Background

Aid organizations has historically thought that we, most of the time western aid organizations, do best in going down to counties "in need" starting projects based on what we believe that they want and need.

Frustration over seeing allot of money being badly managed and non successful projects due to lack of knowledge about the local traditions, current happenings and ways of thinking, a group of friends started a fundraising organization supporting local individuals and organizations.

Butterfly Effect was created by an engaged group of friends, most of whom have been working in many parts of the world in different ways. The founder and current chairwoman, Carina Hansen, has been working as a volunteer on and off since the mid 1990s. Amongst other roles, she has documented the work of nonprofit organizations in different countries and in 1998, worked in a refugee camp during the war in Angola. She has also been a teacher and group leader for other volunteers working in similar roles.

The idea to found Butterfly Effect started to grow when Carina met Paul Alita in Kampala, Uganda.

The following are Carina's personal observations:
- Not even when I was working in a refugee camp in Angola during the war did I see this kind of brutal living. Violence, rape, drugs, disease and famine are realities these street kids face every single day.

- While I was studying to become a registered nurse (RN) I got the opportunity to go to Uganda to conduct research. In Kampala I met Paul Alitia the founder of Peace for children in Africa (PCA), a nonprofit organization that runs a home for street children and two other projects. During my two months in Uganda, I spent time with Paul, the children in the house, as well as other street children living in the slums of Kampala who are involved with PCA's Outreach Project.

- I was deeply impressed by the effort Paul devoted to his work and the passion he has for the children involved with PCA. I also saw how he struggled with all the expenses from running the home for 24 children, as well as the outreach program to help children still living on the streets.

- The children involved with PCA are provided with basic needs including food, clothing, shelter, first aid and security. PCA aims to put as many kids as possible through school but with school fees and required school supplies, it is difficult.

- The kids are also taught skills that they can work with throughout their lives such as art, woodcarving and farming. This brings in a small income to the house as the carvings and necklaces that the children make are sold. In addition, the products from keeping a small farm with vegetable garden, cornfield and goats give the children fresh and nutritious food.

- Paul runs PCA solely on hard work with help from a few volunteers, a small income from the art sold and donations from the people he meets.

Butterfly Effect is hoping to help Paul get more children off of the streets, away from poverty and violence and towards a better and brighter future.
As a member YOU will make a difference for someone in need.