Walk In Love - What I do/What you can Do
by Aubree McClelland Packard on Friday, April 6, 2012 at 12:14pm ·
"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again"
- Mahatma Gandhi
Some awesome news, almost. I met with Micheal and Claire yesterday. They are the people affiliated with the NGO that might umbrella WIL. They both agreed that WIL would be a great fit but I have to get the OK from one other man. Once we get the OK then I can start fundraising with the Neema House 501©3 tax number. While running the outreach program under Neema House I will also be working towards registering WIL as a separate charity. Micheal and Claire are building a baby orphanage named Neema House in Arusha. They are currently looking for rental property so they can start taking in babies immediately while waiting for the permanent orphanage to be built. I will be serving at an outreach program to Neema House. If it were for for Neema House, Micheal and Claire I would had a long road and expensive road before I could actually start assisting and supporting the people. I will forever be grateful to them! A brief description of what I will be doing is below.
Walk In Love Outreach
All programs are set to help families stay in a home together and eventually support themselves.
Family outreach: Assess the families current needs and offer one, some or all of the following:
- formula
- clothe diapers
- food
- basic hygiene products
- pay for trade school
- provide nice clothing for job interviews
- small business loans
- housing
- school sponsorship for children at home
- daycare
- support groups
- support and assistance in getting a child home from orphanage or other
In order for families to receive any assistance above they must participate in one support group meeting per week unless other arrangements have been made. Families will pick up supplies for the week at the meetings.
Support groups: Support groups will be added as demand increases. My original plan was to have women empowerment groups but because of the high mortality rate during birth we expect to have many men in the program. After researching other outreach programs we have found that men and women also work well in a group together. If in the future we feel the need to have separate women empowerment groups then they will too be as well.
Every support group will include English lessons.
- Widow/widower support group
A local Tanzania women will lead up this group.
- General support group: Poll members to see what they think would be beneficial for them. Most groups will be lead by a guest speaker. These groups will be held in a rented office space. When the groups get big enough we will separate into villages for easier access. The groups will then be held in members homes or one of the programs family homes.
Examples:
- Healthcare (first aid, CPR)
- Small business
- Current events
- Job skill
- English
- Reading and writing
These topic can go on for one or more meetings depending on the interest and need.
Once a month support groups will join for a community service day at the orphanage/ or where needed. After they are finished with the community service we will follow up with a family day with food, games and fun for the whole family.
Laundry business
- Provides employment to women in the program
- opportunities to move up in the business. Interviews will be held for a manager, assistant manager and accountant.
- Small business lessons will be given throughout the week.
- A piki piki driver (one of the men in the program) will be employed to pick up and drop off laundry.
- Primary business with be the volunteer community.
- In order to start this business up as soon as possible we will be sending all cleaning supplies home with the women and they will take the clothing home to clean it and bring it back once it is finished.
Childcare professionals
This will be a 6 month program where women learn everything about childcare. Once they graduate they will be eligible to work at the baby orphanage or daycare. They will also get references if there are no jobs available. This will be taught by an Intern or other childcare professional (Aubree).
Family homes:
Families that meet certain criteria will have a home provided for them or be given rent money to stay in there current home while they go to a trade school or start a small business to support there family. Families can live in the house for a year max.
Community Garden:
Families can receive fruits and vegetables from the community garden as long as they are working in it. The food will be distributed after the work is done. If the family would prefer to get seeds instead of food then that is also an option.
Drop center for street children: (if one does not already exist, will have to do some research on this one)
Once a week staff will go into Arusha and interview children that are ready to get off the streets. If it is decided that reunification is possible then we work toward getting the child back in the home. If not, then we will work with other organization that have facilities for them to live.
Intern/Volunteer program
I will bring in interns and volunteers with backgrounds in social work, childcare, healthcare and business.
Where you can help!
As you all know none of this would be possible without support and funding. I will not be back in the USA until September so fundraising is something that will be a bit tricky. I can organize some fundraising from here but what I really need are people on the ground to oversee the fundraisers and organize where I cannot. Please look over the list of ideas and if you see one that appeals to you or if you have a fundraising idea, let me know! We will also have an intern/volunteer program up and running very soon. If want to help on the ground then we would be happy to have you!
- Walk In Love 5K
- Concerts/shows
- design something that the women can make out of the beautiful and colorful fabrics to sell at places like World Market, Anthropology, Urban Outfitters, Etc.
- Help to get children and families sponsored
- Organize a speaking event for me when I am back in the states.
- Put out baby bottles at local stores to collect money for formula
- Design Walk In Love T-shirts for events (5K, concerts, speaking engagement, etc)
- Sell WIL calendars (not yet designed but I should have them by September)
- Design a website
- Anything else you can think of!
Please keep in mind that every dollar matters here. There is no such thing as a small donation. For example to send a women to school to learn how to do hair is $15 per month. After 6 months of school ( $100) that women can get a good job and support her family.
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