Equality & Freedom - A Roar For Help

Help Lions Resist Extinction

CATEGORY: Freedom & Equality

Pitch

Lions being hunted for their bones has become a major issue over time. Around 10,000 years ago the Lion was the most wide spread large land mammal after humans. They covered the whole globe populating most of Africa, across Eurasia from western Europe to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru. Now there are less then 20,000 lions left in the world mainly occupying South Africa and barely a bit of Asia. I have created a project that will take place in Hoedspruit, South Africa (then switching locations to ones in more need) and will help preserve the Lions, rebuild their habitat and also protest against them being hunted. Through out this project we will create an environment for them to mate safely, increase their population and most importantly live longer. The male lion only lives to 14 years in today's day and era! We will also help take care of the cubs protecting them from any harm that may be caused by hunters or any other animal. This project is very important to me and means a lot. For me it's a way to make significant difference in the world about something I and hopefully the rest of the world cares about. Before the actual project begins we will be fundraising throughout Ontario in order to recruit members to the project and more money for a better and safer experience.  

A Roar... for help.

 

Critical Need and Impact

Lions are amazing creatures. Unfortunately there aren't going to be any left in the world as their population is quickly declining. Lions used to exist all around the world but today they rest in Africa and a tiny bit of Asia. I hope the day we have to go to a museum to show our kids what a Lion is never comes because it will be the most shameful thing in the world. Humans themselves killed the King of the Jungle, because of this the completion of this project will be a huge favor to the world and will go down in history. By finishing it we will preserve one of the most fascinating animals ever. It will have a huge impact on the animals, animal food chain and on us as well! Preserving the lions and assisting them in surviving will raise awareness about many other animals and soon we'll be much more alert and careful when it comes to animals. If the Lion were to go extinct the food cycle itself would slowly fall apart since Lions are at the top of the pyramid. Some species would flourish while some wouldn't which would destruct the environmental equilibrium. Eventually the cycle will fall apart taking everything with it... including us. Preserving lions will be helpful to us because we wouldn't be able to survive without them! As already explained Lions are at the top & everything in the cycle is important and needed.

Feasibility

• This project will start August 2013.
• This project will be going on continuously.
• You may volunteer for 5 months at the max (continuously) but will have to take a 2 month break befre applying for a new spot. 
• This project will be funded by Projects Abroad (they run international volunteer programs as well) and celebrity Katy Perry (she will also be promoting her new song "Roar".)
• Fundraisers will also be running throughout Canada to raise awareness about our project and to receive donations.
• I will require $100,000 to start up the project.
•  $40,000 to purchase a very large area for the Lions
•  $10,000 to install defenses and security to prevent hunters or other dangerous animals
•  $10,000 to purchase meat and grazing animals for Lions. The meat will be used to directly feed them. The grazing animals like deer will be there for their physical activity
• $20,000 will be used to purchase medicine for animals and volunteers if they are sick or injured
• $15,000 will be used to install security and defenses for volunteers in case Lions react to foreigners dangerously

• $5,000 will be used in animal defenses. In case an animal attacks the Lions or the Lions attempt to destroy volunteer safety, they will be shot with darts which will only cause them to sleep for a few hours.

Important Facts

• For some odd reason lions are the only major animals that are not under protection from being hunted. This is probably a big reason why their population is declining.
• African Lions are the most social big cats. They live in prides which consist up to 15 lions.
• A Lions roar can be heard from 5 miles away
• A Lion can run up to 50mph and leap up to 36 feet
• A Lion may sleep up to 20 hours a day
• Lions are the second largest cats. Tigers are the largest.
• Lions were once found all around the world, now they rest in only Africa & a tiny bit of Asia
• When a new male takes over a pride they usually kill the cubs. The females come into estrus and the new males sire new cubs.

About The Author

My name is Mohammed Ali. I am 15 years old and I am very fortunate attend Bill Crothers Secondary School. My goals is to graduate from high school with an average of 88% or over and to make a difference in the world... One that will be remembered forever

Work Cited:

"More Information on Lions." Information on the Lion, the Animal. N.p., 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.

Janesson, Paul. "Lion Facts." Lion Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

Travel, Marsea Nelson, WWF. "Ten Interesting Facts about Lions." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife

Fund, 29 June 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013

It's Not so "elementary" for the women of Afghanistan

Providing the women of Afghanistan with a proper education

 

 A project that focuses on equity

Pitch:

Human rights, more specifically, women’s rights are something us Canadians take for granted. In many other places of the world, it is a different story. Imagine living in a country where you weren’t allowed to leave you own house without permission, where you weren’t allowed to own your own property and where you were too scared to walk outside for fear of what might happen to you. This is what life is like for the women of Afghanistan, or at least it has been for the last 18 years. Me, and many other people around the world are working at altering this reality. I would like to help these women by providing a source of education for some girls, grades 1 through 8, living in Afghanistan today.

This project is about women’s rights in Afghanistan. I am hoping to soon build an all-girl’s school in the small but densely populated capitol, a place currently known as Kabul, Afghanistan.  I would like to also raise awareness about the issues regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan. The women of Afghanistan do not, and have never had the rights and freedoms that us women in Canada have today. Ever since the Taliban took over in 1996 the Afghan women have been restricted to almost being able to do nothing outside of their own homes. This includes not being able to leave their homes without a male family member, not being able to step outside showing any body part excluding their eyes and not being allowed to live alone. This means that they could not live without a male in the house. You can pretty much count out being allowed to work or attend school up until very recently where some women have been given the privilege to get jobs and receive an education. This is where building an all-girl’s school can really benefit the women of Afghanistan. Currently only 12% of women in Afghanistan are literate.  Over 4.2 million women in Afghanistan do not have access to an education.  Hopefully by building an all-girl’s school in Afghanistan, I can change that because I believe everybody should be able to get an education and live a long happy life in which they can support themselves.


 

Critical Need:

There are many reasons why Afghan women should have a chance to become educated. The first reason is to gain independence. As long as they stay uneducated, they will always depend on male family members to care for them and make their decisions for them. The next reason is that failing to educate the women of Afghanistan robs the country of half its resources.  If the education level of Afghanistan were to increase, the countries profits would increase. This is because the increase in jobs will increase the countries earnings and ultimately increase the country’s GDP. Lastly, women are routine victims of violence in Afghanistan. If they remain uneducated, this is unlikely to change.  Instead, the practice of hurting these women with force and violence will continue to seem normal.  Allowing this to continue has not only a negative effect on the women of Afghanistan, but also the country of Afghanistan. Poverty rates will continue to rise as many of these women have children and leave their homes with these children when they move out to get away from the abuse. Because they are not educated, they cannot receive jobs and they end up homeless with children to tend for. In order for this to change the percentage of women who are educated needs to change.  Between 2001 and 2010, the percentage or girls attending school has risen from virtually zero to 37%. Although that is a substantial increase, that number is still too low. I feel that building an all-girls school in Afghanistan will not only give them an education, but it will also give them the confidence and recognition that they do not receive in their everyday lives.

 

 

 

 

Impact:

How will the world benefit from this?

If the women of Afghanistan become more educated the world will definitely be impacted. A higher literacy rate in Afghanistan won’t only affect their country. It will also affect all the surrounding countries and all the countries on peace keeping missions. One of the main reasons for refugees and peace keepers in Afghanistan are because the women aren’t educated or safe and the only way to be safe is to get out or to get help. Because these women aren’t educated they can’t get jobs therefor cannot get their own homes and this will not help get rid of the old customs (men would beat the women, they would have no say, etc…). If more women become educated, there will be fewer refugees in nearby countries and the peacekeepers will have less work to do.

 

If more women in Afghanistan became educated, this would give them opportunities to get jobs and this will raise the country’s GDP and ultimately help the global economy.  Afghanistan's poverty rate would also decrease and countries like Canada wouldn’t have to help out as much and could help out in other countries that desperately need our help. Furthermore, the higher the literacy rate is the lower the death rate will be because more people will have jobs and be able to sustain themselves and their families leaving less of a chance for them to end up on the street or starve to death.

 

Feasibility:

Projected time period:  In order to build an 8 classroom school, it should take no longer than a year and a half if all goes as planned.

Start: January 2015

*note.  Materials will be delivered and set up will commence 2 months prior to projected start time.

Finish: July 2016

Building the school

Suppliers:

The Home Depot: I am hoping to use The Home Depot as one of our main suppliers for the construction of the school. The Home Depot has a program called The Home Depot Foundation in which they give out up to 25,000 dollar grants to Canadian charities in order to build small-scale buildings. I am hoping to ask them for one of these grants so that we can buy the products and materials needed to finish this project.


Rona: I am hoping to use Rona as the other main supplier for the construction of the school. Although they do not have a program like The Home Depot, they do give out grants to people in need. I am hoping to reach out to them and explain to them what I am trying to do and hopefully they help me change the lives of the girls in Afghanistan.

Estimated cost:  $2,000,000

Furniture and equipment

Suppliers:

Ikea: The Ikea Foundation is a program about empowering women and girls around the world who are not fortunate enough to receive a proper education. They have donated over 10 million dollars to empower women in Asia through education by providing for 840 scholarships and grants.

In addition, funding goes to programs that give women a better chance to contribute to the family income by having the skill set to receive jobs. I think this program would be perfect for what I am trying to do. I think Ikea would be more than willing to provide me with the grant I need in order to purchase the furniture needed for the children that are going to attend the school.

Chairs: 250 x $100 = $25,000

Desks: 250 x $150 = $37,500

Tables: 20 x $200 = $4,000

Carpets: 8 x $20 = $160

Shelves: 48 x $75 = $3,600

Cabinets: 20 x $150 = $3,000

Total: $73,260

 

Staples: I would like to go to staples as they carry office and school supplies that the children and teachers will need at the school. Staples has a program called The Staples Foundation. This program gives out grants to organizations and people that provide education to underprivileged kids. I would ask staples to give me a grant or a gift card to their store so that I can buy school supplies for the children and teachers.

White board: 8 x $100 = $800

Staplers: 8 x $20 = $160

Pencils: (10 pack): 75 x $5 = $375

Erasers: (10 pack): 75 x $5 = $375

Paper: (400 sheets lined):  24 x $4 = $96

Paper: (400 sheets blank): 24 x $4 = $96

Notebooks: (lined): 500 x $5 = $2,500

Notebooks: (grid): 250 x $5 = $1,250

Calculators: 250 x $10 = $2,500

Binders: 250 x $10 = $2,500

Computers: 8 x $1000 = $8,000

Printers: 8 x $200 = $1,600

Total: $20,252

 

Oxford: Oxford is a company that provides textbooks for schools. I would like to ask them to supply my school with the textbooks needed for their education.  I believe they will be willing to do this because they make educational books that are required in schools and hopefully once understanding what I am planning on doing, they will provide me with the books necessary for educating these children.

 

Textbooks:

History: 250 x $80 = $20,000

Geography: 250 x $80 = $20,000

Science: 250 x $80 = $20,000

Languages: 250 x $80 = $20,000

Math: 250 x $80 = $20,000

Total: $100,000

 

Chapters: Finally I would go to chapters to buy books for the different classes in the school. The chapters “love of reading foundation” would be perfect for this as they provide books for underprivileged schools. I would purchase around $10,000 in books for the school and these books would be for class and the children’s leisure. This is essentially the library for the children, except the books are in each different class according to the level of reading the students are at.

Additional source: I would like to ask Oprah if she would donate money for this cause as she has already funded a school in South Africa called the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. She has already done what I want to do, only in a different part of the world. I see her as a perfect candidate to be willing to donate some money to the cause.

 

Grand Total: $2,203,512

 

 

My name is Chloe Hampson and I am 15 years old. I am currently attending Bill Crothers Secondary School. I play Midget AA hockey for the North York Storm and I am very passionate about women's rights. I believe that everybody should have the rights and freedoms that I have. I really hope you will consider helping the women of Afghanistan because without us they have no one. I believe everybody should be able to receive an education so they can live their lives how they want to. I really hope I can help the women of Afghanistan achieve this by building the school in Kabul.

 

References

www.afghan-network.net/culture/kabul.html

www.afghanistans.com/Information/People/Education.htm

www.cw4wafghan.ca/afghanwomeninhistory

www.pbs.org/.../women-in-afghanistan/education/2200

www.unicef.org/sow02/feature3.htm

 

 

 

A Safe Place For Kids To Be Kids

Sunday, 24 November 2013  

A Safer Place For Kids To Play

Pitch-

   
Crime in South Africa has always been a prominent issue. South Africa has a very high rate of murders, assaults, and rapes of both adults and children. With roughly 50 murders per day, you can imagine how hard it must be for parents to send their children out to play. My idea is to bring the kids of South Africa a safe place to play. This will not only allow children to interact with one another, but to get the exercise they need to stay healthy  Growing up in a relatively "safe" area in Canada, going out to play and having my parents worry about if I would make it home or not was never an issue, and I know how important it is to get outside and be able to just be kids. My goals are to allow the children of South Africa to be able to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment where they can get the exercise they need to be healthy, and be able to interact with one another.

Critical Need-

This project will help bring awareness to the high crime rate in South Africa, and it will help better the lives of the children in South Africa. By raising awareness of the high crime rate more people will feel obligated to donate money to create more of these safe playgrounds in South Africa. These safe playgrounds allow children to be children without a worry in the world. Kids can receive the exercise they need in order to stay healthy, and the can socialize with other kids and just have fun. No child should be deprived of their childhood, and that is why this project is so important.

Impact-

Once the project is in full affect, other countries who also have a problem with crime, or simply cannot provide children with a safe place to play will see what an impact this project has on the lives of children, and will want to get involved with it.

Feasibility-

I plan to have the project set up by March 1st, 2014, and I plan for construction to begin on April 1st, 2014, ending on April 7th, 2014.


Costs-

Turf field With installation- $880,000
Outdoor Jungle Gym- $1000
Fencing- $2500
Soccer Nets- $1000 ($500 each)
Balls- $100 (20 per ball)

Total- $884, 600

About the Author-

My name is Daniel Magro. I am a 15 year old student who attends Bill Crothers Secondary School. I play soccer for both school and club, and I also play the drums. I enjoy being with my friends, and playing soccer.

Works Cited-

"The Truth About Crime In South Africa"-http://www.larktours.com/truth-about-crime-south-africa

Equality - The First Step to a Better World

  

Providing Education for Women in Pakistan  

 

Pitch

Equality: the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. This universal principle has been present in our society and the world for as long as history dates back. However, through the years this principle has been replaced with ones that have clouded the minds of many and has distorted the views of our fellow people. This absurd mentality has twisted many countries' perspectives on things in our everyday life we take for granted. Imagine being a women who constantly lives in fear of her husband, family, and the rest of the community; and on top of all this do not receive the same rights and freedoms as your male counterparts. This is the average life of a woman living in Pakistan. According to a 2011 poll conducted by experts by the Thomson Reuters Foundation Poll, Pakistan is the third most dangerous country in the world. Reasons for these horrifying results include: lack of proper education (literacy rate is extremely low), and their culture does not allow for women to stand equally beside men. Many of Pakistan's citizens still believe the primitive knowledge that men are superior to women, which ultimately restrains Pakistan from developing and becoming a nation of equality and respect. Despite this, there have been many attempts to assist and help these women in Pakistan. Organizations like NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and others have reached out to these women to help support and empower them. However, due to the fear of their husbands, somehow thinking they'll hurt the honour of their families, or simply not knowing that help does exist, many of these women do not take advantage of these resources and continue to live in these discriminatory conditions. It is obviously clear that women in Pakistan need our help, and by supporting this project of mine it will not only bring education to the women in Pakistan, but it'll give them a glimmer of hope for a life where they are given the rights and freedoms they deserve as human beings. 

 

Critical Need

 

In Pakistan, more than 1,000 women and girls are murdered in "honour killings" every year and reported that 90% of Pakistan women suffer from domestic violence. Though this may be a terrifying revelation to many people of the world, this is an example of what gender discriminatory acts happen in Pakistan every day. Sadly, with female literacy at 36%, many women are too uneducated to know their rights and freedoms as living, breathing human beings. This is why I plan for my project to meet the following "critical needs":  

-   Empowerment of women and their rights and freedom; 

-   Safe environments to educate women;  

-   Proper education programs where women will be given the gift of knowledge; something that shouldn't be a privilege but a right.  

Impact

 

When education for women is introduced in Pakistan, not only will the country benefit from this but it will also affect the rest of the earth at a global level. By educating the women (whom are of all ages) in Pakistan it will cause a "domino effect" involving other countries in the world who are also experiencing gender discrimination. The women of Pakistan along with other countries facing gender discrimination will greatly benefit from my project for several reasons. The goals of my project are to:

-   Spark an "education-for-all" movement within an oppressed society;

-   Provide and support equal rights and freedom regardless of gender;

-   Promote education as the corner stone for civilized development;

-   Provide a maintainable source of funding to uphold and expand educational programs across Pakistan, therefore allowing it to grow and develop as a progressive nation.

  

 

Feasibility 

 

Project Time Outline

Project Beginning...........................early of March 2014

Project End Date.............................end of October 2014

Public Opening Date.......................November 11th, 2014 (National Education Day)
 


Organizations (Sponsors)

The Malala Foundation

An organization founded by Malala Yousafzai, an education activist from Pakistan. This organization strives to empower women and girls through education to raise their voices, to unlock their potential, and to demand change. They are dedicated to supporting and creating  world where every girl and woman reaches her true potential. The Malala Foundation will be asked to help raise funds for my project and to raise awareness of the circumstances in Pakistan and other countries suffering from the same problem; gender discrimination.

 Because I Am A Girl Foundation

 This organization is a globally known group whose ambition and main goal is to end gender inequality, promote girls' rights and lift millions of girls - and everyone around them - out of poverty. Over the years, they have gained much support from many countries and have impacted the world hugely since their birth as an non-for-profit organization. Because I Am A Girl Foundation will be asked to help raise funds for this project and to spread the word of my campaign to end gender discrimination in Pakistan.

 Staples Business Depot

Staples Business Depot is a well-known stationary franchise that is very much involved with events and projects that promote education. This organization will be asked to donate school supplies which includes everything pencils and crayons to desks and chalkboards. 

 Home Depot

Home Depot is a Canadian company that sells everything from home appliances to building and construction materials. This company will be a great benefactor to seek seeing that they have a lot to offer to help kick-start my project. Home Depot will be asked to donate building supplies and to send some workers willing to volunteer their time to help build the schooling facilities that will be used to educate women in Pakistan. 

 Cost Outline

School Supplies: $15,000

Building & Construction Material: $60,000

Construction Workers: $10,000

Building Permits: $5,000

Qualified Teachers: $30,000

 *The approximate cost to start my project is around $120,000 (costs may vary).

Authors Note

My name is Jeremy Bartholomeusz and I am the author of this project proposal. Resolving the global issue of gender equality is important to me because I strongly support gender equality and its journey to making our world a place where everyone is treated as equals and are given the same opportunities as one another. Education; or better yet, knowledge, is a powerful thing that should never be taken away. Speaking from experience, I am a National level gymnast with ambitions of going to the Olympics one day. Throughout my career as a gymnast, I have been reduced to yet another stereotype. On countless occasions people have told me that gymnastics is a sport only for girls. I am proud to say that not only am I a male gymnast, but I am also the 2013 National Youth Male Gymnastics Champion. Though I may not have experienced gender discrimination at the level Pakistan is facing, I have experienced it and it was through my personal experience that I was inspired and motivated to organize and present this proposal on gender equality. 

-  Jeremy Bartholomeusz 

Works Cited

 

- "Gender Discrimination." Gender Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web.  22 Nov. 2013.

- "Join Malala." Malala Fund. N.p., n.d. Web.  22 Nov. 2013.

- "The Atlantic." The Atlantic. N.p., n.d. Web.  22 Nov. 2013.