The African Experiment: All Hands on Deck in America

viernes, 25 de enero de 2008

All Hands on Deck in America

January 21st, 2008 Martin Luther Kind Day and iGA Inauguration Day
Missing from the photo:
Rich Craft, Accountant and iGA Treasurer
Nancy Bareham, Professional Fund raiser

Today we presented iGA to our friends and family. It was a very nice evening and our friends had a chance to learn about our work with iGA and also contribute ideas. iGA or Interface Global Alliance is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that will be our platform to help us irradiate poverty, improve education and health in the small rural villages of Equatorial Guinea, thru sustainable development projects.

It has taken nearly 6 months to set up this non-profit organization. Not only did I have to attend workshops, read countless articles and stories and also interview experienced humanitarians to learn the finer points of running a successful non-profit organization, but I have spent much of that time doing tons of research.

The board members of iGA (Paul Mulford, Dan Ragatz, Rick Craft) have been instrumental in helping me work through so many of the issues that must be studied and considered when starting an organization like this one. I am very excited about the projection for iGA and also I am thrilled to see how many people are buzzing about the opportunity to help fight poverty in Africa.

Please visit our website for more information about iGA and don't forget to sign the guest book.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP (The Children's Kitchen)

EMPTY BELLIES HAVE NO EARS

Most children in Equatorial Guinea eat everyday. There hasn't been terrible food famines here. However a daily diet, for these kids, consists of a plate of rice or fried plantains a day. The majority of adults (let alone children) in Malabo do not eat fresh vegetables.

Not only does this excuse for a daily diet not offer the appropriate variety but it also lacks nutritional value for their growth. Malnutrition affects the children's physical growth and tragically it affects their brain development and thinking abilities. How are these children ever to fairly compete with our children in the growing world market? Might there be a lost Einstein among them?

The parents often have to walk 2-3 hours into the forest to harvest plantains and/or other wild crops. Women often carry as much as 60-100 lbs baskets on their heads and walk for hours to take this tiny loot into the city market. Then, they must sell it at all cost. The left over plantains are then traded among others for handfuls of rice, okra,... By the time a parent arrives back to the village and to the home, it is often 10pm and the children have yet to eat their first real meal of the day.

For $2.40 US dollars a day, WE CAN FEED A CHILD 3 nutritious meals a day.

3 square meals a week will take the edge off poverty and allow these children to be able to concentrate on the fine books we will send and take full advantage of the new education opportunities.

Please visit the iGA website for more information and to find out how you can get involved.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

There are many things that the ELC (English Language Center) project will need. Although, I have made and proposed a budget for basic resources, I am not currently sure if everything will be covered or available.

I will need are English language books (spanish and french also welcome) for the ELC reading library. Email me for a Book Donating Guide

There are no functional English language reading libraries in Equatorial Guinea so this would be a wonderful miracle.

Please email me if you are interested in helping (matingaragatz@gmail.com)

WALK THE TALK!!

Help GLHS Students Feed a Child Today

Grand Ledge High School's Global Studies class is planning to change the lives of many children this year. They will be running a real non-profit organization as part of the class which will not only help them learn about current global issues and the state of the world but also their roles in participating in the eradication of poverty in one small rural village in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa.

In the rural West African village of Ekuku, children are needlessly suffering from malnutrition. Our first and immediate goal of our non-profit organization is to help the children.

How You Can Help

For as little as $2.50 we can feed one child 3 nutritious meals per week. This simple change in a child's life will help with physical and brain development. Also, it will raise the energy level and creative thinking this child will need to become a productive member of the community.

Visit our website for more information, then help us WALK THE TALK and help us spread the word. Don't forget to sign our guest book!

http://interface-global.org