What does it take to make it happen? – Helping Irma Bejdic

THE STORY

“I don’t know who she is, I haven’t met her…” said Carlos Botero, an AIESEC alumnus from Venezuela when referring to Irma Bejdic, a national board member of AIESEC Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“But the way I got to know about her and her tragedy showed me the power of  AIESEC and its alumni network, so I just decided to step up and help.”

Carlos is currently living in Prague, Czech Republic, as many AIESECers tend to move from one part of the world to another, but thanks to this network and modern technology he got to know about Irma’s situation from a Colombian AIESEC alum also living in Prague who told him about it.

“We were in a pub when my friend Jorge Vacca told me about the accident Irma suffered. He learned about it that same day after he received an e-mail from AIESEC Colombia asking for help.”

Irma lost her right arm and suffered severe head injuries in August 2011 in the terrible accident of the Study Tour bus following the International Congress of AIESEC held in Kenya, the same accident that took the life of the president of AIESEC Bolivia, Elmer Pérez Requiz.

Since then, Irma has undergone several plastic surgeries. Her friends and fellow AIESECers decided to help her and started this fundraising campaign for her next phases of her treatment, which include facial reconstruction and an artificial arm.

The Solution

“I knew everyone in our network would like to help. The challenge was how to make more people aware of Irma’s story so they would contribute.”

The first step was to build a website, www.aiesecerknows.com, where AIESECers can get information on the fundraising background and the different ways they can send their contribution which include paying online with a credit/debit card or sending a bank transfer.

This website is also something that people can share with others so they can learn more about Irma to get the funds faster.  Since the website was launched (April 27, 2012), and with AIESEC’s and AAI’s support, already more than 500 contributors from dozens of countries around the world have come to Irma’s help for her recovery.

HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW (“ThE 10-10 STRATEGY”)

The response from the network is really impressive!  In this short time we have raised more than €20K, which is about 15% of what is needed.  It’s a fantastic start, but the word needs to spread to all alumni so Irma can get the help she needs.”

If you are reading this and you want to help, this is what you can do:

  1. Go to www.aiesecerknows.com and donate  €10 (NOTE: any amount, smaller or bigger, will be of great help).
  2. Share this post with your friends on Facebook and other social media by clicking on the buttons that are below the pictures shown below.
  3. Share this article personally and individually with 10 other people you believe will be willing to help and ask those people to do exactly the same (i.e., donate €10 and share this article with another 10 people)!   NOTE: It is important to share this personally and individually to avoid the message getting stuck in spam filters.

The title of this message reads “What does it take to make it happen?”

“The answer is the strong network of people that we already have. We are one of the most impressive global networks in history!  The network just needs to learn about this, and after that I’m sure everyone will help.  Irma is counting on that…”

Click the buttons below to share this on FB and other social media!

For more information and donations go to:
www.aiesecerknows.com

8 replies on “What does it take to make it happen? – Helping Irma Bejdic”

  1. I know we all can help Irma – i don’t know her but i know this could happen to any of us. Remember what we all learned; the more we give – the more we get. And the feeling of helping somebody is simply the BEST, you know that ….

  2. adminRodrigo Bravo says:

    Glad to have contributed to Irma’s recovery and even a cousin who resides in Munich (not a member of AIESEC), was moved by this tragedy and made a donation herself.

    I am just curious as to why no fund was developed for Elmer’s family. After all the Perez family lost a son and transportation and funeral services must have cost a lot of money.

    1. Thank you, Rodrigo, for your contribution and words of support. More than 650 AIESECers and non-AIESECers have already stepped up to help Irma through this campaign run by AIESEC in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is supported by AIESEC-related entities worldwide including AAI.

      Please know that, shortly after the tragic accident in Kenya, AIESEC in Bolivia ran a global campaign to support Elmer’s family, and that campaign was also supported AIESEC-related entities worldwide including AAI. You may read more about it here: http://www.aiesec-alumni.org/News_files/AAI-Newsletter-August2011.pdf.

  3. Thank you for your contribution and words of support. More than 650 AIESECers and non-AIESECers have already stepped up to help Irma through this campaign run by AIESEC in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is supported by AIESEC-related entities worldwide including AAI.

    Please know that, shortly after the tragic accident in Kenya, AIESEC in Bolivia ran a global campaign to support Elmer’s family, and that campaign was also supported AIESEC-related entities worldwide including AAI. You may read more about it here: http://www.aiesec-alumni.org/News_files/AAI-Newsletter-August2011.pdf.

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