Fundraiser

Last week, Sierra came to me asking for help with Giving Day. It's the Tuesday after American Thanksgiving and was started as a counterpoint to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Presumably after the excesses of those days, people need to earn karma points by donating or volunteering.


There are a couple of websites dedicated to Giving Day that help charities plan campaigns and make the most of social media.


On Giving Day, the Gates Foundation matches grants of approved projects, so there is incentive for charities to take part.


There are also websites that help charities develop successful materials. Before my break, I read about the importance of saying “will” rather than “could”, and of telling compelling stories. In 50 words or less.  Don't tell potential donors that their altruism contributes to a better world. Tell donors that the project will make a difference to individuals. Specify how many people will benefit. Talk about the long term.


Most of Ba Futuru’s funding comes from governments -- current projects are funded by Australia, Germany, USA, and Canada. Recent projects have been funded by Japan and South Korea (I think). The Timor-Leste government buys training through a fee for service model.


Most governments look for a portion of funding from private sources. Just before I arrived, Ba Futuru raised $17,000 through a Bollywood themed gala and silent auction. It is looking for contributions on Giving Day.


The projects now up on globalgiving.org are for the skate park and the preschool. They haven't touched many chords nor pulled many heartstrings.


So I was assigned the task of striking those chords and pulling those heartstrings.  After looking at the various lessons and toolkits, I drafted a Dear Friends email. It was pretty good, but can't go out until we have a complementary project on the global giving site.


My draft is not as strong as the email, and Internet challenges prevented me from sending it to Sierra.


With luck, the cranky Internet will have a good nights sleep, and we’ll be able to finish up tomorrow.


So, what else happened today? I was invited to the Preschool Staff Christmas Party and Potluck next Tuesday (international giving day, in case you forgot). After struggling to think of a decent contribution for the potluck, I decided I could order a mango pumpkin salad from Agora, that excellent restaurant where I went to lunch with Janu.


Sure enough, they are able to do something for me (if mangoes are no longer available, they will make something equally delicious) and they will lend me a corningwear bowl with lid for the event. I'll taxi over to pick it up after reading to the kids on Tuesday.


I'm thrilled, both by the invitation and the contribution.


As I was walking down the narrow road that the restaurant is on, a group of 12 year old boys tried to get my attention. Bon Tarde was all I was willing to say. Just after I passed them, two rode by on a bicycle uncomfortably close and shouted in my ear. I stopped, furious and frightened. While I was regaining composure, another lad about the same age came running out of his yard saying he would call the police on my behalf. He was indignant. I thanked him (obrigata) and shook my head.


By the time I got to the corner, the two lads on the bike apologized.  Being less than gracious, I said “you better be sorry.”  But you'll be happy to know that in my mind, I was saying thank you and hoping that they will think twice before contemplating a similar move on another older foreigner.


On the landlady front, I don't think she has any guests to replace me come December 2nd. She asked yesterday where I'm going next, and I took it to mean after I'm finished at Ba Futuru. I'm thinking of going to Darwin for a few days, I said before she clarified.


I haven't been the most social of home stayers, and continue to be frustrated by small things.  For example, the only sinks are in the main part of the house. One night last week, when it was time to brush my teeth and wash my face, I couldn't get in the house. Landlady did not respond to loud knocking or texts. There was aTetun response when I dialled the phone that sounded a lot like this number is not in service.


Since the house has been locked before, and we’ve talked about my interest in washing my hands after toileting, I thought we had come to a mutual agreement that I would have access to the house. That night last week, I kept up my door pounding until she responded.


I think I might just return to the hotel where I spent my first week. I don't feel like asking around and I like my independence. I might move my flight to Bali up a few days, and use some of that time to go to Darwin. It's nice having options.