Women's Rights

Submitted by bethjoconnell@g... on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 12:50

the problem:

The problems addressed by this project are vast and diverse. We are currently purchasing baskets and earrings made by Rwandan women struggling to provide or their families and reselling them in the United States to help them broaden their market and raise awareness of Rwandan issues In America. We hope to soon provide training to 25 more women in the village of Cyegera including how to make baskets and clothing as well as some marketing skills. This training program is the idea of the Rwandan women we currently work with.
Providing training and a means of income to these ladies addresses humanitarian issues including poverty, hunger, education, fallout of the genocide that occured in 1994, women's rights, and family planning. This project increases the chance of the children of these women to be educated and receive proper nutrition. It also encourages recycling and sustainability since the products are made from grass and recycling bean or rice bags. We also hope that empowering these ladies to use their own skills to provide for their families will inspire personal growth and empower them to greater progress.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

Mama Baskets is important to me because I know these women well and have seen both their sturggles and potential first hand. I have visited the village in which they live three times to date, one of these times being a ten-week stay in which I worked to address many community needs. These ladies are resourceful and kind women who have great potential if empowered and encouraged.

the plan of action:

The current plan of action is to continue purchasing and selling baskets and earrings and to find a funding source for the training project.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by visting our facebook page to purchase one of the items or by donating toward shipping costs or toward the training project.

project updates:

Submitted by jasminebabers on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 11:13

the problem:

This project is about the self-esteem of girls and community service. This magazine is for girls by girls. Love, GIRLS Magazine recognizes local girls for their accomplishments. I believe nothing is more satisfying than being recognized by your peers. In addition this magazine supports community service through the volunteer work of magazine staff and articles written about community issues. In addition the magazine is a great opportunity for girls interested photographry, writing and graphic design. Just ask girls who have been involved or featured in the magazine. When we increase self-esteem, we make the world a better place, one girl at a time. Why? Because love changes people.

vital stats:

people impacted:

250

people involved:

why it's important:

I have always volunteered in the community. I was a volunteer for the Child Abuse Council for several years. I have also volunteered with the Girl Scouts outreach program for at risk girls and I have seen first hand that many girls don't feel good about themselves. I have seen the excitement on girls faces when they see their writing published or have an article written about them. The girls get a lot of positive feedback when the community sees what they are doing. This is important to me because I have always been told to use your gifts and what you love to make the world a better place. My thing is graphic design.

the plan of action:

I plan to publish four issues yearly. I am curently a sophomore in high school. I want to start Love, GIRLS Magazine in other cities. I want this magazine to be national program with each city recognizing their own local young women. My first plan for expansion is Memphis, TN, where I know a group of girls is already interested. I eventually want to create a scholarship fund to help inspired girls get a college education. I have an older sister in college and I know how hard it is to pay for school.

how you can get involved:

The magazine is currently funded by Royal Neighbors of America. However, printing is very expensive. All other funds come from ad sales. We need businesses to advertise in our magazine. We need donations to grow a scholarship fund. Also, we want encourage community service. We will publish volunteer needs, so we encourage people contact us about issues where we can help create awareness.

project updates:

Submitted by crbrotherton on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 13:41

the problem:

Teenage girls go through young adulthood with no idea of who they are. They see themselves as ugly, unloved, and misunderstood. Miss understood is a girl's retreat that would be started to let girls know that they are amazing and beautiful in their own skin. They would have opportunities to see themselves as the wonderful, beautiful young women they are.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

It's important to me because I was once that girl; the one that had no idea that people cared about her. I had no idea that I was beautiful and made with a purpose. It's important because girls need to be in a place where they can be themselves around other girls. Girls need a place where they can feel free to say things that are on their mind and ask questions. When you know you're not the only one with a problem it makes you feel much less alone. That's the goal for these young ladies: to let them know they are not alone.

the plan of action:

The plan of action is to take girls that want to spend a weekend learning about how amazing they are, to a camp or church where they are in close quarters and can spend time with other girls with the same problems. We would have exercises, group dynamic activities, and finding yourself activities where these girls would learn more about themselves and the girls around them. After that, they would have no doubt that they are amazing and they have someone loves them. The project would need women volunteers to mentor and facilitate these teenagers. The leaders would help these young girls understand what the weekend was about and keep an eye on them. Each girl would pay a small fee to get on the camp and help the project fund. It would not be an intimidating amount though. The whole project is aimed to make girls feel accepted.

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by msurguy on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 14:23

about.png

the problem:

Fountain of Hope Youth Initiative was founded in 2003 by a group of youths impacted by the effects of HIV/Aids, poverty, limited access to information, degradation of environment, tribal & cultural intolerance. The primary objective of FOH is to engage the youths and entire community in seeking local remedies that would help in elimination or reduction of the above issues. Our goal is to offer a noticeable contribution towards achievement the Kenya’s Vision 2030 & The Millennium Development Goals. FOH exists to offer a platform for youths and the community to exercise social obligations and therefore as an organization we strive to promote the philanthropic culture to the local community.

vital stats:

people impacted:

2,000

people involved:

why it's important:

I believe in generosity and doing unto others as I would like it to be done to me.

the plan of action:

I am the webdesigner for FOHLC website, I built the website on my own hosting and I need help continuing working on the project so it could have more exposure and more impact for the local Kenya community

how you can get involved:

Donate, invest, share

project updates:

Submitted by The Collective on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 13:14

the problem:

We believe that one of the biggest challenges facing young organizers is navigating internal group dynamics. Whether it is teens, college students, volunteers, parents or community members fighting together for a specific cause, there are inevitably moments in these struggles when group members are faced with difficult decisions and potential conflicts. Often times these complex internal dynamics can be the biggest barrier a group may face when working on a campaign or project.

Through workshops on non-violent communication, consensus decision making and non-hierarchical leadership, we hope to promote alternative strategies and tools for organizing at the grassroots level. Our goal is to alleviate much of the stress and anxiety that can come from working in a group setting, and provide creative techniques for collaborative work.

We also believe that the way we are with each other reflects the way we are in the world. By this we mean that if we can radically change our relationships to be more harmonious, peaceful and cooperative, we have the capacity to create entire communities in the same way.

vital stats:

people impacted:

200

people involved:

why it's important:

The members of The Collective first met in 2007 while participating in a study abroad program. There were 28 students on an epic journey across the world, and establishing effective and democratic group norms was a key component of our trip. For us, the exploration of these issues came first out of necessity. In order to survive our nine months together, we had to devise ways to interact, make decisions and handle conflict.
It was during this time abroad that many of us discovered the importance of collaborative decision making and ways in which non-hierarchical leadership can create a space where all voices are respected and heard. Ultimately, by the end of our time together, we were deeply committed to working with each other and others on developing new processes for communicating and organizing in groups.

the plan of action:

Since 2010, we have taught numerous workshops to college students, young adults, small progressive nonprofits, and co-ops in the region. We have promoted our work through word of mouth and other networks with which we are familiar.

In addition to teaching in-person workshops, we have written, designed and published materials on communication and community-building techniques.

With a seed grant of $500, we could significantly expand the content and scope of our workshop, as well as produce a more comprehensive resource guide and workbook on consensus and alternative forms of decision making.

how you can get involved:

Others can be involved by attending our workshops and teaching others! We believe that the material and content of our workshops and publications should be widely distributed, and that everyone can benefit from these resources.

If others have an interest in teaching the materials with members of the collective, and getting directly involved, we would be happy to discuss that possibility.

project updates:

Submitted by roger2286 on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 12:57

the problem:

The Problem im planning to solve is hunger, homelessness, batterd woman, sick, poor, religious pratcie i school, troubled youth etc..

vital stats:

people impacted:

100

people involved:

why it's important:

It is important to me cause i hate to see my society go down hill and suffer from poverty. I came from a rough childhood and i know what it feels like not to have nothing i just want to give back and bea ble to help and give back to all.

the plan of action:

My plan to open up more shelter facilities food programs, build more schools and universities, afterschool programs keep kids engaged.

how you can get involved:

I need funding, dedicated people who will help and fight for the cause. Support and a better network to reachout to american society

project updates:

Should a man pay for a woman on a first date?

Submitted by jkultgen on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 12:51

Submitted by DBH0014 on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:51

the problem:

A Family Community is a program I am desigining to benefit every individual in our community, not only residents and locals, but the community as a whole. This includes surrounding areas and even alternate states. We aim to provide Disater education, job readiness, disater preparedness seminars, dating volience information, a place of refuge for volience over comers, a place for homeless individuals to get food, and clothing and opportunities for job search, and job placement. We want to prevent teen pregnancy, but all the same provide help to those who have already had children. We promote family stablility. We want to educate individuals on healthy eating, and living a healthy lifestyle as well. We plan to this not only by branching out and starting partneships with exsisting organizations, but by putting in hard work, and sweat ourselves as well. We plan to involve individuals that seek help in unimaginable ways.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

This is imporatnt to me because, I grew up in a single parent home; and felt sad and alone. I want individuals to understand that not every house hold is the same, and that it is okay to be different. I understand the importance of education, and i am seeking to futher my education. I want every individual that I encounter to understand this concept as well.

the plan of action:

*Conduct meetings with community leaders(i.e. Community pastors, non-profit organizations, mayor)
*Get Schools involved( with the job I already have I have easy access to recruiting teens, and volunteers)
*Get the community aware.....(i.e.: Facebook, local news, news paper)
*Recruit Volunteers/ Board members (i.e. Church goers)
*Set up banking account
*locate a building for headquaters (i.e.: unused city building, or church building)
* Contact local food banks set up patnerships
*start partnership with local DHR

how you can get involved:

Individuals can help by contributing non perishable items, volunteering, making donations, and participating in the program

project updates:

Submitted by bri7232 on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 01:05

Check out our videos!

the problem:

Right now, more than 300,000 Kenyan youth live and work on the streets. Street youth face a life of disease, poverty, exploitation, and violence. Some street youth survive by collecting scrap metal for recycling as well as washing cars, while the more vulnerable turn to theft and prostitution. In Kenya, where education is neither free nor mandatory, many street youth have not completed Primary School let alone Secondary School. Millions of dollars are invested into humanitarian programs that offer food, clothing, and shelter, but they often fail to keep youth off the streets forever. In a country with an unemployment rate of 64% among youth between the ages of 18 and 35, street youth simply cannot compete in the job market.

vital stats:

people impacted:

300

people involved:

why it's important:

In 2008, I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to volunteer with an HIV clinic in Mathare, the second largest slum in Kenya. The experience changed my life. Upon my return to the U.S. I changed my major from Biology to International Studies with the determination to go back to Kenya after I graduated.

I graduated in December 2010 and moved to Kenya in March 2011 determined to make a change in the world. Just a few short days after landing in Nairobi I met a former street boy, Wiclif Otieno. Wiclif's story, success, and passion for changing the lives of other street youth through KITO International was very inspiring. We became instant friends.

Wiclif taught me a lot about street life, poverty, and the importance of quality aid. I quickly fell in love with the KITO community and it didn't take long before Wiclif and I joined forces to continue KITO's growth.

the plan of action:

KITO believes that "moving off the streets" means "getting out of poverty." If street youth are given an economic opportunity that enables them to work their way out of poverty and become self-sufficient, they will stay off the streets forever.

Potential KITO youth are referred by partner organizations, recruited by team members, or apply on their own. KITO selects street youth through a participatory interview process. Successful applicants enter a vigorous 2 month training program which covers entrepreneurship, life skills, employability skills, and financial literacy. Upon graduation of KITO's Training Program, KITO youth are offered temporary employment with KITO's social enterprise, EcoSafi, where they learn to make bags from recycled material as well as practice the skills they have learned in a hands-on setting. KITO staff work tirelessly to customize each youth's exit strategy. KITO youth have the option to start their own business, go back to school, or find full-time employment.

how you can get involved:

Spreading the word about KITO International is very important to us. You can help us in these efforts by liking us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kitointernational) or following us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/kitointl). KITO International is always looking for volunteers, interns, and donations to help us achieve our mission. To learn more about us please visit www.kitointernational.org.

project updates:

videos:

Submitted by jeanjuang on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 17:55

the problem:

There is a shortage of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields; girls are often discouraged by their peers or social pressure and often end up not pursuing their dreams. This project aims to mentor young girls who aspire to be engineers and scientists or are simply curious about the world around them.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

My personal experiences and challenges as a woman in engineering spurred me to found and mentor a junior team. I wanted to be able to inspire others to be interested in science and math as well as become more confident in their abilities.

the plan of action:

After recruiting some other volunteers to help me, we advertised around local middle schools and registered for the FIRST LegoLeague competition. We met for three hours every Monday to work on the robot, programming, and research presentation. We ended placing seventh in the competition and winning the programming award!

how you can get involved:

n/a