Hello there and thank you very much for taking your time to have a look at my fundraising page :)

I aimed to make it as quick and easy as possible for you to make an informed decision about donating so I have given a short and long answer to each question. I hope this has the desired effect!

Thank you in advance for your kind donations, without sounding cheesy, I truly believe each £ is a step towards a better world, and I would love to make that happen, wouldn't you?


What (are you doing)?
The International Citizen Service.
The ICS is an overseas volunteering program for young people (18-25 year olds) with an ambition to make a positive difference to the world, funded by the UK Government’s Department for International Development.
You can read more about it here- https://www.volunteerics.org/


Where (is it taking place)?
Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is the largest and poorest country in Central America. The capital city is called Managua. Nicaragua has a population of around 6-7 million people and the official language is Spanish. My placement will be working in 1 of 9 rural communities around the Nueva Segovia and Matagalpa regions.

How (will you do it)?
Through a structured WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) program delivered by Raleigh International (https://raleighinternational.org/)
These are the 4 main areas of work undertaken by volunteers:
Action Research- Carrying out baseline surveys with local residents to understand their situations, allowing us to know where and how to make the most effective impact.
Awareness Raising Campaigns- Through a Healthy Families, Schools and Communities Program to gain insight into community health issues such as sanitation, hygiene, waste disposal and water quality.
Training- WASH Promoters, who will champion good practices long after we have left. WASH Entrepreneurs, who will build ecologically successful and sustainable enterprises to support their communities. WASH Committee, who will ensure future sustainability for clean water and sanitation in the community.
Community Infrastructure Development- Building demonstration latrines, water filters and systems for protecting local water resources to promote community investment in these projects.


Why (are you doing it)?
I want to give something for a change.
Growing up in western society, most of us are quite privileged to have pretty much anything available to us at pretty much any time. Yet have you noticed somehow, that we are still deeply missing something inside. Is it happiness? Is it peace? Could it just be hunger?
All jokes aside, I'm doing this to change things up. To learn and to UNlearn, to grow, to challenge myself and to give something instead of looking to take take take!
Ultimately, as humanity we are one. The humble Nicaraguan man with his simple way of living and lack of resources is no less than me, the privileged British Indian young man - We both have something to learn, something to give and something to take from each other.


Who (is it going to impact)?
The world!
Whilst this volunteer work is a fantastic way of creating an immediate as well as sustainable and lasting effect on the locals of Nicaragua, it also has an effect on us and the rest of the world.
1/3 of my placement is called ACTION AT HOME. This means I will come back to the UK with a (hopefully) empty bag and lots to share with you all!
Beyond this, I intend to use what I learn towards shaping the world and it's people to become a more positive and peaceful place. That is to say, that I dream of that world. To make it a reality, I need to gain real skills and experience. Together, we will make it happen :)


When (will it take place)?
September 28th 2017.
My deployment will take place from the end of September to the end of December lasting 10-12 weeks.
On my return, I will (through the skills and experience I have gained) raise awareness in my local (offline) community of Blackburn as well as through wider networks (online) of REAL issues people face around the world, the benefits of going on this type of project, and what I have learnt from my own experience.
I envisage this experience providing me with a fresh perspective on life, through which I hope to develop myself and have a greater positive impact on the world, starting with the world around me, wherever I may be and reaching out further 1 step at a time!

Please note: All of your donations will go towards the charity, this is NOT going to fund my travel/accommodation/living expenses/equipment!

If you have any questions or just want to keep up to date with this and me in general then I'd love to connect!

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/M.FayzanAshraf
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayzanashraf/