Blog – Page 5 – The Chuffed Academy

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018

Paper Airplanes: Skype Learning for Syrians

“My name is Cheryl and I began tutoring with Paper Airplanes in the Spring of 2016. I had just returned from studying abroad in Istanbul, Turkey where I witnessed firsthand the lack of resources and infrastructure that Syrian refugees face. As a former refugee from Sierra Leone, who immigrated to Boston when I was six years old, I know the struggles of trying to learn English, which was my third language. I actually remember not speaking at all in first grade and remembering that struggle made me want to help a fellow refugee through their language journey.

Paper airplanes strives to unlock opportunities with live online language and skills instruction for conflict-affected teens and adults in the Middle East. We are a start-up nonprofit using technology to provide free, virtual, one-on-one language and skills instruction to people affected by conflict. We provide the tools people need to pursue education, secure employment, and ultimately, rebuild their lives. We teach English, Turkish, computer coding for women, and journalism to youth and adults inside of Syria and displaced across the Middle East and North Africa.

Paper Airplanes is working to address needs for skills acquisition, accessible training, and individualized instruction. We use Skype to match volunteer tutors and trainers with these conflict-affected students in the Middle East. Our programs rely on hundreds of volunteers who provide one-on-one personalized instruction. Learners enrolled in our classes receive individual support as they search for scholarships, apply to universities, write CVs, or enter the job market.

After two years of operating as a program on college campuses, Paper Airplanes grew from just 10 pairs of students and tutors to 325 per semester. We’ve served over 1,200 beneficiaries to date, and our work has been featured nationally and internationally.

We have an incredibly dedicated team of people willing to volunteer their time. We are harnessing the widespread volunteering power and interest from American college students who are passionate about tutoring and doing their part to help mitigate the repercussions of the global refugee crisis.”

Discover more about Cheryl’s journey with Paper Airplanes and their work to refugees, here:

January 12, 2018

Greyhound Rescue is Moving!

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“I became involved in Greyhound Rescue several years ago after we adopted
our first greyhound, Zac. He changed our lives completely and I knew that I had to help more greyhounds. Now, I volunteer and run the social media and fundraising for Greyhound Rescue, and it gives me new and interesting challenges every day. I really have to take my hat off to the volunteers who do the hard slog at the kennels day in and day out, taking care of the dogs and showing them human kindness, helping to prepare them for their new life as a pet.

Greyhound Rescue has been looking for a new property for a while, as Sydney expands, urban sprawl is taking over. We have the challenge of making sure that we are near enough so that all of our volunteers can continue to come and care for the greys, but also rural enough that we have enough space. We searched for ages to find a new property and we really need to move! The current kennel land has been sold.

Our team of volunteers are absolutely the most incredible bunch of people you’ve ever met. Unending compassion and care for these dogs, some of whom have really been through some tough times. Volunteering at the kennels is hard work and certainly not glamorous, but the reward of seeing these beautiful animals come out of their shell is worth it.

The campaign has really taken off. We’re happy to say that we will be able to make some fabulous upgrades to the facilities so that we
are able to care for these dogs at the highest standard, and hopefully will be able to rescue many more in the future.

It’s not my first time running a campaign on Chuffed, I’ve done a couple of other fundraising projects using this platform, including Pointy Pembleton, a children’s book that I wrote to raise money for Greyhound Rescue. Chuffed is a great platform for social causes, and I look forward to being able to continue to use this tool in our fundraising.”

Learn more about the awesome Greyhound Rescue cause on their latest crowdfunding campaign:

January 7, 2018January 17, 2018

Corazón de los Apus ; a safe place for children.

“My wife and I sensed the call to work among street children in Latin America more than 30 years ago. We first traveled to Bolivia early 1990. Bolivia was far a away the poorest country in South America and continues to be poorer than all its neighbors. When we first arrived in Bolivia no one was working with the teenagers that lived full-time on the streets and they were treated as garbage by the authorities, and society in general. There are still very few people who work with these youngsters and we continue to have the only home that is specifically for teenage street girls. Having seen the depth of poverty and the massive need among children that live full-time on and under the streets, we launched Operation Restoration in 1991.

We now reach out to over 500 children on the streets and run a reception home, two restoration homes and two reintegration homes, bringing children from the streets through to university graduation or technical qualifications.

We have had over 200 children come through our homes in the last 10 years and over 25 youngsters finish high school in the last few years. Many of them have gone on to study environmental engineering, auto-mechanics, international relations, industrial engineering, electro-mechanic engineering and more.

Because of the ever increasing numbers of children finishing up on the streets and increasing costs in Bolivia, we’ve run another campaign to try and raise £20,000 to cover all our end of year costs which include high school graduation (for 4 young people December 2017) Christmas and New Year celebrations.

We have an all Bolivian team working with the children and have no UK or USA costs other than costs of transfer of funds to Bolivia.

We hope that our work ensures that all our children have a safe place to go to. “

To find out more about the children of Corazon del los Apus, visit their campaign page:

January 7, 2018January 7, 2018

Giving Rigby House Children the Freedom to Learn

“When my second child was just 6 months old, we discovered that he had been born with a very rare genetic condition causing overgrowth on one side of the body. The rollercoaster of specialist appointments, scans and blood tests that followed caused a lot of anxiety. Luckily, he was already enrolled at The Infants’ Home, where he could receive the best quality of early childhood education and care. He also had access to occupational therapists, speech therapists and an early childhood health nurse, all onsite.

Knowing that he had all of the support he needed while he was in day care was a great weight off my shoulders. When a position became available to work in the fundraising department of The Infants’ Home, I just knew I had to apply. It is highly satisfying to work in a team that raises funds for such a unique and inclusive organisation, knowing that every day you are helping struggling families find a safe place to receive the support that they need to live their best life.

After attending a Chuffed workshop earlier this year, we decided to run a campaign to raise funds to renovate one of the childcare centres at The Infant’s Home, which was built in 1959. This was our first crowdfunding campaign and, thanks to mentoring from Chuffed and a generous donor who is matching funds raised, our first crowdfunding campaign has been a big success- and it’s been fun!

We met our target of $10,000 with 5 days to go, so we decided on a stretch target of $12,500 and look forward to hitting that one as the campaign concludes. We’ll definitely be add crowdfunding to our fundraising toolbox into the future.”

You can read more about the Infant’s Home and their Crowdfunding Campaign, here:

December 20, 2017December 20, 2017

Operation New Expansion: Growing a Farm Animal Sanctuary

“My name is Kym and I am the founder/owner of Freedom Hill Sanctuary. My love for animals and helping them has always been a passion of mine starting from a young age. 6 years ago I thought being vegan wasn’t enough for me, so I started Freedom Hill Sanctuary.

Farm animals are the forgotten ones, so many orphaned, abandoned or injured farm animals in South Australia and no one to care for them, until Freedom Hill Sanctuary.

We have grown so much and now in need to move into a larger property so we can continue the much needed work and help these animals.

My passion to help farm animals is who I am, not what I do. Our new property will offer the opportunity to open for school tours and the public. Together, we can help to unite under a common denominator; compassion to all.

The chance to able to hear individual rescue stories, to meet the animals and to join in a group of like minded people at one place will not only rewarding for children but adults alike.

There is nothing these animals want but the basics any animal deserves, love, food, water and shelter. I am so excited that this can finally be shared with everyone! I can’t wait to move forward for these animals.

Compassion isn’t something that is taught; it is untaught. Help be the voice for the voiceless.”

Read more about Freedom Hill Sanctuary’s campaign for South Australia’s largest farm animal rescue sanctuary here:

December 15, 2017December 15, 2017

The Spirit of Community by the Helping Hand Project!

“I first became involved with The Helping Hand Project (HHP) in 2004. I was going through a difficult time in my personal life at the time and a friend recommended me to program believing it would help me through this period. I was immediately drawn to program; not having known my father growing up I was aware of how important it was to have a role model in your life. I was also starting a business which was to be listed on the ASX and thought mentoring would be something which gives back to the community rather than taking.

I mentored a number of young refugees but one in particular, Peter, I have known for 12 years. I met Peter when he was about 13 just after he arrived in Australia. I say about 13 as it is common with refugee minors they don’t know their birthdays. Peter had fled Sudan by foot aged about 6 and ended up in a Kenyan refugee camp where he lived for five or six years.

When Peter arrived in Australia he had no family and little English, lived with a couple of other Sudanese boys in the Flemington flats.

There are many stories to tell about mentoring experience but Peter now has a degree, a full-time job as a supervisor while he is also a leader within the local South Sudanese community. Peter recently got married in South Sudan which I was supposed to attend however decided not to on safety concerns and instead bought 10 cows which were given to the bride’s parents. Peter and I also recently organised a fund-raising event to provide vaccinations in South Sudan for the cholera outbreak. It was a fully inclusive night of South Sudanese and the local Flemington community enjoying some African bands, beats and food.

I believe the most rewarding part about mentoring it that it is two-way street. I thought Peter would be learning from me however he has been inspirational with his resilience and perseverance. I have made many friends in his community and have been welcomed with open arms. Most importantly it has made me aware of the refugee plight. Now when I see someone that maybe of a refugee background I know they will have an incredible back story.

While I have been on the HHP committee for about 8 years I became chairman about 4 years as the then chairman was moving overseas. It is incredibly rewarding hearing about the wonderful partnerships this program has created. Hearing the stories of first time mentors talking about their mentee relationship and interactions is always heartwarming. Many have gone onto to lifelong friendships.

Mentoring and chairing the program are undoubtedly the most rewarding things I have done in my life.”
Noel Newell

For more on this inspiring cause, check out Noel’s crowdfunding campaign page below:

December 15, 2017

Asante Children, bringing water to disabled children in Kenya!

“I was born, raised and educated in Kenya and for the past 20 years I have lived in Australia.

On a recent trip back to Kenya, to visit friends and family, I met Eric. He was 13 years old and he is the grandson of a very dear friend. I was devastated to find that he had been paralysed for a few years, he was extremely depressed, had no walking aids or wheelchair and was desperate to go to school. Eric had been a healthy, growing boy when he suffered a bout of severe dysentery. Eric’s family are extremely poor and they live far from any medical services. They were simply unable to afford the treatment for him, and this left him with muscular dystrophy. Eric will not walk again, but I wanted to ensure that he, and children like him, get the opportunity to be their best. Eric is now attending school, 2 hours from home, and therefore boards nearby, along with 30 other physically handicapped children.

The boarding block has previously not had water and it has been carried in buckets from a well on a neighbour’s property. Following consultation with the boarding block coordinator, Hannah Njeri, a plan was put into place to dig a well so that water could be pumped to a new tank next to the boarding block. This will provide running water to the washrooms, kitchen and laundry. This work is now in progress by paid contractors.

I have raised funds in the past amongst friends and family, through the sale of Kenyan made keyrings. With these funds I now fund a full time physiotherapist at the boarding block. The physiotherapist also assists with nutrition advice and in training the carers who support the children.

The need for a constant water supply is urgent and necessary. This is why I chose a crowdfunding platform. The wider base of donors available through crowdfunding will hopefully ensure that I can raise the necessary money to complete the water project.

I have been absolutely excited with the response that I have received. One donor alone has made a substantial donation and that donation has been a major motivation to succeed in reaching our target.

When the children return to school in early January their lives will be transformed and the carers’ work made easier, thereby giving them more time to devote to the health and care of the children!”
Isobel Daphne Bellingeri, Asante Children Inc

For more on this awesome cause, check out Asante Children Inc’s crowdfunding campaign page below:

December 15, 2017December 15, 2017

Christopher is crowdfunding to bring smiles to Asylum Seeker children this Christmas!

“After a phenomenal effort two years ago where we provided 800 Asylum Seeker children with toys, I have decided to get the band back together (some 220 dedicated supporters!) and see how many smiles we can bring this year to Asylum Seeker children in need.

You all know that Asylum Seekers are vulnerable, and commonly experiencing isolation and financial hardship. Most of you know that this includes young children and families. What this project aims to do is to put smiles on the faces of Asylum Seeker children and families by providing them with a gift this Christmas. Such generosity will not only brighten a child’s day, but it will help to shine a light on Australia’s truly generous nature, show Asylum Seekers that many Australians do empathise with them, in the face of negative media that seeks to spread division and an ‘us’ vs ‘them’ mentality. This will help to provide a sense of community and break feelings of isolation.

Ok, for some quick background… I have previously worked with, volunteered for, protested for, written University papers on and supported Asylum Seekers, both in and out of detention now for nigh on twelve years. This has been completed across a large number of organisations and roles and has provided me with amazing insight into the complex issue that is people seeking asylum, as well as granting me such a huge privilege in being able to support such people and help them to find their feet and place within our community.

Witnessing first hand the level of hardship Asylum Seeker children endure in their family’s efforts to make it to Australia I decided this year to create a toy drive, seeking to provide as many Asylum Seeker children as possible a gift this Christmas time. The smallest gift or donation will greatly aid this project to help as many children as possible. Every single cent donated through my crowdfunding will be used for purchasing toys and gifts for Asylum Seeker children.”

This is what Christmas is all about! For more on this important cause, check out Christopher’s crowdfunding campaign below:

December 15, 2017December 15, 2017

Providing an Education for Kibera Girls by Kibera Hamlets

“Shortly after I moved to Nairobi, Kenya two years ago, a friend introduced me to Kibera Hamlets School in Kibera slum. I was immediately drawn to their work because the school was started by young adults from the community who deeply understand the challenges of growing up in the slum. At the time, the school did not have text books or running water, but what they identified as a top concern was that female graduates of their primary school often were not able to continue their education due to lack of school fees, family pressures to start working as teenagers, early pregnancies, sexual assault, or drug abuse inside the slum.

The founders asked if I could help them raise school fees for these girls to attend a low-cost boarding school in rural Western Kenya, to allow them to focus on their studies away from the risks of Kibera slum. I was inspired to take on this task, since I saw how one person’s donation of just $415 per year could literally change a young woman’s life. Previously, I often felt that it was hard to genuinely make a difference, but I saw that this was a rare opportunity where mobilizing my community could l make all the difference in the world.

I ran my first crowdfunding campaign in 2015 on the Chuffed site. Although I set a goal of $6,500, I received an overwhelmingly positive response from my friends and family as well as strangers on the Chuffed site and raised over $10,000! This year, I have partnered with Kibera Hamlets USA, a non-profit organization set up to support the school, to expand the scholarship program to 36 girls.

This project has been one of the most meaningful and fulfilling experiences of my life. It brings me so much happiness to know that my contribution has allowed young women to continue their education and lift themselves out of poverty. In the words of one of these inspiring students, “Here in Kenya, finding someone who can pay school fees for you is like a dream. But I don’t know you and you have helped me. I don’t have words to express my feeling for you. After school, I want to open a big organization that will help women and girls in slums. I believe education is key in life.”

You can find out more about the Kibera school and Kibera Hamlets vision here:

December 15, 2017December 15, 2017

A New Play by the Human Story Theatre

“I’ve been an actor for 17 years. Wanting to have more control and ‘job satisfaction’ in my life, I set up Human Story Theatre with my close friend Gaye Poole, 15 months ago. As an emerging charity we have yet to have core-funding. So in addition to our ‘earning a crust’ acting work, we run Human Story Theatre in our spare time. It’s a full-time job, so our life-work balance is a little squew-whiff!

Human stories was precisely what we wanted to collect and portray when we started HST and we’ve been overwhelmed with people’s openness in sharing their personal experiences for our first three shows. We only tour new writing with a health and social care at heart and thus far have tackled Dementia, Loneliness and Breast Cancer. For DRY our new show touring in ‘Dry January’ we have been particularly touched at people’s willingness to talk about the usually taboo subject of alcohol. We were commissioned by the NHS Central South to write DRY for public information reasons i.e. the detrimental health effects on middle age, middle class drinkers in particular is becoming a huge problem for our health services. Gaye says: “This isn’t a play that preaches but we hope it is a play that raises as many questions as chuckles.”

Most actors have to wear a variety of working ‘hats’ and Gaye and I met ten years ago while wearing our ‘medical role-play hats’. Together we work as role-players and facilitators in teaching communication skills to various medical students and professionals. Straddling the two worlds of make believe and the real life certainly crystallised the idea of Human Story Theatre which has become the perfect vehicle for our concerns regarding health and social care. We would like to help our communities in some way and as actors and a writer the tools available to us are to convey important messages in theatre form.

For DRY we’ve partnered with Turning Point UK and Al-Anon who will be present at our post-show Q&As, providing information and support to our audiences. Turning Point have hubs all over Oxfordshire and Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking.”

Learn more about this awesome cause on Human Story Theatre’s crowdfunding campaign page: