Short Summary
Hi, My name is Amanda Froelich,
and I'm asking for your
help
to fund my research,
travel, and
humanitarian
relief
project. All details and more can be found at the campaign's website,
http://nourishing-roots.org
, but let me break it down for you.
First,
I'm a RHN Holistic Nutritionist, ISD Detoxification Specialist, MU
Travel Writer & alternative health freelance writer, plant-based
(live foods) chef, and ambitious entrepreneur who is ready to participate in lasting change to positively shift the world.
It's
a 3-part project (scroll down to learn more on each part):
-
Research,
form relations, travel through India,
Africa, and
Indonesia,
and gather connections to help build a solid foundation for my
future NGO (non-governmental organization), Bloom
for Life.
-
Give
back to orphanages and health-centers by volunteering services,
implementing sustainable change, donating resources (funded and
donated), and speaking / demonstrating on the principles of holistic
healing, sustainable living, and spiritual connectedness.
-
Publish
projects which will help lay foundation for the future NGO and also
creatively share the message that's transformed my
life,
and know will benefit others.
I
need funding to help support my year
and a half venture
through these three major
locations
(please click here
to see my so-far planned itinerary),
and obtain my goals (objectives
/ goals
can be found here).
I'll be living simply, but have a lot
to
accomplish during the time frame of this travel / research / relief
effort project.
I
currently live in Costa Rica where I'm serving as head vegetarian /
vegan chef at a renowned health center, but have been planning this
project to come for a while now. With resources, connections, and
support from like-minded individuals and companies, I know that this
project and many more will be made manifest.
Project
Overview:
If
you want more details, please see the Overview
on the Nourishing Roots
website
here.
It's
a 3-part project:
-
The purpose of this organization will be to teach sustainable
living, holistic healing, and
spiritual
connectedness in
two different ways (urban and rural programs) via resources and
long-term application (like starting a garden in rural locations,
teaching about health) through team members and volunteers.
This
project serves as a means to work and volunteer in future locations
where I hope to establish projects with Bloom
for Life.
Part of the “research” will be to meet
the
people, get to know them, learn exactly what they want, form
relations, document the land, unique challenges in specific
locations, and collaborate with business partners back in the States
to
officially found and get the organization running.
The
great thing about funding a project like this, is that it will also
raise
awareness for this future organization, and the more people I meet
and partner with while traveling, the more support there is to help
millions more down the road.
-
Give
Back Through Relief Effort
It's
not gap year or spastic adventure, it's a research / travel / work
project, and therefore it's essential I give back in as many ways as
possible. It is also a priority to cut down on costs where I can.
For those reasons, I've devised two main ways I can accomplish both.
On
Nourishing Roots website,
I share here the
project I have planned to work with four
orphanages
during my travels, and how the aim will be to 1) help them implement
and learn how to care for an organic garden 2) help them source
local, high-quality food at a reduced cost (most likely relying on
funds and support from outside sources), and 3) teach the essentials
of holistic health and connectedness with themselves, each other,
and the Earth. In
each orphanage I stay at for about 3-6 weeks, I will offer help, be
inspired, form relations, and positively contribute to their shared
space.
On
cost breakdown of the Nourishing
Roots page,
I share that a minimum of $2,000 of this campaign's funding will go
to support this aspect of the project.
I
will also be collaborating and working with holistic healers in
these locations who are pulling off big projects of their own. One
such homeopath who is changing the world is Dr. Nandita Shah, an
Indian physician teaching the essentials of mind, body, spirit
connectedness and plant-based living to reduce Diabetes and create
lasting health. I'll be volunteering and offering my skills to
support efforts such as these and gain more connections.
So
you can see, the whole focus of this project is to be able
to
help others, and by supporting my dream, you're in effect helping to
change the world.
-
Publish / Create projects that will benefit future NGO and vision.
I'm
a creator:
an artist, a chef, a writer, an innovator... and I want to give it
back through resources I've been working on for the last year or
two. But it's also essential I hit on the underlying themes that
propel my passion to allow others to helpthemselves
to live a life of peace and happiness: that is holistic
health, spiritual connectedness, and environmental change.
Novel:
Think
James Redfield meets Paulo Coehlo. I'm almost 21 years young, own my
own business, have relations with innovative creators around the
world, live in Costa Rica, and have only just begun participating in
the type of dream I hope to share with others.
This
book is inspired on my non-fiction travels travels (doing a Native American
ceremony in the jungle, backpacking through beach towns in Latin
America, participating in mind-blowing group ceremonies for
conscious change), but is fictionalized to appeal to a larger
audience. During this time, I hope to complete the manuscript and
find an agent to ensure its success through a publishing house like
Rodale or Hay House.
Childrens
Book.
I've
created an educational, inspirational, and beautifully-worded
children's book (and illustrated all the artwork) to teach the
importance of connecting with the Earth and growing one's own food.
It has potential to inspire a lot of young kids, and it will be the
first resource I plan to create that may potentially be givento places like the orphanages
I work with.
Cultural
Books
While
traveling, I'll be snapping photographs of depth and writing about
the places I go and people I meet. For every major location or
community I stay with, a self-published book will be created. The
aim is to convey artistically the different locations I go to,
document the beauty of their culture, and also hint at their current
status compared to the rest of the world's, but in an inspirational
way. An estimate of about 8 will be created. These books will also
be offered as perks. (See
below)
Writing
for publications / media
to spread the word about this project. Any extra time I am afforded
will allow me to continue writing and sharing the word about this
and
future projects through high-traffic media sites. From travel and
business, to news sites and blogs, I aim to spread the word about
this new type of humanitarian pursuit, and also encourage faith and
partnership from sponsors and organizations for the future NGO.
Funding
See
the entire cost breakdown here on Nourishing Roots.
Travel,
Accommodation, Room & Board
$7,000
This
is for a year and a half
of travel, a lot of which I will be couch-surfing, doing
work-exchange, and living with communities in home-stay. Fees for
this will cover visas, room / board, food, and supplies to document
all aspects of this venture.
Resources
for Change $7,000
This
includes resources for the orphanage, fees to found the organization,
and opportunity to professionally publish my own works that will help
form the foundation for future projects.
Total:
$14,000
As
I go in detail to explain on my project website, the costs I estimate
are at $14,000, but I have chosen to set this campaign at $10,000.
(Please
do keep in mind, even when this goal is reached, this campaign will
only receive $9,300 after IndieGoGo's share.)
I'll
continue to freelance write, offer my services for donation, and
accept help in any other form. $10,000 is a great mark to start, and
I know financial resource will only grow to make this project and the
organization manifest through time.
The Impact
The Oxford Journal published a
lengthy piece on the challenges of health around the world. It
reflects what I have found to be true from my research, experience,
and travels so far:That rural locations need access to clean water,
sustainably grown (organic, high-quality) food, and resources for
education and change before
they flock to urban developments and become riddled with diseases
more prone to westernized societies. There are two
main
causes of health issues:
one is sourced with malnutrition and lack of supplies, whereas the
other is overabundance and low-quality food sources. If we are to
curb the many health issues prevalent in the world caused by an
imbalance of resources and lack of education, help needs to be
implemented at the source.
That's why the organization I aim to
create will work with to implement such changes in rural locations,
while also offering educational conferences and resources in urban
locations to fuel such change in both types of societies. This
project nourishes those
roots.
By
supporting this project,
you are helping this vision be made manifest. You are nourishing
the roots of
so many projects
and acting as an activist for change.
Not
only am I indebtedly grateful for all the support that is given, but
am proud to be in collaboration with people who believe in a world
where potential is limitless and positive change is possible.
Please,
again, learn more about all this project will do at Nourishing Roots,
the campaign website I have set up to best explain this vision.
What
You Get:
Besides
a more nourished and environmentally-friendly world, you also get
perks for helping me fund this project!
$5
– A huge thank you and your
name and/or organization in the Hall
of Supporters page on the
Nourishing Roots website.
$25
- A “thank you” postcard from India, Africa, or Indonesia (you
choose), and your name on the Hall of Supporters page.
$50
– One cultural book of your choice (see part 3 of project) +
postcard from India, Africa, or Indonesia, and your
name on the Hall of Supporters page.
$100
– (When it's published and ready for distribution) My completed
novel (signed ;), a cultural book of your choice, a postcard from
India, Africa, or Indonesia, and your name in the Hall
of Supporters website page.
$175
– 2 Cultural books of your choice, my novel when ready for
distribution, two postcards from India, Africa, or Indonesia,
and your name or organization on the Hall of Supporters website
page.
$300
– 3 Cultural Books of your choice, two postcards from India,
Africa, or Indonesia. My novel (signed ;) when published
and ready for distribution, and your name on the Nourishing Roots
Hall of Supporters
page.
$500
– Personalized video made while with children at one of the
orphanages (thanking you!) + $300 and up perks.
$1,000
– Three postcards from India, Africa, and Indonesia,
personalized video from orphanage (thanking you!), four cultural
books, my novel and children's book (both signed) when ready
for distribution, and your name on the Hall of Supporters page
of Nourishing Roots.
$2,500
and up – All cultural books + novel + children's book + 3 postcards
from India, Africa, and Indonesia, your name on the
Hall of Supporters page, a personal video from one of the
orphanages (to thank you!), and a t-shirt with the Nourishing
Roots logo.
Plus, you are invited to stay a week
with me in Bali in Fall 2015 – I'll take care of the meals,
entertainment, and room/board to thank your support.
Other Ways You
Can Help
Money isn't the only way to
support this project! Please:
-
Share this campaign with
everyone you know. Help can be offered in a variety of ways!
-
Partner or donate resources
(sustainable technologies, health education resources), and/or
contact companies you might know that may be interested in getting
involved.
-
Share this project with
media and news sites you think should cover it.
-
Keep up to date with
Nourishing Roots and my
other projects at Bloom for Life.
Feel
like you missed something? Check out all of the project details
at Nourishing
Roots: http://nourishing-roots.org.
Thank
you for your support! I can't do this without you!
Amanda
Froelich