Blog: Why I Volunteer as MRA's Blogger and Tweeter =)

Why hello there! My name is Annie and I am the new tweeter & blogger for Medical Relief Alliance (MRA), a non-profit that strives to improve the economic and health conditions of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Sahara Africa. I’m excited to start this journey with MRA and share it all with you! Most of my background, since 2003, has been in non-profit community based work in NYC (my hometown!!), but I’ve always wanted to help communities that face devastating hunger and poverty. This is my opportunity at MRA! YAY! About 4 weeks ago, I met MRA co-Founder Beatrice Adiedo and was impressed by a number of things about MRA! Like...

1. MRA is COMPLETELY volunteer run and 90% of all donations go to the programs (education, supplying medical supplies, and goat hope microenterprise).
2. MRA listens to the communities and, together, they develop effective solutions.
3. MRA continually provides capacity training and support to the communities running the programs.
4. MRA works a lot with widows and women affected by HIV/AIDS.
5. MRA has so much capacity to grow! MRA currently has 8 non-profits in Kenya waiting to work with MRA for the next Goat Hope Project!


There’s a ton more and I’ll be sharing with you all every other day so that you get the inside scoop. But consider diving into discussing in the comment box below, asking a question, volunteering with us, making a donation or just sharing with your friends about MRA. I hope that we, together, can change people’s lives. Please ask us a question in the comment box below about anything you've been meaning to ask MRA!

Please also read the last blog about the families your support/donations are helping. Please consider making a small donation. =) Visit MRA Website !!

Ask a question by emailing MRA
Follow us on Twitter: MRA_Africa
Like us on Facebook: The Medical Relief Alliance
Visit our website: MRA Website

Ciao!!!
Annie

Goat Hope: A Business That Will Triple The Narkumuran's Family Income

In the 15 days leading to 2011, Medical Relief Alliance, Inc. wants to introduce you to the families that will greatly benefit from your monetary support for the Goat Hope Project. There are many other families still waiting to participate in MRA's Goat Hope project, but need your continual support. Your gift that can be made safely and securely at www.mra-africa.org will enable us to purchase two dairy goats for a family of 6-8 members affected by HIV/AIDS. Your donation will help purchase goats which provide milk which improves the nutrition of the family while also establishing a path to financial independence through sales of surplus milk.

Because of your help in 2009 and 2010, the families we supported, representing almost 40 children, women and men affected with HIV/AIDS, almost 70% of these families have increased their goat herds by 30% of the original gift subsequently increasing their income tremendously.

The average family survives on $500 annually before participating in our goat project. After participating in our goat project for 12-18months, the average beneficiary family increases their income from $500 to $1,500 annually through sales of the goat milk!

Your donation of at least $5 has the exponential capacity to transform lives in Kenya, one family at a time. Please visit our website to see how you can donate.

Website: www.mra-africa.org

Donate Your Cup of Joe to Help Families affected by HIV/AIDS

Hello! If you didn't know, on December 16th, Medical Relief Alliance is launching their 2nd Goat Hope Project in Transmara, Kenya!!! A total of 9 families affected by HIV/AIDS, have been chosen to run a goat enterprise which will be a source of nutrition and income for them. The widows that head the household will be empowered to lead this enterprise and will have property (goats) and provide milk to her family members, and see their income increase! It's been a wonderful, exciting time. We have 8 other non-profits in Kenya waiting for us to assist more families! Please visit our website and consider making a contribution to this innovative project.

Medical Relief Alliance Website: http://www.mra-africa.org/

Donation Page: http://www.nycharities.org/donate/c_donate.asp?CharityCode=2660

Happy Memorial Day!

HEY!

We hope all of you are enjoying your day off!!
Of course, we know it's supposed to be a day OFF but we would like to remind you of our active programs that you can participate in TODAY to help us relieve the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kenya!

Medical Supplies & Equipment Relief Program (MS+ER):
Beginning with Kenya, the core objective of MS+ER is to respond quickly, efficiently and cost effectively to health needs in Sub-Sahara Africa. We work to meet critical health needs of impoverished communities through mobilizing and leveraging resources from governments, communities, hospitals and individuals with the aim of enhancing sustainable and cost-effective approaches to saving lives.

Community Health Outreach Program
This program aims to provide education and evidence-based HIV infection prevention services to communities most impacted with HIV/AIDS with the help of the Kenyan Government.

And of course...GOAT HOPE
http://vimeo.com/8243913
Need I say more??


SO please take a minute of your day and look through these programs and see what you can do to help us meet our goals!
Once again, have a great Memorial Day :)

MRA

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MRA Goat Hope Raffle Event from Nurbanu Asena on Vimeo.

Our highly anticipated raffle event is over! And thanks to everyone who participated, it was a huge success!

We have already raised $8.000 for the Goat Hope Project. We will keep you posted with the news and the details of the production starting from this summer!

You can check out the pictures from the event on our Facebook page (don't forget to "like" us!) or simply visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=218587&id=128434261040.

Once again, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who made this event possible and such a success!!!!

Pictures from AIDS Walk NY! (Part 3)

Pictures from AIDS Walk NY! (Part 2)