Fundraising

Family and Friends,                          
                                                             

As most of you know I will be traveling to Uganda this summer for my internship at Brigham Young University Idaho. There I will be working with local doctors to help improve the lives of the people of Uganda. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to be able to give back what I have been blessed with my whole life, but I can't do it on my own. Please help me to make this a reality and help enrich the lives of the people of Uganda! Thank you all for your support and help: http://help-international.org/donate-now

HELP International is a non-profit organization started in 1999 in response to Hurricane Mitch. Since then, HELP has expanded their work across the globe, empowering local community members by teaching self-sustainable skills that can be passed on to others. Currently HELP is working with impoverished communities in eight locations around the world—Belize, El Salvador, Fiji, India, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, and Peru.

As a volunteer I will have the opportunity to initiate life-changing, sustainable development programs. One of the first projects that I will be involved in is an eye-screening clinic. Last year HELP screened thousands of impoverished rural people who needed eye surgery and set up doctors who were able to perform this important service and maintain the optical care needed for the future.  I am confident that I can make a difference in the lives of the Ugandan people.

Uganda is a country in Eastern Africa where over 75% of the population lives below the poverty line. HELP’s program allows volunteers to participate in substantive projects which (1) assess needs in country, (2) ascertain local buy-in, and (3) develop innovative poverty alleviating programs which allow for opportunities of growth and development. Projects in Uganda include; adobe stove building, microfinance, square-foot gardening, micro-credit initiatives, English class teaching, public health and hygiene education, orphanage work, among others. All projects are done collaboratively with locally operated NGOs in Uganda. Projects taken on require commitment from the community they are aimed at helping, thereby not only securing more sustainability, but also increasing effective program transferability.

Non-profit organizations like HELP International rely heavily on volunteer program fees and fundraising. As a volunteer, I have the opportunity to raise funds that will go directly to these great projects, changing the lives of potentially thousands of people for the better. My goal is to raise $4,500.00 by   June 15th, 2011.

 While money is tight for everyone, especially during these difficult times, the amount of good that can be done for the people in Uganda increases significantly with even a small donation. Understanding how the economic crisis has affected us in the United States, we can hardly imagine how much worse it has devastated those in impoverished countries. We are inviting you to join us and HELP International in serving the people of Uganda by donating $35, $50, $100, $250, $500 or whatever you can* . Checks should be made payable to HELP International with “Kirk Thompson” in the memo line. Donations can be mailed directly to HELP International, or through PayPal online at: http://help-international.org/donate-now, including “Kirk Thompson” in the comments section. If you’d like more information please visit the HELP International website www.help-international.org, or email me at krkthompson@gmail.com, or you can call me at (208-830-3809). I thank you in advance for your support as you are now invested as a partner in this noble work to help alleviate suffering of poverty throughout the world. I would like to keep you and your family informed on the progress of the various projects. Here is a link to the blog I will keep this summer: http://help-uganda.blogspot.com/. Please include your email address with the donation so that I can just send you the blog by email.

Thank you!

2010 Impact

      8410 served with visual health through screenings, eyeglasses and cataract surgeries

     5424 people taught Nutrition, Hygiene, Sex-Education and general Community Health lessons

     4036 helped through AIDS advocacy activities

     Construction of various Health and Sanitation Facilities, Classrooms, illiterate-friendly Hospital signs, Mushroom Homes and Chick Farms benefitting thousands

     872 involved in improved Literacy and English campaigns

     836 students empowered through Music, Drama, Art and Soccer Camps

     674 taught skills related to Leadership, Computers and Conflict Resolution

     465 school children taught Drug Education

     293 trained on Square-foot Gardening and Vermicomposting with 158 Gardens built

     160 trained, 58 Adobe Stoves built

     148 trained for improved Micro-Finance loaning and Business Consulting

     69 Special Needs Children and teachers engaged in therapy and learning activities as well as 17 empowerment themed wall Murals painted

     38 Lepers given care and attention

     29 trained on Bee-Keeping ventures

     1 Recycling Program implemented