Doctors, civil society leaders, institutions, and other local partners in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Canada, and the other countries we serve make requests to us based on local needs and their direct assessment of their situation
IMHO Canada Board of Directors evaluates each proposed effort based off need, resources available, and our mission statement, then selects appropriate projects to support
Funds are raised/collected, a contract for service is signed, and partner begins work, reporting back frequently on project, impact, & finances
To benefit pregnant women living below poverty line with low body-mass index; IMHO Canada to support 75 mothers this year in the Eastern Province This is an extension of an already highly successful intervention in Jaffna that has resulted in decreased rates of under-/malnourished children and mothers and overall improved health (especially important for a baby during these critical formative years) Effort is implemented by local health authorities at a cost of approx. CAD $10,000 These mothers are provided with regular milk powder and nutritional support for a 10-month period
Ensuring access to education for children who have faced repeated disruption to their schooling and who live in areas where the infrastructure was heavily damaged or destroyed is a top priority in ensuring this generation does not fall behind IMHO Canada is planning to support 20 communities in Vanni through the provision of solar panels to be fitted in community spaces or schools that will enable the students to study afterhours and benefit from a safe learning environment Includes support for playgrounds, play groups, parents’ groups, and more! Total project cost is approx. CAD $20,000 The implementing partner (Survivors Associated) has proven track record of success
War amputees face extra hardship in many aspects of their lives, especially when it comes to ensuring a stable source of income and caring for their families; these specially fitted rickshaws represents a new, innovative approach to empowering this demographic Beneficiaries are selected based on type of disability, and family/economic situation Local partners also provide prosthetics, rehabilitative services, counseling, etc. IMHO USA & Canada have collectively committed to provide 30 at a cost of $3,500/each with the first 6 already given!
Livelihoods programs in many ways hold the key to rebuilding lives in the areas of Sri Lanka devastated by war and crippled by chronic poverty Basic interventions, such as support for cattle & poultry farming, home gardening, food production, opening of small shops, sewing, and more have transformed lives already with support from IMHO USA & Canada In Chunnakam, for example, 50 families have been selected among several hundreds of displaced families in this fishing community Each family was given an interest-free loan of Rs. 10,000 in February All have paid their first installment of Rs. 500 by April The total project cost for this is just $5,000 and is being implemented at the ground level by our partner organization IMHO Lanka
Additionally, 43 families with persons with disabilities (and no collaterals) have been selected in the village of Ramanathapuram Each came up with small business proposal (e.g., poultry farm) They were each given a Rs. 20,000 interest free loan in March & July 2012 (totaling Rs. 800,000 collectively) To-date they have paid back Rs. 214,700 in installments A strong example of how investing in the poor pays off and transforms lives
Representing our second effort in Ethiopia, IMHO Canada intends to support an ongoing initiative to help educate & empower deaf youth in Bahir Dar & Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Working in partnership with the Deaf Development & Information Association (DDIA) For the 2nd year in a row, a volunteer team of volunteers are joining with local volunteers and deaf leaders to conduct a 13-day service trip for deaf children this August 2013