Croxton-Hurt Wedding Fundraiser:
In celebration of their wedding, Keely Croxton and Steven Hurt have generously asked that donations be made to support the Bam Got Women’s Group, Kodongo Village, Kenya who plan to dig three wells to provide a stable supply of clean water to their community. Over 1000 people will benefit from this project.
Members of the Bam Got Women’s Group, Kenya
This community doesn't have sufficient clean water for domestic use or a reliable water source for agriculture and livestock rearing. The primary sources of water now are seasonal streams which last only for a short time after each rainy season. They are heavily used by both humans and animals and are highly contaminated and unsafe for domestic use. The community recently constructed two wells which were a good start towards solving the water problem, but supply only a small part of the community’s water needs. Many households are still using the contaminated sources of water and suffering from a variety of water-borne diseases, although these maladies have been greatly reduced among those who use only water from the two clean water wells. Encouraged by this success, the community wants to extend the availability of clean water to all the households.
Contamination causes diseases in humans, especially vulnerable infants and children
Clean water is something we take for granted, but it has far reaching implications. Sick adults are in a poor position to take care of their families; sick children are unable to go to school. Or children have to drop out of school because there is not enough time for them to complete their daily chores, which includes spending substantial time getting water. Women also spend hours gathering water, which is time that could be diverted to income-generating activities that could enhance the standard of living for their families. A steady supply of water is also important for irrigation and livestock to keep their crops and animals strong and healthy. All these things make it hard for this community to break the cycle of poverty.
This project is being sponsored and organized by the Bam Got Women's Group, which is located in Kodongo village, in the Kisumu District of Nyanza Province, Kenya. The group was started in 1995 with a membership of 12 women and 6 men. Today the group’s activities range from making bricks to protect the existing water sources to providing guidance and counseling for HIV-positive community members. They hold group and community discussions on ways of treating contaminated water, on modern agricultural techniques and improved harvesting methods, and on preserving and conserving water. Experts from various ministries and non-governmental organizations are normally invited to these meetings.
As part of the construction of the three new mixed-use wells, the community will also build water troughs for livestock and pipelines for agricultural use. The members of the group plan to educate the community on modern technologies of water catchment and harvesting and on ways of treating water for safe use. The availability of a stable supply of water will encourage the use of water in starting and sustaining food generating programs like community gardens and other horticultural activities which will be income-producing. This will provide funds to enlarge the Group’s programs which assist needy members of the community like orphaned children and people with HIV/AIDS.
To read more about Keely Croxton and Steven Hurt, please go to their website, www.jcroxton.com/wedding.
Or you can donate here immediately:
Fundraising Ideas
The people who support Global Partners for Development are a creative group. Over the years, they’ve come up with several fun and inventive ways to raise money in support of our Africa projects. It is possible to have fun and do good at the same time. Join our group and let us know about your fundraising ideas!
Kids Helping Kids: A 6-year old and a 9-year old show us how it’s done.
Children understand so well the desire to give and to help others who are in need. When Courtney Kirby was six years old she decided she wanted build a school for the ‘kids in Africa.’ Starting with her own $2.04, she went to her school and recruited the principal and her teachers and fellow students to the cause. The final sum she raised may not have been the biggest donation Global Partners ever received, but it was one of the most valuable.
Amy Anderson wanted to make the world a better place for all and at the age of 9 set out to do so. Combining her love for animals with her desire to help people around the world, Amy founded Kids for Camels and set out to raise $600.00 in support of the Maasai Camel Project. Amy enrolled a group of friends, students and family to achieve this goal. She made a presentation to the entire sixth grade at her school which went so well that she was asked to speak at her sister’s elementary school. Every day Amy brought home the coins that her fellow students dropped in the donation bucket. Amy created hand made Kids for Camels key chains as thank-you gifts for all her supporters. In addition, Amy organized rummage sale fundraisers as well as managing a booth at a local flea market. Kids for Camels more than doubled Amy’s original goal, thanks to Amy, her vision, and her hard work.
Ashley Collingwood also had a big dream. She wanted to fund an entire classroom for an African school. By holding a series of garage sales, asking friends, relatives and local businesses for support, and finally by enlisting her father’s Rotary Club, Ashley raised the $5,000 needed to build a classroom. This spring Ashley and her father are going to Africa to be present when ‘her’ classroom is officially dedicated.
Running to make the world a better place: Lyle’s Myles
Every autumn for the last ten years, Lyle Smith has produced a very unique running event, first in his hometown of Lisle, IL and now in his new hometown of Portland, OR. Why is this race is unique? Mainly because Lyle has won it every single year. In fact the main rule for Lyle’s Myles is that anyone who crosses the finish line before Lyle is disqualified! Naturally, there are awards for others who complete the race, even if they do disqualify themselves. Part of the race fees go to Global Partners in support of AIDS education projects and clinics in East Africa. Other donors, who are perhaps not so bold as Lyle, have also raised funds in support of Global Partners projects by participating in local and international marathons. Every year a group of dedicated runners, led by Peter Verbiscar-Brown, our Executive Director, participates in the Mount Meru Marathon in Arusha, Tanzania which Global Partners also helps sponsor. Your own athletic achievements can make a difference in the world. Sign up and get going today! Flower Power: Todd Feiler’s daffodils make the world a brighter place for everyone.
Global Partners’ supporter, Todd Feiler, loves flowers and has put that passion to work in support of our Africa programs. Every spring, Todd’s gardens are bright with daffodils which he sells to raise funds. His buyers go home with a beautiful display for their homes and people in Africa benefit from the sale. What’s your love or your passion? Can you figure out how to use it to change the world?
Matching Funds: working to change the world.
Many corporations have programs which match the donations made by their employees. Michael Brietner was aware that his employer, American Express, had one of these programs and has used that to double his yearly contribution. Recently, American Express honored Michael with one of its Great Citizen Awards, recognizing those employees who “have done something extraordinary to better our world.” Michael in turn donated the $1,500 cash prize that accompanied the award to the Maasai Camel project. This is an easy way to raise funds; you just have to ask. Does your employer have this kind of program? Have you asked?
To Raise Funds on behalf of Global Partners for Development click here. |
