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Friday, January 2, 2009

Recycling "trash" for Vietnamese girls


Did you know that approximately 850,000 used ink cartridges reach landfills around the world every day? And, the number is steadily climbing as more and more people print their own documents in the convenience of their offices and homes.  

One of Soroptimist's 6 program-focus areas is the environment. Soroptimist members, worldwide, are actively involved in efforts to reduce, re-use, and recycle. With the convenience of personal printing, comes the tendency to use more paper (and, as a result--more ink) than we might have a few years ago. We are creating more trash, and frequently sending hazardous but recyclable items to local landfills. SIFC has a local project to help in a small way.

May we suggest a New Year's Resolution? 
Consider recycling trash electronics and printing supplies for Vietnamese girls. SIFC collects donations of empty laser, fax, copier, and inkjet cartridges (and used cell phones) and recycles them to help girls in Vietnam. Cartridges for Kids pays SIFC for the collected items. The funds are then forwarded to Loveland-based Children of Peace International, and are ear-marked for vocational programs that help young Vietnamese girls achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.

Why Children of Peace?
As you've learned in other articles, the Soroptimist mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and around the world. SIFC knows of a special program that helps girls in Vietnam. Read on....
  • Northern Colorado volunteer and Soroptimist, Binh Rybacki is "Mother" to over 6000 Vietnamese children. COPI provides shelter, food, health care and schooling for those children. We know first-hand of the needs of these children and the results of funds donated to COPI.
  • Rybacki fled Vietnam with her family in 1975 before Saigon fell to communist troops. She returned to Ho Chi Minh City in 1993 to translate for a group of doctors and witnessed children working the streets as peddlers, beggars, and prostitutes. They were called bui doi--"dust of life"--of no value whatever. Unable to accept such conditions, Binh founded COPI, which now operates orphanages, facilitates international adoptions, organizes medical missions, educates thousands of children, and provides micro-loans for cottage industries.  http://www.childrenofpeace.org/index.html
  • Soroptimist International--Fort Collins Club spearheaded fundraising and public recognition efforts for Rybacki's nonprofit organization with its 1998-99 Women Helping Women Award. Since then, Soroptimist clubs in the Rocky Mountain Region have raised funds for COPI to construct a vocational school, purchase sewing machines, protect women on their way to market, and care for the bui doi
  • Soroptimist International collected President's Appeal (December 10th--Human Rights Day ) funds in 2005 to support COPI's Dust of Life? Project.
Please spread the word amongst your friends and associates! 
This project is ongoing--and protects the environment while raising funds for COPI's girls. Email sifortcollins@hotmail.com to donate.