About CanSTEP (Canadians Striving To End Poverty)
(Formerly called ECHO "Embracing Community Hope Organization")
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
The Mission
We want to do our best to help as many of the 800 million people who are, as you read this, dying from lack of food. The CanSTEP mission is evolving and will continue to evolve as new members add their perspectives. As an organization we must answer some fundamental questions. How can we help? What is the best way to help and at the same time respect and embrace a diversity of cultures and religions? How can we help a person and their community while also protecting their dignity and culture?
The organizations that we've worked through are Plan International, Christian Children's Fund, The Stephen Lewis Foundation and Free The Children. We're currently raising funds to build a well in Liberia through Lifewater Canada.
We are a non-religious organization. We concentrate our efforts on helping communities obtain food, clean water and access to education and basic health care while at the same time protecting the local ecology. We are not interested in changing people. Of course, as we embrace peoples from around the world we will undoubtedly influence and, equally, be influenced. Perhaps if we keep our minds open, our lives will be enriched.
A Short History
We launched our first fundraiser in the spring of 2004. This volleyball tournament fundraiser attracted 16 teams and raised over $900. With this $900 two children were sponsored; one through Foster Parent's Plan and one through Christian Children's Fund.
In the fall of 2004 another volleyball tournament raised over $1,400, and one more child was sponsored. Since 2004 we've run several volleyball, bocce and dodge ball tournaments. We continue to transfer our profit to Plan (formerly "Foster Parents Plan"), Christian Children's Fund and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Our current goal is to raise enough to build a well in Liberia.
The Future - Multiply it By 10
Currently we have sponsored 4 children from around the world. Our fundraisers have generally earned approximately $1,000 per event. The goal is to take the next step forward, and multiply these numbers by 10. The quest is to develop fundraisers that will raise $10,000 in funds per event.
If you have an idea for a fundraising event, large or small, please contact Rick Taylor (519-896-9629, ecorick@hotmail.com).
Volunteers
Currently we are searching for volunteers for fundraisers and for more people to get involved in developing and implementing fundraising events.
Thanks goes out to those people have have helped with past fundraisers.