Remember playing telephone as a kid? Social media can be kind of like that.
Thomas Keown started One Home Many Hopes, a nonprofit organization that is working to improve the lives of girls in Kenya.
“One Home Many Hopes” is a loving home for orphaned girls in Mtwapa, Kenya. It provides former street children with a nurturing environment, focused schooling and a chance at a healthy and productive life. Known in Kenya as “Mudzini Kwetu”, our philosophy is that education and family support are the most effective ways to lift our children out of cyclical poverty.
Thomas has an idea for raising funds for OHMH through social media. His friend Vanessa Leong reaches out to the Twitter community to help Thomas. Shelley Greenberg sees this, and contacts me, knowing I’m all about using social media for social change. Vanessa and I connect, and I’m struck by this cause and want to help get the word out, so I agree to write a blog post for them.
Which brings us to now. Pretty cool, right?
One Home Many Hopes has started a campaign – dubbed ‘Race to 20k’ – that is looking to raise $20,000 in 30 days.
The Race to 20k was inspired by Riziki (pictured above). The local police found Riziki and her sisters living on the street after their mother had died. Because there’s nowhere else to put street children, the police threw them in prison. Thanks to OHMH, she was rescued with her two sisters. All the girls are now living at the home and Riziki has grown into an adorable 3 year old.
Ambitious? Yes.
Worth it? Absolutely.
Doable? Completely.
What’s the plan?
If 1,000 people donate only $20, they’ll hit their goal. The problem is, how will they find those 1,000 people? Using traditional means of communication – without an Easter Seals-sized budget – it would be very difficult.
But by blogging, tweeting, posting it on Facebook, and talk-talk-talking about this incredible organization, we’ll hit that goal of $20,000 in 30 days.
Why do they need the money?
“While Mudzini Kwetu’s [What OHMH is called in Kenya] current surroundings are adequate, it is imperative to plan for the future and ensure the well-being of the girls there now, and the girls who will need Mudzini Kwetu someday soon.”
How do I get involved?
First and formost, visit OHMH’s donation page and pledge your $20.
Beyond that, write a blog post. Tweet. Do all the social media-type things you do regularly anyways, but let people know about this great cause. Get the word out. Be a part of the chain of voices finding those 1,000 people.
See? Just like playing telephone.
