WSU’s International Research and Development unit has introduced a new way for students, alumni and supporters to help philanthropy efforts in Malawi, Africa.

Ripple Effect, WSU Foundation’s new philanthropy Web site, allows supporters to provide direct aid to impoverished citizens in Malawi through efforts joined with WSU’s research in agriculture, engineering, veterinary science and economic development.

The Web site provides a venue for donations ranging from $16 to thousands of dollars. The donations are then received by the WSU Foundation, which records information and allocates the funds to workers in the field. WSU International Research and Development in Malawi then purchase the requested gifts and make sure they get to families and communities in Malawi. Gifts range from seed kits to goats to wells.

According to a Monday WSU Foundation news release, the program is different from others of its kind because the gifts purchased are delivered directly to the intended recipients with none of the money going to other purposes.

“We are very proud of this new initiative and excited that Ripple Effect will allow WSU to bring even more of its life-saving research and development to impoverished communities in sub-Saharan Africa, and eventually, beyond it,” President Elson S. Floyd said in a WSU news release.

The goals of the program include increasing the resource base for WSU’s work in Malawi, engaging students, alumni and friends with WSU’s overseas work and facilitating philanthropy, the release states.

The Ripple Effect program will begin by focusing on people and communities in Malawi. WSU plans to extend the program to other regions in Africa and eventually around the world.

WSU International Research and Development works in 12 nations and began work in Malawi in 1986. In Malawi, WSU works with Total Land Care, which provides sustainable community-based natural resource management. So far, WSU and TLC have reached more than 500,000 people in Malawi. For more on ripple effect, visit the program's Web site.