The Freedom Project: Prevention Through Education

Hi friends!

2012 had a spectacular finish and 2013 is off to an amazing start. We’ve admitted 20 new students already this year and the Resource Center continues to hum with daily activity.

It's been nearly five years since we began working in northern Thailand to prevent child sexual exploitation through education, and it's so encouraging to see how far we've come.

One of the students in our program, now in college, returns every Saturday morning to teach computer classes to the younger students. Another university student helps lead our Saturday afternoon English classes. These kids, once at risk of being exploited themselves, are not only pursuing higher education, but are actively giving back to their community as role models and teachers!

This week, we’re scheduled to break ground on the new water tower many of you helped fund last year, and hope to begin construction on a (much needed!) second classroom building in early March.

Also, as you may have noticed, the results are in and it's official: YOU'RE THE BEST SUPPORTERS EVER!! The SOLD Project is part of The Girl Effect for 2013. :)

Here's what you accomplished:

• 660 of you combined your resources and gave more than $18,000, enough all by itself to fund all our current educational programs in Thailand for more than four entire months!
• Your generosity blew away the competition and The SOLD Project finished the Girl Effect Challenge in FIRST PLACE! This means that from now until November 30, 2013, our work will receive 8.3% (one twelfth) of all donations to The Girl Effect Fund. Since winning the challenge, SOLD has already received an additional $9,478.96 from the Girl Effect Fund!
• You also elevated The SOLD Project to Superstar status on GlobalGiving! This means that we're now and forever considered a top-tier organization, making us eligible for corporate matching gifts, additional exposure, and other perks.

You've made us extremely happy and incredibly proud. Your continued outpouring of support means the world to us—and makes all the difference in the lives of the children we serve together in Thailand.

THANK YOU!!! We're lucky to have you on our team, and couldn't be more excited for the year ahead.

With hope,

Michael