Last week, April 26 to May 2, Konbit for Haiti went to Haiti to distribute solar powered lamps to young students. We were joined by Color of hope who together with Konbit has been actively fundraising to reach our set goal of 1000 Solar lights for Haiti. We were able to deliver the first batch of lights to children in Kenscoff, Cite Soleil, Delmas, Boucan Carre, Marchand Dessalines and many more places thanks to your generous support.

　Individuals, students, fellow organizations, elected officials and volunteers within the Haitian Diaspora and our local communities united behind this campaign and used their love for Haiti and capacity to take action and shine their light on Haiti, banishing the darkness of distrust between our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, banishing the darkness of self-doubt and helplessness, banishing all excuses and choosing to take a stand for Haiti by donating and contributing to this campaign.

WE  made it happen together. Thank you for believing in the children of Haiti, getting them excited about studying, about their future. Giving them something to share, something to stimulate their minds.

We still need your help to reach our goal of 1000 lights. We have 400 more to go. We are counting on you. You can donate by contacting Konbit for Haiti at ad-min@konbitforhaiti.org

JOIN THE UNITY CONTEST
To celebrate our unity and help emphasize the importance of working together for a more prosperous community and country, Color of Hope is inviting you to join our Unity Contest. How can you participate you ask?
Get a “Unity T-shirt” accessorized it take a picture and submit it to us for a chance to win an Ipod 2, it’s that simple!

Deadline to submit you’re picture is MARCH 10th
Just one more thing, you will also get a chance to rock the runway during the “Unity Fashion Show” and your participation in the contest will help provide a solar light to a child in Haiti to help them study at night.
TIMELINE
Deadline to submit your photograph is March 10th
Submit your photograph along with your name and contact information via e-mail to info@colorofhope.org

Send photograph as a .jpeg or .gif file no later than 11:59:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10th. Please make sure you receive confirmation of your entry.
March 12th 2012 – top ten finalists will be announced
The top 10 photographs will be selected anonymously. Selection will be done on the basis of quality and creativity.
March 12th - April 4th Public voting will be opened.
The top 10 contestants will be presented to the public to help us narrow down the top 5 through online voting at www.colorofhope.org

TBA - Unity Fashion Show to announce winner
The Top 5 contestants will participate in the Unity Fashion Show where the winner will be announced.
* While online vote will play a major role in the selection of the winner, this will be an anonymous selection.
RULES/LEGAL
• The contest is open to everyone
• Judging will be done anonymously, top ten photographs will be selected on the basis of quality and creativity.
• You may only submit 2 photographs, but feel free to send us more at a later time in a different email.
• Clubs/Teams may participate in the contest. As a team you may submit more than 2 pictures of different contestants.
• Participation is free of charge and open to everyone.
• In submitting an entry, you acknowledge that the photograph you have submitted is your own and does not contain any trademarks, logos, copyrighted material, or any other intellectual property belonging to any third party.
• Personal data supplied for participation will be used solely for the purpose of the competition.
• If your photograph is selected for use by Color of Hope, you acknowledge that you assign to Color of Hope the entire right, title, and interest in and to the copyright in your photograph.
• If you are selected as a winner, you are responsible for the payment of any taxes that may become due on the value of your prize.
• If a Club/ team’s photograph is selected as a winner, only one prize will be awarded
• Color of Hope may use your photograph in any manner, including but not limited to: reproducing the photograph, selling items bearing your photograph, changing or reworking your photograph by making color or size changes, making derivative works of photographs, using photograph on our website and on promotional materials.
• If your photograph is selected, you may not reproduce, sell, or submit the photograph to others for any other purpose. You do, however, retain the right to acknowledge the use of your winning the contest.
• Participants consent to the use of their names and likeness in association with this contest and Color of Hope and its partners communication to the extent allowed by law.

WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK AND LOOK FORWARD TO CROWN OUR MR. OR MS. UNITY

WEAR ONE . GIVE ONE – THE UNITY T-SHIRT

WEAR ONE GIVE ONE. By purchasing the “Unity T-shirt” not only are you showing your solidarity with Haiti but you are also helping a child in Haiti to study at night. for every T-shirt sold a solar light will be donated to a child in Haiti to enable him/her to study during the night hours.

You can be a hero for a child in Haiti, please help us light the path of Haiti’s future leaders. Because of people like you, over 400 Unity T-shirts have been sold so far which means over 400 children in Haiti will receive a light, THANK YOU.

Haiti has an acute electricity problem. In Port- au- Prince, Haiti’s capital, the availability of electricity is very limited, and in some regions of the country do not have electrical power. As a result of lack of electricity, students have difficulty studying during the night hours, and for many of these students night school is the only possibility for a chance to set foot into a school. Many of them are currently using kerosene lamps and candle which are very hazardous, specifically in a country where the next fire station may be two hundred miles away if any. There have been many incidents of burned down houses in many communities due to this issue and many lives have been lost. The problem also affects women entrepreneurs known as “Madan Sara”. These women are the back bone of the Haitian economy. They spend the entire day at the open market and unable to improve their skills due to lack of electricity during night time. Many of the families are unable to purchase solar lights and many more are simply unaware of the existence of such technology.