The Dignity Funding Mechanism

The art and heart of The Dignity Amidst the Rubbish Project is that it is meant to be a true partnership, using the photo book, Dignity Amidst the Rubbish, for cultivating humanitarian support, addressing global issues, while also taking a moment to observe and reflect upon the beauty of life.

We will need each other in order for this project to work. A key component is combining three independent elements of funding mechanism (e.g. the Dignity book), nonprofit organization, and our global community in order to cultivate geometry of connection — a solid triangle of support.

The Dignity Amidst the Rubbish book is not for sale; rather, it will be offered as a gift in exchange for your donation. It uses art to carry the essence of just what it is this project aims to support — the good behavior that is common to most all humans; our inherent desire to be loved, accepted, to be accepting and loving, our need for family and societal connection.

You decide how much you’d like to give, based on the book’s ‘base donation value,’ and then receive a CD in the mail. Digital download is available upon request, and print copies of Dignity Amidst the Rubbish are also available.

All proceeds go toward relief efforts.

This is a 45-Page CROSS-SECTION PREVIEW of the 135-page Dignity Amidst the Rubbish book.

The Dignity Amidst the Rubbish Project will focus on grassroots, locally managed, humanitarian initiatives.

One idea is to create a pool of resources that can be used for those needs which you or organization cannot easily meet for whatever reason.

For examples, perhaps there are restrictions related to allocated budgets. Maybe one family needs just a small boost of support in order to make a big difference, or a fire happened in a village and a specific array of supplies would meet a topical, community need. A small school that is struggling to remain in operation, with few or no other means of fundraising, would be an ideal match for The Dignity Amidst the Rubbish Project.

The details of partnering organizations are currently being cultivated. However, below is the primary organization currently being supported by the Dignity Amidst the Rubbish Project.

— Compasio Relief and Development: This organization contributed in the Burmese-English translation included in the Dignity Amidst the Rubbish book, some story collection used in the book’s “Voices Within the Community” section, and the writing of the included feature article, “Heart of the Shwe K’lai (golden child).” Compasio also raised donor funds to print 1,200 copies of the Dignity book, which are being distributed in various countries. The book is being offered as a gift in exchange for a donation. This is resulting in both indirect and direct benefit to the Burmese community included in the book.

Proceeds will support Compasio’s community engagement team, which represents many different ethnic groups from Burma and Thailand who lead and direct their projects on the ground. Their work is supported by capacity builders from America, the UK, Australia and Canada who fill specific roles within the team.

Despite their different cultures and backgrounds, they all share the same heart to love, protect and empower women and children from Burma. Compasio has since 2006 been serving the Mae Sot dump community and other migrant communities on the Thailand-Burma border.

— Eyes to Burma: This is a small non-profit organization being led by Fred Stockwell, an energetic and dedicated 70 year-old man from the United States. Fred lives in Mae Sot full-time and works diligently and independently to support the Mae Sot dump community, and has for the past seven years. Fred provides for the community’s much needed basic necessities such as food, clean water, health care, advocacy, shopping, the building of a community center. Reliable transportation to the Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, and English language education for the children, are also part of his efforts, among others. Just one year ago, not a single child within the dump community could speak English. This, among many aspects of life at the Mae Sot dump community, have changed for the better as a result of Fred’s humanitarian work.

The Dignity Amidst the Rubbish Project is evolving. The concept has been envisioned, the book and funding mechanism created; however, what is much needed now is more partnering organization support.

Please combine efforts with me in cultivating further ideas for The Dignity Amidst the Rubbish Project. This begins with identifying and cultivating relationships — knowledgeable people who can affectively and appropriately channel these financial resources.

If you have any suggestions, or similar initiatives that need support, please contact me by using the ‘contact’ mechanism located at the bottom of this web page.