Improving communication through the power of the Internet

Website

http://www.facebook.com/FitnessForAfrica, http://www.fitnessforafrica.org

How would you cultivate a deeper relationship with the community you’d like to serve?

Fitness For Africa is a New York based Not for Profit Organization that works with communities in rural areas of Uganda implementing a variety of programs that instill the concepts of a healthy lifestyle. Through our education scholarships we ensure that in addition to the core curriculum each of the students are exposed to fitness instruction, health and nutrition education as well as understanding what a healthy lifestyle entails. F4A runs several other projects including PenPal projects for women & children and a Literacy project for vulnerable adults that were never provided with education as a child. One of the key aspects of our PenPal project is the interaction and connection that we provide for local people to the US through a letter-writing program. The communities that we are working with are in rural areas that have no electricity, public transportation and telephone rates are expensive. This causes our communications with the communities to be quite challenging.

How would you use the $1,000 to turn your idea into a reality?

$1000 would enable us to set up one complete unit of internet connection inclusive of our existing laptop a new solar panel, battery + inverter, internet modem and purchase a second laptop for use within the rural community – PenPals could then easily access their letters, video SKYPE at scheduled sessions as well as broaden everyone’s perspective of the world. We would use the system for education as well as outreach. The greatest opportunity will be the realization and ability for the beneficiaries and the field coordinators to communicate with ease and simplicity hence creating a greater impact.

Budget:
$250 Second hand laptop
$200 Internet connection
$50 Internet mobile modem
$500 Solar panel, battery + inverter

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