Thursday, August 18, 2005 Fundraising To help cover the cost of sending a volunteer overseas (est. $30,000 per year) VSO asks it's volunteers to help by raising $2000. I am not quite 1/2 way there and I still need more donations! So I am asking you to please find it in your heart and checkbook to donate to VSO Canada on my behalf. VSO Canada is a registered charity working in the field of international development, and there are several ways to donate: By phone at 1-888-876-2911 Online at www.vsocan.org/donate By mail - see web site for donation form All donations over $5 will receive a tax deductible receipt. And please be sure to state that your contribution is towards my placement. Another way I am fundraising is by selling the white Make Poverty History wrist bands. You can get one from me for only $2 each!! (plus postage if you don't live in Kelowna) More information on the Make Poverty History campaigne at www.makepovertyhistory.ca Thank you to everyone who has contributed already, it means a lot to me! - Tammie 1 comment Monday, August 15, 2005 Enjoying Summer Well it's just less than two months to go and mostly these days I am enjoying summer and focusing on spending as much time as possible with my friends and family that I will be away from for the next 2 years. But mixed in with all the good times I have slowly been accomplishing things to get me ready for Nigeria. All my shots are done now. Despite having many shots taken care of for past journeys I have still felt like a pin cushion the last two months. Doctors appointments are hopefully done, and 1 dentist + 1 optometrist appointment to go. I also have been collecting the computer equipment I will be taking with me. I used my pre-departure grant to purchase a Projector for the training center. I am hoping this will assist with teaching, as well as allow me to continue to instruct on UPS when the power is out. I also have the idea of showing a movie at the school once a month for a small fee to go towards buying more equipment for the center. I finally got my laptop and am collecting as much software as I can to take with me. As final preparation for my departure I will be going to Birmingham England in September for 2 courses, Skills in Development and Skills in Training. I'll be leaving Kelowna Sept 15 and spending the 16 & 17th in London visiting friends. I'll then head to Birmingham by bus for my training at the VSO training center in Harbourne Hall and return to Canada on Sept 25th. Nik, another volunteer headed to Nigeria in October has just completed his training in Birmingham and posted his experience as well as a lot of good information on Nigeria at http://home.arcor.de/nikpotter

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8.15.05