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THATCH PROGRAM CREATED BY Wil Sperduto

Mar 17, 2010 | 0 comments

WHAT IS THATCH?  A group of high school students dedicated to raising funds and awareness of the high rate of child mortality in Africa from malaria and other preventable diseases.  The acronym, THATCH, is for the thatched huts that are home for these kids.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION? Our mission is two-fold. First, we hope to raise funds and awareness of this enormous problem.  Second, we hope to spread the spirit of service among American high school students.  In this way, there is a benefit for both the African children and the American students who, hopefully, will be more likely to do other service projects in the future.

HOW DID IT GET STARTED? The catalyst for this project came from a family trip to Africa shortly after I read Bill Gates’ first annual letter on the Gates Foundation’s work on the high rate of child mortality in Africa.  During my trip to Africa, I saw first hand the health problems of African children and had the honor of meeting Carol McDonald, the director of Construction Health and Relief Acts (CHaRA).  CHaRA is dedicated to reducing child mortality in Africa.  CHaRA is a 501c3 charitable organization. That means donations are tax-deductible. Our group will help CHaRA achieve their goals.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 

1.  To increase the number of mosquito nets available in villages in Africa where malaria is a common but preventable cause of death. 

2.  To spread the spirit of service among American Hight School students so they will be moe likely to do other service projects in the future.

MEASURABLE ENDPOINTS:

1.  The number of mosquito nets purchased with funds from THATCH fund-raisers and delivered to African villages.

2.  The number of high schools that participate in THATCH

3.  The amount of funds donated to CHaRA through the THATCH program.