Rick Thomas - August 1, 2023
$1,000
$10 to Juliet Boakai - a 15-year-old street girl in Liberia - she says:
“I was born January 7, 2008. My father is a civil servant and my mother a petty trader. My parents fought in their marriage and divorced when I was 10 years old. I stayed with my father who drank alcohol and was a frequent smoker. He was an addict who never took care of me. I stayed with him for three years before he was found dead in a canal of Monrovia.
After that I was thrown out on the streets by the house owner to survive all by myself, crashing in friends houses and sometimes under the bridges with other homeless people.
Then I met Sarafina, because I was a frequent visitor and friend of the Mind2Love Secular Orphanage (a partner of HuMAN). I helped with the children’s laundry in exchange for good food and sometimes I slept on their floor in the children’s room. When Sarafina started her fish business with funds from HuMAN she asked me to stay permanently with them because they now have an income that can feed an extra mouth. So now I help her with the fish business and other days I help take care of the children.
With $100 I will spend a small part to get myself new clothes, and an inflatable mattress so I don’t have to sleep on the hard floor. I will also spend a small part to get textbooks so I can study again.
The largest part will be saved so I can register for my WASSCE general exam. If I pass I can go to a university. I have school goal, I would like to be a journalist. If I pass my WASSCE I can go to the university and study journalism next year.
$20 donated to Appalachia Mutual Aid for Plan B One-Step“morning after” emergency contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Appalachia Mutual Aid (members in photo above) is located in Berea, Kentucky. The product availability will be announced at the monthly Appalachia Community Dinner, co-sponsored by HuMAN / HGC. Adult women members of Appalachia Mutual Aid will also be available as counselors.
$85 to Kaatachi Efua in Ghana for tuition fees for her college education - Microbiology Major
She says,
“I have been struggling to pay my college fees myself as my parents are weak and feeble to do any work due to old age. I am starting a new session in my study as a microbiology major and I have to pay a new tuition fee. I want to use the money received to cover that.”
$50 donated to Appalachia Mutual Aid for NarCan to prevent opioid death. Appalachia Mutual Aid is located in Berea, Kentucky - four members are pictured above. The product will be available to households at-risk of opioid overdose at the monthly Appalachia Community Dinner, co-sponsored by HuMAN / HGC — demonstrations of how to use the device will also be presented - the photo above right is a training device.
$100 to Nigeria humanist college student - studying Criminology. She says, “ I am Oluwarotimi Oluwadamilola Victoria. I attend Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. I am getting a Bachelor of science B.sc in Criminology and security studies.
I live in Akure, the state Capital in Ondo state, Nigeria. I am drawn to humanism because it rejects traditional religious or supernatural beliefs and prefers a rational, evidence-based approach to understanding the world. I am also a humanist because I am interested in challenging and addressing the historical and ongoing discrimination and inequality faced by women and other marginalized groups.
I study criminology and security studies, and my career ambition is to become a respected and effective leader in the field of law enforcement and security. I am passionate about using my knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on my community and my country, and to help ensure that all citizens can live in safety and security. Through my studies and experiences, I have developed a deep understanding of the complex social, political, and economic factors that contribute to crime and insecurity in Nigeria.
I am committed to working collaboratively with law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that address the root causes of crime andpromote social justice. My ambition is to become a highly skilled and respected professional who is recognized for her dedication, expertise, and integrity. I hope to be a role model for other young girls who are interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement and security, and to help build a more inclusive and equitable future for all Africans.”
$80 to Fati Khadija in Niger Republic for her Computer Science certification and placement exam.
She says:
“Education is the only tool that can combat poverty. In my own case I am a 24 year old female humanist who is ambitious and would like to become a computer scientist in the future. This dream is cut short by my inability to pay for my o'level certification and placement examination into the university. I want to pay for both examinations.”
O'Level Exam Enrollment: $45 / Placement Exam :$35 / Total: $80
$100 to Parvathi to attend Blossom Residential Academy for Dalits & Tribals. Funds are needed to maintain the school.
She says:
“My name is Parvathi. I am 16 years old and my two brothers are 17 and 18 years old. I do not have any memory of my father who died in my childhood. My mother is mentally disabled and does not have body balance so she used to fall down and break her legs and hands. I used to assist my mother in the hospitals. Our house is fully damaged and water leakage is a permanent problem of every rainy season. Walls are almost falling down. We do not have any electrical equipment like fans, television, radio, or stove. I wish to buy all this equipment for my mother.
I do not have any safety and protection in my village. My neighbors look at me through the eyes of lust. One night at 15 age I was sexually attacked, I escaped. I did not want to lose my self respect, I ran to the police station around 10pm where I expressed my pain and experience. They arrested my attacker and now he is in jail. My relatives saying he will return from jail and attack me.
Here at Blossom Academy I feel secure. I am very comfortable here. I want to be a civil service officer. I want to build a house for my mother and give her good treatment. My elder brothers do not have leadership and courage but I am sure I can coordinate them to make our dream house and live together.”
$60 to Naka Boye, female 22-years old humanist in Nigeria, for education. Her face is blurred for security - she is ex-Muslim
She says,
“I was able to escape religion of Islam when I was 18 years old, what led me to abandoning of Islam was by attending a Critical Thinking Workshop with a document titled I DOUBT written by Leo Igwe. The workshop brought me to my senses, I abandoned superstitious beliefs. I started asking myself some restricted questions in Islam like;
Who created God? When and where was God Created?
The answer for the above questions remained the same in Islam `Laa Tas-al Kaifa` meaning don’t ask how. In Islam you are totally restricted to ask such question, just submit to doctrine of Islam. I asked my parents same question but I was frowned at, although they did not reject me but warned me never to ask such question again.
My parents are very poor they cannot sponsor my higher education. I am seeking for 115 Dollars Grant to further my education. Thank you.’’
$105 to Nigeria to Zara Danna - she is a closeted ex-Muslim, victim of Boko Haram who needs money for education
Zara is a 23-year-old female victim of Boko Haram and a closeted ex-Muslim; Zara was abducted by BH at the age of 18. she abandoned Islam after gaining her freedom. She was traumatized for a long time but now she has recovered. After abandoning her religion, she was hated by her community because she is no longer a Muslim.
Zara wants to go back to school. She needs support to pay her tuition fee, accommodation and feeding. She is hereby requesting HuMAN to support her education.
$50 to Sivakami, a tribal girl in Kerala, India - for her education
She says, “I am a 16-year-old girl from Attappadi in Palakkad district. I was a good student until the 7th grade, but things changed. During the Covid lockdown, my father’s alcohol addiction got worse. Now he drinks every day, spending all the money he earns from his labor job. This puts a burden on my mother, who works in a spice estate from 7 am to 7 pm. My father's nightly quarrels kept me awake all night, making it difficult to focus at school. When I fell asleep in my classroom, teachers accused me, and classmates teased me. I lost all my self esteem. The situation got worse. My father threatened to commit suicide to get my mother to give him money to drink. When she denied him, he started borrowing money from others. People stopped me on my way to school, asking me for the money my father borrowed from them, using harsh words. I was ashamed to leave my house. I was frequently absent from the class; I spent whole days at home with fear of money lenders. All these experiences led to me losing my education and becoming illiterate. The trauma still affects me. My brother now has to work in agricultural labor to support my mother, and my grandmother also has to contributes within her health capacity.
After I went to Blossom, I found peace and happiness. Surrounded by friends, games, and laughter. Now I can read and write!”
$95 to Myanmar for Khin Malar - Ex-Buddhist single mother refugee - needs money for school and medicine
She says, “I graduated from East Yangon University with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. I was originally from a Buddhist family, but I no longer perceive the Buddha as a deity but rather as a philosopher, guiding us in the way of life. This shift in perspective led me to transition from being a Buddhist to an agnostic.
I am facing challenges as a single mother of one child. After numerous disagreements with my husband, I divorced him and assumed sole responsibility for our child. I am presently employed as in a commodity trading company and I reside on the border between Mae Sot, Thailand, and Myawaddy, Myanmar.
With your support, I would use the assistance to cover school fees and medical expenses for my child.”
• Khin Malar
• +66623698847
• khinmalarm211@gmail.com
$85 to Liberia to Mind2Love Secular Orphanage to pay the school fees of Musu. She is 8 years old, her favorite subjects are math and Economics and when she grows up she wants to be in Marketing and Business.
She was found abandoned in the street and was brought to the orphanage.
$60 to Nigeria to Halima Shamsu, she is a closeted atheist who needs $ for education
Halima is a closeted Atheist; she got her freedom from religion at 16. She was kicked out of housed by her parents and 4 siblings some months ago when noticed. She now stays with a friend before life gets better for her and live on her own. She is currently a high school dropout. Her parents cut all family support towards her. Therefore, she could not afford to continue with her education.