Giving Tuesday, the one after Thanksgiving, is the world's response to the commercialism associated with the holiday shopping craze — Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and all that. We encourage supporting nonprofits or small businesses on those days (sign up to our Social Justice newsletter via our front page form to be informed of upcoming sales and Basket giveaways). And that brings us to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, set aside for giving to charities. And every year, we have a fundraising campaign. This year's #GivingTuesday fundraising campaign is for... drum roll please...
The Batwa Peace & Power Youth Leadership Center
This incredible facility will be built once we have raised $15,000 which will cover building costs, administration associated with supervising the engineers and building professionals hired for the task, outfitting the building with tables and chairs and other items and in implementing the initial stages of our Batwa training programs. The Community Center will include:
A Community Kitchen and Covered Outdoor Patio for our activities, such as the Educational Soup Kitchen.
A Demonstration Garden with coffee, trees, vegetables, and domestic animals.
A Learning Lab for computer technology, communications (writing, social media, photography) and internet job training. This will be the core project where we train the Batwa in communication jobs!
Once funding is secured, we will expand our current efforts mentoring Batwa youth in using digital technology to tell their stories and their elders' stories and to learn how best to advocate for environmental and social justice. Older youth will receive leadership training, particularly in how to use writing, photography, speaking, and social media tools to help their tribe gain recognition and power in society, and help them create their own small businesses so they can always have sources of income.
Under the guidance of our Director Wendee Nicole, an award-winning journalist with experience teaching writing, we will seek grants + donations to "Create an Economy" that will help Batwa circumvent Uganda's low employment rates—and discrimination—by using cell phone and computer tech to publish their works of art, photography, and writing internationally. They will learn goal setting, money management, computer/phone use skills, and much more. Young ones will continue to play and be nurtured with healthy food, while being tutored by the older students, who serve in internships.
DONATE
Our Director has pledged to match up to $2,000 USD to individual donations that come in this year!
Make a one-time donation, or set up a recurring donation at our Donate page, which will take you through to Paypal. You can also mail a check to RSF, 6942 FM 1960 E #385, Humble TX 77346 (NOTE NEW ADDRESS). RSF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible in the US. (Please let us know if you mail a check).
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