Archive for February, 2012
Match-funding
Here’s an interesting idea from the UK.
The charity Localgiving.com supports UK communities by match-funding donations made to local charities through their website.
At 9am tomorrow (Thursday the 1st of March) they will be launching their biggest-ever Match Fund exercise, which they hope will benefit many local, small charities that are perhaps struggling to survive, and for whom even a £10 donation can make a big difference. Donations will continue being matched by Localgiving.com until the entire ‘pot’ of £375,000 has been distributed. Their previous campaign (in December) distributed a total of £300,000 and lasted 7 days.
Taxpayers can boost their donations’ effectiveness through the UK Government’s tax-relief scheme ‘Gift Aid‘.
The following limits will apply:
- The standard minimum donation amount on Localgiving.com is £5
- The standard maximum donation amount on Localgiving.com is £1000 (per transaction)
- A total of £375,000 will be matched by the March Match Fund
- Each charity can have up to £2,500 in donations matched. Charities can receive more than £2,500 in donations, but donations above that amount will not be matched.
These limits are communicated on each charity’s donation page, so when a supporter makes a donation, s/he will be notified of the amounts available to donate and/or to be matched for each charity (with or without Gift Aid).
Oxjam
Calling all music fans!
Most of us have heard of Oxfam. But what about Oxjam?
This is Oxfam’s month-long music festival, celebrated throughout October each year, with hundreds of events taking place around the UK, organised by music-loving volunteers who are closely in touch with their local music scene.
Volunteers are now being sought by the 4th of March, so you don’t have long to register. Contact the organisers today. They’ll send you an Oxjam Toolkit, filled with all the information you need to start envisioning, planning and promoting your event – including speaking to venues and booking bands. “Get all your mates involved”, they say, “get creative and make your event a success!”
Fatboy Slim is quoted as saying, “All you need to make an Oxjam event happen is a set of decks, a few choice tunes and a place to play them, so there’s really no excuse not to get involved”.
As with all Oxfam fundraising ventures the proceeds of the festival will help alleviate poverty and suffering around the world.
Polar Bear Day
I just learned that today was International Polar Bear Day and that Polar Bears International were suggesting making it a day of action on climate change by turning down the heat a couple of degrees and “bundling up for polar bears“. They say, “Reducing our carbon footprint can slow and even reverse climate change, which causes sea ice to melt. Polar bears rely on the sea ice for reaching their prey. By taking part in this initiative, we can each show our commitment to a healthier planet.” Even if you didn’t get this news in time, you might want to consider its implications for the future. It would be a tragedy, wouldn’t it, to put these beautiful animals at risk?
Nepalese children
Just over a week ago I posted an item about Ryan Garcia’s 366 Random Acts of Kindness. I’ve been following his project with interest, and yesterday his post was about Brooke Laura’s efforts to provide education for underprivileged children in Kathmandu. Generally, educational provision for Nepalese children is very limited, and the Shining Star Academy, or Saprinu (सप्रिनु), meaning “to flourish, thrive, prosper”, is an English school that is now attempting to address the problem, with the firm belief that every child has the right to a decent education, and that learning brings positive change for the children and their families.
Ryan has decided to donate $1 to the charity, and is encouraging others to follow his example, as well as spreading the word. So, for today’s short post I am passing along some basic information on this excellent charity, in the hope that their efforts will receive additional support as a result of the publicity. Here’s what they have to say about the project:
In the spring of 2010, Brooke Laura, founder and director of Shining Star Academy, launched Saprinu after a trek through Nepal where she visited one of its most isolated and breathtakingly beautiful villages. She was shocked by the lack of education and overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and kindness of the children and villagers. Motivated by the children and parents, she decided to build an English school. Using money from her savings and with help from family and friends, she was able to successfully open the Shining Star Academy. Saprinu is dedicated to providing access to affordable, quality schools whose mission is to educate, equip, and inspire students to value truth, think critically, and live responsibly and fully. Saprinu works towards:
- Providing access to quality education
- Empowering women through literacy and life skills training
- Utilizing local labor and resources to create economic opportunities
- Creating long-term success by promoting self-reliance and sustainability
- Fostering community responsibility towards wellbeing
Would you like to donate your time and volunteer for Saprinu? We would love support on our construction site, in the creation of the pioneering permaculture program or any of our other available internship positions. If you don’t have time but think you can help with resources we are sourcing donations of solar panels and waste and water management resources. If you, your school or your organization would like to partner with Saprinu, either financially or by donating school supplies or services we would love to discuss cooperation possibilities. Please contact Brooke Laura, brooke@saprinu.org for further details.
This sounds like a very worthwhile cause: congratulations to Ryan for alerting us to it. If you feel prompted to assist their work you can contact them as follows:
USA
Saprinu
7217 Osprey Drive
Derwood MD 20855
NEPAL
Sanepa, Kathmandu
Email: saprinu@gmail.com
Tel: +977 9849-630-569
Philippines charity award
A Norwegian woman – Rachel Trovi – has been recognised for her 22 years of charity work in the Philippines. Two days ago, on her 85th birthday, she was presented with the 2006 Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, in recognition of her service to Filipino people and “leadership in community initiatives promoting the common good”. The award was presented at the Philippine Embassy in Oslo, by Ambassador Bayani S. Mercado. Six pre-schools, three orphanages, a home for the elderly, a centre for battered and abused women, a sewing school, a drop-in centre, and a church - all in Cavite Province, Luzon - are operated by Ma’Ma Children’s Centre (Norway) / Hope’s Haven for Children, founded by Ms Trovi who, together with her charity, continues to actively carry out humanitarian work in Cavite. In addition to their on-going prison visitation and street mission work, they plan to open a 100-bed hospital for the poor in November this year.
