Reuniting Orphans with Family
Date Published:
I am writing this wish on behalf of a 501(c)(3) in Boston called CameroonONE. This organization works in Cameroon, Africa, aiding in the orphan crisis that affects the continent. There are over 1 million orphans in Cameroon alone, many of whom are affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other devastating illnesses. CameroonONE’s vision is to create a culture in which all orphaned children in Cameroon have the opportunity to grow as a family member and become citizens who impact and lead their community into a better future. One way the organization does this is by researching surviving relatives of orphaned children and providing education and proper healthcare needs within a secure family environment in order to bring hope and opportunity to a large population of Cameroon's orphans.
In addition, CameroonONE implemented a bee-keeping farm to sell honey and beeswax as a means of not only providing sustainable income for our orphan program, but to provide vocational training for our sponsored families and the additional community members where we work. In addition to investing in education the project has also improved rural economics by increasing crop yields for farmers and creating jobs for community members. Through fundraising campaigns in 2015 we obtained suitable land and purchased our initial hives. We currently have 14 hives, but our long term goal is a farm of 800 hives. With each hive costing $40 US Dollars, the organization needs $31,440 to purchase the remaining 786 hives.
While we are reinvesting honey sales into the purchase of new hives, our estimations of reaching full capacity by 2025 is based on assumptions that 80% of the current hives are colonized and 90% of the income from the honey sales is used only for hive reinvestment. It is critical to have as many hives as possible colonized in the early years in order for the farm to reach capacity and begin producing income that will allow us to best serve the students already in our programs, as well as those still waiting for support. It is my wish for this organization to get the funds needed to reach their goal of 800 hives so the income generated can be used to re-invest into the community by giving an income and expanding education available to the citizens of Cameroon.
This organization has the potential and the desire to have a lasting impact on the citizens of Cameroon and beyond by sharing this bee-keeping training with those who are interested. By enabling those in our program with the education needed for this trade, Cameroon's citizens can help reverse the decline of global bee populations, as well as helping others rise above the vicious cycle of poverty stemming from a lack of education, both formal and vocational. This program has the ability to expand drastically. With one community helping another, who helps another, who helps another, we can better attack the battles citizens confront and decrease the instances of organ exploitation, human trafficking, and slavery that so many currently face.
In addition, CameroonONE implemented a bee-keeping farm to sell honey and beeswax as a means of not only providing sustainable income for our orphan program, but to provide vocational training for our sponsored families and the additional community members where we work. In addition to investing in education the project has also improved rural economics by increasing crop yields for farmers and creating jobs for community members. Through fundraising campaigns in 2015 we obtained suitable land and purchased our initial hives. We currently have 14 hives, but our long term goal is a farm of 800 hives. With each hive costing $40 US Dollars, the organization needs $31,440 to purchase the remaining 786 hives.
While we are reinvesting honey sales into the purchase of new hives, our estimations of reaching full capacity by 2025 is based on assumptions that 80% of the current hives are colonized and 90% of the income from the honey sales is used only for hive reinvestment. It is critical to have as many hives as possible colonized in the early years in order for the farm to reach capacity and begin producing income that will allow us to best serve the students already in our programs, as well as those still waiting for support. It is my wish for this organization to get the funds needed to reach their goal of 800 hives so the income generated can be used to re-invest into the community by giving an income and expanding education available to the citizens of Cameroon.
This organization has the potential and the desire to have a lasting impact on the citizens of Cameroon and beyond by sharing this bee-keeping training with those who are interested. By enabling those in our program with the education needed for this trade, Cameroon's citizens can help reverse the decline of global bee populations, as well as helping others rise above the vicious cycle of poverty stemming from a lack of education, both formal and vocational. This program has the ability to expand drastically. With one community helping another, who helps another, who helps another, we can better attack the battles citizens confront and decrease the instances of organ exploitation, human trafficking, and slavery that so many currently face.
