Last year I nominated Scott Fifer for GQ magazine's "The Gentlemen's Fund Better Men World Search" 2008. He made the top 100 submissions on the website! He has continued his efforts and successfully launched the GO CAMPAIGN. I plan to nominate him again this year and send out an email asking all of you to vote for him!
GQ magazine "The Gentlemen's Fund Better Men World Search"
After a life-changing volunteer vacation to Africa, Scott Fifer dedicated himself to making a difference for children around the world. Scott is difficult to place in a category or “pillar” for GQ’s Better Men World Search because he fits them all: OPPORTUNITY, ENVIRONMENT, MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION and HEALTH.
He created The TunaHAKI Foundation, a non-profit organization for former street children in Africa. He provides shelter, food, clothing, health care and education for abandoned children. Scott is expanding his efforts working with grassroots organizations worldwide. He gives of himself completely, is now fluent in Swahili and is currently involving local communities in Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Rwanda and Malawi. He is working tirelessly to add China, Peru and other countries through an initiative called the GO campaign, an expansion of the successful TunaHAKI Foundation.
After seeing, “Hotel Rwanda,” he signed up for a Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer vacation in 2005. He was randomly placed in a small town near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. There he met the children of TunaHAKI. The smiling children changed forever this former attorney and screenwriters life. He now dedicates himself to helping vulnerable children, giving 100% of donations raised to those in need.
Scott provides OPPORTUNITY. He marvels at how talented and friendly the children are despite the adversity they have faced. He believes they should be given a chance to succeed. The children of TunaHAKI are incredible acrobats. Scott arranged for them to train in the United States with Cirque du Soleil. They returned home having learned amazing skills and showmanship enabling them to perform and raise money for themselves.
Scott has provided a better ENVIRONMENT for these children. He has partnered with Architecture For Humanity and a “green” home is being built for TunaHAKI where self-sustaining practices–usable gardens, farming, brick-making, saleable crafts, a theater for performing– can be put into use. This orphanage will serve as a model for children’s facilities he is implementing around the world.
Scott provides MENTORSHIP for children bringing volunteers to help with reading, writing, arts, photography, and acrobatics programs. Some of the children say they want to be a teacher, an architect or a nurse. Scott thinks why not make that happen? Give them a chance and provide them with an opportunity they would not otherwise have.
Scott provides EDUCATION. School in many countries is a luxury, not a right. Fees must be paid; books and study materials must be bought. Scott finds a way to provide this for all of the children.
Scott provides HEALTH care and medical necessities, clean water, sanitation and promotes an overall healthy life-style.
Scott and The TunaHAKI Foundation he created gives children hope for a future. He meets weekly with Coalition For A Sustainable Africa. Scott was asked to become a member of Barack Obama’s Child Policy committee. He is one person dedicated to making an enormous difference in the lives of so many and therefore I believe he should be GQ’s Better Man Agent of Change.
Information about GO CAMPAIGN can be found at: www.gocampaign.org
Here is the link to GQ's website where you can find this story:
http://www.thegentlemensfund.com/view_nominations.asp?msg=1&page=9
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