Thursday, June 10, 2010

Help me reach my fundraising target!

In addition to lending my skills and experience in Zambia, I have been issued a challenge to raise funds to support CUSO-VSO’s ongoing volunteer recruitment efforts.  My personal goal is to raise at least $2,000.  If you feel that a donation to CUSO-VSO would fit within your charitable giving plan for this year, I would be sincerely grateful for your support. I have a personal donation page set up through CUSO-VSO (donation page).  Mail-in forms are also available for downloading here if you prefer more traditional methods.

In support of CUSO-VSO, I’m also “leasing” some of my more valued belongings to raise funds. If you wish to lease one of the items on my Lease page, please let me know by email and I'll reserve the item for you.  It's a triple win: 1) you get something new to use for while; 2) I have less stuff to store; and 3) the funds are put to good use by CUSO-VSO.

Financial support from donors allows CUSO-VSO and VSO International to send skilled volunteers to share their knowledge and experience with the people who need it most. CUSO-VSO and its local partners work in over 40 of the world’s poorest countries helping the men, women and children living in poverty help themselves.  CUSO-VSO is also funded by the Canadian government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the VSO Federation, and other institutional and foundation funders. 

Sincere thanks for your support of CUSO-VSO and my own personal adventure.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Golf green lawns

This post has nothing much to do with Zambia itself... but it is related to my upcoming adventure.  I have been searching far and wide in Ottawa for a suitable picnic spot to hold a bon voyage party.  My visits to City and NCC parks reveal that Ottawa has an abundance of beautifully manicured lawns; however there are few large useful picnic areas.  Vincent Massey Park is nice, but there is a reservation system and pay parking.

Ottawa's rivers are lined by some truly beautiful park lands, but these need to be made over into more useful public spaces in my view.  Let's have more parties in the parks!  :)

By the way, I've chosen Mooney's Bay Park on June 26th from about 12:30 onwards for the party.  I hope you can make it!  Bring some finger foods to share, a frisbee, soccer ball, lawn chairs... whatever we need to have a great picnic.  RSVPs appreciated at andrew.sacret [at] gmail.com.


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