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Orgamites

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Orgamites
The Orgamites
Formation2012
TypeNPO / CIC
PurposeEducation
Research
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Locations
Region
International
Executive Chairman
Roydon Turner (CCO)
Main organ
MNC Advisory Board
AffiliationsCanadian Blood Services
Public Health Agency (NI)
Onassis Foundation
British Transplant Society
Western Cape Government
Live Life Give Life
Team Margot
ESOT
Websiteorgamites.com

The Orgamites (Greek: Οργανουλήδες) is an international non-profit organisation focused on organ donation and health education for children. Founded by film director and philanthropist, Roydon Turner, the initiative is led by All Good Co. (CIC), a UK-based production company. The Orgamites are a team of animated characters, each representing a vital organ, teaching children about organ function and health, while also introducing the concept of organ donation.[1][2][3]

History

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Orgamites was founded in 2012 by Roydon Turner as a creative response to the need for early organ donation awareness.[2][4][3] The programme was formally launched in the United Kingdom in 2016 and has since expanded internationally, with licensed adaptations in countries such as Canada, Greece, South Africa, and Northern Ireland.[5][6][7]

Objectives

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The European Society for Organ Donation (ESOT) reported: “the main objective of the Orgamites is to raise awareness and public acceptance of organ donation around the world.”[8] Orgamites aims to help children to become “captains of their own health” and to foster long-term change through early education, by providing resources to educators, parents, and health professionals, about organ health, healthy living, and altruistic values.[1][9]

Operations

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Orgamites is in partnership with Canadian Blood Services, which integrated the programme into Canadian primary schools.[6][9][10] In Greece, the programme was adopted with support from the Onassis Foundation and the Hellenic Transplant Organisation.[5][11] In the United Kingdom, it has worked closely with NHS Blood and Transplant and the Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland to bring the programme into schools.[12][13] In South Africa, Orgamites launched on World Kidney Day 2025 and is now being rolled out in Cape Town schools through a partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health.[7][14]

Partnerships

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Partnerships and affiliations include: Canadian Blood Services, Government of the Western Cape, Live Life Give Life, Organ Donation Northern Ireland, South African Transplant Society, British Transplant Society, NHS Blood and Transplant, Onassis Foundation, Transplant Education for Living Legacies, Team Margot and Giving to Help Others.[7][15][16][17] Academic affiliations include the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of Cape Town, and University of Ottawa.[18] The Orgamites is also an official partner of the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) for its 2025 congress.[8]

Recognition

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In 2024, the BBC’s The One Show featured The Orgamites in response to declining organ donation consent rates in the UK.[19] The organisation has been widely noted for filling a gap in early-years healthcare literacy.[6][7]

Publications

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The book My Engine Parts was created as part of the programme, based on the real story of Belle Curran, a young girl who needed a lung transplant. Using Belle’s own analogy, the book explains organ failure and transplantation through simple language and illustrations.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "A global organ donation and health education programme for kids". THE ORGAMITES MIGHTY EDUCATION PROGRAMME. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  2. ^ a b "Our Story (About)". THE ORGAMITES MIGHTY EDUCATION PROGRAMME. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  3. ^ a b Langsworthy, Billy (2021-04-01). "Roydon Turner on changing the conversation around organ donation with the Orgamites". Brands Untapped. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  4. ^ PH-KSP, Pisana Ferrari-Web Admin (2024-07-22). "Orgamites, a free global educational program about organ donation and transplantation for children aged 5-11, now being started in UK schools". PULMONARY HYPERTENSION. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  5. ^ a b "Onassis Foundation Orgamites - What's On".
  6. ^ a b c "Public Education – The Orgamites. Canadian Blood Services – Professional Education".[dead link]
  7. ^ a b c d "World Kidney Day – Canadian Blood Service gifts organ donation education programme | Western Cape Government". www.westerncape.gov.za. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  8. ^ a b "Meet the Orgamites • ESOT". 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  9. ^ a b Ryan, Jenny; John, Peggy; Spencer, Breanne (2023). "A platform for youth education to boost organ donation in Canada". Transplantation. 107 (10S1): 97. ISSN 0041-1337.
  10. ^ "The Orgamites - It's What's Inside That Counts | Organ Tissue Education". learn.organtissuedonation.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  11. ^ "The Orgamites, an official Onassis Foundation Partner". www.onassis.org. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  12. ^ "School resources". Organ Donation Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  13. ^ "The Public Health Agency launches new Primary school organ donation education resources | HSC Public Health Agency". www.publichealth.hscni.net. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  14. ^ Ruiters, Tracy-Lynn (2025). "Western Cape launches Orgamites Programme to promote organ donation among children". Weekend Argus. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  15. ^ "With your help, May is now Mayrrow! | Team Margot". www.teammargot.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  16. ^ "LLGL Youth - The Orgamites". Live Life Give Life. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  17. ^ "A global organ donation and health education programme for kids (South Africa)". THE ORGAMITES MIGHTY EDUCATION PROGRAMME. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  18. ^ Admin, UOHI (2022-03-30). "ORGAMITES". University of Ottawa Heart Institute Patient Alumni Association. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  19. ^ Balseiro, Carlos (2024-07-11). "ORGAMITES ON THE BBC". THE ORGAMITES MIGHTY EDUCATION PROGRAMME. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  20. ^ admin (2023-09-27). "My Engine Parts". Live Life Give Life. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  21. ^ "The Western Telegraph - Belle's Story".
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