Hope
a charity project

Hi, I'm Tamara B. (pictured left) and can usually be found blogging about Ethiopian adoption-turned-service at www.journey4hope.blogspot.com. 

I left part of my heart in Ethiopia while there picking up our son in June 2010 and longed to go back and "help" somehow.  In the time since our adoption, it has become increasingly important to me to keep women and their families together.  To prevent women from having to make the heart-wrenching decision of which child they have to give up.  How better of a way to fight the orphan crisis.  In March my husband I began partnering with Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable children (www.fovc.org) leading the crops for widows project.   

Having been in and around Shanto Ethiopia twice recently, I'm even more excited to use this crops for widows project to impact more people.  These women, and their children, live off the land.  They count on their crops to feed them.  In our world, insurance kicks in when disaster strikes.  In Southern Ethiopia, there's no insurance when disasters (like too much rain during planting or drought during the growing season) strike. 

The crops proposal is for $27,400 to impact 3 villages in Southern Ethiopia.  That's roughly $250 per person which buys them nourishing seeds for 8 different crops, nutrients to grow the seeds and equipment. 

I'm not coming to you as a FOVC representative trying to raise money.  I put this little fundraiser together because I care.  Because I've been there and seen the need up close.  Because I know the impact that your dollars make when I spend my vacation and money to travel to Ethiopia and train these widows.  I would love to widen the circle of influence.  I'd love for you to join me in raising $2,500 in the next few weeks to impact and change the lives of 10 widows.  Can you give $25?  Would you share this with at least 9 friends who will also give $25 and together you can sponsor one widow?  Facebook, tweet, email, blog... whatever it takes.  Join hands with your co-workers, classmates, siblings, girlfriends for real, sustainable, change.  I promise, you won't be dissapointed.

ps. All donations are tax deductible so donate now, see change and get a tax write-off.