Elias Fund
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The Elias Fund is a nonprofit organization funding community development and education for Zimbabwean youth while providing opportunities for American youth to become more active in global matters.
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[edit] Overview
The Elias Fund is a grassroots oriented 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[1] that provides educational scholarships to the youth of Zimbabwe. It was inspired by the American band Dispatch and started in Summer 2005 by a group of young adults. The idea of Elias Fund began when Dispatch's Chad Urmston, now with State Radio, spent time in Zimbabwe in 1994. While there, he befriended a gardener named Elias who later became the inspiration and namesake to one of Dispatch's most popular songs. Elias dreamed his sons Honest and Manuel would one day have the opportunity to gain a higher education. His dream was the cornerstone behind the creation of the Elias Fund, and has since expanded to include the dreams of youth throughout the country. As an organization, the Elias Fund believes there is strength in community and education. With that in mind the Elias Fund looks to build stronger communities both here in America as well as in Zimbabwe, to help the people in Zimbabwe get back on their feet. The Elias Fund has its Zimbabwean base in Chiredzi. The Elias Fund strives to not only act as a voice for those people but to also empower the people of Zimbabwe to bring about change in their own communities and nation.
[edit] Mission Statement
To provide hope and opportunity to Zimbabwean youth through community development and education while empowering the American youth culture to embrace their global role and make it an active one. [2]
[edit] Last Dispatch
The Elias Fund presented the The Last Dispatch documentary at its premiere at Somerville Theatre in July of 2005. The Last Dispatch generated 110,000 fans in July 2004. This exuberant and challenging spirit has now evolved into a desire to keep working together to ‘be the change we want to see in the world’ (Gandhi). Dispatch sang their popular song ‘Elias’ for over 8 years, but that was only the beginning of what now inspires fans from every corner of the planet to rally around one simple man and his hurting country.
[edit] Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded per semester after an in depth interview process. Elias's son Honest was presented with the first Elias Fund Scholarship. He is currently enrolled in Makerere University in Uganda and thriving there.
[edit] Community Center
A center is in the preliminary stages of being planned to be built in Chiredzi , Zimbabwe. This center will provide school tutoring, medical, sport/activities, general life skills, and nutritional aspects to those in the surrounding area.
[edit] Chiredzi Street Children/Blind Outreach
A Community of about 70 families (300 individuals) whose parents or guardians are blind due to untreated disease or other circumstances currently live in Chiredzi. The children of these parent/guardians are forced to beg for their family’s food and money daily. The Elias Fund has partnered with a man in Chiredzi to provide the food for these families. This program has allowed many of these children to get off the streets and into school. Every month these kids lead their parent or guardian to a makeshift community center to collect their monthly ration of food.
[edit] Future Goals
As the Elias Fund grows, new projects such as building schools, HIV/AIDS and other health care education programs, international student exchange programs and others are possibilities for future goals of the organization.
[edit] Journal Entry
This journal entry written by Chad while in Zimbabwe gives insight into the situation which existed when he was there.
Written by Chad Urmston while in Zimbabwe, 10/11/94
"I woke up a little discouraged this morning whether it be my own doings that leave me feeling down or it's the confusion brought by the revealing of so many suffering and me in this house with tea and servants w/ people dying not far from me sometimes I wish I was living out there in those barren huts doing all I could to help. If I could save one life it'd be worth it. I feel like I've been given an opportunity to live so I should help others that may lose that, but how to do such I don't know ~ whether it be lack of courage or simply impossibility of situation - probably both."
[edit] Ways To Get Involved
- Spread awareness of the situation in Zimbabwe along with the fund
- Host a fundraiser (Community Night, Benefit Concert, 'Run For Zimbabwe' Marathon)
- Start an Elias Fund Club at your school
[edit] Elias Fund Clubs
Since the Fall of 2006, 32 Elias Clubs have been officially established under the Elias Fund. These clubs will soon become an integral part of the fund by maintaining direct connections with the scholarship recipients. Each Elias Club will be assigned a different student. They will then keep in contact with the student to help fulfill any needs such as school materials and clothing. Each club will have fund raisers in order to help pay for the necessities of school. While the goal of the Elias Fund is to help build a stronger community in Zimbabwe and empower the people there to help rebuild their dying nation, we cannot overlook our own local communities. With that said, each club with be connected with a local nonprofit organization for whom the club will spend some time volunteering.
[edit] External Links & Contact Information
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