My Nonprofit Reviews
redheadHB
Review for Project Kindle, Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA
I agree with the previous review from wombat 100%
I first came in contact with Project Kindle in 2007. I was attending UCLA, and there is a annual fundraiser called Dance Marathon in which students, teachers, and community members dance for 26 hours straight in order to raise money for Pediatric HIV/AIDS. One of the beneficiaries of the proceeds from that event is Project Kindle.
Project Kindle holds week long camps for children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. They also hold SpeakOut conferences throughout America at high schools in order to educate and eradicate the stigma against HIV/AIDS.
In 2007 I participated in Dance Marathon at UCLA and met some of the children and volunteers at Project Kindle.
After listening to the stories of the children, their daily lives and their positive experiences at camp, I decided to volunteer that summer.
Camp Kindle was a life changing experience. The children that attend are so uplifting, empowering, and surprising. They are so grateful for the chance to attend camp during the summer. I remember thinking, that my own sibling was the same ages as the children attending Camp Kindle, yet these children were so much more grateful and understanding for the world around them. It really amazed me.
After that summer, I helped volunteer at a SpeakOut event at a local high school in Los Angeles. Many of the children whom I met at camp in the summer, had decided to become SpeakOut Ambassadors and share their stories with the students.
When I first arrived at the high school, all the students were yelling, screaming, and throwing paper balls in the auditorium.
Then, the Kindle children, many around the same age as the students in the audience, entered the stage and began to talk about their lives.
I vividly remember the first time one of the kids on-stage announced that they had HIV. The students in the auditorium became silent. They had no idea.These Kindle speakers did not "look like" they were "sick".
The Kindle children went on to explain their lives, the similar passions and interest as the students listening, and they to explain some of the difficulties they have living with HIV. The medicines they have to take, the stigma and judgment they have had to deal with at school, and even in their families.
At the end of the presentation, the students left the auditorium in silence. You could tell that they have really been moved by what they had heard. The stigma was changing.
Some students even went up to the Kindle kids afterwards to ask questions, and thank them for their courage and honesty.
The entire experience was really emotional and moving.
If you ever have a change to volunteer for this organization, and meet these amazing children, do not hesitate. Do it.
You will not regret it.
More Feedback
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Review for Kiva.org: Loans that Change Lives, San Francisco, CA, USA
When I first found Kiva I was amazed by what they were doing. I even donated all the Christmas money I had saved for my family to the to Kiva and had my family help me choose lenders. However, after doing a bit more research, I realized that some of the problems for the borrowers (high interest rates - they state the average for all their loans is 30%! ) are not alleviated through this platform. They have started a new platform to try and alleviate this problem (Kiva Zip) , but I really do not know how much the original site is HELPING those borrowing.... when they are paying 1/3 of their principal in interest! Other microfinancing non profits (I ran into zidisha.org yesterday for the first time) do a much better job at bringing down those rates, making the loans much more beneficial for the borrowers.
More Feedback
Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Unlikely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
