http://ascenteq.com/project/epdp

The Eritrean Democratic Association (EDA), Bay Area, California chapter held its 2015 fundraising event on Saturday June 27, successfully raising the targeted fundraising goal. Over a period of five hours, concerned and devoted Eritreans came together and donated generously to the benefit of the Wadisherifey Eritrean Refugee School and Eritrean War Disabled Veterans, located in Kassala, Eastern Sudan. Although many who support our call could not be with us physically due to other events, we are very appreciative that they sent their generous donations.

Eritrean Democratic Association (EDA) is a California (USA) registered nonprofit association, permitted to raise funds through fund raising events around the world legally. The EDA has been engaged in fund raising efforts for years now in order to cover the expenses of basic school supplies for students, wages of instructors, and repairing the school building and school furniture, which are necessary to the continued functioning of the school.

EDA also supports the sister organization, Association of Disabled Eritreans (ADE), a France based association with chapters in different parts of the world. Its main focus is to cover the expenses of food, medical-care, and maintaining the ever-deteriorating house that they live in. The ADE has a volunteer board of directors. The fund it raises comes from Eritreans and friends of Eritreans. Although the ADE is continuing to engage in raising funds, the current basic expenses of the disabled Eritreans is far more expensive than the fund the ADE could provide. In addition, expenses for maintaining and repairing wheelchairs, crutches, and other walking aids is another area where the ADE is struggling to find ways to solve it.  

At the presentation, members of the EDA Board of Directors, showed video clips and picture slides followed by explanations to inform the participants that when and how the school and the veteran center were established. EDA board members used images to show the audience participants that the school educates from grade 1 to 8 with annual enrolment that ranges from 600 to 800 students. It was also addressed that the building and the school furniture are in a dire need of repairs to ensure sustainable schooling service safely.

Members of the board also showed the living conditions of the Eritrean War Disabled Veterans through power point and video streaming that featured interviews with members. The video streaming and the power point message gave the audience deep insight of the difficult daily life of the Eritrean War Disabled Veterans in terms of their health, daily meal, housing, wheelchairs and other mobility aids that badly require restoration or replacement.

The EDA Board was glad to receive important suggestions on how to make fundraising events more effective and appealing that would tailor the right message and improve fundraising strategy in the future.

EDA is grateful to the support it received from rank and file members of the “Bay Area Eritreans for Democratic change (BAEDC)”, an umbrela community association which is the home for all Eritreans that are engaged in poltical organizations, civic movements and independents, demanding freedom and justice in Eritrea. We also would like to hail the efforts they have demonstrated to ensure harmonious and cooperative atmosphere within the Eritrean community.

EDA board members expressed appreciation to the participants for showing up in the event and further emphasized that we may not solve the whole problem, but each of us can make a difference in the lives of the needy Eritrean refugee children and the disabled veterans.

Thank you All for your active participation in the event and very generous in your donations,

The Board of EDA Directors

June 27, 2015