success story – Page 4 – The Chuffed Academy

August 1, 2017

Success Story: CameroonONE: Fostering A New Life

“For many years, I’ve been in horror as the countless negative situations in the world overwhelm me with their intensity. While I was in community college I did a presentation on poverty around the world and the information I uncovered during my research left me with a burning desire to do all I could do make the world a better place for everybody. I was already donating what I could to charities that were doing great work, but I knew that my impact needed to be greater in order to be a light in a world that can seem so dark at times.

For a while I wandered aimlessly in life, knowing that I wanted to make a positive difference in the world but not even knowing where to begin. I checked off boxes, kept my head high, and pushed through many personal trials that life threw at me. It wasn’t until I arrived at Northern Illinois University and was halfway through my first semester there that I realized a path I could take in my life where I could truly make a profound impact.

One of the most inspiring and humble people I’ve ever met in my life, Dennis Barsema, came into my classroom and told us his personal story – one full of strength, endurance, and compassion. He had been massively successful, and was now using his money and time very generously to help inspire future leaders of tomorrow – people who would give back just like he has. He spoke to us about the emerging field of Social Entrepreneurship, which I immediately knew was my calling and passion in life. Finally, after all these years of just filling in boxes to finish school and get a good job I had found something I was also passionate about.

Social Entrepreneurship is essentially using business as a way to create not only financial wealth, but social wealth as well. I am very fortunate to be working with CameroonONE, as they are very focused on building social wealth for the communities they work in. I was drawn to CameroonONE because they are working on addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and they believe in building a better world for future generations. It warms my heart to know that great organizations like CameroonONE exist that are making a positive difference in this world, and I’m thrilled to be part of their team.”

Check out Josh’s crowdfunding campaign page below:

July 31, 2017July 31, 2017

Success Story: Mass Neutering and Vaccination Clinic in South East Asia

“I’m Molly Birchmore and for the past three years I have been making my way around Asia gaining as much conservation work experience as possible.

In August 2016 I moved to Nepal to work at the only ethical elephant tourist facility in the country: Tiger Tops Elephant Camp. Here I came to understand the issues around the large stray and community owned dog population. Stray dogs pose a treat to livestock, the endangered wildlife of Chitwan National Park by hunting and community members by carrying rabies. With my colleague Muzza Munro we teamed up with the Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust (HART) to run a Mass Neutering and Vaccination Clinic in the villages surrounding Tiger Tops Elephant Camp. Over five days we treated 181 dogs! With the help of Chuffed.org and our amazing donors we raised over £3000 to fund the programme and give a little back to HART to help them continue their great work.

In the final weeks before the clinic started, while I was finalising plans, Muzza rushed to Sumatra to aid orphaned baby elephant Paichit; an innocent victim of the palm oil industry. Found alone and starving at just over a year old, he was in dire need of our help. Once the dog clinic was completed the decision was simple; move to Sumatra to help give consistency in Paichit’s care and see him grow into a healthy, happy adult elephant.

We have been working with Paichit and his Mahouts for just over a month now. We have bought 80kg of specialist milk formula, scientifically designed for baby asian elephants, from Singapore which is now an integral part of his daily diet. We have constructed a small, night-time chain free enclosure for him which he really enjoys and renovated the prep kitchen into a space his mahouts feel proud to work in.

As with the rescue and recovery of any being, Paichit’s journey will inevitably encounter turbulence, we will support him and his mahouts every step of the way. With only 400 wild elephants left in the Banda Aceh region of Sumatra Paichit is a glaring reminder that we must take greater action in conserving the fragile eco-systems of this island. The only place in the world where elephants, orang-utans and tigers still live in the wild together, it is our responsibility as citizens of this planet to do all we can to stop the destruction and reverse the damage that has already been done…it is not yet too late.

In the coming months, as Paichit grows, we will need to buy him more specialist milk formula and in the next few weeks we will begin construction of a larger, day-time, chain-free enclosure that will be suitable for Paichit as he grows and the other conservation patrol elephants who reside at the camp. With your help we can make this happen and ensure that Paichit not only has a future but a life worth living.”

Learn more about how Tiger Tops and the Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust teamed up to run a mass neutering and vaccination clinic 200 stray and community owned dogs in the villages surrounding Tharu Lodge on their campaign page:

July 28, 2017July 28, 2017

Success Story: Young Inventor Entrepreneurs Program, Chicago

“The Chicago Inventors Organization (CIO) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity founded in 2004. We recently launched our Young Inventor Entrepreneurs Program (YiEP), which aims to expose young Chicagoland students, grades 6-10, to STEM subjects using innovative, entrepreneurial-based ideas that cultivate their interests and creations through hands-on workshops.

In fact, I recall a time when we were at a Chicago Public Elementary School on the far south-side who opted into our prior YiEP Program. Although it was an in-class school program, in order for students to participate, they had to have good grades as well as a good behavioural track record. However, there were 3 boys who stayed in trouble & in the Principal’s office. The instructor had tried everything from speaking with their parents, to eliminating them from extra-curricular activities & even suspending them from school, but unfortunately nothing worked.

It wasn’t until these young men attended two sessions of our YiEProgram, did their behaviour change instantly & dramatically. We actually sat down with them individually & asked what influenced them to change? And their response was, “BECAUSE THE BOOKS JUST WASN’T GETTING TO US & WE WERE BORED!” It turned out, they were more interested in our STEM based curriculum because it displayed how they could use their bare hands to build & create tech savvy equipment that could be utilized by millions for centuries to come!

Additionally, our YiEP curriculum was developed to combat the socioeconomic conditions that often keep Chicago children from realizing their educational dreams. YiEP provides them with a sustainable avenue to receive the engagement and education needed to excel in school, technology, business, and most importantly, their adult life.

We all know STEM fields hold some of the most expensive educational programs out there, which is why we are passionate about providing students with access to the STEM tools and instruction that they’ll need to grow into world-changing inventors, engineers & entrepreneurs!”

Head to their campaign page for more info:

July 28, 2017

Success Story: Forage Supply Co

“Just over two years ago, I became a Dive master in Utila, a little Caribbean Island located off Honduras.

Getting the opportunity to dive every day for 2 months, I got to witness the beauty of the Ocean floor through its Marine Life and amazing Coral.

However sadly I also got to witness the affects us as humans have had on the environment, through pollution and climate change.

I came back to Australia with a real passion to empower the public to make small but important changes in their everyday lives that will positively impact the environment for future generations.

Teaming up with lifelong friend Justin Westhoff together we launched a social enterprise called Forage Supply Co, who’s mission is to drive awareness of sustainable lifestyle choices and demonstrate just how achievable and appealing these choices can be.

A great way of encouraging sustainable practices is through foraging for natural materials. The foraging movement represents only taking the food and material resources we need.

Forage Supply Co has teamed up with Tanunda Lutheran School in the Barossa Valley, South Australia to teach the community how to grow heather produce, eat seasonally and live sustainably.

Located next to the Tanunda Lutheran School, students will get to learn about sustainable practices and get access to healthier food at recess and lunch, through the school based community garden.
Forage Supply Co and other local restaurants will buy the produce from the school and use it to create sustainable meals. We will also use the produce to donate more meals to the homeless at the Hutt Street Centre.
Land has already been donated by Forage Supply Co and infrastructure put into place, the campaign is aiming to raise $20 to kick start the gardens with seedlings, equipment and shade.

The gardens demonstrate how accessible and delicious foraged food can be, and encourage people to introduce them to their diets, suddenly sustainable living becomes a reality.”
Scott Rogasch, Forage Supply Co

Head to Forage Supply Co’s campaign page to find out more about this awesome cause!

July 27, 2017

Success Story: Bringing the Heart of TIA to Australia

“When I was 20 years old, as a first year social work student at UniSA, I went to Bolivia for the first time as a volunteer a children’s home for 4 months. Little did I know, those 4 months would change my life forever. Struck by the lack of resources and opportunities for the kids I was working with, I became determined to try to do more to help. That was how TIA was born. Tía is the Spanish word for auntie, and that’s what we are – an Auntie to children who don’t have anyone to call family. Now, 8 years later, TIA has grown into a successful and effective non-profit organisation that works with teens and young people who have grown up in state care homes, supporting them through the transition into adulthood when they legally have to leave these homes at the age of 18.

I now live in Bolivia, working with our local team to grow our projects to be able to reach more young people. I was very proud when I was invited to be a keynote presenter at a conference in Sydney held by the CREATE Foundation – the national advocate for children living in care in Australia. But I couldn’t travel to Australia and share our story on my own – to me it is extremely important that the young people we work with are able to tell their own stories. So I decided to bring one of our young people with me to tell his story himself. Ramiro is a young man who has overcome exceptionally difficult circumstances and is flourishing as a responsible, motivated, energetic, kind and caring young adult. I couldn’t be prouder of the person he is and the things he is achieving in his life. I am so excited to bring him to Australia with me and give him this opportunity to learn, grown, and experience new things. Unfortunately financially it is very difficult for TIA to fit this trip into our budget (we raise all our funds through a team of very hard working and dedicated volunteers in Adelaide), so we have created this campaign on Chuffed to raise the rest of the money we need to make this trip a reality.

All of the money crowdfunded through Chuffed.org will be put towards Ramiro’s costs – my costs have been funded through CREATE as their Keynote speaker. ”

Join TIA to bring one of their incredible young people, Ramiro, to Australia to share his story and grow TIA’s impact:

July 25, 2017July 25, 2017

Success Story: School Lunch Program in South Sudan by Timpir

“After extensive travelling and volunteering in Africa, Dr. Mel Baak was inspired to form Timpir in 2004. Her vision was to work with the people of South Sudan, to promote health, education and development at the community level. From there, the Timpir team has continued to grow with several local Australian-born members who work alongside former refugees from South Sudan who now call Australia home. This ensures that Timpir supports communities of identified need as well as ensuring that the donations are spent accountably.

One of Timpir’s main projects is supporting two schools with over 1300 students and 16 teachers. Sadly, due to ongoing conflict in South Sudan communities are now facing a severe food crisis and famine has been declared. In June we decided to run a School Lunch Program during the most difficult part of the famine (Jun-Sep) to ensure students receive at least one meal a day and are able to continue their education. Last year our lunch program was very successful with almost all of students remaining in school and even gaining some new students! This year one of our Team members Henry will hike up Mt Lofty (with two newly replaced hips) and another team member Natasha has hiked up Half Dome in Yosemite, USA, to raise support for our school lunch program.

Our goal is to raise $16,000 to cover the cost of school lunches for 3 months during the most difficult part of the famine. Timpir is different from many other organisations because we have very minimal admin costs. Our local Aussie team generously offer their time for free and mothers in the school communities volunteer to cook the food. So far we have raised just over $11,500 which has meant that we have been able to purchase enough food for school lunches during June and July this year.”

Head to the campaign page to learn more:

July 24, 2017July 25, 2017

Success Story: Where There’s a Wil There’s a Way

“My name is Dina and I live in Ontario, Canada. My brother Phil and I decided to use Chuffed to help raise money for our older brother Wil who is just starting his fight with mouth and throat cancer.

Like so many people, Wil lives from paycheque to paycheque. He has a modest life, he is proud and independent living by himself in a small town in Quebec. With the doctors telling him what the ordeal will mean for him, the surgeries, the treatments, the recovery, Wil is very anxious about how he will pay his rent and his bills when he will be unable to work. While healthcare is free in Canada, there are many other expenses he can’t afford.

Since the campaign was started on Wil’s birthday, we have found out that Wil’s first surgery will be in August and he will not be able to work for the remainder of the year. We want Wil to be focusing on fighting and recovering and not worrying about paying his bills without an income. He is anxious about other likely expenses that he hasn’t even considered. Wil has been told that he will need to stay near the hospital (home is almost an hour away) to receive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. How will he afford to do this?

My brothers and I all live in different parts of the country and see each other once or twice a year. Phil and I are supporting Wil emotionally, and we can only help him so much with the financial challenges he will face.

There must be many who find themselves in a similar predicament as our brother Wil. We want to raise awareness and build a community that come together to help Wil and people in a similar situation. People who can help with a donation, locals who can donate time to help him get to appointments, perhaps even people who can prepare and deliver food to him during his recovery.

We hope to prove that Where There’s a Wil . . . there is a way!”

Learn more about the campaign to support Wil below: