We have found our charity. It is a project in Arequipa, Peru to fund schooling for children. The project is run by Global Vision International (www.gviusa.com). I found it through a web site called GlobalGiving.com.
Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru and attracts many migrants hoping to find work. Unable to afford to live within the city, they have set up shanty towns on the outskirts of the city (pueblos jovenes). The children living in these pueblos jovenes have limited access to education. As a parent I work to ensure my daughter will have more opportunities in this life than I had while growing up. I can't imagine the parents of the children in the pueblos jovenes feel differently. These families are looking to improve their and their children's opportunities by seeking work. This is the thread of commonality that pulls on me to help. As a fellow parent I recognize what motivates them to move to the city and look for work.
To find out more about the project please check out the information from Global Vision International:
http://www.gviusa.com/pages/projectDetail.asp?page=moreinfo&expedition=92
Or from GlobalGiving's web site:
http://www.globalgiving.com/pr/1800/proj1768a.html
Orla and I are very excited to visit Peru. Now we just need to work on our fundraising!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Big Idea
This year my wife and I decided to use our vacation to do something different. We are still going to tour a beautiful country, visit with colorful locals, and do interesting things. But this time, we will use our vacation as an experiment-- an experiment in personal power and social change.
The idea is simple. Instead of going on vacation just for ourselves, we will find a charity we believe in that works in the country we want to visit. We will spend up to a year raising money locally to donate to the charity. And finally using our own money we will visit the recipients, document what we see and share the results.
I call it an experiment because I don’t know how it will go. I don’t know how much money we will raise. I am not sure how to raise it. I don’t know if we will make new friends or alienate our current friends. I don’t know if we will have a fun and rewarding vacation or make a mess of things and let people down. I have no idea. But it will be interesting to find out.
The idea is simple. Instead of going on vacation just for ourselves, we will find a charity we believe in that works in the country we want to visit. We will spend up to a year raising money locally to donate to the charity. And finally using our own money we will visit the recipients, document what we see and share the results.
I call it an experiment because I don’t know how it will go. I don’t know how much money we will raise. I am not sure how to raise it. I don’t know if we will make new friends or alienate our current friends. I don’t know if we will have a fun and rewarding vacation or make a mess of things and let people down. I have no idea. But it will be interesting to find out.
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