The Jewish World Watch is an NGO based out of Southern California

Southern California

Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...

, a coalition of more than 60 synagogues including Valley Beth Shalom

Valley Beth Shalom

Valley Beth Shalom is a Conservative Synagogue in Encino, Los Angeles, California. With over 1,800 member families it is one of the largest synagogues in Los Angeles and one of the largest Conservative synagogues in the United States...

 and Jewish groups with the objective of educating, advocating, and donating in order to combat genocide and other human rights violations all over the world. It has previously primarily focused on the genocide in Darfur

Darfur conflict

The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...

 but is now expanding its operations to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

JWW sponsors two major relief programs to benefit refugees. One provides two free CooKit

CooKit

Solar Cookers International in Sacramento, California, developed the CooKit as an adaptation of a cooker designed by Dr. Roger Bernard in France. The cooker consists of a foil-lined cardboard reflector with a dark pot inside a plastic bag...

 solar cookers, along with training and supplies, to families. By providing an alternative fuel, women do not have to leave safe areas, such as camps or villages, to procure firewood for cooking. In addition to reducing rape and murder of these women, solar cooking also reduces deforestation

Deforestation

Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....

 and air pollution

Air pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....

. The other program provides backpacks filled with shoes, books, school supplies, and soap to children. This program encourages education in unfavorable circumstances.

In March 2010, JWW became a member of the Eastern Congo Initiative

Eastern Congo Initiative

The Eastern Congo Initiative is an American nonprofit organization established by Ben Affleck in 2010 as "the first U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo"...

 founded by Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck

Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...

.

External links

• Official Website
• Detailed discussion of Darfur refugee solar cooking project on the Solar Cooking Archive Wiki
• "Recipe for Safety" Winter 2007 article in Ms. magazine about JWW's efforts in Darfur