Namitete, Malawi – Construction on the new Consol Homes Raising Malawi Orphan Care Center is underway! We broke ground in October and expect the new center to be open by or before March 1, 2007!The new child care facility will serve thousands of orphans and vulnerable children from various villages in and around the Malawian district of Lilongwe.
The new Orphan Care center will be managed by Consol Homes, a secular non-governmental, non-profit, community-based organization currently serving approximately 12,500 children.
Consol Homes is well known for the creation of the Orphan Affairs Unit, a unique psycho-social program (endorsed and promoted by UNICEF) for orphan children whereby orphans lead, manage and implement programs for other orphans.
(Orphans helping orphans. Don't you just want to cry?!)
The new facility will provide food, education, psycho social programs, vocational skills training and other important programs to countless children and families in the area.
2 comments:
Did you see the Oprah show today? It was the results of her "Pay it Forward" Challenge, which replaced the annual "Favorite Things" show.
People received $1,000 and were challenged to do something for someone they didn't know.
In a word, the show was AMAZING. My favorite Oprah show of all time.
Things that stood out for me were:
1) Many people were inspired to turn the $1,000 into much greater amounts through creative promotion.
2)It was just as exciting to hear about the family who'd received $71,000 that one person raised, as it was to hear about the people who received $25 as a random act of kindness.
A participant shared a key insight about the experience when she said: (paraphase) What made it so special was that I was able to give, AND able to see the immediate result of giving.
I bring all this up as I'm wondering if there is something in this as you strive for your next fundraising goal?
Do we feel more connected (and generous???)when we know the name/face of the person who benefited from our $25, $100, $1,000? And does it somehow heighten the feeling of "worth-while-ness?"
So here's the idea (no idea about feasibility):
I think you are planning a trip to Malawi. As part of the trip take a video camera to document not only the situation, but specifics of how donated money is being spent (e.g., your $100, Jane Jones, paid for this child's medication for a year...your $25 provided food for a month for this family,...).
So as you're sharing your vision with people, tell them you will be making this "accountability" video that shows how their individual contribution made a difference and they will get a copy of it upon your return.
If it's too big to post online, I will contribute the CDs and burning services to make sure everyone can see it.
Donna :-)
What say thee about the great mind? It thinks like other great minds, does it not? Your great idea is EXACTLY the plan. DVDs and YouTube all the way!
BTW, if you donated $10, you've already protected a child from dying from malaria. (mosquito net). This video can capture the emotional impact of what that looks like.
You know though, YOU INSPIRED SOMETHING BIGGER HERE. How about we also give away the DVDs to anyone who makes a donation in a request and gesture to "Pay it Forward"?
Donna, I'm loving this! So much of my struggle with raising funds for this cause is that it's a far-away thing for most people. It's a mix of lack of awareness and denial. And even judgment! ("Why did Madonna have to adopt that baby?" Are you kidding me?! "BECAUSE, UNTIL WE STOP EXTREME POVERTY IN HIS VILLAGE, HE WILL SURELY DIE!" AHHH!!!)
I think the video will do way more to get this idea thru than anything else.
Madonna and Guy Richie are working on a documentary right now. Between theirs and mine, we'll definitely have content.
AND, more immediately:
I have a few copies of a short video on DVD that the Raising Malawi project gave me. I'm going to send it to you as the first person on the chain. Watch it and Pay It Forward. I need to make an envelope for it that drives people to my blog so they can be part of this movement....
OMG, Donna! that's the next immediate concept! I love you!!
CONCEPT:
1. WATCH THIS VIDEO
2. ADD YOUR NAME TO THE MOVEMENT
Log on to www.jsilka.blogspot.com to post a comment -- even just your name that you've seen it. (I'll create a special blog or section on my blog for that).
3. OPTIONAL: DONATE
4. PAY IT FORWARD!
the thing that's so cool about the "Pay it Forward" idea is that you don't need money to do your part. We simply ask that you watch the DVD and pass it on. Awareness is more than half of the battle.
But man, even if you THINK you don't have money, give anyway -- forego the coffee and give your last buck. The bible calls it tithing. God works like a big boomerang. Give and it comes back threefold. It's no accident Oprah is one of the richest people in the world against all odds. And as David tells me, it's no accident that the "Little Matchstick Girl from Chicago" is making it in the big leagues -- LOL!)
We are going to actually turn things around in this village by 2011! Let's capture and share the many stories of the many lives that will be affected!!
Thank you Donna for inspiration!
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