I will be departing on a journey to Cape Town, South Africa for a year commitment with a non-profit organization called Grassroot Soccer. It started with a large "what if you did this" from my brother, random, fated connections that made the thought into a realization that led to many months of decision making (going back and forth multiple times in the same 5 minute frame), that thankfully led me to a British Airways October flight to Cape Town...and a few million other documents to seal the deal.
For me, this journey is my time to reset, to find out what makes me passionate on a daily basis and more than anything my time to make a difference in peoples lives who need it the most. I will be working for Grassroot Soccer, but have also committed to volunteering 1-2 days a week at a local children's orphanage. I will get to take care of 1-3 children each day I volunteer as they put it "simply do anything with the children that stimulates them."Volunteering at an orphanage has always been a calling of mine and this journey will finally enable me to fufill that desire.
Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an international NGO that trains African soccer stars, coaches, teachers and peer educators in the world’s most HIV-affected countries to deliver an interactive HIV prevention and life skills curriculum to youth in order to provide them with the knowledge, skills and support to live HIV/AIDS-free.which uses the power of soccer in an innovative curriculum to educate African youth about their HIV/AIDS risk. GRS is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Nike, (RED), and many other global partners. As a GRS intern, I will be supporting local programs teams in five main sites as well as partner programs across South Africa in finance, accounting, budgeting, account and donor management. I will be able to utilize my current industry knowledge on the non-profit side.
That said, I am writing my first blog post to ask for your support in my journey. GRS suggests a minimum total fundraising goal of $10,000-$20,000 per intern. No matter the size of your donation – be it $5, $50, $500 or $5,000 – I am extremely appreciative of every gift given to help me reach this target.
If you donate to GRS through the Google Checkout button on my blog page below, the funds will be used to directly support my work in Cape Town, South Africa. You may also send a check made payable to Grassroot Soccer with “Intern Name’s Internship” in the memo, to P.O. Box 712 Norwich, VT 05055. All donations to GRS, a registered 501©3, are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
If you donate to GRS through the Google Checkout button on my blog page below, the funds will be used to directly support my work in Cape Town, South Africa. You may also send a check made payable to Grassroot Soccer with “Intern Name’s Internship” in the memo, to P.O. Box 712 Norwich, VT 05055. All donations to GRS, a registered 501©3, are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
If you do not care about the tax rebate and would like to support me please feel free to send a check made payable directly to me with GRS in the memo to 2295 Orchard Valley Rd., Colorado Springs, CO. 80919 or feel free to use the pay pal donation button below. This money will allow me to directly control my own donations without having to go through GRS to be reimbursed.
Please continue to follow my blog throughout my year in Cape Town. I promise to only write about interesting happenings...and if they aren't interesting you can feel free to tell me that too. Looking forward to any and all visits as well.
Much love to all,
Kell
