Today October 15, 2008 is Blog Action Day.
This year's topic is Poverty and how to tackle it if not solve it.
There are myriad ways to address the issue.
I could have picked a homegrown (US) project.
Instead I chose Trusts for African Schools (TAS) a UK based charitable organization.
I found out about them through Journeys by Design which donates some of its profits to them.
First reason I was attracted to their work was the commitment that 100% of the money raised goes to the project.
Second, you can see for each school involved, what the specific needs are, their costs and their goal.
All costs are given in British Pounds.
Let's take a look at Asako School, serving 310 students aged 5 -19 in an extremely remote and poor district of Kenya on the River Tana just outside the Kora National Park.
They needed a Caretaker/ Maintenance Person/ Cook (for kids midday meal) whose yearly salary would be 600 Pounds, all monies were raised since the project was announced in May 2008.
Back in 2006, the same school needed furniture as none of the classrooms had any. Teachers were standing and kids sat on the floor.
1400 pounds was the cost to purchase 90 desks with benches each to seat 3 children, 10 tables and 10 chairs, funds were raised.
For each school and each project when you check 'requirements', you can see which projects are fully funded and which are not, you can then decide which to sponsor.
With an organization like Trusts for African Schools everything is broken into small pieces.
You can see what your contribution will achieve.
My small bit for Blog Action Day 2008.
For the past 2 years, I also have been taking part in Menu for Hope which raises funds for the UN Food Programme during the month of December.
I intend to join this effort again in 2008.
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