#philatelyforgood
Hi, folks! I'm Lisa, I draw cachets, and very occasionally do some #xtremephilately. This summer, I'll be volunteering on a healthcare project with a team to offer vision care to people who normally would not have access to it. I invite you, my fellow philatelists, to join me to do some good together!
Support #philatelyforgood
This boy had cataracts in both eyes and couldn't see. Schools wouldn't accept him because they weren't equipped to teach a blind student. His future wasn't very promising without both an education and his sight.
After two successful surgeries (one for each eye), his sight has been restored and he can now go to school! He can look forward (pun partly intended) to a future that wouldn't have been possible before.
The project team is raising funds to purchase glasses, eyedrops, and other supplies; to rent facilities for clinic and surgery; accommodations; and to hire local staff.
I'm inviting you, my fellow philatelists, postal pals, and mail mates, to support #philatelyforgood:
I'm not doing a giveaway draw or hand-drawn cachets his time, but I will send a #philatelyforgood postcard to anyone who donates $20 or more before June 01, 2024.
Note: If you give anonymously, I won't be able to see your name or address. Please leave some way for me to contact you in the comment should you win the draw or want to receive the postcard/cachet.
Tell me more about...
The volunteer project
Medical Ministry International is a Christian charity registered in Canada and the US. It runs one- and two-week healthcare clinics in different places around the world where people would normally not have access to said care in order to show people the love of God in a practical, hands-on way. These projects are staffed with local and international volunteers and hired (paid) local healthcare professionals.
A previous project I was on, the team conducted 607 eye exams, gave out 340 pairs of glasses, and performed 105 eye surgeries (mostly cataracts)—in just five days! One of the patients was the boy in the story above.
As a non-medical volunteer, I've supported projects with technical support, data entry and lookup, supplies management, and anything else I'm asked to help with.
#philatelyforgood
In January 2023 my first #xtremephilately on blood donation got a great response. It got me thinking how #xtremephilately could be used for good, or, as I've been calling it, #philatelyforgood. I think doing good things together will create opportunities to draw attention to the hobby. Okay, fundraising isn't very "together", but I'm going on this project anyway, so I'm borrowing it. You can think of your own (better) ideas for #philatelyforgood!
Phila-what?
Philately is the fancy name for stamp collecting. You're more than welcome to participate if you're not a collector! Maybe receiving a postcard and stamps will spark a new interest in you :) #xtremephilately is when one takes a photo of a stamp with the item or place it depicts. A cachet is an illustration or design on the outside of an envelope.
Isn't this voluntourism?
Well, yes, but probably with not so much of the negative connotation you're thinking about. This is a pretty long answer, so I've put it on a separate page.
Other questions
Use the contact form below or message me on Instagram to get in touch. (I check Mastodon and Facebook a lot less frequently, but you can use those too if you're willing to be patient.)
