Wednesday, September 30

Got Brick?

A year ago as the stock market was starting to go all wacky, I was at the IRIS hotel in Kigali, Rwanda working with Itafari. In a way we were lucky to have very limited access to telly in English, only about 15 minutes from the BBC was more than I needed to be honest since it wasn't exactly happy news.

Here it is a year later and I'm looking forward to returning to Rwanda in January. Even though some of what was predicted did actually transpire, life has moved on, maybe not as we'd planned, but we've learned to adapt.

Itafari just celebrated its 4th birthday! And their work has just begun, thanks to the generosity of people like you! In spite of all the challenges, they're continuing.

Their challenge now is to finish raising the money needed to build the Kigali Parents Secondary School, a commitment of $250,000. It will be an amazing school that will support the Kigali Parents Primary School (KPPS) which is going strong. KPPS has consistently had the high scores on national tests and is open to all children, regardless of race or ethnicity. A school the Itafari Foundation is proud to partner with. And so what better way to build this school than brick (itafari) by brick (itafari).

The government recently required that all buildings be complete before they can be occupied. (idea was to build the school in phases). Their goal is to open the school for the January 2010 term. The building has begun! You can see the pictures on the website under VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER or on the presentation that’s also on that same page on the website.

MY REQUEST:

BUY A BRICK FOR $75 – your name will be placed on it and in the school. It’s the perfect symbol of the Itafari Foundation and will change the life of a child forever. Forever. $75

LEARN ABOUT how the Itafari Foundation is helping to build hope in a country

MAKE A DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT - $75 may be more than you can afford. If so, please give what you can. You may also want to give a larger amount. Naming opportunities are available for gifts over $10,000 and other specific amounts can also be designated and acknowledged in the school. Let’s talk about your dreams and the legacy you’d like to leave.

Share this blog with others...friends, loved ones, co-workers. A unique and personal gift. An incredible remembrance of a loved one. A statement that you believe in the power of education. A reminder to yourself that anything we do, large or small, changes the world.



You can donate online at the website, call Vicky, or send your check to:

Itafari Foundation
27 El Greco
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
503.636.3692

Your gift is 100% tax deductible. They will give you a beautiful personalized gift certificate. And you know that this brick, this itafari, is a sign for you and the children of Rwanda that we must never ever ever ever ever give up.

I will be back in Rwanda in January to see what how things are going, and will update you all then!

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Friday, February 29

re-posting since it's a good cause!

Once again LSHTM is hosting World Swim Against Malaria and again I'm not swimming, but my mate Quintin is, every year he dresses up as a sperm (or some would say a malaria sporozoite) & swims, this is his third year particiapting!!

PLEASE help by sponsoring him here.

Did you know (info from the website):


  • 1 - 3 million people die of malaria each year


  • 70% of them are children under 5


  • The children that will die today from malaria would fill 7 jumbo jets


  • Malaria is the world's single largest killer of children and pregnant mothers.


  • The single most effective means of prevention is a mosquito net


  • Each long lasting insecticidal net costs just $ 5


  • For each US$100 raised, 20 nets will endup over heads and beds and save one child's life


  • Malaria is entirely preventable and treatable - 1-3 million people need not die each year.

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Wednesday, February 20

World Swim Against Malaria

Once again LSHTM is hosting "World Swim Against Malaria" and once again I'm not swimming, but my mate Quentin is, every year he dresses up as a sperm & swims, this is his third year particiapting!!PLEASE help by sponsoring him here on his website.



Did you know (info from the website):


  • 1 - 3 million - million -people die of malaria each year


  • 70% of themare children under 5


  • The children that will die today from malaria would fill 7 jumbo jets


  • Malaria is the world's single largest killer of children and pregnant mothers.


  • The single most effective means of prevention is a mosquito net


  • Each long lasting insecticidal net (LLIN)– the net of choice -costs just $ 5


  • For each US$100 raised, 20 nets will endup over heads and beds and save one child's life


  • Malaria is entirely preventable and treatable - 1-3 million people need not die each year.

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