LA ISLA FOUNDATION INC
Protecting workers in a changing climate
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Chronic Kidney Disease of undetermined causes (CKDu) is a fatal progressive loss of kidney function that has killed more than 40,000 people in Mesoamerica and Sri Lanka alone in the last 10 years. Treatment is out of reach for most ensuring an early death for those affected. CKDu is likely affecting millions throughout the tropics and beyond. We need your help to understand, prevent and treat this disease.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Degree Initiative/WE Program
Due to political instability in Nicaragua, La Isla moved its research studies to El Salvador and condensed all programs to focused study of effects of extreme heat and dehydration on sugar cane workers, and the effect of field interventions including regular breaks in shade, increased hydration, and more ergonomically designed harvesting equipment.
WE Program and Adelante Initiative
Intervening using the precautionary principle. Today we are working with the sugar industry to improve work practices to protect health, while also maintaining efficiency via the WE Program and the Adelante Initiative.
Where we work
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Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To understand the physiological causes of the disease and improve working conditions within affected industries to ameliorate the progression, and identified risk factors for the disease. Through quantifiable research into the causes of CKDu; implementation of mitigations of known contributors to the disease (dehydration, heat stress, and exhaustion); initiation of policy changes and awareness at the governmental and corporate level; and promotion of human rights, we will save lives and bring an end to this epidemic. Currently, our main focus is putting CKDu on the map so appropriate impact, burden and needs can be assessed and therefore appropriate response coordinated. We are doing this via the DEGREE Initiative, a global prevalence study, and mapping project.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
La Isla Network takes its name from the community where we first encountered the CKDu epidemic in Nicaragua, “La Isla De Viudas" (“The Island of Widows“), a place so devastated by CKDu it is defined by those left behind. CKDu is a global challenge affecting the most vulnerable populations. Our network of researchers, communicators, and investigators is committed to addressing it.\n\nTogether we are generating, supporting, and executing evidence-driven solutions to end the fatal CKDu epidemic by understanding the scale and impact of the disease and its causes. In the process, we are improving working conditions and supporting the creation and enforcement of policies required to protect those affected.\n\nWe are achieving this via: 1.dentifying who are affected and where via the DEGREE Initiative. This initiative facilitates prevalence studies to identify and compare CKDu occurrence worldwide and is also helping to build the map to understand what regions, economic sectors and populations are impacted. 2.Intervening using the precautionary principle. Today we are working with the sugar industry to improve work practices to protect health, while also maintaining efficiency via the WE Program and the Adelante Initiative. 3.Researching the underlying causes by supporting our colleagues in conducting, managing and raising funds for research initiatives with researchers from leading institutions like London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lund University, Stanford University and others. 4.Communicating to the general public and important actors in supply chains while pushing for data-driven policy on the public and private level. We make sure no one forgets the stories of those affected via award-winning original content and coordination with leading journalists.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
La Isla has both the network and the experience to address CKDu, as well as a track record of success. Our team has backgrounds in law, medicine and public health, and a network of researchers and advocates from leading institutions and universities dedicated to this issue. We have excellent insight via a highly qualified scientific advisory board, and our insights and experience are sought by governments, industry, and researchers worldwide who are committed to understanding and addressing CKDu.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
La Isla Foundation, now operating as La Isla Network to reflect our global reach, has been at the forefront of both domestic and international advocacy around the CKDu epidemic. In 10 years, this epidemic has gone from being a silent menace killing farmworkers across Central America to being on the radar of major institutions across the globe, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Our Public Health team continues to partner with prestigious research institutions to identify the root cause of this epidemic while also investigating how to improve quality and access to care for those who are sick. We are using new research findings to begin offering access to both health education and improved working conditions for those who are at-risk of CKDu. Our communications & media team has moved this harrowing epidemic from the shadows to the cover of the New York Times, coverage in the Guardian, VICE, NBC, NPR, Univision, and numerous other media outlets. LIN has a robust communications strategy that includes a continually updated website, Facebook presence, Twitter, etc. For as long as this epidemic continues, LIN will rely on Communications & Media to call the world's attention to this tragic situation.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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LA ISLA FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 03/02/2023
Jason Glaser
La Isla Foundation
Term: 2008 -
Jason Glaser
La Isla Foundation
Ryan Scales
Nate Raines
Beth Israel
Monica Alzugarary
Eric Gilroy
Conduent
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
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