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Good Deeds Day 2011 – We have a good deed for you!

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:21:45 +0000

INTERNATIONAL GOOD DEEDS DAY: April 3rd, 2011

ISRAELI GOOD DEEDS DAY: April 5th, 2011

A new tradition is being established in Israel – Good Deeds Day.

For one day a year thousands of Israelis take a break from their daily routine to help others. On May 2007 Ruach Tova(NGO) launched the Good Deeds Day project – initiated by Shari Arison, Chairman of the Arison Group and organized by “Ruach Tova”, with the support of the Arison Family Foundation.

Following the tremendous success of Good Deeds Day in Israel, where it has become part of Israeli culture, Shari Arison has made it her mission to turn the annual event into an international day of good deeds. Since its inception, Good Deeds Day has touched the lives of many thousands of people; last year alone, more than 70,000 volunteers throughout Israel and several locations in the Jewish world took part in more than 1,000 different projects in cooperation with dozens of municipalities and leading organizations.

This year do your part by supporting Save a Child’s Heart’s newest campaign: Climb Your Heart Out: Mount Kilimanjaro 2011.

———————————————————–DONATE HERE———————————————————–

No amount is too small!

My First Summit = 300 m : Machame Gate = 1800 m

admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:54:56 +0000

I did it! Summiting at just under 300 meters plus 2 flights of stairs, I made it - my first ascent of many to prepare for the ultimate climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro this August.

Knowing that gearing into shape is a must has actually caused me to further abandon my already lax workout routine, which consists of weekly yoga and some self-practice sessions that tend not to last beyond 15 min. I know that within 2 months of the climb, I simply can’t postpone the inevitable any longer so I figure…might as well enjoy the freedom and laziness now!

But then again, a moment of fatigue or breathlessness after a simple exertion like dancing to friends band or running to catch the bus, and it hits me – I’M CLIMBING THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN AFRICA! I need to start moving! So, today was the day. After the 2 hour bus ride to visit my family in the North of Israel, I decided not call my dad for a lift from the bus station, not to try and hitchhike, but to walk up to my father’s house, backpack and all. It may have only taken me about 30 min of fairly moderate uphill walking, but hey, I had to start somewhere. And, it felt good! And only further excited me for my hopefully jam packed spring of hikes and outdoorsiness.

I should probably redeem myself by concluding that I spent the next day on a 3 hours hike through mud, thorns, rivers, bees and sun. It was perfect.

TOUCHED BY TINY LIVES

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:18:03 +0000

I arrive at Touching Tiny Lives based in Mokhotlong, Lesotho (that’s Southern Africa…ps) and am in the most remote place I have ever been in my life. There isn’t much here. Donkies and horses roam the streets or street, would be more accurate. The ‘shops’ are mostly made of corrugated tin and plastic bags. The people are all bundled in thick blankets as the mountainous topography cools everything down drastically. Among the chaos, TTL sits purposefully and organized at the edge of town. Their mission:

Touching Tiny Lives Foundation is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children and families that are struggling to cope with the ravages of HIV/AIDS in rural Lesotho. Local personnel, assisted by international volunteers, provide essential care to severely malnourished, critically ill, or orphaned babies. TTLF provides outreach health services, nutritional supplements, medication, and continued social support to children, pregnant women, and caregivers in their village communities.

I have come to volunteer for the month. On my first day on the job, I quickly realized Mokhotlong is not nearly as remote as the places TTL’s Outreach team set off to everyday.

8:30 am Monday, the Outreach team and I pile into a pick up truck and set off to check up on TTL’s clients. The street that I mentioned earlier is paved, not smooth but it’s a start. It quickly turns into a dirt road. That dirt road turns into a path with potholes the size of a blowup children’s swimming pool. And that path turns into a mountain that would not be considered suitable for driving by anyone’s standard. After a quick hike to our final destination we arrive at a smoking rondaval to track the progress of a chubby little baby – a good sign. As my eyes water from the smoke I try to adjust. I inventory the room – some pots and pans, a few suitcases, a fire pit. In one day I have adjusted my perception of nothingness.

Without a fancy Western-style marketing strategy and no big colorful posters around town, the people of Mokhotlong know and respect TTL. Their approach is simple, straightforward and effective. With a staff of 29 locals, TTL manages to spread their cause through a vast network of invested neighbors, medical clinics, hospitals as well as past and present clients.

The crisis of modernity has greatly influenced many tribal and traditional societies in Africa rise out of poverty. A slow and steady approach to change may help ease this delicate transition – a pace that TTL functions well in.

Their success and willingness to travel where many others would not dare have earned them a spot as DON’T BE A BUM’S third featured organization.

WELCOME TTL!

PEPPED ABOUT PEPY

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:47:15 +0000

In less then two weeks I take off on a once in a lifetime backpack trip to South East Asia and beyond. ONCE IN A LIFE TIME! Those few words come with a ton of pressure and a lot of research.

Voluntourism may seem like a cute righteous moniker but its end result is often detrimental to local communities in developing nations. So how do you find the perfect balance? A foreign adventure with exposure to developing nations, as well as an opportunity to help?

Not the easiest entity to find.

So, it was a treat when I stumbled upon PEPY, a beautifully transparent organization that basically did the research for me.

PEPY is a wonderful social venture that is comprised of two subdivisions working harmoniously together. PEPY Ride is an international non-governmental organization with idealistic views and realistic practices.

PEPY says “we want to live in a world where everyone has access to quality education, increased health and environmental awareness. Through our programs in Cambodia, we are committed to making improvements in education, the environment, and health by investing in a local team of dedicated leaders and connecting them with the tools to help deliver the changes they want to see in the world”

How do they do it? With PEPY Tours. PEPY Tours offer custom or pre-packaged tours throughout Cambodia and South East Asia that help fund PEPY Ride. They believe ‘travel should be adventurous, educational and fun but also benefit local communities.’

Courtesy of www.pepytours.com

And so do I! I have just submitted my application to PEPY to tag along on their week long March Experiential Tour. The tour includes visits with their NGO partners, local schools, the usual tourist destinations and volunteer activities.

PEPY’s financial structure is clearly presented. In addition to a set fee, there is also a fundraising component of $500 that directly supports the non-profit/Pepy Ride.

In an effort to raise $500 I will be hosting a fundraiser Wednesday February 10^th, 2010.

Everyone’s invited to get PEPPED ABOUT PEPPY!

There is no mandatory donation for guests so don’t feel obligated to reach into your pockets if they’re feeling a little lighter then usual.

THE ART OF THE ASK: Helping Haiti Humbly

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:04:35 +0000

While running around, trying to frantically get through January 15^th’s ‘To Do’ List, I was finding it harder than usual to focus. I couldn’t really identify the source of the anxiety and sense of distraction but I’ve felt it before. In an attempt to shake it off, I walked to my local coffee joint. Then SMACK! I was hit by the sight of a shelf stocked with rubber gloves. (not to fret, it was a figurative SMACK! not one that left a five star on my face)

And then I realized, HAITI! I couldn’t focus my efforts on my ‘To Do’ List because Haiti’s devastating misfortune was demanding my attention.

On Tuesday afternoon Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, was struck by an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of over 7.0. As buildings collapse the number of people affected are on the rise. CNN has estimated millions to be affected and the death toll in the tens of thousands. Photo courtesy of: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/earthquake_in_haiti.html

Earlier that morning, I had read that charity:water is partnering up with Partners in Health to load a full plane of supplies that will take off from NYC to Haiti on Tuesday January 19^th. Items included, blankets, soap, tents and GLOVES!

With a new surge of energy I decided to try the simplest from of fundraising…asking.

So with no schpiel planned I simply asked the barista if she had any extra gloves to donate to Haiti. To my surprise, I got a YES. That was easy! So off I went with two boxes in hand to try and gather more supplies.

Next stop, Russ & Daughters, one of NYC’s last remaining appetizing shops and one of my favorite establishments in the city. After stocking up on dried fruits and nuts, I asked Josh, a fourth generation Russ, if had any extra gloves. Another YES!

Only a few blocks away, was a walk in clinic. With an extra hop in my step, fueled by the yummy trail mix, a la Russ & Daughters, and positive reactions so far, I asked them the same question. JACKPOT.

They filled up three boxes of gloves, gowns, surgical lubricant, alcohol wipes, blood glucose monitor and the list goes on.

Special Thanks to Manuel Velazquez, M.D., P.C. and Josh Tupper from Russ & Daughters

Lessons learned:

- ask and you shall receive, well maybe not always, but what’s the harm in trying

- sometimes it IS that easy –why not try it out?

- let opportunities guide you astray

- ‘To Do’ lists are wonderful if accompanied by the clause ‘do not follow me blindly’

You Can Do It Too

To add to the cargo jetting off on Tuesday, you can drop supplies at charity:water (200 Varick St. Ste 201 in NYC) during these times:

Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

FARMING YOUR MIND

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:09:12 +0000

The Ananda Ashram shifts towards sustainability through the Ananda Harvest.

I recently read that delving into 8 minutes of deep meditation daily can increase ones brain size. Although 8 minutes may seem like an easy feat, meditation is one of the hardest exercises to conquer… for me at least.

For those of us still struggling to ignore our overly stimulated minds and reach a sense of heightened relaxation, The Ananda Ashram, located in Monroe, NY, offers a perfect balance of yoga, meditation and now FARMING!

If your mind resembles an erratic maze, with your thoughts running amuck, chances are, silencing those thoughts will prove to be like a maze with no end.

Some yogis use chanting as a way to focus ones energy on repetitive mantras in order to calm the mind. These yogis use farming.

I was introduced to The Ananda Harvest by one of the founders of the farm, David Gottlieb. Gottlieb with fellow founding farmer Jerri Chou, among others, saw an opportunity to start a farm, escape from the city, and help decrease the amount of money the Ashram was spending on food.

I got a chance to chat with the two Brooklynites and here’s what they said:

Why did you decide to start the Ananda Harvest Project?
We didn’t even know we WERE starting it at first. It all started when a group of us started visiting Ananda. It was this amazingly peaceful place on such beautiful land. We started wondering why it wasn’t being used to produce anything and got to thinking how great it would be to start a farm and grow veggies on the land! We started building the idea and then began the actual garden with friends. It’s been a beautiful exercise, not only in body, but community, and personal growth.

Who is involved?
There’s a group of us (mostly creative, eco/socially conscious people from the city). We’re programmers, communicators, designers, etc. But it would never have been possible if not for the original farmer of the land, Dave Washburn, and his son, Matt, who have been holding down the fort up there!

What can we expect to see in 2010?
There’s a lot coming. There’s been so much excitement! We’re planning on building an additional cabin for people to stay in and holding a workshop on how to build that cabin! We’ll be planting in the spring and expanding our growing to more areas of the Ashram. We’re also looking to host all sorts of courses including permaculture, beekeeping, etc. It’s going to be a jam packed season of growing!

Is there any synergy between the farm and the yogis that visit the Ashram? If not, do you plan on creating any?
Definitely. The whole concept is based on meditating with your hands. So many of us need a place of peace and where we can create something tangible. That’s what this farm is for us, a meditation. Not to mention that all yogis are welcome to pick up a pick and help dig and we’ll be encouraging those who visit to partake in the amazing and extensive series of courses at Ananda.

How can we help?
We’re always looking for help, supporters, or just visitors. For more information you can check out anandaharvest.org and sign up for our newsletter. Or feel free to send us an email at hello@anandaharvest.org.

Answer’s Contributed by David Gottlieb and Jerri Chou
Founding Farmers at Ananda Harvest
www.anandaharvest.org <http://www.anandaharvest.org>

SHOP FOR CHANGE

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:35:33 +0000

There is no escaping the holiday buzz- the windows, the songs, the random Santas roaming the street and malls (depending on where you find yourself during the holidays). As much as I would like to avoid adding to the hundreds of billions of dollars Americans are projected to spend on the holidays this season, people still need their presents…right? Whether it’s your doorman, bestie or pup’s manicurist Global Goods Partner’s has a present for everyone.

Image Provided By Marie Claire Andrea

Global Goods Partners is a Non-Profit dedicated to alleviating poverty in marginalized communities worldwide. They offer women-led, community based organizations and artisans access to the United States markets through online product sales, marketplaces, and retail outlets. Global Goods Partners reinvests their proceeds by offering technical and grant support to its partners in order to help these ambitious women strengthen their programs and enhance their lives and their communities.

On December 17^th, GGP invited the public to SHOP FOR CHANGE: A Fair Trade Marketplace set up at the Urban Zen Center in New York City. Products included recycled art greeting cards from Uganda, men’s silk ties from Cambodia, and cozy hats and scarves from Bolivia.

Image Provided By Marie Claire Andrea

It was the perfect, one stop destination for all of my holiday shopping – guilt free. All the products are fair trade, beautiful, decently priced and your purchase will make a difference.

Sad you missed it? Check out www.globalgoodspartners.org to grab some last minute Holiday treats.