I'm a part of a site called Guampedia.com, an online encyclopedia about Guam. At first blush, it's not a site many of my Zen Habits readers would care about -- most have barely heard of Guam, and few care about a whole encyclopedia on the topic.

But it's an important site. And it needs your help.

Here's why you should care.

Guampedia is about sharing information that's not available to the general public. It's a non-profit organization, not out to make a quick buck but out to help create an informed public. That's good no matter what the topic.

Guampedia is also helping to preserve a culture that in many ways is being subsumed by the global culture. The native people of Guam, the Chamorros, are now a minority in their own land. They are losing their language, and many of their traditional ways of doing things are dying or dead. Worse yet, the people who traditionally pass down the traditions and histories -- orally -- are the old people. And they're dying.

So Guam's culture, history, and language are in danger, and Guampedia is trying to preserve them, by capturing the oral history, by passing on the language and culture, in a way that's accessible to everyone -- to the residents of Guam, to the schoolchildren, to visitors, to those who live elsewhere and are curious.

This is a vital resource, and it's something that should be promoted.

Guampedia needs help
Unfortunately, Guampedia is a small organization (just 3 paid staff, with lots of volunteers) and relies on donations, grants, corporate sponsorship and the like to survive. And unfortunately, funds that have been promised are not coming in at the moment. They'll come in within the next couple of months, but at the moment, Guampedia is in danger of folding. They need some temporary help until they can get their funding -- and eventually become self-sufficient.

I'm asking you to help.

It would be hard for them to get the amount they need to keep their doors open from one entity. But if a lot of good-hearted people contribute small amounts ($5, $10, $25, or more if it can be afforded), then it's not so hard. The burden of helping is spread.

And this isn't a huge burden. It's actually something that should make you feel good: helping a small non-profit survive, so they can go on to do good things for the public.

I'm hoping you'll find it in your heart to help. I already have, from my pocketbook, and I'm asking my friends to join me.

Here's how:

1. Donate. Go to Guampedia's Get Involved page and make a donation -- whatever you can afford.

2. Spread the word. Share this post with your blog readers, through Twitter and Facebook and Myspace, through email. Or just share this short link to the Guampedia donation page: http://bit.ly/helpguampedia.

UPDATE: Make a donation, get a free ebook or consulting from Leo. Read more.

Thank you, my friends, for your kind and generous help. I am deeply grateful for it.

- Leo Babauta
Zen Habits