Falling Whistles gives a small window into our world’s largest war. Originally just a journal written about boys sent to the frontlines of war armed with only a whistle, readers forwarded it with the same kind of urgency in which it was written and demanded to know –
what can we do?
The Falling Whistles campaign launched with a simple response - make their weapon your voice and be a whistleblower for peace in Congo. Read the story and buy the whistle. Proceeds go to rehabilitate and advocate for war-affected children. Share their story and speak up for them.
Together, we'll become the voice of a growing coalition for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Contact us, we'd love to hear from you.
Wait, there’s a war in Congo?
The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to the world’s largest and most deadly war. During the past 10 years, roughly 6 million people have died, and nearly 1,500 people continue to lose their lives daily. Sexual violence is more rampant here than anywhere else in the world, and thousands of children are involved in the war. Why?
There are a number of reasons, dating back over a century. However, most of the conflict is tied directly to the country's vast natural resources. They are both a blessing and a curse, making Congo a country of great potential and a frequent victim of exploitation. The minerals found in Congo are used in consumer electronics, including laptops and cell phones. While many benefit from the mineral trade, it is the Congolese people who bear the consequences of a conflict that sustains profitable mining enterprise.
A combination of unstable governance, a history of bitterness between local groups, and international interest in Congo makes this situation one of the most complicated on the planet. It is this complexity that has left the current systems in place largely ineffective. A new approach is needed.
Alright, so what’s your plan?
The Falling Whistles story reveals two urgent needs:
1. Children escaping the war-region.
2. Children forced to the frontlines of war.
The escaped children are often traumatized and have few options for survival. The result is that they are regularly pulled back into the cycle of war. In Congo we are developing partnerships with community leaders who are rehabilitating these children through education, art, sports, music, human rights education, vocational skills training, medical treatment and nutritional services. Each organization is working to give children the tools to be whistleblowers and stand for peace within the war-region.
Because of security concerns, we cannot expose the names of these organizations at this time. We are working toward healthy and sustainable relationships and look forward to the day when we can show you the physical results of your partnership.
To help the children forced to the frontlines of war, the war must end. The first step toward that goal is to change the way we advocate in the West. Sold out of pockets, living rooms, garages, concerts, warehouses and retail stores, the whistle gives you the opportunity to spread the word about Congo and speak up for peace. Wear your protest and elevate the conversation.
Here's what you can do to help
Finances
I want to know more about my money. How are you spending it?
Your money is valuable to us and we take your partnership seriously. That is why we make sure 100% of the proceeds from your whistle will be used to restore the lives of war-affected kids through rehabilitation programs and stateside advocacy.
This answers the question: How do we help?
As individuals and as an organization we are deeply committed to restoring the lives of war-affected children to stop the cycle of violence inside our world's deadliest war. Since learning about the size of the conflict in Congo and reading the Falling Whistles story, we have all left our previous jobs to become whistleblowers for peace. In an effort to be completely transparent throughout our partnership, we want to be very honest about any income we receive from the campaign.
We live simply so others can simply live. Most of us volunteer and two of us receive $500 per month as a stipend for food and gas. Our goal is for every dime you donate to go directly toward solving this global problem, and we are moving steadily in that direction by pursuing donations specifically for overhead expenses. Thank you again for your partnership, we don't take it lightly and will be putting your donation to good use.
Our first annual financial report will be compiled at the end of our first fiscal year and will then be posted publicly on our website.
With all whistle proceeds going into programs, we are in constant need of donors willing to support the campaign. Please contact us if you’d like to help finance our growing awareness and administrative costs.
Are you a Non-Profit?
Yes, Falling Whistles is 501(c)(3) Charitable Non-Profit Organization. Our Tax ID# is 26-3069105.
Is my donation tax deductable?
Yes, but ...
Alright, you asked for it, so no complaining. Still, please beware: The following language is dense and boring and long. Our lawyer says it is important though, so we will bow out and post it instead of engaging him in an argument that is equally dense and boring.
"When the IRS approves a timely filed exemption application, exempt status is recognized back to the date the organization was created. Thus, while an application is pending, the organization can treat itself as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3). However, contributors to the organization do not have advance assurance of deductibility because the organization’s exemption is pending. If the organization ultimately qualifies for exemption for the period in which the contribution is made, the contribution will be tax-deductible by the donor. Alternatively, if the organization ultimately does not qualify for exemption, then the contribution will not be tax deductible.''
Additionally, large donations can be channeled through our sponsor non-profit for a tax receipt in the interim.
So, who are you really?
We are a growing coalition of whistleblowers. We don't have all the answers, but we know that speaking up is usually the first. We are individuals of every color and creed pursuing freedom in the face of opposition, toward a goal many call impossible - peace in Congo. Most of us give what we can with what we have. These three give those talents direction ...
Sean Carasso, Vagabond Scribe
An avid adventurer, Sean has spent much of his life pulling diverse communities together. After starting a number of small companies and grassroots initiatives, he traveled the world with an entrepreneur turned philanthropist, while volunteering alongside Invisible Children and TOMS Shoes. In late 2007, he journeyed into the Democratic Republic of Congo on what was meant to be a short stop. It was there he heard of children too small to carry a gun, who were sent to the front lines of war armed with only a whistle. The Falling Whistles campaign was born in response to a small journal entry he wrote that night. Sean continues to pursue a deeper understanding of our collective liberty and dreams of a free world. These topics are inevitably intertwined in his writing, speaking, and conversations.
David Lewis, Supertramp
A southern boy at heart with a free spirited childhood, David is native to the hills and rivers of northern Alabama. After studying electrical engineering and working for a chemical manufacturer, he hit the open road to rediscover his love for new places and absorb the vast cultures of his homeland. He spent the next couple years traveling America and inspiring young people to take an active role in the affairs of their world. When FW had no money, he again hit the road with two pieces of luggage and thumbs to match, doing whatever it took to reach a listening ear. David is charged with building a global coalition to stand for peace in Congo. With a rare dedication to individuals, he believes whistleblowing is done best when people realize their dreams and use them toward the greater good.
Jonathan Carr, Whistles While He Works
Jonathan is from Texas and makes sure all of his California friends know it. A natural entrepreneur, he grew a business directly out of college for three years. When he first read Falling Whistles on his iPhone, he knew it was time to do more. He never imagined that would mean running a non-profit. In the summer of 2008 he sold his business in Houston and packed a car for Los Angeles. His goal was to take the practical and financial skills gained in the business world and incorporate them into a sustainable non-profit model. Jon keeps our team on course with his relentless focus and gut-busting sense of humor. When he isn't building communication mechanisms or accounting protocol, he also has a strange love for short, exhausting trips to the far corners of the world. One day he hopes to dogsled to the North Pole.
Monique Beadle, Advocacy Coordinator
Washington D.C. plays by its own rules. It is a city where complex laws, personalities and financial interests deeply affect our lives and the lives of our friends in Congo. That is why we have Monique. Born and raised in New Orleans, Monique is a third-generation Holocaust survivor. When she finished college, people asked what she would do with a Bachelors in Anthropology. "Go to law school!" she answered. And so she did, earning a JD from American University and becoming a member of the D.C. Bar. She has worked in Thailand and China as a champion for human rights and in the process has become an unashamed international law nerd. Monique has advised peace negotiators in Sri Lanka & the Philippines, won asylum for seven refugee women fleeing genital mutilation and forced marriage, and lobbied for the closure of Guantanamo Bay before the United Nations Human Rights Committee. With Dav unwilling to cut his hair, and Sean consistently on the road, Monique now spearheads FW's legislative advocacy on behalf of the people of Congo. Her latest work includes leadership in a campaign to stop the illegal import of conflict minerals from rebel and military-controlled mines. When she isn't pounding the pavement of Capitol Hill, you might find her in with her husband Joshua at their Bethesda home cooking bountiful Shabbat dinners. Bottom line - she cooks good food and is real smart. We're honored to have her on the team.