We gathered 1490 Euros!! Thanks a lot everybody!
We'll proceed with the donation asap.
Since Ting and I are moving to the States in the beginning of August, we are getting rid of our furniture (and smaller things). Not only are we offering bargains: We're going to donate whatever we raise to the good cause!
I will regularly update the amount we have raised so far. At the end of the ride, I will also scan the three donation proofs. I have no doubt you trust us, but still I think it is nice really to see the result of all your efforts.
We have two program's: Furniture for Nature (goes to WWF) and Furniture for Nurture (goes to Schools for Africa and Damien Foundation). The money raised will go to WWF, Schools for Africa and Damien Foundation in equal proportions (1/3). Note that these three are just a few programs Ting and I especially like: There is so much good stuff out there! No value judgment is intended.
Please don't wait for us donating and go ahead, do a few clicks and donate right at the source! It'll be the best Euro/Dollar you spent this week, and you'll feel GOOD, I assure you. Researchers agree nowadays that giving makes happy. We want you to be happy, not broke! :)
Recently, we also discovered a give-away shop in Leuven, to which we will give: http://www.leuvendorp.be/. It is a great initiative!
"For 50 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
Vision
WWF's vision is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.
Mission
Goal and StrategiesWWF’s mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
By 2020, WWF will conserve 15 of the world’s most ecologically important regions by working in partnership with others to:
"In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, every third child doesn't get the chance to go to school, trapped behind an insurmountable wall of ignorance, poverty and discrimination.
UNICEF SFA International Fundraising Campaign was initiated in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Hamburg Society, newly renamed to Peter Krämer Stiftung, for the promotion of Democracy and International Law.
Launched in Cape Town on December 6, 2004, Schools for Africa was the brainchild of German shipping magnate Peter Krämer, who has personally donated EUR 3.8 million(around USD 5.0 million) to the campaign. Since then, it has continued to attract contributions totalling many millions of dollars from prominent corporate, state and individual donors.
After a very successful first phase (2005-2009) aiming at raising 50 million $ to benefit 4 million children in 6 countries in Africa, Schools for Africa Phase II (2010-2013) is now launched and aims at raising a further 70 million $ to benefit 8 million more children now in 11 countries in Africa.
In the context of the child-friendly "Schools for Africa" initiative, UNICEF is working with governments, local authorities, communities and other partners in 11 of Africa’s most needy countries including Angola, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe to create those conditions that will attract children to school, keep them there and provide them with a safe and protective environment where they can learn and play.
Our focus is on helping the most disadvantaged – orphans, children living in extreme poverty, and girls. Scalability and sustainability are key elements of the campaign. Villagers work alongside UNICEF to build local schools themselves, then take over responsibility for maintaining and running them. At the same time, UNICEF strives to help national agencies institutionalize and scale-up the Schools for Africa approach and framework, so that local successes can be replicated many times over, across the country.
Schools for Africa is making a significant contribution to Nelson Mandela's legacy and vision for the education of Africa's children and the alleviation of poverty, particularly in rural areas."
"Mission and vision
The Damien Foundation is highly specialised. Ours is a long-term battle waged specifically against two diseases, leprosy and tuberculosis. The focused nature of our work sets our Foundation apart from other non-governmental organisations. For the most part, this choice brought about our modus operandi :
We mainly concentrate on fighting against two major diseases, leprosy and tuberculosis
We help in setting up easily accessible, sustainable, high-quality programmes. However, we limit our project work to specific regions and countries. This is because our project commitment is a long-term one. As long as it is desirable, reasonable and necessary to do so, we will remain partners in a project.
On the one hand, we contribute towards developing new techniques to help detect leprosy and tuberculosis. On the other hand, we also support efforts toward improving treatment efficiency. The Damien Foundation supports scientific research activities too.
Isolated projects hardly have any future. This is why we work under the auspices of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, ILEP. Moreover, we are in constant dialogue with :
The countries we work in have increasingly more qualified health personnel. We encourage local health workers to train and monitor activities in order to increase their capacity and know-how. Our final aim is to ensure programme continuity."