IRFF :: International Relief Friendship Foundation

Highlights

Supporting Success Scholarship Fund: Presentation of 2009 Scholarships

Early this year, IRFF’s chapters in Zambia and Bangladesh held their presentation ceremonies for the Supporting Success Scholarship Fund. Both chapters invited the students receiving scholarships and their families to the local school for the ceremony, which was a joyous occasion for them all as well as for their very proud teachers and our IRFF staff.

In Zambia, where Supporting Success is in its 3rd year, 25 students received scholarships. All 25 are alumni of the Mackenzie Community School, which is a free school, is taught by volunteer teachers and is the only school available to the children of the impoverished community of Mackenzie.

Universal Primary Education: Empowering the Future	Eradication of Extreme Poverty: Economic Empowerment through Capacity Building Programs
Supporting Success Scholarship Funds IRFF’s Supporting Success Scholarship Fund Wins the GlobalGiving.com “Everybody Can Win” Challenge Thank you to our many supporters who contributed to the Supporting Success Scholarship Fund and our efforts in the "Everybody Can Win" Challenge on GlobalGiving.com. Our project received 361 donations from November 15th to December 15th – an incredible number that surprised even us – and we won the challenge!.	Holistic Microfinance Program – Afghanistan IRFF-Afghanistan has recently started an Holistic Microfinance Program, bringing economic opportunity to the women of this war-ravaged country. Beginning with an initial group of 20 women, the program will expand to improve the lives of many more
International Friendship and Service: Building and owning the Culture of True Love: Heart, Service and Peace
Discover True Friendship Service Tour	International Experiential Learning Program
IRFF’s Discover True Friendship Service Tour 2008 July 22 - Aug 7, Ndola, Zambia 15 participants from the US and Switzerland joined IRFF’s 2008 Discover True Friendship Service Tour in Zambia. The tour was launched on the 22nd of July, 2008 with the welcoming of the young volunteers at the Ndola	The International Experiential Learning Program (IELP) is a service learning program for young men and women who want to commit a month to a year volunteering in a developing country. Participants live in a needy community and work on IRFF programs or with partner organizations that serve the people there. In 2008, the IELP had six participants, five of whom volunteered in Zambia, and one of whom volunteered in Moldova. Five of them were from the United States, while one was from Switzerland.
Humanitarian Disaster Relief Service: Meet the need of people	Health Care Services:
IRFF is partnering with, ABITSU (http://abitsu.org), a Burmese NGO to help the victims of Cyclone Negris in Myanmar. By working with Burmese and Thai relief workers, this joint effort guarantees that all disaster assistance will go directly to the victims in the affected areas without having to go through governmental or military forces.	To address the lack of oral care and dentists in the villages of Peru, IRFF began a campaign of oral health in 2006. In three campaigns, 219 children and adolescents received dental treatment, education in oral hygiene, and free tooth brushes. By also educating their parents, IRFF ensured that the knowledge would be passed on to other siblings, extending the reach of the program.

Sharing the Blessing: Joined Project of IRFF and TMDO: Unified Martial Arts	Partnership with the United Nations: Achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals
“Creating Bridges Among the Youth of our Community” -2007 National & Global Youth Service Day in Kingston, New York- On April 21, 2007, the Sharing the Blessing ministry organized the 3rd annual National & Global Youth Service Day project in Kingston, New York. More than 100 people attended, with a predominance of youth between the ages of 16 and 26.	Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concern “Unless there is a spiritual renaissance, the world will know no peace.” Dag Hammarskjold, UN Secretary General, 1953-1961.With these words from the former Secretary General as a guide, the first annual Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns was launched in October as part of the United Nations’ 62nd anniversary.