Terry and I are heading back to Kenya in December for three months this time. Here's what we will be up to:
1) The Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club in partnership with Kakamega Rotary Club has been successful, due to the many many hours of paperwork and PR that Terry has put in over the past two years, in securing a grant which will fund the construction of FIFTY protected springs in the Kakamega area. What this means is that the parasite-infested puddles that serve as drinking water for thousands of people will be converted to endlessly flowing fresh water springs. This will have incredible health benefits for about 20,000 people in the community. Yay!
2) In addition to overseeing the water project, I will be coordinating training for women and youth in skills which can be immediately applied to increasing family income and alleviating poverty. The local trainer we will be working with, Alex, is very direct about what is needed to bring people out of poverty. Mainly it is changing attitudes about handouts so people believe in their own capacity to succeed. Also working together in small units to foster accountability and responsibility.
Toonies for Tools is what I am calling this fundraising effort. If you would like to provide tools for a woman or youth to build a brighter future for themselves, their children and their community, please Donate here (http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=10931). Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated so generously through One Drop of Hope and the Canada to Kenya Run! We already have funding secured for the first group and all future donations will enable us to expand our efforts and reach more people.
I am calling it Toonies for Tools to get the message out that every dollar helps. So, whether you are able to donate:
$1,000 ... provides business training for 40 women and 40 youth, or
$150-$300 ... the average fee to learn an income generating trade such as tailoring or carpentry, or
$12 ... what I paid for lunch today, or
$2 ... what a woman earns in a day picking tea or a young man earns as a boda boda driver (bicycle taxi driver).
Your donation makes a significant difference. Thank you for your kind support -- whether it is backed with dollars or with love.
One last thing... if you are thinking about donating, the sooner the better. Even though we are not leaving until December, training is already starting and we'll need to start planning and selection for January sessions. Here's the link to Donate (http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=10931).
Tax receipts are provided through Tembo-Kenya.
I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have and share stories.
Asante sana, Tanya
onedropofhope@gmail.com
(250) 898-7728
