Azafady has officially accepted me as part of their October volunteer scheme, and my surgeon sees no reason why I wouldn’t be well enough to leave at the end of September for Madagascar.I cannot believe how quickly the healing process is coming along. I am already back at work, there are no more scabs or bruises, and I am nearly pain-free. Thanks so much to all the donors who’ve come forward just recently to help secure my future volunteering in Madagascar. At times it seems like this hardship is transforming into a good experience, as I make new friend and receive more love each and every day.

On top of the good news not much else to report, as the situation with insurance, the identity of the person who hit me, and the status of my compromised teeth is still obscure. Keep sending out all your positive energy to help me get through the rest of this ordeal, and thanks so much for all the community support to date.

-Edith

One week ago today, on Sunday the 8th of June, I was the victim of a hit and run while biking in downtown Salt Lake City. The impact broke my jaw in 2 places, and the driver peeled off with my bag attached to the car, but the most painful part of the accident has been coming to terms with my inability to volunteer in Madagascar this summer.

My jaw will be wired shut for the next 4 weeks, with rehab and reconstruction of my teeth after that. It is going to be a long process, but I am healing so quickly already, and have hope that my doctor and I can work together to get me ready to volunteer with Azafady this October.

As for my fundraising efforts for this project, I am still trying to raise the remaining $1500 of my original volunteer budget. Unfortunately, that amount may increase due to the inevitable complications from this bump in the road, but my fundraising account is completely safe from the person who hit me, and from any expenses outside of those exclusively benefiting this volunteer project.

I am determined to stay focused on this project, and to continue to spread awareness about sustainability in Madagascar. I remain extremely passionate about this cause, and if you, too, are still inspired by this project, don’t hesitate to donate. By doing so, you will not only secure this opportunity to volunteer with Azafady, but will help me stay positive about my future.

Thank you so much to everyone from my community who has counteracted this tragedy with so much love. It must be because of all their support that I’ve been able to feel so much better so quickly. To find out more about my accident, visit KSL’s website, on City Weekly’s Blog or read about it in Salt Lake Tribune’s Sunday Sport Section. And if you have any questions for me, I am perfecting the art of talking with my mouth closed, so give me a call at 801-750-0754.

Thanks so much.

Edith Welker

I am about 3 weeks away from heading out to Madagascar to volunteer with the small NGO called Azafady. I am equally close to meeting my financial goal of donating $4000 to Azafady, which they will apply directly to the desperately needed projects in Malagasy communities. With so much progress and support from my friends and donors, I thought everybody knew by now what Azafady was, what they are doing in Madagascar, and why sustainability in Madagascar is important. However, just this weekend, I have had several people ask me what I am doing there, and what is Azafady. So here is a short overview of what this project is about, with an opportunity to donate to Azafady and get me that much closer to volunteering in this wonderful place and with this amazing organization.

Madagascar is an island nation off the southeastern cost of Africa. It is seen as one of the earth’s 3 top biodiversity hotspots, which combined with it being one of the world’s poorest countries makes it widely regarded as the world’s highest conservation priority. The island contains 5% of the world’s plant and animal species, including baobab trees, lemurs, chameleons, sea turtles, and the sole cure for childhood leukemia, the endangered rosy periwinkle. Unfortunately, the island is over 90% deforested, and these crucially important species face alarming rates of extinction.

Malagasy people are unique noble and generous. They are also desperately poor, and face the threat of diseases such as Malaria, Cholera and HIV. 70% of families live on less than $1 a day, life span is only 50 years, and there is an alarmingly high infant mortality rate of 1 in 10, with most dying of preventable diseases. Malagasy people are poor and therefore must live subsistence lifestyles, harvesting what they need from the surrounding area, and growing their food by slashing and burning the ecologically valuable forest. This is leading to dramatic runoff of the topsoil necessary for growing food, which means there is now food shortages and widespread malnutrition.

AZAFADY is a small charity working to address several of these issues in the southern region of Madagascar. Their mission is to promote environmental sustainability and human welfare through conservation, income-generating activities, and by giving access to sanitation, clean drinking water, and basic health care. As a small organization, they depend on the work of volunteers, and a large portion of their budget is raised by volunteers like myself. Azafady has won several awards, and has gained recognition form Sir David Attenborough as well as the Malagasy government for being indispensable pioneers working for sustainability in this region.

As a volunteer with Azafady, I will be helping to educate Malagasy people about how to protect themselves from the emerging HIV virus. I will be installing wells and digging latrines thereby protecting hundreds of people from water-borne illness. For those who are already sick I will be improving access to health care by building pharmacies. I will be teaching and implementing sustainable agriculture techniques in communities suffering from malnutrition and starvation. In the precious fragments of the remaining forest i will be helping the locals to plant trees, and I will be helping with species conservation efforts.

Of course, none of this would be at all possible without the dedication and perseverance of Azafady. I am only a few hundred dollars away from donating $4000 to them, which will go straight to their meaningful projects. If you feel inspired, please help by donating through the link below.

Donate to Azafady

Thanks so much,
Edith Welker

Believe it or not, raising money for sustainability and human welfare projects in Madagascar takes creativity. There are so many ways to help, from going to the movies, to baking some cupcakes, to flying all the way over there to lend a helping hand. But who knew that going on an all-inclusive river rafting trip through Westwater Canyon would protect species and help people on the other side of the world? Well, it can, thanks to the ReDirect Guide, who has donated this trip, worth $770, to help raise money for Azafady and Madagascar.

This trip for 2 is through Holiday Expeditions, a great local company. It’s dates are flexible, and whoever gets it will be getting a great deal, as asking price is only $650. If you or anyone you know are interested in this trip, visit the online ads, and Holiday Expeditions’ Website:

Craig’s List

KSL Ad

Holiday Expaeitions Trip Itinerary

Thanks and good luck!

A big benefit of raising money for Azafady, the small NGO I will be working with in Madagascar, is the opportunity to raise awareness about this incredible country. Madagascar could not be further away from Utah, but everyone on earth is interconnected, and the deforestation, biodiversity loss and human struggle in Madagascar all have impacts that affect the entire globe. Last night at the Tower was my first opportunity to really show people what it’s like in Madagascar. Thanks so much to everyone who came last night and were inspired by Madagascar’s story, or by the work that I am about to do there. You can get inspire, too, by watching the film yourself.

Last night’s event raised $368. That’s a great step towards getting the rest of the minimum donation to Azafady. There’s only $582 left to raise for this incredible organization, and less than 1 month before it’s too late. Please help spread the message of global sustainability and human welfare in Madagascar.

Work in Madagascar starts in less than a month, and there is still about $3000 to raise to volunteer with Azafady. Bring your friends to the Tower Theater at 9th & 9th for one of the last FUNdraiser events before it’s too late!

$5 at the door, and food available for a small donation. See you there!

The event at Urban Lounge raised $1040. That means 150 people came out, whether to support this cause or to hear the amazing bands. All of that money will go directly to Azafady, a small NGO working for human welfare and sustainability in Madagascar. I am overwhelmed at the kindness of all my friends, and the amazing and humbling generosity of the bands, Calico, Band of Annuals, and Dead Horse Point, who donated all the door proceeds to the cause.

Imagine, that money would feed a Malagasy family for almost a year and a half. You are all incredible, and I am privileged to have such terrific people around me. Plus, who knew doing a good thing for people in need could be so much fun?

Stay tuned for info about the next event, a screening of Planet Earth at Tower Theater.

-Edith

Can’t Come? Donate Here!

Ask anybody who has come to one of the past fundraising events, and they’ll tell you how much fun is to be had at this next one:

$7 at the door. ALL door proceeds benefit Azafady, thanks entirely to the Bands.

So, in case you weren’t there (which chances are you were) the Mustache-Dance-Party-Fundraiser was SPECTACULAR in all senses of the word. Not only was the place packed full of people with facial hair ranging from the divine to the obscene, the music spun by the Exacerbators kept everyone dancing far into the wee hours of the morning.

Also, I am extremely proud and thrilled to announce that total donations came to $502!!! Enormous thanks to The Exacerbators (Emily and Taylor) all the folks who came. The funds raised will go directly to finance the sustainability and human welfare projects in Madagascar… projects lust like this:

The organization working in Madagascar, Azafady, understands that sustainability involves both environmental protection and human welfare. For instance, deforestation may injure the environment, but it is also a means to grow food. Likewise, deforestation is causing massive erosion and the consequent washing away of all the good soil. For this reason, Azafady is tackling deforestation comprehensively, by first introducing sustainable farming techniques to the community, then by helping the locals re-plant the trees that have been lost, to preserve the precious soil and mend the natural environment.

Donate to This Project Now!

I think this next fundraising event speaks for itself….

All welcome. Door proceeds go directly to fund this project!