Our Inaugural Spring Fundraiser

We are hosting a fantastic event on May 9th - our inaugural Spring Fundraiser!

You can find out more about it on our Facebook page, our website, and buy tickets on Eventbrite.

But here are some details already!

WHO: UNITE Foundation, which funds an educational summer camp that has equipped young Togolese since 2001 with the life skills required to overcome the challenges of adolescence while growing up in a developing nation.

WHAT: Inaugural Spring Fundraiser to fund Camp UNITE: a life-changing peer leadership training camp for teenagers in Togo, West Africa (where few students are able to progress beyond grade 5). Campers and their mentors are challenged to become role models in their communities by participating in conversations and team-building exercises about healthy relationships, self-confidence, family planning, reproduction, sexual harassment, nutrition, Malaria, and job searching.

WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 5:00 pm to 8:00.

WHERE: Gallery O on H Street (1354 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002).

WHY: Because you were once a teenager and - if you were like most teenagers - it wasn't easy. So, imagine everything you might have gone though as a teenager, and throw poverty, misogyny, a societal aversion to sex education, lack of access to quality health care, and limited exposure to educational opportunities and the world outside of your small community into the mix. If you agree all kids deserve a chance regardless of where they happen to have been born, helping to fund UNITE Foundation's work is among the most direct, low overhead, and effective ways to help change young lives.

HOW:

a. Purchasing a tax-deductible $40.00 ticket to attend the event, or 2 tickets for $70.00, which will include drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and entertainment, as well as an opportunity to enjoy cool music, photos, silent auction items, and personal testimonies: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unite-foundation-spring-fundraiser-tickets-16022164726

b. Making a tax-deductible donation of any amount to this effort, regardless of whether you can attend the event: http://www.razoo.com/story/Unite-Foundation-Spring-Fundraiser

c. Donating (or helping to secure) a silent auction item: email us at info@unitefoundation.org

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for you!

To celebrate the awesome volunteers and supporters of Camp UNITE and The UNITE Foundation, find here a selection of ten great photos over the past 7 years!

Turkey Trot for Togo - Rose

Rose is running a 5K Turkey Trot for Togo on November 28th!

Rose served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo from 2008 to 2011 and got involved with The UNITE Foundation as soon as she moved back to the States. 

"It's so great to be able to support the amazing work of PCVs and their counterparts in Togo. Especially at Camp UNITE! Memories of the candle light evening and Pagi's antics are so fresh. I love being a part of Camp even from across the ocean."

You can support Rose's run by donating at our Razoo page: http://www.razoo.com/story/Turkey-Trot-For-Togo-2014-1?referral_code=share

Rose warmed up for the Turkey Trot at a Color Run earlier this month!

Turkey Trot for Togo - Megan

Megan Adcock is raising money for The UNITE Foundation through the Turkey Trot for Togo.  You can support her here on our Razoo page:

Here is Megan's story:

I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo for two years and I personally worked at Camp UNITE as both a counselor and director.  I saw firsthand the impact it had on the kids who attended, and it was wonderful to see attitudes and negative behaviors start to change.  I know many graduates of Camp UNITE who have been able to continue their education, go on to university and make positive impacts on their home communities as a result of what they learned at Camp UNITE.  Camp UNITE fills a unique educational niche in a place where few students are able to progress beyond grade 5, providing vital information for kids who may not otherwise receive it.  Any donation, no matter how small can help to make a huge impact on these kids and their future!

Turkey Trot for Togo

Here in the United States, the season of colorful leaves and family gatherings has arrived.

As we take this time to be with friends and family, returned Peace Corps Volunteers from Togo also remember the amazing friends and family we found across the ocean in West Africa. It isn't always easy to stay in touch after years away and as the local language fades from memory. But one very easy way you can stay involved with Togo is by supporting the work of The UNITE Foundation.

This year, dedicate your Turkey Trot or Jingle All the Way holiday run to the wonderful young people of Togo and recruit your friends and family to donate to The UNITE Foundation to support you!

Check out our Razoo page here.  Support someone already running for us or send your story to info@unitefoundation.org and we will add your profile to our page and promote it on social media for you to share with all of your friends.

We are so grateful for you!

Mireille Djinadja tells us about her experience at Camp UNITE 2014

Mireille Djinadja, NGO Executive Director and a camp counselor at Camp UNITE 2014!

“I found that the information given to the girls will help them to better educate themselves, and be ready to stand up to the difficulties that they may encounter in life. It’s also a great chance for the girls to leave their community and discover the diversity of Togo.”

Dans ses propres mots:

« Je suis Mireille DJINADJA, Directrice Exécutive d’une organization feminine et formatrice Togolaise au “Camp UNITE”! Je trouve l’initiative bonne et adequate à la situation actuelle de la jeune fille togolaise. De la planification des séances à la succession on en passant par le contenu des séances, je trouve que les informations données aux filles leur permettront de mieux s’éduquer, se former, cela leur permet d’être prêtes pour affronter les difficultés qu’elles pourraient rencontrer dans la vie. C’est aussi une grande chance pour ces filles de sortir de leur communauté, de découvrir le Togo dans sa diversité à travers les différentes participantes venues de différentes régions du Togo. C’est aussi un moment de partage de connaissance et de cultures entre non seulement les participants mais aussi entre les organisateurs et les formateurs. Je souhaite vivement que le Camps Unite connaisse la chance de continuer, de prospérer, d’évoluer pour permettre à plus de filles (jeunes) Togolaise de sortir de « l’ignorance » pour rentrer dans la « lumière » de la connaissance !!!

Je ne saurais finir ma reflexion sans dire un grand et sincère merci à tous les donateurs qui ont bien voulu aider la jeunesse Togolaise à s’épanouir !

Merci ! Thank you ! Akpé ! balague ! N’labalé ! Sobodi ! Gnane kokari ! Wantafô ! Rhainangbè ! Ewlèssè ! Koutchè ! »

Tweets from Camp UNITE 2014 for girls!

The organizers of Camp UNITE on the ground in Togo this year have access to the Internet and they've been live-tweeting some of the best parts of camp!

We are hosting the tweets on our facebook page as they arrive.

And here's a collection of all the tweets from the first three days:

DAY 1: Sunday, July 13

Welcome to our 50 campers for Girls Week for Camp UNITE 2014!

Day 1: Welcome to Camp! We’ll be talking about making healthy life choices and the importance of self-confidence!

Tonight, all our campers have to put their heads together to think of bunk names! What would you call your bunk at Camp UNITE?

DAY 2: Monday, July 14

Day 2: Camp Continues! Today we will be discussing the importance of equal opportunity in education and how to teach you friends and family how to avoid Malaria!

Welcome PC admin visitors to camp! Welcome to English and Gender Education Director Rose, DMO Gelila, Human Relations Director Maggie, and Security Officer Bola!

This afternoon, pick your own session! Choices include: nutrition, high school advice, job searching skills and more!

TREASURE HUNT STARTS TODAY! To collect points for your team, answer questions correctly about today’s sessions equal opportunity and malaria!

Don’t forget: Tonight, each bunk needs to start preparing their Talent Show presentation for Tuesday!

DAY 3: Tuesday, July 15

Day 3: Today, we will be talking about family planning and healthy relations ships, as well as adolescence, and how to avoid sexual harassment!

THE TREASURE HUNT CONTINUES! Answer questions correctly about family planning, healthy relationships, sexual harassment, reproduction, and adolescence to collect more points for your color teams!

CAMP PHOTO TODAY! Everybody wear your Camp shirts and say “WAGASHIIIIII!”

What are you doing during free time today? We have soccer, basketball, zumba, and arts and crafts!

TALENT SHOW TONIGHT!!!! Get ready for some singing and dancing from each team, as well as a special musical surprise from the organization team!