Shannon Fernando-Rubera speaks with George Alger about Alabaster International.
Introduction to Alabaster International
Alabaster International is a global nonprofit organization that collaborates directly with indigenous women and families to foster health, education, and food security. The organization focuses its efforts on some of the most marginalized communities in Africa.
The founder’s personal history living in Kenya after college inspired the creation of the organization, acknowledging the vital role that local women play as leaders and teachers.
A Community-Led Model
What sets the organization apart from other nonprofits is its focus on proximity and partnership. Instead of imposing outside branding or solutions, they co-dream and co-build directly with the communities.
By ensuring that projects are community-centered and community-led, the local populations maintain total ownership of the initiatives, making the resulting work highly sustainable.
The Three Pillars of Support
The nonprofit primarily anchors its work around three specific areas of need:
- Healthcare: Delivering healthcare services to individuals and families cut off from standard access.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Growing resilient, indigenous crops to secure stable food sources.
- Education: Supporting the children of the local women to establish a foundation for the next generation.
The organization targets women intentionally, citing that empowering a woman scales positive change across the entire household and ultimately impacts the whole community.
Real-World Impact Examples
Healthcare in Kenya: In 2015, responding to local mothers who previously had to walk up to 15 hours to reach a hospital, the organization helped build a clinic and maternity center. Over a decade later, the facility operates 24/7 and has driven a massive reduction in maternal mortality.
Agriculture in Ethiopia and Kenya: The nonprofit has championed the cross-border sharing of “Enset,” a highly nutritious, drought-tolerant, and climate-resilient crop related to the banana family.
Empowering women farmers to grow Enset acts as a crucial buffer against famine caused by climate change.
How to Support and Volunteer
Alabaster International is fueled by public support and encourages people to spread awareness through social media and their website.
For those looking to give their time, volunteering opportunities exist both remotely (for tasks like data collection or social media management) and directly on the ground in the countries they serve.
TV broadcast week beginning 06/28/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com