Helps International (HINT)

Kristi Zan, USA

Genesis — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:02:03 +0000

Kristi and her husband Eric arrived Buea on Tuesday July 6, 2010 to volunteer with HINT for about 6 months.
Kristi comes to join the rest of the team on the on-going School PCs Project.

Kristi had this to say about herself:

I am currently the Development Coordinator for a local non-profit organization. I research and develop grant proposals to obtain funding for our organization. I also maintain our donor database and am largely responsible for donor relations. As a member of the development team, I help develop and execute marketing schemes, as well as, aid in coordinating special events.

While in school, I worked as a social work intern for two health-related organizations (one hospice organization, and one focused on patients with cancer.) At these agencies, I had the chance to work one-on-one with clients, conduct needs assessments, and help clients work toward psychosocial well-being.

I also volunteered as part of the full-time summer staff with an Orphanage Outreach in the Dominican Republic.

While Eric will be focusing on the IT Project, Kristi will put her fundraising and project proposal writing skills to work and help us hpefully get more resources for our on-going projects.

Through DevelopAfrica.org and Firsrgiving.com, they have been able to realize more than $3,000 that will go towards supporting the School PCs Project. Thank you Eric and Kristi for your support. We look forward to working with you.

Eric Zan, USA

Genesis — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:00:43 +0000

Eric Zan

Eric and his wife Kristi arrived Buea on Tuesday July 6, 2010 to volunteer with HINT for about 6 months.

Eric comes to join the rest of the team on the on-going School PCs Project.

This is what Eric says about himself:

I got my undergrad at the University of Texas in Computer Science in 2004. I’ve worked as a software engineer for the past 6 years building simulators for aircraft. I will be there for 6 months starting July 6. I’m interested in international development and the digital divide. I heard about this opportunity through idealist.org and coincidentally found out Genesis was good friends with a co-worker of my brother-in-law…small world.

While Eric will be focusing on the IT Project, Kristi will put her fundraising and project proposal writing skills to work and help us hpefully get more resources for our on-going projects.

Amber Shevin, USA

Genesis — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:07:07 +0000

Amber Shevin

Amber Shevin arrived Buea from the USA (via RSA) on Sunday July 4, 2010 to volunteer with HINT, specifically working with the School PCs Project.

Here’s what Amber says about herself:

I am currently working on my masters in International Relations and Sustainable Development at Chapman University and living in Southern California. I have traveled a fair amount around Southern Africa before but have never been to Cameroon or the West African region. I will be there from the beginning of July through the end of August. As for random facts, I love to surf and I horseback ride competitively around the US.

Amber was able to raised $4,100, enough to help set up 3 computer labs in 3 schools with 10 computers each making a total of 30 computers!! The school PCs Project facilities access to ICTs in school by proving up to 60% of the total cost of a complete computer lab with 10 computers.

Welcome Amber and thanks for being a HINT Hero. We look forward to working with you.

Andro Mandakovic, Chile

Genesis — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:48:25 +0000

Andro Mandakovic

Welcome Andro!

Andro is originally from Chile but lives in the USA. He has come to join our large team of 8 international volunteers from the USA and UK.

Here is what Andro says about himself:

I am originally from Chile, but lived some years in the states (7 in total). I studied commercial engineering (mix between Industrial engineering and Business administration) in Universidad Adolfo Ibañez. Then I moved to Miami where I worked for LAN Airlines in the Pricing department for 3 years.

Personally speaking I consider myself very open minded. I love to travel and highly appreciate diversity. I love to meet new people, new cultures, new ideas, new foods, adventures, etc. I am looking forward to experience all that and of course to help as much as I can while sharing with a group of great people.

We look forward to working with you.

Grants for Schools

Genesis — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:22:25 +0000

Helps International (HINT) – www.hintonline.org together with its local and international partners is offering a limited number of competitive grants to support set up of computer labs in Schools in and around Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.

HINT will cover up to 60% of the total set-up cost (including computers, electrical needs and networking) provided the school or institution is able/willing to provide the remaining 40%. The school or educational centre must also be able to provide a secured room, tables and chairs for the lab.

If you or someone you know are interested then send an email to info@hintonline.org or use our online contact form to express your interest and receive an application form.

This is for a limited time only, so take action today!

Genesis Tinshu
President
Helps International (HINT), Cameroon

Buea, Cameroon
http://www.facebook.com/tinshu
http://www.facebook.com/hintonline

“In order to be fast, go slowly”

Robert Arlt Jr, USA

Genesis — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:41:48 +0000

Robert Arlt Jr.

Robert arrived Buea on June 16, 2010 (together with Brandon Turner) to be involved with our School PCs Project that is installing computer labs in schools and other educational establishments and providing IT training to teachers and students.

Robert had this to say about himself:

I’m a Physics major pre-med Woman and Gender Studies minor at MIT. I run a server here and I’m employed as a resident computer consultant. I’ve also done computer work for businesses in the Bethlehem, PA and Reno, NV area.

I am also one of the founders of Blackstone Operations, along with Brandon and will be accompanying him in Cameroon.

I have lived in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennslyvania, and Nevada. My family is from Chicago and my brother lives in New York.

Together with Brandon, they raised $9,900. The funds will be used to pay for their trip, their stay in Buea and up to $3,000 will go towards supporting the School PCs Project.

Great Job Robert. We look forward to working with you and getting to know you more. Welcome!

Online Volunteer Web Designers needed

Genesis — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:58:39 +0000

Thank for for not only becoming a fan of HINT but doing something to promote our cause – inviting friends to join, etc.

One of the ways we are helping other non-profits and faith-based organisations and groups around the world is providing domain name registration, web hosting and web design at an incredibly low fee. All proceeds go towards supporting HINT.

Currently, we are not able to match the demand for websites with our limited number of volunteer web designers.

So, we need more volunteer designers to sign up to help. Donating your web design skills this way will be a great way to volunteer and make a difference without ever leaving your home town.

If you have web design skills and would like to help, send an email to info@hintonline.org to express your interest. If you are not a web designer but know someone or a group of web designers, then please forward this mail to them.

Thank you
Genesis Tinshu
Executive Director, HINT

Brandon Turner, USA

Genesis — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:57:26 +0000

Brandon Turner

Brandon Turner arrived Buea on June 16, 2010 (together with Robert Arlt Jr.) to be involved with our School PCs Project that is installing computer labs in schools and other educational establishments and providing IT training to teachers and students.

Here’s who Brandon is:

My name is Brandon Turner and I am a Biophysics student at Wake Forest University. I live in California (when not in school) and am particularly interested in teaching and research. I’m going to be in Cameroon from mid June to Mid August. I got involved with this as a member/leader of a group called Blackstone Operations that specializes in connecting kids with different opportunities and encouraging interaction and exposure to new things.

Random fact about me: I love baking and enter a few baking competitions from time to time (never won anything though but it’s all for the fun).

Together with Robert, they raised $9,900. The funds will be used to pay for their trip, their stay in Buea and up to $3,000 will go towards supporting the School PCs Project.

Welcome Brandon and we look forward to working with you and learning from you.

Adam Jones, UK

Genesis — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:42:24 +0000

Adam Jones

Adam Jones from the UK arrived Buea on Monday June 14, 2010 to continue reearch on improving water supply for the people of Buea.

The initial reserach was carried out by Brendan Sherry and William Douglas (both students from two different Universities in the UK) and their results suggested that further research be carried out into the possibility of harvesting, treating and using the enormous amount of rain water in Buea.

Adam’s research will therefor focus on Rain Water Harvesting as suggested by William and Brendan.

Welcome Adam and have a nice stay in Buea and we wish you sucess with your research project.

Fundraising Tips

Genesis — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:42:00 +0000

Below are a few ideas to help you raise money for your Volunteer Program.
• Craft a personal letter that explains what you are doing and why you have chosen to volunteer in a village with Village Volunteers. After you have applied, been accepted, and provided a $100 USD deposit, you will gain access to a fundraising templates that contain our US 501(c)(3) tax ID number and our logo. Donors can deduct their contributions.
• Make a presentation in your community; clubs, place of worship, schools, family/friends, and workplace.
• Make sure the letter is limited in length to one page and it describes the village or program you are visiting and what you hope to do while you are there.
• Explain how this journey will positively affect your life and the people you are helping.
• Provide stamped return envelopes with each letter. Remember, you want to make the donation process as easy as possible for your sponsor. All they should have to do is write the check.
• Contact your local publications with a press release. If you provide your contact information and a special interest factor, you might have a feature article written that would bring in more donations!
• Create a brochure for yourself.
• Create a website or e-mail distribution list and send out frequent e-mails about your fundraising experiences, dollars raised, and details of your journey while you are gone and after you return.
• Hold an event, silent auction or even a series of bake sales. Make sure that people know what the money from the bake sale will accomplish. Be sure you put out a donation jar. We can send you photos to print.
• Contact your school’s Financial Aid or Study Abroad Department. There might be funds available for you to tap into.
• Apply for a scholarship, grant or fellowship. Below are a few suggested sites.
• Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships
• Glimpse Correspondents Program for young writers and photographers who will be abroad for at least 10 weeks: http://glimpse.org/correspondents
• The Levinson Foundation: www.levinsonfoundation.org/
• American Association of University Women:www.aauw.org/education/fga/
• The J.W. Saxe Memorial Fund: www.jwsaxefund.org/
• Scholarship, Grant, and Fellowship Banks
• The Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/
• Stanford University Library: www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/grants.html
• Get Recognized:www.actionforchange.org/getrecognized/scholarships.html
• Advice
• Fund-Raising.com: www.fund-raising.com/

• Create a Donation Form. This form will list all of your contact information and several donor amounts your sponsor can choose from. Start off with an initial modest amount ($25) but also request large donation amounts ($100+) and any amounts in between.