tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7402080934870422815.post-21961188092465874622008-05-06T19:02:00.000-04:002008-05-06T19:02:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for sharing our efforts! To read the words "web celebrity" in the vicinity of my name and, more importantly, near the words Epic Change is utterly overwhelming. I hope other nonprofits recognize the utility of the social web and take notice of its incredible power for good. It's my sincere hope that we can build upon this blog momentum and word of tweet to encourage giving, participation and meaningful engagement in the stories of some incredible children in Tanzania. <BR/><BR/>For all the reasons you highlight related to storytelling & personal connection, I welcome the comparison to the Ndugu model. That said, we differ from the traditional "sponsor a child" model in important ways. Most significantly, like Kiva, we don't set up relationships of ongoing dependency on charitable aid. Instead, we provide loans to local social benefit organizations, like Mama Lucy's, and seek to help her build sustainable sources of income to support her efforts for the long-term. We're hoping that by supporting organizations like hers, we're empowering local leadership & respecting self-determination. Additionally, we seek to share authentic stories that raise awareness about the incredible hope & potential that exists within these children. Too often, traditional media and, sometimes, "sponsor a child" nonprofits themselves, focus primarily on stereotypical stories of helplessness and hopelessness that, while perhaps true in part, don't nearly paint the entire picture.<BR/><BR/>Of course, Epic Change is a new experiment in social innovation. While we've had remarkable success so far, the next 3-4 years will truly show the potential of our unique approach.<BR/><BR/>I hope you'll stay tuned to see how this plays out. Thanks again for passing on the word!Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424343592469758498noreply@blogger.com