Meet Claire Boone and Emily Botts!

Good people attract other good people. Brendan Hieber (check out his profile by clicking the link) is a matchmaker extraordinare, connecting me to a few of the fabulous people he has meet along his volunteer travels. I had the privilege of profiling an amazing initiative yesterday, started by the two ladies below. Learn how they are fighting Hepatitis B among Ghanaian children and read about their personal philanthropy styles.

Emily Botts (left) and Claire Boone (right)

Name: Claire Boone

Age: 22

Live: currently nomadic

Career: 

I am a recent graduate, so right now I am taking a gap year to travel, volunteer, and figure out the answer to that question! As of now I am very interested in public and global health, and hope to pursue a career in that field.

Are you philanthropic? Why?

The short answer is yes. After a first-hand look at real, gut-wrenching, die-from-totally-preventable-disease poverty, it’s hard not to be.

What does philanthropy mean to you?

Big question! My definition tends to fluctuate. It can mean as much as donating millions of dollars, or as little as reading about ‘good’ work someone somewhere is doing. Most of my friends are still in university or have just entered the workforce, and have minimal disposable income - so when they do so much as click on our GlobalGiving project link, or shoot me a quick message about it, I consider it being philanthropic.

Why do you support this (these) cause(s)?

My motivation for coming to Ghana to volunteer was mostly educational. After a couple short stints volunteer/interning I realized there is no better way to learn than totally

immersing yourself in a project you’re interested in a completely foreign place. So in

reality the organization I’m working with is supporting me as much as I am supporting

their cause.

How did you find these opportunities?

I had my heart set on volunteering in Africa, and after a couple weeks of scouring

idealist.org came across the CHF listing.

Do you enjoy it?

I definitely do. I love travelling and working in new places, and while working here in Ghana has definitely been one of the largest challenges I’ve faced, I’ve enjoyed every second of it.

How would you improve your experience, if possible?

Next time I volunteer/intern/work somewhere it will be for longer. Emily and I were able to accomplish some great things in the past three months, but to have a real impact three months is practically nothing.

Is there a philanthropist you admire?

I greatly admire my aunt and uncle, Amy and Peter Boone.  They are the founders of Effective Intervention, a group that implements health and development projects in a scientific way so that they can measure the actual impact of the interventions. They are promoting evidence-based philanthropy, which is something the world definitely needs more of.

Name: Emily Botts           

Age: 24

Live: Seattle, WA

Career: Most recently worked in Development/Fundraising at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Currently a volunteer public health intern for Cheerful Hearts Foundation in Ghana.

Are you philanthropic?  Why?

I try to be. Growing up, my parents taught my siblings and I to spend money wisely, place minimal value on material possessions, and be aware of those less fortunate than ourselves. Being philanthropic is a reflection of these values. Being a Christian is also a factor. In concurrence with my religious views, I view philanthropy as a form of serving others in both interactive and financial ways.

What does philanthropy mean to you?

Philanthropy means using my resources – money, time, and energy – to assist those who need it. I was dealt such a high hand in life: I have an education and good health. I have a family who supports me, political freedom, and social rights. Being philanthropic is my response to circumstances that prevent others from being able to say the same.

What organizations do you donate your time/ money to?

I support Casa de la Esperanza, an orphanage in Tijuana that I have visited five separate times starting when I was in junior high school. I volunteer with Hamomi, a non-profit children’s centre in Nairobi, Kenya with offices in Seattle. I am currently in Ghana carrying out a Public Health internship with Cheerful Hearts Foundation, a grassroots NGO focused on health, education, and social justice.

What do you do?

For our current internship with Cheerful Hearts Foundation, we work with the dynamic Public Health team researching and educating about tuberculosis.

In late April, we decided to create an additional project to apply our extra time and energy to. We planned a tuberculosis screening in a fishing village where we had found that health knowledge was extremely low. We learned that Hepatitis B is also a huge health threat in this village, and decided to plan a Hep B screening and vaccination session at a government school in the same community. We now had two projects on our hands in addition to our initial load.

The tuberculosis screening was a one-time deal, but the Hepatitis B screening and vaccination project is on-going. (You can read more about it on our Global Giving site at http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/hepatitis-b-vaccination-for-ghanaian-children/ ) Both of us will continue to manage the project remotely when we leave Ghana, and are in the process of training other CHF volunteers to take over on the ground when we have gone.

Why do you support this (these) cause(s)?

Because I can make a difference. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that because of our efforts, two people will receive life-saving tuberculosis treatment that would otherwise have likely gone untreated. As a result of our Hepatitis B project fundraising, as of June 12, 2014 ninety-one children have received the first of three injections to vaccinate against Hepatitis B. Eight children tested positive for the infection and can now receive treatment to prevent further spread. I support this cause because it literally saves lives, and I get to see it first-hand.

How did you find these opportunities?

I found Cheerful Hearts Foundation through an Internet search for non-profit public health opportunities in Africa.

Do you enjoy it?

I do. This is my first experience volunteering long-term with an NGO in a developing country. The experience has been very different from what I expected, and I had to adapt quickly. I’ve learned that flexibility is imperative when working in a foreign culture.

How would you improve your experience if possible?

The biggest challenges have been cultural: General lenient regard to timeliness, lack of resources such as Internet or even consistent electricity, and language barriers. Since these factors cannot be changed, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of being flexible and patient!

Is there a philanthropist you admire?

I bet everyone says this one, but for good reason. I want to be Melinda Gates when I grow up.