Episode 403: Justin Wren - Fight For The Forgotten
Jul 23, 2024
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Justin Wren, advocate for Pygmy Tribe, discusses building hospital in Congo, challenges providing clean water, sharing inspirational stories, and empowering positive impact through matching donations.
Justin Wren's journey showcases resilience in overcoming challenges for humanitarian work.
Justin emphasizes empowering communities through sustainability, education, and independence.
Project focuses on environmental sustainability, sharing knowledge, and expanding to empower more communities.
Deep dives
Building Sustainable Communities
The project focuses on building sustainable communities by addressing key needs like land, clean water, food, healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihoods. Initiatives include providing land for sustainable farming, constructing wells with long-term solutions, and developing vocational training programs for adults and children.
Community Impact and Development
The project emphasizes the empowerment and development of communities through a phased approach. Key elements involve creating community learning gardens, teaching essential life skills like farming and tree pruning, and ensuring community involvement in the maintenance and sustainability of infrastructure projects for future growth.
Environmental Sustainability and Open Source Sharing
The project focuses on ensuring environmental sustainability by incorporating biodegradable sanitation systems and rainwater harvesting. Additionally, it aims to promote open-source sharing of knowledge and best practices to empower other NGOs and communities in building successful, self-sustaining projects.
Expansion and Blueprint for Future Projects
Future plans include expanding operations to neighboring nations like Rwanda and Burundi to empower more marginalized communities. With a blueprint developed from the first community, the project aims to reduce errors and enhance its impact in subsequent endeavors, emphasizing inclusivity and collaborative partnerships for lasting change.
Supporting Healthcare Infrastructure in Remote Africa
Building infrastructure like hospitals in remote Africa requires significant funds, with estimates reaching $4.7 million for a 56,000 square foot hospital. This investment not only provides healthcare for 5000 people but also essential services like clean water, education, and market opportunities, uplifting entire communities. Through strategic partnerships and matching donation schemes, the project aims to increase impact and create sustainable change.
Sustainable Fundraising Strategies and Impactful Donations
The podcast highlights the power of matching donations and long-term impact investments in philanthropic projects. A story of a generous donor named Paul Milburn showcases how endowments can continue supporting causes even after the donor's passing, creating a lasting impact. By engaging in speaking engagements, leveraging sponsorships, and fostering community involvement, the project exemplifies how diverse fundraising tactics can amplify contributions and sustain impactful initiatives.
Thirteen years ago, Justin went to the Congo in hopes of providing clean water for the Pygmy Tribe. The journey began with six failed wells, led to multiple bouts with malaria, and life threatening hikes in search of water. Justin’s life story is full of examples of overcoming what many would consider insurmountable hurdles, which is why he has gotten to where he is today. Justin and his team at Fight For the Forgotten (FFTF) will soon break ground on a new hospital to go along with the wells, farms, trees, sanitation and training they have provided. Justin believes strongly in providing opportunities along with teaching independence, which is a huge reason FFTF has been so successful.
Justin is a humanitarian and the founder of Fight For The Forgotten, he is a former professional MMA fighter for the UFC. He competed in season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, is a two time All-American and National Champion Greco Roman Wrestler. Justin is about to break ground on a new hospital, which has been a new initiated along with many others that all began by drilling a well in the Congo.
Previous appearance - Episode 231: Justin Wren - Mixed Martial Artist & Fight For The Forgotten
