89 year-old and 10 year-old team up to raise funds for former child slaves who are now starting business co-ops in Nepal.
Campaign features intro of the new Make a Stand mobile crowdfunding app.
Sausalito, CA (May 21, 2014) – In June, 10-year old social entrepreneur Vivienne Harr and her company Make a Stand Lemon-aid will help lead The Freedom Loan Fund Campaign, a month-long effort to raise $40,000 for a micro-loan fund that is helping young women
who grew up as child slaves in Nepal start their own businesses.
More than 12,000 girls have been rescued from the Kamlari system of slavery by the Nepal Youth Foundation, founded in 1990 by Olga Murray of Sausalito at age 65. At age 89, Olga is still working each day to improve the lives of children in Nepal.
Together, Olga and Vivienne will raise money for the business co-op loan fund that is helping thousands of freed Kamlaris build a better life and lift their communities out of poverty so that slavery will never happen in Nepal again.
Vivienne will be using a beta version of the new Make a Stand mobile crowdfunding app. This new mobile technology allows anyone to “make a stand — wherever you stand” in just 3 steps and 30 seconds, from their phone.
“We’re making this great new app so that anyone can make a stand for what they believe in,” said Vivienne. “With the Make a Stand app, you don’t have to be big or powerful to change the world. You can be just like me!”
WHAT
- Freedom Loan Fund Campaign – A national online fundraising campaign led by Nepal Youth Foundation with support from Make a Stand Lemon-aid that will raise money for the freed Kamlari business co-op loan fund. Campaign website goes live on June 1, 2014 at: www.freedomloanfund.org
- Make a Stand app – The campaign will feature the new mobile crowdfunding technology that empowers anyone, anywhere to make a stand for their chosen cause from their smartphone in 3 steps and 30 seconds.
WHEN
- The Freedom Loan Fund Campaign launches on June 1, 2014. Olga Murray, Vivienne Harr, and her father Eric Harr, founder and CEO of Make a Stand, Inc., will be available for interviews during the first two weeks of June.
WHERE
- Nepal – where the former Kamlari slaves are starting their own businesses.
- United States – where the national online fundraising campaign will take place.
- Sausalito, CA – where Olga, Vivienne and Eric will be available for interviews.
WHO
- Vivienne Harr, age 10, founder of Make A Stand, Inc. (www.makeastand.com; featured in the new film #standwithme (www.standwithmemovie.com).
- Olga Murray, age 89, founder and honorary president of Nepal Youth Foundation (www.nepalyouthfoundation.org). Since 2000, NYF has rescued more than 12,000 girls from Kamlari slavery and was instrumental in motivating the government of Nepal to officially abolish the Kamlari system in June 2013.
- Eric Harr, father of Vivienne and founder of Make a Stand, Inc., a certified B corporation (www.makeastand.com). Eric is a social media marketing expert who was founder and president of Resonate Digital.
WHY
- Girls in Nepal who were rescued from Kamlari slavery are becoming powerful young women who are starting their own businesses with help from a co-op loan fund started by Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF).
- The freed Kamlari business co-op is already a success, but the loan fund doesn’t have enough money to help all of the young women who want to start a business.
- The Freedom Loan Fund Campaign will raise money to ensure that every former child slave in Nepal will have a chance to start a business and make a new life.
QUOTES
“Girls can do anything. All you need to do is make a stand for them — and that’s just what I am going to do!”
Vivienne Harr, Founder of Make a Stand, Inc.
“We’re developing a simple, mobile technology to that allows anyone to choose their cause and make a stand — wherever they stand. This technology makes good on the long-held promise that one person can change the world. Vivienne loves Nepal Youth Foundation, so she will choose a photo of the Kamlari girls and make a stand for them using the Make a Stand mobile app. It will be beautiful to behold.”
Eric Harr, Founder and CEO of Make a Stand, Inc.
LEARN MORE
Read about NYF’s Empowering Freed Kamlaris program. Photos are available by request. Read Olga’s story about attending Nepal’s first Freed Kamlari Day in January 2014.
Read about the Make a Stand App.
