The First 20 Years

Several studies are pointing the way to achieving self-sufficiency in developing communities by attending to family behaviors and nutrition during early childhood. In most marginalized communities, even those in industrialized nations, parenting practices generally parallel economic level.  Kids in at-risk communities are far more likely to be neglected or treated with disdain or violence, whereas children in wealthier climes are generally treated with regard, included in family events on a near equal basis, and empowered to become their own agents beginning at an early age. Some of the differences between the two groups are due to educational backgrounds (e.g. illiterate…

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Hummingbirds Share Passion for Haiti’s Kids and Native American Communities

Long-time ASR contributor The Hummingbirds held their annual pre-Mother’s Day luncheon at the home of co-founder Jennifer Johnson. Mothers, daughters, aunts, and sisters were out in full force to enjoy mimosas and the delicious pasta bar provided by film kraft services company Mario’s Catering. This year’s event is the second to support Dig Deep, a non-profit  “working to ensure that every American has clean, running water forever”. Last year’s Hummingbirds’ brunch raised funds for a Navajo community in New Mexico.  This year’s brunch is focusing on water access for a Lakota Sioux community on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, of particular…

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Aid Still Required Nutritional Partner OneEgg Receives Major Tyson Foods Grant

Great news from OneEgg CEO Chris Ordway!  The ASR partner has received  $341,490 from Arkansas poultry giant Tyson Foods and its subsidiary Cobb-Vantress to establish an egg-producing farm west of Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.  In addition to supplying much needed nutrition for local children, the farm will create jobs in the community and become self-sustaining over time. OneEgg began its work in Rwanda and has expanded to 8 countries, its mission to provide animal protein to undernourished children.  53% of all deaths of children under 5 are due to malnutrition. One egg provides 13 different essential vitamins and minerals needed for…

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Discovery of Mythical Honduran City by ASR Supporters

Last Monday night we were privileged to meet the team behind the book Lost City of the Monkey God and the soon-to-be released documentary The Curse of the Monkey God, both chronicling the astounding discovery of the mythical Honduran ’“Ciudad Blanca” (White City).”  The film’s director, producers and ASR friends Bill and Laurie Benenson hosted the event at their home.  Steve Elkins, the environmentalist and filmmaker who was the driving force behind the journey, spoke of the twists and turns of his 20 year-plus obsession while he and Bill Benenson detailed the use of LIDAR (radar using laser technology) which enabled them to find the…

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Haiti Update

For decades Haiti has ranked among the poorest countries in the world. Now, according to the 2017 United Nations’ World Happiness Report, it’s also one of the unhappiest, joining the bottom ten most chronically depressed nations (Syria, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Togo, Guinea, Liberia, Yemen and Tanzania). Fortunately, our participants haven’t gotten the memo. Our programs are brimming with energy and hope for the future. Last September 2016 we began installing computer labs and reading libraries at two of our locations while also commencing with instruction in computers, English and French. It’s our experience that high school…

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12 YEARS AFTER- The 2004 Tsunami

Its been 12 years since the 2004 Tsunami that took 260,000 lives, affected 12 countries and over 5 million people.  That day, when Hunter and I heard the news, realized that friends of ours were on the ground in Phuket, Thailand, and might not be alive, we made the fateful decision which set us on the path of eventually creating Aid Still Required. Along the way, we’ve met remarkable people, including nurse and filmmaker Alison Thompson of  The Third Wave Volunteers.    Alison went to Sri Lanka for two weeks to offer aid and stayed for more than a year.…

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The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

Hurricane Matthew and Our Community Dear Friends – In the aftermath of disastrous reports of 2010 earthquake charitable spending, we know many are apprehensive to contribute to nonprofits working in Haiti. At Aid Still Required, we know exactly where contributions are going and who they benefit. We know first-hand the world of difference your caring and compassion make. As Hunter and I were in Haiti when Hurricane Matthew made landfall and as one of ASR’s communities was directly in Matthew’s path, we’ve spent the last couple of weeks in emergency mode, working on how to address the on-the-ground situation. I…

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ASR Opens First Academy in Haiti

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”                                                                                                     –  Margaret Mead Today we proudly inaugurated the first Aid Still Required Academy in Deuxieme Plaine, Haiti, for 119 children, 30 of whom are orphans.  The original inspiration came from the local community itself, a few hundred farm families earning…

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