Q1 – I love children, all sorts of children. I tend to get to know the people who have children or work with children. I tend to meet people like me in church Sunday schools, playgroups, nursery schools.
Q3 – I support Epic Change because of Zoe, Elijah, and the children in need.
Q4 – We tithe to our local church that we attend. We support a local ballet company that does “free to the public” performances several times every year that are Christian based and written & choregraphed by a prima ballarina friend of ours. We support St. Judes Hospital, Father Diwan’s, Serve (a local shelter for battered women and food bank), local fire & police charities.
Q5- I have asked many people through email and in person and on the phone. I find that many people don’t follow through with the pledge they have promised. It is very frustrating to me! So I am going to try a different approach next time. If I know you, you will be hearing from me again!!
Q7 – I was wondering about a “Day In The Life” series of childrens books based on the stories from the children and illisrated with their artwork. The stories being about their lives from different activities like: going to school, a day at home, at my dad’s work, going shopping etc. Seems to me that parents here are always looking for ways to positively show their kids how lucky we are in America. I am not suggesting scary stories but ones that show the appreciation that the children have for the small things that we take for granted.
Q9 – I’m going to sell tickets to a fantastic dinner party to raise money.

16. This would definately make me get a twitter account, I would find it very interesting to read their point of view.

5. Yes, I have asked a number of people to get involved with Epic and some have taken some steps and a lot have taken little steps. I think if I get more creative and make sure we are having fun while volunteering that may work!

Perhaps we could develop some type of penpal interaction between parents/grandparents in Tanzania and parents/grandparents in America.

7. I’m guessing that with the scarcity involved in this community, the kids find some interesting ways to entertain themselves. I’d kind of like to see some of the games that they play available in the American, pre-packaged with all the necessary explanations and bits kind of style. That’s something I would be able to do with my son in the future, as well as have available at the school for my future students to give them some kind of access to multiculturalism.

8. Definitely messages in bottles.

12. By far my favorite blogs to date were the pieces on Gideon and Mr. Gidori. Maybe this just goes back to the need to answer # 10, but the more I know about this community, the more their lives become intertwined with my own. Gideon is no longer a hypothetical little boy defined by his circumstances, but a little boy who wants to be a rocket ship pilot. A little boy who takes his homework home to his parents, and while they probably don’t have a fridge to hang it on, I am sure they relish the things that he brings home. And I bet he tells jokes to his friends on the playground.

And since I gain nearly all of my insight from The Little Prince, I will say that these blogs “tame” me to a certain degree, so I will quote Antoine de Saint-Exupery:

“To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. I have no need of you…But if you tame me…you will be unique in all the world.”

And the truth is that none of these children should be just one of millions of African children, because they shine so damn brightly.

16. Heck no, but that is only because I am completely recalcitrant and refuse to accept new technology.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: TWO CHEERS to STACEY and SANJAY!!! (And the many others that have helped them in their journey thus-far) You guys are truly inspiring and have made more of an impact with this project so far then 97.4% of the population will ever make in their entire life.

Q1. I truly care about others and how I can help. I work in NYC… and everyday I see countless different homeless people. You can’t help them all…. none really. Even if money was flowing from my pockets, there is no guarantee that any money I give is going to make any difference if these people’s lives.
I love Epic Change because there is not uncertainty. I know every penny and every minute from supporters/volunteers, is going to make a strong and last impact on each community/project that Epic decides to take on. I think what everyone has done so far is more then enough proof!!!!
And unfortunately, I am one of a kind. But I am sure there are a bunch of generic versions out there :)

Q2. My biggest cause has always been AIDS in Africa. I can’t even pin-point where, when or how this surfaced, but it is here. And yes, I feel for people all around the world with AIDS. But Africa is different…. it is an injustice that affects everyone. Not just small clusters here and there, but everywhere.
I was glad to hear from Stacey that at Sherpherds Junior they are doing AIDS education at the school.
I would really like to look at how Epic Change can help work with the school to start reaching out to the community and helping educate people, which will start to alleviate a lot of the stigma…. bringing about social change within the community.

Q9. Pam’s comment (“I’m going to sell tickets to a fantastic dinner party to raise money.”) gave me an idea…. what about coming up with coming up with “kits” of different things adults (especially the women) can do to raise money…. think mini-benfits in a box. Like a Tanzania dinner party, TingaTinga Painting Party, Safari Spa Retreat. Is this making sense???

Q10. What about setting up a pen-pal/mentor type program with the kids? Any age could participate…. might be easy once the school has the new donated computers and electricity.

no

There is a great hope for Africa in a days to come! I can see this generation can make a big change if we give them a proper education and different worldview. You cannot teach old dog new tricks but on the other hand “In case you see an old monkey know that it has escaped a lot of arrows” We need both old and new generation to make a world a peaceful place to live. This is the day!
Well done Stacey and Sanjay, keep up the good works!
Gidori

No 2. How do you feel when looking at your new School – Shepherds Junior?

No 3.
( i ) Epic Change has a unique way of identifying the needs of a certain community. They visit and experience their living, before giving support. They use the “Participatory Approach” when implementing the project, which makes the community “active participants” and not “passive ones”.

( ii ) Their support goes directly to the targeted group/community. This minimizes the chances of misuse of funds; compared to the funds given to the Central Government to be distributed to a certain Ministry then to the targeted group.

( iii ) Epic Change has addressed the right thing, “Education” which is the key of life. Supporting Educational activities and needy children is very important when aiming at bringing changes to the economical and social development of a community

No 6. You are doing a great job! And you have great ideas too. Everyone in our community is so impressed with your efforts. Keep it up!!!