We’re all looking for some light in dark times. Here’s an opportunity to be around some kind-hearted people.
Some of the folk who came on our Zambia trip this summer had their hearts opened and were inspired to do something in solidarity with the impoverished communities we visited. They are organizing a fundraiser to provide clean drinking water to one of those communities.
WHERE: Home of Varya Simpson, 1800 Yosemite Rd., Berkeley, 94707
WHEN: Sat., Dec. 3, 4-6pm
For more info, or to RSVP: contact tom[at]openheartsafari[dot]com
RSVP if you can, so that we can have some idea of how many folk to expect
Here’s our travelers’ invitation:
We had the good fortune of goingto southern Africa this summer with Open Heart Safari, which was a greatly moving experience that has stayed with many of us. We have been inspired to raise money to bring clean drinking water to a community we visited, and hope you can us on Dec. 3, for some drinks, appetizers, and socializing, as well as a short slideshow and a little low-key fundraising.
The people we met in Zambia were so inspirational, hardworking and desperately trying to better their own situation. The poverty we saw was heavy, and our group feels moved to do something concrete to help. We learned that access to clean water is a huge challenge for the communities we visited. Basic necessities such as water and toilets do not exist for most people in Zambia. Women will walk several miles every day to the nearest borehole to fill large buckets of water which they carry back on their heads or on the back of bicycles just to have the water their families need for the day.Our goal is to raise $5,000 for Mnkhanya, a poor rural community we visited in eastern Zambia, to construct a borehole, a drilled deep well, protected against contamination by sunken metal casing and a concrete cover. Once the borehole is completed, the community maintains it–no maintenance costs are needed from donors.
We know this can be a financially difficult time of the year for many people, but any amount you can afford will make a huge difference in making this a reality. Your contribution can help, no matter how small.If you are unable to attend, but interested in contributing, checks may be made out to Tides Foundation with ‘for Tikva Grassroots’ on the memo line of the check. Contributions are tax deductible (the EIN for Tides is 51-01985-09). You can mail checks before Dec. 20 to Carol Suveda, 1535 Sacramento Street, Berkeley, CA 94702 who will forward all checks to the Tides Foundation in San Francisco at the end of the year for proper gift acknowledgment.
More info to come in next post.