|
About NEHRO |
|
|
|
History Paul and Cruz have been traveling to developing countries together and separately for over twenty years. Their primary inspiration has been people photography and the desire to absorb and understand what binds all cultures together. One of the things they both realized years ago is that material wealth has little to do with happiness. Time and time again they encountered happy people and families with little more than a rudimentary roof over their heads and barely enough to eat; yet, they had lives rich in culture, family and tradition. They found that people in developing countries with little material wealth live in the moment, something Westerners often strive for, but more often than not fail to achieve. They also found that everyone participates in “life”…they have to in order to survive. Cruz and Paul’s motivation has been to capture the heart and soul of the people they meet through photography. But, more importantly, to learn from these same people how to live in the present and enjoy every aspect of what is around you in that moment without thinking about the past or the future. The primary motivation to travel changed in 2007 after Cruz photographed refugee camps in Northern Uganda and Paul photographed the efforts of two small Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) in the poorest district of rural Cambodia. They both had profoundly similar experiences on two separate continents at the same time. Cruz and Paul worked with and got to know people that did not have efficient roofs over their heads and little if any food to eat. To make matters worse, the culture and traditions of both countries had been destroyed by violence. The most unsettling aspect of the loss of culture in these two countries is the time span. Uganda’s culture has been systematically destroyed since 1987 by the Lord’s Resistance Army and violence continues to this day. The very soul of Cambodia was ripped out by the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. Although there has been progress in Cambodia in very recent years, it is still struggling to regain its lost culture destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. The effects of violence are long lasting. Paul and Cruz recognized they needed to continue to document the world through photography, but they also realized the importance of helping the people they meet wherever they travel in whatever capacity they could. Philosophy NEHRO was established in 2007. It is a federally licensed 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and your donations are tax deductible (IRS ID Number 26-1184237). NEHRO’s approach is simple. When Paul and Cruz travel (NEHRO does not pay for their travel expenses), they always connect with someone that needs help. They help them when they meet them if they can out of their own pockets, but more importantly NEHRO continues to help after Paul and Cruz return home. NEHRO primarily works with individuals and NGO’s in developing countries simply because $100 can make a significant difference in someone’s life in the poorest of countries, but can barely pay for a few days’ worth of groceries in the USA. That same $100 can feed a family in rural Cambodia for more than three months. It is a matter of making the most of what little can be raised. However, NEHRO will help anyone it can anywhere it can. NEHRO recently became involved with fundraising efforts here in the USA to help a seriously ill individual pay their medical bills. NEHRO has no religious affiliation. Overhead Our philosophy on expenses is also simple. We keep overhead to an absolute minimum. NEHRO never pays for travel expenses to developing countries, nor does it pay salaries to NEHRO staff. The only overhead costs are fees for licensing the organization, web hosting fees and the cost of wiring money. Whatever money you donate, you can be assured all but a small amount of it will go to whomever we are trying to help. NEHRO Projects As you can see by what you have read so far, NERHO is a grassroots organization. Here are some of the projects NEHRO has worked on and is continuing to working on. We are always open to suggestions. Uganda NEHRO has provided financial assistance to help one family with some basic needs and two children with educational expenses. One child has just graduated from secondary school and wishes to go to medical school. NEHRO provided her with expenses to travel to Kampala University to take the Medical School entrance exams. NEHRO also works with a Uganda based NGO that trains individuals how to start small businesses. NEHRO arranged an internship with this NGO for the girl that just graduated from secondary school while she waits to hear the results of her Medical School entry exams. Cambodia NEHRO has provided material and financial support to two college students in Phnom Penh. NEHRO found a young girl with a disfigured face in a remote village and helped her family find free surgery to correct the problem. NEHRO has also been a regular contributor to a small NGO in rural Cambodia that feeds the very poor, protects children, supports families, teaches basic skills for successful subsistence farming and provides loans to start small businesses. Funds have been provided to the monks of Skea Pagoda in rural Cambodia. The pagoda was badly in need of repair. Thailand/Burma Paul and Cruz met a Burmese woman living along the Thai/Burma border. This brave 70 year old woman has put female Burmese refugees to work weaving and making clothes. She houses them and their children. She also used money she raised to purchase and smuggle food to an orphanage in Burma. Since the Thai government has recently begun harassing Burmese refugees, her efforts to raise her own money have diminished. Now she is just trying to feed herself and the Burmese refugees she is caring for. NEHRO sends this woman money for the basic day to day needs of herself and the women and children she is protecting Additional Service If you wish to donate money to an NGO based in a country other than the USA, Canada, Mexico or Israel, it will not be tax deductible. If you wish to take advantage of the tax deduction, NEHRO can take your donation and provide you with a receipt and wire your money to the NGO you wish to support. However, in order to do this, the NGO must have a website and have a vision that NEHRO is comfortable with. If you wish to work with NEHRO in this capacity, NEHRO requires $20 of your donation to wire money and 1 percent of your gross donation amount to use for NEHRO projects. NEHRO will also provide you with the Western Union Wire documents. We will not send money to individuals.
|