tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56872886455836958622023-11-15T23:24:21.899-08:00Be the Change you wish to see in the worldBe the Change Foundation was created to empower those around the world affected by human trafficking and other atrocities,to regain a sense of hope, dignity, and value by being their voice until they can speak for themselves. Join us, be inspired...Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-67269782863053235722010-07-26T09:47:00.000-07:002010-07-26T09:50:46.606-07:00Christmas in JulyAs of July 25th, there are only 5 months until Christmas! Unless you are super organized, you probably have yet to begin thinking of the holidays, especially during all of these 90+ degrees summer days. While we realize that Christmas is months away, we've already begun thinking about it.<br /> <br />As many of you may be familiar, each year we do a Christmas collection for the children at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home in Thailand. Four years ago we sent them the first of many packages filled with Christmas gifts. At that time we made the commitment, that, if we started this, we had to do it every year. Christmas presents could not stop coming. They are worthy of a Christmas filled with joy, and they need to know that every year. <br /> <br />Over the past several years we have done this project in a variety of ways. The first three years we sent many large boxes packed with toys to Thailand. When I say "large" I mean "large" as in<em> I could have mailed myself to Thailand comfortably</em>. They were packed with clothes and personal care items. Toothbrushes and crayons. School supplies and fire trucks. Light up robots and baby dolls. They were filled with joy. Federal Express took those boxes to Thailand for us for free. The first two years, those 11 boxes stuffed with toys somehow made it past the watchful eye of the Thai government and were not hit with taxes coming into the country. The third year we were not so lucky, but Be the Change paid the taxes and the boxes were released. Last year, we tried to make this easier on all sides of the world and we did a monetary collection and sent the money to Thailand. Shopping was then done in country.<br /> <br />This year, we are going back to the way we did it the first three years and we are again asking for small gifts for the children in Thailand. <br /> <br />Let's be honest, it's <em>WAY</em> more fun to shop for those sweet little children than it is to just send them money. However, if you would like to participate in this endeavor, and sending a monetary donation is easier for you, please feel free to do so, and we will use this funding to offset the cost of shipping and taxes.<br /> <br />We are asking that this year items stay small. We want to send fewer boxes if possible, but filled with more, smaller items. The children's home where these items are going cares for children from pre-school through grade 12. Some suggested items are: school supplies, small matchbox cars, crayons, toothbrushes, small toys, and clothing (any size is helpful) flip flops (any size),tooth brushes, toothpaste, personal care items such as deodorant, soap, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner (2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner is great because it is in one bottle and cuts down on weight). The little girls love hair clips, combs and brushes, headbands and anything they can use to dress themselves up. Nail polish is not a suggested item, as it does not travel well in a glass bottle. <br /> <br />If you would like to participate in our efforts to bring the love and spirit of Christmas to the children in Thailand, please feel free to contact us at info@bethechangefoundation.org and we can arrange a pick up/drop off with you. <br /> <br />Even though it is only July, we thank you, the children in Thailand thank you, for thinking of them and sharing the joy of the holiday season with them.Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-39135322047555143112010-03-26T22:43:00.000-07:002010-03-29T17:47:47.829-07:00A Concert for FreedomSo, this is kind of a long story, but we like it, so we're telling the entire thing :)<br /> <br />In 2006 the church that the board members for Be the Change attend held an event called Praise-A-Palooza. This was an outdoor praise band festival. One of the featured guests in 2006 was Agape, A.K.A David Scherer. He is a well known Christian hip-hop artist. The youth LOVE him, and the adults love him just as much and are just as inspired by him and his songs and story telling. At this event in 2006 Diane spoke to him briefly about Be the Change, and I was also introduced to him. He was very interested in the cause, we chatted for awhile, and that was it.<br /> <br />Fast forward to summer of 2009. Kara went to New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering with 40,000 other individuals. David was there performing. We saw David and another well known Christian artist, Rachel Kurtz perform together. <br /> <br />Simply put, they rock. So much so that our youth <strike>borderline stalk them</strike> couldn't wait to get their pictures taken with them.<br /> <br />One of the days in New Orleans I approached the table that David was selling his t-shirts, CD's, etc. at. Mind you, I am in the midst of 100's of youth clamoring for his attention, wanting to say hi, etc. I was just casually looking at his items, waiting for our kids to decide on their final purchases. I said hello to David and he remembered who I was. From 3 years ago. He also remembered that I had something to do with the prevention of human trafficking. He has an awesome memory. We talked a few seconds, and that was it.<br /> <br />Fast forward to August 2009. Diane's cell phone rings. It's David, telling Diane that he is going on tour with Rachel Kurtz and other performers from the National Youth Gathering. They will be on tour in our area and he suggests that Be the Change do <em>something</em>. Whether that is speaking, having a table, whatever. He just thought it would be a good opportunity for us. Have I mentioned the man's memory amazes me?! <br /> <br />So, while this is all going on, I (Kara) am in Africa. So, I check my e-mail while I am there and find it is confirmed that I am speaking at the Jesus, Justice, Jazz concert tour, AND another event. <strike>At this point I had not decided for sure that I was even leaving Africa</strike> It's nice that Diane knows me well enough to commit me to these things while I am on another continent :) <br /> <br />So, the concert tour was on 9/26/2009. I spoke for two minutes. I was SO nervous. I have never spoken to that many people, and I wasn't so sure about my speech. After it was over, I walked off the stage. David and Rachel had been sitting right in front of me. Rachel walked up and asked if she could give me a hug. I don't remember what I said to her, I was still so nervous. I went back to my seat where Diane and our pastor and youth were and enjoyed the rest of the concert--no longer nervous. The concert ended. We left. Life went on.<br /> <br />Then I got an e-mail.<br /> <br />The woman who had coordinated the concert event e-mailed to tell me that Rachel and David had been very impressed with what I had said that day. I was touched that they got so much out of two minutes. So, I e-mailed both David and Rachel to thank them for their kind words and compassion towards the issue of human trafficking.<br /> <br />Then I got another e-mail (how I functioned before e-mail, I'll never know). This time, from Rachel Kurtz, herself.<br /><br />I'm summarizing here, but the general idea of the e-mail was <em>Let's do a fundraiser together, what do you think?</em><br /><br />What do I think?!<br /> <br />Ummm...<em>yes, famous singer, let's!</em> <br /> <br />Only I found a more tactful way to say that. <br /> <br />So, all that to say, Rachel Kurtz will be in concert for Be the Change Foundation on June 6, 2010. It will take place at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Devon, PA and begin at 5:30pm. In conjunction with the concert there will be a raffle for some amazing prizes that have been donated to us! We are WAY excited about this event, and have been so moved by the way this has all come together. <br /> <br />You may recall that several years ago we attempted to hold a walk-a-thon. It just didn't work. We continued to hit road block after road block with that event. We thought we were on the right path, even had a location picked out and the name of the road this location is on is called "Freedom Way."<br /> <br />How perfect is that?!<br /> <br />Meant to be. Right?<br /> <br />Wrong.<br /> <br />Things just did not play out and after much talking and many attempts, we gave up on the big event at that time. We just thought it was not our time. We were totally fine with that and we knew when it was our time, something would come along.<br /> <br />Well, I'm pretty sure, now is our time. <br /> <br />We are not a religiously based organization. However, it has been abundantly clear throughout planning for this concert for freedom, that there has been another Hand helping us in the planning. <br /> <br />This offer from Rachel to hold this concert came weeks after Be the Change committed $10,000 to Hagar international in Cambodia. We committed $10,000 the the rehabilitation efforts of children who have been trafficked--their bodies sold hundreds of times--and they survived. We have talked about Hagar before and the unbelievable work they do to restore the dignity, hope, and lives of children who have been trafficked in Cambodia. Their work is truly miraculous and they are transforming lives everyday. We are honored to work with them.<br /> <br />In addition, we are continuing to support the Restavek Freedom Foundation in Haiti. We will be having a special collection of change to go towards education for the child slaves of Haiti. Since the earthquake, these children need our help more than ever. The Restavek Freedom Foundation remains in Haiti to this day. And, since the earthquake, they have put hundreds of children back into school. We want to be a part of that. So we are turning pocket change into something powerful. We want to turn it into tuition for children who need it most. We hope you will join the movement on behalf of the children in Haiti. <br /> <br />If you would like to be a part of the planning for what we hope is an extraordinary event, please contact us at info@bethechangefoundation.orgBe the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-38903700399550632852010-03-16T19:38:00.000-07:002010-03-16T19:49:09.298-07:00FramesThis past weekend we gathered and made picture frames for the children in Haiti.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Bjslp6gP7mHmnHmW8ooh_2mzlwEvEaMg9jxqaz-bOJ1B1ytIxf-E3FYhPeQ9aUqm4cIl6TaUKi3XdHycgEDUe8DQrN1gDGpwVtniNdH4SrijXdLVnoLk32cTuKp0HQrBk2p0o-JkYo/s1600-h/btcpicnik.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449427682932563122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Bjslp6gP7mHmnHmW8ooh_2mzlwEvEaMg9jxqaz-bOJ1B1ytIxf-E3FYhPeQ9aUqm4cIl6TaUKi3XdHycgEDUe8DQrN1gDGpwVtniNdH4SrijXdLVnoLk32cTuKp0HQrBk2p0o-JkYo/s320/btcpicnik.jpg" border="0" /></a> For Christmas, they received a picture of themselves. Because that is something that they have never had before.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgxchhLfqNrC4rxJW5MymeE1c_3vYKryFU2YzWXLZyIrqc2p3aC39XGlWxB9swZybVfHEMBkVTvQ32NUeQrjJKUextrU_NeT0h3CleMRm8lxjMkHDP05xsK5o4s0uKP-4RR_cxUoc3rg/s1600-h/btcpicnik2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449427676247763074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgxchhLfqNrC4rxJW5MymeE1c_3vYKryFU2YzWXLZyIrqc2p3aC39XGlWxB9swZybVfHEMBkVTvQ32NUeQrjJKUextrU_NeT0h3CleMRm8lxjMkHDP05xsK5o4s0uKP-4RR_cxUoc3rg/s320/btcpicnik2.jpg" border="0" /></a> We wanted them to have a way to display their beautiful faces.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449427670217521922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSo2Ro0aHhjX8N3skaKjh2dUwIlRTNF9IqO6rJQfO2CD5BZwXBTRGTGIEEX04K65C2QDV5SiQvPmGAnIbq9OXPgowhoDVwLXdrdIVXhyphenhyphengP6qBiTML0ZyHgxTMJLBqQkUW00T_BiqjPLWI/s320/BTCpicnik3.jpg" border="0" />So we gathered, and painted.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTOACgbTPROYXEcR8cUm8VVeZVCod28NYCVq0sFrfuff5hx5JL1gaKPFSqLLgiL9uI3RcKLYpiEHt77jBUdsQ4NEmkAe_1U16W94KAKqpeTD6TciOXG4_IbyMk27BsDvC3ngfHdQNPgw/s1600-h/BTCpicnik4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449427665219205250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTOACgbTPROYXEcR8cUm8VVeZVCod28NYCVq0sFrfuff5hx5JL1gaKPFSqLLgiL9uI3RcKLYpiEHt77jBUdsQ4NEmkAe_1U16W94KAKqpeTD6TciOXG4_IbyMk27BsDvC3ngfHdQNPgw/s320/BTCpicnik4.jpg" border="0" /></a> And we hope the children in Haiti feel the love and attention that went into the detail of each painted picture frame.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wtZ6k22diK6nxzeyeiNj33xQXyZ45dLiRsqpLttfiTpUdEXKN0oT2TooSzIEdEOgXvNPXz5qwF0mqsPml12JZUCG_iysYzqzHJB84-6tEIQCZQzNIr3_q22TJnEVh1eDNUt9uXDaGLU/s1600-h/BTCpicnik5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449427657817382706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wtZ6k22diK6nxzeyeiNj33xQXyZ45dLiRsqpLttfiTpUdEXKN0oT2TooSzIEdEOgXvNPXz5qwF0mqsPml12JZUCG_iysYzqzHJB84-6tEIQCZQzNIr3_q22TJnEVh1eDNUt9uXDaGLU/s320/BTCpicnik5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-62549759147785902442010-02-22T18:52:00.000-08:002010-02-22T18:53:21.759-08:00Picture FramesAs many of you know, this past year, Be the Change did not ship Christmas presents to Thailand, instead, we sent $500 (thanks to all of you). <br /><br />As many of you also know, Haiti is a place that has always been in my heart, and even more so lately with the earthquake that devastated the country on January 12th. <br /><br />As many of you also know we are affiliated with a wonderful organization in Haiti called the Restavek Freedom Foundation.<br /><br />As many of you also know, if I watch one more thing on CNN about Haiti and the earthquake, I might end up on a plane bound for Port-au-Prince.<br /><br />And lastly, as many of you also know, I tend to ask, often, "What do you need?"<br /><br />So, this winter while working on getting Christmas presents to the children in Thailand, I did just that and asked someone from Restavek Freedom what the child slaves in Haiti would like for Christmas. I asked them what, if anything, were they able to do for the children in Haiti at Christmastime. When we made blankets for these children over a year ago and I was told that no one from Restavek Freedom had ever seen a child in Haiti with a blanket, and that they were sure the children in Haiti would not know what to do with a blanket of their own, I thought those words were some of the saddest words I had ever heard. <br /><br />I might have been wrong.<br /><br />When I asked what the children in Haiti might want for Christmas, the answer made me cry.<br /><br />A picture. Of themseleves.<br /><br />That's it. That's what they wanted.<br />Because the truth is, these children that are held as slaves have never, ever had a picture of themselves. <br /><br />Both of these responses, about blankets and pictures, moved us into action at Be the Change.<br /><br />This past Christmas, Restavek Freedom was taking care of getting each child a picture of themselves, but we decided we wanted them to have a frame for this picture. We wanted them to have a special way to display it. We want them to be able to look at themselves and smile and know how beautiful and special they are.<br /><br />We know that right now things in Haiti are chaotic, to say the least. But one of the many things these children could really use right now is a sense of normalcy. That is only one of the reasons our committment to the enslaved children in that country, and the Restavek Freedom Foundation, is stronger than ever. In big ways and small ways alike, they need our help now, more than ever. <br /><br />We know that lately, the outreach for Haiti has been pouring in, and righfully so. Like us, we assume that your inbox has been flooded with requests of funds for relief work being done in Haiti. We even sent one such request a few weeks ago.<br /><br />But this time we're not asking for money, we are asking for your time. We are asking for 4 hours (10-2) on the afternoon of March 13th to come together at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (1700 Makefield Road, Yardley, PA 19067) to decorate picture frames that Be the Change has already purchased for these children. You don't need to be an artist (trust me!). All you need to do is bring yourself and a sandwhich (we'll supply the drinks and desserts--and who doesn't like desserts?!)and join us for an afternoon of making frames so that these children have a way to display their pictures, and more importantly to know that they matter. We have purchased wooden frames that need some color :) We will supply the paint and lots of fun decorating material! This is an opportunity for you to send a personal, caring message to a child in Haiti to remind them that during this very difficult time in their life, someone living far away, but under the same sky is thinking of them. <br /><br />With Much Hope,<br />Kara, Diane, Kim, Cheryl and NicoleBe the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-83805812668105977282010-02-03T19:47:00.000-08:002010-02-03T19:52:19.262-08:00Because we know we don't do this alone...We are well aware that Be the Change would not exist if not for the support from people all over. That being said, we want to pass on a few more words of thanks that we received this week from the Restavek Freedom Foundation in Haiti.<br /><br /><em>Thank you again for your support and generosity towards the Restavek Foundation. The team in Haiti and many others have benefited greatly from your blankets!!! What a blessing they have been. also, several children in Restavek prior to the quake and numerous children since the disaster have slept more comfortable by your acts of kindness. You will never know how much the blankets have meant to the people we have given them to. For some it is the only thing they have. Many Thanks, Restavek Staff, Joan, John Robert</em><br /><p><em>All of our staff survived, for which we are very thankful. Roslyn Phillips, our child sponsorship coordinator, has emerged as a true leader in our efforts to find our children, even though she experienced the loss of her father during the quake. Ray and Roslyn are working with our school directors to see if we can open school again because children have nothing to do and families need to feel that life is happening. We also want to make sure the children are fed at least once a day.<br /></em></p><p><em>This week, we are meeting with all of our school directors to see how we begin the process of restarting school. The national schools will not open for some time as many are destroyed and others will need to employ teachers to replace those that have died.<br /></em></p><p><em>We rented a very large house that we will need to furnish to use as transitional housing for 30 children. Staff are being hired to help manage this for us. Some are coming from the U.S. and others are friends we know from Haiti. Jean Robert is helping coordinate this effort because he knows best what these children need. Our English program in Port Salut, supported by the H.E.A.R. Foundation, has provided several translators for medical doctors on the ground in Port au Prince. They all volunteered their time and felt honored to be able to contribute something to the relief effort.<br /></p></em><p><em>Every day Jean Robert goes out to see how children in restavek are being treated. He comes upon some very sad and disturbing situations. We cannot rescue all of these children, but we report what we see to UNICEF and other organizations working on this issue. Many people are collaborating on the issue of restavek and hopefully something good will come from this terrible tragedy.<br /></em></p><p><em>We will never be able to express our gratitude to all of you who have donated to our efforts. Your support and concern has kept us going.<br />Joan Conn, Executive Director of the Restavek Foundation</em></p>Thank you for continuing to support these very vulnerable children in Haiti.Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-57772695851239602852010-01-17T17:24:00.000-08:002010-01-17T17:26:58.120-08:00HaitiBy now you are well aware of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday 1/12/2009. You have likely seen the pictures and heard the heartbreaking stories. Many of you may remember that Be the Change has been working with the Restavek Freedom Foundation, which works with children currently enslaved in Haiti, by working with their "owners" providing funding for an education, basic health care needs, mentorship, etc. As of Wednesday, all the staff in Haiti, including the founder and CEO of Restavek Freedom were safe and outside of Port-au-Prince. However Restavek Freedom works with over 300 enslaved children in this country and 44% of them lived inside and around Port-au-Prince. The grim reality there is that they have not yet accounted for all of the children in their program.<br /><br />Natural disasters like become a haven for those looking to take advantage and exploit the weakest of society, mainly the children. Natural disasters create chaos and large numbers of unaccounted for and unattended to children. Meaning they can simply be taken, and assumed dead. That is the reality for children in Haiti right now. It is the goal of the Restavek Freedom Foundation to reach out and support the children that are lost or in urgent need of care. Staff from Restavek Freedom are already mobilized on the ground, ready to work on behalf of these children. They need our help now more than ever.<br /><br />Many of you attended our hands on Be the Change event last January 31st. If you sat and lovingly knotted together a blanket for a child slave in Haiti, you have a connection to a child there and may not even realize it. Shipping to Haiti is nearly impossible and for that reason all of the blankets that were sent to these enslaved children were taken by hand into the country by Restavek staff. It took a long time to do this, and in fact the last container of blankets was just taken into Haiti on Monday, January 11, 2010. One day before the earthquake. In my correspondence with the CEO of Restavek, she sent me this e-mail today:<br /><br /><em>"Just know that your blankets are saving many people from sleeping on the ground. We are so thankful we got that container on Monday before the quake hit."</em><br /><br />We had no idea at the time just how needed these blankets would be. Joan will eventually send us pictures, but as I am sure you can understand, she just does not have the time right now.<br /><br />Be the Change has again partnered with the Restavek Freedom Foundation to bring relief to these vulnerable children. You can send a donation to Be the Change Foundation marked for disaster relief, and we will be sending 100% of that money to the Restavek Freedom Foundation, who will in turn be using 100% of that money for their relief work in Haiti. We are moving forward with our change campaign because post earthquake these children are at an even greater risk and need those sponsorship funds to meet their basic needs, including an education. However, any donations that comes to us now, marked for disaster relief, will be sent to Restavek Freedom Foundation immediately for the specific purpose of post earthquake relief. Please consider how you can shed some light into the very dark situation that our children in Haiti have been thrown into.<br /><br />With Much Hope,<br />Be the Change Foundation Board,<br />Diane, Kim, Nicole, Kara and CherylBe the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-23943465674523095552009-12-03T20:59:00.000-08:002009-12-03T21:12:02.049-08:00More Bracelets For MaitiToday, Cheryl and Kara went to Shippensburg University to talk to students about Be the Change Foundation and Human Trafficking.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2OnChKPndkVjppRcOa0cWxOwykDGe_1gSnsmiFmzqwT4ypVDEWTQtoRvT20vyQaEr4f88LD6n1zs6-GAMl4mVSA-6Ywt3ymXCbJufD0si_Ukdjir3CeDLLSgWqWe90VvRoR37aSIv2Q/s1600-h/Ship+12-3-094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411241806641092930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2OnChKPndkVjppRcOa0cWxOwykDGe_1gSnsmiFmzqwT4ypVDEWTQtoRvT20vyQaEr4f88LD6n1zs6-GAMl4mVSA-6Ywt3ymXCbJufD0si_Ukdjir3CeDLLSgWqWe90VvRoR37aSIv2Q/s320/Ship+12-3-094.jpg" border="0" /></a> Before we even went to Shippensburg these dedicated students were already organizing their own event for Be the Change. They not only organized a bracelet event to be held today, but they are taking their bracelet making on the road and going to a local high school next week to make bracelets with the students there.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkJ8pc4Z-kRkIhoNQyFJgPIKroh7ZYsHHIe547blfJsmGwhMfs_y1ZkFXDUSdUqaDiXKBWX7i66OPv5suoPOFB7b8Qc-Qcxigp1Sxn8XFYxmRIokixUlhYQAZiG50Hi0RT42yCuPLBdw/s1600-h/Ship+12-3-093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411241795701304706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkJ8pc4Z-kRkIhoNQyFJgPIKroh7ZYsHHIe547blfJsmGwhMfs_y1ZkFXDUSdUqaDiXKBWX7i66OPv5suoPOFB7b8Qc-Qcxigp1Sxn8XFYxmRIokixUlhYQAZiG50Hi0RT42yCuPLBdw/s320/Ship+12-3-093.jpg" border="0" /></a> The story of the women dying in the hospice centers at Maiti Nepal is spreading. Not only is it spreading, but it is inspiring people and moving them into action.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs1tdeUJ9pVWhDjZwhOf2T5I2mx_YpebOkRLJ5dgzU9EKw23fKZBcEVyfWaZWmLqLMutsMn4vY_3_k8qFkqCATASOfnWydOiCOZGTjl-2xkEWf9DQxj5_uM0WXa9tmPpWhI7JTDc2lUk/s1600-h/Ship+12-3-092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411241787078319042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs1tdeUJ9pVWhDjZwhOf2T5I2mx_YpebOkRLJ5dgzU9EKw23fKZBcEVyfWaZWmLqLMutsMn4vY_3_k8qFkqCATASOfnWydOiCOZGTjl-2xkEWf9DQxj5_uM0WXa9tmPpWhI7JTDc2lUk/s320/Ship+12-3-092.jpg" border="0" /></a> We explained to students today that we are well aware that bracelets won't take away what happened to these women. It won't erase the memories they have of the events that let to them being in a hospice center in the first place. A bracelet won't expedite a shipment of the drugs needed to cure the diseases they have. It won't find a cure for the HIV/AIDS that they contracted.</div><div> </div><div>But it sends a message. That they matter. That they are worthy. That we are thinking of them. And sometimes, it is the little things that mean the most. </div><div> </div><div>It was clear today as we watched students carefully placing beads onto the memory wire, that much compassion and care was going into each one. It is our hope that the women on the receiving ends of these bracelets feel even just a little bit of that.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUAF03vcIULV1q1Mi0g0JF6GbzR3zIw4TCOcdyjDS22LhKFoxzettnfFQ5dr8Z88OmfR-WJcyi1voqLlyi3JnCbPa7hng84qsyHyE9PrR-i0d_EYZV9D4hyphenhyphennIZ8G_DewEGRz7e-H287A/s1600-h/Ship+12-3-091.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411241780612719906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUAF03vcIULV1q1Mi0g0JF6GbzR3zIw4TCOcdyjDS22LhKFoxzettnfFQ5dr8Z88OmfR-WJcyi1voqLlyi3JnCbPa7hng84qsyHyE9PrR-i0d_EYZV9D4hyphenhyphennIZ8G_DewEGRz7e-H287A/s320/Ship+12-3-091.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvoDVjntPQjYs5bbzH7mSXQHjgh3mnZhrgSVBEbOG6j6tuOCovnxvrBe45ZLw8u_yIdIoQ6LRujxPhmVTBvDnT2Bbdd_l4s8iKIXLgZtV9uJemj5sFOZ0gS-WrNiJCwRB7cahKZI9N-E/s1600-h/Ship+12-3-09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411241775957678802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvoDVjntPQjYs5bbzH7mSXQHjgh3mnZhrgSVBEbOG6j6tuOCovnxvrBe45ZLw8u_yIdIoQ6LRujxPhmVTBvDnT2Bbdd_l4s8iKIXLgZtV9uJemj5sFOZ0gS-WrNiJCwRB7cahKZI9N-E/s320/Ship+12-3-09.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thank you for your continued passion and compassion.</div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-62956100776224568762009-10-14T16:17:00.000-07:002009-10-14T16:34:15.539-07:00A Christmas Thank YouIt is thanks to the support from extremely generous donations, that, since 2006 Be the Change Foundation has sent 31 boxes of Christmas gifts to the Maetang Tribal Children's Home in Thailand. And, these were not small boxes. I personally fit inside of them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz5tHHMDqRoHhQBYvA6f8RyE84w7LoUXy5Yv2suEXPPGkXmUe6s7iDjAsEQ9JGEF5VYi79mfyLairCrPO5LOVAiCLJaiN1gBlqfdAp9E5UxjFXFO3fEwE76p8wGesB4VXmml2KX53srs/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392600569391710722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz5tHHMDqRoHhQBYvA6f8RyE84w7LoUXy5Yv2suEXPPGkXmUe6s7iDjAsEQ9JGEF5VYi79mfyLairCrPO5LOVAiCLJaiN1gBlqfdAp9E5UxjFXFO3fEwE76p8wGesB4VXmml2KX53srs/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a> Believe me.<br /><br />I tried.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJeyGZZx3cNXizBl1fN2Ynkdp1sVsY20QbSnEN8zZ25hX9pqf2g_oS8hEcPkDga5uzBOdGW1hguUxBPKegxV95JUb87NeJexuNuYv9mCAZ47rogI77Cfo27fyr65-NpMf3731Z1sTzoI/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392600558604528354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJeyGZZx3cNXizBl1fN2Ynkdp1sVsY20QbSnEN8zZ25hX9pqf2g_oS8hEcPkDga5uzBOdGW1hguUxBPKegxV95JUb87NeJexuNuYv9mCAZ47rogI77Cfo27fyr65-NpMf3731Z1sTzoI/s320/018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I am not even going to guess at how much weight was in those 31 boxes. In 2006, Be the Change shipped the boxes and it cost us $500 to do so. It was a lot of money, but necessary to get the gifts to Chiang Mai.<br /><br />In 2007 we learned that the United States Postal Service no longer offered the "by boat" method of shipping. This meant that shipping 11 boxes would cost us at least twice as much as it did in 2006.<br /><br />Enter Plan B.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKw5_oOndj4UWYNsHs_eCRdhpOr0bxSji04mwzWwwkPwf7S7k3s7yPVnlxGNnYWBKShOw2MLys_S5ffdeZcnN9iMdtfX9C7-XLeTqTW59Z2Am475ygNcg6il8W9jqIT-9pL66DI8RNLE/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392600553966522658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKw5_oOndj4UWYNsHs_eCRdhpOr0bxSji04mwzWwwkPwf7S7k3s7yPVnlxGNnYWBKShOw2MLys_S5ffdeZcnN9iMdtfX9C7-XLeTqTW59Z2Am475ygNcg6il8W9jqIT-9pL66DI8RNLE/s320/001.JPG" border="0" /></a> After some phone calls and telling the story about the children in Maetang, Federal Express told us they would take the gifts to Thailand. For free. And they did this again in 2008. However, in 2008 the boxes were hit with taxes from the Thai government. In 2006 and 2007 the boxes got into the country un-noticed and were not taxed. The cost of those taxes in 2008 was $500. Be the Change paid this, but we really started to think about a better way that money could have been spent. How many children could that money send to school? We know that $500 can help two women who have been rescued from trafficking start a business in Ghana . So, while we understand that it is WAY more fun to shop for these children (believe me, we know, Diane and I have pushed MANY full carts through Target over the past few years) it is a much better use of your donations to send the money to Thailand , rather than the gifts. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkxgulBD6J8nFMt_F73pYm4AnpY42ixyJPb1E8ta1BtRXLjbmCzwCUNQphyDivniLeblS2oguKzqnBLi5N2reZdYovk9OIAE4ZKdcWjdKypstRzHk9jVLb-T6WSB93XDWQvIH0dArvus/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392600541335887730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkxgulBD6J8nFMt_F73pYm4AnpY42ixyJPb1E8ta1BtRXLjbmCzwCUNQphyDivniLeblS2oguKzqnBLi5N2reZdYovk9OIAE4ZKdcWjdKypstRzHk9jVLb-T6WSB93XDWQvIH0dArvus/s320/017.JPG" border="0" /></a> Last week a check for $500 (the amount given for the gifts this year in donations) was sent to Thailand , and the shopping will be done in Thailand . We wish the best of luck to those given the task of shopping for over 100 children :) <br /><br />Whether we send 2 boxes or 22, $25 or $500, the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season is shared with these children.<br /><br />And that is why we do this.</div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-87547504204380183262009-05-05T08:45:00.000-07:002009-05-05T08:50:43.620-07:00Untold Stories. And, Jewelry, of Course!There is an amazing facility in Nepal. It is nestled in the mountains of this beautiful country. It is called Maiti Nepal. <br /><br />Maiti Nepal has many programs that work towards the prevention of girl trafficking, rescue, rehabilitation, and integration back into society. These programs include advocacy, anti-trafficking safety networks, creating awareness, community programs, gainful employment, hospice, prevention homes, the promotion of safe migration, rehabilitation homes, rescue and transit homes. In a country where human trafficking thrives, this organization is doing it’s part to work against this evil practice. <br /><br />Over a year ago we received a video called “The Day My God Died” from Maiti Nepal.<br /><br />We watched it. <br /><br />We were changed.<br /><br />It details the situation of human trafficking in countries like Nepal and India. It tells horrific stories of abuse and inspiring stories of hope. There are stories of girls who have been rescued, and who continue to survive each day. Many of these girls go on to actually do the work of rescuing girls who are actively being trafficked.<br /><br />But Maiti Nepal also does something else that we have never heard of another organization doing. We didn’t realize this service existed until we watched this video. They do something that we never thought of doing ourselves. They have opened two hospice centers. Because the harsh reality is girls die because they are trafficked. Some die while enslaved, some die after their rescue. Either way, lives are lost because of this horrific practice. There are 27 million people currently enslaved. That number does not include the number of former slaves who are no longer living because they were enslaved. <br /><br />Maiti Nepal has established two hospice centers, one in Kathmandu and one in Jhapa. These centers work to provide holistic care for the children and women who are terminally ill, or suffering from various diseases. Hospice emphasizes palliative care rather than curative treatment.<br /><br />Sonja Kill Memorial Hospice located at Gokarna of Kathmandu District provides necessary care and support for survivors whose families and society have stigmatized and outcasted. The Hospice centers have the capacity to care for 43 individuals and to and provide medical treatment to survivors who are infected with HIV/AIDS, Multi Drug Resistance Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and other chronic diseases. An isolation unit with capacity of 3 beds also has been operating since January 2006.<br /><br />We have heard, and we have told many, many stories. We have told stories of heroines who are working all over the world to prevent human trafficking, and we have seen the sweet faces of the children who could potentially be lost if they were not part of a prevention program. We have heard and told stories of the courageous individuals who have been trafficked, who lived enslaved, and have gone on to not only survive, but thrive. But it seems as if the stories of those who have left this earth are not told. <br /><br />We refuse to let them go forgotten.<br /><br />We wanted to do something special for them. Since I personally watched the video “The Day My God Died” I was touched and moved in a different way by these women. To be abused and exploited in the way these women and children are is so horrific. But, then for them to have to live in the knowledge that they will now die because of what others have done to their bodies is something I don’t think I will ever be able wrap by brain around. When we watched that video, we really, really wanted those women who are now dying to know that their lives matter.<br />Beyond sending funds to Maiti Nepal for the hospice center, we wanted to do something special for each individual woman. Again, jewelry came to mind. <br /><br />On May 30, 2009, we will hold another special event. We will gather at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Yardley, PA (1700 Makefield Road) from 10am until 2pm to make jewelry for women who are residing in the hospice centers in Nepal. There will be a very simple pattern to follow, and all the supplies will be purchased ahead of time and available for you. All you have to do is come and put beads on wire. Literally. Beads. Wire. 4 hours. So much dignity. <br /><br />We wanted to do something special and above all we wanted to tell these women that they matter. Regardless of what was done to their bodies, and regardless of the fact that they will leave this earth because of this, they matter. We can’t be there with them to tell them this. We can’t cure the horrible diseases that they have. We can’t change their past. But even in all of this tragedy there is room for hope, there is room to make a difference. Our hope is that through this jewelry, that will be specially and lovingly made just for them, that they can leave this earth with a little more dignity, grace, and hope. We hope they can leave knowing that others across the world were touched simply by the fact that they existed. We hope they leave knowing that they matter.<br /><br />There is a moment in the video when the woman who directs and founded Maiti Nepal says <em>“Please tell the world about my girls.”<br /></em><br />And so, we’re just doing our part in her request.<br /><br />Please join us on the 30th of May. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at info@bethechangefoundation.org.Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-33890817385353639142009-03-30T17:37:00.000-07:002009-04-02T12:38:07.023-07:00You Can Never Have Too Much Jewelry (Especially When It's For a Good Cause!)We do a lot with regards to jewelry at Be the Change. We have someone who makes it for us , we send it to other countries, we sell it, we wear it. We do a lot with jewelry. It is a universal thing that women love jewelry.<br /><br />You may be familiar with Silpada Jewelry. They make beautiful sterling silver jewelry. A year ago we were given the opportunity to work with a Silpada representative to have a jewelry show that would benefit Be the Change Foundation. We’ve kindly been given that opportunity again.<br />On April 23, 2009 from 7-9m at the home of Cheryl Varga (1703 Makefield Road, Yardley, PA 19067) we will be hosting a Silpada jewelry party. If you are not familiar with Silpada jewelry, they make beautiful sterling silver jewelry. All proceeds from the sale of the jewelry will be donated to the Be the Change Foundation. We can all use a little more jewrlry :)<br /><br />We hope you can join us this evening, even if you do not wish to shop for jewelry, we welcome you just to join us for light snacks, coffee, tea, wine and conversation. If will be an nice evening to come together for those who are enslaved, and perhaps go home with some jewelry. For more information, please feel free to e-mail us.<br /><br />In addition, please watch for another special jewelry opportunity coming in May. Mark your calendars for May 30th. More details will follow.<br /><br /><strong>*Please note the correct address is 1703 Makefield Road. The address that was sent via e-mail is incorrect and a follow up e-mail to correct that mistake will be sent* Thank you!</strong>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-70211552622008909702009-03-11T10:05:00.000-07:002009-03-12T09:36:58.145-07:00Patience and MercyMany times we have been asked why we do this. There have been some occasions where we have been asked (in not so many words) if we have lost our minds. As far as we know, we have not :) People want to know why we're doing this.<br /><br />Last night we met with one of those reasons.<br /><br />Mercy is a woman from Ghana. When Diane, Cheryl, Kim and myself (Kara) left the restaurant we met her at last night; to say we were inspired is a huge understatement. And, let's not forget the woman accompanying her, Patience. This woman has devoted her life for more than 20 years working to emancipate enslaved women and children caught in a horrible cultural and tribal practice in Ghana.<br /><br />There are many different tribes within this country in western Africa. Almost all are in rural areas, submerged in poverty. They have their own practices, rituals and beliefs. In many of these tribes when a crime is committed, whether it be the theft of a small object, to a rape or murder, there must be atonement for that crime. In order to stop the village priest from putting a curse on the accused family, a virgin must be taken to the shrine of the village to be the slave to the priest for the rest of her life. Should she die in captivity another virgin must replace her. She is a domestic slave and a sex slave. Should she bear children while enslaved those children remain enslaved and uneducated and likely end up in child labor.<br /><br />At the age of 9 Mercy was chosen to replace her 14 year old sister who had died in the shrine as a result of harsh treatment metered out by her captors. When her sister died, a virgin replacement was needed to continue to appease the anger of the gods. Mercy was left to atone for the sins of her grandmother who had shoplifted a pair of earrings. Mercy recounts how terrified she was to be taken to the shrine, she was beaten into submission after trying to resist. She became a slave to this priest and eventually his personal sex slave.<br /><br /><br />Obtaining freedom is no easy task. Patience works with the I.N Network to speak with village priests about the fact that there is a better way to atone for sin and crime. Obviously the priests resist and Patience worked for 20 years before ever seeing anyone freed. There has not been a release of girls in 5 years. But today, while in the US, Patience received a call that another release may soon be coming. It is important to understand that a release in one of these villages can consist of hundreds of girls. The priest receives a slave for every single person who has committed a crime. As these women have children the number of individuals the priest holds in captivity multiplies quickly.<br /><br />When a liberation is to take place, the village participates in a liberation ceremony, conducted by the priest and this includes “reversing” the “curse” on the family. The notion that if an enslaved girl returns to their family, then something horrible will fall upon the family needs to be erased. It is essential that the priest make it clear and known that nothing will curse this family. It is still so ingrained in this culture and this has been going on for centuries. Even Mercy’s mother is fearful to have her in her home, even though she has been liberated.<br /><br />Because a liberation consists of so many people, when a liberation is going to occur there will be a flood of single women and their children released into the community. They most often cannot stay in their own community because there is still much shame, they are shunned and very stigmatized.<br /><br />The children of these women must be educated upon release. If not there is a huge risk that they will end up in the trafficking industry in the form of child labor. As in so many countries, in Ghana, if you do not have a uniform, you do not go to school.<br /><br />Patience does not stop at negotiating the release of slaves. She has built 3 schools for these children and 3,000 children have received an education in those schools. That is 3,000 children that <em>did not</em> end up in the human trafficking industry. Patience helps these newly freed women to begin to rebuild their lives. This includes helping them to learn a trade. When they are ready to graduate, Patience gets them set up with a small business, providing them with all the necessary equipment to begin. The cost of this post graduation process is $325.00. Yes, it only cost $325.00 to give someone the ability to begin to rebuild their lives and regain their livelihood. As soon as I heard that figure I immediately began to think of where I have spent $325.00 in the last month.<br /><br />There are so many components to this situation in Ghana. It is complicated and overwhelming and it was a lot of information to get in an hour and a half. It is so much more than liberating women. It is about getting others to understand human rights, justice issues, and to see that holding a human in captivity is a blatant disregard to their dignity and rights as a human. In these cases it means changing a practice that goes back generations. It means changing a part of a culture. It means convincing a village that these enslaved, destitute are<em> people</em>. It means putting programs and schools in place, and seeing the success of that. It can very slowly spread from village to village. People start to see that maybe, just maybe, <em>there is a better way</em>. But, <em>slow</em> is the key word. Remember, Patience worked for 20 years before ever seeing a single woman freed. But, when that first liberation took place it was certainly a day to celebrate. That day, sixty women were given their freedom. They ranged in ages from 4 through 80. That 80 year old woman had been enslaved since she was 5 years old. <em>Yes, 75 years in slavery.</em> But, Patience does it, and she is changing lives. Thousands of lives.<br /><br />It was such an honor to sit with these two truly extraordinary women. We were afforded the opportunity to listen to their stories and ask questions.<br /><br /><em>Question 1: How much is a plane ticket to Ghana?<br /><br />Question 2: When can I go?<br /></em><br />Patience was so kind as to tell me I could stay with her :)<br /><br />At the end of the conversation we sat for a minute digesting all the information. We looked at each other and asked what do we do from here? We are not sure yet what that means. We will be meeting soon to discuss how Be the Change can fit into all of this information. We’re not sure how yet, but somehow, we will.<br /><br />As for Mercy...12 years ago, after having three children and being pregnant with her fourth baby, she was freed. Her last child is the only one who was not born into slavery. She now lives in her own home, works and is raising her four children. She is currently traveling in the United States, telling her story to raise funds and awareness on the issue of slavery in her own country…using her story to bring freedom to others.Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-88497193576730049522009-02-09T11:41:00.000-08:002009-03-17T11:32:31.071-07:00Beyond Our ExpectationsOn January 31, 2009 about 20 people gathered at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Yardley, PA. By the time the event was over, and all the blankets from just that day were counted we had nearly 45 hand-made blankets. That is 45 children in Haiti who will no longer have to sleep on the concrete or dirt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPcIxuDqqzRYKNa32fEf5XZNBl5vSczN5Z09Wg9rFpzNavFDNBUcZkD5rxFIxU_ADHyMZuCVejPDlBTm1-FIkpgjZCLayoyEodN3U3IreTKuiJJVUiS8kQBg-YK0DtOg2uCtE6htVVxU/s1600-h/blankets14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300886120406638994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPcIxuDqqzRYKNa32fEf5XZNBl5vSczN5Z09Wg9rFpzNavFDNBUcZkD5rxFIxU_ADHyMZuCVejPDlBTm1-FIkpgjZCLayoyEodN3U3IreTKuiJJVUiS8kQBg-YK0DtOg2uCtE6htVVxU/s320/blankets14.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhaZLF2_jBSyuqbJux2tlxQ1bGyroO9uJ4b64RINDVMHEF6zLGWfCYi94mjIavLbLywC33vhbklP-YPiQhvppnTLmkVpJPzXRWC7fqSquDn4pijCwG7y0oGKw3IhRVXCjQdE5iRtvyNM/s1600-h/blankets13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300886117979057698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhaZLF2_jBSyuqbJux2tlxQ1bGyroO9uJ4b64RINDVMHEF6zLGWfCYi94mjIavLbLywC33vhbklP-YPiQhvppnTLmkVpJPzXRWC7fqSquDn4pijCwG7y0oGKw3IhRVXCjQdE5iRtvyNM/s320/blankets13.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />But that's not all.<br /><br />We don't yet know how many blankets will be made at a church in Virginia holding the same event.<br /><br />We don't yet know how many blankets will be made at a church in New York holding the same event.<br /><br />We're not sure how many blankets the daycare in Pennsylvania will collect.<br /><br />That number doesn't count the blankets that were collected at an office in New Jersey.<br /><br />It also doesn't count the one that was randomly dropped off at my house yesterday by one of my friends from highschool.<br /><br />It also doesn't count the one I walked into at my office this morning.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeznDQTVARzN0klk_Sbf88hjsRxb6cZChrirHH0jc_87tGmbhLUllj_ovdksUli9JBdtIvd16sJx3ZW4OnoHZID0BKjaI2ts18AqiARZqf7jNxz2c5nJIO_xp-YVYiD45b6q95nMklpoE/s1600-h/blankets12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300886112423649666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeznDQTVARzN0klk_Sbf88hjsRxb6cZChrirHH0jc_87tGmbhLUllj_ovdksUli9JBdtIvd16sJx3ZW4OnoHZID0BKjaI2ts18AqiARZqf7jNxz2c5nJIO_xp-YVYiD45b6q95nMklpoE/s320/blankets12.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jDGUnGBvcgBxdKmqqHMd-bPwwnKEm05HWS3OTm8miW8gA67azvCunppC0sZl1wPph33tQ1ztblW26tPexToEFQcrKtkDEEIh7u50T5ceqBH1jCct1sakIPLtr-oPYaDp5sgVbUKPwjM/s1600-h/blankets11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300886112043234242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jDGUnGBvcgBxdKmqqHMd-bPwwnKEm05HWS3OTm8miW8gA67azvCunppC0sZl1wPph33tQ1ztblW26tPexToEFQcrKtkDEEIh7u50T5ceqBH1jCct1sakIPLtr-oPYaDp5sgVbUKPwjM/s320/blankets11.jpg" border="0" /></a> It amazed all of us at Be the Change how the plight of these children seems to be contagious. Anyone who has heard about the child slaves in Haiti who are sleeping on the dirt and concrete has wanted to do something to help their situation. As I mentioned before, Haiti has been on my heart so much in the past few months. As I also said, if you've been within earshot of me over the past few months, I am SURE you have heard reference to the children in Haiti who are starving. In fact, on Friday evening, while babysitting I realized I may say this too often. As I went to thow away pizza crust one of the kids said to me "I can't believe you are throwing that away, there are starving children in Haiti." Thanks for the reminder, Madison.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-1kWxmUZskeLMEONylDC8QR_h8O52jSZHAxJi6A1fjkYp01kFFEV4YM73R_p5TnJCYRyfw3MgYrX4LkCS1ui-f6rEdJfGLPVwLQY-rrReYrfpNVYbKIMBmLCqvMeYbHgqal0xjQhosU/s1600-h/blankets10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885868363199762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-1kWxmUZskeLMEONylDC8QR_h8O52jSZHAxJi6A1fjkYp01kFFEV4YM73R_p5TnJCYRyfw3MgYrX4LkCS1ui-f6rEdJfGLPVwLQY-rrReYrfpNVYbKIMBmLCqvMeYbHgqal0xjQhosU/s320/blankets10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJgVu8ez5AvkIAsRB-dtyGpYglk4SKamhf9wQw4lIHt-lIza-1yA8SCKrs758xPLgYumKw4FjuNwwB0zzip4xXFGlutwIF78HgHs1hgYgHA1A36l4qRFaIOyRadzszrB2zjZEAki4TcQ/s1600-h/blankets9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885869607914834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJgVu8ez5AvkIAsRB-dtyGpYglk4SKamhf9wQw4lIHt-lIza-1yA8SCKrs758xPLgYumKw4FjuNwwB0zzip4xXFGlutwIF78HgHs1hgYgHA1A36l4qRFaIOyRadzszrB2zjZEAki4TcQ/s320/blankets9.jpg" border="0" /></a> It has brought tears to my eyes so many times looking at all the blankets sitting at my house waiting to be shipped. I keep thinking about the children who will be receiving them, and I keep thinking of the words that came from our contact at the Restavec Freedom Foundation...<em>I have never seen a child in Haiti with a blanket.<br /></em><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885866895143842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyZNvFvyI-rUyHeuxFTSf6ch5L_gD3p8m2w5nXSGCnOp8TfcXagBPRjAOczBk3M3EuC-jblhAeAb0BVfxn5djwUW0tKFcdQteoDoy9_NJYfIIa8Nf-1xU0Gf-lZMeZsT4YWHshIgzgmU/s320/blankets8.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXHS95jZ_tstNRszbnfYei3w3Pen8aufQcflQZqa_feh7js5_VI1URHmnw5ROCR8BWciwzGtKoSiYu5WZdFVai-BDNIRxZATCRw_Z5VP7T02XXWdBvYiI5y0si1it9f0r2vs0vPblbBc/s1600-h/blankets6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885619085892354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXHS95jZ_tstNRszbnfYei3w3Pen8aufQcflQZqa_feh7js5_VI1URHmnw5ROCR8BWciwzGtKoSiYu5WZdFVai-BDNIRxZATCRw_Z5VP7T02XXWdBvYiI5y0si1it9f0r2vs0vPblbBc/s320/blankets6.jpg" border="0" /></a> Following our event, I e-mailed our contact to let her know how many blankets we had so far. Her response: </div><div></div><div align="center"><em>Oh my goodness!!! This is amazing how you were able to network. I feel so blessed and I know these children will begin to understand what love means and know a little about how it feels. We will take pictures of them being distributed. Please tell your group how much we appreciate them and their support and encouragement of our work. </em></div><div align="center"><em>With love and hearts full of thanks, Joan</em><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJtQqT59pZBhnM3dq4muZZfBHL_7AdB0JVmFTWueUKNg6Vg1k2w7N08JIbnslYE36oyvwWNt5UdgSxvSU83vklddY-fbqJYwHsnQ-zlTVhvo8AdlZCLFAwYEmeQAnhnJMbSxpNuPaTIo/s1600-h/blankets5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885619405212818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJtQqT59pZBhnM3dq4muZZfBHL_7AdB0JVmFTWueUKNg6Vg1k2w7N08JIbnslYE36oyvwWNt5UdgSxvSU83vklddY-fbqJYwHsnQ-zlTVhvo8AdlZCLFAwYEmeQAnhnJMbSxpNuPaTIo/s320/blankets5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBaiya0WYmxEcGANkc0d5kQzq30LreYF0KWpgDEB49GIdwdII8hNVFraQjky5Sj8JFrfsNb3Or_VLCWNCz6GYar2J3IjbVmX4WSaUzZUU2emcQZTcgcHd34jVjYGyByOT3T4gtolp5Uk/s1600-h/blankets4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885616226305554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBaiya0WYmxEcGANkc0d5kQzq30LreYF0KWpgDEB49GIdwdII8hNVFraQjky5Sj8JFrfsNb3Or_VLCWNCz6GYar2J3IjbVmX4WSaUzZUU2emcQZTcgcHd34jVjYGyByOT3T4gtolp5Uk/s320/blankets4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Thank you to all who have helped to give a voice to these children in Haiti. If you still have a blanket, or you are still organizing a blanket event or collection, please contact us at <a href="mailto:info@bethechangefoundation" target="_blank">info@bethechangefoundation</a> if you need information on where to send your completed/collected blankets. Your kindness, compassion and generosity for the cause is inspiring. Thank you. Of course, once we have pictures we will share those.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TCe7sQEHSSggJ5VpgL6dQ_YJKu0TOlC_EiOQbk6Z-qo_CwQe-aoM5EmFJiC9xO-6tsyk6ijs5cZsXXXJ9xRD-aNjfZDYxVtNop7ACIAxvr5QmJe8XjbwHNGctN__Vuo1F2sLg8Wu-m0/s1600-h/blankets2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885300777329842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TCe7sQEHSSggJ5VpgL6dQ_YJKu0TOlC_EiOQbk6Z-qo_CwQe-aoM5EmFJiC9xO-6tsyk6ijs5cZsXXXJ9xRD-aNjfZDYxVtNop7ACIAxvr5QmJe8XjbwHNGctN__Vuo1F2sLg8Wu-m0/s320/blankets2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisI_eX3sBKkWiMwjXGjnDuRwA6kmkM56TGyZ7FD6MOF-r2STQf-URdux80u_HaQipQWCX-JaOnvyHFfKT6IcZfRLbPCir1Pv-99YW_01Jo6PbKPWPb7CgUL0F1dwK4oLftCYimjxq7DuU/s1600-h/blankets1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300885301396111826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisI_eX3sBKkWiMwjXGjnDuRwA6kmkM56TGyZ7FD6MOF-r2STQf-URdux80u_HaQipQWCX-JaOnvyHFfKT6IcZfRLbPCir1Pv-99YW_01Jo6PbKPWPb7CgUL0F1dwK4oLftCYimjxq7DuU/s320/blankets1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Thank you. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-27866950642345291412009-01-01T21:36:00.000-08:002009-03-11T10:24:24.355-07:00BlanketsA few months ago we came into contact with the Restavec Freedom Foundation in Haiti. John Robert Cadet is a former child slave from Haiti. I first saw him on Oprah. This was after we had started Be the Change Foundation. I was so moved by his story. A former child slave, he received an education in the United States and went on to form an organization to help the children still enslaved in Haiti. He is one of the most inspiring people I have ever been in contact with (AND he met Oprah!). Once I saw him on Oprah, I tracked down his foundation on-line and e-mailed him (and did I mention he met Oprah?!). I heard back and he told me of many ways that Be the Change could partner with Restavec Freedom to help the children of Haiti.<br /><br />Haiti it located 600 miles off the coast of Florida. It is just a 2 hour plane ride from Miami. Haiti holds the title of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Of the 8.4 million people who live in Haiti, 1/2 of those individuals are under the age of 20. Of the 8.4 million citizens of Haiti it is estimated that 300,000 of those people are child slaves. Haiti's problems only begin here. One half of the population is unemployed, only 1/2 of the children in the country attend school and less than 2% of children finish secondary school. For every 100,000 live births in Haiti, 523 of those mothers will not survive the birth. Haiti is also home to the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the Western Hemisphere. For every 8 children, one will die before the age of 5. For every 14 children, one will die before the age of 1. 80% of the people living in Haiti, live below the national poverty line. In addition to the 300,000 children living in slavery in Haiti, another 2,000 are trafficked into the Dominican Republic each year.<br /><br />If you live in Haiti and you are a Restavec (or child slave):<br /><br />You are one of an estimated 300,000 Haitian children enslaved in child labor.<br /><br />You probably come from an isolated, rural area of Haiti where there are no schools, no electricity, no running water and few possibilities for the future.<br /><br />You probably now live in the city with a family who is not your own - not as a foster child, but as the servant.<br /><br />You probably are between the ages of 4 and 15, and your childhood with each passing day.<br /><br />You are three times more likely to be a girl than a boy.<br /><br />You probably get up before dawn, before the family members, to begin preparing for their day and go to bed well after most children are asleep.<br /><br />You are probably responsible for preparing the household meals, fetching water from the local well, cleaning inside and outside the house, doing laundry and emptying bedpans.<br /><br />You probably don't get paid for any of these activities. You rarely get to see your family. You might not even remember where they live.<br /><br />You rarely, if ever, go to school, depending on your owner's financial situation and schedule.<br /><br />You may not get enough to eat or food with enough nutritional value for someone who works hard all day.<br /><br />You may be subjected to physical, emotional or sexual abuse in addition to the various forms of neglect mentioned above.<br /><br />You never have all of your rights as a child respected.<br /><br />The facts about Haiti are daunting, overwhelming and discouraging. As with so many other countries around the world afflicted with human trafficking, where do you even begin? Restavec Freedom currently has over 300 children that they support. The foundation encourages the owners of child slaves to allow them to attend school. Restavec Freedom then pays their tuition, supplies them with a uniform made especially for them, and purchases their books. For many of these children, they have never been to school. They have never even tried on a uniform before. They do not know their age or when they were born. They are basically undocumented, unprotected and unloved--until Restavec Freedom finds them. The primary focus is on the victim, children that are currently in domestic slavery. The primary goal of Restavec Freedom Foundation is to end this system but until they can accomplish this goal they try to get these children in school.<br /><br />I contacted the Restavec Freedom Foundation a few weeks ago to ask them if there were any hands on projects that Be the Change could help with. I received an e-mail from my contact at Restavec with some suggestions of things we could do through Be the Change. At a recent Be the Change board meeting I sat and read through the suggestions to Diane, Kim and Cheryl. I got to the part of the e-mail where my contact with Restavec was describing to me how many of the child slaves in Haiti sleep on dirt or concrete floors. "Blankets!" Diane interjected. "What if we made them blankets?" I wanted to make them beds and ship them to Haiti. But, until we become best friends with an airline or the captain of a cargo ship, blankets will have to do. We all loved the idea of blankets, and I sat right there and e-mailed Restavec to ask if blankets would be a need and something the children could use. The response I got from them left me in tears and were some of the most humbling words I have ever read....<br /><br /><em>This is a beautiful idea. I am sure the children would not know what to think about having their very own blanket. I donʼt think I have ever seen a child with a blanket in Haiti. We could definitely carry these blankets in our extra baggage as we return to Haiti each month.</em><br /><br />She is sure the children would not know what to think of a blanket of their very own.<br /><br />She has never seen a child in Haiti with a blanket.<br /><br />She will soon.<br /><br />On January 31, 2009 we are going to hold a very special event. A blanket making...event? Party? Whatever you would like to call it!It will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection:1700 Makefield RoadYardley, PA 19067It will be from 10am-2pm. We will serve snacks, and spend the afternoon making blankets for the child slaves of Haiti who sleep on dirt or concrete. If you can't sew, that is perfectly OK. I cannot sew on a button to save my life, but I have made several of these blankets. If you can draw a straight line with a ruler, cut in a straight line and tie your shoes, you can make one. You may have seen this type of blanket before, it is two pieces of fleece fringed and knotted together. We're asking each person to bring with them 4 yards of fleece material. You are welcome to just bring 4 yards of one type of fleece, or 2 yards of one color/pattern and 2 yards of another color/pattern. You need 4 yards total, but it either needs to be 4 whole yards, or split 2 of one fleece and 2 of another. OK, I will stop explaining now because I think I am just making it more confusing. E-mail us if you have questions and I promise to try and explain it better! In addition if you have pins, or a pair of scissors it would be helpful if you can bring those as well.<br /><br />Please click on this link <a href="http://degraziermedia.com/BSPG/Restavec.html">http://degraziermedia.com/BSPG/Restavec.html</a>. Or cut and paste it into your browser. Right click and then click on "open." It will take a few minutes to download, but I promise it is worth it. These are just a few of the restavec children living in Haiti that Restavec Freedom is working with.<br /><br />For whatever reason, in the past few months, Haiti has been on my heart. If you've been around me, I am sure you have heard me say "There are starving children in Haiti..." I am especially sure you have heard me say this if you have been within earshot when ridiculous items come on television that people can buy. Like a few months ago when I saw something on television about a "Spa Capsule" you can purchase for your home. Seriously?! A spa capsule? Do you have any idea how many children in Haiti you could feed or educate for the cost of a Spa Capsule?! At the zoo this summer when we were in the wild cat exhibit I noticed that people had donated tens of thousands of dollars to help cover the cost of the exhibit. Tens of thousands of dollars were given to keep animals in captivity. Surely these donors had not heard of the starving children in Haiti. I pointed this out to Denise, she agreed, and Morgyn told us (sarcasticly) that we were so much fun to go to the zoo with. "Sorry! It's your mother's fault," I told her.<br /><br />So why the children in Haiti? I have no idea. Maybe because their suffering seems so deep. Maybe because I have been so close to the country I could almost touch the border. Maybe because I have heard personal, first hand accounts of the poverty and suffering from Denise. Maybe it is because the faces I have seen, and the words I read when I received the above e-mail have made a lasting imprint on my heart. A few weeks ago I was visiting with the Anderson family (who are now in South Africa). I was looking at pictures on the computer of the recent havoc that all over from the latest tropical storm. I saw pictures of destruction, devastation and death. I've never been so disturbed by photos, or so driven to want to do something to help these people.<br /><br />I know there is suffering all over the world. I know that Be the Change cannot single handily save every child, or free all 27 million who are enslaved. We can't even free the 300,000 in Haiti. Giving a blanket to even 300 of those children merely seems like a drop in a very large bucket. But that is where the starfish comes in.<br /><br /><em>Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?</em><br /><br />Yes, as a matter of fact, we do. We can't save all 27 million, we can't even rescue the 300,000 living in Haiti. And, I am not so naive as to think that a blanket is going to change the course of these children's lives'. But, it will make a difference. We can make sure that 300 of those children spread out a warm, soft fleece blanket over the cold concrete or dirt before they lay their heads down. We can give them a blanket, an object that is just for them. We can give them something clean and new. Something that we put our love and time into making just for them. We can give them the dignity of a more comfortable place to sleep. We can send them the message that they matter, that they have value and that they have worth. We can tell them they deserve so much more than the dirt and concrete. We can tell them that while their "owners" might hold them captive, their captivity is not what defines them. And that will make a difference.<br /><br /><em>And the old man paused thoughtfully as he picked up another starfish and tossed it into the sea and replied "It made a difference to that one."</em><br /><br />Please join us on the 31st of January making blankets, sharing love, with the children held captive in Haiti. Please join us in dreaming of the day when not another blanket is needed.Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-50858068957486498482008-12-10T12:28:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:51:58.166-08:00Christmas KindnessEach year we are all completely humbled by the response to the Christmas collection for the children at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home in Thailand. This is the third year we have done this collection. Two years ago Diane approached me and asked what I thought of sending Christmas presents to the children at Maetang (the same children who received the new bathrooms). I of course said I loved the idea (did you seriously think I'd turn down sending presents to children?!). We shopped and shopped and shopped at Target and had our carts more than overflowing. As we were shopping we talked about the fact that if we were going to start this the first year, we had to do it every year. We knew couldn't tell them one year that they mattered enough to receive presents and then not send them the next year. So, we decided two years ago that as long as there is a Be the Change Foundation, the children in Thailand will have to get presents. Shopping was so much fun, and we were so excited picking out little items that we knew would mean so much to them. There is something very humbling about shopping for children who you know will be thrilled with socks and toothbrushes. While shopping and packing all of these items was so much fun, we still had one more hurdle. Shipping. The first year it cost of $500 to ship everything to Thailand. When I approached the postal service last year about shipping, they informed me that the less expensive boat option we used the year before was no longer an option. Which meant the price would at least double. We began to explore some other shipping options. It was a huge benefit to us that I happen to babysit for two little girls who are the daughters of a Federal Express pilot. He travels to Asia and said he'd take the gifts himself (hey, thanks, can I go with you!). I made many phone calls and sent many e-mails to FedEx, and got a return call the week before the gifts needed to be sent in order to make in to Thailand in time for Christmas. I spoke with the woman who is in charge of their community relations. I told her about the children in Thailand, a little bit about Be the Change, and explained what human trafficking meant when she asked what that was. She told me she would call me back a few days later. She did, and told me that FedEx would be shipping to Thailand for us for free. All 11 boxes. They made the same generous donation this year to us, shipping over 200 pounds of gifts to Thailand for free.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWouT1smAz9bBCzRSkAjDRPgwkSWrsMhMVaZGFNfKnNfgrF_PxhNJ5W5mPY2eLf2sFeWdCtg7nGyTsgs62T1fUN0tR0S9sk_m0J_OgqmuryMUG_VfSLUD6z-UEGnh2df0DWFkePjHmraA/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278262781190266882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWouT1smAz9bBCzRSkAjDRPgwkSWrsMhMVaZGFNfKnNfgrF_PxhNJ5W5mPY2eLf2sFeWdCtg7nGyTsgs62T1fUN0tR0S9sk_m0J_OgqmuryMUG_VfSLUD6z-UEGnh2df0DWFkePjHmraA/s320/019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4J1ENxIyDuEuDP30xmeM_0O-3JIOazeCaV8v-rxbvym-W4em1XRcKkfAlisHIWBg2oGt8UUakwKv4pxqX-1-tlZRYkUDlAL1T8r_deKXDOf2wKGMfuTIkInCUl80g5YivD-BLZ0zgI94/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278262774288247778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4J1ENxIyDuEuDP30xmeM_0O-3JIOazeCaV8v-rxbvym-W4em1XRcKkfAlisHIWBg2oGt8UUakwKv4pxqX-1-tlZRYkUDlAL1T8r_deKXDOf2wKGMfuTIkInCUl80g5YivD-BLZ0zgI94/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXHQFCWLH-SN7yqQT1lxRRlgEtKVSxrdk8Z5PmkOQD6tQV4MJiXfbTxfxlUB4cuVNBYpD-CRBZwB-6gfqhFVm_8JQVk4jdFqGDd1FSCxgDs3zRKpcfe-ojslUhz5FL7VDSfHkK0M6skc/s1600-h/IMG_1316%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278261988812985714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXHQFCWLH-SN7yqQT1lxRRlgEtKVSxrdk8Z5PmkOQD6tQV4MJiXfbTxfxlUB4cuVNBYpD-CRBZwB-6gfqhFVm_8JQVk4jdFqGDd1FSCxgDs3zRKpcfe-ojslUhz5FL7VDSfHkK0M6skc/s320/IMG_1316%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ38vi3VTOPzbYpkMja5-URK_gEP76Y-u6EXjNWhDMhAuZv_2ltCaYnOJcPM1zoSZCUEmuj0DVVLrX-5_35gV_BL_H_R-TsdCptze2cU21NeTbPNltiCQR6buiEiHUMqbs203e2ZRhx0/s1600-h/IMG_1319%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278261986125706146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ38vi3VTOPzbYpkMja5-URK_gEP76Y-u6EXjNWhDMhAuZv_2ltCaYnOJcPM1zoSZCUEmuj0DVVLrX-5_35gV_BL_H_R-TsdCptze2cU21NeTbPNltiCQR6buiEiHUMqbs203e2ZRhx0/s320/IMG_1319%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a> Packing all the gifts to go to Thailand (Baby not included, she stays with me :) )<br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYLKa6e6byWzGaFRxLkskHa6OogtMIlULl-vdMCBY8Sn2Ng4WcSD23Ihgsa4zUvfP0Mwrwz5Gpp3wae4oMwdi25gcT40R_F1fhrR2lV0Q2FEsRDQtbivRegVhpXgwMtLXtVG-St1AAtc/s1600-h/IMG_1320%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278261980671142258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYLKa6e6byWzGaFRxLkskHa6OogtMIlULl-vdMCBY8Sn2Ng4WcSD23Ihgsa4zUvfP0Mwrwz5Gpp3wae4oMwdi25gcT40R_F1fhrR2lV0Q2FEsRDQtbivRegVhpXgwMtLXtVG-St1AAtc/s320/IMG_1320%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Compassion is most certainly poured on these children. There are complete strangers who contact us or send checks to help with this project. Many churches get involved by asking their members to contribute. There are students at universities who set up tables and collect gifts and money to send Christmas gifts to children who live on the other side of the world. It is so moving to watch so many come together and share the true meaning of Christmas with children on the other side of the world whom they have never met. <br /><br />The experience of seeing the look on the face of the FedEx guy who processes the order is priceless.<br />"All of these?"<br /><br />Yes, all of them<br /><br />"They are all going to Thailand?"<br /><br />Yes, they are all going to Thailand.<br /><br />"Really?"<br /><br />Am I not saying it right?<br /><br />It gets better when he tells me I need to fill out a customs form and airway bill. "Oh, it's OK,” I said, “I have those completed already, we have the customs forms at my house."<br /><br />Now he thinks I am crazy. Definitely. I wonder if the fact that we do actually have a stash of customs forms at our house, and the fact that I know what an airway bill is and how to fill it out correctly means I have done this way too many times?! I also wonder if it is a problem that I have the address of the FedEx location in Chiang Mai memorized :)<br /><br />The children will be thrilled this Christmas. There were so many wonderful gifts included for the children: pens, pencils, beanie babies, pencil sharpeners, coloring books, Matchbox cars, hair clips and headbands, jewelry, soap and body wash, shoes, shampoo and conditioner, deodrant, tooth brushes, toothpaste, notebooks, clothing, and so much more. There were many, many bath towels and I had tears packing some of those into the boxes, thinking of the little girls and boys who finally have clean showers to use, and now have fresh clean towels to go along with their new bathrooms. And, of course, there were many boxes of crayons. Incase you're wondering, yes, Madison and I went through every box. Because, you know, you can't give broken crayons to kids.<br /><br />May your holidays be filled with as much joy as you have given these children.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-24181958802198750032008-11-20T15:49:00.000-08:002008-11-20T16:07:46.904-08:00Thank youThank you SO much to everyone who has already contacted us, or given Christmas gifts for the children at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home in Thailand. If you still wish to give gifts, please contact us at <a href="mailto:info@bethechangefoundation.org">info@bethechangefoundation.org</a> to coordinate with us. We're SO thankful to Federal Express who will, once again, be shipping everything to Thailand for us for FREE!Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-57816198876423535032008-10-30T09:21:00.000-07:002008-10-30T09:30:17.245-07:00It's Almost That Time.<div align="left">I know it is only October, but we'll soon be hearing Christmas music on the radio and in no time the stores will be filled with decorations for the holiday season. I know I can get as caught up in the commercialism of the season as much as anyone else can. I think I would like to believe that I always knew what the "true meaning" of Christmas was, but it was not until 2 years ago that I think I truly got it. <br /><br />Two years ago we started what has become, and will remain, our annual Christmas Collection for the children in Thailand. That first year as Diane and I walked around Target, our carts beyond loaded with toys and other items for the children, I realized many things. First, I said to Diane, "You know if we're giving them Christmas this year, we have to give them Christmas every year from here on out." She agreed. So, I realized I'd be spending the rest of my life shopping for over 100 children at Christmas! Secondly, I think it was in those moments that I really "got it." I thought about my list and what I had been asking for for Christmas. I thought about the gifts I had already purchased. Suddenly everything seemed meaningless. We were in Target buying toys, but we were also buying shampoo, soap, tooth brushes, tooth paste, band aids, school supplies...simple items like this. For Christmas. It wasn't about the gifts for these children. I really was the thought that counted. And, this is what the children wanted. I had seen first hand what these gifts would mean to these children. Never under estimate the power of a new box of crayons. We passed by the aisle with the expensive electronics with our cart full of inexpensive toys and personal care items, and we knew how much these gifts would mean to the children in Thailand. We knew that these simple gifts would be so much more than "simple" to these children. I think that was the most fun I have ever had shopping.<br /><br />My favorite Christmas poem is One Solitary Life:<br /><br /><em>He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant<br />woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He<br />worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for<br />three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book.<br />He never held office. He never owned a home. He never went to<br />college. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two<br />hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of<br />the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials<br />but himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked<br />power of His divine manhood. While He was still a young man the<br />tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him.<br />He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery<br />of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He<br />was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property<br />He had – His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and<br />laid in a borrowed grave.<br />Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today He<br />is the centerpiece for much of the human race. All the armies<br />that have ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all<br />the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned,<br />put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as<br />powerfully as this “One Solitary Life.”<br />(Author Anonymous)<br /></em><br />Two years ago this poem took on new meaning to me. The children we send gifts to in Thailand are the tribal children of that country. They live in remote villages. They are the children of farmers and craftsman. They may never have the chance to do what society considers "great." They are a minority. They are, too often, undocumented, unaccounted for, and unseen by others in their country. They are invisible. They often go uneducated. They live in simplicity, often plagued by illness that could be prevented if only they lived in another area of the world. So much possibility for these children, so much potential within them. They have been touched by the kindness of strangers from the other side of the world, who, for the past two years have thought of these 100 or so children living in Thailand. I wonder how this is affecting them and what they will do with it. They do not ever come from much, but they have so much to share. Their little spirits just shine and to be in their presence is to be in the presence of joy. Believe me, I have witnessed it and never have I been so changed by a group of children. I read this poem now and think of them. The simple lives they come from, yet the potential they have. I said to Diane "If we give them Christmas....." But the truth of the matter is, they gave it to us. <br /><br />May your upcoming holiday season be filled with joy. <br /><br />To join is celebrating the holiday season with children around the world, please contact <a href="mailto:info@bethechangefoundation.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:info@bethechangefoundation.org">info@bethechangefoundation.org</a>.<br /> </div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-10172855934476724432008-08-31T20:27:00.000-07:002008-09-02T20:54:09.726-07:00You're Moving Where?!Because so many have asked and commented about the Anderson family, I feel like this is a good place to share about their family, especially since they have had such a big impact on Be the Change. On August 6th, I received an e-mail from Denise telling me that Makenzie would not be returning to school in the fall, that her family was going through a major life change, and she asked that I call her. I sent a panicked e-mail back to her, thinking something was terribly wrong and told her I had to leave for an appointment but would call her from the car in a few minutes. I thought something was very wrong and was beginning to wonder how I could get back down there, not because that was a logical solution, but because that is just always my answer: get on a plane and go.<br /><br />Here is how my conversation with Denise went. Oh, and for future reference, it's not good to be sipping on a drink when having a conversation with her:<br /><br />Denise: Hola (like in this cheery tone as if nothing major is happening and I am just calling to say "Hi.")<br />Me: Hi, what is going on? What is wrong with Makenz that she isn't going back to school.<br />Denise: This is top secret.<br />Me: You're scaring me, should I be buying a plane ticket.<br />Denise:Yes, but not to the Dominican Republic.<br />Me:What?<br />Denise:We're moving.<br />Me: You're what?! (and here is where the sipping on a drink doesn't work out because you nearly spit it out all over the car)<br />Denise: Moving.<br />Me:Where?<br />Denise:South Africa.<br />Me:Seriously?! When can you have visitors?!<br />Denise:We're thinking we'll be there in January, you can fly from JFK to Johannesburg for about $1,000.<br />Me: Great, how is next summer for you?!<br /><br />I talked to Carlos de Mayo, we just have to figure out how to say Charles May in whatever African language they will be speaking soon. Carlos said he is ready to get an African head dress. Makenzie and Morgyn will now be adding one more language to the list of those they can ask "Where is the bathroom" in.<br /><br />The same day I spoke with Denise, I had a conversation with my mother, that went like this....<br />Mom: How was your day? Anything new?<br />Me: Not with me, but guess what!<br />Mom: What?<br />Me:The Anderson's are moving.<br />Mom:Really? Where to?<br />Me:South Africa.<br />Mom:Really?<br />Me:Yep!<br />Mom:Oh no, when are you leaving?<br /><br />It's a relief to me that she is finally accepting this living overseas thing :)<br /><br />So, it turns out that I will get to see Phil,Denise and girls a lot sooner than I thought when I told them goodbye at the zoo back in July. They will arrive at the Newark International Airport on October 1st. The are moving to South Africa, outside of Johannesburg, at the very beginning of 2009.<br /><br />My next stop...www.travelocity.com...I think the sound of "Africa in 2009" has a nice ring to it :)Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-7311205279493191572008-08-27T08:44:00.000-07:002008-08-27T08:54:52.943-07:00Hope in Cambodia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NvkPmTSH0PTeyh6NIM1Fok0RzOYrcWlugXs0vZtbk03hRR7sKdCCePIE1eOrKOexnaeLK0eQW0wKRPRwVe7QDJSf7jDP9StjmRlYPf2Q_h_fZZZsX-J9UNCwhU_Mtg9MKe9f_JLnKUs/s1600-h/Cambodia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239226392808218834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="213" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NvkPmTSH0PTeyh6NIM1Fok0RzOYrcWlugXs0vZtbk03hRR7sKdCCePIE1eOrKOexnaeLK0eQW0wKRPRwVe7QDJSf7jDP9StjmRlYPf2Q_h_fZZZsX-J9UNCwhU_Mtg9MKe9f_JLnKUs/s320/Cambodia.jpg" width="100" border="0" /></a> <em>Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. The traffickers are reportedly organized crime syndicates, parents, relatives, friends, intimate partners, and neighbors. Cambodian men, women, and children are trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation in Thailand, Malaysia, Macao, and Taiwan. Men are trafficked for forced labor in the agriculture, fishing, and construction industries. Women are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor in factories or as domestic servants. Children are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor in organized begging rings, soliciting, street vending, and flower selling. Cambodia is a destination country for women and children who are trafficked from Vietnam and China for sexual exploitation. Common destinations for trafficking victims are Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanouk Ville. A 2005 report estimated that 2,000 victims in Cambodia have been trafficked into sexual exploitation, approximately 80 percent of whom were Vietnamese women and girls. One report suggests that as many as one third of the trafficking victims in prostitution in Cambodia are children.</em><br /><br />Hagar International is an organization that was started in Cambodia and serves as a means of rescue (among other things) for trafficked individuals. Their work is truly amazing as they walk the journey with girls who have been rescued from the human trafficking industry in Cambodia. Be the Change found this organization through the Not For Sale Campaign and we have worked with Hagar over the past year.<br /><div><br /><br /><div>They are passionate about (and very good at) walking with women and children out of the darkest of places and beyond just hope to experience life in all its fullness. They are not a prevention organization. They do little advocacy. They do not do community development. Rather they take referrals from NGO’s (International Justice Mission, CARE, World Vision), human rights groups and government authorities that are considered “too hard” or “unrecoverable.” They say “yes” when others say “no” and begin their walk-a-thon through court cases, therapy, surgery, trips to the beach, accelerated education, malnutrition, birthday parties, music lessons, exams, suicide attempts, family reunions, nightmares, new clothes, etc. They take the girls that no one else wants, or can handle because of their trauma. They keep the children who scream and cry and try to run away. They keep the children who sit and shake in silence, because, sometimes, there just are not words or cries to explain what they have suffered. They keep the ones who hit, kick, and attack because they want no parts of a safe adult who is attempting to show them any affection. They even keep the children who light fires in their room. They keep the little girls who slit their wrists, because that pain is easier to bear than the deep hurt they are carrying inside. They do it because they know and they get it. They know this is not who that child is. They know this is simply a reflection of what others have done to their little bodies. They help the victims rediscover being a child and help them begin to grow up into resilient adults. Hagar will always do what it takes to provide the best quality recovery and absolute privacy and dignity.<br /><br />We've been honored to work with Hagar and have provided funds to support their Enterprise program. Hagar has small businesses that it owns and runs. These businesses provide these girls with training so that they can learn to support themselves in a dignified way. It allows them to take what they are passionate about and turn it into a living. In December Diane, Cheryl and Kara were honored to meet with Talmage Payne and Jane Tafel from Hagar. We were able to discuss our role as partners and hear more about their work and the stories of some of the girls at Hagar.<br /><br />A few years ago Dateline NBC's Chris Hansen did a special report from Cambodia on the brothels there. Raids on some of the brothels were filmed. Some of the girls that were rescued in those raids a few years ago now reside at Hagar. Last year Chris Hansen returned to Cambodia to follow up on some of the girls that were part of the rescues he witnessed. In some past update letters we told you that Dateline NBC was doing a follow up with some of the girls at Hagar. Unfortunately Hagar was not notified as to when the special would air. NBC has posted a segment that includes Hagar footage on their website. The eight minute clip first highlights another organization in Cambodia, and the last half includes the story of Hagar's four girls, and their recovery. Entitled <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001EXEzsDHgm_IPQZnlGeRekogahqvezgrCJzM3Sz4FqSv-n1Fb2mYyn8nGf80-nEIN6C2IXqz5ttg_ReMkjTDreeRqyTtmSxhR4RygtpStvQZWiwRHEaY1ZmLpW-SRamb4p8g1b6Ll7SkVc0wk4qFXtqkUeKji-EUFXfdr8zzvtow=" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"New Hope for Rescued Girls"</a> the piece includes interviews with Talmage Payne, Hagar Cambodia CEO, and Sue Taylor, Senior Manager of Hagar Children's Programs. As you will see, it is a story of hope and resilience. The willingness of these girls to share their stories is beyond admirable. We are so inspired by their courage.<br /><br />Get out tissues first :) and then click on this link to be inspired:<br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25841009#25856057" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25841009#25856057</a><br /><br />If you are unable to follow the link, simply cut and paste it into your browser. It is definitely worth watching! </div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-37338447151773905082008-08-25T11:22:00.000-07:002008-08-25T11:33:46.127-07:00Because They Matter Enough<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kJ-YKUGRCWSC-Iv-l1SwTE5Kn69aylco6-5MSZ9W6c-fkq80SXzOslvv1VOZIAk8DMZ4Bxs_J_dmPXNHBuhEwbj4QNql5miT3ldc7EcO0RkKqDXoZjvuVJ2-lzLMqc-KndVq7ts4S1o/s1600-h/DSCN2168.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238525020784851410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kJ-YKUGRCWSC-Iv-l1SwTE5Kn69aylco6-5MSZ9W6c-fkq80SXzOslvv1VOZIAk8DMZ4Bxs_J_dmPXNHBuhEwbj4QNql5miT3ldc7EcO0RkKqDXoZjvuVJ2-lzLMqc-KndVq7ts4S1o/s320/DSCN2168.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Madison loves to make Bracelets of Hope. These are bracelets that Be the Change Foundation has available at all of our events. The idea is that for a minimum donation of $5.00, a person can write a note on the enclosed piece of paper and we then ship these to places around the world that work with trafficking survivors. Each one carriers a message of hope and dignity from someone on the other side of the world. Madison has spent countless hours making these bracelets, often times with her friends. She loves to do this. She runs through our front door all the time and says "Can we do beads?" "We" means Madison and her entourage of friends. She has it down to her own science. She puts much patience and love into each one. I'll never forget one particular day she was making bracelets. It was Easter Day 2007, she sat on my bed "doing beads" (I have found more beads than I care to remember in my bed since Be the Change started). She finished an entire one, no small task for a nine-year old. Stringing on these small beads takes patience for anyone, especially a child. She carefully held up this bracelet she had just finished and was looking intently at it. Then, she began to take the beads off. I asked her what she was doing. Her reply: "I don't like it, I am starting over." I assured her it was OK, and that some girl somewhere would be happy to have it just how it was. She said "No, I am going to start over, because they matter enough to start over." </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>You can't argue with that. They matter enough. </div><br /><div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-66759962860155440872008-08-20T15:13:00.000-07:002008-08-21T21:02:04.465-07:00Walk for Hope, Walk for Dignity, Walk to Stop the Traffick<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8vCq8c6p77hdMfF-KhH4qdJ_0fbShJWV8Lq9O-bguivq-YbqJGbF9MixNUOCcNZy7Zmk7aIAFhqGLXwbU-YubogWPS83s11sUPFSCh9J0ORt8IR6hjM04t9_sDNKhfwKZx3bjNp-jvQ/s1600-h/Papua-Children-walking-together-750952.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237012322340464370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8vCq8c6p77hdMfF-KhH4qdJ_0fbShJWV8Lq9O-bguivq-YbqJGbF9MixNUOCcNZy7Zmk7aIAFhqGLXwbU-YubogWPS83s11sUPFSCh9J0ORt8IR6hjM04t9_sDNKhfwKZx3bjNp-jvQ/s320/Papua-Children-walking-together-750952.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I don't think any of us can remember when we first had the idea to do a walk. However, right from the beginning we knew we wanted it to be something powerful. We knew that perhaps distance would not be the main objective, but rather, we were much more focused on making this a chance to really be a voice for those 27 million people who remain enslaved today. We talked about different ideas, when to do this, how, where, etc. While we didn't know much about details, we knew one thing for sure. We wanted to tell as many stories of those who are enslaved as we could. The number 27 million is overwhelming. It is large and vast. When you see a number like that, you only see the number, no names, or faces, or histories, or likes and dislikes. You don't see those 27 million dreams, beliefs, or values. The number 27 million doesn't come to you with 27 million stories. But, there are stories. Those are 27 million people, each with their own personality, things they love, people they love, experiences, life lessons. Those are 27 million people. More than distance or miles walked, we knew we wanted to bring those stories alive.<br /><br />This will be a very symbolic walk. There are 7 different stories being written, each the story of a trafficked individual somewhere in the world. The stories have been taken from real life individuals, however altered to protect their identity and past. Each participant will be given a booklet with the story. They will walk, stopping at many stations along the way. Each station represents a stop along the journey a trafficked individual walks. The journey begins with safety as the story recounts happy times of the individual in their home. The stories describe how they are sold or taken, at the stop of uncertainty. The journey continues going through pain, shame and disgrace, numbness, anxiety, and then moving into hope, dignity, and ending in freedom. At each stop along the way, the participant in the walk will turn to the next page of their booklet and read about their individuals story at this stage of the journey. Towards the end of the walk each person will be given a candle and will light it. They will walk through the final stages of their journey with their lighted candle. When they have completed the walk the candle will be placed in a large sandbox still lit. We wanted something important to symbolize all those voices that will be heard this day. Originally we had envisioned a butterfly release, which can be costly, but I was even willing to settle for a moth release if needed :) However, due to the time of year, this won't be possible. So, we are ending with light. Still a meaningful symbol for these enslaved individuals.<br /><br />The walk will take place on November 8, 2008 at Shady Brook Farm (931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067). Registration (if you have not already pre-registered) will begin at 10am. There will be a welcoming and opening at 10:45am and the walk will begin at 11am. There will be a short closing following the walk. There will be information available on the organizations we support and on upcoming projects we well. We hope you will join us to be a voice for those enslaved. Registration forms can be downloaded at our website, <a href="http://www.bethechangefoundation.org/">http://www.bethechangefoundation.org/</a>.<br /><br />Distance isn't the objective and we are not anticipating that the walk will be more than a mile or so. We're anticipating a very emotional and moving event. We realize this walk is just another opportunity we're being given to help be a voice for all of those around the world who are enslaved. Yes, the number 27 million certainly is overwhelming, large, and vast. So many people suffering in silence. But, on November 8, 2008, they will be heard. Please join us.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HnCbU2Z-NoqaSKUZx_eb5BnLmasFm8w1MkKElsNLujX8gLn4gZWNoSTutxM0Zv9i_i3TX_8bF4uukvTHNw84UzizVuBFZj4jRLQAB1n4GZm1v5F-C8rqkOvFQq5UDb0dSYVpAEdSdP0/s1600-h/182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236814788353697010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HnCbU2Z-NoqaSKUZx_eb5BnLmasFm8w1MkKElsNLujX8gLn4gZWNoSTutxM0Zv9i_i3TX_8bF4uukvTHNw84UzizVuBFZj4jRLQAB1n4GZm1v5F-C8rqkOvFQq5UDb0dSYVpAEdSdP0/s320/182.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-5645879574764435432008-08-12T12:07:00.000-07:002008-08-13T21:19:53.612-07:00Before and After<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yPuZoq0o0APntyT5u9TmD98pLImJ3c74-oZieQwbsJlnbE_VybWUEcfVazSYngntULu9PDWt6CqG_a3uXStgtQjRvlVW2a4R3-zbZyrqrvUJENd6a2ngbClwlpgfWcObyy36RIME2A0/s1600-h/Thailand_Kara%2520148%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233712150720786594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yPuZoq0o0APntyT5u9TmD98pLImJ3c74-oZieQwbsJlnbE_VybWUEcfVazSYngntULu9PDWt6CqG_a3uXStgtQjRvlVW2a4R3-zbZyrqrvUJENd6a2ngbClwlpgfWcObyy36RIME2A0/s320/Thailand_Kara%2520148%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnQDhGVZ9xb1iUEF3r3KMNhL-p-CfbAy6vfS1jQgJgDDQvua6vUBW_L_LdJf6d5pU-zNtC-pBKMhNkkiZU8MOMwXHMmpOF99prKzsrj64crDSwd1VwThypIMJCloZDI4PvaUqKk9GgKs/s1600-h/Thailand_Kara%2520149%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233712152544317458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnQDhGVZ9xb1iUEF3r3KMNhL-p-CfbAy6vfS1jQgJgDDQvua6vUBW_L_LdJf6d5pU-zNtC-pBKMhNkkiZU8MOMwXHMmpOF99prKzsrj64crDSwd1VwThypIMJCloZDI4PvaUqKk9GgKs/s320/Thailand_Kara%2520149%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGytk8johaHwzvTXhBqDrIr3KarM_H_Rjg-9an0USLfhyphenhyphenfl3nmzdUFQyJtteM0PnvkBti7jC1NTXbVOU2H4suNMGYnWsEWb5KzW23-4neb6RQ_VHGRfsk-Kziex5aTjiLXiWadTXZicDk/s1600-h/Thailand_Kara%2520144%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233711894661149554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGytk8johaHwzvTXhBqDrIr3KarM_H_Rjg-9an0USLfhyphenhyphenfl3nmzdUFQyJtteM0PnvkBti7jC1NTXbVOU2H4suNMGYnWsEWb5KzW23-4neb6RQ_VHGRfsk-Kziex5aTjiLXiWadTXZicDk/s320/Thailand_Kara%2520144%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5tt0UbACR8E6LViG_PngB-06Jmc_tVXBpO1b9P9Ob5otWBo01beNW764OXysB6wOrrb-qqkxrdGjWKZd6RWjFHvLDmzHpHqNvNm7k2iBjwtqGALST2kH_S3-poZuoG3ZmKPtT2-gCc/s1600-h/Thailand_Kara%2520145%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233711907369883026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5tt0UbACR8E6LViG_PngB-06Jmc_tVXBpO1b9P9Ob5otWBo01beNW764OXysB6wOrrb-qqkxrdGjWKZd6RWjFHvLDmzHpHqNvNm7k2iBjwtqGALST2kH_S3-poZuoG3ZmKPtT2-gCc/s320/Thailand_Kara%2520145%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaudU9Ky392fly_f5Gx4ztqpheUpif2MPmPXGt86PxonBjlS3UVgu8JBhJAnMzy_DAxALSWk9iAYXvefdBq2EAub1MPRm4Eyq6bSoFIUboFXDocDUgxXhDdV-jy1kuWmIh7InjiADnaY/s1600-h/Thailand_Kara%2520146%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233711914989923634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaudU9Ky392fly_f5Gx4ztqpheUpif2MPmPXGt86PxonBjlS3UVgu8JBhJAnMzy_DAxALSWk9iAYXvefdBq2EAub1MPRm4Eyq6bSoFIUboFXDocDUgxXhDdV-jy1kuWmIh7InjiADnaY/s320/Thailand_Kara%2520146%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br />People will often ask where and how we started and had the idea for Be the Change Foundation. Well, when it comes down to it, the answer is really two-fold. Denise Anderson, and, toilets. Two very different things that came together to make one big difference. Don't worry, Denise, your impact was much bigger than the toilets :)<br /><br />In 2006 when I traveled to Thailand and spent time at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home, I had a lot of time to look around the home, spend time with the children, and get a glimpse of their lives there. MTCH is a home for Tribal children in Thailand. The tribal people are heavily targeted and at risk of being sold into human trafficking in Thailand. This home is a safe haven for these children. They live here during the school year, and attend a public Thai school, receiving an education. Many tribal people in Thailand are not documented citizens. It can be very difficult for them to obtain this paperwork. Without it, they have no status. There is no documentation of their existence. No documentation of their dissappearance. From a paperwork standpoint, they don't exist. Many tribal children do not receive an education. MTCH is working to protect these vulnerable children in Northern Thailand.<br /><br />I walked around the home and got a good look at the conditions the children were living in. These children were being kept safe, but I just couldn't stand the conditions of the buildings at the home. Again, for the second year in a row I opened my mouth and asked the question: "What can I do to help." I was literally given a "wish list" from the children's home. First on that list was new bathrooms for the little girls. As you can see, the existing structure was unsafe and unsanitary. Had a child gone in and sneezed to hard in there, I was fearful the structure would fall to pieces! But, as important as the danger that the structure posed, this was also an issue of dignity. These children deserve to shower in a building with 4 walls. They deserved to use toilet stalls where the door actually closed all the way. I was told the price tag on this was $5,000. I stood right there and just as I had said the year before, I said "I have no idea how or when, but if you need new bathrooms for these children, I will find a way to do that." My mind was going already and instantly, I knew that in order to raise that amount of money it would have to be done in the form of a non-profit. Belinda, a friend who lives at this children's home in Thailand sort of stared blankly at me. As if to say how exactly are you going to do that? I simply told her I'd do it, I would start a non-profit and just do it. I can't understand why she didn't believe me :) And, thus, Be the Change Foundation was created.<br /><br />Diane and I estimated it would take us at least 2 years to raise $5,000. We came up with this time frame because in a year about $2,000 in donations had been given to take to Thailand . We just thought to double that and we were guessing 2 years to raise these funds. Well, turns out that Diane and I are not gifted in coming up with timelines like this. By August of 2007, just a little over a year since I had returned from Thailand we sent the remaining funds to Thailand for the bathrooms to be completed. Never did I think we would accomplish this so fast. After our first engagement in February of 2007 when Be the Change raised $2,500 in just two hours, I knew we were wrong on that time line. In fact, we were way off on this figure and time line. By March of 2008, not even two years after it began Be the Change Foundation had raised over $20,000 to stop human trafficking and aid survivors. Diane and I will leave the time line guessing up to others. It is clearly not our gift, which is fine with us:)<br /><br />Today, in the exact place where Be the Change began in Thailand on June 1, 2006, this is what stands.......<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCDtobSDrclEm5OXJbuur37t2LxwrsWcN5YXwCRVffpoXGOYvnxRYin7_2CKA9CLn8Y6K0ORCN-yWhhGVppaWPYBpyXlr9DChSSawuK87eFcd8bD2Qh3nVwGcGuCRDN68DaAFVBc6Qss/s1600-h/IMG_1354%5B2%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233710066162188738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCDtobSDrclEm5OXJbuur37t2LxwrsWcN5YXwCRVffpoXGOYvnxRYin7_2CKA9CLn8Y6K0ORCN-yWhhGVppaWPYBpyXlr9DChSSawuK87eFcd8bD2Qh3nVwGcGuCRDN68DaAFVBc6Qss/s320/IMG_1354%5B2%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqL69bfh6i4cgj1Skzb01J2HrgRDW6o0eYuOE5vtdxy5aPG9nAQiYfHHlJHospYGUxLiWF-HM5XAb5Cmm6DysqFqVt3qzwIAlLR3Yz8QCa6UpPsnmULVDIhW49RgsVPARxZp_kuBLYXEM/s1600-h/IMG_1355%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233710070277747010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqL69bfh6i4cgj1Skzb01J2HrgRDW6o0eYuOE5vtdxy5aPG9nAQiYfHHlJHospYGUxLiWF-HM5XAb5Cmm6DysqFqVt3qzwIAlLR3Yz8QCa6UpPsnmULVDIhW49RgsVPARxZp_kuBLYXEM/s320/IMG_1355%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENue0zSOd04CKa_i3B0uj6I_p43km6px2V2dIjBnOWTPy2Qtzk64hqMYN039ZE4y0IVIRhASeU4DR9lgqhorsAc0urv-GfrcbCr00LgDKaR5Z6eoim9rFaOz4AlOle5cFkm4rGgW1Edo/s1600-h/IMG_1356%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233710076692444482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENue0zSOd04CKa_i3B0uj6I_p43km6px2V2dIjBnOWTPy2Qtzk64hqMYN039ZE4y0IVIRhASeU4DR9lgqhorsAc0urv-GfrcbCr00LgDKaR5Z6eoim9rFaOz4AlOle5cFkm4rGgW1Edo/s320/IMG_1356%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br />Big dreams come true.<br /><br />After I returned home in 2006, I had a conversation with Denise about what I wanted to do and that I wanted to raise enough money for new bathrooms. I said to Denise "These kids deserve the best. They deserve to live in a place that reflects their value. I want them to have the cleanest, nicest bathrooms they can. I want Pottery Barn for them!" Then Denise, in her ever so humbling, make you really think, what I call "professor/mom" tone of voice said to me: "That's nice that YOU want all of that, Kara, but that is not what THEY are going to want." Another lesson: giving is not about the giver. Another lesson beyond the walls of the classroom. Those children don't want Pottery Barn. They don't even know what that is! The point of this was to come to them and say "What do you need, what can I do to help you?" Not "This is what I want to do." The children at Maetang don't want fancy. They want to be Thai and they want to be tribal, and this home helps them to maintain their treasured heritage. The point is not to make them something they are not. The purpose was not to go in and say, "This is what I want for you." What I think may be best for them, may not necessarily be the case. These children want what is home for them. What makes them comfortable, what they are used to, what represents their place of birth, their culture and all that makes them the people they are. That is what is right for them.<br /><br />I love their simplicity. There is a quote and it says "Live simply so that others may simply live." I have no idea who said it, but if I ever start another foundation (Diane please don't run away) maybe I will start here for a name. These children are doing this. They don't need fancy vanities, or expensive tile, or even a shower with a faucet. It's not about looks to them, it's about feeling. I am glad that Denise reminded me of this. Throughout all of this, we just kept saying "They deserve to live in a place that reflects their value and worth. They deserve dignity, they deserve to know they matter." They now have a place that reflects this. They have a simple building, with four walls to shower behind and toilets that flush, that can help send the message you matter. I have been asked why I cared so much about the bathrooms. Why do we care so much about these particular children, there are thousands of children in the world with problems. Why these children, why this issue of dignity? I met these children, I played with them, I hugged them, I sang and ate with them. In a matter of hours, I grew to love them. When we left those children and that home that night, I cried the entire ride back to the city of Chiang Mai (I was alot of fun in the car on that ride!). Why bathrooms, why these children? Because they matter enough and they deserve it. It's that simple.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-56713236881240916042008-07-31T14:14:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:28:35.733-08:00Compassion and Crayons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWY3z8JP_fMUVBRIReDdESmPkiQPbV8Nb1S2gSWyK5mk0lENMRGIgHGe5VLMBmIVicdW6uPK1tejIQ6kxnyUnJDl_e0LQKZWti8mr6vGSLEXSEA7S4ipeOFJjOXPNm0Drl4lax_ynbqo/s1600-h/Madison+Jan.+Newsletter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229292807529145682" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWY3z8JP_fMUVBRIReDdESmPkiQPbV8Nb1S2gSWyK5mk0lENMRGIgHGe5VLMBmIVicdW6uPK1tejIQ6kxnyUnJDl_e0LQKZWti8mr6vGSLEXSEA7S4ipeOFJjOXPNm0Drl4lax_ynbqo/s320/Madison+Jan.+Newsletter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Madison is ten, and like many ten-year-olds is ten going on thirty sometimes. She’s a little girl at heart, but at the same time has an unbelievable understanding of humanity for her age. She works with us at Be the Change as a “Junior Board Member.” Unfortunately, due to age, she does not have a vote in decisions, and I am not sure we’d leave major decisions up to the ten-year-old anyway! However, she has contributed in so many ways that are not seen by others, but that force us, as adults making the decisions, to examine what is really important in our work.<br /><br />In preparation for my second trip to Thailand in 2006 to deliver school supplies to needy children there, I spent many hours shopping for supplies. I worked the summer before this as my last summer as a nanny. Madison was often one of the children in my care. During a shopping trip I noticed Madison opening EVERY single box of 24 crayons that went into the cart. It was taking quite a while, I was getting a little inpatient I will admit, and the other 4 kids with me had one thing on their mind…getting to the pool. I finally asked her, probably with impatience in the tone of my voice, what on earth she was doing opening every box. She was standing on the end of the cart bent over the edge, and just as she opened yet another box she looked at me and said “I am making sure they all have points. You can’t give broken crayons to kids.” This was such a simple concept to her. She answered me with her own tone of voice, as if to say <em>I can’t believe I have to even explain this to you!<br /></em><br />I’ve never forgotten this. Since that trip in 2006, I have traveled to the Dominican Republic with crayons 3 times, and I have shipped many boxes to places in Thailand. Every time I go through every box of crayons. Even when we finally reached Thailand in 2006 I went through every box. The luggage had been on many planes and traveled far. I wanted to ensure no crayons had broken in transit. Every now and then there is a box with a few broken points. I pull it aside and think that somewhere in the world there is a child who will be thankful for Madison ’s attention to detail. Sometimes I get impatient going through every single box, but in my heart I am always thankful to the 10-year-old who taught me that the love, the message that you matter, really is in the details.<br /><br />There is something almost magical about crayons. A pack of 24 crayons really has the ability to change the look on a child’s face and the feeling in their heart. There is something about the sight of new points, and the smell of a new box that sends the message to children that they matter. I think for them it is more than the scent of crayons, it is the scent of possibility.</div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-79415109375729191962008-07-24T12:51:00.001-07:002008-12-08T21:28:35.987-08:00A day at the ZooTuesday was the last day I will see the Anderson family until....I have no idea when. It was their last day in the States, they've been here since June 28th. Conveniently, Denise flew into Philadelphia on Tuesday morning at 6am (that part, not so convenient) from a conference in New Hampshire that she had been at. I met her, her parents and two of my favorite girls downtown for the day. Denise attempted to take a more historical route when it came to choosing an activity for the day. She tried to talk up the Liberty Bell, Constitution Center and Independence Hall to her twelve and nine year old. Morgyn said "The Liberty Bell, what's the Liberty Bell, is it just a big bell you look at?" Yes, pretty much that's what it is. We knew after that comment we were headed into a day full of "Are we done yet?" "Can we go home?" "I'm hot." "I'm hungry." "I'm bored." As much fun as that all sounded, we skipped the historical, educational idea. We went to the Zoo. Yes, it was 95 degrees and we walked around the zoo. Good thing 1/2 of us live in the Caribbean and could tolerate the heat. And, I shouldn't say it wasn't educational. We did learn a few things: 1.) Don't go to the zoo when it is 95 degrees outside 2.) The heat makes some the animals smell WAY worse and 3.) the Philadelphia Zoo is WAY better than the lame zoo in Santo Domingo (according to Mak)<br /><br />Morgyn LOVES to take pictures. I always give her my camera to use. She's 9 and likes to carry it as a "camera purse." It's been knocked into it's fair share of walls and cars, and since there are few carpeted surfaces in the Caribbean, it has also met it's fair share of tile floors. Morgyn is actually a pretty good photographer, when her subjects cooperate. Tuesday was not one of those days. I now am the proud owner of alot of pictures of the backs of animals. Just when she would go to take the pictures the zebra, or the rhino, of the giraffe, or the elephant, or the leopard, or the lion, or the tiger, or the turtle would turn it's back on her. She would say "Oh well, it's a good picture of the back!" That's certainly looking on the bright side!<br /><br />That evening, Denise, Makenzie and Morgyn had dinner with Carlos de Mayo and his family. I wasn't able to be with them, but I heard that both girls came running to him yelling "Carlos de Mayo" and each fought to sit next to him at the retaurant. Kim finally got to meet them and I was so happy about that, as was she. I talk about Denise alot and fully understand the impact she has had on all of this. So, when she meets others close to me and to Be the Change, they can see what I am talking about! Kim said they were easy to love and that they are.<br /><br />After a long day, it was time to say goodbye. The zoo isn't exactly the best place for a teary goodbye, but we made the most of it. After exchanging hugs and "I Love You's" they went their way and I went mine. This is the first time I have had to say goodbye to them without being pretty sure I would see them again soon. One thing I have realized about missionaries though, is that they are good at saying goodbye, likely because they do it often. They constantly have to say goodbye to family, to teams who come down to work, to other's they meet along this incredible journey. But, they also have an amazing perspective on the world. Denise always says, "the Caribbean isn't that far, it's not like we live in Africa, or India." Of course, that statement usually comes after I tell her I am just not ready to move...yet. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzxqhJm2cRquAW_EervcmWCPz8xTk19w27LDi4Vvm0RegnyF_5TOHnlii_RA96Z-BT6e-VdEZK-JgQsaGhjU4jYaW9wyomXO0-lhnVZTwIBAlO8FHsurgnojnay7Z0LXsl9S-llWCKKY/s1600-h/IMG_0878%5B1%5D"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226670849422447954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzxqhJm2cRquAW_EervcmWCPz8xTk19w27LDi4Vvm0RegnyF_5TOHnlii_RA96Z-BT6e-VdEZK-JgQsaGhjU4jYaW9wyomXO0-lhnVZTwIBAlO8FHsurgnojnay7Z0LXsl9S-llWCKKY/s320/IMG_0878%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-76640998506176568282008-07-11T10:27:00.000-07:002008-07-13T20:51:29.862-07:00Opportunity KnocksOpportunity has often knocked, loudly, at the door of Be the Change. We're so thankful for this. So, when I was approached by David Batstone a few months ago and asked if Be the Change would serve as his Eastern PA State Representative, I knew this would be another incredible opportunity for Be the Change. David Batstone is the founder of the Not For Sale Campaign. It is an amazing organization working around the world in both the prevention and rescue aspects of human trafficking. You can visit <a href="http://www.notforsale.org/">http://www.notforsale.org/</a> to learn more. Dave also wrote a book, entitled Not For Sale, which gives descriptions of organizations all around the world working to end human trafficking. This book was a tremendous help to us at Be the Change. After reading the book, we began to contact many of the organizations that were featured. Be the Change has partnered with Hagar International in Cambodia, Regina Pacis in Italy, Kru Nam in Northern Thailand and NightLight in Bangkok, Thailand--all thanks to the book Not For Sale. If not for this campaign, we may never have heard of these organizations.<br /><br />David Batstone and the Not For Sale Campaign get numerous requests from places around the country asking him if he can come and speak. Since Dave lives in California, and cannot be in two places at once (wouldn't that solve so many of our problems!) he has asked people around the country to represent, or be the "face" of Not For Sale, in a particular area. When asked to speak at a venue in the eastern part of the State, Be the Change will go and have the opportunity to speak, not only for Not For Sale, but also for Be the Change, and the ways in which our two organizations have partnered together.<br /><br />Not For Sale goes beyond symbolizing hope. This campaign is hope. It is organizations such as this that give me reason to believe that slavery will end in this world. Maybe not in my lifetime, but it will end. Today there are 27 million people living in slavery of some form. This isn't a number I can comprehend. When I look at this number, and then hear my self say <em>I believe it will end</em> I get overwhelmed, even I think I am crazy sometimes. I don't understand this number. But, to give you and myself some comprehension of this, the entire population of the state of Texas is 23, 507, 783. More people are enslaved today than live in the state of Texas. I still believe. <br /><br />Not For Sale Campaign has gone into other countries, interviewed those doing the work and those who have been enslaved to tell the world of this atrocity. Not For Sale puts the people who have lived this nightmare in the forfront so that their stories are heard. This campaign shows that slavery is thriving in our global community, and, right in our own backyards. If you live in the Bucks County area, like so many other areas of the US, slavery is in your backyard. A few months ago a human trafficking ring was broken up in Ardmore. Be the Change is working with an organization in Philadelphia who will be opening up a home for formerly trafficked women in the Philadelphia area. That is 45 minutes from where I sit typing this right now. <br /><br />In the week since we officially took on the role of Eastern State PA rep, we have already been contacted by a 17-year-old wanting to do a video on human trafficking. This is the 2nd video opportunity that has come our way in the last month. Opportunity is knocking. We're coming. A few months ago Nicole, our youngest board member, was working on a video for school. She had to make a movie and was doing it on Be the Change and human trafficking. She was really struggling trying to decide which celebrity would play each board member of Be the Change. I suggested, that, perhaps since we didn't <em>actually</em> have this problem yet, that she did not need to dwell on that aspect too much. I am sure when we have to make the movie the producers will help us with that part :) Maybe that is a problem we will have sooner than I thought. One can dream, after all, that's how we got this far....<br /><br />It is because of Not For Sale, and those that they work with that I have reason to hope that human trafficking will end. It is because of the work they do that I have hope that one day, no matter where you live, we will all live in the land of the free. I believe. I believe because I believe that love is so much stronger than hate.<br /><br />During our conversation Dave thanked me so many times. He told me he was honored to work with Be the Change. I was beyond flattered by this comment coming from a man I admire so greatly. I believe, Dave, that the honor is ours.<br /><br />To find out how you can join us to eradicate slavery, please visit <a href="http://www.bethechangefoundation.org/">www.bethechangefoundation.org</a>, or contact us at <a href="mailto:info@bethechangefoundation.org">info@bethechangefoundation.org</a>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687288645583695862.post-87727390925337970152008-07-07T19:43:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:28:36.153-08:00Who are the Anderson's?Once I set up this blog and people started to hear about the Anderson family, I began to get a few questions about who these people are and how I know them. Phil, Denise, Makenzie and Morgyn Anderson are missionaries who are stationed in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. About two years ago Denise left her position as professor, and chair of the Social Work Department at Shippensburg University, and Phil left his position with the State of PA working in State parks. They applied to become career missionaries and moved to the DR in January of 2007. Denise is Regional Coordinator for the entire Caribbean and Phil does communications work for the entire Caribbean. Their two girls, Makenzie (12) and Morgyn(9) go to the Santo Domingo International School and love it! They do pretty much everything most kids do-go to school, play on sports team, and play with their friends. They are amazing children with such a wonderful perspective on the world, and understanding that they are part of a global community, not just citizens of one country. When I was visiting this last time Makenzie metioned to me that she wants to go to Paraguay to help people there. I am 25. Makenzie is 12. She had to show me where Paraguay is. Makenzie and Morgyn have adapted well to being "missionary kids." They know that Miami is the worst airport in the US to have to fly in and out of, especially with a layover. They know the speed at which a bucket of water must be dumped into a toilet that is not hooked up to running water in order to make it flush properly. They think nothing of cramming 10 people into a 7 passanger vehicle. Didn't you know that someone's lap is counted as a seat?! Makenzie's best friend lives in Jordan (I know where that is) and Morgyn's did live in Kenya, but recently moved home to the US. The can ask "Where is the bathroom" in 3 different languages.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30SeyTjpzKOWMy4jhriJLoHHlJnjyeUN_T43byzJj6G0bucIZuQm98dD6LlCyFD78xAQOCEypUICtHivJX_qffMaexKJU8x9VhkYkUk_39pMQeKw1OMAvQ3-SFcCaepD-1YZ9kEPkWkU/s1600-h/MakandMorg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221883156243420082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30SeyTjpzKOWMy4jhriJLoHHlJnjyeUN_T43byzJj6G0bucIZuQm98dD6LlCyFD78xAQOCEypUICtHivJX_qffMaexKJU8x9VhkYkUk_39pMQeKw1OMAvQ3-SFcCaepD-1YZ9kEPkWkU/s320/MakandMorg.jpg" border="0" /></a> I attended Shippensburg University. During my time there, Denise was my advisor. I also had her in class, one time. It was the last semester I would be having classes during my senior year. It was a Thursday night class. I was not excited about it. During my junior year of college, the Anderson's took 9 months to go to live and volunteer in Thailand at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home. During the second semester of my sophmore year I came home for the semester and took classes locally. I can still remember being on the phone with Denise, as she was helping me choose classes for the fall semseter of my junior year, and she told me I would have a new advisor for my junior year, as she would be going to Thailand for 9 months. I remember thinking <em>Thailand, who goes to Thailand? Why would you want to do that? What is wrong with this lady?</em> Little did I know...haha. She and I still laugh about that today. We laugh at the fact that I have been boogie boarding with the same person I used to have to write papers for and listen to in class, and call Dr. Anderson. We smile because we no longer sign e-mails with "sincerely" but with "Love you" and I always ask her to "hug the girls for me." I guess some teachers (and their families) just make that kind of difference.</p><p>Denise's brother also lives in Thailand and has been there for the past 12 years as a missionary. On December 24, 2004, 5 months after the Anderson's returned from Thailand, the tsunami hit. It killed a quarter of a million people in 11 countries. It destroyed the lives of millions more. I e-mailed Denise following the disaster asking if her friends and family in Thailand were OK. She said they were. Some of their close friends were planning to switch plane tickets and be in Phuket during the Christmas holiday. At the last minute, they were unable to switch their tickets and had to remain in Chiang Mai for the holidays. That likely saved their lives. At this time Denise's brother and his family had been living in Thailand for about 9 years. They spent every Christmas at the beach. Excpet for the Christmas of 2004. Denise explained she wanted to go on a clean up trip that summer, the summer of 2005. She asked if I would like to join her. Yes, of course I did. We left the day after graduation, May 8, 2005. I have to be honest in that I hated Thailand at first. I cried the first 3 days we were there. When I stepped off the plane in Chiang Mai, I was certain we had taken a wrong turn and surely we were at the Neptune International Airport. Culture shock hit hard and fast. However, within a week, I was in love with the country, the people and was determined to do what I could to help those I was meeting.</p><p> The rest is pretty much history, as Denise took me to place after place doing tsunami relief, visiting an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS, visiting a home for women who had survived trafficking, and spending time at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home. It was because of her and the children she introduced me to that I returned to Thailand in the summer of 2006 with my family. It was because of that trip in 2006 that Be the Change began. </p><p>If I had to go back to the very begining and find the one person who is solely responsible for Be the Change, it would be Denise. She is way to humble to ever take credit though. My teacher opened my eyes and my heart to the world. To say she left a lasting imprint is an understatement. The lessons she has left me with stretch far beyond the walls of the classrooms at Shippensburg University. If (OK, let's be realistic, when) I move overseas in the future, it will be Denise's fault :) She's OK with that, though. So am I.<br /><br /></p><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeZI6QNhPst2CRgj6p8Ysrn0D5BnFCCgl-Z6zJWxSutb12E7JfI3frEk94jpaEIed6nicA6M4BQbAmikxPoZUGmPwd74MM23UuDiUdTLNwapmpVcAlW7sMi7EVxPH_A6qldBB2eS4ehI/s1600-h/kara+and+denise.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221881786171866738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeZI6QNhPst2CRgj6p8Ysrn0D5BnFCCgl-Z6zJWxSutb12E7JfI3frEk94jpaEIed6nicA6M4BQbAmikxPoZUGmPwd74MM23UuDiUdTLNwapmpVcAlW7sMi7EVxPH_A6qldBB2eS4ehI/s320/kara+and+denise.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Be the Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785331780695983220noreply@blogger.com0