Published 30 November 2010
In October 2010, two AUC students initiated a development aid project by the name of Da(a)rom. Da(a)rom's main goal is to explore and execute the various ways to help individuals - with a specific focus on children - from financially disadvantaged families in underprivileged areas in the European Union, as well as raise awareness on these issues. Currently, Da(a)rom has two specific points of focus:
Despite the social support provided by various local projects and organisations, many families - especially those raising three children or more - still struggle financially. For them, everyday essentials such as clothes and shoes, are considered luxury goods. In order to provide aid in this area, Da(a)rom organises second hand clothing drives. The donations are to be sent to selected impoverished areas within the European Union and distributed among families in need.
Very often the schooling that children growing up in financially disadvantaged families receive is limited to basic primary education. However, Da(a)rom considers it extremely important for their development that these children have the possibility to participate in extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, we find that often parents or schools do not have the financial means to provide their children with such an opportunity. Da(a)rom plans to raise funds that will be used to organise language summer schools, seminars and camps for these children, as well as provide financial aid for talented children to develop their skills in the arts, sports, academics and so on. Furthermore, Da(a)rom would like to work together with AUC to send their students to the specific areas to voluntarily teach in these projects.
Da(a)rom volunteers in front of the wall of clothing they collected as part of their first clothing drive.
The first Da(a)rom project was focused on providing a material support for impoverished families in Lithuania, one of the poorest countries in the European Union. There are approximately 145,000 school age children growing up in financially disadvantaged families, whose income is less that €200 per person per month. According to the recent survey, 33% of the households do not spend any money on new clothes.
Since the majority of these people live in the more rural areas of Lithuania, Da(a)rom decided to support families from the rural district of Tauragnai, which consists of a total of 63 villages and with 148 financially disadvantaged families, raising a total of 361 children. This was done by organising a second hand clothing collection within the AUC community. This project was a great success, collecting almost 700 items of clothing, school supplies and toys!
Da(a)rom volunteers pack boxes of clothing in preparation for shipment to Lithuania.
In December all of the items collected will be sent to Lithuania through an international import and export company who offered to deliver the donations free of charge. They will be sent to a social worker of the district and distributed amongst the specific families in need. Da(a)rom would like to thank everyone involved for the positive responses, help and donations have received. We hope to continue and grow strongly as a non-profit organisation for the years to come!
Source: AUC
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