If you follow this blog, you probably already know that I was in Ethiopia earlier this year, in March, on a work trip, bringing a group of high school students from Abbotsford, BC to visit our programs for AIDS orphans in Addis Ababa, and clean water projects in rural villages in Southern Ethiopia - part of HOPE International Development Agency's "Understanding Needs In Other Nations" overseas volunteer program that I run.
It was supposed to be one of those "once in a lifetime" trips that "changes your life". You know, for the students, of course. Because you see and learn things that you will never learn from reading a book or watching the news, and it changes your life, and that's why we run these "expensive" overseas learning opportunities with great conviction. And I think it did - who knows where life will take those students as they now begin their journeys past high school, with an amazingly broadened view of the world? A little video that one of the students made, that I just saw for the first time this week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw9WPgbBCMs
But, traveling a bunch doesn't make it routine. I was blown away too, when visiting with some of the children orphaned by AIDS in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, supported through the other program that I run at work, a monthly support program for children and families in need.
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| Visiting with Meron & Melat, two girls full of life, that are supported by HOPE. I shared a little bit of their story in a previous post, but I'll share more again soon. :) |
I was amazed by the absolutely incredible life-changing support that HOPE is providing for them to reach their dreams, through access to education, shelter, care, food, medical support and trauma counseling - everything they need to create a better future for themselves than the realities that took their parents from them. Everything I already knew on paper, of course. But in a situation of absolute destitution, these kids were FULL of life, and they were making their realities happen.
You never quite know where these encounters and experiences might take you. I found myself with a few spare moments of time at the end of the summer. And I found that I didn't want to sit around and do nothing (beyond my office paper shuffling that keeps the program running) when something more could be done.
So.... I launched a campaign, and called it
{un.orphan'd}. It is "for work" but something I personally wanted to do, in my own time, and engage lots of younger people (like myself.. younger than most of HOPE's typical donors) to get involved.
We had a local film night event on Sunday evening ...
... and raised $14,000!! And it's still growing. We are now at about $15,000. I started the evening on Sunday with the quote
"Never doubt that a small group of committed, thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead) -- and we really saw and are seeing that lived out - among a lot of young people!
I'm inviting friends and family to join in celebrating World AIDS Day today & through the month of December... by helping to support these children in Ethiopia. I'd be thrilled if you want be part of this!
What can you do?
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What Can You Do? Anything and everything. But here's a place to start if you need some ideas:1. Sign up to support an AIDS orphan2. Invite friends and family to sign up3. Give a one-time gift, or Give A Day's Pay in celebration of World AIDS Day |
You can also "join" the event "
World AIDS Day wherever you are" (which runs through the end of December) for a couple ideas. And also use it as a tool to share the word & inspire compassion and generosity... especially taking advantage of the opportunity to do so on World AIDS Day, December 1.
You can find out more here: www.hope-international.com/unorphand, and I'll be updating the site today. :)
You can also watch the film we watched on Sunday night:
Children of Hope from
HOPE International D.A. on
Vimeo.
Just 20 minutes long but really captures the heart of the travesty that is AIDS and poverty in Africa, and how children ARE being able to define a better future with our help).
And lastly - but very awesomely -
check out {un.orphan'd}'s Gifts of HOPE - special gifts to keep, or to give to a giftee, with your support.
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Give the gift of helping a child in need. www.hope-international.com/unorphand
Sign up to support an orphaned child with an ongoing monthly gift and receive a beautiful glass ornament and photo postcard of the child you are helping to support. These can make great gifts that will keep bringing smiles here and in Ethiopia through the year.
Ornaments available in Greater Vancouver area only (can be delivered to you personally, or picked up from HOPE International Development Agency's office in New Westminster). Unfortunately, these ornaments won't be able to survive a journey in the mail if you are outside the Vancouver area, but we will definitely send you the photo postcard.
We'll also send you a special {un.orphand} AIDS ribbon & card (see next photo).
We can send the photo postcard, pin, & card to you or to your giftee. |
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Give the gift of helping a child in need. www.hope-international.com/unorphand
Give a one-time gift and receive a special {un.orphan'd} AIDS ribbon pin & card. We can send the pin & card to you or to your giftee. |
Love & hugs to you, and Happy World AIDS Day!!
xoxo
Rainbow
