GiftOfGiving
Donation protected
Who we are, what we've done and what we aim to do in developing countries.
Our collective goal is to "Make a better future for developing countries by repairing environmental inhibitors and empowering communities to thrive independently as opposed to depend". We understand that this will be an extensive process, as well as a long-term commitment, but we are ready for the challenge.
Our Mission & Bio:
Mission Statement: To make a better future for developing countries by repairing environmental inhibitors and empowering communities to thrive independently as opposed to depend.
Bio: The Gift of Giving (Umoja) was founded by three individuals united through the common desire to bring freedom, justice, hope, & equality to all peoples of the world.
We are guided by the following principles:
- Faith
- Courage
- Dignity
- Humility (meekness)
- Kindness
- Respect
- Strength
- Peace
- Love
What We've Accomplished In Mission One:
From Thursday, September 14th to Tuesday, September 19th, Candace and I traveled to Haiti on our first official Gift of Giving (Umoja) mission.
We visited Port- Au- Prince's General Hospital, as well as a local school, called 'Institution Mixte Jean-Charles Pelais'.
To the schools, we distributed: notebooks, pencils, erasers, small socks, and crayons to the children.
As for the hospitals, we made brown paper bag packages containing: socks, latex-free gloves, a bar of soap, a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste.
In total, we had brought the following:
1,100 pairs of gloves (donated by a local church in Ottawa)
165 32-page/ 40- page notebooks (two given to each student)
150 pencils (two given to each student)
66 pairs of adult socks
60 lollipops
49 tubes of toothpaste
49 toothbrushes
40 bars of soap
40 washcloths
30 pairs of baby socks
30 erasers
20 packs of 16 crayons
8 pairs of baby socks
The funds for all of our donations came 100% from our personal accounts (apart from the donation of gloves). We spent about $300 in total. Regrettably, we were not able to give something to everyone- we missed about three classes in total (we didn't know the full number of students beforehand); about 20 students. We were told afterward from one of the school officials that due to the current strike and the protests of the previous day (Monday, September 18, 2017), only 10% of the students were currently present, and the classes would fill back up in October, when the situation (hopefully) settled down. That means the other 90% of students were not present. So 83 students got something, about 20 more did not, and another 90% of them were absent.
At the hospitals, our brown paper bag packages came up to 50 in total; but again we regrettably did not have enough for even half of the patients. Again, we were unaware of the total number of patients in the hospital before we arrived, but figured bringing what we had was better than bringing nothing at all, though next time our goal is to reach all of the patients. There were so many in the hospital that not all of the patients even had a bed to sleep on; some were outside the hospital, sitting or laying neglected on chairs some seated on the ground outside, some seated inside on the bare floor, while others were laying on blankets beside the beds, or in the hallways. We do not know the full number of patients that were in attendance but will estimate 1000, at the least.
Visual of Mission One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Sc5GvJ7WU
What We Plan To Accomplish In Mission Two:
On our second trip back to Haiti we originally were (aiming for late 2018 in order to give us time to raise more funds in order to accomplish our new goals and exceed our first mission), but we have booked for March 27, 2018. We will also be reaching further than the city, and visiting more rural, isolated areas of the country. Some of our longer-term goals include partnering with schools or community organizations to build a greenhouse and acquiring 1000 ethically-sourced backpacks to distribute to schoolchildren. As you know, financial support is extremely important to non-profit organizations such as ours, as we rely on donations to provide services in the community that are greatly needed. From a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a box of gloves to a dollar or two from individuals in the community makes a huge difference on the impact we will have on the lives of families and children on this next mission. It would be of great value if you could help me help others.
Anything you can give will help us greatly.
We ask that you take a second and simply click share in hopes others may have a chance in viewing the current mission. Together, let us be the voice of those unheard.
Thank you,
The Gift of Giving (Umoja)
(Winnie Julot & Candace Minott)
Our collective goal is to "Make a better future for developing countries by repairing environmental inhibitors and empowering communities to thrive independently as opposed to depend". We understand that this will be an extensive process, as well as a long-term commitment, but we are ready for the challenge.
Our Mission & Bio:
Mission Statement: To make a better future for developing countries by repairing environmental inhibitors and empowering communities to thrive independently as opposed to depend.
Bio: The Gift of Giving (Umoja) was founded by three individuals united through the common desire to bring freedom, justice, hope, & equality to all peoples of the world.
We are guided by the following principles:
- Faith
- Courage
- Dignity
- Humility (meekness)
- Kindness
- Respect
- Strength
- Peace
- Love
What We've Accomplished In Mission One:
From Thursday, September 14th to Tuesday, September 19th, Candace and I traveled to Haiti on our first official Gift of Giving (Umoja) mission.
We visited Port- Au- Prince's General Hospital, as well as a local school, called 'Institution Mixte Jean-Charles Pelais'.
To the schools, we distributed: notebooks, pencils, erasers, small socks, and crayons to the children.
As for the hospitals, we made brown paper bag packages containing: socks, latex-free gloves, a bar of soap, a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste.
In total, we had brought the following:
1,100 pairs of gloves (donated by a local church in Ottawa)
165 32-page/ 40- page notebooks (two given to each student)
150 pencils (two given to each student)
66 pairs of adult socks
60 lollipops
49 tubes of toothpaste
49 toothbrushes
40 bars of soap
40 washcloths
30 pairs of baby socks
30 erasers
20 packs of 16 crayons
8 pairs of baby socks
The funds for all of our donations came 100% from our personal accounts (apart from the donation of gloves). We spent about $300 in total. Regrettably, we were not able to give something to everyone- we missed about three classes in total (we didn't know the full number of students beforehand); about 20 students. We were told afterward from one of the school officials that due to the current strike and the protests of the previous day (Monday, September 18, 2017), only 10% of the students were currently present, and the classes would fill back up in October, when the situation (hopefully) settled down. That means the other 90% of students were not present. So 83 students got something, about 20 more did not, and another 90% of them were absent.
At the hospitals, our brown paper bag packages came up to 50 in total; but again we regrettably did not have enough for even half of the patients. Again, we were unaware of the total number of patients in the hospital before we arrived, but figured bringing what we had was better than bringing nothing at all, though next time our goal is to reach all of the patients. There were so many in the hospital that not all of the patients even had a bed to sleep on; some were outside the hospital, sitting or laying neglected on chairs some seated on the ground outside, some seated inside on the bare floor, while others were laying on blankets beside the beds, or in the hallways. We do not know the full number of patients that were in attendance but will estimate 1000, at the least.
Visual of Mission One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Sc5GvJ7WU
What We Plan To Accomplish In Mission Two:
On our second trip back to Haiti we originally were (aiming for late 2018 in order to give us time to raise more funds in order to accomplish our new goals and exceed our first mission), but we have booked for March 27, 2018. We will also be reaching further than the city, and visiting more rural, isolated areas of the country. Some of our longer-term goals include partnering with schools or community organizations to build a greenhouse and acquiring 1000 ethically-sourced backpacks to distribute to schoolchildren. As you know, financial support is extremely important to non-profit organizations such as ours, as we rely on donations to provide services in the community that are greatly needed. From a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a box of gloves to a dollar or two from individuals in the community makes a huge difference on the impact we will have on the lives of families and children on this next mission. It would be of great value if you could help me help others.
Anything you can give will help us greatly.
We ask that you take a second and simply click share in hopes others may have a chance in viewing the current mission. Together, let us be the voice of those unheard.
Thank you,
The Gift of Giving (Umoja)
(Winnie Julot & Candace Minott)
Organizer
Winnie Julot
Organizer
Ottawa, ON