Help a Board Member Help Others! WorldTeach/Rwanda, Fun CSI Prizes! Options

[ZenBridge]

Jo (Hodiestoe) is in the process of undertaking an amazing adventure that will undoubtedly change a lot of lives. Since we here at YTDAW care about literacy (and about Jo!) we've offered to help promote a drive to help her reach her goals and help the children of Rwanda. Below is a thorough explanation of her efforts, and I'm suggesting you watch this space! By Friday, you'll find some neat surprises that can be won via a fundraising drive we'll be holding to help her get the rest of the way there. A lot of people (some associated with CSI) have been made aware of this effort and have donated some truly cool thank you gifts on which you can have a chance of taking home!

Check back tomorrow night for more details!

As many of you will know by now I am going out to Rwanda in December as a volunteer. I am going under the auspices of a non-profit organization called WorldTeach run by Harvard University. I will live and work at a Rwandan school, teaching English to Rwandan high school students and aiding teachers with writing of schemes of work for their students. I also hope to get involved with efforts to help prevent the spread of AIDS in the region by volunteering for other local organizations.


Learning English is of particular importance to the Rwandese as the government has recently changed its official international language from French to English. Consequently students are being taught in a language that they do not know and teachers are devising schemes of work in a language that is not even their second language. Additionally, it is now a pre-requisite for students qualifying for higher education.


Rwanda faces many challenges; the legacy of an horrific genocide, dealing with the prosecution of Genocidaires, the result of a diminished generation of people, the economic ramifications to a country that is trying to stand on its own two feet and reduce their reliance on Western Aid and the devastating effects of the HIV virus. Rwanda also lacks qualified teachers, as a significant majority of them were slaughtered in the 100 days of violence in 1994. Education is a way to help Rwanda address all of these challenges, and schools there are eagerly seeking outside help. As a teacher myself, I believe it is the best way for individuals to make a positive contribution and it also provides a way out of the vicious circle that poverty creates.


As with any undertaking there is a significant cost involved; the cost of my placement, training, air fare, health and travel insurance and field support is almost £4000 ($6000). Through various fundraising efforts I have managed to raise £2500 ($4000) which has amazed me. Dev agreed a little while ago to a CSI fundraiser on here and we have spent the last month or so amassing an incentive for you to enter.


I have undertaken many volunteer positions in Africa before, but none as extensive as this. In the past I have worked in the African Children’s Choir boarding school teaching the choir children past and present. I have also worked out in the choir children’s communities, training teachers, liaising with Social Services on the behalf of families and delivering of food aid. All of that was short term, 5-9 weeks long, this current mission is initially for a year but hopefully longer.


It does mean that I will miss CSI and WP’s eventual return (because you know it WILL happen) but in the grand scheme of things this is much more important. And anyway, you guys will keep me updated with the news and send me out the DVD’s wont you???

[hodiestoe]

Thanks for posting this Zen and for also agreeing to a board fundraiser, I really appreciate it. Can I also just echo Zen's point about the surprise thank you gifts, there are some REALLY cool things to get. More details will follow shortly. Just for now - be ready and watch this space!

[CR1]

Thanks for posting this Zen and for also agreeing to a board fundraiser, I really appreciate it. Can I also just echo Zen's point about the surprise thank you gifts, there are some REALLY cool things to get. More details will follow shortly. Just for now - be ready and watch this space!

Wow , can I just really highlight what a fantastic thing that Hodie is going to do, and as I know what some of the fantastic things that have been donated I am over the moon that Zen has agreed to allow the board to be part this amazing adventure.


Oh and squeeeebuddy ,old pal, old mate you will be missed but the CSI parcels will get to you !

[GSRLove86]

Oooo! How exciting!


What a great thing Hodie is doing and I will be more than happy to take part in this!


I'm all for helping out!


We will definately keep her updated on all GSRness that ensues!

[SDBeth]

Sounds like fun! Can't wait.

[ZenBridge]

Yay! After a lot of prep, it's time to get started! We're really happy to help Jo out with this in whatever way we can, and I think it'll be a fun and rewarding project for us all. I encourage anyone who can to enter as it'll change a lot of lives. And hopefully, you might come away with a cool thank you gift! I'm really excited to participate even if I can't win, LOL. Conflict of interest and all.

This is taken from Jo's blog so that everyone is familiar with the setup. Please do read the blog so you know exactly what it is she's doing and who she is trying to help.

WHAT IT IS
Before I get into the gifts I just wanted to let you know how it all works. First off this is NOT a raffle or a prize draw, it is an opportunity for you guys to donate towards my Rwanda mission in December. And as a thank you, some people will be selected to recieve a thank you gift. This will be done fairly (Dev is doing a draw similar to those done in previous board fundraisers) with no bias at all.


HOW IT WORKS
For every $10 a person donates they get one entry into the selection for the thank you gifts. So for $30 a person will be entered 3 times.

And now, for the thank you gifts!!!

Some incredibly cool stuff that I myself would like to covet!!

[SUZIEBILLS]

Thanks for posting this Zen and for also agreeing to a board fundraiser, I really appreciate it. Can I also just echo Zen's point about the surprise thank you gifts, there are some REALLY cool things to get. More details will follow shortly. Just for now - be ready and watch this space!

This is just fantastic Hodiestoe, count me in. I would have helped gifts or no gifts. This is such a worthy cause. My hat goes off to you for being brave enough to put such an effort in to help others.

Thanks Zen for giving us the opportunity to help. It's great to see how a group of people, who all have a love for a single show and who all love the wonderful romance that this show gave us, can come together to help others.

[Blue Orchid]

Is there a deadline? I'd love to help a great cause, but I gotta get paid first.

[hodiestoe]

Thank you everyone for your support with this fundraiser I really appreciate it. I have $2000 left to raise and your support will help me get a long way towards reaching that goal and going to Rwanda in December.

The fundraiser will be open until Monday 23^rd November 10pm EST. After which the first recipient will get first pick of the gifts and so on…

The prizes are as follows:

• TV Guide signed by Jorja Fox and Marg Helgenberger (thank you DR)
• Blackbird Script signed by Billy Petersen (thank you Cropper)
• Nesting Dolls Photograph signed by Jorja Fox
• Dead Doll photograph signed by Jorja Fox
• Cold Burn the novel signed by Max Allen Collins (thank you Zen)
• 3 shooting scripts (thank you Zen)
  ~ Butterflied, with reprinted cast autographs
  ~ Grave Danger, with reprinted cast autographs
  ~ Unfriendly Skies
• 3 transcripts (thank you Puppypower)
  ~ Butterflied
  ~ Leapin’ Lizards
  ~ Goodbye and Goodluck
• Set of 10 Eric S photographs (thank you Mellor)
• Set of 10 George E Photographs
• Set of 11 Gary D photographs
• Billy stationary set (Thank you CR1)
• Complete season 1 box set of Without a Trace (thank you Zen)
• WaT Shooting Script (thank you Zen)
  ~ Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
• David Harrower’s play – Blackbird (thank you VivB)
• David Rambo’s play – The Ice Breaker (thank you VivB)

Click the Paypal donate button below and follow the instructions. I will also need to know who has donated what; if there is a comment box please put your screen name and real name (if you wish) along with how much you donated into it so that I will know who the money has come from. If not can you email me at joisaway09@hotmail.com and let me know the info.

Basically I need to know the following:

• YTDAW Screen name
• Real name (optional)
• Total amount donated

Thank you so much for donating for my fundraiser.

Comprehensive info plus pictures of all the gifts are available at my blog http://joisaway09.livejournal.com/

This post has been edited by hodiestoe: Nov 5 2009, 10:32 PM

[SUZIEBILLS]

Good luck Hodiestoe, I just donated.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help.

[titchymunky]

This is a wonderful thing you're going to be doing over there. I'll be sure to donate after work.

Thanks for the opportunity to help out. Hopefully you can raise even more than you need.

[mellor]

Well done Jo. I'm pleased as punch for you. I donated to your PayPal account. I echo titchymunky's comment hopefully we get you over the line and then some.

[Nikki]

Just donated. Pleased to have helped a fantastic cause

[jafox]

I'm happy to donate to such a great project. Will you update us on your progress?
Good Luck!



This post has been edited by jafox: Nov 6 2009, 07:51 AM

[hannaberry]

I created a pay pal account and donated as well. Good luck!