Saturday, February 22, 2014

You are all awesome!

 Fundraising has begun and is going well already! Thank you for your support and willingness to help this great cause! Don't be afraid to share with friends! I promise to keep you all updated! 

As I have thought more about everything involved in this great opportunity I was again humbled by all that I have been blessed with. I made my appointment for some of my vaccines needed to go. I am so grateful I do not live in a place where yellow fever is common. Again, I hope to share my own gratitude and change lives. Thank you for your support!

Just a reminder!
Even a small donation significantly increases the impact that we can have on the community in Uganda. I am inviting you to join me with HELP International to serve the people of Uganda by donating $20 $35, $50, $100, or whatever you can. Checks should be made payable to HELP International with “Katie McLelland” in the memo line. Donations can be mailed directly to HELP International or through Network for Good online. www.Help-International.org For online donations, go to the help website (listed below), click on “Donate” at the top of the home page, and include “Katie McLelland” in the dedication box.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Volunteer Internship = Fundraising.


HELP International is a nonprofit organization that works across the globe, empowering local community members by teaching self-sustainable skills that can be shared amongst other members of the community. Currently HELP is working with impoverished communities in seven locations around the world—Belize, Fiji, India, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, and Peru. 


As a volunteer, I will have the opportunity to initiate life-changing, sustainable development programs. Some of the areas that I am personally interested in are public health and education projects. I am confident that I can make a difference in the lives of the people of Uganda.

Uganda is a country in Eastern Africa where over 75% of the population lives below the poverty line. HELP’s program allows volunteers to participate in substantive projects which assess needs in country, ascertain community investment, and develop innovative poverty alleviating programs which allow for opportunities of growth and development. Projects in Uganda are done collaboratively with local NGOs and other partners in-country.



As a volunteer intern, I have the opportunity to raise funds to serve the community and support these projects. My goal is to raise $3,750.00 by March 25th, 2014
Even a small donation significantly increases the impact that we can have on the community in Uganda. I am inviting you to join me with HELP International to serve the people of Uganda by donating $20 $35, $50, $100, or whatever you can. Checks should be made payable to HELP International with “Katie McLelland” in the memo line. Donations can be mailed directly to HELP International or through Network for Good online. For online donations, go to the help website (listed below), click on “Donate” at the top of the home page, and include “Katie McLelland” in the dedication box.

If you would like more information please visit the HELP International website www.help-international.org. Or please feel free to contact me! 
 
Thank you in advance for your support. You play a key role in the alleviation of poverty around the world.  I would like to keep you and your family informed on the progress of the various projects. Here is a link to the team blog we will keep this summer:  or http://ugandambale.help-international.org/. 

I am going to Uganda!

Can I Say That Again? I am going to UGANDA!


Yep, you read it right both times. I was accepted into an internship/volunteer experience with HELP-International and am going to Mbale, Uganda from May 15 to August 15 and I couldn't be more excited!

I thought I would start this blog off right and tell you a little bit about why I am going to Uganda and not doing an internship in Idaho or California. ( Okay, it might seem self explanatory) WHY NOT?

I have been so blessed in this life to have all my basic needs met. I have been provided through the sacrifice of my parents with shelter, clothing, food, and clean water my entire life. This, unfortunately, is not the case of children throughout the world. This is my chance to help them.



The mission of HELP International, the company I am going with,  is to empower people to fight global poverty through sustainable, life-changing development programs. This truly means we are helping people learn how to fish, and not just giving them a fish for the day. Helping people improve should be at the heart of everything we do in life. 

I have had a desire to serve my entire life, a quality I can attribute to my upbringing, and now I get to pay it forward and help those in greater need than myself. I hope you can support me in this desire and great opportunity. I will update on my progress in fundraising, the trip itself, and the sustainable projects and their outcomes here!