April 30, 2012

April 30, 2012–It’s a lot of things today.  It’s the last day of April.  It’s a Monday.  It’s also the FINAL blog post in the 365 day blog.  Since May 1, 2011, the Apathy for Ransom blog has posted 364 causes, and today will be number 365.  I’d really like to thank everyone who’s been reading and following, giving ideas and generally just being supportive.  First, let’s get to the last post–It’s Monday, and one of my all-time favourite organizations, Sevenly.org, posts a t-shirt in support of an organization doing good.

Today’s the t-shirt is in support of GEMS (Girls Education & Mentoring Services) which is a non-profit that works to help end the sexual exploitation of young women, as well as domestic trafficking.  Through their mentoring programs and educational opportunities they empower young women ages 14-24 in order to stop the cycle and end this way of life.  GEMS operates in New York State, and was started by a young woman who formerly was sexual exploited as a teen.  You can learn more about GEMS and the programs they offer by clicking HERE.

As a “bonus causes,” I’d also like to mention another organization who doing work similar to GEMS on international level: Action to End Exploitation.  They work globally to help woman and children trapped within circumstances that lead to human trafficking, sexual exploitation and economic marginalization.   They offer support for victims and offer the most important thing that is needed to them: a way to stand up for themselves and have a voice to share and help stop what’s happening in their communities, in their countries and around the world.   They work primarily with individuals who have entered into sex trade involuntarily, or without any other choice.  Through their programs, they have helped many children and young women.  You have the opportunity to learn more about their programs by clicking HERE.

So there you have it.  365 causes in 365 days.  Bamn!

April 29, 2012

April 29, 2012–When you’ve got only two more days to spread the word about non-profits, charities, great causes and the like, it becomes a bit pear-shaped when you try to narrow down your options for blog posts.  I’m not exactly going to just be silent once things end here, but I won’t lie: feeling a little panicked.  It’s okay though.  I am always blessed with topics and causes to inspire me and today was no different.  I started off the blog with Child of Mine, and I thought it would be fantastic to finish with it (well, almost finish with it).

Recap: Child of Mine is a Christian organization from Canada who partners with two Children’s Homes in India.  The overall vision is to raise the future leaders of India’s church.  Through a few churches in BC, we’ve learned about the homes and the staff and children living in them; but the stories don’t stop there.  This is where the help of some fantastic people and great companies have stepped in to help deliver to us, the general public, the eye-opening and inspirational story of life after Child of Mine in India.  This Spring, after a long wait for journalism visas, a team of young film makers from Transposition Films, will be making their way to India to continue the story through a documentary film.  The equipment, the time, the effort, talent and skill is all donated to this project, and the remaining costs (airfare, etc.) have been fundraised personally by the team through events, through friends, through strangers.  You can still contribute to the team via Westside Church HERE.  The team is also going to be updating Twitter via the tag #indiamediateam so you can follow along and pray for them as they travel.  They leave Vancouver on May 3rd.

There is so much going on in the world we live in, and it takes just a few individuals to stand up and share to get people talking.  It doesn’t have to be on the news anymore, and talent filmmakers like Transposition Films taking this step certainly deserves an accolade and send off for this mission into India.  Good luck team!

April 23, 2012

April 23, 2012–I’m teaching Math today.  I’d say that today’s not going horribly, and I am okay with that.  It’s Monday though, and that means a new shirt from Sevenly.org.  Quick recap on Sevenly: Each week they have a t-shirt design related to a weekly cause.  For each t-shirt sold, $7 goes directly to that charity.  The t-shirts are available for 7 days, and then no longer available to purchase.  You get a t-shirt, and a non-profit gets exposure and funds to continue on their good work.

Heifer International has gone to the cows.  Not only are they Sevenly’s cause of the week, they are also sending livestock to communities in need.  Their approach of a hand-up rather than hand-out is apparent in their mission and vision.  Through the provision of livestock and training, families who benefit from Heifer International’s programs not only help themselves, but as a part of their “loan” of livestock, they then continue the tradition of the hand-up by passing on the offspring of their animal to another family in need in their community.  What Heifer International calls “passing on the gift,” this system continually renews the initial donations from you, the public, into a network of people in need getting a life-giving source again and again.  Through Heifer International you can choose to purchase livestock on behalf of friends and family as “living gifts” that are easy to wrap and more meaningful than anything you’d find at the mall.

To learn more about where Heifer International is taking their livestock and how you can become involved, visit their website HERE or click on their logo.

April 20, 2012

April 20, 2012–Today’s a big day.  Perhaps you’re thinking along the lines of something not legal but for me and for many, many people across the globe, today and this evening is about bring justice and awareness to an important issue.  Tonight is “Cover the Night,” the pinnacle of the Kony 2012 Campaign. Granted, this campaign has been hit with some bad press but it’s done more good than the founders of Invisible Children could have ever imagined.

In fact, I am inspired with the change I’ve seen in youth and young people because of this campaign.  If you’re lost, I’ll recap for you.  Invisible Children is a non-profit organization (that was one of my first blog post subjects) who have been bringing awareness to the child soldier issue in Africa.  What started as a trip to northern Uganda turned into a documentary which turned into a campaign to bring justice and safety to children and families living in areas where the Lord’s Resistance Army (the LRA) has been pillaging and destroying for over 25 years.  Since Invisible Children came on the scene, they’ve hit the street running with an overwhelming number of supporters, most of whom are in high school and college.  This campaign, Kony 2012, has specifically been working not only to bring international attention and awareness to what happened in Northern Uganda, but also what is currently happening to the areas in which the LRA is active.  This includes the South Sudan, DR Congo, and Central African Republic.  Right now this army of rebels is being led by Joseph Kony, who is number 1 on the International Justice Committees Most Wanted list.  Through the Kony 2012 Campaign, Invisible Children is hoping to not only raise awareness but support of able and willing governments who can help provide funding, technology and other resources to help capture and end the threat of the LRA on families living within the affected regions.  Then, and only then can those areas begin to rebuild and prosper without the worry of children being taken, families torn apart and homes destroyed.

You can make a big difference in the world.  Be a part of something historical.  But you can’t do it by relying on the opinions of those around you.  Make you own by actually watching the video, understanding the facts and being strong enough to say it’s NOT OKAY for someone like Joseph Kony to be walking around FREE to do what he pleases with children and families.  Visit www.KONY2012.com or www.invisiblechildren.com to learn more.

 

April 16, 2012

April 16, 2012–The month is halfway up, and that means you’ve got two weeks EXACTLY until I’ve reached my daunting goal of 365 blog posts in 365 days.  I’m going to admit flat out, it has been a far cry from easy but rewarding and interesting to learn about and connect with so many amazing organizations and causes.  It’s MONDAY which means one of my favourite organizations–partially because they help me out with weekly ideas–Sevenly, is at it again with End7 being their cause of the week, and my cause of the day.

What is End7?  A campaign to help eliminate 7 NTD (Neglected Tropical Diseases) by 2012, End7 has hit the pavement to achieve what it hoped to be a massive change in the spread of other diseases, deaths in regions stricken by poverty and the betterment of human existence.   A “NTD” is a disease that is not a mainstream killer (HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria), yet contributed to a big smack of health issues to a lot of people worldwide.  Most of these diseases can be treated with drug administration, yet a complete solution and end to these common diseases can only be achieved with something called “Massive Drug Administration,” where entire populations are given treatment in order to control and eventually eliminate disease.  Small pox anyone?  End7 tells it better in this video:

You can learn more about what End7 is doing and help contribute to their cause, by donating funds or simply by joining the conversation.  Click HERE to visit their website.

April 10, 2012

April 10, 2012–Today is a special day, a specific day in which many are bonded together with one goal: raising awareness for poverty and the need for shoes the world over.  Today is One Day Without Shoes, where thousands of people are taking one day to experience what millions already do: living life without shoes.  Obviously, there are many that can’t participate in this challenge due to health constraints (I’m thinking healthcare professionals) but there are so many partners participating you will most likely come across a person who’s taken it upon themselves to go without shoes.  One Day Without Shoes is presented in part by TOMS which sends a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sell.

There are so many health concerns that go along with not having footwear.  From hookworm (740 million people are affected by hookworm each year, which causes intestinal pain, and even cognitive impairment) to living on or around hazardous material (in the Philippines, 30,000 people live on top of a landfill), there are so many reasons that shoes can change lives.  There are other important benefits of having a pair of shoes, including education.  In many places, shoes are a requirement to attend school, which means without shoes they also go without an education.   So why bring awareness to the need of shoes?  If a child is healthier and has the opportunity to attend school, they will be more successful than they would otherwise.  Success can mean an entire family moving out of poverty, which in underdeveloped countries can mean life or death.

To learn more about TOMS, click HERE.  To learn more about events happening surround One Day Without Shoes, click HERE.

April 7, 2012

April 7, 2012–When I learned about public speaking, there was really only 2 snippets of advice I remember: stay on topic and project your voice.  I did happen to win my first public speaking contest when I was 9, so possibly there’s something to be said about both pieces of advice.  When sharing on any topic, no matter the venue or medium, I would say that advice still rings true.

On that note, there’s a big of buzz happening in Vancouver surround the upcoming Projecting Change Film Festival, where important issues are being promoted and shared through films and documentaries as well speakers and other events.  From April 17 to April 22, you can catch over 20 films, 30 speakers, 2 galas and countless other related events for every age and interest all in the name of sustainability, world peace, humanitarian issues, energy, city planning and so on.  All issues of great importance presented in lively and entertaining ways to spark innovation, discussion and solutions.

To learn more about the origin of the Projecting Change Film Festival, to buy tickets and find showtimes and locations, visit their website HERE or click on their logo.

March 25, 2012

March 25, 2012–Big weekend for a lot of people out there, especially those who are fans of the bestselling novel series, “The Hunger Games,” by one Suzanne Collins.  The feature film based on the bestselling first book in the series was released this past Friday, with sell out ticket sales and lineups for midnight showings across Canada.  I’m not going to lie, I really did enjoy the books and have reread them in anticipation of seeing the movie as soon as the crowds die down.  In honour of the release of the movie and rereading the series, I’ve decided to blog about something “hunger” related today.

Although not officially related to or affiliated with the franchise in any way, Hunger Relief International (HRI) is a fantastic non-profit making big strides in getting food into the bellies of those in need across the globe.  Their overall goal is to alleviate the impact of hunger beyond simply putting food on the table.  The food that they provide in natural and highly nutritious, and most importantly, locally produced.  By using locally produced food for their provided meals to the malnourished children and families they serve, HRI stimulated the growth and economy of the regions in which they are working, which currently is Haiti and Guatemala.

To learn about ways that you can help Hunger Relief International continue to provide meals for malnourished children and families, click HERE to visit their website or by clicking on their logo below.

 

 

March 21, 2012

March 21, 2012–Nothing is better than a hooded sweatshirt, aka a hoodie, when you need warmth, comfort and a bit of cozy.  This is possibly why I own (and you might be right there with me on this one) an excessive amount of them.

One organization that is taking the hoodie and putting it into play where warmth, comfort and coziness is seriously lacking is Hoodies for the Homeless.  With individual donations of $25, hoodies are purchased and given out to a variety of shelters where those who don’t have excessive collections of hoodies benefit from owning a new one.  A new hoodie is possible one of the best things in life, right after coffee and new socks, so why not give one to someone in need?

This post is short and sweet, but the message and need is just as great as any other.  You can participate with Hoodies for the Homeless by donating on their website HERE or by clicking on their logo.  Your $25 makes a big difference, and you will also be sent a t-shirt as a thank you for contributing to the warmth and comfort provided through this program.

March 19, 2012

March 19, 2012–Monday, Monday, Monday!  Excellent day of the week, and obviously it’s Spring Break or I wouldn’t possibly be saying that.  Actually, that would be a lie.  I love Monday because it’s a new t-shirt from Sevenly and that makes blogging so much easier.  Not to mention, the shirt designs are pretty amazing.  I was looking back through their archives, and there really isn’t a shirt that I wouldn’t wear.  I might be redirecting my clothing budget (when I actually am working and have funds to budget) to getting a Sevenly shirt each week in lieu of other items.  Who needs dress shirts anyway, I mean T-shirts look awesome under blazers, right?

Fashion advice aside, this week’s cause is Thirst Relief International.  According to their website, 1.1 billion people across the globe don’t have access to clean drinking water, which not only means waterborne-related disease run rampant.  Each year 2.5 million people die from these diseases, with 90% of those deaths being children under the age of 5.   The World Health Organization and the United Nations have agreed that unclean water is a world crisis and have declared 2005-2015 the “Decade for Action.”  Thirst Relief International is on board with this initiative, helping to bring much needed resources to help get clean drinking water to those who need it.  They have projects across the globe, and offer individuals the opportunity to donate to a number of projects, including well building, filters, and wash stations.  For as little as $5, you can make a difference someone that needs clean water.

To learn more about Thirst Relief International, visit their website HERE or by clicking on their logo.  You can view their shirt at Sevenly.org HERE.  This week’s shirt boasts the slogan “Water is a Right,” which summarizes how much this crisis needs our continued support through organizations like Thirst Relief International for change to be made and lives to be saved.