A young girl with a broken back hopes to walk again. An infant loses its parents to AIDS. Desperately ill patients sleep two to a bed. Banepa. Ixopo. Kathmandu.

These are places most of us will never see, people most of us will never meet. They are certainly a long way from Colorado. Or are they? In Colorado, we live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, but we are also part of the world community. We see suffering--in the United States, in Nepal, in South Africa--and we want to end it. We see injustice, and we want to vanquish it. We see potential, and we want to develop it.

That is where All Together Now International (ATNI) comes in. ATNI is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation headquartered in Boulder. We promote international peace by creating greater economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities for disadvantaged people in some of the world's poorest regions. By supporting, advising, and monitoring local organizations that perform the services, we ensure that our models are culturally sensitive, sustainable in the long term, and replicable in other regions.

ATNI provides a unique opportunity for Coloradoans to support a local organization in helping developing countries help themselves. In addition to contributing monetarily, Coloradoans can volunteer in the ATNI office and even make site visits to ATNI partners abroad. We are developing local volunteer projects and events to provide more opportunities for meaningful involvement. Below are brief descriptions of our current projects.

All Together Now International Projects

One-of-a-Kind Pediatric Spinal Care in Nepal

Spinal deformities and injuries are among the most devastating conditions a child can have, particularly in the developing world. We support Nepal's first and only pediatric spine disease program at the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC). The program identifies and treats spinal problems, focusing on very poor children.

Life-Saving Spinal Surgeries in the United States

We have brought five children from the Himalayan region to the United States for surgical and rehabilitation procedures to treat life-threatening spinal diseases and resulting deformities so advanced that the treatment required is best performed in the United States. Each child has received approximately $200,000 in donated medical services as well as the loving care of more than 50 volunteers.

Advanced Medical Care Worldwide

We are expanding advanced medical care to other regions of the world, with the ultimate goal of establishing additional highly capable institutions modeled after Nepal's HRDC. In 2005, we partnered with a major medical corporation and prominent U.S. orthopedic surgeons to work with Chinese orthopedic surgeons who, before this time, had not been able to achieve successful outcomes with highly complex spinal procedures.

Holistic HIV/AIDS Care in South Africa

We support efforts to provide community care for South Africans, especially women and children, infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Partnering with the South African organization Woza Moya, we take a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS care, addressing socioeconomic, psychological, and spiritual issues as well as physical health needs.

Human Services in Nepal

We support a children's home in Kathmandu, with a residence for children from the street, a soup kitchen that feeds the homeless during winter, a medical clinic, and a clothes depot. A sponsorship program provides children with financial and material support for their living and education.

Leprosy Care in Nepal

Located in Kathmandu, our partner Shanti Sewa Griha (Peaceful Helping Home) includes a community clinic, leprosy clinic, handicrafts center, community kitchen, and a preschool and kindergarten. Shanti trains patients in weaving, knitting, and other art forms so they can be productive and self-sustaining.

We are an all-volunteer organization, so donations to ATNI go to work directly on our projects. Because of this, and because of the strength of the U.S. dollar in developing countries, a little goes a long way. For example, the $1,000 award from YourHub.com could pay for an entire life-saving spinal surgery in Nepal, scoliosis screening at seven schools, or food, housing, clothing, medical care, and education for one orphan for a year. To learn more about ATNI, including how you can help, visit www.alltogether.org.