BRIGHT MINDS OF AVALON help me problem solve this

[thepainterdoug]

Hey everyone. I know were all pre occupied with the virus. But over the last year or so, I have been donating some funds to an Orphanage in Uganda . The man who takes care of these children is named Magulu. In the green shirt

I,nor anyone can keep giving them money as it will not solve the problem.They need to learn a way to make money themselves.

Can anyone here help me come up with an idea to help Magulu and the children help themselves? I have attached a certificate for Magulu because I understand many will suspect a con.

One of my ideas was to have the kids draw animals , then they could send pics of the drawings and somehow offer these on postcards etc with the child's pic and name on it.
maybe then the pics could raise a little money for them in some way??

any ideas? many thanks/ doug

[Patient]

Hey Doug, I am practicing what I preach here and I am going with the first strong thought that came to my mind.

How about an exhibit of their art work? For example, it could be 3 pics, 3 different sizes. Their favorite things about their home, their family. Something they want for their future, and then maybe a free one of whatever they want to express.

Each child's pics would have an accompanying video of the child talking about himself and his art, his dreams, etc.

There could be an online presentation (or maybe it is only an online thing). Present it as one whole exhibit. Or maybe there is ONE major exhibit. With something like this I might be able to get something set up in Las Vegas with some local help there - no promises of course - I am just thinking without limits at this point. If you talk to the right people at the right time anything is possible.

People could order prints of specific pieces.

Problem with this though is that it would be a one time thing - it is not a sustaining business.

....How about an exchange/communication with different schools around the world. Set up something so that a classroom of kids would want their classroom to be a part of it. Maybe there is a small goal that each school could strive for - money for a bed, school supplies, etc. Other school classrooms can see what the other schools have done. Increases awareness - school boards might really go for it if you have the right model in place.

Food for thought.

[thepainterdoug]

Patient / thanks very much for your ideas. something with schools sounds good . i need some sleep and will re read and think on all tomorrow

thanks!!

[Denise/Dizi]

What a wonderful thing... I am not familiar with Uganda.. But I am familiar with the many nations that are living in dire circumstances that truly need some help. As you say, the issue with sending money doesn't help as it doesn't make them self sufficient.

Part of the issue I see with drawings and paintings, and such? Is postcards don't sell for much, and people generally use them when they travel, to send back home. So sending a postcard with their work on it, would come off more like a request for more donations than a celebration of them finding a way to earn funds.

Perhaps rather than just have them do what every school child does, perhaps you can help them to make things. Are they in an area that is full of things that can be recycled? People love artwork made out of recycled items and those things could sell.. What is their area known for? A particular animal? Forests? Could they start a line of paintings and T Shirts with those animals or colorful paintings of their surroundings?

Or perhaps they could make (Age appropriate of course) little bracelets or beaded things that are very colorful that people can actually buy. And as they get older, they could maybe get better and actually have a tradecraft they can then develop? Eventually people will have enough postcards, and very few artists make enough money selling art in such places, as it is hard enough to survive. But promoting their own uniqueness helps...

Who doesn't think of China when they see an image of a panda? And Hawaii when they see whales and pineapples?

Would there be a way to promote such things? Such as someone able to promote such things perhaps on a website? I suppose finding their limitations is a start in trying to determine what would best suit them so far as what their options are? But what a wonderful thing you're doing!

[Dennis Leahy]

My first thoughts are,
Is there any way they can do something involving food? The global financial tsunami will hit them and maybe it just has, and putting their efforts toward food security is really wise right now - we don't know who's situation will become dire, and well,... food. Something they can eat and sell/trade locally?

[Denise/Dizi]

Thats a great idea Dennis! I love when you reply to threads..

[enfoldedblue]

Yes I was wondering about a garden project. People could buy seeds and tools etc. At my son's school they have rsised beds and the kids love this type of work. You would likely need some adult volunteers to start and teach.... but kids catch on pretty quick.
There is a man from Kenya who I follow who has done amazing things for his community through introducing organic farming.

This is his website http://www.organicfoodkenya.com/?fbclid=IwAR3gEpYscXgihoP0QsaFbfLklwU70GCCW-Jingb6U1wPqDifYL91Ae7NFow

[EFO]

You can suggest them to try making FIMO jewelry.Fimo is a polimer clay which after modelling must be burn in oven or kept in the sun.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/637098357/mario-geek-earrings-of-your-choice-fimo?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fimo&ref=sr_gallery-1-11
https://i.etsystatic.com/11129893/r/il/050204/1639809431/il_1588xN.1639809431_83wy.jpg

or Kanazashi - Japanesse art from satin
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=kanzashi
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-gbRMODFVwI/maxresdefault.jpg

My wife made Kanzashi products.

[thepainterdoug]

THANK YOU ALL FOR WRITING

Im going to copy all suggestions and collect them as people reply to this . Then forward some of them plus proper questions to Magulu .

blessings all!!

[Phoenix]

Hey everyone. I know were all pre occupied with the virus. But over the last year or so, I have been donating some funds to an Orphanage in Uganda . The man who takes care of these children is named Magulu. In the green shirt

I,nor anyone can keep giving them money as it will not solve the problem.They need to learn a way to make money themselves.

Can anyone here help me come up with an idea to help Magulu and the children help themselves? I have attached a certificate for Magulu because I understand many will suspect a con.

One of my ideas was to have the kids draw animals , then they could send pics of the drawings and somehow offer these on postcards etc with the child's pic and name on it.
maybe then the pics could raise a little money for them in some way??

any ideas? many thanks/ doug

doug, do they have computers/internet or can get access to community ones?

[Ratszinger]

I can offer something they can study and learn and use to make knives. Real knives made by hand with nothing more than hand tools but just simply skip the parts about the folder and focus on the blade grind. It only requires scrap steel. The first knives I made were from sidewalk edger blades of what turned out to be some super tough blades for all kinds of daily use. Make them with some natural wood handles and some bone sheaths or bone for handles found free where they live probably from whatever they hunt I would suspect. The fact is you can make a good blade with a simple flat and round file and it doesn't even have to be a great one most old files still bite just fine. I could probably find a video of how to do a nice easy leather stack handle which I find to be the best way for fixed blades but full tang slabs of bone or wood even rough and sanded sells. Many people like primitive art. Maybe they could even engrave them, "Hand Made by" Or Ugandan made? Just a thought. I did this video years ago. With it you can see how to make and grind a blade from a flat piece of steel. Please know I retired from knife making in 2013. Some of you may want to mute the music. I liked it but you know, personal taste at the time. I'm not so much into it now. The post date of this isn't accurate. I had to reload it so it's actually older. Anyway, study children and learn!! Then use EBAY & sell sell sell :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv7A06FM-e4

[Karen (Geophyz)]

It seems to me that the problems in Uganda are issues like hunger, poverty, disease and corruption. How about the children helping to build a civic community to lead to change. People can be empowered through civic education. In this way they would be giving back to the Ugandan society. Start small with something like communal gardens. The children can encourage and teach others to help maintain the garden to benefit everyone. They could engage the community leaders to help and this could also be used to teach the children and others skills they could use in the future. Something of this nature would not just be selling something, it would be invoking change greatly needed in Uganda.

[TargeT]

You can suggest them to try making FIMO jewelry.Fimo is a polimer clay which after modelling must be burn in oven or kept in the sun.


Something made from local resources would be more viable and more marketable.

Marketable being the keyword... you'd be surprised what you can sell with the correct "selling" (Spelling).


Pre staging for STARLINK (https://www.starlink.com/) would be advisable as well, this global internet will offer access to information that would greatly help; but getting the word out ahead of time may be a good idea? (give a fish? teach to fish? bah... Give me powerful tools and I'll figure out something better!)

[Yvanka]

How about financial supporting them in making a garden for vegetables and so on, planting fruit trees, Moringa trees and making protected space for small lifestock, chickens and so on?
Sewingmachines and other equipment allowing self sustaining first, and maybe later to earn money/Exchange goods and help lifting up the community in the area?

[thepainterdoug]

THANKS EVERYONE SO FAR! Im taking notes and will suggest all. Building some good ideas and farming and planting is being mentioned.
Ratzinger/ Will watch the knife video as well.

[araucaria]

Hi Doug
I came across your thread as I was preparing a post referring to a man with vast experience in charity work in Africa. You may find something helpful there.
https://www.rogerfedererfoundation.org/en/home/

Here’s a link to my post (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?110418-Let--s-open-some-gates-and-windows&p=1346253&viewfull=1#post1346253).

¤

[william r sanford72]

Honey Bees/Honey??..might bee something to consider.

[Alecs]

... as well as something that preferrably reflects and reinforces their culture, that is, who THEY are. :sun: