Dear Friends,
Will you join us in #GivingTuesday? The SOLD Project is so close to reaching our goal to build the second classroom at our Resource Center in Thailand. When you donate to build the classroom, 100% of the funds go directly to the building project. To make it even better, Global Giving is offering to print, download or mail a card if you choose to make the gift in someone's honor. This card, coupled with some of our new merchandise or student art makes the perfect holiday gift.
Also, we have great news! Not only are we close to completing the floors for the Second Classroom but just yesterday we got word that LUSH Beauty Products is granting us $7,100 to build the walls and ceilings for both levels! To top it off, one of our donors was so excited by the LUSH grant that he gave another $5,000! This leaves us with $12,900 left to complete the classroom. We are so excited to be nearing our goal! Thank you for all of your support in making this second classroom possible.
Happy #GivingTuesday and Happy Holidays!
With gratitude,
Rachel Goble & The SOLD Project team
Links:
Hello friends,
If there is such a thing as a good setback, we may have found it.
This summer, even as we broke ground on the new classroom building, it quickly became apparent that we'd have to adjust our fundraising goal.
On the one hand, this is extremely disappointing. It's already taken us longer than we'd hoped to complete this classroom, and in the meantime our staff and kids continue to overflow our one small building.
On the other hand...
The reasons costs have gone up are actually really great news!
As you know, a huge part of why we're working in Thailand to educate at-risk children is to break the cycle of poverty, which leads so many vulnerable children into exploitation. One factor that has driven up costs in the last couple years is a steady and substantial (30%) increase in Thailand's minimum wage!
These new laws alone will not be enough to end poverty in the rural north, but they're an important step in the right direction, and we're proud to be paying the local workers who are building this classroom a good wage.
Also, because of damage our Resource Center sustained earlier this year and the earthquake not long ago in nearby Chiang Saen, the engineers working on the building recommended upgrading the foundation and other materials to make this new building earthquake-proof and storm resistant. (It's hard to argue with that.)
In the end...
We need your help more than ever!
There's still five or six months worth of work to do before the classroom is ready for classes, and we're still $20+ short of our goal. Let's finish this thing!
One way you can make a huge difference is by doing what we do—inviting your friends to get involved and help!
If you raise $500 from 10 people using GlobalGiving's Fundraiser tool between now and September 30, you could win airline tickets from JetBlue, a flip camera, and other prizes. (The warm fuzzy feeling you get from rallying people to a good cause? That's a bonus. :-)
Thanks for spreading the word!
With hope,
Michael
Hi friends,
Phase 1 is finally under construction! With 140 students in our scholarship program now and so many children and community members taking advantage of our Resource Center, the new building will make a huge difference—and allow us to invite even more children and families to participate in The Freedom Project!
This building will provide:
Thanks to your gifts, we can finish the foundation and most of the first floor this summer! We still need an additional $12,000 to build the roof and finish the second floor.
Fortunately...
On Wednesday, June 12, when you give to The SOLD Project, GlobalGiving will match your gift at 50 percent!
That means your $20 gift magically becomes $30, your $50 gift magically becomes $75, and your $1,000 gift magically becomes $1,500! Will you help us spread the word?
Thank you for believing in us and giving so generously to support our mission. We couldn't be more proud to partner with you.
With hope,
Michael
Hello friends,
At long last, we're moving forward! We're finally poised to begin construction on the much-needed second classroom and, thanks in large part to some very generous gifts, we're more than halfway to our fundraising goal.
The architect is making final revisions on the plans right now, our local director has begun to purchase materials, and the builder is scheduled to start within a month. We can hardly wait.
Also, just last week, we broke ground on the water tower many of you helped fund last year!
Meanwhile, our existing classroom continues to buzz with kids, staff, and parents at the Resource Center. We've admitted 20 new students already this year, bringing the total number of scholarship students to 140. Jade, our Education Manager, continues to introduce new workshops and day camps, opening up a dialogue with kids about self worth, healthy relationships, conflict management, and all manner of vital topics as we continue to uncover needs and interest within the community. On the weekends the building is completely overrun for our English and computer classes.
This year we'll celebrate five years of service in this community, and, as we look around, it's truly astonishing how far we've come.
Hope has taken root here, and it is growing.
Thank you for believing in us, for loving these kids, and investing in this work.
With hope,
Michael
Hi everyone,
I have some GREAT news and a quick update on the classroom building. First, during the month of November, The SOLD Project had the opportunity to compete in the second annual Girl Effect Challenge to become part of The Girl Effect for one year. We were super excited about the opportunity and believed we had a strong shot at being one of the six finalists, but even we were suprised by your incredible outpouring of support! Let's just say we did pretty well. : )
This means that, from December 1, 2012 through November 30, 2013, not only will our work benefit from increased exposure thanks to an endorsement from the Girl Effect, but The SOLD Project will also receive one-twelfth of any funds contributed to the Girl Effect Fund on GlobalGiving! This will be a HUGE help to all our staff and students in Thailand and may even help speed along plans to expand our classroom facilities. Either way, we can't wait to see what comes of this new partnership!
Meanwhile, construction has yet to begin on the second classroom building. Although we have raised enough funds to start, our staff and local workers advised against beginning construction until we're assured of being able to finish it before the rains start again. It's good advice, so we're holding off for now.
The existing Resource Center continues to hum with activity; the 250 people that showed up for our bi-annual Parent Meeting last month was yet another reminder why we need a second building! But if enough people like you get behind this project, we know we can finish this classroom in 2013. We're so grateful for your support!
Enjoy your holidays!
Michael
P.S. A generous anonymous donor has agreed to match 100% of new monthly donations from December 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. For example, if you set up a new $25 monthly recurring donation, GlobalGiving will donate an additional $25 to the project. And if 10 people do it, they'll even donate an extra $500! So spread the word! Click here to learn more.
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