About Ecodana:
Ecodana and Vietnamese Student Association at York University (VSAY) joined forces in a mutually beneficial partnership to raise $456.25 for a project to provide biogas systems which convert animal waste into fuel for subsistence farmers in rural Vietnam.
Ecodana’s biogas project was a great target for VSAY fundraising efforts because it served the organization on multiple levels. “I think students really understand grassroots projects, they understand small donations and they demand much more information about projects they fund,” said Marc Henrich, founder of Ecodana, “And they are concerned about the environment and want to see change, the sooner the better.”
Camille Quang, President, VSAY, agreed that Ecodana stood out from all of the other charities they considered because of its focus on the environment. “[It’s] important especially for the people living in villages that are under-developed. It is essential for their daily lives,” she said.
Because VSAY shared a concern for helping people in an environmentally-sustainable way, they were willing to fully engage with the community around the issues.
“We were very aggressive in our approach to people. We stopped people that walked by and explained in detail how we felt about the biogas project,” said Lana Phan, VP Marketing, VSAY, “They showed a great interest, especially because we were youth and we were able to communicate our concern and inform them about the issues.”
The fundraiser also provided an opportunity to show that young Vietnamese are interested in issues in Vietnam and feel a connection to their roots. “These are concerns that are close to our hearts and close to our families, since many of us still have family in Vietnam and hear stories about environmental degradation,” said Phan.
Henrich said he is aware that students are mostly second generation and are looking for an opportunity to connect with and give back to their parents’ homeland . As for Ecodana’s role, he said, “It’s great to be able to be the go between.”
Of his experience working with VSAY, Henrich said he came away with an appreciation for their work. “VSAY really put a lot of effort not only into the fundraiser but they continued with making a video about their experience working with us to share through their social network,” he said, “That’s pretty awesome and inspiring—it makes me hopeful for the future.”
Other student organizations that want an opportunity to support sustainability projects in the developing world and make a connection to their own culture or learn more about one they’re unfamiliar with can benefit from pairing up with a small donation-based philanthropic organization like Ecodana.
About Ecodana:
Ecodana is a San Francisco-based non-profit social enterprise whose mission is to improve the lives of the poor in rural areas around the world by facilitating funding for sustainable projects in their communities.
To donate, please visit www.ecodana.com