After helping combat child hunger in the U.S. last month (and raising over $15,000 for Share Our Strength), the 12for12k Challenge is going international again. As part of a special project with Mom It Forward, we will be supporting Yehu.org as our April Charity.

A completely volunteer-driven non-profit, Yehu.org is making a huge difference to the lives of millions of women in rural Kenya. As Mother’s Day approaches, 12for12k is delighted to be helping mothers support their families and get them out of poverty. So who is Yehu.org and how are we going to support them?

The Charity

Yehu.org is a microfinance organization in the rural coastal region of Kenya for the poor, run by the poor. It provides financial and other support services for small businesses owned by very poor people.

Yehu operates in conjunction with Choice Humanitarian, an international NGO specializing in village development. Yehu was created based on the principles and procedures of the world-renowned Grameen Bank.

Yehu Microfinance works with BasaBody and Coast Coconut Farms to empower poor rural entrepreneurs in Kenya to help lift themselves out of poverty. This is done through enhanced accessibility to sustainable financial services, business opportunities, and skills training.

How It Works

First, women secure micro loans from Yehu Microfinance. Next, they purchase a franchise from Coast Coconut Farms, which gives them the materials, skills/business training, and opportunity to run a coconut oil extraction business right from their village.

Then, Coast Coconut Farms makes regular village runs to purchase the coconut oil and processes it in its plant. Finally, Coast Coconut Farms exports the oil to the U.S. where volunteers there use the oil to create and sell bath, body, and cooking products—part of the Basa Body and Coast Coconut Farms product lines—returning the proceeds right back to Africa to help more and more women.

It’s this approach that makes Yehu.org the perfect charity for our support. Our goal has always been to make sure as much money goes to those who need it and work towards eradication of problems through long-term programs and Yehu.org shares this vision.

How We’re Helping

To support Yehu.org as our April charity, 12for12k has joined forces with the Mom It Forward network. Their aim is to “change the world one mom at a time” and they are the perfect partners for this month’s charity.

As well as normal donations, we will be running a host of special events throughout April. These include virtual pajama parties, 24-hour fund-raising marathons and perhaps the most exciting event – international charity meet-ups.

Cities across the U.S., Canada and Australia will be hosting live events on April 18. These will be a mix of fun, drinks, socializing, prizes, silent auctions and much more. The 12for12k events will be held in San Diego, Toronto and Sydney (Australia), with more hosted by Mom It Forward. More details very soon.

We hope you’ll offer 12for12k your fantastic support again, as you have done from the start, and help make the April charity a huge success!

Thank you.

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