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Teaching Kids to Give to Charity
2007-08-07 14:16:00
It's never too early to teach our children the reality of hunger in our local communities and the important role they can have in helping to provide for families in need.Stephanie Nelson, an everyday mom says - "This summer I am teaching my 11-year-old son to buy food and personal-care items for our local charity. Not only is he learning the math and budgeting skills to stretch his weekly charity budget of $3, but he will also realize how easily a small amount of money can help others."The types of items that charities need most tend to be nonperishable, high-protein items like canned tuna, meats, beans, milk and peanut butter. They also need items like canned fruit and vegetables, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and deodorants. Fortunately, these are all coupon items.Look for "buy one, get one free" offers in your grocery ad and match them with coupons from the newspaper. Stephanie - "When my son began his charity shopping, I gave him one of my Extra Bu...
More About: Kids , Charity , Teaching , Give , Teac

Empowering Nepali Women
2007-08-06 16:13:00
When 29-year-old Radha was married, she was shunned by her husband and in-laws, forbidden to enter their home and forced to live in a cow-shed.While working as a daily wage labourer to support her year-old daughter, she discovered that her husband had remarried in Kathmandu."I accepted as destiny my husband?s regular beatings and my mother-in-law?s indifference while she goaded him to abuse me,? Radha recalls. "I began to think that even the gods had abandoned me."Due to existing patriarchal attitudes in many communities, sexual abuse and gender-based violence are thought of as a private and shameful matter. Women and children are often silenced by their very own families.Radha gained the courage to seek justice when she joined 53 other women for a three-day orientation on creating a Village Paralegal Committee."During the training I learned my husband was bound by law to provide for me, and that I had a right to a share of his property," Radha says.UNICEF initially created the comm...
More About: Nepali , Pali , Erin

Weekend Fun #6
2007-08-03 18:40:00
I hope all of you had a fantastic week, I sure did. I used to think that complexity was something I wanted to avoid, something that would cause me stress but I have learned that having a little complexity in your life.. has it's rewards... no chance for boredom to set in.. always an adventure around every corner. After all... isn't that what life is supposed to be about?So lesson for the week, if you are married or single, spice your life up with creative Complexity!______________________________ _____________________________Now for a trip down memory lane, lately I have been so damn tired of all the crap on the radio ( New Music ) it is just pointless! So I have been filling my MP3 player up with 80's and 90's tunes, stuff that actually had substance and well, wow it brought back a flood of great memories. Here is such a song, one that I really loved at the time and still do. _________________________________________ __________________Here's another episode of JetSet .... ch...
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Children overcome hurdles
2007-08-02 15:30:00
Mathew Wood, who suffers from language and development delays, is all smiles with his special needs camp counselor Kim Shaw. Thanks to funding from President?s Choice Children ?s Charity, Wood was able to spend last summer and this summer attending Camp Skoka.The President's Choice Children's Charity is dedicated to helping children who are physically or developmentally challenged. They help children with disabilities like, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy.To learn more about this great Charity and how you can help, please Click HereTags: Children, Disabilities, Charity, President's Choice,
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Think Cure
2007-08-01 15:16:00
At a pre-game ceremony, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced theformation of a new charity to raise money for research toward finding acure for the disease. ThinkCure , a play on the Dodger motto, "Think Blue," will raise money for City of Hope and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. "It's a big thing for us," said Stephen Forman, director of the hematology and bone marrow transplant division at City of Hope. "It's really going to fund the best research going out of both places that will have the best impact." Team owners Jamie and Frank McCourt will match the first $1 million collected. Other fundraisers also are now in the planning stages, officials said.ThinkCure, launched in July 2007 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the McCourt family, the City of Hope, and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, is a charity whose purpose is to raise funds to support cancer research, and whose mission is to find a cure for cancer.Tags: Cancer, Dodgers, Baseball, MLB, Children, Charity,

True Meaning of Islam
2007-07-31 14:52:00
Queen Rania on Thursday joined an on-line interactive discussion as part of the Washington Post/ Newsweek On Faith series titled "Muslims Speak Out". She started out with a traditional greeting of Islam , "peace be upon you""I welcome the opportunity to engage in this conversation, and I am glad to think global readers are interested in Islam, a religion shared and cherished by millions of men and women around the world. I hope that this exercise challenges perceptions that Muslims are somehow different?strange?a breed apart. The other." "All faith, after all, is based on an intensely personal, private relationship with God. And I believe that if we are to build true understanding among and within our societies, we must approach each other as fellow human beings, not representatives of one religion or another.""Perhaps that is why I have never been preoccupied with defining ?the true meaning? of Islam. To me, Islam is an amalgam of virtues that guides my interactions with the world. ...
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Get Iraqi children back to school
2007-07-30 16:38:00
UNICEF and UNHCR issued a $129 million joint appeal aimed at getting tens of thousands of uprooted Iraqi children back in school. Warning that a generation of Iraqis could grow up uneducated and alienated, the two UN agencies presented a plan to support host governments such as Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon in providing schooling for an additional 155,000 young Iraqi refugees during the 2007-08 school year. Altogether, more than 2 million Iraqis have fled to nearby countries ? primarily Syria and Jordan ? to escape continuing violence in their homeland. About 500,000 of them are of school age and most currently have limited or no access to education. Jordan announced on Thursday it would give all Iraqi children in the country access to Jordanian schools.The Agencies will work with the ministries of education and other partners in each country to support expansion of the absorption capacity of public schools; to reintegrate those who have dropped out of school ? particularly girls...
More About: Children , School , Back , Back to School

Weekend Fun #5
2007-07-28 00:18:00
Welcome to another weekend fun post. I am actually enjoying these breaks from the serious and yet, important other blog subjects I post about. These posts give me a chance to express my other side which is fun and often times a bit "crazy" :) I will be leaving soon to go play my weekly basketball game which of course I am SURE I will come out victorious!______________________________ _____________________________Can't find a way to make some extra money? How about Ebay!No kidding, while surfing I happened across this auction on ebay Buy a Can of Mountain Dew ( The Soda/Pop)Last time I checked it was up to $61.00 with 19 bids... for a freaking can of soda!!!!!Crazy!!!________________________ ___________________________________While surfing this week, I was gonna post another of Zadi's Jetset vlogs but I decided.. nah, you can wait till next weekend.. this week I decided to post another video.. something closer to my personal tastes...something I am learning, which is called Frees...
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India's First Female President
2007-07-26 14:33:00
India's first female president was sworn in on Wednesday.The 72-year-old Patil, dressed in a white and green saree draped over her head, took the oath of office inside parliament's packed and ornate central hall, promising to uphold the constitution and devote herself to the people of India.She then received a 21-gun salute."Today India stands at the threshold of a new era of progress," she said. "We must make sure that every section of society, particularly the weak and disadvantaged, are equal partners and beneficiaries in the development process."She vowed to eliminate the practice of aborting female babies and to empower women, who are often treated as second-class citizens.But her words may count for little given her lack of power and the manner of her accession to the job.Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, the most powerful politician in the country, then billed the appointment as a historic day for India's women.This seems like an awesome step in the right direction, I only hop...
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Staying Alive
2007-07-25 19:52:00
As part of a new media video contest, ten young people from around the world documented their thoughts and experiences on HIV and AIDS.Their video blogs, or ?vlogs?, are available today from UNICEF and MTV Stay ing Alive and show how HIV affects young people?s daily lives in different ways.Watch the Videos Here and HereTo learn more about HIV and AIDS, and how you can help - please visit Unite for Children, Unite against AIDSTags: HIV, AIDS, UNICEF, MTV, Children, Teens,

Viriditas Spiritual Center
2007-07-24 19:45:00
On my last post "Give us your poor" I recieved a comment from Jayne Sorrels, Director of Viriditas Spiritual Center .The Viriditas Spiritual Center offers services that support the spiritual and physical needs of the poor and people who are experiencing homelessness. They honor the wisdom from all the faith traditions of the world and nurture each person's freedom to walk his or her own spiritual path.Please visit Viriditas Spiritual Center and learn about what you can do, to make a difference in someone's life. Tags: Poverty, Homeless, Poor, Spirituality, Love, Compassion, Inspiration,

Give us your poor
2007-07-23 15:00:00
On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.Give us your poor is a very unique organization that's mission is to create a revolution in public awareness and to dispel myths and inspire action towards ending homelessness in the United States.Give us your poor works to affect change at the policy level, engage volunteerism andcontributions at the individual and corporate levels through media, technology and education; and to funnel support to partner homeless organizations.We used to think of the homeless as drunks or drug addicts, or those who just "gave up" but in fact the homeless are just like you and I, who lost their home to economics or disaster and have no one to help them. Tags: homeless, homelessness, poverty, poor, activism,
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Weekend Fun Episode #4
2007-07-21 06:14:00
Another great week gone by, I have been spending more time with friends lately, I feel like I am finally starting to live a life of balance, till tomorrow anyway.. then who knows! :) I met a couple new friends this week, and lost my one-one basket ball game, but hey I was just having a "tired" day! ( kidding) got my ass kicked actually lol._____________________________________ ______________________Do you like Mario Brothers?How about playing another online game? It's awesome!_________________________________ __________________________How about another episode of Jetset! Have a Great Weekend Everyone!
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Peace One Day
2007-07-20 15:28:00
Actor Jude Law has completed a personal mission to Afghanistan to film UNICEF?s preparations for marking the 2007 UN International Day of Peace .Jude was accompanied by British director Jeremy Gilley whose film, ?Peace One Day?, documented his successful efforts to secure a UN resolution establishing an annual day of worldwide ceasefire and non-violence. The day is fixed in the global calendar on 21 September. Peace One Day is also the name of a non-profit organization founded to raise awareness of Peace Day.Accompanied by UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Catherine Mbengue, Jude Law, Mr. Gilley and a film crew interviewed children, government ministers, community leaders and UN officials. The crew also filmed schools and visited various UNICEF-supported programs inside and outside the capital. Launched in September 1999 by Mr Gilley, Peace One Day has gained active support from governments and individuals the world over. In September 2001, Peace One Day achieved its primary obj...

Madiba urges fellow Elders to inspire hope
2007-07-19 14:55:00
Nelson Mandela, marked his 89th birthday on Wednesday by launching his fellow elder statesmen on a new venture to reduce conflict and despair.The former South African president was the host and star turn at a ceremony in Johannesburg to announce the formation of a brains trust of world leaders, bringing together the likes of former United States president Jimmy Carter and former United Nations chief Kofi Annan, on a mission to tackle some of the world's most pressing problems."Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair," said Mandela as he unveiled the launch of the Elders. Read Complete Article Here:Madiba urges fellow Elders to inspire hopeTags: Mandela, Hope , Inspiration, Motivation,
More About: Inspire , Urge

Japan Contributes $8.6 million
2007-07-18 14:33:00
Japan has contributed $8.6 million to Southern Sudan, aiding the region?s school-rebuilding efforts following two decades of civil war that devastated the education system there. "With this $8.6 million contribution from the Government of Japan, we have been able to focus on school construction," explained UNICEF Representative in Sudan Ted Chaiban. "We have been able to construct 20 schools in south Sudan and rehabilitate another 20 schools, and the work is still ongoing."Some 850,000 children, 34 per cent of them girls, were enrolled in schools by the end of 2006 ? a major increase from an estimated 343,000 who were in school in Southern Sudan during the war. As more children enrol, more learning spaces and school supplies are needed, making Japan?s contribution an especially timely one.Tags: UNICEF, Japan, Sudan, Children, Schools,
More About: Japan , Million , Bute , Tribute , Tribu

For Empowered Generations
2007-07-17 15:44:00
A total of 190 young people from Amman volunteered yesterday to take part in a project aimed at fostering youth participation in community work. Entitled "For Empowered Generation s", the project, carried out with the support of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), seeks to develop youth potential and awareness, in addition to increasing their contributions to community service.The project was launched by Her Majesty Queen Rania, the chairperson of the Jordan River Foundation (JRF), which the QRFCC functions. Over a period of one month, the volunteers will carry out maintenance work on three public schools and gardens. The voluntary work will include painting, cleaning and carrying out repairs, in addition to cleaning, mowing lawns and laying yards. During the launch, the Queen praised the enthusiasm of the volunteers and their readiness to commit themselves to such community-based projects.Tags: Queen Rania, Jordan, Volunteering, Teens,
More About: Generations

The Harry Potter Alliance
2007-07-16 14:34:00
Are you a Harry Potter fan? Who isn't right? Well, this is a great organization I found out about, by visiting Britt Bravo's blog Have fun - Do Good.The Harry Potter Alliance uses examples of Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore to spread love and fight the Dark Arts in the real world.Genocide, Poverty, AIDS, and Global Warming are just some of the subjects that the HP Alliance works to erradicate.The HP Alliance is dedicated to bringing together Harry Potter fans from everywhere to spread love and fight the Dark Arts in the real world and they need your help!"As long as there are those that are aware that the weapon we have is love and that more than ever, it?s time to use that weapon."Find out what you can do, and join the Harry Potter Alliance.Tags: Harry Potter, Poverty, Aids, Global Warming,
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Weekend Fun Episode #3
2007-07-14 01:45:00
Another week come and go, wow they do go by very fast don't they? I hope everyone had a great one and TGIF!!! :)My weekly basketball game was kinda-sorta canceled by my opponent but hey, theres always next week right?Have you noticed there never seems to be anything to watch on TV these days? I guess it is a good thing, it allows me to spend more time with friends.. and time doing things I really enjoy like, playing bball, and keeping in shape.So Let's see...___________________________________ ________________________Baseball Fan?Do ya like baseball? Me personally I find it kinda slow, but that coming from a guy who enjoys watching tennis and golf, which most people think is kind of slow.....however - if you are into baseball, then I happen to know a special blog by a VERY PASSIONATE baseball fan. Who? None other than Alyssa Milano Check it out *Touch* 'em All______________________________________ _____________________Wanna Play Pacman?...Knock yourself out!________________________...
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Bloggers for a Better World
2007-07-13 14:24:00
My blog has been selected for the "Blogg ers for Positive Global Change" award by Survivors Can Thrive. The award is also a meme, I am to select a few blogs which promote positive global change.I don't usually participate in memes but this one I think is a great way to bring to attention the many blogs out there trying to propel Positive Change in the world.There are many great blogs doing that but since I did have to select a few here are my choices.How I changed the world Today - A passionate blog, written by a passionate woman named Julia who gets up in the morning determined to both change the world and to have one hell of a good time.The Good News Blog - A cozy blog by Jose who believes, We are all tired of bad news... so why not to make an effort to make the good news to shine over the bad news?Look to the Stars - Inspiration for a better world. - They publish news about how celebrities are helping to make the world a better place, and we tell fans how they can get involved ...
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Queen Rania Speaks to Arab Women
2007-07-12 14:38:00
Her Majesty Queen Rani a of Jordan, honorary president of the Arab Women Labour Affairs Committee (AWLAC), underlined on Wednesday the need to increase job openings for women and raise their awareness about joining the labour market.During a meeting with the AWLAC members, she stressed the importance of cooperation among Arab countries to expand women?s participation in the labour market."Although investments of Arab countries in women?s education issteadily growing, the yielded benefits are still low." the Queen toldthe AWLAC officials. "This is evident in the low percentage of women in the workforce," she said.In 1997, the ratio of women in the workforce reached 14.2 percent, up from 7.7 per cent in 1979. The Kingdom?s well-trained and highly-skilled labour force is viewed as a valuable asset to thecountry and to the region.Stressing the need to intensify efforts to enhance women?s participation in the workforce, the Queen acknowledged that this drive requires time and a change in ...
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Real Girl of the Year 2007
2007-07-11 14:15:00
Ellen Wildman, 13, of Geneva was recently selected as one of three winners from more than 14,000 entries in the first Real Girl of the Year Award, sponsored by American Girl, where parents were asked to pen an essay on their daughter's community service and volunteer activities.For the last three years, the Geneva Middle School South student has held ?Ellen?s Excellent Sale,? a garage sale to raise money for the Lazarus House homeless shelter in St. Charles.A family work visit to the homeless shelter a few years ago inspired Ellen. She was amazed to find families with children her age living in a homeless shelter just down the street from her own house, and was determined to help them.Ellen went through her room and decided to sell off some of her extra clothes and toys to raise money for the shelter. Ellen also hatched the idea of having a bake sale and selling her ?famous? brownies.Q: Why is holding "Ellen?s Excellent Sale" every year so important to you?Ellen: I like getting the...

Flood Crisis in Pakistan
2007-07-10 14:33:00
Hampered by flash floods and blocked roads, relief efforts have started reaching the most vulnerable since Cyclone Yemyin struckPakistan last week.In the worst-hit province of Balochistan, where child mortality and malnutrition rates were very high even before the disaster, a top priority for UNICEF and its partners is ensuring that children have access to food, safe water and protection from abuse or exploitation."The situation has been very difficult," said UNICEF Pakistan Communication Officer Antonia Paradela. "Large areas of Balochistan have been badly affected. [River] banks have been inundated and many buildings have been destroyed." "UNICEF is particularly worried because many areas have been cut off," she added. "And children are the ones who get less of a chance to access vital services, such as health, education, water and basic sanitation."Meeting children?s urgent needs:In collaboration with other UN agencies, UNICEF is leading several crisis-response teams focusing on ...
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Keep a Child Alive
2007-07-09 13:44:00
Keep A Child Alive , a charitable organization that gets anti-retroviral treatment to children infected with AIDS in Africa -received a US$100,000 bid for its charity auction package, including: the first iPhone (purchased by filmmakerSpike Lee), two Jawbone Bluetooth headsets, two round-trip domestic plane tickets and two VIP passes to the Black Ball. The iPhone will be personalized with a voice mail greeting from Alicia Keys and presented by the R&B star at the organization?s Black Ball honoring Bono on Oct. 25th in New York City. Supporters of Keep A Child Alive took advantage of the iPhone launch by standing in line for four days communicating the charity?s grass-roots mission.At 6 pm on Friday, June 29, Spike Lee joined Keep A Child Alive volunteers at Apple?s Soho location to purchase the first iPhone.Keep A Child Alive is a committed partner of the One Campaign.To learn more about this auction or how you can support Keep a Child Alive, Click HereTags: iphone, AIDS, Po...

Weekend Fun Episode #2
2007-07-07 07:06:00
Welcome back to another great moment in weekend blogging history! Ya! Anyway.. lol - I hope everyone enjoyed last weekend's post, and I will try and make this one even more interesting.This past week was an interesting one, other than making money ( which is pretty much the norm for weekdays ) I tried to keep up on the Wimbledon Tennis Matches, but unfortunately it has been raining everyday this week so the matches were all messed up. I was...however extremely disappointed that Maria Sharapova lost..got crushed actually - by Venus Williams... then Justine Henin got crushed, it is a crazy year at Wimbledon! I got one player left, Roger Federer, he has to come through for me! What else did I do, I spent some time with my family and friends on the 4th of July, and played my weekly basketball game, which of course I came out the champ .. once again! lol______________________________________ _____________________What's new in the Tech World?Apple iphoneAs I am sure you have heard, th...
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A truly inspiring Wish
2007-07-06 14:51:00
When Colton was diagnosed with Ewing?s sarcoma in 2006, people in hiscommunity made one thing clear: He wouldn?t have to face the diseasealone.His teammates from the South Whidbey High School Falcons baseball team shaved their heads in support. Another teammate volunteered to DJ at a dance to raise money for Colton?s treatment. Other people from the community organized dunk tank fundraisers and fairs to provide a laptop for Colton so he could keep up in school.Colton, now 16 and in remission from the rare form of cancer, didn?t forget those who helped him. When the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alaska, Montana, Northern Idaho and Washington offered to grant his one true wish, he chose a wish that would benefit his community: a complete renovation of his high school?s baseball field.While the team took pride in its field, the school did not have the funds to update aged bleachers weathered by the frequent rains, purchase tarps to protect the infield, erect new fencing and make long-neede...

Giving Wisely
2007-07-05 15:10:00
I hope that everyone who celebrated the 4th of July, had a great holiday! In the spirit of the holiday, many people give to charities, especially ones that support the veterans, police, and firefighters - unfortunately this is also the time when scammers and charity frauds surface. So if you are considering giving to organizations that support these causes, then here are some tips from Charity Navigator -Give locally. Don't trust a charity based in another state that promises that it will give money to police, firefighters or veterans in your state. If you want to support your local or state police, fire station, or military unit contact them directly and find out where they prefer to have donations given. Never give over the phone. Of the charities with high fundraising expenses, much of their money is spent on for-profit telemarketing companies. These companies often charge the charity 20 to 90 cents of each dollar raised. That's more of your money not going to those protect...
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Child-friendly journalism in Iraq
2007-07-04 14:51:00
To balance the grim daily reports of bombings and violence in Iraq , Mohammad, 28, is trying a new focus - he created a television show called 'Sabah El Kheir Mosul,(Good Morning Masul) which focuses on the lives of children."I used to dream of being a children?s cartoonist," said Mohammad. "But the war has made this job very hard. So for now I am satisfied just giving space to children on my show, because children need all our help."Mohammad?s work is devoted to issues that touch children deeply, suchas their experiences at school, their treatment at home and the changesthat conflict has brought to their lives. He also hosts a radioprogram giving young artists, writers and others the chance to sharetheir skills and hopes."In Iraq, we struggle to ensure fair reporting on humanitarian issues.With so many problems it is too easy to forget about children ormisrepresent them," he said. "Child ren participating in the media canbuild their own self-esteem and help to educate and enlighten ...
More About: Journalism , Friendly

Direct Relief Update
2007-07-03 15:11:00
I wanted to let you know that Dire ct Relief International unveiled a new websitelast week at DirectRelief.org, providing visitors with an improved outlet for constant updates on the status of Direct Relief?s efforts to improve access to health care throughout the world.According to Web traffic tracking, DirectRelief.org is among the top five most visitedphilanthropic sites on the Web.Direct Relief International provides medical assistance to improve thequality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civilunrest at home and throughout the world.Tags: Charity, Philanthropy, Relief,
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Chittagong Landslide Fund
2007-07-03 05:05:00
My friend Sadiq Alam, over at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts Blog, asked me to help bring awareness to a cause he is supporting.On June 11th, 2007 Bangladesh suffered a terrible landslide, that caused the death of more than 100 people.Click here to read Sadiq's post and find out how you can help. Tags: Charity, Donation, Crisis, Bangladesh,
More About: Fund , Gong