ETA: At the current rate, I will reach 400,000 contributors in about 300 years. While I’m optimistic I will live that long, I can’t bank on it. Therefore, I will end my blogging hiatus satisfied that 26 wonderful people helped and many many more helped spread the word. Thank you!!! 🙂
This morning I saw an amazing story – the kind of story that puts everything into perspective and makes me want to get up and do something equally awesome.
The story was about a woman named Luma Mufleh. Born in Jordan, Luma came to the US, attended Smith College, and then got a teaching job outside of Atlanta, Georgia. A wrong turn took her to an apartment complex where barefoot children were playing soccer on a makeshift field. It was a scene Luma had seen in many other places in the world, but not in the US. As it turned out, the children were all refugees from countries that had been torn apart by war and violence.
What began as Luma bringing the kids a new soccer ball to play with evolved into the creation of a Fugees (for Refugees) soccer team. That evolved into an academy that helps the children in school, because no one was paying attention to the fact that these kids couldn’t read or write in their own language, not to mention in English.
Now, Luma wants to create a permanent home for her kids called the Fugee Village. It will be a school, a home, and a place for these kids to safely establish themselves.
But creating something like that needs money. Lots of money. And the Fugees are not funded by the government.
The minimum recommended donation is $12, because $12/week is enough to help one student get tutoring for a week. If 400,000 people donated $12, Luma would be able to build her village. How many people in the online world have that many people following them on Twitter right now?
I think this is entirely doable.
So, I’m going to leave this post up until we have gotten that many people to donate. I don’t need to write posts. There are plenty of people doing that. This is more important to me than any other message I could put here.
All you have to do is let me know you donated – you don’t have to tell me the amount. You can comment here or anywhere else you know me, and I’ll keep a running tally.
Let’s change the world, starting with one little village in the state of Georgia.
I am donating $12. You can donate here. Or visit the Fugees wishlist for in-kind donations, including clothing and soccer equipment. We’ll certainly count those contributions too!
Tally of contributors: 26
Image Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/falto
I am SO in!! You are one awesome lady margieclayman … This world could use a lot more Luma Muflehs and Margie Claymans…Thank you for caring and for inspiring
xo
Claudia
@SocialMediaDDS Thanks Claudia 🙂
Done!
@DWesterberg you rock. And you’re #2 🙂
I can relate to this. My parents bought a big house outside London around 1950.They created a residential community home, with 30+ children, many from refugee families and with special needs. It was called The House in the Sun and was operational for close to half a century. I helped out from a very early age. i will be giving….
@CASUDI Wow, that’s amazing, Caroline. Thank you for sharing!
Done…. Will do more when I can. Great Cause margieclayman Margie; thank you, And thanks milaspage for calling it to my attention in the first place.
@Josepf thanks so much!! You’re wonderful 🙂
Margie –
You truly are an amazing lady! Thanks for introducing us to Luma and the Fugees.
I just completed my donation and hope to be able to do more for the Fugees. I made a note to shop through their Amazon link – they will receive 6% from every purchase made.
Thanks for lighting the fire!
Kelly
@Tribe2point0 Thanks Kelly! I really appreciate that. Let’s spread the word!
Margie!
How wonderful! I donated and will spread the word!! Wednesday’s post will also mention yours and the Fugees. I really wanted to do more, maybe my Face Book folks will come together for this as well.
There are so many outstanding people in the world doing outstanding things. Thank you for finding and sharing these folks and their mission with us. I think it has to be true, each prayer said, each dollar given, each message passed along, these all happen because of even more outstanding people.
If we, each one of us, does what we can, it can make remarkable things happen.
~Amber-Lee
@girlygrizzly You rock very very much, Ms. Amber-Lee. Thank you so much. So many people complain that folks in the US want to help other countries before we sort out our own mess. Well, here’s a chance to help kids who are here for better lives. Works for me!:)
Done! Thanks for the opportunity to give in this way.
@LittleAnimation thank you so very much. I really and truly appreciate it!!
Bravo, Margie! Done.
@RoyAtkinson Thank you thank you!!! I am so excited to see how our social media community can make a big difference to a group who so needs help. 🙂
Done. I’ve emailed to get involved at a deeper level. One, because we are Atlantans (misplaced in the NE for a few years) and two, i can hopefully rally the media community for their support ,as well.
They have some really nice corp sponsors which is good to see. Thanks Margie.
@brandcottage You so totally rock. Thank you thank you!!
Done. Thanks for sharing the opportunity to make a difference.
Thanks so much @elbiddulph . I appreciate it!!
I am donating items from the wishlist and a blog post.
You are amazing, as I can’t possibly note enough 🙂 @NancyD68
Done… changing the world one step at a time with many engaged people, that is a great choice for us to make! Thanks for highlighting a wonderful community initiative! Jon
@ThinDifference Thanks Jon! That’s what I’m going for! 🙂
On it and spreading the word! Let’s change the world on tweet, share, blog post, child, soccer ball, classroom at a time!
@susangiurleo Thanks Doktah Gee!!
Margie, you’re crazy. But I love it. I can’t do much from Iraq but lend you and the Fugees my voice and blog for a week. Brandi, on the other hand, will be shopping at home for things off of the wishlist and getting them sent. She’s also posting links on her blog. I’ll get the post up today and let you know when its published.
Let’s change the world. At least the world around us.
My post is up. http://brandontheduncan.com/2011/10/using-our-voices-for-good/ – Thank you Margie for this. I hope you meet your goal. (and quickly… can’t have you out forever!)
@BrandonPDuncan You are amazing, BD. I’m so glad I know you!!
Contribution made! Looks like this project has had some great higher-profile coverage this morning and over the weekend, too. I hope Luma is solidly on her way to reaching her goal. Thanks for sharing this story, @margieclayman!
@margieclayman Whoops, skipped a word in there. I mean higher-profile *media* coverage – lots of references to CBS. Great to see this story spreading!
@amysept Thanks so much, Amy. You’re lucky 13 🙂
Thanks for this Margie and to @amysept for sharing this morning – have shared with my colleagues at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees here in Canada as well. Cheers, Andy
@DonovanGroupInc@amysept Wow, that’s very kind of you! Thank you!!
@margieclayman You rock. I love this idea! $12 is so doable. Hats off for being the change you want. I’m in 🙂
@NicoleFende Thanks so much, Nicole!!
Done – One more closer to your goal of 400,000! Will submit proof of my donation at work, they will match it!
Margie, so simple… $12 a week for a person’s education! You Rock!
@dabarlow you’re awesome, Denise. Thank you a million times! 🙂
I’ve been a regular contributor for a while but I give extra when I can and cannot wait to see the Fugee Village become a reality. I donated through the Amazon wishlist today and will do more as I’m able. Thanks for bringing attention to this!
@ElizabethBailey Thanks Elizabeth! I know, that village is going to be amazing. I can’t wait to see that plan become a reality!!
In! Amazing cause, amazing post, amazing Margie — and we want your amazing posts back in our streams!
@PaulBiedermann Thanks, Paul. I was so inspired by what this woman started on her own, it just seemed like the perfect opportunity for the online world to step in and make a difference.
Done. Still don’t know if I want you to keep writing but I do hope you reach your goal 🙂
@danperezfilms thank you so much, Dan. I really appreciate it! It’s all about the spirit of sacrifice, right? 🙂
Add one more.
@ginidietrich thanks so very, very much!!
Any advice for leverage $0 profit projects? I like the blog-fast. I’ve read the Fugees; I feel something vital here. Other ideas?
@Mark_Robertson Hi Mark,
The sky is really the limit. You could just blog about that topic, you could invite guest bloggers – anything can be done to leverage a blog. Just do it 🙂
Donated today Margie. Best of luck with this cause! 🙂
@courtneybosch thank you so very much!!
Done and done. This is awesome, Margie. I used to work at a non-profit in Chicago (called Glenwood School) that was somewhat similar. It wasn’t for refugees, but for disadvantaged kids. It was a school and a place for them to live during the week (they went home on the weekends).
It’s AMAZING what can happen when you invest in children and give them the resources they wouldn’t have otherwise. A good education and a stable home environment can make all the difference. I saw children go from no literacy to A students. There were students who were the first in their families to graduate high school and go on to college. When you focus on helping young people, you really can help change the world!
Thanks for bringing my attention to this fantastic cause. I gladly contributed and will help you spread the word.
So, the goal is 400,000? If so, we’ve got a lot of work to do!
@lauraclick Thanks so much! Yeah, there’s a long way to go, but hey, I’ve got time, right? So far, the Fugees have gotten over $100,000 since their story ran on Sunday Morning. Some of that is us! 🙂
@margieclayman @lauraclick YAHOO!!!
Done! Best of luck reaching your goal, Margie!
Thank you so much, @gwenmorrison !!
Done! Great cause – thank you for raising awareness.
@melgallant Thanks for helping!! 🙂
Margie – did it! Thank you for raising awareness and your stand for humanity…
@dmalloy Thank you!!! 🙂
For some reason I had not gotten to this till today! Thanks for bringing this up!
I wonder if they could use some boxes of American children’s books. What do you think, @margieclayman ? Let me know. 🙂
Absolutely!!
wow its really very informative post.