Charities
Hope - This month’s feature charity
Story Highlights
- How they do what they do
- How you can help
- Lavender Week
- Giving Something Back
Traveling with St. Christopher’s is all about give and take. You give us where and when, and we give you the time of your life.
But as much as we’d like life to be a non-stop, jet setting, hostel hopping party, we all know it isn’t.
That’s why this month we’re telling you about a charity that St.Christopher’s and Belushi’s have a long history with.
Hope is an organization that supports, sustains and saves the lives of Handicapped, Orphaned, Poor and Exploited children all over the world. It’s also a non-sectarian, non-political and non-profit making organization.
Jayshree Halligan from Hope said: “We’re always looking for help and new ways for travellers to give something back. There are a number of ways you can do it.
“For example, University students can raise money and spend a gap year working on one of our projects.
“Corporations can switch their team building events from paint balling in the English countryside to building a school in Gambia.
“If anyone is interested we really need a hand with our work in Uganda at the minute so if you want to get involved just get in touch and we’ll help you set it up.”
To date Hope has supported over 2000 local community projects in 10 main countries. Now they need your help to keep these going.
Hope runs projects in India, Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Uganda, Bulgaria, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. In these countries they help the most disadvantaged children in the world.
Hope encourage children and families to participate in projects that enhance equality, self reliance and long term sustainable development. They also give practical support so that children can grow up with their own families and communities wherever it’s possible.
How They Do It
Hope help a lot of people but here are some specific examples where they stepped in to give their support.
In the UK Hope supported the LMBSS Society. This society supports sufferers and carers affected by a rare genetic condition. The society needed help to fund their annual conference, where families can learn more about the syndrome. Hope submitted a proposal on their behalf and received a donation. This paid for the children affected by the condition to be taken to a theme park, while parents and carers attended the conference.
In Zambia, Students in a partnership with Hope, built a school and a clinic, taught in village schools and acted as carers in orphanages. Then when the projects were over, they took a week to organize white-water rafting, canyoning, sky diving, canoeing, micro-lighting and much more.
Students who’ve already been out to Zambia couldn’t get enough: “The time in Zambia was amazing . . . I have returned with so many memories and met wonderful friends on the journey as well. It is certainly going to be something I will never forget.
“If I put down all the good points and the things I enjoyed, it would take forever.
“I just want to say how fantastic this opportunity was and I loved the work we did”
If You Want To Help
You can give Hope a hand, give children the right to basic necessities, volunteer on their projects and have fun all at the same time. Visit www.hope-for-children.org and head to the How YOU Can Help section. Here you can play the Hope Lottery, send flowers, book flights, make a donation and chat to the staff to find out when and where you can get your hands dirty.
Other Events Worth Knowing About - Lavender Week
This is organized by the Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care. Between 5-11 March, 2007, the trust aims to raise awareness about their primary objective, the issues facing younger women with breast cancer.
The Trust also works to raise vital funds, to enable greater access to the information and support, which Breast Cancer Care has developed for this age group.
Laura Miller from the Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care said: “To celebrate Lavender Week, a number of promotions are taking place, including products for fashionistas and cooks everywhere, as well as pampering treats for the weary.
”These products all make perfect gifts for Mothers’ Day, with an extra bonus in the donation that comes to the charity.”
At present, the Trust is the only fund in the UK dedicated to addressing the particular needs of this age group.
How you can help
International awareness will be raised with the main event during Lavender Week which will be a Harpers Bazaar dinner in one of London’s top hotels. From there on it it’s up to you to lend your support.
You can run your own fundraisers, buy paper chase cards, body wash from Boots or make a donation online, safe in the knowledge that your money will be helping the young women who have to confront this horrible illness.
You can find out more about all the activity for Lavender Week by visiting www.lavendertrust.org.uk. Alternatively you could visit the Lavender Trust shop at www.breastcancercare.org.uk/shop.
If you know about a charity that you want to see in your newsletter, send me an e-mail at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
