How will I raise $10,000 for a microfinance project?

Filipino Trust Bank

In September I committed to raise AU$10,000 for an Opportunity International project against poverty for a group in the Philippines. And right now I only have a few months left and a little under $9,000 to raise. Eeeeek. So - in case you're wondering - what am I going to do?

1. I'm hoping to receive some funding through a special program at work for volunteers. This could provide around $1600 worth of funds to this project.

2. I will be making a significant donation myself. I believe in this program and the hope it offers these people - not just to create their own businesses - but to transform them and their communities with a long term solution. I'll be putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak!

3. Even if I only raise AU$5,000 I can still partner with another Opportunity Ambassador volunteer to achieve our goals. Opportunity International recognises that the current economic climate is making it more difficult for volunteers to raise funds, so although I initially committed to raising AU$10k I will be simply be raising as much as I can before June 30th 2009. If I raise less than $5000 the money will still go towards Opportunity International projects, however I'd still like to think that the $10,000 goal can be achieved by the end of June :)

So how can you help?

You can help me reach this goal, making a difference to a community of entrepreneurial poor, by donating to my Chipin fundraiser by credit card or paypal. People around the world have donated anything from $10 to $100 each. If you live in Australia your donation will be tax deductible. My request is genuine, as you can see on Opportunity International's official website.

Alternatively you can purchase quality greeting cards or wall prints with all proceeds (approximately 20% ) going to this project.

Finally - please spread the word by linking to this site or my Chipin on your social networks, tell your friends, and if you have any ideas on great webby ways to fundraise, please let me know. It's not easy!

Opportunity International fundraising event

Shouting out For Love by David Armano

If you live in Melbourne - please be my guest at Shout Out Social this Saturday!

This celebration of creativity for positive change will include a digital exhibition of images and words created by people around the world, and a video message from the inspiring visual journalist Eileen Clegg. Special guest speaker, actor and playwright Shahin Shafaei will be there to share some words, drawing upon his incredible personal story.

Shahin Shafaei, an acclaimed actor and playwright in his native home of Iran fled his country after having his work banned. He found his way to Australia in 2000 through Indonesian people smugglers, and ended up spending 22 months at Curtin immigration detention center in WA - 10 of those months in isolation. These days Shahin continues his creative work and empowers others to share their own amazing stories through the arts.

This special event will be held one night only - Saturday 14th March 5pm to 7pm at Horse Bazaar in Melbourne (which kicks on until late.) Entry is free and a donation box will be available to raise funds for a Opportunity International Australia project.

Invite your friends and RSVP to the event on Facebook or make a $10 donation today to help fund a Filipino microfinance project - helping families and communities out of poverty.

Hope to see you there!

Last Day for Photos

I'm raising funds for a project against poverty in the Philippines through Opportunity Australia and I need your help.

All I need is for you to 'donate' a photo, artwork or design, and say what you want to shout out for (eg love, poverty, healthcare etc). Check out this Youtube clip for ideas.

Today is the last day to add your photos for a digital wall show. They will be screened in a small bar in Melbourne this Saturday where guest speaker Eileen Clegg will be sharing a message on creativity for positive change via video, and special guest Shahin Shafaei will be sharing some inspiration from his own story in person.

All you need to do is submit a photo to this Flickr group or email wonderwebby at gmail.com. Today is the last day, so please send by the 10th of March.

Thanks for your support!

Statistics on poverty

I did a bit of a google for statistics on poverty. Here are some of the stats I found:

1. More than half the world lives in poverty (on less than $2 a day)
   

2. At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.^{Source 1}

3. More than 80 % of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.^{Source 2}

4. According to UNICEF, 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”^{Source 4}

5. Based on enrolment data, about 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school in 2005; 57 per cent of them were girls. And these are regarded as optimisitic numbers.^{Source 6}

6. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.^{Source 7}

7. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World.^{Source 30}
   
   
8. One in three Filipinos are estimated to be living below the Asian Poverty Line of $1.35/day (About 25.4 million) Source

Will you help to make a difference?

Trust Banks easily explained

I just found this great clip about Trust Banks which explains the concept quite simply.

As you know I'm raising funds for one of these microfinance programs over the next couple of months. There is still one day left to donate a photo for a special event to raise funds for a Trust Bank in the Philippines. Can you help out?

A little inspiration

We all need an little encouragement sometimes so I made a little clip using Animoto and uploaded it to Youtube - it's a little inspiration on why your voice matters.


Incredible to think that none of these images would exist if individuals didn't take a moment to reflect on things that matter, and now the exhibition is slowly coming together. I'm sure there are more people who want to shout out - how about you? Upload your image to shout out for something http://www.flickr.com/groups/shoutoutsocial/ or email me at wonderwebby at gmail.com

Shout it out!

Marching On

My how time flies when your raising funds. It's already March and I still have a significant amount of money to raise so that a group of individuals in the Philippines can get out of poverty.

"Of the 91 million people living in the Philippines, 43% survive on US$2 or less a day."

My next creative event is around the corner and there are only 8 days let for people to take a few minutes and submit photos for the exhibition, and I'm not how much more I can promote the event without becoming "spammy". The Shout Out event is on in less than 2 weeks and while I'm excited about the exhibition and speaker, I really wish I had more people RSVPing at this stage.

Some moments I wonder what on earth I am doing - I'm a very busy mum with young children, life is full between family, work, commitments in my community and everything else. I haven't coordinated an event like this for a loooong time but the thought that doing this might raise even a little bit of money towards the project keeps me going. It's a JOURNEY - that's for sure.

Anyhow, I have written up a blurb about Shout Out Social because a special guest will be joining us! Here 'tis - please come along!

Shout Out Social promises to be a special two hour event for anyone interested in the arts and community development. This celebration of the creative voice will include a digital exhibition of images and words created by people around the world, and a video message from the inspiring visual journalist Eileen Clegg. Special guest speaker, actor and playwright Shahin Shafaei will be there to share some words, drawing upon his incredible personal story.

Shahin Shafaei

Shahin Shafaei, an acclaimed actor and playwright in his native home of Iran fled his country after having his work banned. He found his way to Australia in 2000 through Indonesian people smugglers, and ended up spending 22 months at Curtin immigration detention center in WA - 10 of those months in isolation. These days Shahin continues his creative work and empowers others to share their own amazing stories through the arts.

This special event will be held one night only - Saturday 14th March 5pm to 7pm at Horse Bazaar in Melbourne (which kicks on until late.) Entry is free and a donation box will be available to raise funds for a Opportunity International Australia project.

You still have your chance to submit photos or artwork to the Flickr group.
RSVP to the event on Facebook or help to spread the word by becoming a Fan! Please tell your friends and come along to be inspired and help make a difference!