Avaaz Facts

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What does "Avaaz" mean, and how do you say it? Avaaz means "voice" or "song" in many Asian, Middle Eastern, and European languages. In Urdu, Avaaz means "the sound that breaks the silence." Its Latin relative, "vox," is the root of the Spanish word "voz" and English "voice." Avaaz is pronounced uh-VAHZ, rhyming with "applause."


• Where is Avaaz based? The Avaaz staff works from four continents, using online tools to collaborate in a "virtual office." Avaaz's operations team, which hails from around the globe, is based at the headquarters in New York City, USA. Many aspects of Avaaz's work, including several of the 14 languages in which Avaaz runs online campaigns, is also supported by an international network of volunteers.


• How is Avaaz funded? Avaaz and its campaigns are funded through online donations from members around the world. The average donation is roughly $50/€36.


• Who started Avaaz? Avaaz.org was co-founded by Res Publica, a global civic advocacy group, and Moveon.org, an online community that has pioneered internet advocacy in the United States. Our co-founding team included a group of global social entrepreneurs from six countries, including our Executive Director Ricken Patel; Tom Perriello; Tom Pravda; Eli Pariser; Andrea Woodhouse; Jeremy Heimans; and David Madden.


• Where do Avaaz members live? Avaaz members live in every country on earth. The countries with the most Avaaz members are Brazil and France, with more than 700,000 members each; the countries with least are Montserrat (30) and Nauru (33). A global map of the Avaaz membership can be found on this page.


• Does online activism actually work? Yes! Technology alone doesn't create change, but it can supercharge campaigns that have a clear strategy and theory of change. By connecting citizens across borders at a scale and speed that was previously impossible, online tools allow many small actions to add up to something powerful. Read stories about the impact of Avaaz campaigns on the highlights page.

Since 2007, Avaaz members have:

• Taken over 25 million advocacy actions online and offline—sending emails to leaders, making phone calls, joining protests, and signing petitions
• Raised nearly $15 million online, including millions in funding and high tech support for human rights and democracy advocates in Burma, Zimbabwe, Tibet, Iran, Haiti and more
• Organized almost 10,000 rallies, flashmobs, vigils, marches and other public, in-person events on issues from climate change to peace