Please help if you can

I am often at a loss about what to do when I read about disasters or escalating problems in faraway lands (even sometimes when they are in my country). It's hard to know how you can help or do your part to show you care, etc. Luckily, I have friends like Dana, who figure out ways to make the world a bit better for her job.

Dana is an old friend who works for GlobalGiving, an organization that is trying to change the way people give. It connects donors with organizations, and is very explicit on how donated funds are used. It's mission is to "build an efficient, open, thriving marketplace that connects people who have community and world-changing ideas with people who can support them." I find that exciting and noble.

Dana has been worried about her friend Stella Amojong Omunga in Kenya since escalating violence started to occur after their recent election.

Dana sent out this message in email (and on her blog), asking us to sending some money to help her. (If you are interested in donating, please go here.)

Dana said:

I've worked at GlobalGiving, for about three years, and one of the best parts of my job is getting to work with (mostly over email and phone) some amazing people around the world who are doing amazing things in their local communities. Stella Amojong Omunga started a small NGO in Eldoret, in western Kenya, doing health and education work with teenage mothers. We became fast friends over email-- she is funny, eloquent, enthusiastic in a way that even spills over into electronic communications, and totally dedicated to her work. Her reports about her use of funds are detailed down to the penny, and while some people will tell you that only large donations make a difference, Stella was always deeply grateful for any $10 or $20 or $100, and could stretch it to do amazing things.

I got increasingly worried watching the news after the Kenyan election, especially after dozens of people were burned alive in a church in Eldoret where Stella lives. I emailed Stella to see how things were going and the first sentence of her response made me pause: "I'm terribly ashamed to be Kenyan right now...what we are witnessing is beyond human comprehension! I'm even taking a huge risk to check my mail, our country has been turned into a war zone: no food, no drugs, no transportation...its simply hell!!" She described the lack of food, medicine, and supplies, and how she is personally sheltering women and children at her home. "We are regrouping and doing anything in our power to provide humanitarian assistance."

In Stella's words about the current needs:

I'm not sure getting foodstuff or other supplies would be a good idea: all roads are barricaded by armed youths and unless you have heavy paramilitary escort, getting to the ground/villages is simply hard. Relief agencies, like Red Cross, are donating basic food to the displaced families, but this is not enough. Our bank has been opening the local branch sporadically and I believe it will continue doing so next week. We have had to sell some domestic electronic equipment (fridge, cookers, TV) to raise some quick money to buy food. Prices are quickly escalating and supplies are beginning to diminish but we still hope for the best.

My preference would be to send in the money and we can use our local networks in sourcing for basic food, drugs and other necesities. Indeed you can direct other donors to our project so we can have as much impact as possible. The key word here is URGENT.

If you can spare some money, please considering making a donation here. Also, I encourage you to bookmark GlobalGiving's website and to explore it further. Find a cause you believe in and start making a difference. Thanks.

Comments

[Sharon]

Excellent post. I've been worried about the violence transpiring recently in Kenya, ordinarily a relatively stable region. Thanks for posting this for those of us able and willing to assist.

[Kathleen Maher]

Heartbreaking.

[Dana]

Thanks so much Claire-- the help and additional mobilization is so appreciated!! I'm happy to field any questions if folks have them too-- dledyard@globalgiving.com

Hope all is well in the hometown...bummer about the football though :(