Cameo 2023 Donations
$10,000 balance in the account
January
$225 to begin construction of The Humanist Safe House in Nigeria (in Minna) for the non-religious.
$75 to pay school fees of Kenya orphan Brian Jack. He says, “I am 8 years and currently in class 4. I am an orphan because my parents died with HIV/AIDS.I enjoy roller-skating. The subjects I enjoy the most are science and English. I want to be a doctor.
$100 for Black Panther Free Breakfast in Maiduguri, Nigeria - breakfast (eggs, beans, rice) for 30 days to 40 abandoned children.
$209 to the indigenous Ikotjz Women’s Collective, in Juchitan, Mexico - for their project to market “totopas” (above) their traditional corn tortilla. The Ikotjz are attempting to expand their economy, which has traditionally been shrimp harvesting - now damaged by climate change.
$100 to South Sound Street Medics in Tacoma, Washington. They are an indigenous-led group (Cherokee, Choctaw, Hopi) that provides medical care, medical training, and food and medical supplies to Indigenous communities in the USA and Canada.
$709 spent in January
$9,291 remains in the account
$15 to pay school fees of Kenya orphan Aisha Farida. She says “ I am 11 years old. I am an in class 7. My parents died when they became very sick. One died of diabetes and the other died of Malaria. I enjoy taking time with friends. I especially like Social studies. When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. A skill I have is singing.
$71 for Nepali orphan Juna Shahi. She says, I am eleven years ago. I study in class four. My mother died due to long term disease and my father died when i was five years old. I like dancing, singing and traveling. My interest is to become pilot and fly all over the country.” This is a project with Atheist Republic Nepal (ARP)
$15 to pay school fees for Kenya orphan Amos Wako. He says “my age is 10 years and I am currently in class 4. I am an orphan because my parents died because of a road accident. I Enjoy dancing and playing soccer. The subjects I enjoy are Mathematics and English, and I want to be a teacher. I also have computer skills.
$152 for Self-Defense Class for girls at Sikshit Bharat School - two trainers will be hired for two weeks
$101 for Nepali orphan Rakesh Budha. He says, “I am eleven years old. I read in class three. My mother died due to heart disease & father was no more when i was give years old. My interest is to become pilot. I like to study, travel.” This is a project with Atheist Republic Nepal (ARP)
$107 to Nigeria Humanist Safe House in Minna, to purchase food, cooking supplies, and cleaning supplies for two months
$72 for Barbara Turinayo at ShelterMi Safe House & Orphanage. She was abandoned there by her mother after her father was poisoned (by his brothers, so they could claim him inheritance)
$71 to Nepali orphan Saraswoti Tamang. She says, “I am fourteen years old. I study in class five. My parents left me when i was two years old. They died in landslide. My interests is to become teacher when i grow up. I like to read books and wants to do social services.” This is a project with Atheist Republic Nepal (ARP)
$210 to deliver twenty-two t-shirts screen-printed by HGC to the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam indigenous people in Vancouver, Canada. The t-shirts say “We Do Not Need Permission To Be Free” and “We Are Ungovernable” and “Be Realistic. Demand the Impossible.”
$824 was spent in February
$8,477 remains in the account
March
$5 for Dia Ghosh in Bangladesh. Dia is a Hindu girl in Class 4. Her dad was an alcoholic and drug abuser. He abused and beat her mother. Her dad got arrested for drug dealing and was sent to jail. Her mom works as housemaid but can't support Dia’s education. Dia is very good at sewing and works part time in a tailor shop. if she gets a chance to complete he education, she may contribute in the fashion industry.
$72 for Mmamahabane Water Project (South Africa) for 730 residents in slum of Durban
$5 for Arpita Mondal in Bangladesh. Arpita is a Hindu girl. Her mother married a foreigner and left the country. After that, her father left her at the orphanage.She is quite good at painting and drawing. She hopes that she'll become a great artist someday.
$205 for Shin Chan Nursing Home near Mandalay in Myanmar. The 18 residents have been abandoned by their families due to the civil war. HGC provided them with food and medical supplies.
$51 to Chabota Kambole and Mercy Suwilanji in Zambia to start a Humanist Used clothing store in Lusaka
$103 to Uganda student Charity Viavia.
She says: “I kindly submit in my appeal for a scholarship, Am a female aged 18 i Completed my o Level last year 2022 with 48 aggregates . I have been a student of Kyebambe girls secondary school in Fort portal city , western Uganda . Am born in a peasant Family of 6 , 4 Girls and 2 boys and we are staying on a small piece of land used for subsistence farming . Due to poverty in the family all the two boys and 3 girls got married at an early age. I have been able to study up to that level with the help of my father who has been raising tuition for my studies. He suffered from prostate cancer recently , he is now unable to raise fees for my further studies and i was keenly interested to join s.5 as i have a passion of becoming a Swahili teacher in secondary schools i shall pay it forward to my community after my studies .
Am afraid of the shortcomings that i may go through if i don’t continue with further studies like Early marriage , commercial sex work , drug abuse which i don’t want to happen on me . I have now lost hope and self-esteem. I therefore kindly request you for financial assistance to enable me continue with further studies. Am very proud that am not yet exploited since i have been studying in a girls school, I trust myself that if given a scholarship offer I will successfully complete my studies .
Thank you in advance for helping me to continue with my further studies, I thank you again for your generous support and for being my great heroes.”
$45 for HIV/AID testing and prevention for women & children in Maikunkele village, Niger State, Nigeria
$88 for Niloy Bayragi in Bangladesh. Niloy is a boy in class 5. His dad worked as a delivery man. His father had a fatal accident and died instantly. Niloy is very passionate about studying and wants to become a doctor one day.
$100 to Ikojtz Women’s Collective in Mexico for their Jam & Preserves Project - marketing traditional food to the public
$13 to Grace Nakato to stay at ShelterMi Safe house. She says,”I am Grace Nakato, aged 31 years. I was married to Mujuni Godfery. One year into my marriage, my husband’s best friend Joseph kept coming over when my husband was not around. I informed my husband about his friend’s visitations but he told me that Joseph, his best friend, was the only person who could look after me while he is away. In January last year, Joseph came over drunk when my husband was gone and raped me repeatedly. When I went for a pregnancy test, the results were positive. When my son was born he kept falling sick and when the doctor tested us for HIV/AIDS, the results were positive for my son and I but my husband was negative. In February this year my husband’s relatives came and threw us out of the house. They burnt my clothes and said I was a prostitute. A elderly lady came to my rescue. She advised to go to ShelterMi SafeHouse. I was welcomed with my sick baby boy.”
$45 to Nigerian lesbian - Seember Orduen - for her school materials
$732 spent in March
$7,713 remains in the account
April
$87 to HGC Fruit Orchard that provides food and income for the 22 orphans at Humanist Orphan Centre in Kisimu, Kenya. The fruit orchard has oranges, apples, mangos and papayas. It is securely fenced and it has its own water tank and irrigation system. It needs a new water pump and kale will be planted between the fruit trees.
$137 to New Delhi humanists to teach Literacy Workshop to Dalit women in slum area “Chandon Hola Village”
$75 to Kenyan orphan to pay for school fees, supplies, and uniform. She says: “My name is Fiona Anyango. My age is 6 years. I am in class 2. I am an orphan because my parents died of Hepatitis. I enjoy dancing. The subjects I enjoy the most are English and Science. I want to be a nurse.”
$23 for Women accused of Witchcraft in Erusu-Akoko, Nigeria. Witchcraft accusations are a problem in many African countries, resulting in mob justice, banishment, and even death. The majority of these accusations are made against elderly women, widows, and people with disabilities, who are perceived as vulnerable and easy targets. This project will give them food, medical assistance, counseling, and skill development training, to help them rebuild their lives.
Budget: Food (Rice, beans, beverages, yam, garri, cereals, plantain and bottled water) $80 / Multivitamins $45 / Clothing (jackets and sweaters for the rainy season) $55 / Medical Help (blood pressure check, blood sugar check and mental health counseling) $120
$122 to Unbuntu Humanist Circle in Zambia. They will host three lunch feasts with 20 community members, and hold a discussion on humanism, critical thinking, mutual aid, community organizing, and mediation
$203 for Mangyan indigenous people in Mindoro, The Philippines. Funds will pay for two tilapia ponds, fingerlings, feed, and nets to cover the ponds. Tilapia will be fed primarily to school children. The village has 512 people.
$73 to fund a Grocery Store to support the residents in the Nigeria Humanist Safe House in Project in Maikunkele, Niger-State. The objectives of the project are to generate revenue to support the Safe House, to provide affordable household items and groceries to the community, and to provide employment opportunity to a member of the Safe House.
$37 for a Millet Garden that supports Dalit students at Sikshit Bharat School in Bandepar Dandi village, Uttar Pradesh. The crop will provide them with lunch food and revenue will pay for clothes and school supplies
$57 to Nakawesa Rosemary - pregnant woman beaten and starved by husband - for her to stay at ShelterMi Safe House in Mpigi, Uganda.
She says, “I am aged 23 years old. I was given as a bride to an older man named John. After I got pregnant John stopped feeding me and he would beat me or abuse me for any slight mistake. As the pregnancy grew, so did the abuse. For the safety of my unborn child and myself I am seeking shelter and food at ShelterMi.”
$54 to HGC Community Garden - it is tended by, and supports, women victims of gender-based violence at ShelterMi Safe House in Uganda
$158 for Orphan Girls Dormitory at Eagle’s View Humanist Primary School in Kaiiru village, Jinja state, Uganda. Funds will build the foundation out of bricks in the background.
$1,006 spent in April
$6,707 remains in the account
May funding:
$30 to Qudus Maryama (55 years old) who was accused of witchcraft in Nigeria and is now banished from her small village called Ikare-Akoko. Rumors blamed her for misfortunes that plagued the community. Amina's knowledge of herbal medicine made her an easy target and she was chased from the village. Amina will use the $75 to get a room in a compound house. She is old and frail, part of the funds will go to her medical health care and good food.
$123 to South Sudan Humanists for them to present Humanism Awareness Community Dinners to their village - to feed 20+ people each time.
$30 to Folari Mubo (32 years old)in Nigeria, who is a nursing mother in the "witch house" - she was sent there by her husband's family, who said she killed her husband because of his wealth. She was stripped of all the possessions she generated with her husband and driven from her village. She wants to get a room with her $75 and use the remaining to start a charcoal business since it is the local means of preparing a meal here, she has done it before, she knows everything about the business.
$140 to Malawi Humanist Mutual Aid for food and hygiene products to victims and survivors of the recent cyclone that devastated the nation
$156 for HGC Farmers Market in Tanzania - in Masugulu village in Mchomolo Ward in Namtumbo District in Ruvuma region - this helps local farmers because they don’t have to travel as far to other markets - costs pays for stalls and licenses
$60 to Adeola Solomon (31 years old) in Nigeria who lives in a “witch camp.” She has a special needs child whose hair came out of birth locked and dreaded. The baby can't also speak which means he is dead from birth. Many people around her see this as bad luck and a sign of possession by evil spirits, it wasn't long before the husband complained that the child was responsible for his decline in finances. He didn't want anything to do with mother and child and they had to leave the village. Adeola will get a room for herself with her $75 and she will send her child to school.
$127 to the Philippines - to start a Cooperative Grocery Store in Indahag Village for survivors of a recent typhoon
$85 for Sewing Center for impoverished Dalit women in Bandepar village, India
$751 was spent in May
$5,956 remains in the account
—————-
June funding:
$36 to Avosuahi Nimatu in Nigeria, to continue her college education in Abuja - she is majoring in Economics & Development Studies
$105 to Kenya orphan Clara Mary for school tuition and supplies.
She says, “My age is 7 and I am currently in class 3. I am an orphan because my father died in a flood and my mother died of HIV/ AIDS. I enjoy standup comedy. The subjects I enjoy the most are Science and English. I have singing skills.”
$215 to Zambia - Loctaguna Gardens - to teach an organic fertilizer workshop. Funds pay for materials - free tuition was provided to twenty people, mostly women.
$157 sent to help HGC Strategy Advisor and former Nigerian advisor Mubarak Bala (he is in a Nigerian prison for “blasphemy” and “disturbing the peace” because he placed anti-religious comments on Facebook) with his medical expenses (he has asthma and he needs an MRI) plus his son Sodangi’s medical expenses for breathing difficulties, plus travel expenses for his wife Amina and his lawyer to go from Abuja to Kano to talk to the governor there about a possible amnesty brokered by US diplomats. (Another photo below)
$202 to Democratic Republic of Congo - Sanitary Pads delivered to villages in Lulaba province by Melanie Postman (Canadian geologist, below)
$160 to Zambia - Luanshya Computer and Cellphone Repair Workshop - university students fixing classmates devices for free
$70 for Ainobusingye Doreen at ShelterMi Safe House & Orphanage in Mpigi, Uganda
She says:
“I am aged 31 years. I come from a polygamous family. I got married after completing my elementary education and acquiring hair dressing skills. I married Yusuf Kegire who was a real loving husband at first. He gave me respect everything I wanted. But in 2021 March he lost his job after the company he was working for closed shop due to financial difficulties. I encouraged him not to lose hope. We decided to start up a hair dressing saloon with the little money we had saved. Life drastically changed and I was willing to work hard but unfortunately, Yusuf resorted to use of hard drugs. He would bring ladies to our house and have sexual intercourse with them in my presence. He became physically and verbally abusive. He would lock out me of the house, he would rape me.
When I realized I was pregnant, I knew that the baby was not safe from his violence. I gave birth to a baby girl in December of 2022. A friend advised me to go to ShelterMi SafeHouse so I packed a few necessities and left for the SafeHouse and on arrival met with Madam Rose who counseled me and accepted me and my baby.”
$20 to South Sudan Humanist Association for their Chapati Project. Chapati is a dish from India easily cooked in marketplace - it is very popular throughout East Africa.
$965 was spent in June
$4,991 remains in the account
$40 to Minna Safe House to establish a Community Garden. Budget includes tools, seeds, seedlings, fertilizer.
$162 to Nigeria for Mubarak Bala imprisoned 3+ years for blasphemy - he needs medicine & MRI for high blood pressure
$235 for HGC Grocery Store, operated by ShelterMi Safe House & Orphanage in Mpigi, Uganda
$165 for Abuja Safe House (Nigeria) to purchase food, utilities, and hygiene supplies. Mubarak Bala (HGC Board Member, imprisoned for the last three years for blasphemy, used to live here. His wife Amina in the center, his son Sodangi is to her right.
$49 to Bangladesh to pay school fees for Purnima Odhikari
She is a 8 year old girl. She was born as a result of teenage pregnancy. Her mom loved a boy and wanted to marry him. But when her mom became pregnant, the boy left her and vanished. She later decided to keep the baby. After 2 years, she married another man and left Purnima with her grandmother.
$70 to Atukunda Winfred at ShelterMi Safe House in Uganda.
She says:
“I am aged 40 years. I was married to Matovu Dick Paul. Unfortunately after producing for him twins, he passed on due to HIV/AIDS. I was accused of infecting him with the disease knowingly, but surprisingly after several tests, the doctors said I was negative as well as my son.
After the burial, his family chased me from their village. I would move from one friends house to another until all got frustrated and chased me. Whenever I would go, people would call me names. A former neighbor encouraged me to go to the ShelterMi to reorganize my life and see what to do next. I was interviewed and offered accommodation.
I am seeking funding for shelter and upkeep at ShelterMi SafeHouse Uganda.”
$716 spent in July
$4,185 remains in the account
$125 to teach soap-making workshop at ShelterMi Safe House in Uganda. The workshop will be offered regularly for three years to at-risk women and girls - the goal is to teach 500.
$15 to Appalachia Mutual Aid for Plan B “morning after” contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Appalachia Mutual Aid is located in Berea, Kentucky. It’ll be available at the monthly Appalachia Community Dinner, co-sponsored by HuMAN
$50 to Women With Bows - Pomo (Native American) mutual aid group dedicated to land & water defense & protecting girls from trafficking
$98 to Munir. He is 22 years old, he is an LGBT refugee with HIV. He from Syria; he came to Turkey in 2017. He lives in Osmaniye, a city that was destroyed by the earthquake. Munir lost all his money and his medicine during the earthquake and he now needs money for food and to buy medicine. Why is Munir a humanist? “Because religion suppresses ideas, I decided to research and read about all religions, and I discovered that all religions are fictitious tales designed to intimidate people.”
$75 to Mallory Springs Homesteaders to provide mushrooms to the Appalachian Community Meal in October, November, and December 2023.
$70 donated to N’Djame Mutual Aid in Chad, for a Zai (regenerative) farm project that will plant maize and millet. Zai is a method used to produce high yield in sandy soil, using pits of manures with termite tunnels regenerating the soil.
$95 to Uganda - for “Mushroom Growing for Women’s Empowerment” workshop - it will teach 30 women sustainability by growing & selling mushrooms
$68 to Nakanjako Patricia, to stay at SHelterMi Safe House in Uganda.
She says, “I am Nakanjako Patricia aged 36 years and proud to be an atheist.
I was a Christian, believing to be saved and sanctified. I got married to a street preacher, Paul Jjuko, who was also a taxi driver. We had two children. Unfortunately, both died under unclear circumstances after visiting their relatives in the village, Kayunga district. His paternal uncle told me that the children had been sacrificed for spiritual power by my husband. He told me not to disclose the same to him as it would cause division in the family.
In August, I met a former classmate who comes from my village. She explained to me what my husband was involved in, in the name of god. Upon investigation, I found out that my dear Paul had joined a an organisation which was abducting children for sacrifice. I thought of reporting the matter to the police but decided to instead leave our matrimonial home before I became a victim myself. I went to stay with my former classmate in Mpigi town and started selling vegetables with her. After two weeks, my former classmate who is an atheist, told me that some men were asking where I stay. Immediately, I knew that my husband was tracking my movements and he would definitely reach me if I don’t seek shelter elsewhere.
My classmate, Anna decided to take me to Sheltermi which is deep in the villages where taxis don’t go. We went and explained to Mama Rose my position. She was hesitant to accept me into the shelter because of the violence which might result in case my husband tracked me. I was told to surrender my cellphone, never to leave the shelter compound under any circumstance and to teach the young children personal hygiene and make sure that they eat on time. As I prepare to divorce Paul, I remain at the the Shelter where they have given me two months. I am seeking funding for shelter and upkeep at ShelterMi SafeHouse Uganda.”
$588 was spent in August
$3,597 remains in the account
September expenses
$25 to Juliet Boakai - a 15-year-old street girl in Liberia - she says:
“I was born January 7, 2008. My father is a civil servant and my mother a petty trader. My parents fought in their marriage and divorced when I was 10 years old. I stayed with my father who drank alcohol and was a frequent smoker. He was an addict who never took care of me. I stayed with him for three years before he was found dead in a canal of Monrovia.
After that I was thrown out on the streets by the house owner to survive all by myself, crashing in friends houses and sometimes under the bridges with other homeless people.
Then I met Sarafina, because I was a frequent visitor and friend of the Mind2Love Secular Orphanage (a partner of HuMAN). I helped with the children’s laundry in exchange for good food and sometimes I slept on their floor in the children’s room. When Sarafina started her fish business with funds from HuMAN she asked me to stay permanently with them because they now have an income that can feed an extra mouth. So now I help her with the fish business and other days I help take care of the children.
With $100 I will spend a small part to get myself new clothes, and an inflatable mattress so I don’t have to sleep on the hard floor. I will also spend a small part to get textbooks so I can study again.
The largest part will be saved so I can register for my WASSCE general exam. If I pass I can go to a university. I have school goal, I would like to be a journalist. If I pass my WASSCE I can go to the university and study journalism next year.
$60 to purchase sanitary pads for Dalit girls at APNA humanist school in Bihar state, India. Pads cost 50 cents each, 300 were purchased.
$95 spent to establish a Sewing Center for elderly Dalit women in Khaira Asha village, Bihar state, India.
$12 to Jhamur Shil - 8 year old girl in Bangladesh who needs funds for her education.
Her dad was a drug addict and a heavy drinker. He beat her mom almost daily and used to abuse her. Tired of all the abuse, her mom left with Jhamur. Now her mom works as a housemaid but she can barely make ends meet and she can't afford to continue her daughter's education. Jhamur wants to continue her education. Her favorite class is English, and she loves to read and write stories. She dreams of becoming a writer one day so that she can share her stories with the world.
$184 was spent in September
$4302 remains in the account
$260 to stock the ShelterMi Grocery & Supply Store. Budget items include: Rent, Electric bill, Maize flour, Cooking oil, Rice, Petroleum gel, Salt, Sugar, Wheat flour, Tooth paste, Bic writing pen, Pencils, Exercise books, Nguvu coffee, Kisubi tea, Bottled drinking Water, Pounded ground nuts, Assorted food spices, Assorted food flavors, Bread, Toilet paper, Jik bleaching liquid, Baking powder, Sanitary pads, Match box, Super glue, Assorted sweets, Biscuits, Powdered milk, Flashlights, Potatoes, Beans, Popcorn, Garlic, Onions
$75 to Kenya humanist orphan Sophie Achieng for her education needs.
She says, “My age is 5 and I am in class 1. I am an orphan because my parents died in a road accident. I enjoy swimming. The subjects I enjoy are English and Science. I want to be journalist. I have writing skills.”
$100 to Al Rowwad, a secular cultural organization in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem,West Bank, Palestine - for children’s computer education
$145 to Amina Ahmed and Sodangi at the Abuja Safe House. The money pays for utilities, food, and hygiene supplies at the Safe House, and it pays for Sodangi’s school fees: tuition, books, school supplies, uniform, lunch food, and transportation to and from school.
$98 for Communicative English Education for Dalit & Tribal students in Mavelikkara village, in Kerala state, India. Blossom Academy is a residential education institute that provides room & board for 40 students - 24 boys, 16 girls - all are either Dalits (“untouchables”) or Adivasi (tribal people). The goal of Blossom Academy is to help these academically-struggling youth from dysfunctional families (many have parents who are alcoholic) succeed in their studies in the environment we have created where they feel secure, loved and cared for - where they support and encourage one another, and build each others self-esteem.
The English education will cover: 1) Basic English Grammar, 2) English reading exercises 3) English Writing exercises 4) Lots of talking exercises 5. Lots of listening exercises 6) Worksheets for grammar solving exercises
Budget: Salary for Teacher - $192 / Supplies (Pens, Pencils, Grammar Worksheet, Exercise books for 40 students) - $33 / Total - $225
$90 to Kenya orphan Wendy Atieno for her educational needs.
She says, “My age is 11 and I am in class 7. I am an orphan because my parents died of cancer. I enjoy drawing. The subjects I enjoy are English and mathematics. I want to be journalist. I have artwork skills.”
$768 was spent in October
$2,637 remains in the account
November expenses:
$70 for food for Lokuttara Leadership Academy in Mavelikara, Kerala state, India. We provided lunch for the 80 students (rice, eggs, vegetables) and delivered bags of powdered food. The students are 16-18 year old Dalits and tribals from disadvantaged families.
$50 to Becca Philip in Ghana for Hairdressing education and supplies
She says:
“I am a humanist orphan who is interested in learning hairdressing since I have no education and the means to afford the bogus fees of education in Ghana. I am soliciting for funds that I will use to get myself registered in a hairdressing school so I will be able to fend for myself and be self-reliant so I don't continue to beg for charities. I will pay for my registration fee to the school and also get some little equipment that will allow me to learn my skills faster.
BUDGET - Registration fee: $65 / Set of combs, Hand Held Hair dryer and buckets: $15 / Total $80
WHY I BECAME A HUMANIST
Being a christian has brought me nothing but untold misery. From the denial of my basic rights as a woman to the oppression that comes with its sexual purity culture. This pushed me to atheism and ultimately to become a humanist who wants the best for other humans.”
$188 to Emmanuel Sseregundo, Uganda humanist, for colon cancer operation - photos below
$50 to Gaza to provide mental health care to Palestinian children traumatized by violence. Funds were donated to a 5K race that served as a fundraiser for this cause. HuMAN program director Hank Pellissier participated in the race.
$50 for the Atheist Library at APNA School in Bihar State. This is a project in collaboration with the Facebook page Atheism United. The library has received attention in the India press - article HERE
$35 sent to Mozambique Survivors Collective. Money was distributed to the ten oldest women in the village, for them to buy clothes, food, and essential items. The village - in Cabo Delgado province - has frequently been targeted by Al-Shabab terrorists.
Mozambique Survivors Collective explains, “Our country is ravaged with the activities of the Muslim terrorist group Al-shabab. Our parents are being killed, our girls are being abducted and able bodied men whisked off. We are Survivors who escaped an onslaught of these evil men in February 2023. Since then we are destitute with no means of livelihood and dignity.”
$150 to Maiduguri Safe House - to roof a building six ex-Muslim humanists will live in. (This amount is for Step Five, the final phase of the $1,500 five-step project) Their faces are blurred in the photo above to protect their security.
$80 to Peaceful Seeds Community Farm, an Afro Agriculture Project located in Warnersville - an African American neighborhood in Greensboro, North Carolina. The land (35 acres) was purchased by a Quaker named Yardley Warner in 1865; it was divided into plots and made available to newly freed slaves. Warnersville was the first planned African American neighborhood in the area, and today it remains 92.5% black (2017 census). Originally an agricultural community, it is now residential, and it was designated a Heritage Community in 2015. The Warnersville community tends the farm on WorkDays (usually Mondays and Thursday). Produce is sold at the Warnersville Farmers Market, and through delivery baskets and local stores.
$45 to Nigeria lesbian Mnguzamber Orakaa for her tailoring classes
$145 to Ahmed Alabed. He is 22 years old. He is gay and because of this he was abandoned by his mother and father. He is a refugee from Syria but he now lives in Gaziantep, Turkey. He needs money to escape to a safe place because he has been living in a tents for many days. Why did he became a humanist?“I read some books about psychology, and I started thinking about the origin of existence and why we link our life to religion in everything. Now I am irreligious. I separated my life from religion so I can think properly.”
$82 sent to seniors in Myanmar to help them flee from civil war. This is a project coordinated with Burmese Atheists.
$80 to three Tanzania girls who need money for school: Chausiku Shaban Chowo, Colleta Ambrose Mhagama, and Juliet Nchimbi
$101 to ShelterMi Safe House & Orphanage in Mpigi, Uganda - for their Piggery business - which is providing food & a good profit
$1,121 spent in November
$1,516 remains in the account
December Expenses
$68 for Teachers Salaries for Tai-Solarin Humanist School in Maikunkele, Minna, Niger-State, Nigeria. Tai Solarin Humanist School offers humanist science-based, critical thinking education, with an emphasis on learning English and computer skills.
$16 for Priyanka, India LGBT, for her school fees at University of New Delhi
$45 to gay Nigerian Shag Tyo for one year of training as a motor mechanic
$95 to Altaf Fatal - a transgender woman from Syria who is now living in Istanbl, Turkey. Her family abandoned her because of her gender identity so from a young age she decided to dedicate all her time in the service of other LGBTQ+ people who don't have families of their own. She is an atheist, she says “I left my religion because religion contradicts logic. I am a logical person that believes in things that have evidence of their existence.”
$11 to Manisha, LGBTQ+ college student in India, to pay her school fees at University of New Delhi
$80 to Bangladesh for child education. Dipankar Das is a 7 year old boy. His dad died due heart stroke last year. He lives with his mom who works as a housemaid to earn a living. he cannot afford to continue his education - he needs assistance.
$23 to Nigeria to Sunday Okoro. He is from Osun State. He is an Ex-Christian humanist. He has been abandoned by his family and needs money to start his own car repair business. He needs the money to buy equipment for the car repair workshop.
$125 to build and stock a Free Pantry in Appalachia (Berea, Kentucky). The pantry is filled with dry goods that are made available to people challenged with food scarcity. The pantry was installed by our partner - Appalachia Mutual Aid. The rules of the panty usage are below.
$100 for Nandesh to attend school at Blossom Academy in Kerala state, India. He says:
“I come from Kasargod, the extreme north district of Kerala. I am a member of a tribe community and my mother tongue is our tribal language. I can also speak Kannada, (the language of Karnataka), and Tamil, (the language of Tamil Nadu) and of course Malayalam (the language of Kerala). My village in a rural area. I have three brothers. My father works in tree cutting.
When I was 4 years old my mother left the family for another man. My father married another woman, and I gained another younger brother. My second mother is loving, but often my father drinks and quarrels with her. My father is illiterate, but my second mother can read and write and she always encouraged me to study.
At Blossom Academy, I feel a sense of freedom and equality. I enjoy the community here and a sense of ownership. I am enjoying my studies here and I love India.”
$75 to HAPI (Humanists & Atheists in The Philippines) to purchase a Hydroponics System that will help the Aeta indigenous people grow vegetables. The Aeta are transitioning from being hunter-gatherers to agriculturalists
$100 for Kumar to attend school at Blossom Academy in Kerala state, India. He says:
“I come from Palakkad district, and my village is Attapadi. I am a tribal student, and my mother tongue is our tribal language. I can also speak Tamil, (the language of Tamil Nadu). I had difficulty reading and writing Malayalam when I joined Blossom Academy, but I am overcoming these challenges gradually.
In my family, I have one younger sister and my mother. My father committed suicide due to alcoholism, and there were frequent quarrels with my mother. This led to a tragic incident when, during a drunken quarrel, he beat my mother with a firewood, she lost her consciousness, he thought she died, and so hanged himself on a tree. Now, my mother works as a helper at a kindergarten.
Now is is the happiest time in my life. I appreciate Blossom Academy for providing me with the opportunity to study far away from my village. My previous school wasn't suitable - even though I spent 11 years there I didn't learn much. I never received support, everybody was discouraging me. 121 students were studying in my class, there were 4 Dalit students and the rest were tribals. I wasted 11 years there.
I am lucky to join Blossom Academy because they taught me to read and write. I am also learning English. I love being here. It was my dream. I love the teachers here. I never feel any discrimination here. I am always getting encouragement here at Blossom. In the future, I love agriculture. My father was a good farmer and I still I have memories of farming with him.”
$52 to Nepali orphan Praktika Malla. She says, “I am seven years old. I study in grade one. I lost my father in road accident & my mother died due to brain stroke. My aim to become doctor when I grow up. I like cooking, traveling, singing, reading books.” This project is a collaboration between Humanist Global Charity and Atheist Republic Nepal (ARP)
$10 to Ali Roshan to attend APNA humanist school in Bihar, India. Ali Roshan is a 13 year old orphan boy. He lives with his deceased mother's relatives. He never went to school until he was 11 years old because he was forced to work. Two years ago he started attending APNA. Ali is now one of the brightest students in our school. He has charm and every one knows him. He is very curious and never stops asking questions. He loves to read folk tales, science books and English. He wants to learn to drive a train and he wants to be a train driver when he grows up.
$50 to Critical Thinking teachers in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, to teach at a secondary school. Our primary partner is Nguhar James, on the far right. The group uses a projector donated to them by HGC director Dan Beaton, who visited James in Abuja and taught him how to conduct the workshop.
$100 for Remya, 16-year-old tribal girl, to study at Blossom Academy in Kerala, India,
She says, “I am a tribal girl from the land struggle region of Chengara where there is frequent fighting between landlords and landless. My father is a mason worker, and my mother is a housemaid. Due to the COVID lockdown, I fell far behind in school. But here at Blossom, I am catching up.
My ambition is to join Azim Premji University - it offers education to vulnerable people in society, those with disability, women facing violence, adolescent girls at risk, homeless, elderly poor, manual scavengers, migrant workers, farmers with marginal landholding, and vulnerable tribal groups and water-deficient communities.”
$35 for Furniture for Tai-Solarin Humanist School in Maikunkele, Minna, Niger-State, Nigeria. The school provides quality education with humanist principles of inclusivity, critical thinking, and holistic development. However, the current lack of adequate furniture hampers the learning and teaching experience for both students and staff. The total budget of $300 will be spent on 50 desks and chairs ($190), 8 windows ($80) Labor ($30)
$55 for Anithan to attend Blossom Academy in Kerala, a residential school for Dalits & tribals. He says:
“My name is Anithan, and I'm from Kottayam in Kerala. I come from a family of ten, I have three brothers, four sisters, and my parents. My father is a coconut climber and mother is a housekeeper. I would often see my father consumed by alcohol, making those days quite difficult, especially for my mother. There were distressing incidents, like the day my father threw hot beef curry at my mother's face, and these events occurred frequently. As the youngest, I sometimes faced his physical abuse. Eventually, my older brothers intervened to prevent our father from harming our mother, leading to significant quarrels.
Last year, both my parents died, leaving me as an orphan.
Here at Blossom projects there is a peaceful atmosphere. I'm determined to complete my twelfth grade education. After Blossom I aspire to study Electrical studies, as I possess skills in repairing electrical and electronic equipment within my neighborhood. My goal is to become an electrician.”
$5 to Akriti Kumari to attend APNA humanist school in Bihar, India. She is a 7 year old girl who's father is a landless laborer. Her mother is a housewife. Akriti is a keen learner and a science enthusiast. She is one of the favorite students of the school. She loves to learn about animals, nature and drawing. She wants to serve her village as a doctor when she grew up.
$150 for School Supplies for Tai Solarin Humanist School in Maikunkele, Minna, Niger-State, Nigeria. The funds will buy Textbooks: $65, Writing materials (pencils & pens): $35, and Art supplies: $50
$20 Anshu Kumari in India - at APNA humanist school in Bihar. Anshu Kumari is a 14 year old girl from untouchable community of the village. She was not allowed to read for the first 11 years of her life and was forced to do child labour to meet family needs. Due to APNA’s inclusiveness for the marginalized community, she is now able to able to write and identify alphabets and solve mathematics. She is a hard learner. She will just sit for hours to solve mathematics problems. She loves to play kabbadi and hide and seek with her friends and she wants to be a police woman when she grows up.
$61 to Appalachian Community Meal in Berea, Kentucky, for food purchasing. The volunteers feed homeless and impoverished people once a month. Humanist information is provided, and Plan B and NarCan.
$50 for Sivakami to attend Blossom Academy. She says, “I am a 16-year-old girl from Attappadi in Palakkad district. I was a good student until the 7th grade, but things changed. During the Covid lockdown, my father’s alcohol addiction got worse. Now he drinks every day, spending all the money he earns from his labor job. This puts a burden on my mother, who works in a spice estate from 7 am to 7 pm. My father's nightly quarrels kept me awake all night, making it difficult to focus at school. When I fell asleep in my classroom, teachers accused me, and classmates teased me. I lost all my self esteem.
The situation got worse. My father threatened to commit suicide to get my mother to give him money to drink. When she denied him, he started borrowing money from others. People stopped me on my way to school, asking me for the money my father borrowed from them, using harsh words. I was ashamed to leave my house. I was frequently absent from the class; I spent whole days at home with fear of money lenders. All these experiences led to me losing my education and becoming illiterate. The trauma still affects me. My brother now has to work in agricultural labor to support my mother, and my grandmother also has to contributes within her health capacity.
After I went to Blossom, I found peace and happiness. Surrounded by friends, games, and laughter. Now I can read and write!”
$50 to Moge Ali (pseudonym) a humanist in Somalia, for his education.
He says, “Following my father's death, my childhood was marked by hard work and neglect. For years, I lived in a strict orphanage where I faced brutal punishment for not memorizing religious texts and the Qur'an. This early trauma, coupled with access to critical literature, ignited a quest for freedom and truth that ultimately led me to leave Islam.
I carried the trauma and hatred of my culture and religion as I grew up. But then I discovered books and had the chance to read many criticisms about Islamic extremist practices. I also researched the history of religions. The first book I read on this subject was “A Little History of Religion” by Richard Holloway, which inspired me to delve deeper into these issues. I enjoyed reading the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx, and Albert Camus. I fell in love with reading so much that I was able to reclaim my faith. Previously, I had despised those who instilled fear in me by talking about hell and the wrath of Allah. I have left my religion of Islam, even though it satisfies my society. I am now free to live my life as I choose. The reason for this decision is due to the many traumas I have experienced and the knowledge I have gained, which have led me to be unsatisfied with my old beliefs.
I live in Hargeisa, Somaliland, which is not my hometown. Life here is expensive, and there are no government services available. I am currently struggling in life as we are managing our finances for basic necessities, and there is no one to help me. I am looking for a life with more freedom and better finances. The biggest issue that I am facing today is the lack of money, and paying for rent is becoming increasingly difficult. I would leave this place if I could, but it is difficult as our country Somalia and its passport are not recognized by developed governments. I need to live a meaningful life and overcome our difficulties. I am hopeful for a better future. Here, there is conflict, economic hardship, and a lack of freedom.
Sir, life is hard here. I struggle to earn enough money each month to pay for my house rent. There is no one easily available to help me, and my family accused me of not being a religious person. I cannot study because I have no one to pay for my university. Therefore, I chose to educate myself. I would love to continue my education, but I need assistance with the $100 semester fee. If you help me, I feel like I am living a meaningful life with good hope.”