By Warren Te Brugge | Founder & Chair
In February we updated you on the progress we've been making in our discussions with Engineers Without Borders on our 'One Brick At a Time' community development program and we have more good news to share.
Please share this update with people and organizations you are connected to.
We're Excited - We ARE moving ahead!
As you might have known our negotiations and discussions with Engineers without Borders have been going well and we have been recently been informed that the 'One Brick At a Time' program will now proceed, with the first visit, taking place in September of this year, which is spring in Bergnek. The Bergnek community and ourselves are certainly excited about what's taking place and are truly grateful to our partners and supporters at Engineers Without Borders for working through the process with us.
This is the next BIG step in helping the Bergnek community to achieve a sustainable water source as well as build out distribution and access, particularly for the children and the elderly in the community.
The BIG idea?
Unemployment is a huge problem in Bergnek and South Africa as a whole, for that matter. To address unemployment in Bergnek, Bergnek Community Projects and My Arms Wide Open® support the community to establish projects that connect over the immediate, medium and long term. The One Brick at A Time initiative is one that is more long term, and has a number of nearer term objectives included in it, such as the collaboration with Engineers Without Borders. Each project within the program will not only transfer additional skills into the community it will also provide additional employment in Bergnek, and help to generate the resources to address other priorities within the community including health-care and housing needs.
The program starts by addressing water access and distribution. The community needs a reliable power source and a larger water capacity. This is being addressed using solar-based pumps that can pump the volume available, which is more than the current pump can handle. The next project in the program addresses sanitation needs, particularly for children and the elderly. From there we extend infrastructure and with the increased water capacity have the ability to begin a brick making business to generate revenue and to enable the community to build much needed housing and a healthcare centre.
As you can tell, this is a BIG idea and the Bergnek community is intent on making it a reality.
We NEED your Help to BIG idea manifest in Bergnek
We need to raise 5% of the total cost of the program ourselves and need your help. That's a total of $7,500. Help us to get more and more people involved in the One Brick At a Time Program, which provides a direct benefit to the children and people of the Bergnek community in rural Limpopo, South Africa. Please forward our reports/emails and ask friends and family if they would like to support the My Arms Wide Open's programs.
Can you make a new donation today or perhaps set up a monthly or quarterly recurring donation? Please consider it and take action today. The girls, women and children we serve are grateful for all of the support you have already given them.
Another form of contributing: There are also opportunities for you to join us in Africa to work alongside these truly wonderful people in the Bergnek community. Take a look at the EcoTravel link below for more information.
Thank you for your continued support of the women, girls and children of the My Arms Wide Open communities.
Please share this update with people and organizations you are connected to.
By Warren Te Brugge | Chair and Founder
By Warren Te Brugge | Founder and Chair
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