The Last Hill Before Home: Medardo is his name

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Medardo is his name

His name in Medardo. He lives in a small village in Guatemala. Medardo is a child that I sponsor for $24 a month through Plan USA.

This fundraiser is about change.

This fundraiser is about giving back.

This fundraiser is about making a difference in children's lives that need it most.

A few months back when I was in Santiago de Chile I decided to take a chance and create an opportunity for myself and others to help make that change in the lives of children living in poverty. A few months back I decided to work with Plan USA and to sponsor a child. A few months ago I had a rough idea of what this adventure was about. But after these past few weeks this dream that I had has become a reality and now I'm seeing first hand what that change is. Today, through this blog, you are all getting to put a name with a face (and a cute one at that).

Friends and friends of friends have written to me giving me their support and have written amazing letters full of inspiration. People from Asia, Europe, North and South America have logged into the blog and firstgiving and have donated money. An amazing gesture, especially during this time when even a buck is hard to come by. Over 225 people have joined The Cause The Last Hill Before Home on facebook to express their backing of this wild adventure and fundraiser. But just this past week another exciting chapter has opened up for me and this cause. Today I'm proud to be sponsoring a child through Plan USA.

His name is Medardo. His picture is above. Hes 7 years old and lives in a small village in Guatemala. He is one of the children that lives in this village that Plan sponsors and helps on various different levels. Plan helps the people in the village from topics ranging from Health to clean water to education. The money from this fundraiser is actually going to help support Medardos village. the funds are going to real life solutions that are going to help Medardo to receive real life solutions in a world full of uncertainties.

I don't know much about Medardo yet but I'm extremely excited because this fundraiser is going to allow me to meet this little guy. At some point in the near future Ill be taking a detour from the pan American and cycling to a small town near his village. From there a Plan representative and I will travel to his community to meet Medardo, his parents, his two sisters and his brother.

I do know that Medardo and his family live in ^a house made of straw and mud with a tile and slate roof. He attends pre-school. Is in generally good health and uses an open field or public area for the latrine.^ The main source of work in his village is agriculture and there are some that make a living through pottery and stone work. One problem that the village faces is that there are not enough water sources for everyone to live in a healthy environment.

The children of the village dreams include an improved education in the schools and for there to be more green areas, teachers for every grade, desks and pretty classrooms. We also want the opportunity to study for a career.

This fundraiser is starting to turn a new leaf.

Can you donate today to help Medardo and his village?

http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

Can you sponsor a child to help make a difference in the lives of these children?

http://www.planusa.org/sponsorachild/

Aaron

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Plan USA

¨Plan is a global partnership of caring people founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world’s poorest children.

Plan began as a child sponsorship organization. Today, we are one of the oldest and largest organizations of our kind—our grassroots, self-help programs assist more than 10 million children and their families in poor communities around the world.

We are proudly private, not for profit, and respectful of local religions and cultures—we have no agenda other than helping kids. Plan USA is one of more than 60 national organizations bearing the renowned Plan logo. ¨

Right about the time that I was identifying non profit organizations to work with I received an email from my cousin Joshua. Josh, a meteorologist for the United States Air Force who is living in Germany and currently stationed in Iraq, mentioned that he was now sponsoring a child through Plan USA. He said that it was a small step but a small step in the right direction. He also mentioned that Plan USA was backed by the Better Business Bureau, a point that we both respect. Through various research of my own I found that Plan USA is a prominent NGO and has a great marks from InterAction and the Charities Review Council. Most importantly I found that Plan USA´s mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvement in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨ linked exactly to my own mission for this fundraising event. Needless to say, it was a great fit.

The Inspiration

¨You must be the change you want to see in the world¨

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love to travel.

I have been lucky enough to throw on a backpack and visit 5 continents. I have been fortunate enough to see some amazing sights. It´s hard not to be inspired when your standing under the rotunda at the Taj Mahal or approaching the Pyramids of Egypt or wandering through the waterfalls at Iguazu in Argentina. These have all been inspiring times.

I also cherish the fact that I have met people from all over the world and been able to learn and share in the differences in cultures. You can learn so much when you share a spicy vietnamese sandwich with a local in Hoi An, when you take a stroll with a friend in a park in Santiago de Chile or gather with pilgrims over a pitcher of sangria at Santiago de Compostella in Spain. I´ve learned a lot and I´m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities.

With all the ups there´s also the downs. Theres another side you see when travelling. This side isn´t shared as much and it can also be quite difficult to talk about. Many countries, especially in the developing worlds, face many problems. HIV/AIDS, pollution, over population, lack of clean drinking water, dangerous living conditions and of course people living under $1 a day are just a few of the issues to mention.

I have wandered through the ghetto´s of Bangkok, I played stick games with the kids in the slums of Mumbai and seen the horrible living conditions of the street beggars in La Paz. While these encounters were only brief they still had a profound affect on me. Somehow, I draw inspiration from these encounters and connections. In so many situations these people who seemed to have nothing, were still smiling, still playing and still trying with all their means to get by. If only I had that much courage!

It was culture shock and it hurt.

I feel that now is the time to give back.

I encourage you to leave comments on this blog. Every word of positivity will help me along my journey. I encourage you to pass the message forward. Together we can help make a change for the kids that need it most. Finally, I encourage you to donate. There´s an icon on the top right hand corner of this blog that will direct you to a third party site that facilitates the donations. Its totally secure and safe. I appreciate all the love and positivity that I´m already recieving, of course this is not possible without people who want to help make a difference.

I don´t think that I´ll necessarily change the world, after all I´m just a 28 year old guy from San Francisco. But, I do want to give back. I do want to help. I have the opportunity so why not use it to help the children in the world who don´t have the same chances.

Now is the time to ¨be the change¨.

The Goal

In riding my bike from Panama City to San Francisco, I am initiating a grassroots fundraising effort to help raise money to feed starving children in Central and South America. All proceeds will go to PLAN USA. My goal is to raise a minimum of 15,000 dollars. In doing so I also hope to bring the plight and struggle of these children into the concious of the public, as well as their profound sense of life, courage, hope and faith. Their undeniable love for life, and ability to continue to dream.

Donate today http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

I Believe

When taking on a mission like this it´s important to create a set of ideals, principles or beliefs. The task at hand is by no means going to be easy. These 7 beliefs are truly the fundamentals that will help me along my journey.

I Believe...

- In Plan USA. Plan´s clearly defined mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨, is possible with the support from us if we are willing to make a difference today.

- In grassroots charitable efforts. Dedicated individual leaders and community outreach groups are fighting the growing problems of poverty.

- In the power of communication and information. Plan´s key programs of ¨growing up healthy, learning, habitat, livelihood and building relationships¨, are possible by making a donation and passing the message forward.

- Riding a bike from Panama City to San Francisco will raise awareness to the fight against poverty.

- In outdoor adventure travel. Riding is one of the positive and healthy activities that plants confidence into any individual.

- In the power of synergy. A group with a common mission driven by creativity and passion can accomplish any set of goals.

- A dream, a bike and a regular guy from San Francisco can help make a change in the lives of children whom need it most.

The Last Hill Before Home

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Medardo is his name

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