Investments

There they stood posing, faces gleaming, proud and tall, in front of the few possessions they have and need for secondary school: a bucket, a foam bedroll, a small suitcase, and backpack. The directors of Good Hope had posted pictures on Facebook of the handful of students that were headed off to Pasua Secondary Boarding School in Moshi; a handful of students with dreams and determination and fortunate enough to have sponsors who want them to succeed. 

I studied each picture and face carefully, looking for clues and proof of their excitement. These children are not strangers to me. I learned their names, shook their hands, hugged them, and heard their hopes for their future. I couldn't help but invest. And that is exactly what I believe sponsoring an education is - an investment. There is no better gift than an opportunity to pursue one's dreams, and for these kids living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in challenging home environments, it is a lifeline.

I couldn't help but remember how our car bulged with furniture, clothes and boxes when we dropped our kids off at university, and the number of trips to unload it. Quite the polar opposite for the Good Hope kids who travel light with their few belongings tucked into a tidy metal box, and the new bedroll and bucket that came with the sponsorship. Life is both simple and complicated in the Majengo neighbourhood in Moshi. The school and home environments are what we would call "minimalist" while the health and socioeconomic challenges are cluttered and complex. 

Our money has a lot of clout in developing nations and has much more impact than here at home. The amount we pay for a pack of chewing gum can purchase 5 notebooks, and provide exponentially more bang for our buck. 

I found a generous sponsor for my serious young friend David and when I assured him that his sponsor, as a successful entrepreneur, only makes solid investments, he turned to me and said, "And he is investing in me, right?" 

I see it as investing in humankind, world peace, and in self. And for that opportunity, I am truly grateful.

Good luck Abdi, David, Viviany, Calvin, Issa, Ibrahim, Christian, and Veronica. 

David looking so serious on send off day

Full Steam Ahead

Well things are in full motion and the flurry of emails have begun -- how to prepare and articles to read about Tanzania; suggested Swahili language CDs and books; vaccination requirements; visas and entry paperwork; and the list goes on... Tanzania is taking shape before my very eyes and I can feel that tingling in the pit of my stomach that I get when I anticipate something good is about to happen.

When my friend asked me about Africa and told me she would like to voluntour with me, I was afraid to get my hopes up. I waited for several days for her email with subject line: Trip. Then it arrived with the simple message: "How do we book this thing?"

We finally had a chance to touch base today after having booked the trip last week. We were giddy and full of questions, ideas, and speculations - all expressed in rapid succession, in overlapping sentences. It'll be our first trip together since we were 14 and 16 years old and we both agree that it is OVERDUE!

We have no illusions; although it's called a volunteer trip, the purpose is really a cultural exchange to ultimately build bridges. We will leave with more than we give and if we are lucky, we will leave a little of us behind and take a piece of Tanzania home with us. It has me reflecting alot on our attitudes and intentions toward developing nations. I realize that often our good intentions have far reaching, negative consequences and I have to take more time to research my participation in philanthropic efforts to ensure that they align with sustainability and do no harm.  

 In the meantime we will have months of planning and anticipation to look forward to, and look forward we will!

Time to resuscitate my Africa Calling blog and add a second act. 

Have a Heart: Give a Little Love and Water

Image courtesy of VDay http://www.vday.org/

Valentine’s Day had Twitter abuzz with loving sentiments and wishes for a better world. Valentine’s Day is also the VDay – the One Billion Rising Campaign to end violence against women and girls. The global One Billion Rising movement is based on the estimate from the UN that one in three women will be beaten or raped during their lifetime, meaning one billion worldwide. Powerful images of women (and men) in Canada and from far-away – Afghanistan, India, UK, Philippines, Europe, Australia – marching and dancing in solidarity to demand an end to this violence inspired me to “give a little” to the effort. I am a woman with three daughters and I can’t fathom the thought of any of them – or anyone for that matter - being subjected to harm. It must be globally unacceptable.

In my recently acquired health regiment [lifestyle change] I am been slugging back copious amounts of water, supposedly clean water that comes to me effortlessly by simply turning on a tap.  Last week (I’m a little behind in my reporting) I was inspired to support the water.org initiative that works with local partners to find solutions to provide the one billion on the planet who do not have such ready access to clean water – as well as sanitation to the three billion who are without toilets! Next time you are sitting on the throne with toilet paper at your fingertips, try to imagine what life would be like if there wasn't a toilet to be found …

 

Infographic courtesy of water.org

HELP!
Have ideas to help me in my weekly quest? Please share!

Read about my weekly Give a Little challenge and other posts. I have to give ongoing props to Wendy Smith for her inspiring book, Give a Little. Consider giving it a read.

Give a Little Access to Care for Those Suffering With HIV/AIDS

I've been reading one of those books that are so engaging and thought provoking that you just can't put it down. My daughters gave me An Imperfect Offering by James Orbinski, and oh what a gift it has been!

James is a former head of the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and shares stories from his decades of service in Russia, Somalia, Afghanistan and Rwanda. As fate would have it he was in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide - his “undoing”- and he struggled with the horror he has witnessed. He shares  personal insights on the human toll of political and social disasters and his frustration at not being able to prevent that which he felt to be preventable (immunizations and life saving treatments that are cost prohibitive). He accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for Médecins Sans Frontières in 1999 and in 2004 launched a new organization with James Fraser, Dignitas International to implement community-based care programs in developing nations for people living with HIV/AIDS.

He has become a hero to me and joins the ranks of my personal panel of changemakers and inspirational people that include of Stephen Lewis, Romeo Dallaire, Craig Kielburger - all of whom are (coincidentally) Canadian.

With tomorrow being Canada Day, and today being my Thursday "Give a Little", I am donating to Dignitas International and celebrating a man - James Orbinsky, and an organization that exemplifies what I hold true to what it means to be truly Canadian.

Read about my Thursday's Give a Little Challenge and other posts. I have to give ongoing props to Wendy Smith for her inspiring book, Give a Little. Consider giving it a read.

Give a Little So She Can Be the First

Girl talk; girl power; girls everywhere – in the media – or so it seems. And it’s about time! The chatter and coverage has largely to do with the challenges and issues facing girls (and women) around the planet, and “the lack of …”

It's hard to fathom how many girls are lacking the essentials to a healthy, safe productive life, such as:
• access to education
• accessible, clean water (which directly impacts their access to education)
• health and maternal care
• sanitation

She’s the First is helping girls worldwide be first in their family to graduate from school. If I had been on time with my Thursday "Give a Little", it would have been in time for The Day of the African Child. I donated to the Girls Who Rock $11 for the Class 2011 campaign who are taking up the challenge to help sponsor 42 girls in Uganda “be the first”.

As a mother of three daughters, I can’t help feeling that purely by the luck of birthplace, my girls enjoy a life of abundance and opportunity, without physical suffering. I want that for everyone – and especially those who are marginalized by their gender and geographic placement. And that's why I used to start every morning with my girls, arms raised in a group cheer "w o m e n     p o w e r ", and that's why I gave a little...

Read about my Thursday's Give a Little Challenge and other posts. I have to give ongoing props to Wendy Smith for her inspiring book, Give a Little. Consider giving it a read.

Give a Little

Courtesy of CAI

It's Thursday and that means it's time to give a little to a cause that will help make a difference by promoting sustainability. Last year I sat with a few hundred other people at the city’s central library and was completely captivated by a giant of a gentle soul named Greg Mortenson. He is best known as the author of Three Cups of Tea. I was so smitten that I blogged about it, of course. With a backdrop of blazing images of smiling Afghan children and wizened elders, Greg lured us into his world to cultivate peace by helping to bring education and self sustainability to remote regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. He snagged us hook, line and sinker.

This week I will donate to Central Asia Institute (CAI). As co-founder of CAI, Greg Mortenson has learned that sustainable and successful development can only occur when projects are entirely initiated, implemented and managed by local communities. I like that CAI works to empower the local people through their own initiative, and supports their will. CAI has established over 170 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, providing education to over 68,000 students, with an emphasis on girls’ education. It hasn't been easy but Greg refuses to be defeated by the impossible terrain and geographical and cultural challenges. He has dedicated his life to making education accessible, bringing possibilities to people who would otherwise not have any.

$20 educates an Afghan student for a year; I usually give these donations as gifts. Today I am pledging $10 ... just a little. I know the return on investment will be anything but.

BONUS: This week my friend over at WhippetSnippets gave me the kind of birthday present that keeps on giving. She gave me a $20 gift card to Global Giving. I donated to Heal Africa to help survivors of rape and gender violence in the Congo.

My Give a Little Challenge 
I emerge from my haze of of procrastination, clear, inspired, and ready to act. Give a Little has inspired me to do just that ... give a little, every week. Every Thursday I will seek out an organization or cause that strives to make a lasting impact or sustainable change and donate $5.00. I will be counting on my blogger community for suggestions! You can read about the other projects that have inspired me to give a little.


Other Give a Little posts.

I have to give ongoing props to Wendy Smith for her inspiring book, Give a Little. Give it a read.

Rest For Me - But Not Haiti

I haven't been this happy to see Friday come in a really long time. It is officially my favourite day of the week -- something about having the W H O L E weekend stretching out before me. But today I am tired. I haven't slept well this week; maybe I was watching too many news reports or reading too many blogs about it -- but Haiti was everywhere. I was dreaming their faces and cries and grateful smiles. I woke up feeling heavy - having dreamed their pain and utter grief for those who they loved and lost. Then my thoughts turn instantly to those who are there, livng through it - and I send my complaints packing.  Aid workers, doctors, nurses, volunteers, citizens, victims, media, military .... all there. All living without sleep and essentials. They aren't sleeping well either - if at all.

So today, on a day that I know I have two days of rest ahead of me, I want to acknowledge and honour those who are working tirelessly and those who are trying to survive this crisis in Haiti. My deepest respect and thoughts are with you all. The whole world is pulling for you. You have my deepest gratitude ...

Week of Hell in Haiti

It's happening again. Deja vu. I thought after Katrina, lessons would be learned, and that the next time disaster struck, it would be handled better. And maybe it has been, but from all that I have seen from Haiti, it is playing like a repeat episode of a bad drama ... scenes of anguished faces, desperate pleas for help, streets littered with corpses and people deprived of the basics of life .... while the basics for life sit stockpiled at the airport.

After the earthquake the world responded immediately - and generously. The cries of the those plunged in darkness and despair were heard. Monies were raised in record time and volunteers, supplies and planes were dispatched. There was - and is - a will to assist.  Sadly the challenge has been to effectively coordinate the distribution of the life saving food, water and medicines to the survivors who are in urgent need. CNN just reported that it is estimated that as many as 20,000 earthquake survivors are dying every day due to the lack of medical treatments and basic essentials. Preventable deaths.

How can  this be happening yet again? Life is a precious gift. The Haitians who are alive have already survived a catastrophic event - only to face a second life threatening hurdle. Every death now - especially those caused by starvation or lack of water is preventable and inexcusable.

One of the most moving moments I witnessed was the spirit of a woman pulled from a flattened building after six days. Her husband was waiting for her, and when she saw him, she raised her arms in praise and burst into song. She was singing her thanks for being alive. My take away - reminder to honour the gift that is my life.

The blackboard found from a collapsed school serving as a tomb for 130 perished children had a message written in chalk by the teacher the day of the earthquake  ... it read  "May God receive them with open arms".

We can do better. We must.

Hearts of Hope

The world as they knew it
Evaporated,  ceased to be.
They are emerging from rubble
Arms outstretched.
The need - so very great.

Will we heed their calls?
We have so much, in fact
More than we need.
It just takes many (each of us)
To give a little.

They are emerging from the rubble
Triumpant and determined.
Life is already resuming
With spirits rising, unifying.
Will we rise with them?

Hearts of hope to the people of Haiti ...
we're listening.

Three Cups of Tea for Me

I went in search of inspiration - and boy did I get a big huge heaping helping of it. My dear friend Jilly treated me to a night with Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea. (Sounds rather juicy doesn't it?) He appeared at the Toronto Library to share his message of peace through education. The place was packed with more women than men, faces of all colours and ages and a scattering of children - many clutching a copy of one of the two books he has written.

He started late ... he went MIA. They found him down on the main floor of the library, greeting the throngs of people who were seated in "overflow" in front of video screens. The first thing I noticed about this big bear of a man was that he "saw" people; he didn't look through them. As he made his way to the podium, his smiling face beaming, he paused to shake hands and ask people their names. He continued along the front row until the faciliator gently reminded him that time was at a premium.

He seemed to be genuinely grateful to be there, and for the next hour  or so he mesmerized us with tales of  his childhood in Tanzania, the Afghan elders who became his mentors and of his passion for his mission to help educate girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He explained how education is the key to peace. My recount of the evening does not do it justice. I can only say that he moved me in a way that was unexpected. I felt the first tear fall as I watched the opening video showing the shining, hopeful faces of the Afghan children and wizzened faces of the elders. The next tear slipped down my cheek as Greg walked through the door and started embracing and greeting people with such warmth and genuine interest. There's that word genuine again ... and I suppose that pretty much sums up my impression of Greg Mortenson. GENUINE.

Jilly and I laughed as we concurred that we felt as though we had just seen a rock star -- an evening on par with a Bruce Springsteen concert (and we really love Bruce!). At the end of the evening my heart was happy, my head was spinning and I was brimming with love.  I felt full to overflowing with inspiration. A person like Greg Mortenson is a shining beacon of hope ... and makes me want to shine my own light too.

Thanks Jilly for an evening that impacted me profoundly.

Watch this moving video with the Three Cups of Tea song, sung by Greg Mortenson's 13 year old daughter Amira.

Introducing .. My Sudan Sister

Last fall I applied to Women for Women International to sponsor a sister - a survivor  of war. My application coincided with an appearance by WFW founder Zainab Salbi on Oprah. Surprise, surprise - her appearance generated huge interest and created an increased level of sponsorship activity  I can only imagine. They contacted me to let me know that they had a huge backlog of applications and donations but that I would soon be connected with a sister.

Today was that day. I ripped open the large white envelope bearing the now familiar Women For Woman logo, so excited to put a face to the name that had been provided to me. I opened the folder and there was Monica, a twenty-three year old who lives in the Sudan where she cares for seven children. It's difficult to get too much from one picture, but the eyes don't lie. Monica stares back from dull, haunted eyes, with a posture that can't disguise fatigue and despair.

With the sponsorship she will join a circle of 25 women her support network and have a year to take intensive, life changing training that will help her gain control over her life.

The enclosed letter was generous in its gratitude: "You are the reason for this transformation Lynda. Your sister was only able to enter the Women for Women International program because you reached out to her."

Hardly. Monica is reaching out to me and over this year, we will learn alot about one another and I will learn about the struggles women face in the most desperate conditions. I will do this from the security of my home - my safe haven. She may not be so lucky. And I know that once again, I will get back more than I give. Perhaps Monica and I will resurrect hope and both undergo a transformation of the humankind, sister to sister.

Read my other posts about Women for Women International:
Global Family
Women for Women ... a Sisterhood

Women for Women ... a Sisterhood

It was overdue and today, I finally did it. I got me another sister!  After following Women for Women International for months now on Facebook, and reading the field blog, today I finally took action and signed up to sponsor a woman. Women for Women International helps women in war-torn regions  rebuild their lives by providing  financial and emotional aid, job-skills training, rights education and small business assistance.

When you go to the website and learn about the residual damage  and suffering that war causes and the hardships of the women who survive, you may find your throat tightening, and your eyes welling up. I dare you to watch a 5 minute video showing the horrific atrocities and burdens our sisters around the world shoulder - and not weep.  It is both overwhelming and inspiring. It reminded me of the bounty and abundance I have in my own life and I wanted to reach out and not only ease the pain of these resilient, strong women, but also connect with them. I have something to share, and even more to learn.

I should receive my packet from WFW any day and then I will know the face of the "sister" I am sponsoring. I can't wait to start. I have sisters and daughters and the opportunity to support women in need speaks to me.

This was the perfect way to bring light to this dreary, rainy, damp day. I am excited but more importantly, it has me thinking about what else I could do - what other changes I could make to have a positive impact on humankind and the planet.

Stay tuned and I'll introduce you to her when I meet her myself.

Journey is the Destination

I can't get Africa out of my mind. Our trip is months away yet I can't help thinking about it. I close my eyes, put my head back and slow my breathing ... I create a pallet (based on every image I have ever seen) so vivid, I can almost smell Africa. I can hear breezes rustling through acacia trees ... and the night time sounds from a far away, majestic continent.

I seek and need the lessons Africa can teach me. This little adventure that Kidlet and I are embarking - on has become more focused now that we have added the goal of raising money to have a new school built. We haven't launched our campaign yet ... but we can't wait to get started. Daughter Harmony is also having a milestone birthday - turning 25 in November - and has joined our quest, Milestones for Education.

With ten months ahead of me, I have lots of time to gnaw on that bone, and savour every delectable drop of marrow. And for, the planning and anticipating is as much fun as the actual doing. You know the adage - the journey is the destination.

Although I am supremely more interested in the people and culture of Africa than the animal life - I have a dream of seeing elephants up close and personal, in their natural habitat. Don't get me wrong ... I love nature and I am eager to experience the wildlife, I am just MORE interested in the people. I am reading Water for Elephants and my mind keeps wandering off at every mention of Rosie the elephant.

I think I am in for a ten month daydream ...

Ready, Set, Goal!

The last little while I have been busy immersing myself in and drinking up everything Kenya, crystalizing my v i s i o n. It is coming to life for me - I swear I can taste Africa on my tongue.

I have been kicking around an idea and have decided to stop dabbling - and simply commit. I have a milestone birthday coming up this March (what I like to think is my halfway point). I want to mark it by raising $5000 to contribute to the Free the Children 100-School Challenge to help build schools in Kenya. When I was sharing this idea with Kidlet, she said she wants to participate too - to mark her milestone (18th) birthday that is coming up in February. So there - I said it! We want to celebrate our milestones by raising the $5000 before we take our trip to Kenya next summer.

I've just released it to the universe, and now the planning and work begins. I thought it was time to take my own advice ...

I just know we can do it. And we will.

UPDATE: I set up our fundraising page on the Free the Children website. We are calling our fundraising effort Milestones for Education.

Ready for Take-off

Kidlet is going on an adventure of a lifetime with her classmates. In the next few days she will fly off to Cost Rica for a 10 day cultural exchange in the rain forest region. She will volunteer in the local village that consists mainly of an indigenous tribe, teaching English, repairing the school building, playing with the children and learning about life in Costa Rica. We spent the day getting her prepared -- and so at this very moment, she is plopped in the middle of her unmade bed, sweat pants rolled up, bandanna tied around her head, amidst mounds of clothes she is packing, mounds of clothes she may take, and even more mounds that she has no intention of taking. Her suitcase lies half open covering the last little bit of floor real estate, the contents spilling out onto the many mounds! So much to be done and organized, so little time, yet she sits there - so carefree - happily tying hemp bracelets amid the utter disarray.

As seasoned travellers we have a tradition of carrying a very complete "contingency kit". I topped it up this weekend and left a small fortune at the drugstore but this kit can cure whatever ails you and provide that all important peace of mind.

So tonight as I end my wonderful weekend with a blog post, I marvel at the wonderful opportunities that are available to our children and how they so easily embrace the notion of a global village. They seem to understand that change will not come by waiting for some other person or some other time; that they are the ones, and now is the time.

I suppose they are ready for take-off -- now only if Kidlet was ...

PS Happy International Women's Day

Studying the Faces of Freedom

I have become captivated by a blog I stumbled across -- Fieldnotes, a blog that reports on the field activities of the UNICEF effort around the globe. Real time, first hand accounts of the grave, desperate situations in the world.

Check out the Faces of Freedom photo exhibit that is part of RugMark’s “Most Beautiful Rug” Campaign to end child labor. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is the national co-sponsor of the tour of photographs taken by U. Roberto Romano during visits to India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The shots take you behind the looms and inside the lives of children who have been forced to weave carpets for export to the United States and other countries.

This is blogging at its best ... sharing this undiluted information with the global community and maybe affect a change. View the slideshow in the post above and prepare to be moved.

Lending a Hand Up

Just saw a riveting BBC report called Beyond a Dollar a Day. It showed the importance of supporting entrepreneurship in developing countries if they are ever to climb out of the bottomless chasm of poverty. It referred to aid as "pain relief" but not a cure, and showed how micro loans can truly make a difference in people's lives.

This spoke to my heart. I discovered micro loaning a few years back when I became a loaner to Kiva.org. It allows you to contribute money to an account and then lend it out in $25 increments to the person/group of your choice. The website is fantastic - and pulls you into the lives of people all over the globe who are trying to make a living and a life for themselves and their families. The loans are interest-free and there is no financial benefit to the loaner (i.e. tax write offs), however the benefits are immeasurable. The first thing that strikes you is how much more powerful a dollar is in the developing world than our own. My coffee allowance for three weeks can help complete a loan and instantly transform some one's life with possibility. It doesn't get better than that!

I have been giving electronic gift certificates to friends for birthdays that allow them to establish their own account. You can withdraw any/all unused and repaid funds at any time so it is definitely not a donation, nor is it charity. It is empowerment. Offering optimism and realizing potential where otherwise it may not be.

I find myself loaning mainly to women ... however I recently gave myself a shake and balanced my account with more loans to men - fathers and sons who also are trying to sustain their families.

An interesting note - in these tough economic times one would expect that the loans distributed to people in war torn, decimated countries (Sierra Leone, Somalia, Haiti, Iraq etc) would have a high default rate. That has not been my experience. To date, I have not had one default and curiously enough -- right now all six of my loans are repaying ahead of schedule. It's the way to go - lending a hand up (in addition to a hand out when needed).

Can you image what a billion dollar bail out could do??

Photo courtesy of Kiva.org