HELP

So you may be wondering why I fell off the grid for awhile, or maybe you didn't. But it has been quite awhile since I posted anything. Amid other activities and constantly trying to wrangle my three little hooligans, I participated in a planning retreat for the non-profit organization of which I serve on the board of trustees. It was really amazing. I love being a part of it. For all you blog stalkers out there who have been reading about my boys and know very little about me, I started working for HELP International about 4 and a half years ago. I took a hiatus after I had Cody, but they couldn't live without me so I agreed to go back. It was the absolute best job for several reasons; 1-I could make my own hours, 2-It actually fit with my degree, and 3-I was truly passionate about what I was doing. Before I had Colton, I decided I wanted to direct my full attention to my family, so they voted me onto the Board. Now I just get to be a part of the good stuff without having to worry about the day to day junk. So now you are asking "what the heck is HELP International anyway?"

(At this point I just have to make a side note: Do not attempt to look up their website, it is quite pitiful and I am somewhat ashamed of it. We began creating a new website several months ago and in the interim - supposedly 2-3 weeks - had a volunteer put up this basic website. Well, in the world of non-profit, some things just get pushed to the wayside and for us, this year, the website was just one of them. However, the new one should be up and running around the middle of next month - so I will give you the go ahead when it is okay to check it out. Until then, you will just have to read this blog for what it is.)

So back to the original discussion, HELP International is a non-profit organization started 10 years ago by a group of ambitious college students and one crazy professor. The goal of HELP International is to assist the poor of the developing nations to improve their quality of life while developing competent student and community leaders for tomorrow's continued fight against poverty. HELP focuses international development and social entrepreneurship. Formally, the mission is to provide a life changing experience through service to the poor. We accomplish this by recruiting and training college-age volunteers who then work to achieve sustainable development with our local partner organizations in Uganda, Guatemala, or El Salvador.

The following are accomplishments of this summer alone:

• 65 homes visited with personal health instruction
• 170 graduates form English training courses
• 190 graduates from business training courses
• 500 graduates from teacher training courses
• 420 stoves built with cement and chimneys supplied
• 600 people with access to new square foot gardens
• 3 school rooms constructed
• 6 showers constructed for HIV/AIDS positive individuals
• 1 playground constructed
• 1 chicken coupe constructed
• 1 pig pen constructed
• 1 computer lab constructed with 4 computers donated and installed
• 3 libraries constructed with over 1000 books donated
• 100 school kits donated
• 100 hygiene kits donated
• 3 wheelchairs, 2 standing frames, and 1 sitting frame donated to children with disabilities
• 6 mattresses and covers donated to needy families
• 1000's of hours spent with orphans, street children, disabled kids and adults, teen mothers, and other abandoned children
• 89+ social entrepreneurs created, young adults from up and coming generation who now have a better understanding of their world and the difference that they can make

I know that alot of these are just numbers, but all of these numbers have faces - individual faces of people whose lives were changed this summer. I am so proud to be a part of this organization and hope that I can continue do serve and work to alleviate poverty for the rest of my life.

Stay tuned with a box of tissues for the real-life stories that go with all these numbers . . .