Empathy

Help Myanmar

2008-05-17T10:09:00.001-04:00

10 Things the Wealthy Should Leave Their Kids — Besides Money

2008-05-13T09:15:00.001-04:00

Peter White, who has plied his trade at his own firm, as well as at Citi Private Bank and U.S. Trust, has created a list of 10 things parents should provide for their children.

When it comes to understanding wealthy families, Peter White is among the wisest. He’s spent more than 20 years counseling wealthy parents and privileged children about how to better understand the adverse effects of wealth and to search for more meaningful lives.

He calls this list "The 10 Elements of Care."

THE 10 ELEMENTS OF CARE by Peter White

1. Necessaries — food, clothing, shelter, medical attention, basic education.

2. Affection — This involves "the great big person who takes care of me opening him or herself to me, making him or herself vulnerable and human in a way, connecting with me physically and in spirit, and thus affirms my significance as a person."

3. Affirmation and Support — This is basically about expressing sincere belief in the child: "You want to be a cheerleader – or a doctor or an astronaut – and you can do it!"

4. Boundaries — Peter says that "we are living in an age where the lack of boundaries for children is epidemic. Boundaries, of course, reflect a closing value – that certain, reasonably well-defined behaviors are unacceptable, and that when these behaviors occur, unpleasant consequences will result."

5. Guidance — "Telling and showing children how to cope, how to deal, how to create, how to succeed. Guidance involves how-to techniques such as how to do the dishes or drive a car but at essence guidance is about beliefs — belief in the sense of action motivated and circumscribed by values held by the parents. In the wealth context, guidance on budgeting is essential, and guidance on philanthropy, which may come from participating in family philanthropy together as a group, are good examples. Parents of wealthy kids are worried about passing their values to their children, but they needn’t worry about that if they are present to them, in quality and non-quality times."

6. Respect — "This is really about listening. It is respectful to listen seriously to what the other person is saying seriously and to empathize with what the other is feeling genuinely."

7. Trust — This means "relying on the other to act responsibly," and to allow someone the opportunity to do the wrong thing.

8. Forgiveness — This is not about the glib "I forgive you." "Forgiveness does not erase the hurt; by definition, it feels the hurt but decides to carry on the relationship despite the hurt."

9. Religion or Spirituality — "My experience over the last 20 years tells me that children raised in an environment of religion tend to be more in touch with themselves than those who are not. When I use the word religion, I am not referring only to the organized religions — though I am not excluding them either — but I am speaking about an aspiration to higher and enduring truth."

10. Letting Go — This is the most difficult and along with Necessaries and Affection, the most important. We must say to our kids, ‘I’ve done the lion’s share of the motherly or fatherly work, and I’m here and will be here for you as long as I can be; but the responsibility for you is now yours.’ ”

"So many entrepreneurs don’t like what they see when their kids turn 21 and now they’ve got time to fix it; but, generally speaking, they shouldn’t fix it," he says. "This is love: resisting the temptation to take care of people who should be taking care of themselves."

Tags: Wealth, Children, Kids, Top 10 List,

Cyclone Nargis

2008-05-06T09:41:00.000-04:00

UNICEF is undertaking urgent preliminary assessments of the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, which struck southeast Myanmar on Saturday, killing thousands and injuring tens of thousands.

UNICEF has dispatched five assessment teams to three of the affected areas and life-saving supplies are being moved into position.

UNICEF will work to provide access to clean water, safe sanitation and improved hygiene, and will seek to protect children and assist them in returning to school as soon as possible.

Preliminary reports suggest that thousands of people have been killed and thousands more are missing. Electrical lines are down, affecting delivery of services and aid, blocking roads and access to rescue vehicles.

Tags: Myanmar, UNICEF, Children, Cyclone Nargis,

Advocate for UNICEF

2008-04-28T10:47:00.002-04:00

Building on the momentum of the Tap Project during World Water Week, and National Volunteer Week, UNICEF is launching 'Unite for Child Survival: Advocacy Week,' today through May 2, 2008.

Beginning today, UNICEF will be asking volunteers and supporters to become acquainted with three very important issues and asking us to take action every day during the week.

The importance and power of Advocacy - In 2007, UNICEF supporters contacted their legislators at least 10,000 times on important issues. This year, they are counting on us to help continue to make an impact on our national representatives.

This week’s activities: Take a different action every day! And no matter when you take the first action, you can continue throughout the week!

Day 1
Learn about advocating for UNICEF

Day 2
Read about the three issues that UNICEF asks us to take action on:

-The U.S. Government's Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
-The Global Security and Priorities Resolution
-The International Violence Against Women Act

Day 3
Click 3 times - send 3 letters. It’s that easy! Login to UNICEF'S Online Volunteer Center to let your Members of Congress know where you stand on the issues.

Day 4
Continue the conversation! Use their discussion questions and speaking points to let your friends and family know about the issues impacting UNICEF and how they can take action this week and beyond.

Day 5
Beyond this week—staying up to date. In addition to checking UNICEF'S website and blog regularly, pick up one of the books on their Suggested Reading List to learn more and support UNICEF.

Make your voice count.

Tags: UNICEF, Advocacy,

Violence and Education in Iraq

2008-04-22T09:43:00.002-04:00

Families in Basra and Baghdad’s Sadr City have been plunged into one of the most violent episodes in Iraq’s recent history.

As Iraq’s security forces continue to fight against militia groups, widespread clashes and curfews kept families trapped indoors and led to shortages of water, food and medical supplies.

While life is slowly returning to normal in Basra, fighting is ongoing in Sadr City. Life for children there has become harder and more frightening.

Addressing shortages of water and medical supplies in Sadr City are immediate humanitarian priorities.

Education is also under threat. Most of the city’s primary and secondary schools are closed. More than 20 schools have been reported damaged in the violence, with unconfirmed numbers of students and teachers killed.

UNICEF is calling for schools to be protected as a priority.

According to reports from people on the ground, some empty schools are hosting families who have been displaced. Still others may be in use by military forces.

"Schools are a haven for children in times of conflict," said UNICEF Iraq Chief of Education Mette Nordstrand. "They are protected under international law as zones of peace. No matter what the circumstances, the only proper use for an Iraqi school is to educate and protect Iraqi children."

Tags: Iraq, Schools, Children, Education, UNICEF,

Sex Trafficking Legislation

2008-04-17T11:24:00.002-04:00

Southern Baptist ethics leader Richard Land is part of a diverse coalition calling on United States senators to pass improved legislation to combat human trafficking.

Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is one of 150 people who signed onto a letter by the National Black Leadership Roundtable urging senators to support legislation already passed by the House of Representatives.

The House approved the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act, H.R. 3887, in December with a 405-2 vote.

The bill’s adoption "will allow the United States to combat modern-day slavery with an effectiveness comparable to 19th century efforts to end the chattel enslavement of Africans," the letter to members of the Senate Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees said.

About 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year, according to the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office. This does not include millions of victims who are trafficked within their own national borders, the office says. About 80 percent of the transnational victims are females, and as much as 50 percent are minors. The data show the majority of those trafficked across international borders are victims of sexual exploitation.

The TIP Office has estimated as many as 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year.

In addition to Richard Land, the ERLC’s vice president for public policy and research, Barrett Duke, signed the letter.

Other signers included Gary Bauer, president of American Values; Janice Shaw Crouse of Concerned Women for America; Gloria Steinem; Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women; Walter Fauntroy, president of the National Black Leadership Roundtable; Tony Campolo, professor emeritus at Eastern University; Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners; Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action; Rich Cizik, vice president of governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals; Sammy Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; John Miller, former director of the TIP Office; Patrick Trueman, former chief of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section; David Gushee, ethics professor at Mercer University; and actresses Anne Archer and Alyssa Milano.

The letter acknowledges that the signers differ on many issues, but are united to end the abuses of trafficking.

The House-approved bill, which reauthorizes and amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act passed in 2000, would make the following improvements, according to the letter:

• It would make sure the law regards proof of fraud, force, or coercion, and the use of minors by sex traffickers, as the bases not for conviction but for heightened punishment.

• It would connect domestic with international trafficking in order to combat both more actively.

• It would empower the TIP Office to influence other governments to act more aggressively against trafficking.

Tags: Sex Trafficking, Congress, Richard Land, Advocacy,

Women Thrive Worldwide

2008-04-14T10:07:00.001-04:00

I would like to bring your attention to an organization - Women Thrive Worldwide.

Women Thrive Worldwide is a leading non-profit organization helping to shape U.S. Policy to give women in developing countries a chance to lift themselves out of poverty.

Women Thrive - develops, shapes, and advocates for policies that foster economic opportunity for women living in poverty. They focus on making U.S. international assistance and trade programs prioritize women. They bring together over 50 organizations and 25,000 individuals united in the belief that women are the key to ending global poverty.

They believe that empowering women is not only right, it’s also the most effective long-term solution to world poverty.

Research shows that worldwide, women are at the greatest risk of being poor and that women in poor countries are more likely to use their income for food, healthcare and education for their children, helping to lift entire communities out of poverty. Yet, Ironically - in many developting countries women face unequal social and economic barriers that prevent them from earning a living and supporting their families.

Please visit Women Thrive Worldwide, and Take Action

Tags: Women, Poverty, Non-Profit, Policy, Advocacy, Global Poverty,

Hope for mothers everywhere

2008-04-08T10:12:00.001-04:00

After the birth of her daughter last year, award-winning actress and producer Salma Hayek is grateful for her daughter's health and wants other moms around the world to be able to share in the basic medical advances that most of us take for granted.

To help mothers across the globe, she is teaming up with Pampers and UNICEF to help stop the spread of life-threatening maternal and neonatal tetanus in developing nations worldwide.

Pampers, a leader in baby care for almost 40 years, has announced that world-renowned Hayek will serve as the North American ambassador for its "One Pack = One Vaccine" global initiative with UNICEF.

From April 1 through June 30, 2008, for every specially marked pack of Pampers product purchased in the U.S. and Canada, Pampers will provide UNICEF with funding for one life-saving tetanus vaccine for a mother in need worldwide. Salma Hayek will serve as the spokesperson for the Pampers/UNICEF partnership in the U.S. and Canada to help raise awareness of this program.

"In our own small way, this is an opportunity for moms like me here in North America to help other mothers on a global level," said Hayek. "I'm honored to work with Pampers and UNICEF to help raise awareness of this important program."

"Childhood immunization is routine in the United States, but each year 140,000 infants and 30,000 women in developing countries die from tetanus -- a life threatening, but preventable disease which can be contracted during childbirth," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

"While significant progress has been made -- last year Egypt and Zambia marked the elimination of tetanus -- the disease is still a threat to women and children in more than 45 countries. I applaud Salma and Pampers for joining UNICEF in the fight against tetanus and helping us to move closer to our goal of completely eliminating the disease."

Tags: Salma Hayek, Pampers, UNICEF, Tetanus, Awareness,

Unite for Children, Kiemde's Story

2008-04-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

Today, the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign will launch its second report on efforts to protect young people from HIV and AIDS.

Approximately 120,000 children in Burkina Faso have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. Among them, is Kiemde, 12, he lost his father two years ago to AIDS. He now teaches his classmates and friends how to protect themselves against the virus.

"I believe we young people need to be sufficiently informed about HIV/AIDS to better know how to avoid it," said Kiemde.

For the past year, Kiemde has led a peer-education program to combat AIDS in Bissighin. The club is sponsored by the African Youth Network Against AIDS, the youth arm of a UNICEF-supported non-governmental organization. In the past seven years, the national network has grown to nearly 2,000 youth clubs.

With a population of just under 15 million, Burkina Faso has seen a heavy toll from HIV and AIDS among young people, who constitute around 55 per cent of the country. Approximately 17,000 children aged 14 and under are living with HIV.

Consisting mainly of students, the club has also kept the door open to children unable to attend school. Encouraging children to participate in club activities was not always easy for Kiemde.

"At first, many of my classmates were reluctant to join the club, pretending HIV/AIDS is adult’s business. Now that they can perceive some of the benefits we get from our discussions, they understand this is their business, too," Kiemde said.

Discussions with club members are based on young people’s existing knowledge and misconceptions about HIV. Club members report what they hear people on the streets saying about the virus, then young leaders like Kiemde clarify whether the information is correct.

Kiemde considers himself lucky. His mother is still alive and healthy, and his confidence as a peer educator has grown tremendously over the past couple months – buoyed by his desire to safeguard Burkina Faso’s future generations.

"The earlier children are informed about HIV/AIDS, the better they will be saved from the damages of the disease," Kiemde said. "There is a future awaiting us.”

Tags: AIDS, HIV, Kiemde, UNICEF, Unite for Children,

Queen Rania on YOUTUBE

2008-03-31T09:48:00.003-04:00

Queen Rania, has 'officially' joined YouTube.

You can visit her YouTube Page here - http://youtube.com/QueenRania

Tags: Queen Rania, YouTube, Jordan, Video,

Beacon Of Hope

2008-03-26T10:30:00.003-04:00

As 6 million children attended the first day of school this week, including 800,000 children who are now enrolled for the first time in their lives. Afghanistan continues to be a beacon of hope in the field of education.

Communities in war-torn Afghanistan have been working to overcome violence and other obstacles which can hinder children from attending school. Despite the often difficult environment, student enrollment in the country continues to rise.

"I salute the courage of the communities who are standing up to violence," said UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Catherine Mbengue, during an opening day ceremony at the Hawa School in the northern town of Puli Khumri. "Communities recognize the value of learning and that is underlined by the millions of children who are returning to school or will start school for the first time today."

At the Hawa school, Ms. Mbengue was joined by Counsellor and Head of Office for the Swedish Embassy in Afghanistan Ann Marie Fallenius. The ceremony emphasized a long-standing partnership and commitment to education.

"We are thrilled to have this partnership with UNICEF in support of education in Afghanistan," said Ms. Fallenius.

Tags: UNICEF, Afghanistan, Children, Education,

Eternal Beauty

2008-03-24T09:45:00.004-04:00

Mother’s Day is celebrated in Jordan on March 21, and to celebrate this special day, Queen Rania of Jordan met with 40 young students gathered at the Children’s Museum of Jordan.

While there Rania, Narrated her own story, and helped the children design and decorate cards for their own mothers.

The children gathered closely around the Queen to hear her narrate Eternal Beauty, Rania’s second children’s book, which she wrote especially for this occasion. As she held up the bright pages illustrating the colorful characters, children greeted them with wide eyed anticipation.

The story tells of a young girl’s conversation with a little sheep as she searches for the most beautiful thing in the world. The young girl soon discovers that the most beautiful thing is a mother’s love for her children – an eternal love that surpasses everything else.

"It was fun hearing these stories," said one of the children, "It reminded me of my mother and how happy she is to see me when I come home from school… I wish I had a talking sheep, too!"

After reading her story, Rania joined Amman Mayor Omar Ma’ani in announcing the municipality’s newest contest – Mama’s Story. A joint effort between the Greater Amman Municipality, the ministries of culture and education, the municipalities of Salt and Irbid, and several local universities, Mama’s Story will encourage mothers and grandmothers to document the stories they narrate to their children and grandchildren to keep Jordan’s oral traditions alive.

Jordan Post will facilitate the collection of stories, which will all be evaluated and edited by a professional committee. The contest, which will run for one year, will culminate in the creation of one booklet which will preserve different cultural stories told by mothers all over Jordan.

Tags: Queen Rania, Mother's Day, Jordan, Children,

World Water Week 2008

2008-03-20T09:50:00.003-04:00

Lucy Liu, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador - is calling on Americans to pay $1 for tap water in restaurants to help save children's lives in Africa.

Lucy, just returned from Cote d'Ivoire in Africa, where she witnessed the threat to child survival caused by a lack of clean drinking water.

She is encouraging people to pay for the tap water they'd normally get for free during World Water Week - this week to help raise $1 million to provide African children with purified water.

Lucy says, "If you go to a restaurant and they'd give you tap water for free, they're asking you to donate a dollar for the tap water. One dollar will provide water for 40 children for one day, which is incredible. It's kind of great - you get to go out and enjoy food with people and you get to give back in such a small and simple way."

More than 2,000 restaurants across the U.S. have signed up to participate in World Water Week.

To find out which restaurants in your area are participating please go to Tap Project

Tags: Warer, World Water Week, World Water Day, Lucy Liu, UNICEF,

Social Justice Philanthropy

2008-03-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

Anne Glickman, 34, inherited several million dollars in stock on her 18th birthday. She preferred not to think or talk about the money into her 20s because, she said, as a political activist, her wealth was a bit inconvenient.

"I felt like I was in hiding," she said.

"Here I was, an activist thinking about class and race, but I wasn't really factoring in my own personal wealth," she said. "I decided to give away a large number. It was scary, but I just had to do it." So far, Glickman said, she has given away $1.2 million.

She is part of a movement of relatively young American heirs who practice what they call social justice philanthropy, which emphasizes giving to small, local groups.

Karen Pittelman, 32, a singer in a punk band, said she inherited $3.5 million seven years ago and gave away all but $15,000. Jamie Schweser, 35, author of the novel "Tales of a Punk Rock Nothing," said he inherited $1 million eight years ago and gave away three quarters of it.

So what motivates people to give away so much of their money?

For Anne Glickman, the decision was not about trying to live an ascetic life. "I'm not an anti-materialist," she said. "I don't believe you shouldn't have a nice TV. But people said, 'What about your unborn children?' And at the time I think I was sitting on $12 million. I mean, how much do you need to raise children?"

Tyrone Boucher, 25, said he told his father he wanted to donate his six-figure trust fund to groups that work for racial equality. As part of his argument, he pointed to the growing gap between the rich and the poor. His father, he said, responded: "Tyrone, we're not really rich. There are people who have multiple homes and private jets."

"The point isn't to dis my dad," he said. "The point is, what's enough?"

Many donors said these conversations were the first they had with their parents about what it means to have money.

"It's the most taboo of subjects," said Judith Stern Peck, director of the Money, Values and Family Life Project at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York. "Parents don't talk about it for a myriad of reasons - because they don't want to spoil their children, because it might touch on a host of other things that are also difficult to talk about. Or perhaps because there might be contradictions between what they say their values are and what they do with their money."

Groups like the nonprofit Resource Generation offer programs and seminars for wealthy adults under 35. Participants describe the meetings as something like a support group.

"When the money was suddenly in my name and I really came to grips with my privilege and class background, the denial came apart," Schweser remembered. "I realized: I am literally the Man."

Some philanthropy experts argue that this kind of giving is important because it does not demand guaranteed success.

"Social change takes a long time," said Joe Voeller, a spokesman for the Ford Foundation, which has given Resource Generation three $100,000 grants since 2002. "Social justice philanthropy needs young donors who are not treating it as a passing fad but are committed to walking the walk."

Tags: Philanthropy, Social Change, Giving, Grants, Foundations, Youth,

Combatants for Peace

2008-03-13T09:53:00.003-04:00

Bassam Aramin and Zohar Shapira, the co-founders of Combatants for Peace, talk about their mission to end the cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine by bringing together individuals who previously fought against each other. Currently around 450 Palestinians and Israelis are members of the group.

Bassam Aramin, and Zohar Shapira - both former Combatants themselves, have put aside hate to embrace peace.

Bassam Aramin, A former member of the Palestinian Fatah movement, began a seven-year sentence in an Israeli prison at age 17. He now works as a clerk at the Palestinian National Archives.

Zohar Shapira served as combatant and commander in an elite unit of the Israeli army for 15 years. He now is a teacher in a Waldorf school in Israel.

The 'Combatants for Peace' movement was started jointly by Palestinians and Israelis, who have taken an active part in the cycle of violence; Israelis as soldiers in the Israeli army, and Palestinians as part of the violent struggle for Palestinian freedom. After brandishing weapons for so many years, and having seen one another only through weapon sights, they have decided to put down their guns, and to fight for peace.

Tags: Israel, Palestine, Combatants for Peace, Compassion, Peace, Middle East,

Painter for Peace

2008-03-11T12:00:00.001-04:00

Solomon Muyundo, a Kenyan artist, paints a slogan in a damaged house in Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya.

Peace graffiti has taken over Nairobi's battered Kibera slum. 'Don't Kill Innocent Kenyans' and 'Keep Peace' beg slogans hand-painted on the charred walls of shacks and storefronts destroyed by looting mobs, messages from Muyundo trying to heal a neighborhood with his paintbrush.

Solomon Muyundo's mission is more complicated than one peace-loving artist against the mobs. He's also trying to atone for his role in the violence a reconciliation many Kenyans will have to attempt as they work to move on from the devastating knowledge that they are capable of killing each other.

"I was trying to urge the public, especially those who are a bit wise, when they see such a message ... to think twice," said Solomon.

Solomon's slogans are re-branding an area torn apart by gangs after a December presidential vote that opposition leader Raila Odinga accuses President Mwai Kibaki of stealing.

His messages feel particularly needed as talks between government and opposition leaders appear to have stalled again, after more than a week of hopeful proclamations from both sides. Past demonstrations have quickly turned violent.

As the first election results prompted anger, Solomon painted, 'No Raila, No Peace,' all over Kibera immortalizing a rallying cry of the machete-wielding gangs who overtook the slum.

More than 1,000 people have died and some 600,000 people have been forced from their homes as gangs from ethnic groups who had supported Odinga exacted violent revenge on Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe setting up a chain of attacks and reprisals.

Thin and soft-spoken, Solomon Muyundo says he joined Odinga's cause partly to protect himself he's half-Kikuyu and was a Kibaki supporter.

"I know it's not a peaceful message," he says of those first slogans amid the looting. "But I did it that way to secure my life."

He also believed that injustice had been done and wanted to join in protest with the impoverished people of Kibera who don't usually have much of a voice in politics.

Tags: Kenya, Peace, Solomon Muyundo,

Grassroots Philanthropy

2008-03-06T10:01:00.002-05:00

I would like to bring your attention to a thought-provoking book I just finished reading, Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker which was written by Bill Somerville the President of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, with Fred Setterberg.

I have to say, this was probably one of the most inspiring books I have ever read on the subject of Philanthropy. Bill Somerville, is an extremely compassionate individual who cares deeply for the world of giving.

Bill has worked in the non-profit world for over 48 years, and in his book he shares some of his vast experience with us. I found his personal stories fascinating and his ideas for improving the world of Philanthropy inspiring!

In one section of the book Bill talks about the Love of Humanity and breaks down the word Philanthropy into it's literal definition. Philanthropy - philos, Love; anthropy, Mankind. He suggests that Funders take time to go out into the community, to seek out potential change agents, and get to know them.

This book is a must read for anyone in the non-profit world, or those interested in Philanthropy. To learn more about Bill Somerville or Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker, please visit Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.

Tags: Philanthropy, Inspiring, Grants, Funding, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation,

Family PLUS

2008-03-03T10:09:00.002-05:00

Boys & Girls Clubs of America launched a new Web Site as part of an ongoing dedication to serving families in the United States. In partnership with the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the Web Site, Family PLUS, contains helpful activities, advice and resources for families to develop the youth of today into the leaders of tomorrow.

"Few of today's families fit the traditional definition of families. In fact, today's families are much more diverse which presents new and unique challenges to raising children," said Jose Cruz, Boy's & Girls Clubs of America's director of Family PLUS. “Our Web site was designed to help families find strategies for parenting a healthy young person, building strength and togetherness, creating connections with community resources and finding ways to get involved with their local Boys & Girls Club.”

In 2005, Kimberly-Clark Corporation pledged to support the Family PLUS, initiative with a 5-year, $7 million grant. This year, in addition to launching the Web site, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation are awarding portions of the grant to 20 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country to implement Family PLUS. An additional 24 Clubs are receiving awards for the outstanding work they did for families in 2007.

"Kimberly-Clark is dedicated to helping strengthen families at the community level," said Carolyn Mentesana, vice president of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation. "With the creation of this Web site and by providing funding for expanded local family programming, Kimberly-Clark and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will be able to increase parents’ and caregivers’ access to meaningful information to help them parent today’s youth in an increasingly complex environment.”

Tags: Family PLUS, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Family,

U.S. Dream Academy

2008-02-28T10:59:00.002-05:00

I recently came across an awesome organization, the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc. It was founded back in 1998 by Wintley Phipps who witnessed firsthand in his work with prison inmates the destructive influence of incarceration on children, families and communities.

The organization works to empower children who are at risk of incarceration by providing them with academic, social and values enrichment.

Since its inception, U.S. Dream Academy has served over 1,500 students in neighborhoods where incarceration is a major problem.

Somethings you may not know -

In 2006, over 7.2 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at yearend 2006 -- 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults.
State and Federal prison authorities had jurisdiction over 1,570,861 inmates at yearend 2006: 1,377,815 in State jurisdiction and 193,046 in Federal jurisdiction.
Local jails held 766,010 persons awaiting trial or serving a sentence at yearend 2006. An additional 60,222 persons under jail supervision were serving their sentence in the community.
More than 95,000 juveniles are also in custody

A 14-year old girl spending time in one of our countries Juvenile Detention Centers said, "This place just teaches us to be better criminals. It's like a criminal training school."

We can do better than this. We have to.

Tags: Incarceration, Children, Teens, At-Risk Teens, Hope,

Melinda Gates Visits Mali

2008-02-25T09:19:00.001-05:00

Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, spent a few days visiting Save the Children's newborn and child health programs in Mali.

The visit helped draw attention to the challenges and opportunities of addressing the under-5 child mortality rate in Mali, a country where more than one child in five does not live to celebrate his or her fifth birthday.

Save the Children works with the government of Mali, UNICEF, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other local partners to tackle the high rate of child deaths in Mali through a variety of strategies.

Better Informed = Healthier Babies

On the road to Bougouni, the first major town after the capital city Bamako, is the small village of Keleya in the Sikasso region. The community health center in town serves Keleya and 22 surrounding villages, nearly 11,000 people. Melinda Gates spent time at the clinic visiting with health workers, mothers and children waiting to receive care.

In a country where 30,000 newborn babies die every year, this region has not been spared. Since 2001, Save the Children through funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been working to reduce these newborn deaths by educating community members on simple changes to protect the health of mothers and their babies.

According to Sitan, a traditional birth attendant in the nearby village of Soulouba, who spoke with Melinda about the changes in his village over the past five years, this newborn care training is helping babies stay healthy.

"Now we are better informed and babies are healthier," said Sitan. "People used to bathe newborns directly after birth in cold water, but now we delay this bath. We used to give water and such things to newborns, but now we only give breast milk."

Recognizing Danger Signs = Fewer Lives Lost

Melinda also spent time at the Bougouni District Hospital. It is here that mothers can receive care before, during and after birth.

As part of Save the Children's newborn care program, traditional birth attendants in nearby villages are trained to recognize danger signs during delivery and to refer mothers experiencing birth complications to Bougouni hospital. But, getting to the hospital can be challenging for families without access to transportation, and without money to pay for it.

Yet, as Dr. Yattara explained to Melinda, community members are working together to address these challenges, leading to differences in health services over the past five years. "There is a reduction in the delay for emergency care," said Dr. Yattara. "Communities have come together to establish an account to pay for the transport of women from hard to reach areas to our District Hospital."

Building a Waiting Area for Pregnant Women

On the final stop of her visit, in the village of Faragouran, Melinda and other Save the Children visitors helped fund and construct a shed at the community health center, which serves more than 8,000 people, to be used as a waiting and training area for pregnant women. Melinda, along with other Save the Children visitors and 10 local mother volunteers, spent the day fetching water from a traditional well, mixing mortar, laying blocks and plastering the walls of the shed.

Tags: Melinda Gates, Save The Children, Mali, Child Mortality, UNICEF,

It's about time President Bush

2008-02-19T11:15:00.002-05:00

President Bush calls on all nations to step up efforts to end "once and for all" the ethnic slaughter in Sudan.

Well, I would say it is about time Bush!

Bush said the U.S. is using sanctions, pressure and money to help resolve the Darfur crisis that President Bush calls a genocide. The President is frustrated at the lack of willingness of some other countries to do the same, sought to give his campaign for their increased involvement added weight by making pointed remarks on it from the Rwandan capital.

"The Rwanda people know the horrors of genocide," Bush said after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. "My message to other nations is: `Join with the president and help us get this problem solved once and for all.' And we will help."

Rwanda was the first to deploy peacekeepers to the violent Darfur region in a joint African Union-U.N. mission. The United States has trained nearly 7,000 Rwandan troops and spent more than $17 million to equip and airlift them into the region. The U.S. has committed $100 million to train and provide equipment for peacekeepers from several African nations deploying to Darfur.

"I'm not comfortable with how quickly the response has been," the president said.

President Bush spoke after a visit to the haunting Kigali Memorial Centre. Exhibits there tell the story of Rwanda's 1994 genocide as well as other ethnic slaughter around the world. Mass graves on a trellis-covered hilltop outside hold some remains of about 250,000 people.

"It's a moving place. It can't help but shake your emotions to their very foundation," Bush said after walking through its rooms and gardens. "There is evil in the world and evil must be confronted."

Later, by Kagame's side, Bush displayed how shaken he was by what he saw. "I just can't imagine what it would have been like to be a citizen who lived in such horrors, and then had to, you know, gather themselves up and try to live a hopeful life," he said.

"The most important thing is to get results for the agreement and that's what we discussed today, on how to help bring peace to this part of the world," Bush said.

Bush dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Nairobi on Monday to meet with Kibaki, the opposition leader, and former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who is mediating peace talks.

The Rwanda massacre haunted the international community, including the United States under then-President Bill Clinton, for not recognizing the danger and intervening faster.

Bush, pressed about what role his successor can play in preventing genocide, said the lesson is to watch for warning signs — and act.

"I would tell my successor that the United States can play a very constructive role," Bush said. "I would urge the (next) president not to feel like U.S. solutions should be imposed upon African leaders. I would urge the president to treat our — the leaders in Africa — as partners. In other words, don't come to the continent feeling guilty about anything. Come to the continent feeling confident that with some help, people can solve their problems."

Bush stood by his decision not to send U.S. troops to Sudan, but used some of his strongest language to date in blasting the slow pace of the international peacekeeping plan.

Before leaving for Ghana, Bush and the first lady visited a school where they spoke with children, who are members of an anti-AIDS club, working to spread the word about preventing the disease. The two dozen children, all dressed in white shirts and khaki pants, chatted for about 20 minutes with the Bushes, who sat outside on a hillside in low-slung, hand-carved wooden chairs.

"Thanks for being leaders," the president told them.

( Personal Opinion ) - It's about time the United States got involved, but I will say that my opinion of President Bush, went up a few notches.

Tags: Sudan, Darfur, Genocide, President Bush,

Click To Empower

2008-02-18T10:35:00.001-05:00

I would like to bring to your attention an awesome Web Site, Click to Empower. The Education and Job Training Assistance Fund was established by The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program to channel small grants to adult domestic violence survivors to help them achieve their educational and professional goals. It covers education, training and job-related expenses. The organization offers Banners for your Web Sites, by clicking once a day to show support, enables survivors of domestic violence to achieve financial stability and independence.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 25 percent of women report being abused by a husband or partner in their lifetimes. To learn more about how The Allstate Foundation helps empower domestic violence victims, please visit The Allstate Foundation.

Tags: Domestic Violence, Empower, Women, Violence, Banners,

2008 Humanitarian Action Report

2008-02-14T11:23:00.001-05:00

Greetings fellow donors and UNICEF supporters, I would like to bring to your attention, UNICEF's annual Humanitarian Action Report - addressing 39 specific crises around the world. The report outlines the organization’s funding requirements for emergency work in 2008.

The report details financial needs beyond regular country program budgets. The appeal for more than $850 million worldwide targets the largest allocations for Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"From Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Iraq, Zimbabwe and Sudan, children and women continue to bear the brunt of conflict, displacement and deteriorating conditions," UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman writes in a foreword to the report.

Please visit UNICEF to learn how you can help. Thanks!

Tags: UNICEF, Humanitarian, Activism, Donation, Children, Women,

Gaza Campaign

2008-02-11T11:10:00.000-05:00

Queen Rania of Jordan, lent a helping hand to volunteers at the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Commission as they loaded twenty two humanitarian relief trucks with nonperishable goods and medical supplies.

The trucks, which carried humanitarian aid such as medicine, milk, food and blankets, were dispersed to Gaza and the West Bank, to alleviate some of the suffering incurred in the territories since the siege last month.

Rania, an outspoken humanitarian advocate, has continued to highlight the crisis and asked for the people of Jordan to do all they can.

"People there are being deprived of so many of the necessities that we take for granted… and I fear that this situation can get worse. We need to mobilize, and coordinate our efforts to collect aid to send to Gaza," she said.

The Jordan River Foundation , which Rania chairs, launched a relief campaign to collect humanitarian assistance. A Jordan River Foundation truck, accompanied by trucks from Kuwait and others from Jordan, carried a banner that read "From the children of Jordan to the children of Gaza."

Rania also met with UNICEF representatives Thomas Davin and Abdel-Rahman Ghandour, who briefed the Queen on the deteriorating situation in Gaza, where the majority of the population is under 18 years of age. Electrical outages are causing serious strains on children’s lives, health situation, sanitation and access to education.

There are over 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza, most of who do not have access to electricity, medical attention, and basic needs. Seventy percent of the Gaza's population already lives below the poverty line and these latest restrictions will further increase their vulnerability, according to UNICEF.

UNICEF estimates that the impact on future generation is high, as poor education conditions have a direct negative impact on learning achievement which in turn fuels exclusion and may contribute to further radicalization. The situation in the West Bank is only slightly better than that of Gaza, they said.

Queen Rania, UNICEF’s Eminent Advocate for Children, recently spoke about the situation in an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson where she said "I think it is clear to everybody that neither blockages nor bombs are going to bring peace to the region. And I think what we are seeing today is adding another layer of grievances to a situation that has been burdened with tragedy, destruction and death and heartache. The humanitarian situation is extremely worrying at the moment."

Tags: Gaza, Children, Women, UNICEF, Queen Rania, Jordan, Humanitarian, Violence,

Rhett's Journey

2008-02-05T11:23:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone, I would like to direct your attention to a very special family who has a wonderful blog, Rhett's Journey. My friend Karen, over at Beyond Understanding brought this worthy blog to my attention.

Rhett Anthany, is a two-year-old who was a healthy child with Down Syndrome until an extreme overdose of painkillers last year after surgery resulted in a series of physical impairments.

Rhett's father can't work because of a back injury, and his mother Pam cannot work because Rhett needs constant special care. As if that was not enough to make you want to jump in and help, their eldest son has Asperger Syndrome and requires his own special appointments.

I encourage you to please, visit Rhett's Journey and read about this remarkable child, and do what you can to help this loving family.

Tags: Children, Down Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Blogging,