Hi everybody! Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. My name is Alisha Gagnon, and I am a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in Portland, Maine. For those of you who don't know, SLPs treat communication disorders. You may find me helping a client speak more clearly and precisely, helping them understand what they see/hear, or increasing their knowledge of the social aspects of communication. I feel privileged and blessed to work with students 1-1, and help improve their communication. Everyone has a story to share with the world.

Recently, I was given the life-changing opportunity to travel to Africa, with an organization called Hope Speaks. I will be traveling to Uganda for two weeks in August 2019. Hope Speaks is an organization committed to helping children with disabilities in Kampala, Uganda. 1 in 7 children in Uganda are living with a disability. Hope Speaks’ mission is to provide speech therapy, education, and other services to underserved populations in Uganda. Speech-language pathology professionals, as well as current graduate students, volunteer to travel to Uganda. Volunteers help provide assessment, therapy, and family education. Volunteers help more clients to be seen as soon as possible, so they can begin making progress and lead healthy, empowered lives. The mission of Hope Speaks also includes hosting additional groups who help with service projects, providing food for families, working at children's day camps, and serving in villages.

Every donation is important, and will enable me to be present in Uganda and help children with disabilities. Would you kindly consider making a donation? I would appreciate your willingness to share this with others who may want to participate. Thank you so much for your consideration in donating to this wonderful organization! I am grateful and excited for this opportunity and for your support.