tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:38:45 +0000African PoliticsAnkara FashionAfrican FashionSierra LeoneRebuilding AfricakenyaWomen in PoliticsBuzz and PressAfrican BloggerBlood DiamondsAfrican WomenHappy HolidaysSierra Leone GovernmentAfricaInternational Human RightsMiMi's MusingsRebuilding Sierra Leone CampaignBoutique MixLiberiarebuilding sierra leoneCelebrities for AfricaA Sa Lone gal's lifestyle blog featuring African development issues, fashion, charity, poetic musings and anything Africana. From style to politics, nothing is off limits! Stay in the Africhic loop with Sa Lone Pikin.http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/noreply@blogger.com (Boutique Mix Fashion)Blogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-6097737347928794144Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:25:00 +00002011-12-08T16:29:55.305+13:00African WomenAfricaAfrican BloggerAfrican Fashion<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsA-nnV8NTE/TuAuqj1AcfI/AAAAAAAALA0/6uRQN8EDokY/s1600/ankaradresses0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsA-nnV8NTE/TuAuqj1AcfI/AAAAAAAALA0/6uRQN8EDokY/s400/ankaradresses0.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><br /> Every now and then one comes across stunning photos around the web that take one's breath away.&nbsp; These stunning photos do just that.&nbsp; From the beautiful fashionita to the gorgeous dresses and immaculate styling, it's fabulous inspiration!</div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2pnABEPc96s/TuAt3mnxHBI/AAAAAAAALAk/Bi2Acz_kTe4/s1600/ankaradresses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2pnABEPc96s/TuAt3mnxHBI/AAAAAAAALAk/Bi2Acz_kTe4/s400/ankaradresses.jpg" width="266" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQyGOk1XTnc/TuAt4VlNaPI/AAAAAAAALAs/WRFbG6cpios/s1600/ankaradresses1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RQyGOk1XTnc/TuAt4VlNaPI/AAAAAAAALAs/WRFbG6cpios/s400/ankaradresses1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-6097737347928794144?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2011/12/stylish-does-of-african-beauty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Boutique Mix Fashion)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-6574743311783458325Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:10:00 +00002011-12-08T16:44:36.870+13:00Ankara FashionAfrican BloggerAfrican Fashion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JilGzeihd4/TuAn84VsNSI/AAAAAAAAK-8/fN4f9qh1N04/s1600/ankarawedding_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JilGzeihd4/TuAn84VsNSI/AAAAAAAAK-8/fN4f9qh1N04/s400/ankarawedding_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MiMi's <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">Vlisco Bridal Party</a> -- photo credit: Ready Luck</div><br /> My love for <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">Ankara fashion</a> grows each time <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">Vlisco</a> releases a new lookbook and this time is no exception.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> As <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">Boutique Mix</a> preps to stock the upcoming <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">Vlisco Ankara Fabric collection</a>, I'm excited for all the new <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">stylish</a> possibilities.&nbsp; <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div>Who says we can't enjoy these fabulous styles while waiting for <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank">Boutique Mix</a> to unleash its<a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/Navy-Blue-Africa-Gold-Print-Ankara-Fabric-Prodview.html" target="_blank"> Vlisco</a> fabulosity?&nbsp; So, which look do you see hanging in your closet in 2012?<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2A3iulteUAI/TuApoii1_CI/AAAAAAAAK_E/JvW6NBmOxsg/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2A3iulteUAI/TuApoii1_CI/AAAAAAAAK_E/JvW6NBmOxsg/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook92.jpg" width="400" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Ptfp0Xm-ns/TuAppTUxdPI/AAAAAAAAK_M/xftLCsxi-sc/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Ptfp0Xm-ns/TuAppTUxdPI/AAAAAAAAK_M/xftLCsxi-sc/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook91.jpg" width="400" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MF-yL1Va-nw/TuApqRQwqkI/AAAAAAAAK_U/V42A4ONKdDk/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MF-yL1Va-nw/TuApqRQwqkI/AAAAAAAAK_U/V42A4ONKdDk/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook.jpg" width="400" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F07aB396K0Q/TuAprMUGGsI/AAAAAAAAK_c/G95-LURhR5E/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F07aB396K0Q/TuAprMUGGsI/AAAAAAAAK_c/G95-LURhR5E/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook1.jpg" width="400" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PqK-Q8IZPy0/TuApsFMbl9I/AAAAAAAAK_k/QL99TJQSXsc/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PqK-Q8IZPy0/TuApsFMbl9I/AAAAAAAAK_k/QL99TJQSXsc/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook2.jpg" width="400" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrZlhR3hgNE/TuAps0V8t-I/AAAAAAAAK_s/zRvKFugKR2A/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrZlhR3hgNE/TuAps0V8t-I/AAAAAAAAK_s/zRvKFugKR2A/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UA04XAWX1XI/TuAptxDAkHI/AAAAAAAAK_0/DDeVFbE_7ec/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UA04XAWX1XI/TuAptxDAkHI/AAAAAAAAK_0/DDeVFbE_7ec/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kY1zK7kDdNI/TuApugwUJPI/AAAAAAAAK_8/efK-8dxl7tM/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kY1zK7kDdNI/TuApugwUJPI/AAAAAAAAK_8/efK-8dxl7tM/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQIZBLN8AVw/TuApvbVgEtI/AAAAAAAALAE/0c3kj5bhESs/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQIZBLN8AVw/TuApvbVgEtI/AAAAAAAALAE/0c3kj5bhESs/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kunviWFkeA/TuApwXV65fI/AAAAAAAALAM/X3ZGOyB6e0o/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kunviWFkeA/TuApwXV65fI/AAAAAAAALAM/X3ZGOyB6e0o/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Et6EtaDuI/TuApxCrAhEI/AAAAAAAALAU/45Efv-oz64E/s1600/vliscoankarafashionlookbook8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Et6EtaDuI/TuApxCrAhEI/AAAAAAAALAU/45Efv-oz64E/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmmC8K2b46Q/TuApyFPnr3I/AAAAAAAALAc/n_Kpfr3PQ4s/s400/vliscoankarafashionlookbook9.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit: Vlisco</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-6574743311783458325?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2011/12/vlisco-presents-delicate-shades-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Boutique Mix Fashion)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2635727756921370428Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:33:00 +00002011-12-08T16:11:12.028+13:00AfricaAfrican BloggerAfrican Fashion<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omKJSW91M_Y/TqwwqcTbVsI/AAAAAAAABtc/I1dOcGzIcxw/s1600/ankarafashion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-omKJSW91M_Y/TqwwqcTbVsI/AAAAAAAABtc/I1dOcGzIcxw/s200/ankarafashion2.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N58I5cFqaFU/TqwwrEn-tdI/AAAAAAAABtk/HFSwgYWQsec/s1600/ankarafashion1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N58I5cFqaFU/TqwwrEn-tdI/AAAAAAAABtk/HFSwgYWQsec/s200/ankarafashion1.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9Myy7LmX88/Tqwwrt28yrI/AAAAAAAABts/_4ynjUIlyRc/s1600/ankarafashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9Myy7LmX88/Tqwwrt28yrI/AAAAAAAABts/_4ynjUIlyRc/s200/ankarafashion.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit:&nbsp;<span class="infoboxb">Simon Deiner / SDR Photo</span></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><br /> </div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;">It's the special time of year when talented African designers from around the continent and around the world converge on South Africa for the sexy and stylish visual stimulation that is Africa Fashion Week.</div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;">This year, there was definitely no shortage of talent.&nbsp; From Kenya to Uganda, Senegal, Congo and Zimbabwe, the designers showed why Africa is the cradle of fashion.&nbsp; From Ankara prints to basic black and African Java, the only word to describe all the collections is STUNNING!&nbsp; </div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;">A few of my favorite collections.&nbsp;&nbsp;2012 has never looked so chic!</div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><strong>ADAMA PARIS</strong></div><div style="border: currentColor; text-align: justify;">When it comes to sexy Ankara swimwear, Victoria's Secret has got nothing on the Adama Paris Spring/Summer 2012 collection.&nbsp; From the structured one pieces reminiscent of the modern African woman's chic blouses to the delightful two piece bikini's Adama&nbsp;successfully merged African style with cosmopolitan western styles.&nbsp; The collection evokes a fun, flirty and carefree summer day at the beach/pool.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2gaabsJISs/TqwyCFMDa_I/AAAAAAAABt0/3Tej20vkkww/s1600/adamaparis00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2gaabsJISs/TqwyCFMDa_I/AAAAAAAABt0/3Tej20vkkww/s400/adamaparis00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EoZpQzCEDfw/TqwyC_dow1I/AAAAAAAABt8/3FWMhxU7xsA/s1600/adamaparis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EoZpQzCEDfw/TqwyC_dow1I/AAAAAAAABt8/3FWMhxU7xsA/s320/adamaparis.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOf9Idq--U/TqwyFxbXXmI/AAAAAAAABuM/sOi_Hjoh7dM/s1600/adamaparis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOf9Idq--U/TqwyFxbXXmI/AAAAAAAABuM/sOi_Hjoh7dM/s320/adamaparis2.jpg" width="212" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMjU_oUDAiE/TqwyGvUAXgI/AAAAAAAABuU/7ucrzZDlBmo/s1600/adamaparis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMjU_oUDAiE/TqwyGvUAXgI/AAAAAAAABuU/7ucrzZDlBmo/s320/adamaparis3.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3EG8_saVg3g/TqwyKpWaE1I/AAAAAAAABuc/VStrAV-TCFE/s1600/adamaparis4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3EG8_saVg3g/TqwyKpWaE1I/AAAAAAAABuc/VStrAV-TCFE/s320/adamaparis4.jpg" width="212" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AJaEjzkm8zw/TqwyLM8XctI/AAAAAAAABuk/awZWp5pvGZg/s1600/adamaparis5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AJaEjzkm8zw/TqwyLM8XctI/AAAAAAAABuk/awZWp5pvGZg/s320/adamaparis5.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Pz9dSHP11E/TqwyLvVW8cI/AAAAAAAABus/7Tz-o0AX9ng/s1600/adamaparis6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Pz9dSHP11E/TqwyLvVW8cI/AAAAAAAABus/7Tz-o0AX9ng/s320/adamaparis6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit:&nbsp;<span class="infoboxb">Simon Deiner / SDR Photo</span></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>&nbsp;INTISAAR</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Showcasing beautiful African Java and Zimbabwe batik prints, this collection from Zimbabwean born designer Intisaar Mukadam&nbsp;featured flirty, simple and chic bright, bold yellow, purple, pink and blue pieces.&nbsp; The easy to wear separates are a great addition to any spring or summer wardrobe.&nbsp; Whether you pair the colorful tops with structured slacks, skinny jeans or pencil skirts, this versatile collection goes from fun to sophisticated in one easy switch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coisl0ogr9k/TqwzRafmEiI/AAAAAAAABvE/oe6iRzyG-1A/s1600/intisaar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coisl0ogr9k/TqwzRafmEiI/AAAAAAAABvE/oe6iRzyG-1A/s320/intisaar.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r2ZlA_Ui6o0/TqwzSKsIVrI/AAAAAAAABvM/GTmWJ7TGz_M/s1600/intisaar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r2ZlA_Ui6o0/TqwzSKsIVrI/AAAAAAAABvM/GTmWJ7TGz_M/s320/intisaar1.jpg" width="212" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guPgSTzN_GQ/TqwzT0Qm9HI/AAAAAAAABvc/5fL5EkyOCxs/s1600/intisaar990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guPgSTzN_GQ/TqwzT0Qm9HI/AAAAAAAABvc/5fL5EkyOCxs/s400/intisaar990.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzh4zKDPxEU/TqwzUkTrzNI/AAAAAAAABvk/OdKiD17MoLM/s1600/intisaar97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzh4zKDPxEU/TqwzUkTrzNI/AAAAAAAABvk/OdKiD17MoLM/s320/intisaar97.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-BkFYcNEDQ/TqwzVl7xpWI/AAAAAAAABvs/BAX5nLYiq0Q/s1600/intisaar9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4-BkFYcNEDQ/TqwzVl7xpWI/AAAAAAAABvs/BAX5nLYiq0Q/s320/intisaar9.jpg" width="212" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTt_YZm4-EU/TqwzWc6e8bI/AAAAAAAABv0/sy1mGyh6A1M/s1600/intisaar5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mTt_YZm4-EU/TqwzWc6e8bI/AAAAAAAABv0/sy1mGyh6A1M/s320/intisaar5.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ort1o4m1Gdo/TqwzXfnyWHI/AAAAAAAABv8/OV1iv4n8nK4/s1600/intisaar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ort1o4m1Gdo/TqwzXfnyWHI/AAAAAAAABv8/OV1iv4n8nK4/s320/intisaar2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit:&nbsp;<span class="infoboxb">Simon Deiner / SDR Photo</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>GLORIA WAVAMUNNO </strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following a somewhat lukewarm start in 2009, Ugandan designer Gloria Wavamunno brought her A-game to the runway.&nbsp; From uber thigh-high slits to edgy batik jackets and tops, Wavamunno is carving a new niche in the fashion world.&nbsp; From long flowy skirts and a myriad of dark leather shilhouettes, Wavamunno's ready to wear collection featured exposed zippers, jersey pieces and structured looks.&nbsp;&nbsp;It appears&nbsp;that Wavamunno departed from the usual Africa Fashion Week tribal prints and focused more on chic jersey fabric styles.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bR-tImyV1ZM/Tqw0co8z6GI/AAAAAAAABwE/eBGqCT6li4Y/s1600/africafashionweek00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bR-tImyV1ZM/Tqw0co8z6GI/AAAAAAAABwE/eBGqCT6li4Y/s400/africafashionweek00.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpQnM9LaKf0/Tqw0eTvMHaI/AAAAAAAABwU/5T1ryax2Zm8/s1600/africafashionweek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpQnM9LaKf0/Tqw0eTvMHaI/AAAAAAAABwU/5T1ryax2Zm8/s320/africafashionweek.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wW2lUg9NlG8/Tqw0f3evmzI/AAAAAAAABwc/-hSKrCzBT00/s1600/africafashionweek0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wW2lUg9NlG8/Tqw0f3evmzI/AAAAAAAABwc/-hSKrCzBT00/s320/africafashionweek0.jpg" width="213" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SB0wC_6rc4w/Tqw0ge_KOaI/AAAAAAAABwk/4jZ9_5JBOVM/s1600/africafashionweek1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SB0wC_6rc4w/Tqw0ge_KOaI/AAAAAAAABwk/4jZ9_5JBOVM/s320/africafashionweek1.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cH1TKY6ZSoY/Tqw0gwuJ7jI/AAAAAAAABws/ZB5AihyuvgI/s1600/africafashionweek2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cH1TKY6ZSoY/Tqw0gwuJ7jI/AAAAAAAABws/ZB5AihyuvgI/s320/africafashionweek2.jpg" width="213" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKGgmHlR50c/Tqw0iqNpBWI/AAAAAAAABw8/rdi_mtXcZOg/s1600/africafashionweek7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKGgmHlR50c/Tqw0iqNpBWI/AAAAAAAABw8/rdi_mtXcZOg/s320/africafashionweek7.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gDmZHXTE4qU/Tqw0jx8c3_I/AAAAAAAABxE/U0rEqQLjBA0/s1600/africafashionweek94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gDmZHXTE4qU/Tqw0jx8c3_I/AAAAAAAABxE/U0rEqQLjBA0/s320/africafashionweek94.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit:&nbsp;<span class="infoboxb">Simon Deiner / SDR Photo</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>SOUCHA</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Tunisian native and the pioneer of haute couture glamour in Egypt&nbsp;wowed with his chic and unique Arabian night atmosphere.&nbsp; From the bold accessories, including chunky statement necklaces and colorful silk scarves and turbans to the sexy A-line and Kaftan-style&nbsp;dresses and black and white staples, Soucha showed his sophisticated range and talent.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aR-KN-pIKBA/Tqw1UyyLrnI/AAAAAAAABxM/0vzOYubXUQ8/s1600/africanfashionweek0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aR-KN-pIKBA/Tqw1UyyLrnI/AAAAAAAABxM/0vzOYubXUQ8/s400/africanfashionweek0.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKfJhImxFC8/Tqw2RnTfwtI/AAAAAAAABxc/1GNN_8jnzlw/s1600/africanfashionweek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKfJhImxFC8/Tqw2RnTfwtI/AAAAAAAABxc/1GNN_8jnzlw/s320/africanfashionweek.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mePu68gxGrQ/Tqw2UGzdcrI/AAAAAAAABxk/rrKQsu2ZnWw/s1600/africanfashionweek6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mePu68gxGrQ/Tqw2UGzdcrI/AAAAAAAABxk/rrKQsu2ZnWw/s320/africanfashionweek6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFbNQ_cTX7Y/Tqw2W8QNYZI/AAAAAAAABxs/Mgo1COdnIXs/s1600/soucha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFbNQ_cTX7Y/Tqw2W8QNYZI/AAAAAAAABxs/Mgo1COdnIXs/s320/soucha.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ge3oC2IK92s/Tqw2Z_XqgAI/AAAAAAAABx0/V2qtswkpkMY/s1600/soucha8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ge3oC2IK92s/Tqw2Z_XqgAI/AAAAAAAABx0/V2qtswkpkMY/s320/soucha8.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0ysywSVHn8/Tqw2c0WYdEI/AAAAAAAABx8/5LO3ScIUT6s/s1600/soucha4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0ysywSVHn8/Tqw2c0WYdEI/AAAAAAAABx8/5LO3ScIUT6s/s320/soucha4.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLD8cuyITwU/Tqw2fzXv1CI/AAAAAAAAByE/GIyVW71YkCw/s1600/soucha2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLD8cuyITwU/Tqw2fzXv1CI/AAAAAAAAByE/GIyVW71YkCw/s320/soucha2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsDMV6gRBvw/Tqw2yQm4xKI/AAAAAAAAByU/xMxYHm8s85s/s1600/africanfashionweek9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsDMV6gRBvw/Tqw2yQm4xKI/AAAAAAAAByU/xMxYHm8s85s/s320/africanfashionweek9.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHY3rXLwFTA/Tqw2kZOOmpI/AAAAAAAAByM/CMbD3COW5TM/s1600/soucha5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHY3rXLwFTA/Tqw2kZOOmpI/AAAAAAAAByM/CMbD3COW5TM/s320/soucha5.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit:&nbsp;<span class="infoboxb">Simon Deiner / SDR Photo</span></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="infoboxb"><strong>TART</strong></span></div><div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="infoboxb">Everything about the Tart Spring/Summer 2012 collection screams simple and easy to wear.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am &nbsp;so used to seeing designers show dreamy, comical and over-the-top runway collections that have a 2% chance of runway to real street appeal.&nbsp; We can all breathe a collective sigh of chic relief with Tart's designs.&nbsp; While I am a&nbsp;huge fan of color,&nbsp;I&nbsp;appreciate Tart's appeal to&nbsp;my modern career woman angle.&nbsp; Each and every one of these designs are daily wardrobe staples for the modern woman on the go.&nbsp; Fashion designers know that a burst of color adds a stylish touch&nbsp;to any collection.&nbsp; Tart shows us why less is more with&nbsp; one gorgeous green/black print maxi.&nbsp; Tart understands the female curves and knows how to dress it. With that in mind, this collection is versatile, sexy and contemporary.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOuKYzFJNpg/Tqw3y9RXo8I/AAAAAAAAByc/XWjU8RyLdF8/s1600/africanfashionweek0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOuKYzFJNpg/Tqw3y9RXo8I/AAAAAAAAByc/XWjU8RyLdF8/s400/africanfashionweek0.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMMNBAPCAN4/Tqw38F5c-hI/AAAAAAAABys/n07DLrvrIsA/s1600/africanfashionweek1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMMNBAPCAN4/Tqw38F5c-hI/AAAAAAAABys/n07DLrvrIsA/s320/africanfashionweek1.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZV8VVDvU8o/Tqw3-NPSkfI/AAAAAAAABy8/ARNUxzxa_ZE/s1600/africanfashionweek6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZV8VVDvU8o/Tqw3-NPSkfI/AAAAAAAABy8/ARNUxzxa_ZE/s320/africanfashionweek6.jpg" width="213" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZSPLrpESpM/Tqw3-4Wy1nI/AAAAAAAABzE/UuBwsjdugY0/s1600/africanfashionweek8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZSPLrpESpM/Tqw3-4Wy1nI/AAAAAAAABzE/UuBwsjdugY0/s320/africanfashionweek8.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9oq3jb41jSY/Tqw4Azt8CZI/AAAAAAAABzM/r-CcmH0JOQo/s1600/africanfashionweek90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9oq3jb41jSY/Tqw4Azt8CZI/AAAAAAAABzM/r-CcmH0JOQo/s320/africanfashionweek90.jpg" width="213" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBaaTdGjT_k/Tqw4BZKqXMI/AAAAAAAABzU/6ToOCUMA__k/s1600/africanfashionweek93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBaaTdGjT_k/Tqw4BZKqXMI/AAAAAAAABzU/6ToOCUMA__k/s320/africanfashionweek93.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfxCxHT9b_8/Tqw4DKcuozI/AAAAAAAABzc/L8eTXZ5Wu4s/s1600/africanfashionweek99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfxCxHT9b_8/Tqw4DKcuozI/AAAAAAAABzc/L8eTXZ5Wu4s/s320/africanfashionweek99.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit:&nbsp;<span class="infoboxb">Simon Deiner / SDR Photo</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2635727756921370428?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2011/10/africa-fashion-week-sa-lone-pikins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Boutique Mix Fashion)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-3946034204577819184Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:06:00 +00002011-10-30T18:59:28.010+13:00African WomenMiMi's Musingsrebuilding sierra leoneRebuilding AfricaAfrican BloggerBoutique Mix<div align="justify"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WltC8WevI/AAAAAAAAAs8/hFjw3PJbW8Q/s1600-h/a1.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144700342643358450" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WltC8WevI/AAAAAAAAAs8/hFjw3PJbW8Q/s200/a1.bmp" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a>As a proud African Woman, I am honored to write this tribute to African Women (and all women) all over the World. Hopefully you will join MiMi and <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> in the <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">Rebuilding Sierra Leone Campaign</a> to <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">rebuild Sierra Leone and impoverished Africa, one innocent child at a time</a>.<br /> <br /> <strong>Who is the African Woman?</strong> The African woman is the salt of Africa. As we move forward together in economic reform and development, we must recognize that African Women will play vital roles in rebuilding and reshaping whats left of the ashes. From entrepreneurial endeavors to leadership roles in government, African Women are at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frontline</span> of post-conflict revitalization. </div><br /> <div align="justify"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WmNS8WewI/AAAAAAAAAtE/MjVrZFQVcUs/s1600-h/a2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144700896694139650" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WmNS8WewI/AAAAAAAAAtE/MjVrZFQVcUs/s200/a2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a> During the 2003 International Women's Day Celebration in New York, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kofi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Anan</span> noted that the important role of women in the family - "study after study has shown that there is no effective strategy in which women do not play a central role. When women are fully involved, the benefits can be seen immediately; families are healthier and better fed; their income, savings and reinvestment go up. And what is true of families is also true of communities and, in the long run, of whole countries...."</div><br /> <div align="justify">Nothing heals the wounds of wars. Nothing but HOPE (and I'm sure a lot of other things you can think of). It is imperative that we equip these women with skills to rebuild our lives. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kiva</span> is one of many organizations that aims to improve the lives of women around the world.<br /> <br /> <div align="justify"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Woai8WeyI/AAAAAAAAAtU/Th_U55E8TZM/s1600-h/a4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144703323350661922" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Woai8WeyI/AAAAAAAAAtU/Th_U55E8TZM/s200/a4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a>I'm not speaking of the sophisticated sassy African diva who has traveled the continent, written three books, speaks four languages and lives in a beautiful home on the French <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Riviera</span>. (I applaud her tenacity and hard work and hope to be her when I grow up...). I'm speaking of the rural African woman who works on the farm or sits at the market from dusk till dawn struggling to feed her family. Despite the brutalities of a difficult post-war <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">socio</span>-economic and political world she's up at the cackle of the rooster to work for her family. With one remaining limb (the other was hacked off during the war) and no one-figure jobs (let alone six-figures), she goes on and succeeds!!! What keeps the African Woman going is HOPE. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Hope that her children will be happy, healthy and fed. </div><br /> <div align="justify"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Wm7y8WexI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-RyS6GJfrd8/s1600-h/a3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144701695558056722" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Wm7y8WexI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-RyS6GJfrd8/s200/a3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>No food. No clothing. No homes. This is not the African Dream. Wars keep the women from planting and harvesting. Wars destroy homes, hospitals, banks and schools. It's a vicious cycle of replanting, rebuilding, reshaping, reconstructing.......... and then more wars.......... then more rebuilding and all the others "re's." As we travel around the world, we learn more about others and so much more about ourselves. We learn especially that we are one in the world, no different from each other. Just diverse in our backgrounds and unequal in economic and social hierarchies. We all have the same dreams of a better life for us, for our children, for our families. For those of us African Children who live in the west, some of us have lost touch with the realities that afflict us.<br /> <br /> We are not different because we live in the West. We try to, but are not independent of the women and children that live on the Continent. We are just extensions of where we came from. Subsets of our own roots. Reducing Poverty is not limited to the ONE Campaign or Oprah. It is up to all of us!!! African women play an important role in rebuilding nations destroyed by war. We hope to encourage African women to know their strengths, to believe in themselves and to be financially secure as they struggle to rebuild a broken society.</div><br /> <div align="justify">Please join Boutique Mix in the <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">ongoing Rebuilding Sierra Leone Campaign</a>. I am excited to announce that MiMi and <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> are proud sponsors of entrepreneurs via the <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Kiva loan Program</a>. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Click here</a> to learn how you can register to <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">sponsor entrepreneurs via Kiva</a>. </div><br /> <a href="http://www.print.duncans.tv/images/african-women.jpg"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 1</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/EUR/1155-15372~African-Life-I-Posters.jpg"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 2</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.thefineartcompany.co.uk/canvases/african-women-art.jpg"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 4</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--12179623/SP--A/IGID--1543911/Femme_Africaine_III.htm?sOrig=CAT&amp;sOrigID=7627&amp;ui=A0F82E9404AF4DC19783D120354AAC52"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 3</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10284134/SP--A/IGID--897818/Three_Yoruban_Women.htm?sOrig=CAT&amp;sOrigID=7627&amp;ui=A0F82E9404AF4DC19783D120354AAC52"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 5</span></a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-3946034204577819184?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2011/10/my-tribute-to-african-women-rebuilding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Boutique Mix Fashion)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-985218097601605749Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:52:00 +00002011-10-30T18:02:56.667+13:00African BloggerBoutique MixAfrican Fashion<div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4Zb4JbnsI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/EK8VanpM6eA/s1600-h/mimi.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192115387123867330" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4Zb4JbnsI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/EK8VanpM6eA/s320/mimi.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>In September 2004, I took a long vacation to Capetown, South Africa, where Miatta-MiMi and Boutique Mix were born!!!!! As I lay on the beach sipping cocktails and designing my first bracelet, I realized “this is what I should be doing.” I spent most of my vacation making jewelry, gift-baskets, shopping for unique items and writing up my business plan - drawing from years of hoping, dreaming and following fashion. I am a huge fan of all things hand-made, and Boutique Mix carries both hand-made and non-handmade unique items from around the world.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">I am blessed with the good fortune of combining my great love of travel with my passion for fashion. Each time I travel I personally select items for Boutique Mix that showcase the culture, creativity and style of local and international designers around the world. I make my own jewelry under the Miatta-MiMi label. Each Miatta-MiMi design piece has its own unique story, and is made from beads and other accessories hand-picked during my travels. My fashion style can be described at best as bold, funky, colorful and sassy. Miatta-MiMi reflects that bold, sassy, funky, eclectic and fabulous look that screams "I am ME"!!! Shop Miatta-MiMi at <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a>.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hcoJbn-I/AAAAAAAAATI/RGCQzaBalKs/s1600-h/juju.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192124196101791714" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hcoJbn-I/AAAAAAAAATI/RGCQzaBalKs/s320/juju.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="239" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-SN4JboCI/AAAAAAAAATo/Y7A8L27WkJg/s1600-h/exhausted+020.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192529662489370658" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-SN4JboCI/AAAAAAAAATo/Y7A8L27WkJg/s400/exhausted+020.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-SOoJboDI/AAAAAAAAATw/jC5I4eUFk9s/s1600-h/maryandubes+162.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192529675374272562" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-SOoJboDI/AAAAAAAAATw/jC5I4eUFk9s/s640/maryandubes+162.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Ur4JboHI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/c9YH7-_KgvI/s1600-h/maryandubes+247.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192532376908701810" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Ur4JboHI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/c9YH7-_KgvI/s400/maryandubes+247.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="300" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-UtIJboII/AAAAAAAAAUY/TP22DQnNrUY/s1600-h/maryandubes+252.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192532398383538306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-UtIJboII/AAAAAAAAAUY/TP22DQnNrUY/s320/maryandubes+252.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Ut4JboJI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Ry-5MMinLFw/s1600-h/exhausted+021.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192532411268440210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Ut4JboJI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Ry-5MMinLFw/s320/exhausted+021.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Wg4JboMI/AAAAAAAAAU4/RQ_J83T1ljw/s1600-h/maryandubes+302.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192534386953396418" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Wg4JboMI/AAAAAAAAAU4/RQ_J83T1ljw/s320/maryandubes+302.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-WhYJboNI/AAAAAAAAAVA/qryKMEn16JA/s1600-h/maryandubes+306.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192534395543331026" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-WhYJboNI/AAAAAAAAAVA/qryKMEn16JA/s320/maryandubes+306.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Wh4JboOI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Y7T4s_NRkfw/s1600-h/maryandubes+219.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192534404133265634" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Wh4JboOI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Y7T4s_NRkfw/s320/maryandubes+219.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-WiYJboPI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ioHD8lwTsWU/s1600-h/maryandubes+293.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192534412723200242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-WiYJboPI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ioHD8lwTsWU/s320/maryandubes+293.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-WioJboQI/AAAAAAAAAVY/cCQsLVsVdK0/s1600-h/maryandubes+234.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192534417018167554" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-WioJboQI/AAAAAAAAAVY/cCQsLVsVdK0/s320/maryandubes+234.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-UuYJboKI/AAAAAAAAAUo/BYgQv9aZiQ4/s1600-h/exhausted+022.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192532419858374818" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-UuYJboKI/AAAAAAAAAUo/BYgQv9aZiQ4/s320/exhausted+022.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Uu4JboLI/AAAAAAAAAUw/BUz3lBn1iG8/s1600-h/exhausted+013.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192532428448309426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-Uu4JboLI/AAAAAAAAAUw/BUz3lBn1iG8/s320/exhausted+013.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-SRIJboGI/AAAAAAAAAUI/62DOWCK9dWA/s1600-h/maryandubes+249.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192529718323945570" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA-SRIJboGI/AAAAAAAAAUI/62DOWCK9dWA/s320/maryandubes+249.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hcoJbn_I/AAAAAAAAATQ/K-68csa5MGg/s1600-h/juju1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192124196101791730" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hcoJbn_I/AAAAAAAAATQ/K-68csa5MGg/s320/juju1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hc4JboAI/AAAAAAAAATY/skIZj9rwK8Y/s1600-h/juju2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192124200396759042" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hc4JboAI/AAAAAAAAATY/skIZj9rwK8Y/s320/juju2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hdIJboBI/AAAAAAAAATg/zAzZhnaHaXc/s1600-h/juju3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192124204691726354" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4hdIJboBI/AAAAAAAAATg/zAzZhnaHaXc/s320/juju3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4gcIJbn9I/AAAAAAAAATA/OomVhx7DqAY/s1600-h/mimifront.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192123088000229330" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4gcIJbn9I/AAAAAAAAATA/OomVhx7DqAY/s320/mimifront.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4f84Jbn8I/AAAAAAAAAS4/0SxRfgxH_0k/s1600-h/mm7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192122551129317314" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4f84Jbn8I/AAAAAAAAAS4/0SxRfgxH_0k/s320/mm7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZDIJbnmI/AAAAAAAAAQI/bPBB_reUJjI/s1600-h/mimi5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114961922104930" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZDIJbnmI/AAAAAAAAAQI/bPBB_reUJjI/s320/mimi5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZDYJbnnI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/H1s-k7dEbno/s1600-h/mimi4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114966217072242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZDYJbnnI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/H1s-k7dEbno/s320/mimi4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZDoJbnoI/AAAAAAAAAQY/W9SNqjH0Qwc/s1600-h/mimi3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114970512039554" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZDoJbnoI/AAAAAAAAAQY/W9SNqjH0Qwc/s320/mimi3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZD4JbnpI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ujp349dhjJw/s1600-h/mimi2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114974807006866" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZD4JbnpI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ujp349dhjJw/s320/mimi2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZEYJbnqI/AAAAAAAAAQo/4mgN6lU_748/s1600-h/mimi1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114983396941474" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4ZEYJbnqI/AAAAAAAAAQo/4mgN6lU_748/s320/mimi1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YxIJbnhI/AAAAAAAAAPg/xhAdwhT1Itw/s1600-h/mimi10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114652684459538" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YxIJbnhI/AAAAAAAAAPg/xhAdwhT1Itw/s320/mimi10.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YxIJbniI/AAAAAAAAAPo/X9qL2G7jbBM/s1600-h/mimi9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114652684459554" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YxIJbniI/AAAAAAAAAPo/X9qL2G7jbBM/s320/mimi9.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YxYJbnjI/AAAAAAAAAPw/wFvJCo0OhXE/s1600-h/mimi8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114656979426866" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YxYJbnjI/AAAAAAAAAPw/wFvJCo0OhXE/s320/mimi8.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4Yx4JbnkI/AAAAAAAAAP4/-3XN7vJAFgQ/s1600-h/mimi7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114665569361474" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4Yx4JbnkI/AAAAAAAAAP4/-3XN7vJAFgQ/s320/mimi7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YyIJbnlI/AAAAAAAAAQA/3c36DrhUafo/s1600-h/mimi6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192114669864328786" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4YyIJbnlI/AAAAAAAAAQA/3c36DrhUafo/s320/mimi6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2IJbntI/AAAAAAAAARA/hImyb1byt4E/s1600-h/mm1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192116937607061202" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2IJbntI/AAAAAAAAARA/hImyb1byt4E/s320/mm1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2YJbnuI/AAAAAAAAARI/ArGBh4-Ka48/s1600-h/mm2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192116941902028514" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2YJbnuI/AAAAAAAAARI/ArGBh4-Ka48/s320/mm2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2oJbnvI/AAAAAAAAARQ/ODobsf7aA6M/s1600-h/mm3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192116946196995826" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2oJbnvI/AAAAAAAAARQ/ODobsf7aA6M/s320/mm3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2oJbnwI/AAAAAAAAARY/su4kHH2P8do/s1600-h/mm4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192116946196995842" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a2oJbnwI/AAAAAAAAARY/su4kHH2P8do/s320/mm4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a3IJbnxI/AAAAAAAAARg/5dUPyC4GrBk/s1600-h/mm5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192116954786930450" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4a3IJbnxI/AAAAAAAAARg/5dUPyC4GrBk/s320/mm5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fm4Jbn3I/AAAAAAAAASQ/p9eO_Qo8h6k/s1600-h/exhausted_010_187x250.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192122173172195186" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fm4Jbn3I/AAAAAAAAASQ/p9eO_Qo8h6k/s320/exhausted_010_187x250.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnIJbn4I/AAAAAAAAASY/nU3G8-Cz7Ic/s1600-h/kk.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192122177467162498" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnIJbn4I/AAAAAAAAASY/nU3G8-Cz7Ic/s320/kk.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnYJbn5I/AAAAAAAAASg/7fzuP2GsW2A/s1600-h/halima_012_187x250.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192122181762129810" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnYJbn5I/AAAAAAAAASg/7fzuP2GsW2A/s320/halima_012_187x250.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnYJbn6I/AAAAAAAAASo/agjhl-4yl7Y/s1600-h/lucinda_012_250x187.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192122181762129826" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnYJbn6I/AAAAAAAAASo/agjhl-4yl7Y/s320/lucinda_012_250x187.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnoJbn7I/AAAAAAAAASw/kScbT1fO3xw/s1600-h/mm6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192122186057097138" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SA4fnoJbn7I/AAAAAAAAASw/kScbT1fO3xw/s320/mm6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Shop Miatta-MiMi at <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a>. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-985218097601605749?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2010/01/boutique-mix-fashion-for-haiti.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2870497171156666072Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:13:00 +00002011-10-30T19:10:31.662+13:00kenyaBoutique MixAfrican Fashion<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Mad Imports</a> is a socially&nbsp;and environmentally responsible company that markets handmade fashion accessories from Madagascar &amp; Kenya. Their eclectic accessories blend traditional and contemporary design ideas of their international design team who incorporate renewable raw materials to create vivid &amp; original clutches, totes and shoulder bags. The sale of Mad Imports products enables families to gain economic independence and promotes environmental conservation.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Mad Imports</a> invests in several development efforts. Currently, they fund the education of the children of their weaver partners and work closely with the Akany Avoko orphanage to provide educational materials and support for special projects. Further, they developed a partnership with a community of women in Kenya , supporting their micro-enterprise and funding community development projects. Mad Imports continues to work closely with their artisan partners to support sustainable economic development projects, provide a venue for artistic expression and to stimulate cross-cultural exchange. They accomplish this through product design workshops and market readiness training programs.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> is proud and honored to carry Mad Imports products. Check out <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> for many more fabulous Mad Imports products.<br /> <br /> Calabash Tote - This stunning Calabash tote is hand woven and dyed by Kenyan women using bark from the baobab tree. Natural dyes are used to create its earthy colors. The tote is trimmed with embossed leather and has a leather flap closure. It's great calabash shape makes it fashionable and functional! Your purchase will support the women's workshop and their community development efforts. Click here to purchase your Calabash tote.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SALVuUQWwtI/AAAAAAAAACI/8-HxreMzTdo/s1600-h/calabash+tote.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188944712372241106" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SALVuUQWwtI/AAAAAAAAACI/8-HxreMzTdo/s320/calabash+tote.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /> </a>Raffia Chicas<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SAOKtUQWw7I/AAAAAAAAAD8/-8E0CGuEHRU/s1600-h/halmima2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189143706796999602" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SAOKtUQWw7I/AAAAAAAAAD8/-8E0CGuEHRU/s200/halmima2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>&nbsp;Hand-made in Madagascar. Hand-made of woven raffia with cotton lining and a bold carved wood button. 7.5"h x 11"w with 4" button. Snap closure. Click <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">here</a> to buy your Raffia Chica.</div><div align="justify"></div><br /> <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Gardenia Clutch</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SALXoUQWwuI/AAAAAAAAACQ/LOcmVqBVX1o/s1600-h/heather.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188946808316281570" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SALXoUQWwuI/AAAAAAAAACQ/LOcmVqBVX1o/s320/heather.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> A garden of hand-embroidered wildflowers adorns this structured baguette clutch. Dresses up dresses and adds style to weekend looks. Handwoven and embroidred raffia with snap closure in four fabulous colors. Click <a href="http://boutiquemix.com/">here</a> to purchase your Gardenia Clutch!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2870497171156666072?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2009/12/support-kiva-sierra-leone-entrepreneurs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2861189888179936101Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:31:00 +00002011-10-30T17:06:32.611+13:00Happy HolidaysBoutique Mix<div align="justify">As always during this time of year, we think of giving, giving and giving. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Boutique Mix</a> encourages everyone to give to entrepreneurs in developing countries. At the end of each year, I re-evaluate my giving and figure out how to stretch each dollar to maximize return.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Boutique Mix</a> is a proud supporter of Kiva. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Kiva</a> is a non-profit organization that provides loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries, providing them the money they need to grow and develop their business, and in so doing, create better lives for themselves, their families and their communities.<br /><br />Join <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Kiva</a> today and change the lives of deserving entrepreneurs or shop with <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Boutique Mix</a> and continue to change the lives of people around the world. As you know, 30% of all <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix </a>profits go toward charity organizations, including <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Kiva</a>. Check out the <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Boutique Mix</a> <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Kiva</a> <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">lender page</a> to see how your shopping helps change the lives of others. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2861189888179936101?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2009/12/do-good-while-you-shop-and-give-gift-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-7099768129356392140Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:07:00 +00002011-10-30T17:02:25.494+13:00Sierra LeoneInternational Human Rights<div align="justify">The Special Court annonunced that three former Sierra Leone RUF leaders have been found guilty of crimes against humanity and other war crimes. CNN reports that: Former RUF "interim leader" Issa Hassan Sesay, former RUF commander Morris Kallon and former RUF chief of security Augustine Gbao each faced 18 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, recruiting and using child soldiers, and attacking U.N. peacekeepers. Sesay and Kallon each were found guilty on 16 counts, while Gbao was found guilty on 14, Human Rights Watch senior Africa researcher Corinne Dufka said. It was not immediately clear which charges they were convicted of. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/25/sierra.leone.trial/index.html"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Read entire story at cnn.com</span></strong></a>. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-7099768129356392140?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2009/02/three-sierra-leone-ruf-leaders-found.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-3384451524939796519Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:27:00 +00002011-10-30T17:01:32.275+13:00Sierra LeoneInternational Human RightsCelebrities for Africa<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SZSlVa33o3I/AAAAAAAAAyI/78iFDbL4XH8/s1600-h/abc_hayek_2_090211_mn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302044448731407218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SZSlVa33o3I/AAAAAAAAAyI/78iFDbL4XH8/s200/abc_hayek_2_090211_mn.jpg" /></a> During a <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25039172-7485,00.html">UNICEF trip to Sierra Leone</a>, Salma Hayek nursed a hungry baby upon learning that his mother was unable to produce breast milk. Hayek told USA Today that "[t]he baby was perfectly healthy, but the mother did not have any milk..." "He was very hungry - I was weaning my daughter Valentina, but I still had a lot of milk, so I breastfed the baby." She added - "You should have seen his eyes," she said. "When he felt the nourishment, he immediately stopped crying."<br /><br />Though some may not approve of Hayek's actions, I truly applaud her compassion and generousity. I also commend Hayek for her dedication to assisting UNICEF to help mothers and their tots in their fight against tetanus. With our country having the highest mortality rate in the world, Hayek is doing her little bit to ensure that one in five children in Sierra Leone do not die before their fifth birthday.<br /><br />Kudos to Hayek!!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo/ABC News.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-3384451524939796519?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2009/02/salma-hayek-shows-that-it-truly-takes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2301982508800231727Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:04:00 +00002011-10-30T17:00:25.779+13:00AfricaRebuilding AfricaInternational Human Rights<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R1HdA99V2ZI/AAAAAAAAAfY/CeXJgEXdug8/s1600-R/aids4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139131658508032402" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R1HdA99V2ZI/AAAAAAAAAfY/zHo02Q2D7qg/s200/aids4.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R1Hazt9V2WI/AAAAAAAAAfA/mCs93OAKqvk/s1600-R/aids2.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139129231851510114" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R1Hazt9V2WI/AAAAAAAAAfA/hBY1QaDNHH4/s200/aids2.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R1Hawt9V2VI/AAAAAAAAAe4/G_ZoC6X4c0E/s1600-R/aids.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139129180311902546" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R1Hawt9V2VI/AAAAAAAAAe4/tA3ujqQLgOA/s200/aids.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Today is World AIDS Day!!!<br /><br />Knowledge is Half the Battle!!!<br /><br />In Africa and around the world, the Aids epidemic is killing millions of people. Women and Children in Africa do not have the resources found in the West. Let us spread the word and do what we can to stop this killer in its tracks!!!! Please do not forget to take the <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-pledge-campaign-extended-to.html">2008-2009 Pledge</a>. You too can make a difference!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hH418CnikKLe7eFfNrrpjSYBAyig">Google News</a> World leaders call for action on World AIDS Day<br /><br />PARIS (AFP) — Activists and global leaders used World AIDS Day Saturday to warn against complacency in fighting the disease and called on governments to fill a multi-billion-dollar funding gap.<br /><br />"We have made tangible and remarkable progress on all these fronts. But we must do more," United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a message for World AIDS Day.<br /><br />The highlight of events across the globe was a concert in Johannesburg organised by Nelson Mandela's 46664 AIDS campaign group, named after his prison number from his 27 years in jail during South Africa's apartheid regime.<br /><br />An estimated 50,000 people attended the concert of local and foreign artists, ranging from Peter Gabriel to Ludacris, broadcast to millions around the world.<br /><br />Mandela himself put in a rare appearance, and the crowd erupted in screams before falling silent as the 89-year-old urged people to stand up and take the fight against AIDS into their own hands.<br /><br />"It is still alarming that for every person who receives treatment there are four others who are newly infected," said the nobel laureate, after slowly walking to the podium with the aid of his wife and a walking stick.<br /><br />"Yes, big ambitious plans are needed to deal with the epidemic. But what really matters are small acts of kindness ... such as protecting yourself," he said.<br /><br />South Africa has the world's worst rate of HIV, according to recent UN statistics, with around 5.5 million people infected out of a population of 48 million.<br /><br />But while sub-Saharan Africa has been hard hit, other African nations have registered successes.<br /><br />Mali's HIV infection rate dropped from 1.7 percent in 2001 to 1.3 percent last year, an official from the state's national council against AIDS said.<br /><br />Since the first World AIDS Day in 1988 there has been progress in levelling off the percentage of the world's population living with HIV and AIDS from a peak in the late 1990s, the UN AIDS programme UNAIDS said last month.<br /><br />The tally of new infections fell to an estimated 2.5 million in 2007, from 3.0 million in the late 1990s, it added.<br /><br />Efforts to bring anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of those with HIV/AIDS live, were now bearing fruit, it said.<br /><br />But with 33.2 million people around the world estimated to be living with AIDS and 2.1 million deaths in 2007, campaigners warned there was still a long way to go.<br /><br />"Despite substantial progress against AIDS worldwide, we are still losing ground," said James Shelton of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in a commentary in the medical journal The Lancet on Saturday.<br /><br />Treatment was still only available to about 10 percent of those in need, he said, while in developing countries, "the number of new infections continues to dwarf the numbers who start antiretroviral therapy in developing countries."<br /><br />One of the biggest areas of concern was funding.<br /><br />In Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza said international aid to fight the disease had decreased there, and if the situation continued, donors would "be contributing to a genocide". Burundi has an infection rate of about 3.5 percent.<br /><br />According to the UN, there is currently an eight-billion-dollar (five-billion-euro) shortfall in resources to fight AIDS.<br /><br />To meet the Group of Eight (G8) goal of providing universal access to ARVs by 2010, 42 billion dollars will be needed. So far, only 15.4 billion is in the kitty.<br /><br />US President George W. Bush marked the day by repeating his call on US lawmakers to double support for anti-AIDS programmes to 30 billion dollars over five years.<br /><br />Chinese President Hu Jintao was on front pages of state newspapers shaking the hand of a woman HIV carrier the day after the UN warned that up to 50 million Chinese were at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.<br /><br />Elsewhere in China, UNAIDS and the China Red Cross Foundation have organised a "Great AIDS Walk" on the Great Wall for Sunday to raise awareness.<br /><br />In Australia, campaigners warned that complacency after earlier success in fighting HIV/AIDS risked giving rise to a new wave of infections.<br /><br />"This is the moment it all could go astray. This is the moment when it can become a pandemic," said AIDS awareness educator Vince Lovegrove.<br /><br />Indonesia -- which the UN says has Asia's fastest growing HIV epidemic -- marked the day with the launch of its first national campaign to promote the use of condoms.<br /><br />And in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, several dozen AIDS activists observed a minute of silence to remember the 12,000 Ukrainians who have died of AIDS in two decades.<br /><br />Some stood with their mouths taped to protest what they say is the government's silence about Ukraine's growing HIV and AIDS problem.<br /><br />During the first 10 months of the year, close to 14,500 new HIV cases were reported, prompting UN AIDS officials to warn that Ukraine's HIV epidemic was the most severe in Europe.<br /><br />French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the country's leading HIV research hospital and called the battle against AIDS "absolutely fundamental".<br /><br />In Rome, some pharmacies were handing out free condoms.<br /><br />In Stockholm, bishops of the Protestant Church of Sweden called on religious leaders around the world to promote the use of condoms.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.unaids.org/Resources/UNAIDS/images/feature/200703/20070316_WAD_poster_300.jpg">Keep the Promise</a><br /><br /><a href="http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/uploads/images/cTv0rf62sInLsK8GKjro2A/aidsribbon.jpg">Ribbon</a></div><br /><a href="http://www.global-campaign.org/clientfiles/eastside-exhibit(1).JPG">Giving Women Power</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2301982508800231727?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/12/knowledge-is-power-world-aids-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2923353780772405329Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:29:00 +00002011-10-30T16:59:36.259+13:00Sierra Leonerebuilding sierra leoneCelebrities for Africa<div align="justify">Yesterday, the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment and Opportunities held a fabulous fundraiser to benefit the <a href="http://www.shineonsierraleone.org/">Shine on Sierra Leone foundation</a>. The <a href="http://www.shineonsierraleone.org/">Shine on Sierra Leone foundation (SoSL)</a> is an organization founded by Tiffany Persons, that provides education and support to children in Sierra Leone. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">In the December issue of <a href="http://www.elle.com/">Elle magazine</a>, there is an excellent article on "Hope Diamonds" and various philanthropic efforts in Sierra Leone by various celebrities and business owners, including Tiffany Persons and her friends and more information on SoSL. It is heartwarming to see people working together to shine the light on these innocent and hopeful children in Sierra Leone.<br /><br />Tiffany Persons and Selita Banks at the Women's Coalition for Empowerment and Opportunities Fundraiser to Benefit SoSL.<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SSb_vSwnSrI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/K4-DzR9G2sw/s1600-h/setiffanypersons1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271181601838418610" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SSb_vSwnSrI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/K4-DzR9G2sw/s320/setiffanypersons1.jpg" /> <br /><p align="center"></a><a href="http://www.getemgirls.com/?p=2200">picture source</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2923353780772405329?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/11/shine-on-sierra-leone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2717580938122560089Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:42:00 +00002011-10-30T16:58:10.487+13:00Sierra LeoneAfricaInternational Human RightsAfrican Politics<div align="justify">In Early October, I participated in a panel discussion on Understanding Genocide. The Genocide Conference was hosted by the fabulous, socially conscious and truly wonderful law students at Vermont Law School. We discussed various issues affecting countries that have been affected by Genocide. I spoke about the civil war in Sierra Leone, the rampant use of Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone and other war torn countries and the ways in which we can heal by applying the tools of restorative justice.<br /><br />As always these events are usually therapeutic for me and allow me to reflect on how lucky I am and pray for those who perished during the civil war in Sierra Leone. It also emphasized the importance of our duty to give back to our communities and our mandate to enrich the lives of the children who have lost everyone and everything.<br /><br />As we round up 2008, we should continue to grade our efforts--- what have we done? what can we do better? how can we effectuate positive change in Sierra Leone? As promised I will continue to strive to rebuild Sierra Leone one child at a time through this blog and through humanitarian work with different organizations and hopefully, with Vermont Law School. Below are some pictures from the Understanding Genocide Conference.<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-S2zgvpI/AAAAAAAABQo/7ylF0ubcXxY/s1600-h/103_0264.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032077043318418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-S2zgvpI/AAAAAAAABQo/7ylF0ubcXxY/s320/103_0264.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-SiqdJFI/AAAAAAAABQg/0T843kXCq4Q/s1600-h/103_0263.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032071636624466" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-SiqdJFI/AAAAAAAABQg/0T843kXCq4Q/s320/103_0263.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-R3sfFoI/AAAAAAAABQY/gjx5nGmo3-M/s1600-h/103_0262.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032060102416002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-R3sfFoI/AAAAAAAABQY/gjx5nGmo3-M/s320/103_0262.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-RE3MwEI/AAAAAAAABQQ/FzlY2nUch7w/s1600-h/103_0261.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032046457143362" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-RE3MwEI/AAAAAAAABQQ/FzlY2nUch7w/s320/103_0261.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-Q5VdUVI/AAAAAAAABQI/_RbhakN2LEw/s1600-h/103_0260.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032043362832722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-Q5VdUVI/AAAAAAAABQI/_RbhakN2LEw/s320/103_0260.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-2fNEyoI/AAAAAAAABRQ/va1tjgP4nIk/s1600-h/103_0269.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032689183378050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-2fNEyoI/AAAAAAAABRQ/va1tjgP4nIk/s320/103_0269.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-1wG13kI/AAAAAAAABRI/voSTDZVoHXo/s1600-h/103_0268.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032676540767810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-1wG13kI/AAAAAAAABRI/voSTDZVoHXo/s320/103_0268.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-1kpD_oI/AAAAAAAABRA/d1mpp-qaruE/s1600-h/103_0267.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032673463074434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-1kpD_oI/AAAAAAAABRA/d1mpp-qaruE/s320/103_0267.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-1BRQazI/AAAAAAAABQ4/UDRjobU4bl4/s1600-h/103_0266.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032663967984434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-1BRQazI/AAAAAAAABQ4/UDRjobU4bl4/s320/103_0266.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-0ltFUrI/AAAAAAAABQw/BL3cOSco8hc/s1600-h/103_0265.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262032656568505010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ-0ltFUrI/AAAAAAAABQw/BL3cOSco8hc/s320/103_0265.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_TQ-m4UI/AAAAAAAABR4/ptEZ7UuCfJY/s1600-h/103_0275.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033183580807490" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_TQ-m4UI/AAAAAAAABR4/ptEZ7UuCfJY/s320/103_0275.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_TJBdyKI/AAAAAAAABRw/RDGv_6OtEsQ/s1600-h/103_0274.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033181445310626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_TJBdyKI/AAAAAAAABRw/RDGv_6OtEsQ/s320/103_0274.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_Sg5ESlI/AAAAAAAABRo/l5D3wtiOmCk/s1600-h/103_0273.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033170672667218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_Sg5ESlI/AAAAAAAABRo/l5D3wtiOmCk/s320/103_0273.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_SVJlnYI/AAAAAAAABRg/DIbeN_R-TQY/s1600-h/103_0272.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033167520734594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_SVJlnYI/AAAAAAAABRg/DIbeN_R-TQY/s320/103_0272.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_SDmLbAI/AAAAAAAABRY/KOsi7nHNkuk/s1600-h/103_0271.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033162808814594" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_SDmLbAI/AAAAAAAABRY/KOsi7nHNkuk/s320/103_0271.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_x0_mTLI/AAAAAAAABSg/4dcIAhO2uK4/s1600-h/103_0280.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033708644715698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_x0_mTLI/AAAAAAAABSg/4dcIAhO2uK4/s320/103_0280.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_w6wZHyI/AAAAAAAABSY/bpT9tYIvM1Y/s1600-h/103_0279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033693011681058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_w6wZHyI/AAAAAAAABSY/bpT9tYIvM1Y/s320/103_0279.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_waX24wI/AAAAAAAABSQ/SqiEM6DdPgU/s1600-h/103_0278.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033684318839554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_waX24wI/AAAAAAAABSQ/SqiEM6DdPgU/s320/103_0278.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_wMP2zyI/AAAAAAAABSI/zeLXdQIruDo/s1600-h/103_0277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033680527183650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_wMP2zyI/AAAAAAAABSI/zeLXdQIruDo/s320/103_0277.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_vZHbL0I/AAAAAAAABSA/N2ik-RKU9b0/s1600-h/103_0276.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262033666801610562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3L7penww_eY/SQZ_vZHbL0I/AAAAAAAABSA/N2ik-RKU9b0/s320/103_0276.JPG" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2717580938122560089?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/10/understanding-genocide-vermont-law.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-1398125021468264371Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:06:00 +00002011-10-30T16:57:06.860+13:00AfricaBoutique Mix<div align="justify">Hello Good People!!! I'm still in South Africa, but wanted to post some pix from my recent sojourns. I've been in South Africa and Namibia this past month for my day job. As most of you know, I'm a trial lawyer, and I am working on a case here in southern Africa for a while. I don't know when I'll be back - probably a few more weeks, but I'm definitely stocking up on Africana goodies for <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a>. In the meantime, don't forget to stop by <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> and take advantage of the latest sales. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DXtbVorI/AAAAAAAAAoY/tRyEgAoKF8o/s1600-h/d.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246556534264406706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DXtbVorI/AAAAAAAAAoY/tRyEgAoKF8o/s320/d.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DYuSpyDI/AAAAAAAAAow/pYmoF6fegD4/s1600-h/a.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246556551676282930" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DYuSpyDI/AAAAAAAAAow/pYmoF6fegD4/s320/a.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DYKtxDcI/AAAAAAAAAog/V7CZuV913VQ/s1600-h/c.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246556542126329282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DYKtxDcI/AAAAAAAAAog/V7CZuV913VQ/s320/c.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DYdnaPOI/AAAAAAAAAoo/qCtqECy-dXw/s1600-h/b.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246556547199941858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-DYdnaPOI/AAAAAAAAAoo/qCtqECy-dXw/s320/b.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-BkugXX-I/AAAAAAAAAoA/FmsvT8gCqrw/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246554558868971490" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-BkugXX-I/AAAAAAAAAoA/FmsvT8gCqrw/s320/3.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-Bk8DDCmI/AAAAAAAAAoI/v9teHfT1xlw/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246554562504100450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-Bk8DDCmI/AAAAAAAAAoI/v9teHfT1xlw/s320/2.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-BlHy5boI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/1dGMOK9Jv-s/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246554565657587330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-BlHy5boI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/1dGMOK9Jv-s/s320/1.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-ARhM-zmI/AAAAAAAAAnw/GCQCw0rdOWE/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246553129368866402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-ARhM-zmI/AAAAAAAAAnw/GCQCw0rdOWE/s320/4.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-ASBruOgI/AAAAAAAAAn4/ruXUSoB8veI/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246553138087737858" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM-ASBruOgI/AAAAAAAAAn4/ruXUSoB8veI/s320/5.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM9_Uj1IbiI/AAAAAAAAAnY/Ze139fxewLU/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246552082102119970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM9_Uj1IbiI/AAAAAAAAAnY/Ze139fxewLU/s320/8.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM9_VOwE1YI/AAAAAAAAAng/bS9d1xJz784/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246552093623637378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM9_VOwE1YI/AAAAAAAAAng/bS9d1xJz784/s320/6.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM9_Vdna19I/AAAAAAAAAno/IT8HcYkQOLI/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246552097613862866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM9_Vdna19I/AAAAAAAAAno/IT8HcYkQOLI/s320/7.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM99ZWwYVqI/AAAAAAAAAnA/L2-GrjpxUrU/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246549965468620450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM99ZWwYVqI/AAAAAAAAAnA/L2-GrjpxUrU/s320/11.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM99Zr1kNvI/AAAAAAAAAnI/VZTVDuvW0E8/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246549971127514866" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM99Zr1kNvI/AAAAAAAAAnI/VZTVDuvW0E8/s320/10.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM99ZzflbdI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/PjZqKaRMaTY/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246549973182803410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM99ZzflbdI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/PjZqKaRMaTY/s320/9.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM97k2Fj5bI/AAAAAAAAAmw/VeUp5blWqdY/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246547963834262962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM97k2Fj5bI/AAAAAAAAAmw/VeUp5blWqdY/s320/13.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM97lVQ62bI/AAAAAAAAAm4/aSNwJ6w6qEg/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246547972203403698" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM97lVQ62bI/AAAAAAAAAm4/aSNwJ6w6qEg/s320/12.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM96dQBFEXI/AAAAAAAAAmo/-OBC-frbFZY/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246546733844205938" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM96dQBFEXI/AAAAAAAAAmo/-OBC-frbFZY/s320/14.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM95UFiQrGI/AAAAAAAAAmY/vKvpQqtJsYA/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246545476900138082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SM95UFiQrGI/AAAAAAAAAmY/vKvpQqtJsYA/s320/15.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-1398125021468264371?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/09/hello-from-africa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-1533006266394349457Sat, 24 May 2008 22:23:00 +00002011-10-30T16:54:20.735+13:00AfricaAfrican BloggerBoutique Mix<div align="justify"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiPyBfmdAI/AAAAAAAAAYI/omsEC5ox70g/s1600-h/africa+day+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204067458983818242" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiPyBfmdAI/AAAAAAAAAYI/omsEC5ox70g/s200/africa+day+004.jpg" /></a>Today has been a fun day for <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a>. Before my <a href="http://boutiquemixfashion.blogspot.com/2008/05/buzz-and-press-interview-with-pamela.html">interview with SARFM Radio</a>, <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> participated in "Africa Day in the Diaspora."<br /><br />May 24 is celebrated as "Africa Day in the Diaspora." In honor of Africa Day, <a href="https://www.realtimeafrica.org/">Real Time Africa</a> hosted a wonderful, cultural enriching event in Washington DC.<br /><br />Real Time Africa is an assembly of individuals, organizations and interest groups hailing from the diverse countries, communities and cultures that make up Africa and her Diaspora. <a href="https://www.realtimeafrica.org/">Click here to Learn More about Real Time Africa</a>.<br /><br />Check out some pictures from the Event!!<br /><br /></div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiS2xfmdLI/AAAAAAAAAZg/11smiQpY1s8/s1600-h/africa+day+003.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070839123080370" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiS2xfmdLI/AAAAAAAAAZg/11smiQpY1s8/s320/africa+day+003.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSxhfmdKI/AAAAAAAAAZY/-i3zk6xhbas/s1600-h/africa+day+002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070748928767138" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSxhfmdKI/AAAAAAAAAZY/-i3zk6xhbas/s320/africa+day+002.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSrBfmdJI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/K2CIreHkK1s/s1600-h/africa+day+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070637259617426" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSrBfmdJI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/K2CIreHkK1s/s320/africa+day+001.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSjhfmdII/AAAAAAAAAZI/81htAbhIWTg/s1600-h/africa+day+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070508410598530" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSjhfmdII/AAAAAAAAAZI/81htAbhIWTg/s320/africa+day+005.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiScxfmdHI/AAAAAAAAAZA/OscRQZxSUZ8/s1600-h/africa+day+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070392446481522" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiScxfmdHI/AAAAAAAAAZA/OscRQZxSUZ8/s320/africa+day+006.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSWRfmdGI/AAAAAAAAAY4/bU-GRKbcqzc/s1600-h/africa+day+012.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070280777331810" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSWRfmdGI/AAAAAAAAAY4/bU-GRKbcqzc/s320/africa+day+012.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSRBfmdFI/AAAAAAAAAYw/bVMBLeBNBOg/s1600-h/africa+day+013.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204070190583018578" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiSRBfmdFI/AAAAAAAAAYw/bVMBLeBNBOg/s320/africa+day+013.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiR6RfmdEI/AAAAAAAAAYo/JqixlPraokk/s1600-h/africa+day+008.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204069799740994626" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiR6RfmdEI/AAAAAAAAAYo/JqixlPraokk/s320/africa+day+008.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiR0BfmdDI/AAAAAAAAAYg/og4CJ6IhxxA/s1600-h/africa+day+009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204069692366812210" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiR0BfmdDI/AAAAAAAAAYg/og4CJ6IhxxA/s320/africa+day+009.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiRtRfmdCI/AAAAAAAAAYY/FZqPUkiegKM/s1600-h/africa+day+011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204069576402695202" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiRtRfmdCI/AAAAAAAAAYY/FZqPUkiegKM/s320/africa+day+011.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiRixfmdBI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/PlUajprOdg4/s1600-h/africa+day+007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204069396014068754" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiRixfmdBI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/PlUajprOdg4/s320/africa+day+007.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiTqRfmdMI/AAAAAAAAAZo/OvHwUtMiD0k/s1600-h/africa+day+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204071723886343362" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiTqRfmdMI/AAAAAAAAAZo/OvHwUtMiD0k/s320/africa+day+004.jpg" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-1533006266394349457?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/05/africa-day-in-diaspora.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-7045785368705444231Sat, 24 May 2008 22:20:00 +00002011-10-30T16:13:09.363+13:00Rebuilding Sierra Leone CampaignAfrican BloggerBoutique MixBuzz and Press<div align="justify"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiJBxfmc-I/AAAAAAAAAX4/9-IT__0cjyQ/s1600-h/pam1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204060032985363426" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_sg2KGpSSJIs/SDiJBxfmc-I/AAAAAAAAAX4/9-IT__0cjyQ/s320/pam1.jpg" /></a>Hiya Fellow Fashionistas!!!!! I just completed an hour-long radio interview with Pamela Stitch of SARFM Radio in New York. Pamela is proudly African and is a complete supporter of African Arts and Music. Her love for African Music led her to work with Southern African Radio Station (www.sarfmradio.com) about 2.5 years ago, where she won best Radio Presenter for the Year 2006. <a href="http://community.africanloft.com/kickapps/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=177967&amp;as=4392">Check out Pamela's African Loft Page right here</a>.<br /><br />We discussed fashion, fashion, more fashion, social entrepreneurism, fair trade, community development, eco-friendly fashion, Kiva, philanthropy, and micro-financing. We also discussed <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix's</a> <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">Pledge Campaign</a> to rebuild Sierra Leone and impoverished Africa, one innocent child at a time. Thanks to Pamela and everyone at SARFM for all their fabulous support!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sarfmradio.com/sarfm_about.htm">SARFM</a>(otherwise Known as the Heartbeat of Africa in New York) is an internet based radio station that broadcasts 24 hours from New York City. It was started in April 2005 with the goal of providing radio programming similar to that found in their homeland to millions of Africans in the Diasporas. Chaka Ngwenya is a popular Radio personality from Africa and is the Founder and CEO of SARFM. After analyzing public information regarding radio programming in New York city as well as the influx of support from the African American, Caribbean and Spanish community [they] have restructured [their] programming to meet the needs of a broader demographic.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sarfmradio.com/sarfm_about.htm">Visit SARFM Right Here</a>!!<br /><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://icons.imeem.com/OyKJiv.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://pamelastitch.imeem.com/blogs/&amp;h=100&amp;w=100&amp;sz=4&amp;hl=en&amp;start=6&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=t5wFh28tZYe5sM:&amp;tbnh=82&amp;tbnw=82&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpamela%2Bstitch%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS254US255%26sa%3DN">Pamela's Picture Source</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-7045785368705444231?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/05/buzz-and-press-interview-with-pamela.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-1747150757937231792Sun, 04 May 2008 00:28:00 +00002011-10-30T18:04:10.098+13:00African WomenRebuilding Sierra Leone CampaignAfricarebuilding sierra leoneAfrican Blogger<div align="justify"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WltC8WevI/AAAAAAAAAs8/hFjw3PJbW8Q/s1600-h/a1.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144700342643358450" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WltC8WevI/AAAAAAAAAs8/hFjw3PJbW8Q/s200/a1.bmp" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a>As a proud African Woman, I am honored to write this tribute to African Women (and all women) all over the World. Hopefully you will join MiMi and <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> in the <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">Rebuilding Sierra Leone Campaign</a> to <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">rebuild Sierra Leone and impoverished Africa, one innocent child at a time</a>.<br /> <br /> <strong>Who is the African Woman?</strong> The African woman is the salt of Africa. As we move forward together in economic reform and development, we must recognize that African Women will play vital roles in rebuilding and reshaping whats left of the ashes. From entrepreneurial endeavors to leadership roles in government, African Women are at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frontline</span> of post-conflict revitalization. </div><br /> <div align="justify"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WmNS8WewI/AAAAAAAAAtE/MjVrZFQVcUs/s1600-h/a2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144700896694139650" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2WmNS8WewI/AAAAAAAAAtE/MjVrZFQVcUs/s200/a2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a> During the 2003 International Women's Day Celebration in New York, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kofi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Anan</span> noted that the important role of women in the family - "study after study has shown that there is no effective strategy in which women do not play a central role. When women are fully involved, the benefits can be seen immediately; families are healthier and better fed; their income, savings and reinvestment go up. And what is true of families is also true of communities and, in the long run, of whole countries...."</div><br /> <div align="justify">Nothing heals the wounds of wars. Nothing but HOPE (and I'm sure a lot of other things you can think of). It is imperative that we equip these women with skills to rebuild our lives. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kiva</span> is one of many organizations that aims to improve the lives of women around the world.<br /> <div align="justify"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Woai8WeyI/AAAAAAAAAtU/Th_U55E8TZM/s1600-h/a4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144703323350661922" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Woai8WeyI/AAAAAAAAAtU/Th_U55E8TZM/s200/a4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a>I'm not speaking of the sophisticated sassy African diva who has traveled the continent, written three books, speaks four languages and lives in a beautiful home on the French <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Rivera</span>. (I applaud her tenacity and hard work and hope to be her when I grow up...). I'm speaking of the rural African woman who works on the farm or sits at the market from dusk till dawn struggling to feed her family. Despite the brutalities of a difficult post-war <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">socio</span>-economic and political world she's up at the cackle of the rooster to work for her family. With one remaining limb (the other was hacked off during the war) and no one-figure jobs (let alone six-figures), she goes on and succeeds!!! What keeps the African Woman going is HOPE. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Hope that her children will be happy, healthy and fed. </div><br /> <div align="justify"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Wm7y8WexI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-RyS6GJfrd8/s1600-h/a3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144701695558056722" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2Wm7y8WexI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-RyS6GJfrd8/s200/a3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>No food. No clothing. No homes. This is not the African Dream. Wars keep the women from planting and harvesting. Wars destroy homes, hospitals, banks and schools. It's a vicious cycle of replanting, rebuilding, reshaping, reconstructing.......... and then more wars.......... then more rebuilding and all the others "re's." As we travel around the world, we learn more about others and so much more about ourselves. We learn especially that we are one in the world, no different from each other. Just diverse in our backgrounds and unequal in economic and social hierarchies. We all have the same dreams of a better life for us, for our children, for our families. For those of us African Children who live in the west, some of us have lost touch with the realities that afflict us.<br /> <br /> We are not different because we live in the West. We try to, but are not independent of the women and children that live on the Continent. We are just extensions of where we came from. Subsets of our own roots. Reducing Poverty is not limited to the ONE Campaign or Oprah. It is up to all of us!!! African women play an important role in rebuilding nations destroyed by war. We hope to encourage African women to know their strengths, to believe in themselves and to be financially secure as they struggle to rebuild a broken society.</div><br /> <div align="justify">Please join Boutique Mix in the <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.html">ongoing Rebuilding Sierra Leone Campaign</a>. I am excited to announce that MiMi and <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> are proud sponsors of entrepreneurs via the <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Kiva loan Program</a>. <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">Click here</a> to learn how you can register to <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lender/BoutiqueMix">sponsor entrepreneurs via Kiva</a>. </div><br /> <a href="http://www.print.duncans.tv/images/african-women.jpg"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 1</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/EUR/1155-15372~African-Life-I-Posters.jpg"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 2</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.thefineartcompany.co.uk/canvases/african-women-art.jpg"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 4</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--12179623/SP--A/IGID--1543911/Femme_Africaine_III.htm?sOrig=CAT&amp;sOrigID=7627&amp;ui=A0F82E9404AF4DC19783D120354AAC52"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 3</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10284134/SP--A/IGID--897818/Three_Yoruban_Women.htm?sOrig=CAT&amp;sOrigID=7627&amp;ui=A0F82E9404AF4DC19783D120354AAC52"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture 5</span></a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-1747150757937231792?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/05/my-mothers-day-tribute-to-african-woman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-5885289973136290414Sun, 04 May 2008 00:10:00 +00002011-10-30T17:17:37.140+13:00Sierra LeoneInternational Human Rights<div align="justify"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SB0BJN-6kPI/AAAAAAAAAhE/q44M0R2J7qM/s1600-h/Malaria_Victim.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196310802939416818" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SB0BJN-6kPI/AAAAAAAAAhE/q44M0R2J7qM/s200/Malaria_Victim.jpg" /></a>A few months ago I blogged about UNICEF's finding that Sierra Leone has the highest child mortality in the world. This is sad and heartbreaking, not only because the main cause of this is poverty, but one of the leading reasons - Malaria - is both preventable and treatable. Read the post on UNICEF's findings <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/01/sierra-leone-has-highest-child.html">right here</a>.<br /><br />The story below is excerpted from <a href="http://www.msf.ca/news/news-updates/2008/04/malaria-preventable-and-treatable-but-still-a-killer-in-sierra-leone/">Doctors Without Borders</a>.<br /><br />In Sierra Leone, malaria is rife. It is the biggest killer of children under five and causes a massive burden on families and the country’s barely functioning health system.<br /><br />Malaria is preventable, detectable and treatable. Rapid Diagnostic Tests make diagnosis simple and effective, even in hard to reach rural settings. Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT), a treatment that works in just three days, is supposedly available for free to under five year olds and pregnant women from the Ministry of Health. So why are so many people still dying from malaria in Sierra Leone?<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SB0Bst-6kQI/AAAAAAAAAhM/U08pc1gAp6E/s1600-h/malaria_600.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196311412824772866" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SB0Bst-6kQI/AAAAAAAAAhM/U08pc1gAp6E/s200/malaria_600.jpg" /></a><br />“People are very poor and even if the ACT treatment is given free to pregnant women and under five year olds in the Ministry of Health clinics, people still cannot afford the registration fees, the doctor’s consultation, the cost of other drugs that they might need, etc.” says Willemieke van den Broek, Head of Mission for MSF in Sierra Leone.<br /><br />“Another problem is that transport and roads are very bad and people often have to walk several miles to reach a rural health post or clinic. Some villages are completely cut off during the rainy season”. MSF is tackling this with a new community malaria programme, currently being piloted in Bo and Pujehun districts. Two people from each community are chosen to be Community Health Volunteers. They are trained by MSF in how to diagnose and treat uncomplicated cases of malaria, using Rapid Diagnostic Tests and ACT treatment.<br /><br />With the training and a community health kit, the volunteers are able to diagnose and treat uncomplicated malaria cases in children under five and pregnant women, the two groups most at risk.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SB0CWt-6kRI/AAAAAAAAAhU/A9z8E6LA1MQ/s1600-h/MalariaLifeCycle-1.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196312134379278610" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SB0CWt-6kRI/AAAAAAAAAhU/A9z8E6LA1MQ/s200/MalariaLifeCycle-1.gif" /></a><br />Read more at <a href="http://www.msf.ca/news/news-updates/2008/04/malaria-preventable-and-treatable-but-still-a-killer-in-sierra-leone/">Doctors Without Borders</a>.<br /><a href="http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS254US255&amp;q=malaria&amp;um=1&amp;sa=N&amp;tab=wi">Picture</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/world/africa/28malaria.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin">Picture</a><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.emro.who.int/RBM/Images/MalariaLifeCycle-1.gif&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.emro.who.int/RBM/AboutMalaria-QuickOverview.htm&amp;h=386&amp;w=487&amp;sz=21&amp;hl=en&amp;start=13&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=dtu9K-vdqZCIvM:&amp;tbnh=102&amp;tbnw=129&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmalaria%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS254US255%26sa%3DN">Malaria Life Cycle</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-5885289973136290414?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/05/malaria-still-one-of-biggest-killers-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-4828533518814039766Sat, 03 May 2008 23:46:00 +00002011-10-30T17:16:53.495+13:00Sierra LeoneInternational Human Rights<div align="justify"><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SBz7x9-6kOI/AAAAAAAAAg8/q2frfBcn_HI/s1600-h/charlestaylor460.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196304905949319394" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SBz7x9-6kOI/AAAAAAAAAg8/q2frfBcn_HI/s200/charlestaylor460.jpg" /></a>As millions suffered from all the ravages of war and everything that comes with it, notorious human rights extortionist and war crimes criminal -- charles taylor-- was hoarding enough cash to feed all of Africa.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5764843/Liberian-expresident-has-billions-in-US">Radio Netherlands</a> is reporting that Charles Taylor has been accused of hiding five billion dollars in two secret bank accounts in the United States. The allegation has been made by the chief prosecutor of the special Sierra Leone tribunal in an interview with the BBC. Mr Taylor, who is facing trial in The Hague on war crimes charges, is thought to have enriched himself by selling weapons to Sierra Leone in exchange for blood diamonds. Sierra Leone was the scene of a bloody civil war between 1991 and 2001.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SBz7RN-6kNI/AAAAAAAAAg0/yfr7mBIkEwc/s1600-h/ct.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196304343308603602" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SBz7RN-6kNI/AAAAAAAAAg0/yfr7mBIkEwc/s200/ct.bmp" /> <br /><p align="justify"></a><br />The prosecutor claims he has evidence proving that Mr Taylor has more secret banks outside the United States. Mr Taylor has denied any wrongdoing, vowing to return any uncovered money to the Liberian people. The United Nations have frozen all of Mr Taylor's possessions.<br /><br />What do you think should happen to all this cash?<br /><br />Story Source - <a href="http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5764843/Liberian-expresident-has-billions-in-US">Radio Netherlands</a><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&amp;q=charles%20taylor&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;sa=N&amp;tab=wi">Picture Source</a><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://image.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/03/14/charlestaylor460.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/14/liberia%3Fgusrc%3Drss%26feed%3Dworldnews&amp;h=276&amp;w=460&amp;sz=20&amp;hl=en&amp;start=50&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=f5WYwGYy4FtgPM:&amp;tbnh=77&amp;tbnw=128&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcharles%2Btaylor%26start%3D36%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN">Charles Taylor</a> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-4828533518814039766?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/05/charles-taylor-please-show-us-money.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-6688312420497124728Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:17:00 +00002011-10-30T17:18:36.645+13:00kenya<div align="justify">Excerpted from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/17/kenya.cabinet/index.html">CNN</a><br /><br />NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- Kenya swore in a new Cabinet on Thursday of more than 90 people, which one Kenyan official described as "a big burden on a poverty-stricken country."<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SAy_M9WZeyI/AAAAAAAAAgk/ZMrlkigLWiI/s1600-h/kenya.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191734699799182114" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/SAy_M9WZeyI/AAAAAAAAAgk/ZMrlkigLWiI/s200/kenya.jpg" /></a>The ceremony capped months of violence in which about 1,000 people died following last year's disputed elections. The Cabinet is split 50-50 between former bitter enemies from opposing parties. After a power-sharing compromise, opposition leader Raila Odinga was sworn in as prime minister, the first person to hold that office since Jomo Kenyatta held it briefly after independence in 1963. Mwai Kibaki remains president.<br /><br />Under a political agreement signed February 28, Cabinet positions were to be distributed equally, but the two sides disagreed on how they would be divided. Though the opposition called for a lean Cabinet, the final number, in an accord reached Saturday, is 40 ministers and 52 assistant ministers.<br /><br />The Cabinet has been roundly criticized by civil society groups for being too big and too expensive. "The Cabinet is extremely huge and a big burden on a poverty-stricken country to carry," Hassan Omar Hassan, a commissioner on Kenya's National Commission for Human Rights, told CNN. "Though there are those (who) surrendered to the fact that our nation was almost threatened with destruction and disintegration, then it might be a worthwhile price to pay."<br /><br />The new government includes several new ministries, including portfolios for industrialization, planning and Nairobi metropolitan development. Kibaki said there also will be a Ministry of Northern Kenya. Kenya's disputed December 27 election between Kibaki and Odinga sparked weeks of chaos. The incumbent Kibaki narrowly won amid allegations that the vote was rigged.<br /><br />The United Nations estimates that the violence killed about 1,000 people and drove another 300,000 from their homes.The U.S. State Department -- which had pushed both sides to reach an agreement -- praised the deal. "We commend the president and prime minister-designate for once again making the courageous decisions necessary to move the nation forward," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a written statement. "Formation of the cabinet is an important step along the road toward full implementation of the political accord." </div><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/17/kenya.cabinet/index.html">picture source</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-6688312420497124728?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/04/some-progress-in-kenyas-political-arena.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-1512071373330888368Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:53:00 +00002011-10-30T16:19:12.454+13:00Sierra LeoneRebuilding Africa<div align="justify">Check out <a href="http://www.africacelebratesu2.com/">Africa Celebrates U2</a> - featuring African Artists celebrating Bono's philanthropic efforts!!!!<br /><br /></div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/R_Pnk4JXv7I/AAAAAAAAAfk/8cCKq7Q39D0/s1600-h/61hEykYSPwL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184742216766570418" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/R_Pnk4JXv7I/AAAAAAAAAfk/8cCKq7Q39D0/s320/61hEykYSPwL._SS500_.jpg" /> <br /><p align="justify"></a>In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 features brand-new covers of classic U2 songs by Grammy Award-winning and up-and-coming African artists including Angelique Kidjo, Les Nubians, <strong>Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars</strong>, Vieux Farka Touré, Vusi Mahlasela and the Soweto Gospel Choir. The album was inspired by Bono's direct philanthropic impact via the launch of the ONE campaign and (RED), and his poignant outspoken public commentary on the immediate financial needs facing Africa. In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 is a revolutionary tribute to one of the world's best-loved bands. Deluxe packaging includes detailed info on the home countries of the artists, and info on nonprofit organizations that are making a difference. </p><br /><p align="justify"></p><br /><p align="justify"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-1512071373330888368?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/04/africa-celebrates-u2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-7053117276156540953Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:49:00 +00002011-10-30T18:25:41.512+13:00Sierra LeoneRebuilding Sierra Leone Campaignrebuilding sierra leoneAfrican BloggerBoutique Mix<div align="center"><strong>Boutique Mix's "Rebuilding Sierra Leone Campaign" </strong></div><div align="center"><br /> Cecilia J. - Box of pens and pencils<br /> Ibrahim Dabo - $12<br /> Ishmael Dabo - $12<br /> Renee Baker from <a href="http://reneebaker.blogspot.com/">Renee Baker Designs</a> - $30<br /> Stan - $2<br /> Anonymous (30 individuals) - $110, 8 packs of pens.<br /> Christophe Guibert de Bruet, Esq. - $12<br /> Joyce Koo, Esq. - $12<br /> Mary Brown, Esq. - $100<br /> Randolph Shingler, <a href="http://www.nmfn.com/randolphshingler">Northwestern Mutual Financial Advisor</a> - $100<br /> Miatta Dabo, Esq. - $250<br /> <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique Mix</a> - $2000<br /> Angela Holland, Esq. - $12<br /> Delia Patterson, Esq. - $12<br /> Bryon Wasserman, Esq. - $12<br /> Sarah Gans - $12<br /> Sherika Jones - $12<br /> Basil Henderson - $12<br /> Teresa Bernhardt- $12<br /> Chandran Iyler, Esq. - $12<br /> Ubes - $30<br /> Pastor Bai Sesay $20<br /> <a href="http://danielscounter.blogspot.com/">Daniel of Daniel's Counter</a><br /> Mountain Girl from <a href="http://mountaingirlrae.blogspot.com/">Mountaingirl's Musings</a><br /> Abbey from <a href="http://galeslifethoughts.blogspot.com/">Random Thoughtsof Life</a> - School Supplies, Clothing, Cards<br /> Jack Figura<br /> SDSue from <a href="http://sdsiouxslakotaconnections.blogspot.com/">sdsiouxlakotaconnections.blogspot.com</a><br /> <a href="http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/">Sierra Express Media Newspaper</a></div><br /> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19Y0Q-mo1I/AAAAAAAAAnU/ZpIXzJsCpS0/s1600-h/children6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142926954414383954" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19Y0Q-mo1I/AAAAAAAAAnU/ZpIXzJsCpS0/s320/children6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19Zcg-mo2I/AAAAAAAAAnc/Tg4W4KhXQc0/s1600-h/children5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142927645904118626" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19Zcg-mo2I/AAAAAAAAAnc/Tg4W4KhXQc0/s320/children5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /> We don't want the needs of the children to be lost in the "big" agenda. Let's face it, if we fix today and leave <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tomorrow</span> still broken, then there really is no future. The present government will not be around in 30 years - those kids, the ones who need our help right now, will be running <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sa</span></span></span> Lone in 30 years. Let us start now before its too late. We don't want history repeating itself. Let's take a look at where the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">children</span> have been over the last decade and in the following weeks, decide on how to move forward. <br /> <br /> <div align="center"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19amg-mo8I/AAAAAAAAAoM/qBngzw3Sg-w/s1600-h/children1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142928917214438338" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19amg-mo8I/AAAAAAAAAoM/qBngzw3Sg-w/s320/children1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19ajg-mo7I/AAAAAAAAAoE/SddHSTbdN9E/s1600-h/children2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142928865674830770" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19ajg-mo7I/AAAAAAAAAoE/SddHSTbdN9E/s320/children2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rebuilding Sierra Leone Pledge</span></strong></div><br /> Please note that there is no criticism of the government here. This is a task for all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sa</span></span></span> Lone folk. We can all do our little part to facilitate progress for the children. For those of us outside of the diaspora, sponsor a child, adopt a school and do a book drive, send pens or pencils, buy ten pairs of shoes and send for ten lucky boys or girls at a school of your choice (you can even go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">payless</span></span></span> for this). Ask each and every one of your friends and/or colleagues to donate one dollar (US) or one pound (UK) or one euro (Europe) a month for twelve months and at year-end, buy school supplies and/or clothing, and non-perishable goods and donate them to one or more lucky schools.<br /> <br /> Ask for 50 cents a month if a dollar is too much. Ask your friends to donate all their old clothes or shoes so that you can send it to a trusted individual or organization that can distribute it to those who truly need it. Pledge to make each coming year of change for rebuilding <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sa</span></span></span> Lone - one innocent child at at time. Just sending pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons or whatever you can afford for one child makes a difference!!! <br /> <div></div><br /> If you want to take the pledge, please let me know in the comments section below and update us on your monthly progress. We will support and encourage you all the way!!!! At the end of each year, I'll do a pledge post update. You don't need to send the cash to Sa. Leone. If you don't find a worthy school or organization to donate it too, then use the cash to buy books and other school supplies and send off to a worthy school in Sa Lone. Just check to make sure it goes to the intended recipient(s).<br /> <div></div><br /> You can do it!! Support the children. They need us now, more than ever. Education is vital to sustain continued economic and social reform anywhere in the world.<br /> <div></div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19bEg-mo9I/AAAAAAAAAoU/2elA2G1g14o/s1600-h/children7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142929432610513874" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19bEg-mo9I/AAAAAAAAAoU/2elA2G1g14o/s320/children7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19byQ-mo-I/AAAAAAAAAoc/iyCJQZZCU8I/s1600-h/rebels2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142930218589529058" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19byQ-mo-I/AAAAAAAAAoc/iyCJQZZCU8I/s320/rebels2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19b2g-mo_I/AAAAAAAAAok/KN0FPh80aBA/s1600-h/rebels.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142930291603973106" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19b2g-mo_I/AAAAAAAAAok/KN0FPh80aBA/s320/rebels.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /> We don't want that. We don't need that. They don't deserve that!!! Give them hope!! Give them dreams!! Give them inspiration!!! Give them ambition!!! Empower them to become leaders of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">tomorrow</span>.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19ctg-mpAI/AAAAAAAAAos/l2FDoQcBGo8/s1600-h/children4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142931236496778242" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19ctg-mpAI/AAAAAAAAAos/l2FDoQcBGo8/s320/children4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>As a proud graduate of an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">HBCU</span></span></span>, I can proudly tell you that "A Mind is a Terrible thing to Waste." When our children are not in school, the rebels will find something for them to do. You have seen pictures of our kids carrying guys. Our kids being trained to become child soldiers. Our kids being taught how to steal, rape and kill. A picture speaks a thousand words. </a>It is wonderful that one of the main priorities of our new government is to tackle the pervasive corruption that has damaged <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sa</span></span></span> Lone. I applaud this priority and know that it will increase accountability of civil servants to the people. We must not, however, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">forget</span> to implement changes in agencies responsible for instituting reform for the children. We can fight corruption all we want, but if we don't take care of the children, repair the extensive damage done to them, and provide a safe environment for them to heal, we will merely be "chasing our tails." The children are the leaders of the future. We must ensure that when the time comes they are able to be leaders that can carry our great nation into the future. We need to promote education and health reform for our children. These are not privileges - they are rights. Voting is a privilege. Education, food, health, safety and shelter are Rights!!!!!!<br /> <br /> Let us do what we can to prevent rebels from hacking off the limbs of innocent babies!!! Be the voice of these innocent children. Help educate them. Help feed them. Help Clothe them. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19c6A-mpBI/AAAAAAAAAo0/erCVwEGUD4Y/s1600-h/children3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142931451245143058" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R19c6A-mpBI/AAAAAAAAAo0/erCVwEGUD4Y/s400/children3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /> <strong>HOW THE PLEDGE PROCESS WORKS</strong> - The Campaign started on 1/1/2008 and will continue for as long as you'd like to participate<br /> <div></div><br /> 1. Please leave a comment in the comments section of this post indicating that you will participate in the Pledge Campaign. <br /> <div></div><br /> 2. When you successfully get new pledge members or your campaign team, please send an update via email to me or the comments section so that we can all celebrate your success. <strong>PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME YOUR MONEY!!!!</strong> You are accountable to your pledgees to PLEASE either use the money to buy books and/or school supplies to send to a desserving school or children's organization in Sierra Leone. Contact me at <a href="mailto:boutique-mix@hotmail.com">boutique-mix@hotmail.com</a> for any assistance you need or before you start your campaign. <br /> <div></div><br /> 3. It is up to you to inform of us of your monthly pledge amounts or any campaign updates.<br /> <br /> 4. It is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ok</span> if some people just want to donate school supplies, clothes, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">book bags</span> or shoes. You may keep all the supplies until the end of your campaign and send as a lump shipment or send as you collect. Choose your method.<br /> <br /> 5. We are operating under the honor system. I expect that you will collect and honestly account for all the donations/contributions you collect. If you find that this honor system does not work for you, please, please either buy school supplies immediately so that you don't have idle cash lying around or send the $$ to the deserving school/organization. Remember you are accountable to your team.<br /> <br /> 6. Please check in via the comments section or email me periodically so that we can all keep track of our progress.<br /> <br /> 7. On my end, I'm working to either take my campaign supplies to Sierra Leone and distribute myself or find a worthy school organization through which I can distribute the supplies.<br /> <br /> 8. This campaign is sponsored by <a href="http://www.boutiquemix.com/">Boutique MIX</a>.<br /> <br /> 9. I am always eager to hear your comments via this blog or at my email address at <a href="mailto:boutique-mix@hotmail.com">boutique-mix@hotmail.com</a>.<br /> <br /> 10. My biggest thanks and gratitude go to <a href="http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/">Sierra Express Media</a> in Sierra Leone for posting this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sa</span> Lone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pikin</span> blog on their website in an effort to raise awareness about the campaign. Thanks to "borborh" for supporting this message!!!<br /> <br /> 11. My deepest gratitude to everyone for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">participating</span> and/or spreading the word.<br /> <br /> 12. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.<br /> <div></div><br /> 13. Please make a note of the names of all contributors so that we may list their names on the blog (if they have no objection) throughout the campaign.<br /> <div></div><br /> We hope to keep the passion and momentum going each year. Thanks for all your help and support!! You Rock!!!<br /> <div></div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2FBJQ-mpII/AAAAAAAAAps/ZRuaz2gk1SA/s1600-h/thank_you_note.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143463876865991810" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R2FBJQ-mpII/AAAAAAAAAps/ZRuaz2gk1SA/s400/thank_you_note.bmp" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/_2N6c3Hqq-GI/RmRf_kf8ulI/AAAAAAAAACI/wZC4nvdr1vQ/s800/schoolkids.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-SvTaOkRR5wC3ophyCmlCw&amp;h=480&amp;w=640&amp;sz=98&amp;hl=en&amp;start=1&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=GEFo68WhxmRyfM:&amp;tbnh=103&amp;tbnw=137&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsierra%2Bloene%2Bchildren%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN">children 1</a> <a href="http://www.cotni.org/uploads/images/general/59-full.jpg">children 2</a> <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mylearningspace.net.au/file.php/34/Figure-14.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.mylearningspace.net.au/mod/resource/view.php%3Fid%3D772&amp;h=355&amp;w=527&amp;sz=28&amp;hl=en&amp;start=18&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=cdy_XJODImx-bM:&amp;tbnh=89&amp;tbnw=132&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsierra%2Bloene%2Bchildren%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN">children 3</a> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/africa_sierra_leone0s_civil_war/img/5.jpg">children 4</a> <a href="http://www.ipb.org/images/Vs%20Guns.jpg">children 5</a> <a href="http://www.brighterafrica.org/images/Sierra%20Leone%20027.jpg">children 6</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/images/119_wag_climate/3113920_schoolchildren_sierra_leone_555.jpg">children 7</a> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/africa_sierra_leone0s_civil_war/img/1.jpg">children 8</a> <a href="http://www.britishcouncil.org/global-common-330x220-snapshots-4-00622-primary-school-with-new-text-books-sierra-leone.jpg">children 9</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.wpclipart.com/blanks/thank_you_note.png">Thank you!!</a></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-7053117276156540953?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/03/2008-pledge-update-we-are-on-our-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-8359666411683945492Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:29:00 +00002011-10-30T16:53:22.372+13:00kenyaRebuilding Africa<div align="justify">Finally, Progress. Baby steps, but steps, nonetheless - in the right direction.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga met Thursday for the first time since last month's bitterly disputed election, under the auspices of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5k7zKnBcjI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/KHTf4LTdHCE/s1600-h/kenyafinally.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159220598337008178" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5k7zKnBcjI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/KHTf4LTdHCE/s320/kenyafinally.jpg" /></a><br />"Today, we have taken the first vital steps in resolving the electoral dispute and conflict that has ravaged this country for nearly a month now," said Odinga, who shook hands with Kibaki following Thursday's meeting. Government officials told CNN they are not willing to negotiate the legitimacy of Kibaki's presidency -- which is at the center of the electoral dispute -- and said that the opposition must take up that issue with Kenya's courts.<br /><br />That position was reiterated by Kibaki's brief statement following his meeting with Odinga: "After being sworn in as your duly elected president of Kenya, I will personally lead our country in promoting unity, tolerance, peace, and harmony among Kenyans." The one-hour meeting was intended to "break the ice," Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula had said earlier. The three men were alone in the room, without any aides, in an effort "to show we support genuine dialogue," Wetangula said.<br /><br />Annan arrived in Kenya on Tuesday to help resolve the dispute that has resulted in widespread ethnic violence, although some say tensions had been simmering long before the December 27 vote. More than 500 people have been killed in the violence that followed the election in which Kibaki kept his post. Odinga, the Orange Democratic Movement candidate for president, and his supporters claim the election was rigged, and international observers noted some irregularities in the voting.<br /><br />After the vote, supporters of Kibaki, a member of the Kikuyu tribe, battled with supporters of Odinga, a member of the Luo tribe, in bloody street fights that often involved machetes. </div><br /><br />Story &amp; Picture Source - <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/24/kenya.kofi/index.html">cnn.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-8359666411683945492?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/01/hope-for-peace-in-kenya.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sassy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-2535844881695722196Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:55:00 +00002011-10-30T15:21:52.229+13:00Sierra LeoneRebuilding Sierra Leone Campaignrebuilding sierra leone<div align="justify">In a good way - Happy Tears!!! I just opened two boxes of clothes, story books and school supplies received from <a href="http://galeslifethoughts.blogspot.com/">Abbey and Gabrielle</a> (all the way from Australia) and Gabrielle included a beautiful card (handmade by 8th grader Gabrielle) addressed to me and one addressed to the kids.<br /><br />I will not open the one addressed to the kids, but mine definitely made me cry - tears of joy and appreciation for wonderful people like you who have joined me (a stranger in blogosphere) on this wonderful journey to change the lives of innocent children they may never meet. Gabrielle states in pertinent part, "i know how important education is so i hope all this helps." IT does Gabrielle. All of it helps!!!! Thanks so much for being an angel to these kids!!!! And Abbey, love and light, right back at ya!!!<br /><br /></div><br /><p><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/R5e6HFvEjzI/AAAAAAAAAUU/ioqv8MKj_Zs/s1600-h/gabriella.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158796529137651506" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/R5e6HFvEjzI/AAAAAAAAAUU/ioqv8MKj_Zs/s200/gabriella.jpg" /></a><br />I have to say, this has made my day. And for all of you who have donated cash and school supplies, I"m touched and thankful to EVERYONE!!! Stay tuned for an update</p><br /><p><a href="http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;rls=GGLD,GGLD:2003-33,GGLD:en&amp;q=child+angel&amp;um=1&amp;sa=N&amp;tab=wi">picturesource</a> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-2535844881695722196?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/01/2008-pledge-update-gabrielle-made-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-6728568552444241045Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:54:00 +00002011-10-30T15:20:10.600+13:00Sierra Leonerebuilding sierra leoneCelebrities for Africa<div align="justify">A <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/22/child.deaths.ap/index.html">UNICEF</a> report out today drives home the purpose, significance and importance of the Sa Lone Pikin 2008 Pledge Campaign. PLEASE Click <a href="http://rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-pledge-update_13.html">RIGHT HERE</a> to learn how you too can participate in this Campaign.<br /><br />GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) -- A newborn in Sierra Leone has the lowest chance in the world of surviving until age 5, and the prospects are almost as bad for children in Angola and Afghanistan, according to a U.N. report released Tuesday. In 2006, nearly 9.7 million children died worldwide before their fifth birthdays, mostly from preventable causes such as diarrhea, malaria or malnutrition, the U.N. Children's Fund said in its annual report.<br /><br />More than 26,000 children under 5 die each day on average. But progress has been made in a number of regions and strengthening local health services holds great promise for reducing the child mortality rate, said the document, "The State of the World's Children 2008."<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/R5YjRJ9xhJI/AAAAAAAAAUM/gVP0UcEf7Xs/s1600-h/childme.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158349200839246994" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UErfsd4i4Jw/R5YjRJ9xhJI/AAAAAAAAAUM/gVP0UcEf7Xs/s200/childme.jpg" /></a><br />In 2006, the latest year for which statistics were available, Sierra Leone had the highest child mortality rate, with 270 deaths per 1,000 births. Angola was second with 260 deaths, followed by Afghanistan with 257. The rate worldwide in 2006, in contrast, was 72 deaths per 1,000 births. The average rate in industrialized countries was six deaths per 1,000 births. "The loss of 9.7 million young lives each year is unacceptable, especially when many of these deaths are preventable," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman.<br /><br />Sub-Saharan Africa, where the rate has dropped only 14 percent since 1990, is the region of greatest concern, the report said. It is home to 28 of the 30 countries with the highest child mortality rates. Simple health care measures, such as vaccinations, insecticide-treated bed nets and vitamin supplements, would prevent many of the deaths, the report said.<br /><br />"We know exactly what works," said Angela Hawke of UNICEF, referring to strategies the agency has been promoting for some time. "But we need to make sure that these kinds of services are integrated at the most local level, in the villages where children live," she said, adding that governments and health experts should design the best solutions for each community.<br /><br />"We want to make sure that there are local health services that really work with properly staffed health centers ... and there's a proper national health plan," Hawke told The Associated Press. Sierra Leone, where a civil war raged from 1991 to 2002, is unable to offer sufficient health services to its citizens, like many war-torn countries such as Angola and Afghanistan, the report said.<br /><br />Although the under-5 mortality rate has been reduced by 23 percent since 1990, progress must be sped up to reach a U.N. goal of decreasing the 1990 rate by two-thirds before 2015. The current rate must still be halved to meet the target, the report said. Considerable progress has been made in a number of regions. In East Asia and the Pacific, central and eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, child mortality has been cut roughly in half since 1990, to below 30 deaths per 1,000 births, the report said.<br /><br />Nearly one-third of the 50 least developed countries, including the Maldives, East Timor, Nepal and Malawi, have reduced child mortality rates by at least 40 percent since 1990. In Mexico, a program aimed at engaging the poorest families provides financial rewards to parents who bring their children regularly to health clinics. The child mortality rate there has been reduced by 34 percent since 1990.<br /><br />Sub-Saharan Africa, too, has its bright spots. Mozambique, for example, has seen a 41 percent drop in child mortality after the government and aid agencies trained community educators to teach the country's rural population about cheap health practices, such as breast-feeding, oral rehydration therapy and mosquito nets. The report mainly relied on data drawn from studies by the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the U.N. Population Division.<br /><br />And one of my favorite men is <a href="http://www.who.com/who/scoop/article/0,19971,1705907,00.html?cid=feed-news">visiting Sa Lone today</a>, to bring awareness to this very issue!!! Go David!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5ZPSXjPwkI/AAAAAAAAA8I/R9hIW7mWWfo/s1600-h/davidinsalone.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158397600177570370" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5ZPSXjPwkI/AAAAAAAAA8I/R9hIW7mWWfo/s320/davidinsalone.jpg" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5ZySnjPwlI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/ydWnypD_bEU/s1600-h/davidinsierraleone.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158436087379509842" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5ZySnjPwlI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/ydWnypD_bEU/s320/davidinsierraleone.jpg" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5ktRKnBchI/AAAAAAAAA9I/lygtvvEMeMY/s1600-h/david-beckham-sierra-leone.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159204621058667026" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5ktRKnBchI/AAAAAAAAA9I/lygtvvEMeMY/s320/david-beckham-sierra-leone.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here's what David had to say ---<br /><br />"We can't turn a blind eye to the tens of thousands of young children who die every day in the developing world mostly from causes that are preventable. In Sierra Leone, one in four children dies before reaching their fifth birthday. It's shocking and tragic, especially when the solutions are simple - things like vaccinations against measles or using a mosquito net to reduce the chance of getting malaria. Saving these children's lives is a top priority for UNICEF and as an ambassador I hope I can help to draw attention to this issue across the world. Surely there is no reward more precious than saving the life of a child? Their futures remain in our hands."<br /><br />Learn more about <a href="http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/hot_pics_gallery?o=2">USMagazinePhotoofDavidBeckham</a><br /><a href="http://sandrarose.com/2008/01/22/photos-of-the-day-becks-in-sierra-leone/">cutephotoofdb</a><br /><a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/01/24/david-beckham-sierra-leone/">JustJaredphoto</a><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Story excerpted from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/22/child.deaths.ap/index.html">CNN</a>.<br /><br /><br /><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-6728568552444241045?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/01/sierra-leone-has-highest-child.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363650276150753697.post-251196770376156274Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:09:00 +00002011-10-30T16:17:44.544+13:00Rebuilding Africa<div align="justify">Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream. What is your dream? Are you living his dream? Or your dream? Or are you engulfed in a nightmare? As you read the words in his speech, ask yourself what you are doing to embrace Martin's legacy?<br /><br />What contributions are you making to your family, your friends, your community, your country? What are you doing with the freedom that your civil rights leaders fought so hard to attain? Or maybe you're not yet free???? I'm sure that we all have differing opinions on what this speech means to us, but we can all agree that we owe Martin Luther King, Jr. the duty to live his legacy!!!!<br /><br />As we read this speech, we must remember that this is not a "dream," but a call to action. A call to action in a dignified, peaceful, articulate and eloquent way. A directive to live full, rich lives, grateful for the sacrifices others made so we can be where we are today, have what we have today, work where we work today, eat where we work today, read, write and ride public transportion (and sit whereever we want).<br /><br />We now have a duty to honor this legacy by doing what we can to change lives - educating our children, working for peace, providing financial resources to women around the world who need help starting out, working for social and economic reform, working for peace so that others can have the basic dream of food, shelter, clothing, clean water and the right to vote. We don't have to make a speech at the Lincoln Memorial to make a difference or carry on the legacy - Charity begins at Home!!!! I thank all of you who have taken the pledge to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. You are carrying on the legacy!!!!<br /><br />What will you do to carry on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream in 2008? You too, have a dream that [insert your dream/directive/legacy].<br /><br />Below is an <a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm">excerpt</a> of one of the most powerful speeches in the history of the United States.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5P-sXjPwfI/AAAAAAAAA7g/uPNnJjWmkU8/s1600-h/dream1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157746036458897906" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5P-sXjPwfI/AAAAAAAAA7g/uPNnJjWmkU8/s320/dream1.jpg" /></a><br />But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.<br /><br />The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.<br /><br />We cannot walk alone.<br /><br />And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.<br /><br />We cannot turn back.<br /><br />There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. *We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only."* We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."<br /><br />I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.<br /><br />Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.<br /><br />And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.<br /><br />I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."<br /><br />I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.<br /><br />I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.<br /><br />I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.<br /><br />I have a dream today!<br /><br />I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.<br /><br />I have a dream today!<br /><br />I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²<br /><br />This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.<br /><br />With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.<br /><br />And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:<br /><br />My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.<br /><br />Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,<br /><br />From every mountainside, let freedom ring!<br /><br />And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.<br /><br />And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.<br /><br />Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.<br /><br />Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of<br />Pennsylvania.<br /><br />Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.<br /><br />Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.<br /><br />But not only that:<br /><br />Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.<br /><br />Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.<br /><br />Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.<br /><br />From every mountainside, let freedom ring.<br /><br />And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:<br /><br />Free at last! Free at last!<br /><br />Thank God Almighty, we are free at last </div><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5P-sXjPwfI/AAAAAAAAA7g/uPNnJjWmkU8/s1600-h/dream1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157746036458897906" border="0" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3L7penww_eY/R5P-sXjPwfI/AAAAAAAAA7g/uPNnJjWmkU8/s320/dream1.jpg" /></a> Excerpted from <a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm">Americanrhetoric.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm">Picture Source</a><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS254US255&amp;q=i+have+a+dream+speech&amp;um=1&amp;sa=N&amp;tab=wi">Picture Source</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8363650276150753697-251196770376156274?l=www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com' alt='' /></div>http://www.rebuildingsierraleoneonechildatatime.com/2008/01/martin-luther-king-jrs-dream-how-do-we_21.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (KreativeMix)1