The Global Solidarity Group (GSG) is a non-profit organization and registered society in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded by five concerned global citizens in March 2016.
Why donate?
Most NGO’s don’t proactively involve and entrust the community itself in the design and delivery of projects.
Using the making of the documentary Gringos in the Garbage as a medium to do so, GSG board members and film makers Warren FitzGerald and Jess Rothenburger consulted with community leaders of El Limonal in February 2014.
During this process it was learned that even though the community is grateful for the support they received from various organizations, the leaders felt strongly that they should be involved in decision-making processes.
GSG was created to support the development initially of El Limonal (and, it is hoped in the future, of many other similar communities around the world), and will:
- Involve and mentor the community’s leadership as it develops and implements development projects
- Serve to advance the priorities and needs of the community by regular consultation with the residents and community leaders.
- Empower community leaders with the responsibility of overseeing and managing the fund and its own development processes.
We help the little guys
GSG makes sure every cent of your donation gets to the community of El Limonal (less a 15% admin fee. If we could we would make it 0%, but we have to be realistic! We are able to keep the admin costs this low because GSG is run entirely by volunteers.)
- The community itself decides how to spend your donation
- You can see exactly how your donation is transforming lives here
- Your will see your donations transformed into tangible and sustainable aid
Aid the Global Solidarity Group is organizing through your generous donations include:
BUILD A HOUSE
If each family finds $300 US the government will build them a concrete home.
There are around 200 homes in the village. So for only $60,000 we can transform an entire community. If you want to donate the entire $300 we will match you with a family so you know specifically whose lives you have changed with your donation.
MICRO LOANS
The locals of El Limonal do not qualify for loans in the usual way, so with their own micro-lending fund they can help each other to invest in a business or project.
FOOD HAMPERS
In desperate times a mere $1000 supplied by GSG has fed 80 families for 10 days.
The GSG bank account in Canada is managed by Darlene Hildebrandt, donations are gathered in this bank account and transferred directly to another bank account in El Limonal.
The co-signers and managers of this fund in Nicaragua are Candida Rosa Ramirez and Mirsa Oliveras Madrid.
Candida is a resident of El Limonal and represents the community at the municipal level as its President. Mirsa is also a resident and community leader who spearheads the micro-credit loan programme set up by GSG in November 2015.