If you've wanted to know how you can help...this is how.

Let me start by thanking you all for even reading about my adventures here in Africa.  It means a lot to me that you care about me, what I'm doing, and the people that mean a lot to me.  Really, a few of you have written blog posts of your own talking about what I'm doing, and I've been surprised and so thankful for those that have contact me in some way wanting to help.  Blog comments, e-mails, talking to my mom, etc.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that you care about what's going on over here like I do--and your desire to be involved.  We had a discussion about it as a team and here's how you can help:


We are VERY excited about a lot of work that we're doing here.  For the most part, we have the funds to help people--because a lot of the things we want to do don't cost a lot of money.  There are two projects, however, that we feel are very compelling, can help a lot of people, but are going to cost more than say...200 bucks.  Here is what the projects are and then I'll tell you how you can help.

Namatala slum water project.  I've posted a couple of times about Namatala.  That place has a big piece of my heart.  It is a slum with 20,000 people that are drinking and cleaning with dirty water.  The majority of the people are therefore sick very often and have no way of preventing disease that is spread through water--like cholera, for example.  It's a big deal.  Last year, the team was able to get 3 water filters donated to two different "neighborhoods" (like a group of 10 huts) to filter their water.  These groups have not been sick, they're using the water filter, they're cleaning it properly, they have someone in charge of it to make sure it gets cleaned, they completely avoided the cholera outbreak.  So...it's working!  The problem is, these water filters are helping 200 out of 20,000 people.  We really want to get more water filters to these people.  They are hands down the most lovely people that I've met--who coincidentally have the very least I've seen, and close to the least you can humanly live off of.  They teamed up with Rain Catcher last year.  The water filters cost 55 dollars.  We flat out cannot afford to buy all of the water filters necessary.  HOWEVER, we're going to set up an Indie-gogo site on Monday.  IF you are interested in contributing to this project, you can go on this site and donate as much or as little as you'd like. Write a note that it's for the water filter project in Namatala.  We, as a group of 15 people here in Mbale, will get the money directly, as well as your notes.  It's really important to us that your money goes where you want it spent.  We would love to get 50 water filters for the slum.  That's our practical goal.  You can see, however, that they could use more--so earning more than 50 water filters wouldn't be amazing.  I will be updating on the blog about the project with pictures and I'd be happy to mail you pictures and videos about people that you're helping.  They're incredible people and there's no reason they should have to be sick because of water--such a basic necessity.  So that is the option for the water project.  Here are some of my pics from my time in Namatala:

Here is one of the water filters that was donated last summer.  Up and running!

If you'd like to read about my past visits there here is where you can do it:

http://malloheartseurope.blogspot.com/2012/05/visit-to-namatala-slum.html

http://malloheartseurope.blogspot.com/2012/05/returning-to-namatala-slum.html

The other huge project that is greater than our funds allow is in a village called Bunabuyoka.  It's a village that you have to take a boda and then hike straight up for two miles.  Last year the team built a school for the children there--because they obviously didn't have one.  Because of the location of the village, people aren't able to come down very often--nor do people frequently go up.  So having a school there was greatly appreciated.  In fact, not only have they been using the school that was built, but they ADDED on to it!  They ran out of funding so they just need a roof to complete the addition to the school.  So we really want to help finish the roof to this school that they're using and have put great effort into finishing.

The left silver roof, is the school built last summer.  The right side with the orange tarp is what they've added on...and we'd be replacing that tarp. :)

View from the inside of the addition.

  In addition to that, when touring the village, their "medical center" was heart-breaking.  They have a dark room, about four feet by four feet, one cupboard, and like seven bottles of medicine--like aspirin, etc.  That is the room where the 2,000 members of this village go seeking medical attention.  It's also the place where all of the women give birth...if not outside.  There is ONE midwife who administers health needs but has very little training.  Our team would love to build a health center for these people.  We've researched costs, supplies, and even have a doctor, nurse, and a community health worker committed to go up during the week to provide for the villagers health needs.  The cost of the school roof and medical center is $3,000.  If this is something you feel interested in, this will be the other project that you'll be able to contribute to on this indie go-go site.  Once again, please specify what you'd like your donation to go to.  We're very passionate about these projects and are so grateful for your willingness to help.  Any donation will be used on exactly what you're most passionate about.

These are some of the children in Bunabuyoka.

This is the ONLY fundraising that we're going to be doing this summer.  We talked about these projects, how important we feel they are, and decided that we will fundraise for them but these are the big bangs.  I'm not going to be asking you for money or having continuous fundraisers throughout the summer.  This is it.  These are the big papas.  We feel they're both very compelling and have the possibility to influence so many loving and wonderful people.  Thank you so much for your interest and outreaches to contribute.  It honestly fills my heart with gratitude that I have such loving, sweet, generous friends and family that care about what's going on over here.  It genuinely means the world to me.

I'll post on Monday how you can access the website to donate to these two causes.  If, for some reason, there are other things that you want to send, we have a PO Box.  I have heard from several people that want to send clothes, coloring books, candy, etc.  Soooo sweet of you guys.  The postage is expensive, the mail is slow, there's no guarantee that it will get here, but you are more than welcome to send whatever you'd like me to distribute.  I'd be happy to take pictures of the people receiving them so you can feel apart of all of it.

HELP International
PO Box 2258
Mbale, Uganda

Thanks again everyone.  I love you to bits and my heart is filled with gratitude toward you and your willingness to contribute to the well being of these people that I love.