Climb for Borderless Kids
Donation protected
Elevator Pitch
With 1 million+ vulnerable and displaced children in Lebanon, a seat in a school is an opportunity that not every child has. As we reach another September, synchronous with "back-to-school" for children around the world, we want us to ask ourselves how we might be able to change a child's life with a small donation. Our goal is to complete a challenging mountaineering expedition in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan to raise awareness and enough funds to help at least 150 unprivileged children go "back-to-school" this year. It’ll cost up to $12,000 to run the center for 2 months. This averages to only $1/child/day. With your help and donation, kids will have access for FREE to an education and a chance to live what is left of their childhood away from the harsh realities of their situations. Donate whatever you can! To put things in perspective a 30$ donation (what one might spend on a meal) will give a child an education for a whole month and more importantly the freedom to dream. Donate now and directly impact lives, including yours.
Context
1,220,000 children are in need of basic services in Lebanon. 60% of children between 3 and 18 are currently out of school, and have never attended school in their life (source: UNICEF). Additionally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has registered more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and the government estimates that an additional 500,000 Syrians are unregistered in the country. According to Human Rights Watch, over 200,000 school-age Syrian children were out of school during the 2016-2017 school year. The number of students not attending school is largely due to parents’ inability to pay for tuitions, transport, child labor, school directors imposing arbitrary enrollment requirements, and lack of language support.
Meet the kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe537WAy3so
The Issue
Getting access to an education is just one of the everyday challenges vulnerable and displaced children face - paying for it is another. A seat in a school is an opportunity that not every child has. Some little ones work all day in dire situations and some beg on the streets to earn what is needed for shelter and food. This is not uncommon, especially for the refugees and undocumented children, who live under the poverty level, to help provide assistance for the household income. It is frequently impossible for family to provide basic care to children because they simply cannot afford to pay for the basics (clothes, medical care, etc.) needed. Education is completely out of the question.
The Solution
A community development project by Borderless NGO in Ouzai, Lebanon that provide FREE access to education for children and offer child protection systems for vulnerable population through community-building and sense of belonging.
The project provides a direct response to the situation of children living in the Ouzai area. Borderless is oriented towards providing relevant educational opportunities, child protection system, and a much-needed humanitarian response that fosters livelihood opportunities for the vulnerable children. Borderless is keen on catering to working children because we have seen the need to protect these kids from being exploited through worst case of child labor and modern-day slavery.
Borderless NGO is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political association founded in 2015. It is run by a volunteer board and is funded by private donors as well as grassroots fundraising such as this one.
The Goal
As we reach another September, synchronous with "back-to-school" for children around the world, we want us to ask ourselves how we might be able to change a child's life with a small donation. Our goal is to complete a challenging mountaineering expedition in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan to raise enough funds to help at least 150 unprivileged children go "back-to-school" this year. It’ll cost up to $12,000 to run the center for 2 months. This averages to only $1/child/day. The amount will cover the basic expenses needed to have the center operational which includes: rent, utilities, teachers’ salaries, textbooks, school supplies and school lunches (all other administrative costs will be separately covered by the NGO’s board).
The Impact
150+ kids will have access for FREE to an education and a chance to live what is left of their childhood away from the harsh realities of their situations. The kids will NOT pay any fees which removes the biggest barrier for parents that are unable to even pay the most basic fees most schools require. With this project, every kid receives schooling, access to a variety of activities, food, and necessities (such as stationary, shoes, warm clothes, etc.) so that they can stay focused on what matters most: their futures. With dreams of being doctors, activists, and journalists, we know these bright minds will lead transformative change throughout the world. The curriculum will focus on providing the following:
- English classes
- Arabic classes
- Math classes
- Social activities to engage creativity and enforce community bonding
- Psychosocial activities (including mindfulness and art therapy) to help the kids overcome the traumas they have been exposed to because of war and displacement from their homes
On a micro-level, if one 7-year old has learned to read and write and has finally the freedom to dream, we have helped. On a macro-level, each dollar donated helps contribute to the greater effort of making education more of a reality for vulnerable and displaced children.
The Challenge
Ruta and Kamal, two friends that share a passion for nature, plan to join an expedition to the Western end of the At-Bashi range in the Tien Shan mountains, to explore and climb the high peaks in this unexplored area above the Kokaigir river and glacial system. The At-Bashi is a beautiful range of snowy summits and technical rocky peaks that runs parallel to the southern Chinese border at the western end of the Tien Shan mountains. These mountains stretch for over 2,500km from east to west along the border and together with the Tajik Pamir mountains make up over 90% of Kyrgyzstan. Their remoteness and untapped mountaineering potential gives the mountains of Kyrgyzstan a unique challenge. This challenge aims to symbolize the uphill climb that we all face as human beings seeking to educate ourselves and each other. Life's gift is the opportunity to learn, grow and progress - and where we have the means and ability to help a child seize that opportunity, we believe that we have a responsibility to do so in whatever small capacity that we can.
How YOU Can Help
The need is great and the desire to get an education is strong. So here's how you can help. Consider the above, visit www.borderlessngo.org to learn more about Borderless and if you want to help a child achieve his dream, donate whatever you can. Everyone is welcomed to visit the kids once they are back to school and for those of you who generously donate, the Borderless family will send them a token of appreciation.
In the spirit of transparency, we invite you to check how this platform works and the associated fees. Platform and payment processing fees of 7.9% plus $0.30 per donation: https://www.gofundme.com/pricing
For direct or non-cash contributions or anything that will support this community in need, please contact the NGO directly ([email redacted] ) and deliver your support directly into the hands of the kids that needed most.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you believe in the cause as I do and would like to do something but do not have the funds - there are still many ways you can help...
Raise awareness!
- Please share this page with your friends, family, colleagues and contacts. If you can't contribute, maybe they can?
- Share our story on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, all your favorite social media sites.
- Join the Borderless NGO on Facebook and Instagram keep an eye out for future events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borderlessngo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borderlessNGO/
- Talk about the issue. Mention Borderless NGO. Help when you can - Together, we’ll make this happen.
The Team and FAQs
Who you are and where you’re from?
Ruta: This is the most challenging question in life really :)
I am a hiker, explorer and adventure lover. Also a Life Coach aspiring to give and inspire people to grow.
I am from Lithuania living in Switzerland.
Follow my adventures! https://www.instagram.com/ruta_adventures/?hl=en]
Kamal: I am a treasurer of life with a passion for nature, adventure, space, and everything in between :)
With a diverse professional background spanning from rocket science to management consulting, I strive to lead a life of exploration while leveraging my skills-set to help people in need. I am currently based out of Switzerland and travel wherever the wind blows.
Follow my voyage! https://www.instagram.com/the_way_of_the_cosmos/
What’s your relationship with the parties for whom you are raising funds and your method of contact with them?
Ruta recently joined the Borderless NGO family as an advocate and an ambassador to help eradicate the exploitation of children, youths and women from underprivileged societies, save them from the traps of modern day slavery, and equip them with the means for a better future.
Kamal is a volunteer at Borderless NGO since 2015 and supports the organization in various administrative tasks such as fund raising, content management, etc. Kamal keeps regular touch points with the NGO’s founders and other volunteers via on-site visits, phone calls, messaging, and emails - the borderless NGO network is one big family :)
The NGO's work can only be achieved by the generosity volunteers from all corners of the world that push current frontiers and share our vision of a global community lacking edges, limits, or boundaries. Join Borderless NGO ever-growing family and volunteer / support the way you can.
Please feel free to contact the NGO directly for more details and any other questions: [email redacted]
How the funds will be spent?
100% of the funds received (after GoFundMe deducts the platform and processing fees https://www.gofundme.com/pricing ) will be used to pay for the monthly fixed operational expenses of the center that hosts the children and deliver the educational curriculum on a daily basis. These operational expenses specifically include:
- Monthly rent of the building
- Monthly utilities fees of the building (electricity, and water)
- Monthly salaries of the teachers
- Monthly school supplies and school lunches for the kids
All other administrative costs and variable expenses will be separately covered by the NGO’s board through other private funding.
Please feel free to contact the NGO directly for specific details and any other questions: [email redacted]
What’s your specific plan for how the funds will be withdrawn from and sent to the beneficiary of the campaign?
As GoFundMe doesn’t not support Lebanon as a country (For your ease of reference, please check the supported countries on GoFundMe https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/203604044-Is-my-country-supported- ), the plan is to withdraw the final total amount to a personal bank account in the US and then transfer the total amount to the NGO’s registered bank account in Lebanon. All transactions will be documented, and an update will be sent to all donors. The NGO will publicly confirm / announce the receipt of money via their social media accounts.
Please feel free to contact the NGO directly for confirmation or any other questions: [email redacted]
We truly appreciate your generosity.
Thank you for your support!
Love,
Ruta and Kamal
With 1 million+ vulnerable and displaced children in Lebanon, a seat in a school is an opportunity that not every child has. As we reach another September, synchronous with "back-to-school" for children around the world, we want us to ask ourselves how we might be able to change a child's life with a small donation. Our goal is to complete a challenging mountaineering expedition in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan to raise awareness and enough funds to help at least 150 unprivileged children go "back-to-school" this year. It’ll cost up to $12,000 to run the center for 2 months. This averages to only $1/child/day. With your help and donation, kids will have access for FREE to an education and a chance to live what is left of their childhood away from the harsh realities of their situations. Donate whatever you can! To put things in perspective a 30$ donation (what one might spend on a meal) will give a child an education for a whole month and more importantly the freedom to dream. Donate now and directly impact lives, including yours.
Context
1,220,000 children are in need of basic services in Lebanon. 60% of children between 3 and 18 are currently out of school, and have never attended school in their life (source: UNICEF). Additionally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has registered more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and the government estimates that an additional 500,000 Syrians are unregistered in the country. According to Human Rights Watch, over 200,000 school-age Syrian children were out of school during the 2016-2017 school year. The number of students not attending school is largely due to parents’ inability to pay for tuitions, transport, child labor, school directors imposing arbitrary enrollment requirements, and lack of language support.
Meet the kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe537WAy3so
The Issue
Getting access to an education is just one of the everyday challenges vulnerable and displaced children face - paying for it is another. A seat in a school is an opportunity that not every child has. Some little ones work all day in dire situations and some beg on the streets to earn what is needed for shelter and food. This is not uncommon, especially for the refugees and undocumented children, who live under the poverty level, to help provide assistance for the household income. It is frequently impossible for family to provide basic care to children because they simply cannot afford to pay for the basics (clothes, medical care, etc.) needed. Education is completely out of the question.
The Solution
A community development project by Borderless NGO in Ouzai, Lebanon that provide FREE access to education for children and offer child protection systems for vulnerable population through community-building and sense of belonging.
The project provides a direct response to the situation of children living in the Ouzai area. Borderless is oriented towards providing relevant educational opportunities, child protection system, and a much-needed humanitarian response that fosters livelihood opportunities for the vulnerable children. Borderless is keen on catering to working children because we have seen the need to protect these kids from being exploited through worst case of child labor and modern-day slavery.
Borderless NGO is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political association founded in 2015. It is run by a volunteer board and is funded by private donors as well as grassroots fundraising such as this one.
The Goal
As we reach another September, synchronous with "back-to-school" for children around the world, we want us to ask ourselves how we might be able to change a child's life with a small donation. Our goal is to complete a challenging mountaineering expedition in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan to raise enough funds to help at least 150 unprivileged children go "back-to-school" this year. It’ll cost up to $12,000 to run the center for 2 months. This averages to only $1/child/day. The amount will cover the basic expenses needed to have the center operational which includes: rent, utilities, teachers’ salaries, textbooks, school supplies and school lunches (all other administrative costs will be separately covered by the NGO’s board).
The Impact
150+ kids will have access for FREE to an education and a chance to live what is left of their childhood away from the harsh realities of their situations. The kids will NOT pay any fees which removes the biggest barrier for parents that are unable to even pay the most basic fees most schools require. With this project, every kid receives schooling, access to a variety of activities, food, and necessities (such as stationary, shoes, warm clothes, etc.) so that they can stay focused on what matters most: their futures. With dreams of being doctors, activists, and journalists, we know these bright minds will lead transformative change throughout the world. The curriculum will focus on providing the following:
- English classes
- Arabic classes
- Math classes
- Social activities to engage creativity and enforce community bonding
- Psychosocial activities (including mindfulness and art therapy) to help the kids overcome the traumas they have been exposed to because of war and displacement from their homes
On a micro-level, if one 7-year old has learned to read and write and has finally the freedom to dream, we have helped. On a macro-level, each dollar donated helps contribute to the greater effort of making education more of a reality for vulnerable and displaced children.
The Challenge
Ruta and Kamal, two friends that share a passion for nature, plan to join an expedition to the Western end of the At-Bashi range in the Tien Shan mountains, to explore and climb the high peaks in this unexplored area above the Kokaigir river and glacial system. The At-Bashi is a beautiful range of snowy summits and technical rocky peaks that runs parallel to the southern Chinese border at the western end of the Tien Shan mountains. These mountains stretch for over 2,500km from east to west along the border and together with the Tajik Pamir mountains make up over 90% of Kyrgyzstan. Their remoteness and untapped mountaineering potential gives the mountains of Kyrgyzstan a unique challenge. This challenge aims to symbolize the uphill climb that we all face as human beings seeking to educate ourselves and each other. Life's gift is the opportunity to learn, grow and progress - and where we have the means and ability to help a child seize that opportunity, we believe that we have a responsibility to do so in whatever small capacity that we can.
How YOU Can Help
The need is great and the desire to get an education is strong. So here's how you can help. Consider the above, visit www.borderlessngo.org to learn more about Borderless and if you want to help a child achieve his dream, donate whatever you can. Everyone is welcomed to visit the kids once they are back to school and for those of you who generously donate, the Borderless family will send them a token of appreciation.
In the spirit of transparency, we invite you to check how this platform works and the associated fees. Platform and payment processing fees of 7.9% plus $0.30 per donation: https://www.gofundme.com/pricing
For direct or non-cash contributions or anything that will support this community in need, please contact the NGO directly ([email redacted] ) and deliver your support directly into the hands of the kids that needed most.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you believe in the cause as I do and would like to do something but do not have the funds - there are still many ways you can help...
Raise awareness!
- Please share this page with your friends, family, colleagues and contacts. If you can't contribute, maybe they can?
- Share our story on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, all your favorite social media sites.
- Join the Borderless NGO on Facebook and Instagram keep an eye out for future events
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borderlessngo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borderlessNGO/
- Talk about the issue. Mention Borderless NGO. Help when you can - Together, we’ll make this happen.
The Team and FAQs
Who you are and where you’re from?
Ruta: This is the most challenging question in life really :)
I am a hiker, explorer and adventure lover. Also a Life Coach aspiring to give and inspire people to grow.
I am from Lithuania living in Switzerland.
Follow my adventures! https://www.instagram.com/ruta_adventures/?hl=en]
Kamal: I am a treasurer of life with a passion for nature, adventure, space, and everything in between :)
With a diverse professional background spanning from rocket science to management consulting, I strive to lead a life of exploration while leveraging my skills-set to help people in need. I am currently based out of Switzerland and travel wherever the wind blows.
Follow my voyage! https://www.instagram.com/the_way_of_the_cosmos/
What’s your relationship with the parties for whom you are raising funds and your method of contact with them?
Ruta recently joined the Borderless NGO family as an advocate and an ambassador to help eradicate the exploitation of children, youths and women from underprivileged societies, save them from the traps of modern day slavery, and equip them with the means for a better future.
Kamal is a volunteer at Borderless NGO since 2015 and supports the organization in various administrative tasks such as fund raising, content management, etc. Kamal keeps regular touch points with the NGO’s founders and other volunteers via on-site visits, phone calls, messaging, and emails - the borderless NGO network is one big family :)
The NGO's work can only be achieved by the generosity volunteers from all corners of the world that push current frontiers and share our vision of a global community lacking edges, limits, or boundaries. Join Borderless NGO ever-growing family and volunteer / support the way you can.
Please feel free to contact the NGO directly for more details and any other questions: [email redacted]
How the funds will be spent?
100% of the funds received (after GoFundMe deducts the platform and processing fees https://www.gofundme.com/pricing ) will be used to pay for the monthly fixed operational expenses of the center that hosts the children and deliver the educational curriculum on a daily basis. These operational expenses specifically include:
- Monthly rent of the building
- Monthly utilities fees of the building (electricity, and water)
- Monthly salaries of the teachers
- Monthly school supplies and school lunches for the kids
All other administrative costs and variable expenses will be separately covered by the NGO’s board through other private funding.
Please feel free to contact the NGO directly for specific details and any other questions: [email redacted]
What’s your specific plan for how the funds will be withdrawn from and sent to the beneficiary of the campaign?
As GoFundMe doesn’t not support Lebanon as a country (For your ease of reference, please check the supported countries on GoFundMe https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/203604044-Is-my-country-supported- ), the plan is to withdraw the final total amount to a personal bank account in the US and then transfer the total amount to the NGO’s registered bank account in Lebanon. All transactions will be documented, and an update will be sent to all donors. The NGO will publicly confirm / announce the receipt of money via their social media accounts.
Please feel free to contact the NGO directly for confirmation or any other questions: [email redacted]
We truly appreciate your generosity.
Thank you for your support!
Love,
Ruta and Kamal
Organizer
Kamal Kayat
Organizer
Orlando, FL