Getting people (especially kids) involved in service projects is a big part of our goal at Understanding Works. Once they see the problems some people face, their hearts and minds change. It's our hope they become bridge builders in their community so others can understand too. 

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Raise Money to Put Books in Classroom - there are many ways to raise money but one is to have a history night at your school and invite a speaker from the community to share their story. For every $250 collected, put a book set in a classroom. 

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Have a Purse Party -  get together with friends, colleagues or a group of any kind and give those gently used purses a new purpose! Fill with items women need and donate to a homeless shelter, an alternative school, a food pantry, a center for moms in crises, a safe home, etc. List of items here.

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Suggestions to put in purses:

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Deodorant 

Hand Sanitizer

Kleenex

Tampons/Pads

Toothbrush/Toothpaste

Hand Lotion

Bar of Soap/Body Wash

Shampoo/Conditioner

Lipstick or Chap stick

Fingernail Clippers

Nail File

Hair Brush

Hair Ties

Make Up

New or gently used book

Candy

Mints

Chewing Gum

Mittens/Gloves

Scarf (can be tied on purse handles)

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Suggestions Where to Donate:

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Homeless Shelters

Alternative Schools

Unplanned Pregnancy Centers

Food Pantries

Refugee Services

Safe Homes

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Two books were written by African students about the hardships of life in their world.

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Mwalimu's Dream tells about a young boy from Kenya who grows up without clean water to drink. He comes to Iowa as an exchange student and raises the money to dig a well for his village. 

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The Plight of Ethiopian Girls is written by an exchange student from Ethiopia who was an eyewitness to the horrors of Female Genital Mutilation. (FGM) 

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A book is currently being written by a youth from Uganda about the orphans her father is saving and creating an orphanage. Understanding Works will be supporting these children and helping create an environment where they can flourish.

 

Donations needed now for orphanage project.

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Personal hygiene kits allow women and girls to attend school and work when they are menstruating. Kits are made in America and shipped to Kenya or Liberia. Raise some money to buy fabric for this great work! 

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Provides recycled eyeglasses to people living in the developing nations around the world. Your group can collected gently used glasses and help this group change the world! Just ship to Michigan and teams will take them to developing countries around the world.