100,000 PLUS MEMBERS CAN’T BE WRONG
Club Asteria has surpassed a landmark that we want to share with everyone. We now have well over 100,000 members participating in Club Asteria. We are very excited about this for a number of reasons, but chief among them is that it means that we are able to make a positive difference in the lives of so many more members, and the lives of their families, friends and community members. A look at our membership rolls shows us that members are currently located in more than 150 countries around the world.
As we enter 2011 our mission continues to provide opportunity where before there was none. We continue to give people the tools, education, knowledge and a structured way to create a better life for themselves and their family. Our members are instructed and encouraged to own businesses that allow traditional and online sales of products and services to the global community. This allows entrepreneurs in developing nations to tap into the financial resources of developed countries by providing value and creating demand, rather than through handouts. This sustainable socially conscious model raises families from poverty, changing communities and even countries from dependence to independence and dignity. We at Club Asteria are committed to raising the world’s standard of living through entrepreneurship and raising everyone’s vision to help others in need.
To further pursue our interests we have incorporated our International Headquarters in Hong Kong. We have established an office and bank accounts so that we can better serve this vital region of the world. In the near future we will be incorporating in other countries to further enhance the services of Club Asteria to our members and to making a positive contribution to the world.
DONATIONS BY MEMBERS IN 2010
At the end of 2010 the members of Club Asteria had the wonderful opportunity through their Club to make positive contributions to some of the world’s neediest causes. Andrea Lucas, Managing Director, announced that at the end of December, in addition to the Club’s philanthropic programs, 9 other organizations were selected in order to support them in their goals to make the world a better place. Club Asteria contributed over $50,000 to partner with or contribute to the Grameen Foundation, World Concern, Heifer International, Living Earth Institute, Opportunity Now, Kiva, Gospel for Asia, Water Aid and World Vision. All of these organizations share the goals of Club Asteria to help eliminate the cycle of poverty that inhibits a large portion of our population from being able to enjoy the abundances of life.
At Club Asteria we are so humbled and inspired by our members’ desire and intent to follow through on our mission and vision to contribute to these organizations and their worthwhile causes. These contributions served families in India, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Somalia, Ghana, Nepal, Tanzania, Russia, Romania, Ukraine and so many other parts of the world.
Through our micro-finance/micro-credit program we were able to fund dozens of entrepreneurs who now have the ability to expand or start their own businesses with the micro loans they received. These individuals will be able to buy cloth, inventory for their stores, seed, fertilizer, farming equipment, animals and food products, and make repairs to their transportation equipment and so many other things that will fund their business enterprises. We also contributed several dozen sewing machines to women entrepreneurs to give them an opportunity to earn a livelihood for their families by making clothes. These sewing machines will not only put clothes on the backs of their children but for a lifetime put food on their family’s table as well.
In addition to the micro-loans our members made significant contributions to the ownership of animals which play a crucial role in many people’s lives throughout the world. These animals provide sustenance and produce income when their milk, cheese, butter, eggs or offspring are sold. These animals change the lives of each family that is fortunate to receive a gift such as this. At the end of 2010 we had the opportunity to donate camels, pigs, cows, chickens, water buffalos and goats to make a difference in so many families’ lives. These animals are breathing sources of income for the poor and what is even better, is that when they reproduce the offspring can be given to additional families to assist even more people so that the donation and gift keeps on giving. Our contributions included not just the gift of the animals but also the gift of learning how to keep their animals safe and productive.
One of our most important goals at Club Asteria is the vision that everyone in the world should have access to clean, safe water and sanitary facilities. This is the basis for health, education and successful livelihood. We contributed to the construction of machine drilled deep fresh water wells for villages in Kenya and Somalia so as to provide clean drinking water. These villages lacked facilities for clean drinking water and the women were forced to walk many miles to collect water from polluted ponds and streams. The wells will improve the health of entire communities and allow the women to do other jobs and spend more time taking care of their children. In addition we contributed towards a rainwater harvesting tank that, when completed, will serve over 1000 people in Tanzania with fresh water.
We were also able to make significant donations by helping provide clothing, supplies and nutrition for children so that they could attend school to have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Through these many programs and the organizations that we supported our mission is to transform lives through these educational programs, micro-loans, agricultural programs, stockyard animals and in providing nutrition and safe water to live a good life.
As we are now entering 2011 our mission continues. Our members are even more inspired and motivated to provide the underserved families of the world with the help they need. Through Club Asteria we provide opportunity where before there was none. We give people the tools, education and knowledge of how to create a better life for themselves and their families. Our vision and mission continues with the responsibility of knowing that if we don’t do something to help these people, who will?
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