A very deserving Squamish resident, the co-founder of a local non-profit organization devoted to improving lives in Africa, is in the running for a $25,000 contribution.
Colin Eves and his wife Sandra founded the Sustainability through Agriculture and Micro-Enterprises (SAM) Project to honour his son 17-year-old Sam, who was killed in a violent confrontation in Valleycliffe in March of 2007.
The initiative helps communities and families in Southern Zambia - especially those affected by HIV/AIDS - to become self-sustaining.
Last week, Colin was recognized for his work as a nominee for CBC Canada's Champions of Change contest, which considered 1,353 nominations to come up with a list of 50.
"It's kind of a humbling experience," said Eves. "And really quite an honour and privilege because when you start going through the profiles, it's clear there's a lot of amazing candidates out there and it's an honour to be in that company."
The Eves fled to Africa to heal and find solace after their son's death - a decision that changed their lives and the lives of those they've helped.
Now they spend several months a year in Zambia, funding most of their project out of their own pockets as well as engaging fundraising efforts back in Canada such as SAMapalooza the music festival.
Colin said focusing on bringing good into the world helps forget and forgive the terrible situation that befell his family.
"In a some way, helping [Zambians] make a better life for their children helps to keep Sam close to our hearts," he said.
The contest winners will provide one national endeavour and one international endeavour will receive $25,000 each toward their charity and eight finalists will receive $10,000.
Eves said he was flattered and surprised CBC accepted the nomination, which was submitted by his good friend Greg Foweraker.
Foweraker said Eves's strength in spite of personal tragedy was one of the reasons to nominate him.
"He's witnessed a multitude of personal tragedies amongst the families he works with in Zambia, including the death of young children," said Foweraker.
"For Colin, the SAM project is a way to honour his son and keep his memory alive."
Eves said the community support in Squamish has been amazing.
"In the past three years, we have taken 10 Squamish students to Zambia to see the projects firsthand, and those kids have been instrumental in spreading the word about our efforts and helping with fundraising," he said.
"We have leaned shamelessly on friends and family to assist in the huge number of tasks required to run even a tiny organization like ours, and they have never failed to respond admirably."
The SAM Project helps create local, sustainable enterprises, growing and selling garden crops that help both feed the community and provide ongoing income for individuals, families, and community groups.
The project's proponents don't abide by the one-time handouts that have become so prevalent on the African continent.
"The really challenging part of the problem is how to make a long-lasting impact without merely adding to the trillion dollars of aid that has been spent on the continent," said Eves.
"The SAM Project approach is to make small investments at the village level, supported by the best technical know-how that we can find from our volunteers, other agencies and organizations, and the Internet."
The SAM Project's next undertaking is to establish a garden by a medical clinic that will ideally provide the small Zambian village of Nsongwe with enough food and cash to support the overwhelming number of underweight young children and babies.
"Half the under-five kids in Zambia are stunted due to chronic malnourishment," said Eves. "If we can raise $4,500 by the end of the year, we can drill a well and put in a garden for the Nsongwe clinic."
An independent panel of judges made up of community and volunteer leaders will select the top ten finalists on Nov. 15. Following that announcement the Canadian public will get to vote on which two finalists (one domestic and one international) from the top 10 will be chosen as the two winners of Canada's Champions of Change.
The winners will be revealed on CBC TV News in January 2011, the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteer.
