Eagle Condor Humanitarian

What
•Eagle Condor Humanitarian (ECH) seeks to create sustainable hope within people of less developed areas, through purposeful humanitarian field programs
•Programs include micro credit, farming improvement, women’s empowerment, constructing greenhouses, building libraries, and providing school supplies
•ECH provides employment opportunities and teaches principles of good business, which enables people to be self-sustaining and raises their standard of living

Why
•The Andes house some of the poorest people in the world, many of whom have no running water, sewage, or electricity
–60% of families in these areas live on less than $1/day
•Construction of greenhouses increase the growing season from 6 weeks to 5 months, increasing crop yields for the poorest of the poor

Where
•ECH works in Northern Peru in the cities of Chiclayo (unemployment rate of 60%), Piura, Cuzco, and Trujillo
•ECH plans to extend into other areas as donor base grows
•Salkantay is a current attempt at a “model village”, which leaders from other villages can come to learn from; greenhouses, duck and fish-raising are among the key programs implemented

Impact
•For compelling difference that have been made go to: http://www.eagle-condor.org/index/stories

Giving and Learning More
•Main web page and information on how to give: http://www.eagle-condor.org/
•Opportunities to give financially include:
–Micro enterprise start-up equipment
–Sponsoring specific projects (e.g. community water, library, family business)
–General contributions
•Opportunities to give time include:
–Expeditions to Peru to work on projects such as skills seminars, infrastructure construction, gardening; centralized expeditions or special trip for your group
–Service volunteer for 2 weeks to 3 months
–Organizing collection of school supplies, children’s clothing, hygiene packets, business supplies

Suggestion

Churches are among the most successful fundraising organizations in the world. Certainly religious conviction and the belief that contributions are mandated from God are powerful motivation for members to give. However, some churches give standard direction on what percentage of income is expected to be donated, and this is equally important in maximizing fundraising efforts. Can you imagine how much religious donations in these churches would fall if members were simply instructed to “donate generously”? Donations are maximized for three reasons: 1) donors believe in the cause, 2) expectations are fixed, and 3) giving becomes habitual.

Non-religious charitable donations would rise significantly if the same principles were put in place. Many people generally believe in “the cause.” The specifics may be different for each of us, but “the cause” is commonly centered around responsibility to give to others. The first principle is in place with many. However, most lack the fixed expectations and the giving habit. That’s what needs to be put in place, but for better or worse, non-profit organizations can’t set those expectations.

A while back my parents mentioned how they’d instilled these expectations on themselves by dedicating a fixed percentage of income, in addition to religious donations, to charitable organizations and efforts. My wife and I thought it was a fantastic idea and have since implemented it.

I’d offer up the same suggestion to everybody. Obviously, the percentage set aside will differ by person- that’s not terribly important. The important thing is to set our own expectation, and to make giving a habit.