Elephante Commons!!

my 8th grade action project

For my 8th grade action project, I’m partnering with Elephante Commons, a non-profit organization in Gulu, Uganda, that supports the Acholi people. Elephante Commons provides employment and versatile community spaces to support tribal leaders and change-makers who are promoting culture, education, and innovation in Gulu.

I am seeking support for Elephante Commons in three different ways: money to build a library, a clothing fundraiser, and collecting items to donate.

1 - HELP BUILD A LIBRARY!

You want to check out a book from the library. Maybe you’re trying to learn a new language. Maybe you need to know how to fix something. Or maybe you just love a good story. Would you walk two hours each way just to get to the library to make that happen?

Right now there is not a SINGLE public library in Gulu, a city of more than 150,000 people! There is one library at a private school, but it is a two hour walk out each way, which is a HUGE barrier to access.

Elephante Commons only needs $14,000 to change that! This first public library would provide free resources for community development and education for everyone, regardless of their age, education, gender, race, etc. It would also host a community resource center to teach farming techniques, help educate girls and women to get them into the workforce, and provide computer access.

$1 could tip the scale to building a library, filled with opportunities for people to learn, grow, have fun, and believe they can do anything!

Click here for a donation link to immediately change lives and make a HUGE and lasting impact!

2 - BUY A CUSTOM-DESIGNED SHIRT OR SWEATSHIRT!

I designed these custom t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the Elephante Commons logo. Who doesn’t love elephants!? All proceeds go directly to building the library as well! You’ll find clothing for kids, women, and men in fun colors and designs.

3 - DONATE ITEMS TO ELEPHANTE COMMONS!

I worked with Brit Neely, one of the founders of Elephante Commons, to develop this list of much-needed items.

Puzzles
Board Games
Lawn Games
Card Games
Volleyballs
Footballs
Badminton Rackets and Shuttlecocks
Books

Some guidelines for donation items:

All items should be in new or excellent condition and in English
Games: please no word-oriented games (like Apples to Apples for example)
Books: please no content too specific to American culture/audience

Click here for a donation sign-up sheet, including details on how to mail or drop off items.

Elephante is doing great work and they need our help to unlock the next steps! The only way to change the future is to help others access the same opportunities that we have so they can achieve their full potential. Your donations will help people who are really in need: kids who have no family, who were forced to be soldiers, or who are on the street selling plastic bottles to get the next meal, and adults affected by unemployment, war, and riots.

Please support in any way you can and spread the word to your family and friends. A helping hand can make a huge impact, and we have plenty of those. If you have questions about how to get involved, please email me. I hope you're as excited as I am! Thank you for your support to Elephante Commons!

~Katelyn Povolny

418491@bsd48.org