Extending a Helping Hand to Americans Living Overseas Through Technology
Living in a foreign country far away from family and friends can be a lonely experience. But when living in a foreign country becomes dangerous because of domestic abuse, the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVCC) is a critical lifeline. AODVCC provides resources and tools to navigate the complicated jurisdictional legal and social international landscapes for lives free of abuse. In 2011 alone, AOVDC received 2,305 calls to its crisis line and helped 477 families in 67 different countries.
Having access to current technology tools is critical to the families in desperate need of help in the 175 countries where AODVCC's services are available. A donation of Microsoft Office, Visual Studio with MSDN Professional, and Intuit QuickBooks Premier has been vital to increasing the organization's impact.
Support from TechSoup was channeled into a global reach campaign in six European countries. Microsoft Office tools were used to develop marketing materials that increased international volunteer recruitment and materials for a fundraising campaign. MSDN Professional provided the means to build a secure online database for safely connecting AODVCC's global network of volunteers. And these changes were just the beginning of a much larger plan to help a dispersed global community feel supported and less alone.
