It's a little like exercise....

Happy Holidays!!

Hello,
I'm rushing around as the ambassador of all things festive and good for family, friends and businesses, but wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to click through the Amazon widget at the side bar of this blog site when ordering through Amazon.com.
A percentage of every purchase made goes towards funding education for girls aged 11-13.
So far, we have been able to support a young woman's secondary education in Africa.
We have mighty goals, and a long way to go to reach 11 girls in 11 countries,  but I like to think of it as exercise.....every bit helps, and the more you do, the more it helps.
Fa la la la la.
xo,
A

Let's drink tea and talk about happy things...

Drizzle.  The dreary, bone cold rain coupled with the tough gut topics I write about just makes me want to snuggle up with comfort.  Hot tea and cookies, talking with my besties or reading a great book is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon.

Just in time for cold weather and holiday gifting, teapot cozies (see etsy at side bar).  Thank you talented Mom and Aunt for creating these lovely tea pot warmers.

Here's a great idea!  Why don't you pair your cozy with a box of Smith Tea, made right here in the Pac NW.  If you can't decide which one to try, I suggest no. 67 Meadow.  I call it the haute couture of chamomile blends.  It's extremely delicious, fragrant and pretty.  Please tell them I sent you if you visit their shop or purchase on line.

Proceeds from cozy sales go to raising awareness of domestic human trafficking and promoting girls education worldwide.

Thanks for looking.
Drop me a note if you have questions or want to have tea,
A

Photo credit:  www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JenRoffePrint?ref=si_shop.  Thank you Jen!

Read every day.

"It is a moral failure that 200 million girls woke up today and didn't go to school."*

I've thought a lot about this since I scribbled it in my notebook as I watched Half the Sky last year.

Like many who live in a western culture, we are inclined to build wealth.  Whether it be spiritual, personal or material (more! Now! MORE!) we are inundated with opportunities to become richer.  If you are lucky enough to read, you are wealthier than most of the world.  Wealth lies in literacy.  If you can read, you can learn.  If every girl had the opportunity to achieve literacy,  we would see a drastic reduction in poverty, violence, forced prostitution, crime, and overpopulation.   I see it as a snowball effect..... soft, delicate little snowflakes growing stronger into a fierce white out blizzard.

On my side bar you will find a link to Amazon.  If you read every day, infrequently, or like to give books as gifts, please consider ordering through this link.  Amazon will reward me with a small percentage of the sale and I will forward proceeds to programs that advance human rights for girls worldwide.   Currently, we are focusing on the Kenya Keys scholarship program and Mei-Mei Ellerman's personal campaign to raise money for the Polaris project, a non-profit dedicated to eradicate modern day human slavery.

*Quote from John Reed, the director and founder of Room to Read.
Excerpt from Half the Sky PBS documentary.

Educate Girls

Just back from a business trip to NYC and DC.  In Washington, I had the chance to take an international grant writing course.  I came across this during my funding research today.  It pulled at my heartstrings.

There is good and happiness everywhere if you just look for it.

I'm reading Half the Sky.  It's heartbreaking, agonizing, and makes me angry.  I can't even get through more than about 20 pages or a chapter in one sitting.  It's too much to take in.

So.....when I saw a post from Megan Wilcken, it lightened my mood and reminded me of the good we can find if we just look for it.

"I love this video! Here's what the artist had to say about it:

Whenever I see and hear reports of Africa in the media, more often than not, they seem to regularly convey war, poverty, and economic strife. I believe that generally we get what we look for, so I decided to look for and highlight the beauty of the land, the zestful enthusiasm for life in the brothers and sisters, and the innocent youthful joy of the children.  Guess what? We found it!"

"Investment in girls education....

may be the highest return investment in the developing world."  Lawrence Summers, Chief Executive-World Bank.

The water project still needs support and donations.  If you would like to help bring clean water to the girls dormitory,  send me a message.  Any creative idea will be considered.  I've updated my etsy site with a few new items and have a few more coming.  Check early and often!!

We are still counting on numerous, small donations to reach our goal of $10,000 ($7500 to go!).   Recently,  I've branched out into professional fundraising:  grant writing and corporate sponsorships.  If any readers have tips or suggestions, please send them my way.
Below is a link updating you on the Samburu Girls Dormitory.

http://www.kenyakeys.org/Area/Projects.aspx

Thanks for reading!

Lunchbox napkin project! Reduce and Reuse!

For example: 2 lunchbox napkins used as placemat and napkin!

When daughter started preschool, the school's lunchbox policy was no waste (and two fruits and vegetables).  Every school day, I packed 2 cloth napkins: one for her placemat, and one to use.  Not sure if it's a french school lunch custom, but I thought the policy was lovely.  To carry on the tradition, I started the lunchbox napkin project.
It's ready to go...finally!!!..a few choices are posted on my Etsy site.  See sidebar for link to shop.
Thanks for your ongoing support.
x,
A