SSA's Annual Meeting

Yesterday Ehood, Fatima O. And myself attended the Swedish Sudanese Association's annual meeting. For those of you who don't know, we who run the project ICare are board members of the youth committee of SSA and each year two of us are also board members of SSA. This year it will be Fatima O. and I, meaning that in addition to being involved in ICare, we will also attend the board meetings held by SSA and in that way be the "intermediates" between the mother oeganisation and its youth committee. The meeting (which could be attended by any member of SSA, board member or not) went on for a couple of hours and there we reviewed the annual report which included events of the past year, the budget aswell as future plans for the organisation. We are all looking forward to the coming year and hoping to organize exciting events in aim to raise more money for this cause! Stay tuned! / Fatima S. 

The Closet

One thing that the orphanage has been in dire need of, are closets. Closets where the boys' clothes can be stored, since the ones they had were completely fallen apart. 

After talking to the orphanage manager we found out that two closets had been bought a few months back, however they were not made from a sustainable material that could handle being used a lot (since storage for clothes for 31 boys is constantly opened and closed) and therefore they unfortunately only lasted for a short while. 

We were recommended to buy closets made out of strong metal as they, despite of the higher cost, would last much longer. Luckily, our uncle's wife knew a place that sold such closets for a very reasonable price. So a few weeks back, my cousin and I went with her to go buy them. Despite facing some obstacles during the process of getting them and transporting them to the orphanage, we were able to get them there safe and sound at last! So now the boys have new closets for their clothes! 

Take care and until next time, sending warm hugs from Sudan / Fatima S. 

(We bought two of the kind shown on the picture. They are around two meters high and behind each door are 5 spaces of storage).

Supply-Shopping!

Hey again!

On Monday we went out to buy the supplies for the boys. We started off the day in morning by driving to one of the biggest markets in Sudan named Souk Libya (Libyan market), which is right outside of Khartoum. There we bought shoes (31 pairs!) and socks, as well as glycerine and vaseline (which they use as body creme). After that we drove back to Khartoum where we bought dry irons at the supermarket. When this was done it was time to buy the rest of the things on the list. To get as much as we could for the money we had we went to an inventory ('Jumla') where you buy things in batches. We were able to find the majority of the things on the list except for larger items such as closets and chairs.

Here’s a list of all the things we bought:
3 dry irons
31 pairs of shoes
36 pairs of socks
5 big boxes of pampers (6 x 13)
3 big sacks of powdered milk
3 big bottles of oil
2 batches of disinfectant
3 batches of flytex (mosquito killer)
4 batches of unperfumed soap
3 sacks of powdered soap
3 bags of onions
1 batch of dish washing soap
9 pairs of sandals
3 sacks of sugar
2 batches of perfumed soap
1 box (4 big packs) of diapers
10 spray bottles of airfreshner
3 batches of juice (powdered)

and finally, 1 box with 55 lollipops and 34 bags of chips as a treat.

We handed the things to the orphanage the day after, Tuesday. They boys, the manager and the women working in the orphanage (the “moms”) were all very happy when receiving the things that will all go to the boys. It really is a special feeling knowing that the things you buy will make a difference, whether a big or a small one.

We still have a few things left that we will do our best to find. Hopefully this can be done in the coming days.

(P.S. unfortunately our internet here in sudan is slow which makes it a little more difficult to update the blog with entries and pictures. When internet speeds up a few pictures will be added to this entry.)

Keep your eyes open for an update coming soon!

Warm regards from warm Sudan,
The two Fatimas 

    

2014- A great beginning!

Hey everyone!

Firstly, we would like to apologize for the lack of updates on the blog. All of us have had much going on in our lives, although that is no excuse.

Now to the good news. This summer we arranged a fundraiser in the form of a grill where approximately 3000 kr were raised. At the en of December some of us, Abir, Mae, Maha, Fatima O. and Fatima S., luckily were able travel to Sudan. With us we brought the money that was raised in the grill and in the senior year project of four girls from Rudbeck gymnasiet, as well as money that we had left in the ICare-fund.

Two weeks ago we visited the boys at the orphanage. It was so much fun seeing them again after a few years. For some of us it has been two years and for others three. We asked the manager of the orphanage to, as usual, write us a list of the things that they are in need of. This list included things such as diapers, soap, sugar, shoes, socks, sandals, cooking oil etc.

Unfortunately, Abir, Mae and Maha were only in Sudan for the first visit to the orphanage. However, we (the two Fatimas) stayed longer than the rest and were therefore able to go buy the things and give them to the boys.

Read the following blog entry to hear more about what we bought!

/ The two Fatimas 

I Care Summer Barbecue Event!

Last Saturday we hosted an event, although this time around we did something rather unusual in comparison to our previous events. This year, we decided to take things outside and organize a barbecue where anyone and everyone was invited. The event took place in Rålambhovsparken, an inner city park, and there was a total turnout of around 50 people. The barbecue was a pleasant mix of eating, chatting and playing games. During the event we sold pins and accessories that had been handmade in Sudan. This, in addition to donations that were made added up to approximately 3000 kr that will all go to the boys of the orphanage. 

We would like to thank everyone who attended the event for a very enjoyable evening. Words cannot express our gratitude towards everyone who is supportive of this mission to make a better living for the boys.

We would also like to give a big thanks to 4 girls in Rudbeck Gymnasiet who decided to devote their senior project to raising money for the boys. Throughout the schoolyear of 2012/13 they have in various ways raised money which ultimately added up to a total of approximately 3000 kr.

Events like these will definitely be made in the future and we are looking forward to the next one. We will keep you updated on the progress of this project and if you have any questions or thoughts, do not hesitate to contact us. Once again, thank you all! 

Ps. Keep a look out for upcoming pictures from our barbecue event!

With love,

The I Care Board

Merry Christmas...

...and happy holidays!

We at I Care, Fatima Suliman, Fatima Osman, Ehood Ali, Sevgi Saygin, Maha Suliman, Azza Ali, Mae Suliman and Abir Ali wish you all a great holiday!

We want to thank everyone that made a Christmas donation,
but also everyone who has ever made a donation and been supportive of our work!

more updates soon, stay tuned for a lot more happenings next year!

Take care!

Christmas is coming up...

and now we're giving you the chance to give away a christmas gift that shows you care! It can be difficult in the midst of all christmas stress to always remember what giving is all about. Let's give away the things that actually make a difference - and helps people who are in need. Our current event launch is for all of you who wants to give away a gift that makes a real difference. Make a donation for I Care and give it away as a gift to your mom, dad, a friend or anyone that you want.

How to do it:
1. Give away a gift (donation amount of your own choice) by donating to our bank account.
Send your gift to our postgiro account number 536575-4
and mark it: SSAYC + your name (do not forget to write your name)

2. Send an email to: I.care.board@gmail.com 

State your name and the name of the person that the gift will be signed under. Also state the address that you want the certificate to be sent to 

3. The certificate will be delivered in time for Christmas. It will contain your name, the name of the donator and the amount of money that has been donated

THE DONATION AND THE EMAIL NEED TO BE SENT TO US BEFORE DECEMBER 16TH! 

For more information, please visit our Facebook page "I Care profile"

I Care wishes you and your family a very merry Christmas!