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Bermuda.

In short, AYUDA empowers youth to serve as agents of change in diabetes communities around the world and motivates young people with diabetes to lead healthier and happier lives.

Guiding Principles

1. A lack of education is as dangerous as a lack of insulin - AYUDA began when we saw children with diabetes who had access to insulin and medical treatment, but still suffered complications and premature death because they did not know how to manage their condition. AYUDA programs strive to address the severe lack of diabetes education by serving as a unifying force to unite all elements of the diabetes community.

2. Youth can serve as agents of change - Youth empowerment is the fundamental principle of AYUDA’s philosophy, and is exemplified by the members of the AYUDA team. Our educational and youth leadership programs seek to increase interaction among youth, develop awareness of their ability to impact change in their communities, and provide them with the tools and skills to do so.

3. Understanding is just as important as doing - AYUDA believes in collaborating with local communities in order to better understand the issues at hand and help create innovative solutions. Prior to taking action, learning and understanding cultural context is critical to developing solutions.

What is unique about AYUDA?

AYUDA’s model is unique because we place an awesome responsibility on our volunteers. By involving volunteers in multiple elements of our programs, we provide hands-on experiences that inspire and empower volunteers to serve as agents of social change, not only at the local level in diabetes communities abroad but in other areas of their lives as well. Our volunteers and staff work together with local youth to deliver culturally appropriate and effective programs that are specifically based on the needs of the community.

Volunteers contribute a major part of the running costs of AYUDA’s programs, including the sponsorship of local diabetes projects. Without the dedication of individual volunteers, AYUDA would not be able to implement our programs to support local diabetes communities."