Why I support the One Campaign

I'M MAKING POVERTY HISTORY

Join the ONE Campaign to make poverty history, one person, one voice, one vote at a time.

Make a lens at the ONE Campaign's Squidoo Headquarters.

WHY I SUPPORT THE ONE CAMPAIGN

In March of 2005 I found Bono's acceptance speech for the TED awards, on the internet. After watching the entire speech, I was dumbfounded. Somewhere between Live Aid and growing up, I lost my compassion and became cynical towards humanity in general. His speech was like a kick in the gut - like he was speaking directly to my lack of compassion and caring and it was a wake up call! I googled as much as I could about Africa and Aids and extreme poverty and the One campaign, and the more I dug, the more I realized I had to do something... anything... to help and to be part of the push to end poverty.

People starving in this day and age is just wrong. People dying for lack of cheap drugs or clean water is just wrong. Children dying because their HIV infected mothers can't get access to a simple pill to prevent mother to child transfer of the disease is wrong. We can send people to the moon, but we can't find a way to end this? I know we can. I'll continue to do whatever I can to spread the word, to get others involved to end this.

(all proceeds from this page will go to Kiva)

What I'm doing to help

Give a little bit

There are many things people can do to help..you dont have to be rich or have a lot of time to do something..every little 'something' helps in the end.

what my friends and I are doing:

-collect empty pop/soda cans and juice boxes at work and return for refund.. the money can go to Kiva for a loan, World Vision has a gift catalogue; Save the Children, African Well fund...whoever you feel comfortable giving it to (ours went to a loan for a lady looking after 4 of her own children and 2 of her deceased sister's children, to help increase her business)

-we knit dolls for a charity called ICross. They're called Comfort Dolls and ICross uses them as padding when they ship medicines and medical equipment to Africa - once the crates are unpacked, the dolls are given to the local kids... you can find a pattern HERE

-if you or your company shop online at places like Staples or Office Depot, if you buy things on line from Gap, Old Navy, Amazon.com (all those lovely inspiring books I've listed below!) before you go to their website, go to Shop online for Africa Aid first. If you enter participating shops through Africa Aid's front page, up to 5% of your purchase price gets donated to Africa Aid!

-i have a penny jar (an empty pickle jar) on my desk at work. When people come into my office to visit, or for advice, i smile and point to the jar. Last year the jar raised enough to buy vitamins for numerous kids, as well as 4 bed nets (from the World Vision Christmas Catalogue). This year so far we've raised enough to help finance two loans with KIVA. The cool thing about a KIVA loan is once its paid off, you can reinvest the original $25 back into a new loan, which we've already done!

-we write letters... and we send email letters any time that ONE or Make Poverty History (MPH) Canada or MPH UK emails us to do so. We call politicians when asked to do so. Its not just us doing this in our own country, but we send such letters to other G8 world leaders as well.. telling them that the World is watching them, keeping tabs on them, and expecting them to keep the promises of Aid and Fair Trade they made at the Gleneagles G8 Summit.

-Forego birthday, christmas + anniversary gifts. Tell your family and friends to sponsor a child in your name, send a gift from the World Vision Catalogue, or donate to the charity of your choice instead.

-NEW - my friends and I are purchasing our Christmas cards at Hallmark, and buying (RED) cards this year. They are abit pricier than your dollar store boxed cards :) but 8% of the product price will go to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa.

Do 'something'. A small something is better than nothing

SIGN UP TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

ONE.org: The ONE Campaign's Official Home Page
Sign the ONE Declaration: Join the millions of Americans taking a stand against poverty
Kiva microfinancing: Kiva.. a $25 dollar loan from you can change the life of a person living in abject poverty. Kiva gives a person a hand up, not just a handout.
Donna's myspace: Come visit my myspace and see how we're combining the generousity of bands and musicians with a small knitted doll, to help support Africa based charities.

....
My Comfort Doll Project Squidoo Page: Hey, I've created another Squidoo lens to highlight our Comfort Doll Project... please come check it out and leave a comment and rate me! Thanks.
(RED): Think that a t-shirt can't save a life? Want to buy Fair Trade and help fight Aids in Africa? Consider buying them at Gap and buying (RED) merchandise. Half of all money spent on (RED) products at Gap goes to the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids in Africa. (and the t-shirts are mostly produced in Africa from organic cotton)

Check out (RED) for other products too, like AMEX cards, Motorolla cell phones, Armani Sunglasses or clothing, Converse shoes, fabulous Hallmark (RED) christmas cards, etc.
African Well fund - Bono's birthday well fund: What do you give a rockstar for his birthday? How about a water well in an extemely poor location in Africa. For the last five years that's what Bono has been gifted with each May 15th, to build freshwater wells in extreme regions of the land he loves. And after contributing, a note can be added to a birthday journal that is presented to him at this time too. A practical way to express birthday wishes and appreciation for this man who has inspired us to attempt great things for the extreme poor in Africa.

(This year, Bono sent AWF and its participants, a thank you card)

Reader Feedback

leave me a message, i'd love to hear from you (keep it clean please)

Lensmaster

tokyobabydoll wrote...

Great campaign!

Posted October 23, 2008

Lensmaster

TheWhistler wrote...

Great to meet a fellow Canadian intent on doing good in this world. We can all do it, bit by bit.

Posted September 16, 2008

Lensmaster

sweetpeaches77 wrote...

Very inspirational. I wish there were more lenses like this one. Keep up the good work!

Posted August 20, 2008

Lensmaster

rose08 wrote...

you're very warm-hearted. we're in the one world, thanks for sharing this..

Posted July 22, 2008

Lensmaster

michaelgibbons wrote...

I too am a ONE and Bono supporter --just read his interview book excellent -- real guy, genuine I think anyway and music ain't bad! see my lens' about causes start with this one http://www.squidoo.com/photobuttons

Posted February 19, 2008

Lensmaster

Keytohealth wrote...

Donna, Finally your passions is reaching the masses to encourage them to join this great mission. I applaud you for your commitment and dedication.

I just joined and I am building my lenses. All are welcome to visit.
http://www.squidoo.com/TotallyfreeFundraiser/

Robert
keytohealth

Posted October 08, 2007

Lensmaster

www.WorldPeaceEmerging.com wrote...

I love your lens, and your project, you truly live out action through compassion... Since it seems we are like minded, you might check out some of my lens. I believe the stories will truly inspire you, while making you smile inside. Lots of love, Nate

Posted October 03, 2007

Lensmaster

sonia_simone wrote...

This is fantastic, I will follow up. I've given you five stars

Posted September 25, 2007

Lensmaster

KimGiancaterino wrote...

Another great lens, and a welcome addition to the Help Africa Group. ~ Kim

Posted August 17, 2007

Lensmaster

Brent_S wrote...

Nice lens and worth stars! Please visit MPM Mall With It All and Together We Can Change The World.

Posted July 31, 2007

Lensmaster

SemperFidelis wrote...

Great lens. As a supporter of World Vision's work on poverty, I appreciate your lens. A 5 from me. Check our Recycling lens out and rate it.

Posted July 30, 2007

Lensmaster

Carolyn s wrote

Donna thanks for turning me to the diretion of this site. I now know about KIVA.Yes,One needs money to make money.
I also know more about you. And I like what I see.
May you aways have the energy to stay so positive and caring.

Posted July 28, 2007

Lensmaster

gloria002

I recevied Converse(RED) shoes in the mail today. There was this paper in it saying 'there's no such thing as a small change' :-)

Posted July 25, 2007

Lensmaster

runforinspiration wrote...

"Do 'something'. A small something is better than nothing"

Amazing all the things you are doing, Donna! Loved reading this page; another one of your beautiful ways to spread the word about the people in need. Thank you :-)

Posted July 25, 2007

Lensmaster

Jacqui wrote

So many people moan about the state of the world and spend most of their time angsting about what to do becaue it all seems so huge, but you get out there and live the old adage about a journey beginning with a few small steps. You're an inspiration!

Posted July 24, 2007