Cosmopolitan Club at the University of Illinois

Above All Nations Is Humanity

Dear Friends,

I hope this email finds you all well. I apologize in advance for the mass email. I want you to know that you are the chosen few who get to witness the extremely humble request for support. I am asking for support on an issue that is close to my heart. As some or many of you know, I finished my MA this past year and began the enjoyable song and dance of job hunting. I found an amazing organization called FORGE (Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee Growth and Empowerment), which is run by young professionals. FORGE works as an Operating Partner of the United Nations refugee agency in Zambia. I was offered and accepted the position of Kala Project Manager for FORGE. I will depart for Zambia on February 7th and I will be living and working in a refugee camp (no running water, no electricity, no phone) in Kala for a year.

A little background about FORGE:

FORGE implements programs that educate, empower and enrich the lives of refugees in order to catalyze sustainable social change. Their programs and projects are locally-tailored to fit the needs of each specific community. FORGE works with refugees from Sudan, Angola, anda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. FORGE's community development activities are comprised of projects in the areas of Libraries, Computer Technology, Preschool Education, Women's Empowerment, Repatriation Centers, Advocacy Resources, Health Education, Adult Education, and Arts, Music and Cultural Activities. In addition, FORGE operates two capacity-building programs that focus on investing in promising individuals: the FORGE Education Fund and the FORGE Microfinance Institute.

The Request:

FORGE has an excellent chance of winning America's Giving Challenge top prize of $50,000. My request will cost you 10 dollars and two minutes of your time. All we need is 700 more votes by January 31st. I am asking you to help FORGE win $50,000 in America's Giving Challenge by donating $10 to FORGE's Network for Good Charity Badge. If FORGE is one of the four charities that inspires the most people to give then it will win $50,000. If you can't give now but you still want to help, then forward this email along to your friends, family, and co-workers who you think would be interested in supporting refugee empowerment programs in Zambia.

The charity badge can be found on our website link below:

http://www.forgenow.org/contest.html

I would be very grateful if you could cast a "vote" for FORGE in the form of a $10 donation. Even if FORGE doesn't win the prize, we will put the funds you donate to good use. If you choose to donate, please put my name in the dedication box so that FORGE can track who donors were recruited by and...so that I can write you a great Thank You note!

The link to America's Giving Challenge is below:

http://www.parade.com/givingchallenge

The link to FORGE's website:

http://www.FORGEnow.org

I would love to hear from you all and I plan on sending you pictures and stories from Zambia!

Thank you!

Andres
andres.fernandez@gmail.com