|
July 29, 2008
Australian Woman Aims to Collect $30,000 for AWF
By Devlin Smith
Eliane Van Puyvelde is a health care professional in Australia who, with the help of some of her friends, has decided to raise $30,000 for the African Well Fund. Van Puyvelde has launched the site African Well Project to collect funds from donors all over the world. The money will be used to fund a future AWF project.
Van Puyvelde discussed why she started this fundraiser and how you can help her reach her goal.
How did you first come up with the idea to do your own fundraiser for AWF?
I have had an interest in building wells in Africa for some time—I guess that comes from my background in the health profession and wanting to help people. Providing a source of clean water seems like the most basic of ways to improve people's health and is a basic right of everyone, plus digging wells seemed to me to be a very leveraged approach to impact many people for the better from a single effort.
Why did you decide to have it be online and global rather than just raise funds in your community?
I wanted it online simply because I have a lot of contacts interstate and overseas, that way I can raise money with their help and not be restricted to the people I see physically on a day-to-day basis.
When did you launch the fundraiser?
A few weeks ago when we finally got the Web site up and running.
What kind of response have you gotten so far?
We're still in the early stages at this point, but we're close to getting our first $1,000 in.
Do you have a target date for when you'd like to reach your fundraising goal?
No official date, whatever it takes, I guess, but I'd like to be done by no later than the end of the year.
On your site, you mention a number of supporters. Who are they and how are they helping you with this project?
The supporters are all friends of mine. They are people that have helped me to brainstorm and build the Web site, or people who said they would help me to raise funds.
You've also talked about wanting to visit the project site once you've reached your fundraising goal and the funds have been allocated. Why is it important for you to do this?
I'm a people person and I like to see what all my efforts are going towards. It's important for my drive to see the change that I can make in people's lives, that's the sort of thing that will spur me on toward more efforts like this one in the future. It's my reward.
Anything else you'd like to share about this fundraiser?
Only that we can use all the help that we can get and that if anyone wishes to contribute or to help raise funds and awareness that they can get in contact with me through the Web site.
The African Well Fund Updates Its Educational Kit
The African Well Fund has posted an updated version of its educational kit that is now available for download. The new kit, called "A Mile in Her Shoes: Educational Materials and Fundraising Ideas to Increase Awareness of the African Well Fund," can be accessed through africanwellfund.org's online Education section.
The kit features lesson plans, springboards, statistics and resources for students from kindergarten through high school. The kit is targeted to schools, churches, teams and community organization who want to incorporate lessons on Africa and water use into their curriculum. Testimonials from educators who have used African Well Fund lessons are also included.
Educators can also use the kit to start a fundraising project for the African Well Fund, using fundraising ideas and success stories in the kit as a starting point.
A print version of the kit will be available by request.
July 25, 2008
African Well Fund Water Project Updates
African Well Fund representatives recently met with our partner Africare and received updates on our current projects, as well as three new proposals to fund. We will be adding detailed updates complete with photos to our well pages as soon as we are able but until then, here is a brief synopsis of the work your donations have been funding:
Camakupa, Angola -- The project was initiated in mid-April and seeks to improve access to clean water to more than 10,000 people. Water and sanitation committees have been formed, and local community members are being trained in spring construction and maintenance.
Kibala, Angola -- The project was initiated in mid-February and seeks to construct protected springs to improve clean water access for more than 10,000 people. One spring has been completed and two others are nearing completion. The remaining springs are currently under construction. Water and sanitation training classes are underway.
Karangasso, Burkina Faso -- The project seeks to improve water access to reduce the time community members spend fetching water, as well as providing water for gardening to enable them to increase agricultural productivity and thereby increase nutrition. Seven wells are being constructed and all are nearing completion.
Wassa Amenfi, West District, Ghana -- The Water for Cocoa Farmers project aims to provide potable water to the 5,000 inhabitants of the 11 villages in the district. Well digging has begun in four of the communities and work has begun on the rehabilitation of an existing well.
Bong County, Liberia -- Three wells have been completed and the fourth should be completed soon. Two other wells are slated for refurbishing. The project will eventually supply clean drinking water to more than 5,000 people in the villages of Garyea, Gleekormah, Konnie and Nyain.
Tsamia, Niger -- The project repaired a well that had stopped working more than two years ago. The repair has helped to provide water to the 3,000 inhabitants of the village, as well as many in the surrounding areas.
Northern Uganda Invisible Children Project -- AWF and Africare partnered with Invisible Children to construct water and sanitation facilities in schools in the Acholi sub region where formerly displaced people are resettling. Four boreholes were installed and latrines were built at schools in this region.
Nchelenge District, Zambia -- The project objective is to provide year-round access to clean drinking water to 750 households and to improve hygiene practices in the district. This will be achieved by implementing Safe Water Systems interventions. Through training and chlorine treatments, SWS helps to insure that drinking water stays safe.
Njelele Ward, Zimbabwe -- Project objectives are to provide 2,000 beneficiaries with safe, clean and adequate water for domestic use through the rehabilitation of seven shallow wells and one deep well. Additionally, the project will provide improved sanitation facilities for one of the schools in the ward. Work is currently in progress at all the sites.
In addition to these ongoing projects, AWF has received proposals for new projects in Angola, Ghana and Mali. Details about these exciting new projects will be posted soon.
July 02, 2008
West Vancouver Girl Chooses African Well Fund for Bat Mitzvah Project
By Devlin Smith
Thirteen-year-old Anna Stuber will be starting grade eight at Collingwood School in West Vancouver, BC, this fall. She celebrated her bat mitzvah in January and raised money for a chosen charity as part of the experience. She chose the African Well Fund.
Anna has been selling little blue pins featuring the words for water in six different languages. She has been selling them for $3 Canadian or more each (about $2.93 US) by donation and has currently raised about $1,500 Canadian (about $1,467 US).
Anna answered a few questions about this fundraiser, why she wanted to do it and what she's gained from it.
Why did you decide to raise money for the African Well Fund for your bat mitzvah project?
I have always wanted to be involved in helping Africa and I have always dreamed of helping provide water. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to raise money.
How did you come up with the idea to make buttons for your fundraiser?
At first I was really stuck on ideas for my fundraiser. I really wanted to sell something to other children at my school so I wanted to come up with an idea that everyone could participate in. My mum then helped me to come up with the idea of selling pins. We sat down together and designed them.
Where have you been selling your buttons and when did you start selling them?
I have been selling them at school. I sold them to all the parents at our middle and senior school concerts, my synagogue, to all my parents' friends, my friends and family. I also intend to take some of my pins with me when I visit England in the summer. I have been selling them since early May.
What kind of reaction have you gotten from people to the buttons and your fundraiser in general?
Most people have really congratulated me and been very pleased for me. All of our friends were very generous and supported me. Overall it was a very positive reaction.
What's your goal for this fundraiser?
My goal for this fundraiser is to raise enough money to build one well. I am roughly at about $1,500 [Canadian, about $1,467 US] and I am hoping to get to at least $2,000 [Canadian, about $1,957 US].
You've already raised nearly $1,500 Canadian. How does it feel to have raised that much?
It really does feel incredible. I love doing charity work and every time I sold a pin I felt incredible. I really felt a sense of achievement. It gave me such a buzz and I hope to continue with much more charity work in the future.
What have been some of the biggest lessons you've gained from this fundraising project?
I have learnt quite a few lessons from this project. I think the most important lesson is that it feels amazing when you are making an effort to help others. I think it has also helped me gain confidence to approach people. By the end of the first three weeks of selling my pins I was able to talk to a complete stranger and sell my pins with confidence. I also had to speak a couple times in front of huge audiences in order to make people aware of my project. This was terrifying but again it was a very positive experience.
What advice would you offer to other kids your age interested in raising money for charity?
I would suggest being creative with your ideas but make sure it doesn't become too complicated. You have to make sure you can cover the cost of whatever you are selling. I suggest that if you are selling something it should be an object that people can wear or advertise to others. You should keep the individual price low but you should advertise the unit price plus any other donations. Although I sold my pins at $3 each on average, each pin raised $5 [Canadian, about $4.89 US]. I also want to suggest that you don't be afraid of speaking people but enjoy the challenge. At first I was really hesitant toward talking to people but after a while I realized that most people are really generous and kind when it comes to charity. Also just have fun and make sure you don't stress at all.
Anything else you'd like to share about your fundraiser?
I would really like to thank everyone who helped me. Without their support, time and effort there is no way I would have been able to even think of this project—my mum (especially), all of my friends who helped me sell the pins, everyone who donated or bought a pin and everyone who helped to inform others of my project.
July 01, 2008
Edmonton Fourth Grader Raises Money for AWF
By Devlin Smith
Ten-year-old Ceris Backstrom just finished fourth grade at Holyrood Elementary School in Edmonton, Alberta. She also completed a series of fundraisers for the African Well Fund that raised more than $2,400.
Ceris learned about children in Africa who don't have access to clean water at church and decided to do something. She collected change at school, made and sold a candy house (made from her own Halloween candy), asked for donations to AWF in lieu of birthday presents and presented a post-Christmas benefit concert.
Ceris answered a few questions about her work for AWF and why she wanted to get involved.
Why did you want to help people in Africa get better access to clean water?
Because it's unfair that some of us have access to clean drinking water and others—just because they were born somewhere—don't. Life isn't always fair but it just seems wrong that some of us walk across a room and turn a knob to get pure good water and others walk kilos and kilos to fill a bucket with nasty gross slime.
How did you come up with the idea to take a change jar to school?
I didn't know how to raise money. My mom suggested advertising at places I go regularly—my school. After that I got permission to bring the project to school and two dollar stores donated piggy banks.
Why did you decide to make a candy house out of your Halloween candy to raise money for AWF?
My friend Ora had come over and we started to make a candy house. My mom saw what we were doing and offered to make us some decorator icing. She asked us what we would do with the candy house. Both of us thought it was too pretty to eat, so my mom suggested raffling it of at my dad's work.
How were you able to get your school involved in this fundraiser?
As soon as my principal agreed to take the project school wide, I started preparing a PowerPoint presentation to explain the project to the students. It was in November when I did it and the kids got really excited and started donating hoards of money. I wrote a couple of times in the school newsletter, too.
How did it make you feel to have your school work with you on this?
Having my school work with me was great in that I don't how I would have raised so much money on my own, or at least not as quickly.
Why did you decide to ask for donations to AWF instead of presents for your birthday this year?
Since I had just started raising money at school and was very excited and of course did not need presents, when my birthday came around in December I decided to have a dance-a-thon party where lots of people could come donate.
Why did you decide to plan a concert to also raise money for AWF?
My mom had the idea of the fundraising concert and when we talked about it with my music teacher, she decided to help, too. After that it went like a breeze since my music teacher is very experienced putting on recitals.
Through all of your efforts you raised more than $2,500 [Canadian, about $2,455 US]. How does it make you feel knowing you were able to collect that much money?
I'm very glad I could be helpful in raising money for wells in Africa and hope that through my efforts and the efforts of all who helped we can have saved the lives of many.
What advice would you offer other kids interested in raising money for charity?
My advice to other kids would be if you want to help raise money, then do fun, simple things and show everyone that you've got your heart set on it.
|
