Today I volunteered in my daughter’s kindergarten
class…during the three hours we were there she participated in reading, played
educational games, practiced math, spent time outside, socialized, was aided in
problem solving, and spoke in both her native English and in her new language
of Spanish.
My kids, like their parents, are blessed to live in a place
that not only values education, but values education for all kids – boys AND
GIRLS!
On June 16, 2012, my son, daughter, and I attended ‘Namaste
India’. ‘Namaste India’ was a
global fundraising initiative by and for Room to Read. The goal was to raise enough money to
fund at least 150 young girls in the Room to Read Girls’ Education Program; by
early estimates they have exceeded their goal - an awesome outcome regardless and especially considering this was the first time for the event!
Namaste India Global Yoga Day included, across 5 continents,
108 participating yoga studios, individual teachers, and yogis who pulled up a
mat in honour of the initiative!
Here, in Calgary, Cori Everett, of Soul Health, graciously and
generously donated a yoga class to which everyone - men, women, and children,
the practiced and the not so practiced - were welcomed.
My sister, Lisa Amonson, is Calgary Chapter Leader for Room
to Read and, while we were wrapping up our yoga session, she spoke to us, and in
particular to the many kids present, about what it means to walk into a library
and HAVE BOOKS, what it means to know that you may attend school each day
regardless of your genes, and also how it feels to help those who are in much
different and harder circumstances than we are. It was very moving and I will take a brief moment now to say
that I think my sister is awesome and I applaud her generous spirit, her
intelligent mind, and her willingness to go far beyond what most of us do in
the name of another...Lisa inspires me and my family in countless ways.
Calgary Chapter raised, at last count, $1,285!! WOW! It is so inspiring when people can come together to
consciously change another’s life.
It is also very rewarding to give to a charity that has meaningful accolades,
beyond the idealism of what they are trying to do…
Room to Read has, in Africa and Asia:
·
Provided access to education for more than 6
million children since 2000
·
Established 1,592 schools and 13,170 libraries
·
Published 700+ books in 27 local languages
(representing 7.2 million books!)
·
Distributed more than 10 million books including
original Room to Read titles, donated English and local-language books
·
Supported 13,160 girls through the Girls’
Education Program
AND:
·
Room to Read was recognized in Barron’s magazine
“25 Best Givers” list (2009 and 2010) and the Global Journal’s “Top 100 NGOs in
the World (2012)
·
They were awarded Charity Navigator’s highest
4-star rating for sound fiscal management five years in a row – a
recognition that only 6% of their rated charities can claim!
·
And more….!
On a Room to Read ‘Quick Fact Sheet’, they say:
“ Room to Read focuses on girls
transitioning to secondary school because that is where the biggest – and most
permanent – gaps in gender equality in education take place. We do this primarily through supporting
girls to attend school, providing female mentoring, and creating more
girl-friendly school environments.
We have recently added more emphasis on teaching life skills to girls so
they will finish school ready to make informed life decisions.”
I know this post has absolutely nothing to do with
photography (outside of my pictures from the event), but: it was written by a gal who has had all the chances in the
world; someone who has happily travelled to a great many places on the planet; an individual who gets to follow her dreams BECAUSE of an upbringing that endowed her
with education, support, and encouragement; and finally, by a person who wants
our world to be more understanding, with greater equality, and in which the girls
of Asia and Africa are able to provide their intelligence and skills to their
own families first, then their communities, and ultimately to our world.
I am of the absolute belief that educating the world’s
children and, in particular, giving an extra hand to girls is critical to our
future. I encourage you to look
into Room to Read and hopefully you too will consider it a charity worthy of
your hard earned dollars.
Room to Read links:
To find out more, please email: info@roomtoread.org
Soul Health Yoga Studio - Cori Everett:
* Cori is in the midst of a website rehaul (and any small
business owner knows that website updates are tough and time consuming!);
please know that she is ‘one of the good guys’…a terrific yoga instructor and a
wonderful human being!
Life – and education – are beautiful!
Namaste,
Lori
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