Happy New Year! (And a Thanks from Ms. Karoma)

Happy New Year Echoers!!

I hope that 2019 is off to an amazing start for all of you! 

Big thank you all to those who contributed to our 2018 Holiday Season fundraising campaign. Between donations through the website, those who donated in person to me over the break, and funds that came through on Facebook we raised just over $3000 which beat out last year's record! Hoorah!

Where does that leave us?

We had to close the gap on Esther's outstanding rent for the end of 2018 to ensure that the Women in Action Development Project could remain in their present location. The balance was $3500US. $3000CDN translates right now to about $2100US so we are still looking at another $1400US to go. 

Esther is already receiving pressure from the landlord. We've moved the school once before because of outstanding rent payments. The process disrupted an entire semester at the school - something which we'd like to avoid. So let's ensure that we get the school off to a strong start in 2019. 

I also wanted to share a video with you. I posted this to the Facebook fundraiser but I had yet to post it to the blog. The video is a brief interview that Esther filmed with Ms. Karoma who is the cosmetology department teacher at Women in Action. You'll also hear a shoutout from the cosmetology students to the Esther's Echo supporters - YOU! Thank you for all you have done. You have made all of what you see here possible. 

Once again, Happy 2019!

You Did It! You Bought Farmland!

Echoers!

I am very excited to announce that, with Esther's guidance, we have all successfully bought a plot of farmland for the Women in Action Development Project!

I can't thank you all enough for the support that you've shown. When we put out the call for help, you answered and that means a great deal to me, Esther, and the staff and students of the Women in Action Development Project. Special thanks to Capilano University's Global Stewardship program and Mulgrave Secondary for their fundraising efforts, donations, and hosting me to speak about Esther's Echo at Justice High and Action for Esther. 

Esther sent a few pictures of the land which I've included below. Esther is currently thinking of leaving some room on the land to construct the first of their rural school locations bringing us to our next set of goals.

Our support to Esther has, so far, been for the general operation of the Women in Action Development Project. However we want to go beyond that and facilitate growth and expansion as well. Purchase of the farmland was a first step in that direction as crop yields will serve to generate income to help pay expenses we've already been funding like rent on Esther's school building. Having the farm therefore means all your future donations are that much more effective as we can start investing some of that funding into long-term growth. The longer-term goals are to help with the expansion of the primary Women in Action location in Freetown and also expand to a rural location; likely on the land we just secured. These are big plans, but I think we can make it happen. We will need all your support and your help to spread the word to others you think would be willing to contribute as well.

We will keep you posted on the farmland developments. Once again, my sincerest thanks to you all. 

-Matthew

Donate Today!

Help Us Secure a Home for Women in Action

Hello Echoers

The last few weeks have been challenging. 

Esther contacted us recently to let us know that their school is in jeopardy. 

Recently, the landlord that owns the building Women in Action is housed in passed away. Her son has taken over the building. As a result, rent rates on the building have increased dramatically in a short time. While the prices the new landlord is charging are still within market rates, the previous landlord was providing a discounted rate. This increase has created a shortfall in Esther's budget. 

The budget shortfall means that it is possible Esther, and the Women in Action, might be forced from the building. That could mean a huge disruption to the girls currently enrolled at the school at best and permanent closure of the school at worst. 

We are trying to raise enough funds to help Esther cover the rent on the building for the next two years. That is about $10,000. In combination with Esther's efforts abroad, we have raised about $4,000 already thanks to some incredible contributions. We have been sending out letters to everybody we know, friends have volunteered their time to help us with postering and advertising, we event setup a donation box at Simon Fraser University's dining hall to collect change. 

Esther's Echo Donation Box at Simon Fraser University's Dining Hall

But we need to make up the rest and we need to do so quite quickly. We would love your support in helping to keep this incredible project and Esther's vision for community change alive. You can help make this happen by making a donation today. 100% of every dollar we receive goes directly to Esther as we are small enough to operate without taking any funds for overhead expenses. Furthermore, I have personally committed $1000 to the cause to help catalyze funds. 

The donation letter that we sent out to friends and family has also been posted in Thunder Bay's Chronicle Journal newspaper which is my home town. You can read the article by clicking on this link

Thank you for your consideration! Take action by clicking the donation link below!

-Sincerely

Matthew Cimone Founder/CEO

Take Action to Save Esther's School

Esther Kanu, Founder of Women in Action