Welcome back to Fandema International’s newsletter!

This month, we’re focusing on what’s next. We plan to fund 3 existing and 7 new farmers with livestock projects this fall, expanding on the successes of our livestock pilot last year. We hope to grow our network of board members, volunteers, and supporters. And we aspire to meet several ambitious milestones in the next 12 months. We’re glad you’re part of this.

Our Ask This Month

The most important action you can take this month is to donate to our next livestock cohort. As we are still in the process of building our organization, we’re only looking for $8,853 to fund three Tier 2 livestock projects and seven Tier 1 projects (more on that below). Excitingly, we’re already 14% of the way there from $1,210 generously committed by 3 donors so far!

You can give any way that's easiest for you:

• Venmo (@Jon-Hamilton-17),

• Zelle (508-944-4509),

• PayPal (@JonHamilton37), or

• a check mailed to Fandema International c/o Jonathan Hamilton, P.O. Box 15065, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Just note "livestock cohort" in the memo. Have questions, want a receipt for your records, or prefer another method? Reply to this email, and we'll sort it out. Please note: since we're still in the process of actively filing for incorporation and 501(c)(3) status, your gift isn't tax-deductible. Rather, it's a personal gift to support the farmers directly.

Remember, 100% of your donation goes directly to the farmer. It’s only when they are successful and return the principal to us that we fund our overhead. That’s the power of the recoverable grant!

Meet Our Tier 2 Farmers

We’re excited to announce that Alieu, Ousman, and Bakary will all be returning from last year’s livestock pilot! Alieu and Ousman are both youths and graduates of a 1-year agricultural training institute. Bakary is from the furthest up-country region and has no formal training in agriculture or livestock rearing. All three modeled what success will look like for our Tier 1 farmers to come, and they will serve as mentors this upcoming year. As Tier 2 farmers, each will receive enough funding to buy 6 rams, 2 ewes, feed, and medicine for their livestock.

Updates

Accomplishments since last time

More Ways to Get Involved

• Bring a friend. Forward this to one or two people who might care about it. Getting the word out is one of the most helpful things you can do :)

• We're looking for board members and volunteers. We need working board members, advisory board members, and general volunteers. Two roles we need most:

  • A nonprofit attorney who can help us through incorporation and our 501(c)(3) filing

  • A committed individual willing to serve as the working board’s secretary

  If that's you, or you know someone, just reply to this email.

• Donate! Every dollar you give will go directly to a farmer, helping build a livelihood for them, their families, and their communities. Click the button below to send an interested email or donate directly using the methods listed above.

• We plan to incorporate as a nonprofit this fall and pursue our 501(c)(3) registration by the spring.

• We will launch our livestock cohort as soon as we have the funding to do so. They will conclude their activities next May.

• Our next horticulture, tree nursery, and beekeeping cohorts will be recruited, vetted, and chosen for funding by next spring. We aspire to reach between 35 and 45 farmers!

Thanks for reading, and for being an early supporter of our efforts!

— Jon, Haruna, & Austin

Because self-empowerment needs a start.