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Africa Aid Begins First Cycle of Classroom-Designed Microfinance Program |
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As a result of the Summer Assessment Trip 2008, Africa Aid is excited to announce its Skills Education and Microfinance (SEAM) initiative to empower small enterprises in Ghana. Africa Aid has partnered with two Ghanaian nonprofit organizations to distribute small business loans to poverty-striken entrepreneurs who otherwise would not have access to credit. With SEAM, Africa Aid and its partner organizations hope to reduce local poverty and increase economic success to ultimately improve the quality of life in Ghana. [Read more about SEAM]
To ensure the success of SEAM, Africa Aid is inviting friends and supporters to contribute to this exciting new beginning through the Fund Empowerment Campaign. Now through January 2009, your donations and t-shirt purchases will benefit the Fund Empowerment Campaign to cover SEAM startup costs and the first two loan cycles needed to kindle economic success for Ghanian small businesses. Help Africa Aid reach our $14,000 goal by January 1, 2009, and reduce Ghanaian poverty by investing in empowerment.
[Contribute to the Fund Empowerment Campaign]
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Fund Empowerment
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Africa Aid's success relies on the generous support of individuals like you. Through January 1, 2009, your donations will support the Fund Empowerment Campaign for our new SEAM microfinance program. Give Now!
You Design. You Decide.
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Read our Summer Announcement
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Check out the Africa Aid Blog for news about Africa and updates on Africa Aid programs. |
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Your Community in Action
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Big hearts come in small packages - just ask Eric Stamper, a second grade teacher at Dodson Elementary School in Canton, Michigan. Stamper first learned of his classroom's precocious interests in philanthropy when one student vacationed to Africa to visit her grandmother. The second graders rallied to collect toy donations for their classmate to bring for African children. But one round of donations was not enough, and the class began searching for additional ways to help Africa.
Stamper encouraged his students to use the computer lab to find a nonprofit that addressed their interests. The students found AfricaAid.org, and grew excited about the opportunity to improve the health and welfare of African children through $20 t-shirt purchases. They decided to order Africa Aid t-shirts for an upcoming school field trip, in lieu of the matching tie-dyed shirts other classrooms were wearing.
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Determined to support Africa Aid on their own, the second graders of Dodson devised many creative methods for raising the funds needed to purchase t-shirts. First, they drafted their own newsletter announcement to notify all parents of their classroom goal. Students then held garage sales, ran lemonade stands, and even completed extra chores for larger allowances. By June 2008, they raised $500 for t-shirts, plus an additional $202.41 which they donated to Africa Aid. As planned, all 24 students wore matching Africa Aid shirts to their field trip (pictured above) as a proud symbol of their activist efforts.
[Share Your Story]
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Africa Aid Announces Ground-Breaking Liberian Mobile Doctors Network (MDNet) |
Africa Aid is pleased to present the Mobile Doctors Network (MDNet), an innovative healthcare initiative creating free mobile physicians networks within African countries. Through a recent partnership with Lonestar Cell, the leading wireless provider in Liberia, all Liberian physicians are now able to receive cell phone SIM cards that allow for free calls and SMS text messages to fellow registered Liberian physicians.
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As of August 30, 2008, the Liberian MDNet program connects the approximately 135 Liberian doctors currently servicing 3.5 million citizens to improve communication among the medical community. The MDNet program aims to advance healthcare by quickening the nation's medical emergency response. The free doctor-to-doctor connection will also facilitate a more efficient referral system and allow for doctors to quickly seek advice from their colleagues. [Read more about MDNet]
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