ICO World Journal - February 2021 - InnovativeCommunities.Org Foundation

February 2021

Hello ICO friends and journal readers!

2020 was certainly a challenging year. The global pandemic has reverberated throughout the world, impacting people and countries economically and socially. While we, as a global community, are still dealing with a lot of the same issues and challenges presented to us in 2020, we are feeling optimistic about 2021.

We are excited about this issue because we have received many 2020 highlights and updates from our Initiatives Leads. It was heartwarming to review them as we put this issue together. Despite the challenges that 2020 brought, ICO was still able to make a difference and help communities around the world. We hope that you enjoy reading these pieces along with the other material included in this edition. Click on any of the links throughout this issue and you will be taken to the supporting documents, website, or other online media.

Yours in friendship,

The ICO World Team

Table of Contents :

Honouring John Mitchell, Our Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus
ICO 2020 Update By Linda McCarron
2020 Initiative Highlights
Regional Updates

Honouring John Mitchell, Our Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus

In November of 2020, our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, John Mitchell passed unexpectedly. John was a visionary leader and friend to many. His desire to build a cyber-chaordic community that could focus on putting relationships before task led to the creation and evolution of Innovativecommunities.org Foundation. His patience and commitment to an organization that is 100% volunteer driven, transparent and efficient, allowing 100% of donation to go the initiative, forged the way for ICO and this has impacted many thousands of lives around the world. His quest for like-minded people to collaborate and join in friendship has brought people together to try to make a difference in the world. He will be missed by all.

And as an individual – he was a steadfast friend, always willing to help, mentor and support. His energy and wit made him an inspirational speaker and motivator and he could connect easily with people of all avenues of life. He has made a huge impact and his legacy will live on.

On Saturday January 23rd, ICO hosted an online event celebrating his life. Over 40 people attended including current and previous ICO volunteers as well as John’s family and friends. Many spoke of their memories of John and the impact that he made on their lives.

Despite having to hold the event online, all who attended could feel the warmth and love as we honoured this visionary man. John will be missed and his legacy will live on through ICO.

John said it best, “remember,…..above all, we are friends working together.”

ICO 2020 Update

By Linda McCarron

While most of us were incredibly happy to see 2020 come to an end, I cannot help but reflect on the endless opportunities it brought to offer compassion, render assistance, and focus on personal growth. ICO was fortunate to welcome more than 30 new pro bono professionals to the organization in 2020. In a year of chaos many people sought out ways to give, whether through volunteer service, financial donations, or emotional support to others. Our efforts, both large and small, had a meaningful impact.

Our initiative leads met with a year of uncertainty as Covid-19 impacted communities around the world. With much creativity and collaboration, our volunteers and donors determined the best path forward. Some chose to delay projects, some chose to redirect funds to support COVID-19 relief efforts, and some forged ahead in a modified capacity. We applaud the teams for their agility and resourcefulness during this difficult time.

Communities around the world benefited once again from the generosity of our donors and community sponsors. Preliminary financial results for 2020 shows total donation revenue of $347k, which is up slightly from prior year’s $346k. As always, 100 percent of those dollars went directly to our initiatives. Other revenue increased by approximately $8k due mostly to the renegotiation of the lease of Banfield House. A portion of the additional cash flow will be internally restricted for our building fund, which will cover portions of our long-term capital plan. Administrative and operating costs were $112k and were higher than prior year due mostly to a $6.5k donation made by ICO to “Our Place Society” for Covid-19 relief efforts. Our Place Society operates nine locations serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens, including people struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use issues, the working poor, and impoverished seniors.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our wonderful volunteer team members and Board members who give so generously of their time throughout the year. Warm wishes to each of you for good health and much happiness in 2021.

Linda McCarron

Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Highlights from our Global Initiatives – 2020

2020 was a challenging year everywhere. With a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, many people were concerned for their well-being and the well-being of their friends around the world. Our volunteers worked hard to support our initiatives, albeit perhaps in a different manner.

Here are some highlights submitted to us from around the world:

In Nepal, the team was able to provide a coop along with 110 chickens for a mother of 2, who had recently lost her husband to COVID. With this setup, made possible by donations and the team, she is now able to have a business so she can provide for her family. Their annual “Days for Girls” event was also able to be held with all attendees wearing masks. A lot of food and hygiene supplies have also been distributed to help people in need struggling from the impact of COVID-19. In the Kaski district the schools have reopened and ICO has now resumed paying for sponsored students’ school expenses, as well as committing to supplying computers to the Kaski highschools once the proper facilities, software and teachers are in place.

Equipo La Casita in Guatemala has responded to the hunger crisis over the last ten months with a food distribution program for over 200 of the neediest families. La Casita has also been able to reinstate their lunch social for 25 of the elderly women in the area as well as providing socially-distant learning in small groups for the children. They are also looking to identify more scholarship students that they could help this coming year. In San Pedro, the scholarship students were able to work online and funding originally given for travel was used for internet cafe costs. Of the 7 sponsored San Pedro students, two finished high school and two finished university. Throughout this tough year, volunteers also distributed extra food to the poorest people living in surrounding mountain villages. They were able to help 20 of the poorest families in the communities by building chicken coops and providing chickens and grain to each of the families.
In Tanzania, the Bukoba School Sponsorship Initiative was able to continue to cover academic and living costs (in the order of $7,000 US/year). The orphans that are sponsored through the project are all advancing and will be continuing to pursue their education in 2021. In Nyamhunga, plans to start building earthquake resistant houses were delayed due to COVID, however, it is anticipated that construction should be complete by Q4 of 2021. A video documentary will also be made to show how the manufacturing of the blocks for the houses and the construction process is done.
The Myanmar Computer Lab initiative is 20% of the way towards having the money needed to start building another new computer lab.
In Rwanda more children were brought into schooling than ever before as well as over 60 adults received schooling or vocational training. 22 young mothers were trained in nutrition and reproduction and 70 mothers participated in a 3-day Reproductive health education course. On top of this, 75 cooking fires have been replaced with smoke-free stoves and 163 basic food packages were provided to desperate mothers during the shutdown caused by COVID.
In Guinea the Kobian Matoto Bountouraby Sylla School gained a new field lead and, despite the Initiative leads having to cancel their trip to Guinea where they would have on-boarded the new field lead, the team has been able to focus on their shared passion for education and collaboration despite being in different parts of the world. They all look forward to further developing their bonds and eventually getting back to seeing everyone in person.