UPENDO VILLAGE BENEFIT OF GRASSROOTS PROGRAM WITH WORLDWIDE REACH
St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle Empowers Lives Across the Globe with Grandmothers to Grandmothers Program
Wheaton, IL (January 24, 2012) – Upendo Village is the benefit of a unique program that has empowered lives across the globe. Developed by one woman who is a member of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle, Illinois, Grandmothers to Grandmothers has emerged from a one-time idea to an entire program, which now has an international impact.
Launching in the spring of 2011, Donna Schreiber decided to make a difference by implementing a special program – one that she felt was identifiable among women, especially grandmothers. Her idea was to help the grandmothers of Upendo Village by raising much needed funds to support heroic efforts in caring for their orphaned grandchildren due to AIDS related parental deaths. These women provide hope and strength in an area of the world where there is often none. After thoughtful planning, Schreiber invited her church to support the grandmothers of Kenya. “As a grandmother myself and one that identifies with other women my age, I wanted to create a program that gives strength to women in a culture where they aren’t allowed to be strong.” The response was overwhelming from a simple bake sale held in May of last year. “More than $1900 was raised from the bake sale at our church and another $1500 was raised from a second bake sale in October for the grandmothers,” Schreiber said. “The response was amazing and we are planning on holding several events this year to further support the program.”
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers program was such a huge success that a profile model has been established to demonstrate how the monies raised are used to empower these special grandmothers. This program is an outstanding example of how grass roots efforts can have a worldwide impact. Schreiber and her fellow parishioners are already planning 2012 events that will raise funds to support the grandmothers at Upendo Village in Kenya. In conjunction with volunteers and leaders at Upendo Village, program guidelines have now been established so donors can clearly understand the power of their gifts.
Details of the Program Include:
Goal
To empower and educate the grandmothers to realize their full potential and be able to generate income.
Population
•Grandmothers, aunts and clients with orphans.
•Currently includes 46 grandmothers, two aunts and two clients with orphans.
Specifics the Grandmothers Have Requested
•Funds to grandmothers with existing small businesses, like buying and selling vegetables.
•Funds to grandmothers to rent land to plant vegetables, onions and potatoes for sale.
•Funds to grandmothers with existing ballast and stone quarries.
•Funds to grandmothers who buy and sell fruit.
Accountability
Funds provided to grandmothers for these projects will be treated as loans to be paid back without interest within one year. Repayments will be used to fund new loans. This is consistent with Upendo Village’s philosophy to educate clients while holding them financially accountable. Past experience with this approach has proved very successful.
For more information about the Grandmothers to Grandmothers program and/or to provide charitable support, please call Upendo Village at 630.909.6604.
ABOUT UPENDO VILLAGE:
Upendo Village, located in Naivasha, Kenya, operates with a clinic, community center and staff house providing resources and support for more than 4,900 people per month affected by HIV/AIDS. In this award winning project, clients are surrounded with loving care, and are given resources and access to programs that improve health, restore self-respect, promote self-sufficiency and give hope. Created in 2002 with the dedicated and loving partnership of The Wheaton Franciscan Community and The Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, Upendo Village is an Illinois 501(c)(3) corporation responsible for fund raising and professional oversight of operations. Upendo Village is a ministry of Wheaton Franciscan Services, Inc.
