DPDO News
DPDO receives $7,600 from New Jersey community
Monday, March 9th, 2009DPDO recently received $7,600 worth of donations from the Englewood, New Jersey community. The drive for donations was organized by 16-year-old Kathryn Cooperman. For her Sweet Sixteen party in February, Kathryn requested that her family and friends make a donation to DPDO’s Solar Cooker Program instead of giving her traditional birthday gifts.
Kathryn has been involved in Darfur relief and advocacy efforts for the past three years. She was deeply moved when she learned about the Solar Cooker Program and how it prevented women from having to take dangerous treks outside their camps to collect firewood. She inspired her community members with her selflessness and commitment to this important cause. The $7,600 that Kathryn raised will help provide solar cooker training and materials to hundreds of families in Darfur IDP’s camps. DPDO is very grateful to Kathryn and her friends and family for their generosity.
Below is a letter that Kathryn sent to DPDO, explaining why she became involved in the Darfur cause:
“Dear Darfur Peace and Development:
My name is Kathryn Cooperman. Approximately three years ago, I learned of the horrific crisis that has been occurring in Darfur since 2003. It all began with a church concert, given by a friend of mine, Jane Kelly Williams, in hopes of raising awareness of this dire situation. Through the help of my fellow classmates and teachers, we have collected clothing, powdered milk and school supplies and written letters to Senator Robert Menendez.
On February 7, I celebrated my sixteenth birthday and asked my friends if, in lieu of a traditional gift, they would be willing to send a tax-deductible donation payable to your organization and specifically naming the Solar Cooker Program in their memo line. I was especially drawn to this wonderful and simple tool that uses the sun to cook food, so that the women and young girls need not take dangerous treks to collect firewood and thereby avoid rape and torture. I am honored and so very humbled by their gracious and generous donations that, to date, have reached $7600!!!”
Kathryn went on to say that her fundraising efforts for Darfur will continue, and that she would like to organize her school community to help their fellow “classmates” in Darfur. She wrote, “I feel having a safe place for children to learn in the midst of war is vital to their future and to the survival of Darfur and its beautiful people. I feel that without education, there is misery and desperation and no child, anywhere, should have this as their fate”.
DPDO would again like to thank Kathryn Cooperman for being a voice for the people of Darfur.
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