#danebudugladni #wakingupforgood
Why I'm Running This Campaign
My name is Tajci (pronounced TY-chi) and as a performing artist I provide transformational experiences through my music/video and live shows. You can check out my work at Tajci.net.
I was inspired to run this campaign because children in my home country Croatia are suffering, "How can I be happy when people are hurting, when their struggles are far greater than mine?", is a line from a song I recorded "Uzorita" by Dalmatian poet Lara Hajdarpasic and composer Goran Topolovac . When I heard the plight of the women behind Portal Dobrote, it resonated with me.
We are all connected into one human family - and we can't thrive if we don't care for each other. We absolutely must act - not wait for someone else to do it, because maybe no one else will. We need to use our own power to make a difference.
Hungry Kids Can't Learn
I'm running this campaign to help Croatian non-profit organization Portal Dobrote in their efforts to provide hot meals for school children. Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd), blog writer of 'Croatia, the war and the future' agrees the need is there. According to Croatian Social Welfare system data in February 2013 there were more than 40,000 children living in poverty and the Croatian Ministry of Social Welfare has quoted in its press release dated 17 October 2014 that there has been a 10% rise in the number of children dependent on social welfare in the past two years.
There are many children in the Croatian school system who are not eligible for social services because one or both parents are currently employed - but can't afford to buy school lunches, which in many cases is the only hot meal kids get. Even if both parents are employed, for the majority wages in Croatia are low, and for many, paid late.
I have three sons. I know if they are hungry, they can't learn or engage in any activities. Each day that these kids are not able to fully participate in their school experience, affects their path - they slowly fall behind. Not to mention the potential for long-term consequences on their health by lack of nutrition.
This is more than giving money for food. It's about raising hope, restoring faith and giving someone an opportunity to believe that all is possible - even when you find yourself in despair.
WHY IS TARGET SET AT $6,161? "Naša djeca su naša budućnost i ne smiju biti gladna! Ne ovdje i ne dok i mi sami možemo nešto učiniti!" - Portal Dobrote
"Our children are our future and they must not be left
hungry! Not here and not as long as you and I can do something about
it!" - Portal Dobrote (transl: "Portal of Kindness")
Each lunch is 6 KN on average - which is USD$0.88 per child (per "XE trade" on 1/9/2015).
We estimate that we will need about six thousand to feed 100 school children until the end of this school year. The target is symbolic: The school year ends on June, 16, hence the first three digits in our target . The remaining one, represents each of us as one individual person, but together we can connect and make a huge difference. Please note that this is the minimum amount required to feed 100 children until June 16th, the end of this school year. These children and many more, will face the same situation again when school recommences on August, 31st, 2015.
The more money we receive the more children will get meals. We believe many people will feel the connection with Portal Dobrote's cause and a connection to Croatia, be that family, friends or having visited the country as a tourist and want to help. We have set the target low to risk incurring additional fees with Indiegogo. If we reach our target, we pay 4% of money raised to Indiegogo, if we do not meet the target, we pay 9% of donations received. The difference can translate to a lot of meals for hungry kids.
Campaign costs:
$250 for video editing (services of our Director of Photography and the use of equipment were donated)
IndieGoGo, PayPal & International Wire Fees (click here for fee break down)
We are keeping the perks at a low cost as well. Patty Nowell, an artist from Orlando, Florida has donated the artist rendition of the lyrics of the song "Uzorita" and I'm donating the song, signed CDs and tote bags. Our projected cost of perks is $400 (that includes shipping).
Donate what you can. Every little bit counts.
And please, SHARE this campaign! Help protect Croatia's vulnerable children.
Afraid of Corruption and Money Ending Up In the Wrong Pocket?
Yeah... I was too.
I had the hardest time deciding which organization to partner up with.
Honestly, I wanted to bypass all fees, taxes, all cost for media, PR, governments and large agencies (not that they aren't doing great work too).
I'd be the happiest if we could raise some money and take the cash to Croatia, buy food and give it to the cooks at the schools.
Portal Dobrote is the next best thing - they already have a similar successful initiative called
"Bread for later". So I trust them. You can too.
How Will the Money Get to Croatian Kids:
- YOU make a donation here
- Money is deposited to a business account
- I transfer the money to the bank account of Portal Dobrote
- Portal Dobrote gives it directly to schools for lunches
That simple.
The business account is the Cameron Productions Pay Pal account; the account owner is Matthew Shane Cameron, my husband. We'll provide all transaction and fee reports.
Regardless of the amount raised, Portal Dobrote will get the funds we receive (minus the fees, costs associated with perks and $250 video fee).
If you live in Croatia, or if you wish to make a direct deposit to Portal Dobrote from anywhere in the world, you can do that on their
website!
Thank you!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you have a list of schools that will or want to participate in the program?
No not a comprehensive list yet. With exposure of this program we anticipate many schools across Croatia to contact us and apply. Very little is known about this program, as up until now, we have not had much media support. We have done research within our limited capacity and already have some schools earmarked for help. We are concentrating on rural areas that are suffering the most.
Are you currently supplying any school lunches to children?
Yes. We are currently providing school lunches for approximately 50 children. Funding for these kids was collected through social networks, and mail requests. The children are from Jasenovac, a small town in Slavonia that is prone to floods, and the standard of living is low, and from Kutina, Moslavina a rural town where the majority of people are living in poverty.
We have already begun publishing bank statements showing donations received, and declarations from the School Principals that the funds were used for the children eligible for our program. These are published on our Facebook page/Kruh Za Poslije-Portal Dobrote and our website portal-dobrote.com.hr
Which children are eligible?
Children that are stuck; not covered by the safety net of social services, and although one or both parents may be working, cannot afford to feed them. Principals of schools will be accountable that children satisfy this criteria.
How will Principals be accountable?
All schools involved in this program will be published on our website. We want to be transparent. Principals on behalf of the schools will enter into contracts and these will be published on our website. The contracts will include amounts received/paid, calculated by number of children multiplied by base charge for a school lunch in Croatia (currently 6kn~1USD); signatures are required affixed with a stamp of the school seal; bank account details of the school, and reporting obligations and responsibility detailed. This condition must be met before any funds are transferred to the schools. At the end of the school year, the school will provide a report confirming that all funds were used, or the balance remaining, along with any commentaries and feedback. This document will require signature of the Principal along with another representative of the school affixed with the school seal.
Will you be helping schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)?
BiH is facing the same situation as Croatia. We already have an initiative 'Bread for later' which we shared with a group of women from Mostar, a city and municipality in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have successfully implemented the program there.
Anyone interested in running the program in BiH, please recruit volunteers and we will gladly share our work to help get you started.
How long will this program last?
Our current goal is to feed children until the end of the current school year, which is mid-June. The situation will not change, and these children will need our help again in September 2015. We hope and pray for the day when all people in Croatia can work and feed their family with dignity. Unicef reports that ... "it may well take years for many of them [children and families] to return to pre-crisis levels of well-being...." Children are suffering the most, and will bear the consequences longest, in countries where the recession has hit the hardest. Croatia is one of them.
When will you start feeding the kids?
When they return after Spring Break on 6th April. The campaign will end on 14th March, this will allow three weeks for funds to be transferred from Indiegogo to our US business account and then to Portal Dobrote bank account, and then disbursed to the schools.
How will you be transparent?
Bank statements and all contracts (described earlier) with participating schools will be published on our website. At the end of the school year, the schools will provide a confirmation that they administered the funds to feed the children and the balance is zero, or explain the balance remaining.
How can we help in other ways?
Help spread the campaign, connect with people. We have been fortunate to have the support of Ice-Hockey Club Medvescak with famous Croatian based fashion designer Aleksander Dojcinovic who have partnered together for a fundraiser in Zagreb. Hold a fundraiser at your social/sports club.
Post ideas on our Facebook group 'Waking Up For Good'. For example, become a sister school to one of the schools in the program. Children learn English at schools and can become pen pals. This will give them the opportunity to connect with other children around the world they may never have connected with, and a chance to learn about other people's lives, hopes and dreams. Provide the opportunity for another child to know that they can make a difference for someone else.
Will my donation be tax deductible?
We are a small grass roots operation, and are unable to meet the expenses to become a registered charity outside of Croatia to enable tax deductions in other jurisdictions.
Tajci and her team are running this campaign to help Portal dobrote in this urgent matter. We just really want to help.
If you have other additional queries, please email us at wakingupforgood.campaigns@gmail.com.
PORTAL DOBROTE GOALS
To improve the lives
of our most vulnerable citizens, by creating avenues that will promote human
kindness and encourage reciprocity and solidarity in our society. We are trying
to raise awareness that children and families need our help, they are
continuing to be affected by the Great Recession. In the Unicef report titled
'Children of the Recession...: Innocenti Report Card 12: In countries (such as
Croatia) where the Great Recession has hit hardest, children are suffering the
most and will bear the consequences the longest.' We need people to help in
whatever ways they can, funds, volunteer - your time is valuable, lobby
governments, talk, encourage and connect with others, you will benefit not only
the children you will be feeding but the society overall. The goal is the
awakening of positive values and connections between people, adopting the
values and habits of selfless support based on providing selfless assistance to
those in need.
We are here to help those whose voices are not heard, those whose dignity
is no longer there, and those who have lost faith; no matter the origin of religion,
color or nationality. There is power in numbers, and every bit of help creates a better world for all of us. Please join us.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA: Please
email us for more info and to request Electronic Press Kit.