November—december 2021
#GivingTuesday is upon us!
And everything we raise between now and the end of the year goes directly to the Education of the girls at TAGS. Tuition, books, room and board, you name it. You can donate through the Tali Fund, directly or, if you time it just right, beginning at 11 am EST on Tuesday, November 30, our partners at the One World Children’s Fund will match, for a limited time, individual gifts of up to $1000. Here is the link for OWCF gifts—and be right on time to get the match!
Other news: TAGS held its Annual Girls Summit in October. TAGS hosted other local shelters with programs of teaching, along with activities focusing on life skills, trauma recovery, healthy communications, and more. Here’s one picture.
Annual Girls Summit, Nairobi | October, 2021
You can see the rest of them, which speak for themselves, right here. (Recommend you just start the slide show. It’s an icloud.com/keynote link and presentation and it’s in view-only mode so don’t worry if they ask for a name to collaborate. Any name will do. Let me know if you need help accessing it and we’ll try another way. Thanks!)
Oh—and here is a message from Erin Shattuck, an American volunteer from Florida, who participated and helped sponsor the Summit: “Hi, everyone! My name's Erin and I'm 24, just returning from a two-month trip to Kenya. While I was there, I had the opportunity to tour the TAGS facility, meet the staff, and build relationships. The shelter absolutely blew me away. It was clear how thought out it was to make it the best environment and program for the girls. From teaching the girls how to make bread, to having a game room and chill lounge, to having a counselor on staff, it was clear Edith and the team has given it 110% from day one. Later that day I met Edith and her story - and passion - is pretty unbeatable. Listening to her heart and love for the girls is both incredible and inspiring.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Annual Girls’ Summit, a new program that will hopefully be growing with each consecutive one. I helped facilitate team-building games, one of my favorite things to do. The girls also participated in art therapy, group discussions, and even a visit from a national minister in the Ministry of Education and Gender Equality! Edith and I have dreams of expanding to include many other shelters across Kenya, increase the number and length of program. My work with TAGS and CDTD was brief this trip but laid the groundwork for many big, future plans! Can’t wait to see what future Girls’ Summits will look like!
So many organizations go for quantity—because that’s where funding comes from. The bigger the numbers, the better it looks and the more money comes in. What amazed me probably most about TAGS was the extent they strive for investing in each individual. A girl might stay for years, and she is invested in every single day from mentorship to the schooling that will help her achieve her goal to extracurriculars like Girls’ Summits. It absolutely amazed me.”
Thank you, Erin! And we look forward to your next visit to TAGS, tentatively scheduled for April.
We previously announced the creation of the TAGS Education Fund in Nairobi. Local professionals, inspired by the work of Edith Murogo and her staff, are committing themselves to be fundraisers for the education of the girls. It is a wonderful development and needless to say, we are honored to have them as partners. Here’s a sneak preview of their beta website.
Okay, all for the moment. Here’s one more short video to take you on your way:
TAGS’ mission—evolving and growing
thank you!
September 2021
It has been a busy and productive summer at the Talia Agler Girls Shelter. There are two major developments to report. The first, drum roll please, is that the Tali Fund has received a major gift to go towards the purchase of a permanent home for TAGS!
Two recent American visitors to the Shelter in Kenya, who were already supporters of TAGS and the work of Edith Murogo and her staff, were impressed enough by their in-person visit to take it to the next level. (The donors prefer to remain anonymous for the time being.)
We are overwhelmed by this life-changing gift (for the girls, primarily!) and will be sharing further details and plans for a permanent home soon. In the meantime, congratulations to every supporter of the Tali Fund who has helped sustain and strengthen the Shelter’s program to enable us to reach this milestone!
In addition, a new group, “The TAGS Educational Fund” has been formed in Nairobi. Comprised of local business and professional leaders, they will be reaching into the community and asking donors to “Adopt a Talia” (as the phrase has it. ;-) They are looking to sponsor tuition, room, and board to help the girls to continue with their educations. It is wonderful to see how the local community in Nairobi appreciates the importance of the work of the Shelter—and how well it is being done. Contributions to the Tali Fund will continue to support educational and vocational training, as well as other needs, for the girls at TAGS.
Edith Murogo reports that among this year’s grantors are:
The Global Fund for Women – this is a second grant and signifies that the GFW has confidence in the work of CDTD–TAGS.
NoVo Foundation – has funded CDTD for seven years continuously and has recently ‘handed’ over CDTD–TAGS to its sister organization, The Tides Foundation, the biggest Fiscal Donor in the world. The Tides Foundation support will come from its Advancing Girls Portfolio.
Finally for the moment, it turns out that TAGS is a beacon for “how to do it right” and its reputation extends beyond Kenya’s borders. In recent months official visitors from Ethiopia and Uganda have visited the Shelter with an eye towards learning what they can and bringing TAGS’ “best practices” to their own countries. Once again, we are proud of the work being done by Edith and her amazing staff.
June 2021
Thanks to one and all for the great success of the matching fund drive. The $10,000 challenge was matched and then some! Our deepest gratitude.
We are also thrilled to announce that the Global Fund for Women has taken on the Talia Agler Girls Shelter as a sponsee. Watch this space for further details coming soon.
May 2021
Anonymous donor offers to match contributions
to the Tali Fund up to a total of $10,000 USD!
Yes, that is correct! For the next month, beginning 5/20/21, gifts to the Tali Fund will be effectively doubled! The main need at the Talia Agler Girls Shelter right now is educational expenses, including tuition, books, room and board, etc. We know how important education is in laying the foundation for a successful and independent life. This extraordinary support will help TAGS’ residents grow into the people they wish to become. You can donate right here. Thank you!
COVID-19 continues to be an issue throughout Africa. Among other things, the virus has deeply impacted the ability of the CDTD, TAGS' parent organization, to operate and raise funds normally.
We remain grateful for the support of the Tides Foundation and the NoVo Foundation, whose continuing sponsorship has been essential during these difficult days.
February 2021
Big News!
The Thomson Reuters Foundation has named CDTD—TAGS
one of three organizations worldwide to be shortlisted for the 2021 Stop Slavery Collaboration Award!
From the TRF press release:
Recognizing the wide range of actors dedicated to ending the scourge of modern slavery and human trafficking, the Thomson Reuters Foundation unveiled the 28 candidates shortlisted for its annual Stop Slavery Awards – after receiving a record number of applications.
. . . The shortlist for the Stop Slavery Collaboration Award honoring collaborative programs that have had a tangible impact is:
As those who have been following the work of the Talia Agler Girls Shelter and our parent organization, the Centre for Domestic Training and Development know, TAGS’ residents have been rescued from the likes of human trafficking, sexual abuse, child labor, domestic violence, and forced migration. These are often, effectively, equivalent to being held in the clutches of slavery. At the Shelter they are given the opportunity to receive education and training and to go on to lead full lives.
Thank you to Thomson Reuters for this singular recognition—and, of course, to Edith Murogo and her staff for their matchless work and dedication. Some three hundred nominations were originally made. 11 countries worldwide are represented among the shortlisted honorees in the various categories. CDTD—TAGS is the only organization from the African continent. Shortlisted nominees in other categories include major global corporations. We are in distinguished company indeed.
Thank you, once again to one and all, for journeying with us and
Saving the World—One Life at a Time.
Mindy and Richard Agler
Co-Directors, The Tali Fund