Commons International

EMAIL FROM BRIT NEELY TO JIM COFFEY 2023 JAN 12 TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2022 (FEBRUARY 2022) 6K (USED IN FULL) - HASHTAG GULU'S VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR KIDS WHO LIVE AND WORK ON THE STREET. THEY PROVIDED A 3-MONTH LONG TRAINING, AND DAILY MEALS TO 30 KIDS (AGES 15+) WHO ARE HOMELESS IN GULU. THE KIDS SELECTED FROM MASONRY, CARPENTRY, HAIR DRESSING, OR TAILORING AND LEARNED THAT SPECIFIC TRADE FOR 3 MONTHS. 22 KIDS COMPLETED THE TRAINING IN FULL, WHICH IS THEIR HIGHEST SUCCESS RATE TO DATE (AFTER 3 PRIOR TRAININGS). 3 OF THEM HAVE BEEN HIRED FULL-TIME BY OUTSIDE EMPLOYERS, AND 6 HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES (WHICH IS THE PRIMARY GOAL IN MOST CASES). WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NUMBER SEEMS QUITE LOW, BUT WHEN CONSIDERING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH THESE KIDS, AND HOW MANY SOCIAL OBSTACLES THEY HAVE, 3 OF THEM BEING FULLY INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY IS A RECORD SUCCESS. THE OTHER 6 WERE ACCEPTED BACK HOME BECAUSE THEY PROVED THEY COULD WORK HARD AND LEARN A TRADE, WHICH IS ALSO A HUGE SUCCESS. HASHTAG CONTINUES TO WORK TO SUPPORT THE REMAINING KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OTHER WAYS SUCH AS TRAUMA COUNSELING. (OCTOBER 2022) 19K RENOVATION OF OFFICE BUILDING EXTERIOR - THIS RENOVATION WILL TRANSFORM THE BULK OF ELEPHANTE'S PROPERTY FROM DILAPIDATED AND UNPROFESSIONAL INTO THE PREMIER CO-WORKING SPACE IN GULU, MAKING 11 MORE OFFICES TENABLE FOR NEW PARTNERS, AND INCREASING THE SERVICE PROVIDED TO CURRENT PARTNERS USING OFFICES IN THEIR CURRENT CONDITION. YEARLY OPERATIONS OF ELEPHANTE COMMONS: $74,000 USD (DECEMBER 31ST 2022, (26K RENT) (13,700 SMALL GRANTS APPROVED BY DREW) (34,300 FOR OPERATIONS) THIS KEPT UP OPERATING FOR THE YEAR, INCLUDING PAYING OUR TEAM, MARKETING, UTILITIES FOR US AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, GENERATOR FUEL, INTERNET, ETC.