Advocacy
Passport to Africa Party!
It’s no secret that I have a huge soft spot in my heart for Africa and African causes (how could I not I have two half-African kids!) In the last few months I was introduced to Hartlyn Kids books and my boys love them! I was so delighted when they contacted me earlier this month to see if I wanted to co-host a Twitter party with them and some other fabulous bloggers. Of course I did! I hope that you all can join us on January 31st from 9-10:30 EST to learn more about Africa, multicultural families and help raise money for Hartlyn Kids new book all about Africa!
Here are the details:
Join Us for a Passport to Africa Twitter Party with Hartlyn Kids!
Hartlyn Kids invites you to a ‘Passport to Africa Twitter Party’ to help them raise funds for a NEW children’s book about a country in Africa! The upcoming book will be the third in a series that travels the globe, one book at a time, through unique stories from people who live and create in the countries that are represented in their books!
HartlynKids believes that everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story in their own words. Their books empower writers and illustrators abroad, while putting diverse and culturally sensitive stories into the hands of young readers world wide. Now, that’s something to celebrate!
Hartlyn Kids readers and supporters now have the chance to help this dream to become a reality!
Join us for some fun trivia about Africa, lively discussion and excellent prizes during this LIVE event on Twitter! We’ll be talking multicultural life, travel and more, all while raising money for a great new project from Hartlyn Kids! See you there!
Stay tuned during the Twitter party for special announcements about how you can help make the new Hartlyn Kids Africa book a reality!
PARTY DETAILS:
HOST: @mculturalfam
CO-HOSTS:
(Make sure to follow us all before the party starts!)
When: Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
What Time: From 9:00 PM to 10:30 PM EST
Where:Tweetgrid.com,Tweetchat.com,Twitter.com
Hashtag: #HKAfricaBook
RSVP:twtvite.com/HKAfricaBook
PRIZES:
- One (1) $50 Amazon Gift Card from @HartlynKids
- Three (3) Africa sticker book collection from @PutumayoMusic
- One (1)The Africa Cookbook: Tastes of a Continent by Jessica B. Harris
- One (1) World Travel Mom – E-book: “Mom’s Guide To Travel With Young Kids”
- One (1)Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering from @shikokusue
- One (1) @HartlynKids gift basket (Featuring India book, Philippines books & Hartlyn Kids passport)
*For a chance to win, you must RSVP, follow host/co-hosts and respond to giveaway questions.
LEARN MORE:
For more information visit: http://bit.ly/yUlesU
Donate to Hartlyn Kids’ IndieGoGo Fund! http://bit.ly/vuzOQj
On Dreams and Healing Broken Hearts
There are few times in life that we have the chance to make our dreams come true. I have always wanted to have a career that would allow me to help people the most in need. In the 1990′s, as I was growing up, the AIDS epidemic was destroying Africa. I can remember telling my mom “When I’m old enough I just want to go to Africa and hug those babies.” I was 12. The years rolled on and as my peers were making class presentations on football stars and fashion trends I talked about female genital mutilation and the Ben Barka Affair. A totally normal 15 year old right? I guess you could say my heart was always somewhere else.
Then life happened.
At 18 my life changed forever and suffice to say my dreams of Africa went out the window – I had my own baby to hug. I had so much support and a lot of determination to finish university no matter what. Many options were presented but only one was right for me. As hard as it was I had to keep that little person. In doing so, I gave up on all hope I had ever had to make my Africa dream come true. Resigning that dream was soul-crushing.
But Allah (God) had other plans.
I met the other half of my heart, he picked me up, loved me, and brought a new world for me to love. I feel in love with Morocco, the people, the food, the colors and smells but no matter where you are or how wonderful a place seems, lurking under the covers is the dirtier side. It’s not as shiny – frankly it’s pretty ugly.
The first time I saw a woman on the streets with a baby I wanted to give her all that I had. But, there were so many. Then it was like I had walked into a wall. This would have been me. If I wouldn’t have been born where I was – I would be that mother. I walked away on the brink of tears when all I really wanted to do was give her a hug. In all my struggle, I thought I had really done something. But, this mom, she chose her child even if it meant an existence that was dependent on begging.
Over the years these moms and babies have stayed very close in my heart and mind. As the years have gone by my appreciation for the safety net that exists in the United States has only grown greater. I want to give Moroccan women that. I have a dream to open a home in Marrakech for women and their children. It will be a safe place where moms can go to school as well as learning a trade or profession to support themselves. Housing will be provided and cooperative childcare and meals will be standard. When they are ready and able, support will be given to find housing and start them out on a positive note. This dream remains in my heart.
I know that it will take years for me to launch such a program however as we prepared for our last trip this fall I was determined to do something positive. I launched Mobiles for Morocco to bring baby mobiles, clothes, and toys to an orphanage in Marrakech. And, you all responded more than I ever imagined. Within a day of putting up information there were monetary and physical donation pledges made. It kept coming in the days and weeks that followed. As we left I had one large suitcase full of 50 pounds of clothing, mobiles and toys. Nearly $400 came in and many parcels of mobiles and clothes – some from as far away as Ireland! – came. As each new package came I was overflowing with emotion. I had hoped to bring just a few items with but thanks to you I brought A LOT of things!
When the day came I met Nora from Life in Marrakech and her mom to go to the orphanage. We were also joined by her lovely kids as well as MarocBaba. When we arrived I took a deep breathe and in we went. First the baby room where a dozen-or-so little babies lined the walls in their cribs. I was happy they all had names and I wanted to hold them all. One tiny two month old just called out to me. As soon as I picked him up and held him, the tears started. “I know your mama is missing you tonight,” escaped my mouth. I kept sucking in air and trying not to cry.
The next two rooms had babies a little older. Nora’s kids helped distribute toys and choose where to place the mobiles. The smiles of these little ones was so contagious. It was harder to hold the older ones because they just wanted to stay in our arms, putting them down was heartbreaking and met with small cries of protest. I remember my own boys at that age squirmed to get out of my arms, these toddlers laid on our shoulders and stayed still. More than one stole my heart.
This orphanage is privately run and most of the children who were there when we were are waiting for paperwork to finish processing before they can go to their forever families. There are a handful of orphanages in Morocco that will adopt orphans to the United States. If you have a Moroccan spouse or are living in Morocco the situation may be different. This specific orphanage does not adopt orphans to the US. Donations however, are always welcome. In addition to caring for these children, the second floor of the building has several guest rooms. Just a short walk from the orphanage is a children’s hospital and the rooms are for parents who have children needing long-term treatment at the hospital.
It wasn’t until my mom pointed out a profound fact about this trip that I realized just how full circle my life had come. She told me that my dream had come true. I wasn’t sure what she meant. She then reminded me of my childhood dreams. The ones I had give up when my life was turned upside down. I followed my heart and did what I thought was right. And – I did make it to Africa to help orphaned babies.
This will not be the end of my journey or this project. If you would like to get involved or have fundraising ideas for this orphanage please contact me. When these little ones move on, there will be more waiting to take their places.
Putting up a mobile for toddlers.
Mobiles for some smaller babies
If you would like to make a donation directly to this orphanage funds can be transferred to SGMB Al M bank in Marrakech Account # 022 450000 174 000902747453
The Passport Party Project
Sixteen was a big year for me. I got my drivers’ licence, my first passport and my first trip out of the country. Most kids pine for their drivers licence, to open up all kinds of new opportunity and freedom. For me, my first passport held that same promise. For years and years I dreamed, read, wrote and waited for my opportunity to travel internationally. I knew there was so much more outside of the small Midwestern town I grew up in. I couldn’t wait to see and taste the world.
That little blue book that I covet more than any other possession, (seriously if you know me I don’t get attached to many things, but never ask me to give up that passport!) has taken me to 3 continents and brought me to the love of my life. It opened my eyes to see the wider world, helped me to understand where I came from and taught me people are people no matter where they are. I became a better person because of the opportunities that that document held.
I’m writing this because I want to share with you a really great program run by my blogging friend Tracey at One Brown Girl. The Passport Party Project aims to give girls 11-16 their first passport and open up the world to them. Only 30% of Americans hold a passport and I can tell you from personal experience it IS life changing. The project aims to give 100 girls their first passport in 18 months and is off to a great start! I support this project with my whole heart and truly believe that being a part of the global world is vital to our success as individuals and as a nation.
Recently a friend of mine went to Morocco – her first trip outside of the Americas. She faced a lot of criticism and fear from people back home about what her trip would hold. She posted this a few days ago;
“On this day, God wants you to know … that there is much more good in this world than bad. Don’t let the media fool you. There are kind, good-hearted, generous, loving people all over this world. They just don’t get nearly as much attention as the ‘bad guys’. Remember that there is goodness and love all around.
This trip has really been an eye opener for me and this paragraph above sums it up. Muslims are a very loving hospitable group of people that the news makes look bad every day. I want everyone to know there are good and bad in every religion but in my experience I have met only wonderful Muslims in the United States and in Morocco. Open your mind and your hearts to get to know a Muslim without fear. You will gain a new friend.”
Travel does that. A passport opens that door. Reaching out to people, especially to girls when they are young stops those negative impressions from forming.
If you’d like to know more or get involved visit The Passport Party blog. Like it on Facebook. If you’re feeling really generous, consider making a donation to help provide a passport for a young girl. You really can change a life.
I’d love to hear your stories about getting a passport, where you first took your passport, or where you’d love to go once you do get one!
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