Hi all!
If you're
reading this, it's because I am reaching out to everyone in my personal network
on behalf of the Cameroon Football Development Program (CFDP), a registered
501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with whom I am currently working in
Cameroon. The organization is based jointly in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Kumba,
Cameroon, and uses soccer as a vehicle for youth education in underserved areas
of Cameroon.
Of course, the
reason I'm reaching out to everyone is to ask for any kind of donation you may
be willing to give that will help us ship 53 boxes of soccer equipment and
school supplies from the US to Cameroon by the end of July. Over the past
six months, I and other CFDP volunteers spent all sorts of time and money going
up and down the East Coast to collect supplies and equipment from donors, but I
don't think I realized how much more money it would cost still to actually get
this stuff shipped to Cameroon. We have 53 boxes full with hundreds of soccer
shoes and thousands of jerseys, shorts, warm-ups, socks, etc. that are
currently in Philadelphia waiting to be shipped to a port in Douala, Cameroon.
The estimated cost is $3,200. It seems like a lot, but I and a few other
volunteers are reaching out to our family and friends, thinking that even if we
get just $10 from 300 people, we can make this happen.
I apologize
because many of you have already taken lots of time to help me gather donations
around Pittsburgh and in Connecticut and I am conscious of the fact that now I
am asking for more. First, I was asking for equipment donations, and so many
friends and family came through with support. Now, I have asked again for
monetary donations to help send this stuff to Cameroon. I'm not one to ask for
things. I especially don't like asking for money. I always told myself that I
didn't want to work for a non-profit organization for these reasons. But here I
am. You can see how completely invested I am in this cause.
By now, I have
been working in Cameroon for two months. I have witnessed firsthand the work
that this organization puts out and the impact that they are making on young
boys and girls here who really need our help. The program is absolutely
phenomenal. It is not even three years new and over the past two months I have
had numerous locals here tell me that they have never seen an NGO
(non-governmental organization) grow in Kumba as fast as CFDP has. CFDP runs
after-school sessions at secondary schools, is partnered with over a dozen
youth football academies, and organizes all sorts of special events around the
year throughout Kumba, during which they combine soccer activities with
educational sessions about developing important life skills, HIV/AIDS
awareness, etc. etc. Also, this coming Sunday, July 7, we are kicking off our
CFDP U-16 Football League for Youth Development, which will combine educational
activities with actual soccer matches.
It may sound
like fun and games, but there is a serious need for CFDP in Cameroon. The
problems here are real--Adults with corrupted mentalities, and kids who have no
sense of direction because they are extremely underserved when it comes to
education. I often go to local fields to play soccer and it is not uncommon
that people are playing with torn shoes, or no shoes at all. There's also this
guy that I have kind of befriended--He is employed by the government as a math
teacher at a school here in Kumba. The guy is so dedicated; he loves loves
loves math. But he hasn't been paid in nearly two months. He told me that he's
had no food in his house for the past week. It's unbelievable. I could go on
and on.
Anyway, CFDP
operates under the belief that by using football--the one thing all boys and
girls here love--it can help today's children in Cameroon develop the life
skills they need to become good leaders who will make this country stronger in
years to come. Our organization really has little to do with football. We are
just using it to attract children and make them more receptive to our messages.
The equipment that we are trying to get over here will help us meet this goal.
It will be given not only to children, but also to adults who we have trained
as "youth leaders" over the past few years to motivate them to
continue to pass out our message around Kumba.
To all of you
who donated equipment back in April, I thank you very much (and I'm sorry to
now ask for more). I brought as much as I was allowed with me by plane back in
May, but the majority of it is now still waiting in Philly to be shipped. I
also won't forget to send you photos of the kids who have received your
donations so far!
Okay, that's
all. Sorry for the long-winded email. If you have anything to contribute, here
is the link:
http://www.razoo.com/story/Will-Dodds-Fundraising-For-Equipment-Shipment-All-Stars
Please feel
free to share this link and/or email with others in your personal network!
Anything you can do even just to spread the word about our cause is a
tremendous help.
Also, for more
information about CFDP, feel free to check out the organization's website and/or
read my blog. The links are posted below.
www.mongoball.blogspot.com
www.cameroonfdp.org
Words cannot
express how much I appreciate you taking the time to read my plea! Thank you
sincerely for your help.
Best,
Will Dodds
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