501(c)(3) Changing the World...One Child at a Time.
Hands Across the Water 501c3 - EIN# 26-3448083
29 Deacon Circle
Southington, CT 06489
ph: 860-620-3735
fax: 860-620-3700
alt: 860-620-3705
support
I. Project Purpose and Background
The Coco For Kids Project is both a humanitarian and a “green” energy effort at the same time. The Coco For Kids Project will fund healthcare facilities in developing countries to combat maternal, newborn and child health problems, along with vaccine preventable diseases, and HIV/AIDS, while simultaneously harnessing the self-sustaining enterprise of coconut charcoal manufacturing. Moreover, our detailed coconut charcoal production project is easily replicated in any coconut producing nation. Not only will this project help those in need, it will help stem the tide of deforestation in developing countries like Haiti, by providing a cheap and reliable “green” energy source from discarded coconut shells.
While living and working in the Philippines a member of the Hands Across the Water staff was approached by a regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippine government who encouraged Hands Across the Water to get involved in the sustainable, eco-friendly business of coconut-based charcoal production. A detailed blueprint of the operation was given to Hands Across the Water that would involve a partnership with our NGO and the Philippine government. This partnership would involve the mass production of alternative fuel solutions using discarded coconut shells (to prevent increased logging and deforestation) to produce “green” charcoal for local use and exportation into China, the Middle East and India.
To our knowledge, we would be the first non-profit organization to take part in this activity. There are a few small for-profit companies who currently engage in the coconut charcoal manufacturing and distribution business. Ours would be the first to funnel the proceeds from this highly profitable endeavor into health care for the disadvantaged. This self sustaining project would involve local participation and create jobs, as well as provide free health care and education to children in need.
* In order for children in need to receive free healthcare at our facility, the accompanying adult must complete our HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention program while the child is being seen at our facility.
II. General Approach
Commercial scale production of world-class quality, coconut shell charcoal with a monthly production target of 260 tons. This would augment the income of coconut farmers by providing a stable market for coconut shells thereby creating awareness of its value and encouraging farmers to make use of it for additional earnings while preserving the ecological balance.
Use the proceeds from coconut charcoal sales to fund the day to day operations of the Hands Across the Water health care/educational facilities. In order to support the achievement of stated objectives we plan to:
III. Major Assumptions
Hands Across the Water will have to deal with, negotiate through, and overcome the graft problem that is prevalent in most developing nations. We will do this by utilizing our staff’s knowledge of local norms and customs. We will ensure that all local persons and/or agencies will be familiar with our strict "no graft policy".
Hands Across the Water will go to the extreme to only do business with and/or utilize personnel who are of reputable and/or altruistic intent.
Hands across the Water will carefully select individuals who are most capable of running and maintaining our facilities and operations overseas. We will utilize a local project manager that we will carefully screen all personnel to ensure that all Hand Across the Water funds and resources be applied directly to our stated goals and objectives.
Hands Across the Water will make every attempt to understand the local customs, norms and morays in order to gain local favor and acceptance while working in concert with local authorities.
Where needed Hand Across the Water will retain individuals with the proper language and communication skills necessary for clear, concise and effective exchange.
It is highly likely that demand for health services will outweigh supply; therefore, we will make every attempt to provide services for the most needy and filter out those who attempt to manipulate the system.
Additional Support (in-kind or financial): Hands Across the Water maintains a completely pro bono staff of licensed attorneys (with local, state, and federal law experience), Webmaster, CPA, licensed Realtor, certified public school teachers and administrators, and a public health advisor from John’s Hopkins University Medical School.
IV. Organizational Experience and Collaborative Partnerships
Among the Board of Directors and Executive Staff there is extensive business administration experience, local, state and federal legal counsel, and an extensive health and education background. Also included are real estate management, general management, and foreign language experience – English, Spanish, French, Tagalog, Dioula, and Bambara. Our Executive Staff has extensive knowledge and experience in HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing, and treatment. The staff at Hand Across the Water not only has extensive international travel experience, and a multitude of years living and working overseas, but they have the support of family and friends with key contacts in the countries in which we plan to operate. We have a wide web of friends and business partners of various backgrounds positioned around the globe who are available for support. Staff educational backgrounds include degrees in International Business, Marketing/Advertising, Educational Leadership, Teaching, Public Health, Government, Law, and Foreign Policy.
Hands Across the Water works in collaboration with Let’s Go Africa – www.letsgoafrica.org - utilizing its vast web of resources both nationally and internationally.
Interested businesses, NGO's, and individuals please go to the Contact Us page.
To donate to this highly efficient, "green" energy project please click on the link below:
Project Overview |
Strategic Area: Maternal, Newborn and Child Health problems, Vaccine Preventable Diseases and HIV/AIDS Awareness, Education, Prevention, and Treatment. |
Project Goal: Decrease in child mortality by increasing accessibility to health care and vaccines to the impoverished. Reduce HIV transmission rates in host country while increasing access to prevention and awareness education. Increase in personnel providers. Increase local employment levels. Increase access to renewal eco-friendly energy sources. |
Objectives: Self sustaining, eco-friendly, “green” energy production. Increased local employment and economic development. Increased access to neonatal and child healthcare. Decreased child mortality rates. Increased access to HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment. |
Indicators of Success |
Access to healthcare for impoverished children, mothers, and families is increased. Children have access to necessary vaccinations. Adults have increased knowledge of HIV/AIDS due to awareness and prevention programs. Decrease in the transmission of HIV/AIDS due to access of distributed contraceptives and changed behaviors. |
Charcoal production and distribution are at optimal level which yield revenues that sustain the subject health care facility. An increase in local employment levels as a direct result of charcoal production and distribution. Reduction in child mortality rates as an direct result of an increase in local access to neonatal care/antenatal care and maternal health. Children will have access to vaccine preventable diseases. |
DTI will monitor the progress and impact based on employment levels. Improved access to efficient energy sources and decreased deforestation levels. Increase in personnel providers. Increased awareness of HIV/AIDS in local schools through sustained educational programs. |
Monitoring & Evaluation |
Progress and impact will be measured by the number of patients visiting the healthcare facility and the HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness program. Maintain quantifiable records of all treatment. Record data of all treatment and measure baseline results versus post treatment results (based on data available from local population). * If baseline data is unavailable for the local population we will use pre-treatment data as baseline data for the following year. |
Recording and maintenance of accurate records of pre-mature birth/low birth weights. Recording of number of visits, examination and treatments. Monitored access and use of contraceptives. Dissemination of HIV/AIDS related brochures and literature. Stigma related to HIV/AIDS testing reduced as patients utilize facility geared toward children. |
Copyright 2010 Hands Across the Water. All rights reserved.
Hands Across the Water 501c3 - EIN# 26-3448083
29 Deacon Circle
Southington, CT 06489
ph: 860-620-3735
fax: 860-620-3700
alt: 860-620-3705
support