Hello Echoers!
I'm writing to let you all know that Esther's Echo is once again a partner for Giving Tuesday Canada this year - part of the wider global Giving Tuesday holiday fundraising campaign.
Here's a description about the campaign from the Giving Tuesday website:
"Giving Tuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Black Friday. The “Opening day of the giving season,” it’s a time when charities, companies and individuals join together and rally for favourite causes. In the same way that retailers take part in Black Friday, the giving community comes together for Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring about real change in their communities; it provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents to address local challenges. It also brings together the collective power of a unique blend of partners - nonprofits, civic organizations, businesses and corporations, as well as families and individuals - to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness. Across Canada and around the world, Giving Tuesday unites communities by sharing our capacity to care for and empower one another."
For Giving Tuesday, and into the Holiday Season, we'll be fundraising for Esther Kanu and the Women in Action Development Project - our community partner in Sierra Leone. Our goal is to raise $3,000 which will cover the remainder of the rent on the two Women in Action school locations until September 2021. Our sincerest thanks to all who contributed to the first half of the year's rent AND the supplementary fundraiser we did to cover staff wages. WiA fell behind due to COVID-19 restrictions meaning the schools could not take on clothing, and catering contracts. Without your help, the schools likely would have closed. I know it's a big ask this year to come to you again looking for donations. Please know that the students, Esther and her staff, and of course myself are all so grateful for the additional support you've shown in a difficult time. You've now helped over 400 young women graduate in Sierra Leone. I'll be providing updates on the fundraising process through to the end of the year.
-Matthew