This Holiday Season, Help us "Tell A Different Story of Africa"

Happy Holidays Fellow Echoers!

Two years ago, my brilliant friend Marcos Moldes, an instructor and diversity educator at Simon Fraser University, showed me an incredible TED talk by Chimamanda Adichie called "The Danger of the Single Story."  (click to play video)  Upon arriving to Europe, Adichie recalls her struggle with being expected to reproduce a single narrative of life in Africa. She was chastised by professors who claimed her writing was not "authentically African" as if narratives that spoke of anything other than African poverty were somehow invalid.

I was guilty of carrying a "single story" when I first arrived in Africa. Still in the midst of my undergraduate degree, I entered Sierra Leone aware of the country's post-conflict history and expecting to find a dis-empowered and impoverished population in need of my help as a Westerner. I now recognize how arrogant my assumptions were. My thinking was constantly challenged while in Sierra Leone. I realized how my view of charity and development was ultimately patronizing. I also came to deeply respect the passion, ingenuity, and incredible resourcefulness of the local people who became my friends and colleagues in our work abroad. Rather than fulfilling the expectation of the single story of Africa, these individuals were working to rebuild their communities far before I - or many other international organizations - ever arrived in Sierra Leone. 

Of all those I met abroad, Esther Kanu served challenge my single-story-thinking most clearly. During the Blood Diamond war that tore Sierra Leone apart, most international organizations left the country. In the midst of the conflict, Esther Kanu founded the Women in Action Development Project, a vocational school which remained open whenever possible in the midst of war. She had no international support at the time and relied on colleagues and friends to serve as teachers supporting those who are most affected by war and poverty: women. 

Esther Kanu while visiting British Columbia, Canada

Esther's story was what I wanted to tell when I returned from Africa; a story of empowerment and hope. Furthermore, I openly share how her efforts humbled me, a would-be rescuer from the West, to recognize the incredible initiatives that were already occurring abroad.  I often tried summarizing this paradigm shift but I lacked the eloquence until seeing Adichie's talk which inspired our slogan: "Telling a Different Story of Africa." 

Today, Esther's challenges are different. There is no longer a war in Sierra Leone, however Women in Action has been battling increasing rent charges from a landlord that took over their building in 2013. In 2014, your donations helped secure the school into 2016, but we know that eventually the project will have to be relocated as a sustainable solution. We are currently helping to raise $7000 which would cover the first year of rent on a new school building. Furthermore, Esther is working to purchase a plot of farmland that she is planning to use as an income generating project for Women in Action in the future. 

Lastly, Esther was recently sponsored to travel to the US. While she was in North America, she mailed us a USB key with photos and videos of the school over the last two years. Often it is difficult for Esther to send new media online from Sierra Leone because of poor internet connections so the mailed USB key is a welcomed opportunity to share more of the amazing work you are helping to support. I have posted some of the new photos on the Esther's Echo Facebook Page as well as some in the post below. 

This Holiday Season, please consider supporting Esther's Echo as we "Tell a Different Story of Africa." Even if a donation is not possible, we appreciate you helping to spread the word and tell the story to friends and through social media. From our team to you and your family, we wish you the Happiest of Holidays!

Sincerely, 

Matthew Cimone, Co-Founder

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The new children's program at Women in Action is bringing in boys and girls from the local community so that parents can continue their education and find work during the day. 

Students at Women in Action are trained in a wide variety of skills including tailoring, catering services, health, computer literacy, English, mathematics, and even electrical engineering. 

Staff and Students of Women in Action hold a "Thank you" sign for the Esther's Echo 2014 fundraising campaing

Students in class at the Women in Action Development Project

The beautiful batik and handicrafts created by students at the Women in Action Development Project 

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Happy Valentine's and Women in Action Day!

Hello Echoers!

Valentine's day is a special day for us all at Esther's Echo. February 14th also marks the founding of the Women in Action Development Project in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Founded by Esther Kanu, our community partner in Sierra Leone and our organization's namesake, Women in Action is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year.

I am incredibly proud to be working with Esther. I think of the incredible adversity that she has overcome not only to found Women in Action but also to keep it operational. Women in Action was founded in 1994 in the midst of political instability and a brewing civil conflict. For the next ten years, despite the outbreak of war and operating in what the UN considered the most underdeveloped nation in the world, Esther kept her project running; a place of hope for young vulnerable girls and women in the country.

It is only recently that Women in Action has talked about closing its doors. Struggles with a new landlord  complicated by the outbreak of Ebola in the region have threatened the existence of Esther's project. As of this month, the landlord, who has returned to the country now that Ebola is under control, is threatening to force Esther out. We are working to ensure that won't happen. But it appears the landlord is adamant on selling Esther's building at a price that we simply cannot raise in the short time requested. Should the landlord choose to sell, we will be assisting Esther in securing a new location for Women in Action or begin to fundraise for a building of her own. From our last rent campaign fundraiser, Esther should be secure in her current location until April.

I think about how much Esther could achieve as a business person in Canada, connected to the grants and resources our country offers to entrepreneurs. I wonder how far she would go in a place where political stability is taken for granted or where one does not have to worry about accessing social services through bribes. Esther has had the opportunity to leave her country on several occasions, but she chooses to remain in Sierra Leone for the students of her school. Her goal is to franchise Women in Action across Africa. And I think she can do it. I have rarely seen anybody so dedicated to anything. 

For Valentine's day, please consider supporting Esther and her school. Any funds raised will be used to keep Women in Action operating either in their current location or used to secure a new location. We will keep all of you posted on the outcome with the landlord. Despite any crisis thrown her way, Esther speaks not of the challenges of the present, but hope in the future. It is her hope that inspires us to continue telling a different story of Africa. 

-Matthew Cimone

-Founder / CEO

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Happy New Year! Hours Left to Donate for 2014

Hello Echoers!

Thanks to your support, we raised $850 over the Holidays for Esther's school, the Women in Action Development Project. That puts our total fundraising for 2014 in at $8750 dollars - the largest year we've had! Between the two biggest challenges the school faced this year - potential eviction from the land lord and the threat of Ebola - you all came through in helping to support Esther and her school. Our most sincere gratitude to all of you who donated this year, with special thanks to the Simon Fraser University Teaching Support Staff Union and the "Action for Esther" Team at Mulgrave Secondary School in West Vancouver.

But 2014 isn't over yet! You can still count your donation toward our 2014 year, perhaps getting us to $1000 for the Holiday Fundraiser campaign (or more!) Your donation helps support teacher's salaries, school supplies, rent on the school building and - especially during the Ebola threat - helps Women in Action catchup on a funding shortfall they've experienced while being shut down through the crisis unable to fundraise on their own. 

You can donate through the button below:

The Esther's Echo team wishes you all the best for 2015. As we work to tell a different story of Africa, may next year be filled with your own great story of your impact in the world! 

Sincerely,

Matthew Cimone, Founder and CEO

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Founder Matthew Cimone with Esther Kanu in Sierra Leone

Consider Esther's Echo this Holiday Season

Dear Echoers, 

In our last post we talked about the impact of Ebola in West Africa. Thankfully neither Esther nor any of the students at the Women in Action Development project have been infected by the virus. However, the school has lost alumni member to Ebola since the outbreak began earlier this year. 

While none of the members of the Women in Action Development project are ill, the virus has affected the school and many other businesses and organizations through a strict country-wide regulation of public meeting spaces. As a means of controlling the rate of infection, many businesses and schools have been asked to shut down preventing person to person contact. Women in Action, though a school, also operates as a small business. The school secures contracts for products like clothing and jewellery - crafted by students - as well as services like electrical wiring and catering. Without these contracts, the school fall short on its budget. This means that while the students are already being restricted in their access to education during the outbreak, when the virus is controlled Women in Action may find itself in a huge shortfall for the duration of the year. 

We do not have the resources to combat Ebola directly. However, we can help fight the effects of the virus on the Women in Action Development project. We are asking you to help take action to prepare the school for reopening and ensuring that the staff and students hit the ground running as soon as the virus is under control - and we are hopeful that this time will come soon. 

The ebola outbreak has also provided us with an opportunity. At the onset of the virus, we were still assisting the struggling Women in Action to make a two-year rent payment demanded by Women in Action's land lord. However, the landlord left with no sign of return during the crisis which has also provided us with some breathing room in making up the remainder of the rent, approximately $4,000 dollars, that we have yet to secure to ensure Esther's school remains open until April of 2016. 

You helped us tremendously during the April rent campaign. Your donations helped Esther secure over a year of rent, and we are asking for your assistance again during the Holiday Season. Remember, 100% of your donations go abroad. We don't keep any of it. Any admin expenses come out of our own pockets. Even a gift of your time, in sharing our campaign with others, is greatly appreciated. During our April campaign, your efforts to promote our project saw our Facebook traffic absolutely soar and we were so proud. We had ten times our regular traffic! 

Huge Boost in Facebook Page views thanks to you during our April Campaign!

Thank you for all your support for Esther and the staff and students of the Women in Action Development Center. We wish you a Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Let's make 2015 and amazing one for that amazing school in Sierra Leone!

Donate to the Women in Action Development Center

Sincerely,

Matthew Cimone, Founder and CEO

Beat Back Ebola on Giving Tuesday

Dear Echoers, 

Over the past weeks and months you have likely heard of Ebola's impact on West Africa. One of the countries most impacted by the outbreak has been Sierra Leone where Esther Kanu, our community partner, and her school, the Women in Action Development Project, is located. 

During this time, the international community has rushed to contain the outbreak, but Ebola already begun to migrate from rural areas to capital cities, such as Freetown, where Esther's school resides. In efforts to contain the virus, major community centres such as businesses and schools have been shut down to reduce the risk of contact and infection. Women in Action relies on financial support from the local community to survive by securing contracts based on the skills training the students learn at the school (such as catering, tailoring and even electrical wiring). The closures also mean that Esther and her staff are out of work. 

Times are dark in Freetown right now. Recent reports indicate that large grave sites are being dug to bury highly contagious bodies. Esther herself has also reported that one alumni member of the school has succumbed to the disease. 

As a single organization, we cannot stop the Ebola outbreak. But we can help Esther, her staff, and her students weather the storm until the outbreak can be controlled and the country begins to get back on its feet. During that time, organizations such as the Women in Action Development Project will be critical and your support is crucial. 

On Giving Tuesday, please consider helping us support Esther and Women in Action through the Ebola Outbreak and provide a means by which countries like Sierra Leone can begin to recover from this terrible virus. Click on the link below to donate!

Sincerely, 

Matthew Cimone Founder and CEO

Esther and Esther's Echo Team members during her visit to Vancouver British Columbia

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