So Now I Know

I have just found out that I will be volunteering in South Africa
"Ms. Goforth has been assigned to a project in South Africa which is located in
the province of Kwa-Zulu in the village of Impendle, which is about one and a
half hours by road from Durban" -OCA coordinator Willis Logan

My dream becomes more real everyday. It feels so strange that in three months I will be completely immersed in a totally different culture...doing something positive.
I am going to be working on an agriculture project and helping out at a local school tutoring English and other subjects. It feels great that now I can tell people where I am going and what I will be doing, it makes it feel more real as well.

When I applied for the program I did not specify a certain country that I would like to go to, other projects by Crossroads are taking place in: Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, Benin, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo.
The types of projects that take place are in these catagories:

1. Community Construction/ Development Projects
2. Community Health/Medical Outreach Projects
3. Agriculture/Reforestation Projects
4. Education/Training Projects
5. Women’s Development Projects

see here
I did not specify a country but I did request that I work on an Agriculture/Reforestation project because I thought that it fit most into what I am studying at school (environmental issues/geography/geology), so I guess that is why I was placed to Volunteer in South Africa on an agriculture project. When I think about what I will be doing I get so excited, but the reaity is that stress is also setting in. I am now working three part-time jobs and I am coming up to final exams in school. Finding every bit of extra time to fundraise is a huge challenge but at the same time I know that the payoff will be huge.

Comedy Night Fundraiser

The date has been confirmed:
A fabulous night of comedy for a fantastic cause on May 1st:
I will be hosting a fundraiser at Yuk Yuks a renowned comedy club in downtown Vancouver. I Have 100 tickets to sell for $13 a piece...if you would like a ticket just email me. This night should be a lot of fun and I hope to see all my Vancouver connections out that night.
Fundraising update:
I have sold about 24 tickets to the Buck Fundraiser and April is fast approaching...but I have faith that the rest of the tickets will get sold! Also $20 has been donated online...thank you very much and I have received a $100 cash donation (very much appreciated!). I can hardly wait for the day that I have reached my goal of $3500, and I get so excited when I think that in just three months I will be in Africa doing something so few people get a chance in their lifetimes to do.

Bar night at the Buck

My first fundraising event is planned for Thursday the 3rd of April. A bar night at the Buck and Ear in Richmond, that night there is a PPV Canucks game too for all you fans. For just $15 you get a fantastic pasta dinner with veggies and Caesar salad AND a beer or non-alcoholic drink. You ALSO get the chance to win fabulous prizes, to be announced soon. I will be holding a raffle, silent auction and 50/50 draws. Email me if you would like to purchase tickets.

DONATE NOW:
I have set up an account so that those of you who would like to support me can do so online via paypal. There is no minimum donation and all donations are greatly appreciated! Its a great cause and you can feel great knowing that you can make a difference in Africa.

Thank you!

I will continue to post how much people have donated and how far I have to go...

An Amazing Opportunity

It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember to go to Africa and make a positive impact in any way I can...

About a month ago I had applied to a program called Operation Crossroads Africa where I can volunteer in Africa for six weeks this summer and after a lengthy application process I have been accepted!

This summer I will volunteer in Africa doing humanitarian and community development work, I have not yet found out which country I have been assigned to, or what specific work I will be doing but as soon as I find out I will share this with you. I am so excited to be given such an amazing opportunity, I just know that it will change my life in so many ways!


The challenge:
I need to raise the participation fee of $3500!
I plan to do this through a series of fundraising activities and by the support of all of you!

I will keep you posted on how you can donate and what activities are being planned.
I would love to hear fundraising ideas, suggestions, words of wisdom and any comments on how I can make this blog better.