Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Kildeer resident works to improve world

Kildeer+resident+works+to+improve+world

The Center for Global Initiatives (CGI) has a mission “to change the world, one patient at a time.” CGI is a locally based organization that helps programs around the world to improve access to healthcare in under-served communities, according to the organization’s website.

Dr. Chris Stout, Kildeer resident, started CGI in 2007, with the hope of supporting others who want to start projects or organizations themselves. CGI currently has projects around the world, in Bolivia, Benin, Tanzania, India, and Cambodia.

            “Our main objective is to help people realize that we’re here for other people to maintain their own projects. We’re here to support others,” Stout said. “The CGI is not very extensive; every project we do is because someone asked us to help.”

            Ninety-five percent of CGI’s projects are the result of invitations to contribute to new projects, according to the organization’s website.

After CGI gets involved with a struggling program, they help the program grow and become self sustaining. Then the CGI workers serve as consultants and fulfill the new program’s needs for things such as materials or medicine, according to the website. Also CGI helps the new programs gain funding, provides skill training, and generally helps plans become reality.

           With these broad terms of service for the organization, one aspect Stout likes to focus on for his projects is children.

            “I think kids are the most easily victimized and need others to look out for them,” Stout said. “When I did my preliminary training [in psychology], I worked mostly with kids.”

            Stout also urges high school students to start volunteering as soon as possible. In fact, CGI is completely based on volunteers.

            “We’re a 100 percent volunteer organization,” Stout said. “No one gets paid.”

            Tom McCaffrey is one of the adult volunteers who has helped CGI get where it is today.

            “I helped craft a mission statement and strategy [for CGI],” McCaffrey said. “I’m mostly a supporter of Chris. I also give him financial support. I’m just one of a small circle of people he reaches out to.”

But helping Stout isn’t the only reason McCaffrey chooses to volunteer.

            “I think volunteering is a joy and also a responsibility for everyone,” McCaffrey said. “It helps me live a life of meaning and purpose.”

*contributions by Josie Bonefas

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