Introduction
Thank you for your interest in this fundraising campaign!
Before asking for your contributions I would like to introduce myself, explain
my motivation and let you know about the fundraiser:
- My
name is Iva Kolarov and I am a clinical therapist, instructor and adjunct
professor of psychology, and an international psychology doctorate student
in Chicago, Illinois.
- You
may have noticed your friends and family sharing informational links about
the flooding disaster in the Balkans. I know I have, but was unsure what the best way was to help. As an international psychologist and
someone who is from the region, I feel a sense of moral responsibility to
contribute to the humanitarian assistance efforts. Raising awareness about
an issue is important, but there is a need to take action!
- If you
choose to contribute to this fundraiser, you can expect that the funds
will be given to the Red Cross in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina upon
the completion of the campaign. This will help the action efforts of
volunteers and employees who are working with the affected communities. I
will explain more about the acute and long-term needs below.
Problem
The record breaking rainfall in the Balkan region has
impacted Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia in varying degrees. Media
reports note that the flooding has caused deaths, significant damage to the
communities, and increased environmental danger as unrecovered
land mines have shifted. Here is the breakdown of the problem:
- Lack
of access to basic needs such as food, water, shelter, hygiene supplies
and medicine
- Some
cities and villages are experiencing disruption of water supply, power,
and overall damaged infrastructure
- Landslides
are causing road damage and buildings to collapse
- Aid corruption is cicrcling the media outlets
Purpose
There are several fundraising campaigns aimed at addressing
the acute crisis of the flooding. Some are clear about where the money is going
and the purpose of the campaign, while others are not. What sets this campaign
apart is that it will work with a reputable and established humanitarian
organization that can offer assistance to both short and long-term needs of the
people. As a result, it is important to understand the basics:
- Even
those who are unfamiliar with the impact of the flood can appreciate the
level of need and the pressing call to action.
- Collaboration
is needed not just among survivors in the acute post-crisis states,
but also in long-term humanitarian efforts.
- Regardless
of the geographic location or type of disaster, it is imperative to capitalize
on established organizations, resources and community
infrastructure.
- The
needs after a disaster can range from very basic short-term, to
comprehensive long-term.
- Humanitarian
efforts should meet the needs in acute crisis, but more importantly focus
on developing helping structures within the impacted communities.
- Resilience
of the people and strengths based community approaches can enhance
humanitarian efforts and support sustainability efforts.
Ways You Can Help
There are several things you can do
that would be greatly appreciated:
- Please
donate as much as you can! There is no minimum or maximum in your
contribution. You may contribute with any major credit card.
- If you
are not able to contribute to the effort through monetary donation, you
can still help! Please share the link with your personal and business
contacts. You never know how connecting them to this cause can amplify the
benefits of this effort!
- Remember
to get the word out, make some noise about the campaign and use the
Indiegogo share tools!
Thank you for taking the time to read about the campaign and
if you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to reach out! You can
reach me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Skype, or Yahoo email.