I am turning 27 on April 13. What does that mean exactly? When I was in Ghana staying in the villages with Videre's entrepreneurs, most of the locals did not know their age or birthdays because they were illiterate. They knew that perhaps they were born around the time when yams were planted. But every year, their birthday only meant another day's struggle to feed their families, get clean drinking water, and pay for their children to go to school.

This year, I want my birthday to make up for some of the birthdays they never got to celebrate. I have personally trained and given loans to Videre's entrepreneurs. A small loan can help a local entrepreneur double their earnings, from $1 a day to $2 a day. So for my birthday, I want to give the hope and freedom of receiving a loan to those who have never received a birthday gift.

Here are examples of what my 27th birthday can give to an entrepreneur:

Your gift on my 27th birthday can give:

• 5 live pigs ($533) to Ladi, a pork seller.
• 1 finishing machine ($167) to Philip, a tailor.
• 60 bowls of okra ($180) to Nlejibi, a seller of cooking ingredients.
• 1 storefront ($445) to Alhassan, an electrician starting his own shop.
• 8 bags of rice ($341) to Comfort, a rice processor and seller.

Help me raise $2000 for my 27th birthday to give hope to local entrepreneurs in northern Ghana.

A gift of just $20 from 100 people will help me reach my goal!