PROJECTS

Deep River Tribe

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

> About Deep River Tribe > See Photos

Mission Statement

Gone are the days of basic donation and support. These tired models no longer work in a world that is changing as quickly as it is being built. Utilizing the ingenuity of youth with the technology of tomorrow, Deep River Tribe has set its sights on addressing the worlds most pressing issues and desperate situations. Deep River Tribe is Creative Activism for the Global Community.

Pilot Project

Deep River Tribe was formed in 2006 and launched our first campaign at the University of Virginia. The response was overwhelming. The key? The students were not being told how to raise money and awareness. They were educated on a real world problem that they could address with immediacy and decisive action. The rest was up to them. Not only in regard to fundraising but how they could develop sustainable answers to questions that puzzle the world’s best government and non-government agencies.

Their assignment was to raise funds to help build a well for the Esibonisweni Primary School in rural South Africa. The students were supplied with basic information about the region such as the lack of clean water being the leading cause of disease, death, poverty and instability in the developing world. The construction of the well would immediately reduce the amount of water born disease in the community, increasing the health and well being for thousands of people.

The students began educating and recruiting their peers to take part in the process. From there, the participation compounded daily with new ideas on how they could help raise money. They did this by figuring out ways to integrate their efforts into their everyday lives. Having meetings while eating dinner with one another, hosting parties and donating the proceeds to the water project. The notion that their actions were having a Deep River Tribe on people half a world away had an infectious result. This group of dedicated students convinced Best Buy to donate a video camera so they could record the process, had local businesses give of their time and resources and in the end raised eight thousand dollars.

Back to Top

Student Mobilization & Outreach (Connect, Inform, Act)

Deep River Tribe with our NGO partners, will identify relief projects that require either: fiscal sponsorship, creative technology or volunteer assistance.

Connect — Initially, specially selected students will use community websites such as Facebook, Myspace and YouTube to direct one another to the Deep River Tribe website.

Inform — The fully interactive Deep River Tribe website will be up very soon. It will contain:

• The Deep River Tribe mission statement with videos of the week, latest news, etc..
• Create a Tribe.
• Find a project.
• Project breakdowns including participating schools and their contacts.
• Video blog page.
• A calendar of Deep River Tribe related events.
• Information about congressional domestic and foreign policy initiatives, especially related to projects.
• A comprehensive contact list by city and state of federal and local representatives.
• Student Handbook / Fundraising techniques.
• Deep River Tribe merchandise.
• Friends of the tribe.
• About / Who we are / Contact.

Act — Student efforts will vary but will always enjoy the ability to become larger in scale. This will depend on the participants and the creative resources they invent for themselves. Deep River Tribe predicts a healthy competitiveness between schools that will propel the level of resourcefulness and originality.

Fundraising for sustainable communities and organizations

Deep River Tribe will help identify different organizations and communities that are in need of fiscal sponsorship and help the students discern the most sustainable way to lend their support. Disposable cameras will be sent with return postage so the students and everyone that donated can see the impact they are making 10,000 miles away.

• Volunteer opportunities

Deep River Tribe will assist individuals who want to go beyond their campus and travel to a community or organization they feel connected to as a result of a project at their school or as a result of something they learned on the website. Whenever possible, the volunteers will maintain a blog on the Deep River Tribe website about their experience.

• Green technology & agriculture innovations

Back to Top

Deep River Tribe encourages students to take their achievements from the classroom and make them a reality.

Africa, with 13% of the world's population, is projected to see 34% of the globe's population increase over the next 50 years. Therefore, a partnership is imperative between the West and the entire continent. If industries are not created with this in mind, there will be disastrous effects on the eco-system for the world community.

Students can engineer rainwater systems, create home designs with recycled and natural materials or figure out low cost ways to utilize solar, water and wind power for industries, schools, businesses and homes.

For example, a student can develop a vehicle with a renewable fuel source so people can get to a job in a nearby town and back to their village. In poor communities family life is often interrupted by the need to provide. Thus, technology enables family members the opportunity to provide, while living at home.

Deep River Tribe has even coined a new term in regard to reusable resources! Transcycle. Everyday, hundreds of freighters come into ports all over the United States, many originating in Africa. These ships often make their return voyage with empty containers. Students can start campaigns to encourage the freighting company or the corporation that leased the container to allow a minimal amount of donated goods to travel back to their country of origin.

A unique aspect to our green initiative is how the students can reduce their own ecological footprint by applying what they learn right here at home. They will also educate and inform their peers and the greater community with events and forums that profile their accomplishments.

Non Profit Status

Deep River Tribe has secured 501c3 non-profit status for all fundraising. This has been provided through the fiscal sponsorship of the Creative Visions Foundation.

Impact

Harnessing technology, media and the resourcefulness of youth, Deep River Tribe believes that we can make a huge impact, worldwide.

This experience will inform our future lawmakers, educators, entrepreneurs and artists.

It is about changing the way that young people look at volunteerism. By making it part of their vernacular, this new form of reality content could inspire a generation to be an active part of their global community.

TO LEARN MORE OR TO START A TRIBE ON YOUR CAMPUS PLEASE EMAIL US AT: info@deeprivertribe.org

What Can You Do?
Every facet of this project needs funding. Whatever you can do to help, Deep River Tribe thanks you!

Creative Visions is a 501c3 non-profit organization acting as fiscal agent for Deep River Tribe. Your donation is fully tax-deductible.

BE SURE TO PUT “ Deep River Tribe” IN THE NOTES ON THE DONATIONS PAGE.

To watch a movie and learn more about the Esibonisweni Primary School please click here.

ONLINE DONATIONS can be made using Visa or Mastercard > go to donate page. Click donate and type " Deep River Tribe" in the memo on the credit card form.

Click here to see more photos.

Back to Top