Written by Morgana Chess on June 24 2018
The Grammy award-winning pop star does a lot more than delivering hit singles. Rihanna harnesses her celebrity power as a force for good. Her charitable work (work, work, work, work, work) is making a real positive impact.
The Clara Lionel Foundation, started by Rihanna in 2012 in tribute to her grandparents, funds education and healthcare programs in impoverished communities around the world, providing hope and opportunity for millions of children. One of the most recent campaigns is a five-year initiative donating bicycles to Malawian schoolgirls to keep them safe from the dangers of walking long distances on the road, and to reduce school drop-out rates.
Inside Rihanna’s Trip to Malawi for Education (VIDEO)
Every year, Rihanna hosts the Diamond Ball with a star-studded guest list to support her foundation, using her celebrity status to shine a light on important issues and win mega donations for good causes.
According to the Global Partnership for Education, about 264 million children worldwide are not attending school, and the organisation is dedicated to ensuring that every child gets a quality basic education.
As an ambassador for GPE, Rihanna is making a real philanthropic change in the world. In February 2018, with a string of tweets addressing leaders of Britain, France, Australia and Norway in the lead up to the international education conference in Senegal, she helped raise over $2 billion.
Just seven hours after Rihanna's tweet gave its persuasive nudge, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop released a statement promising a donation of 90 million dollars to the Global Partnership of Education.
Riri gets results. But we don't all need legions of Twitter followers to make a difference in the world. Rihanna's fame might help bring attention to charitable causes but they're always doing fantastic work even when out of the spotlight. Celebrity is not necessary for philanthropy, and you can make a difference too.
If you want to know more about our projects, head to our website. And let us know about your feedback, suggestions, and ideas in the comments below. 🙏
Because Kind is not enough. Join Kinder!