I love Twitter because it allows me to share and consume information. Whether it’s the protests in Iran or the recent earthquake in Haiti; for me, it’s the number one source of information because it is curated by a community that I trust. It’s the perfect medium to build and activate a community for reasons greater than ourselves.  Another reason I love Twitter is because it helps bring awareness about causes and fundraisers that one would normally not hear about.

I love Twitter because it allows you, me and just about anyone to take action and do something for someone else.

This is Gideon from Tanzania

Please meet Gideon. He is the kid on the right who is reading Twitterville written by my good friend Shel Israel. From what I have been told, he is a dynamic and energetic young kid with a great big heart.  I hope to meet him someday. He also attends Shepherds Jr. School in Arusha, Tanzania which needs financial support.  The tweetup I am hosting next week (January 20^th) is an effort to raise funds not only for Gideon but all of his classmates at his school. Funds raised will go toward a much-needed orphanage/boarding facility at the school. The total estimated cost of the facility is USD $50,000 which will accommodate approximately 50 children. Every $1,000 raised will ensure that one more child has a warm, safe place to call home, with a loving Mama from their community to make nutritious meals and tuck them in at night.

My goal for the tweetup is to raise $2000, at a minimum; and even if you cannot attend – which I hope you will – I would ask that you please click here and make a small donation via paypal.  The great thing about this is that you can track the progress of this project that you are donating to by simply following Gideon’s blog or even interacting with the Twitterkids on Twitter.

Thank you for your support; and you are more than welcome to come to the tweetup next week if you want. You will have an opportunity to meet Shel Israel and purchase an autographed copy of his book.