An Act of Selflessness and Kindness

How will you make a difference in a child's life today?

Have you ever done something completely selfless?  I still question this about myself.  Just because I have done something kind for someone does not mean, that I too, did not benefit from it.  I find the greatest joy in helping others.  Sometimes this makes helping others feel like a bit of a selfish endeavor.  What I've come to realize though, is that despite what I may gain in self esteem or love for myself by helping others, it does not take away from the help they've received.  I hurt no one by acting on my selfishness in this way, and using it to help others.  Do a selfish selfless thing today.  Please consider a donation to this great organization.  We've nearly met our goal, and I simply can't give up on the children of Hohoe before we do.  Please know that every dollar makes a huge difference to a child in Ghana.  A $1USD donation is about 2 Ghana Cedis which is more than many people make in one day when living in extreme poverty.  Imagine...your dollar could save a life!  Now that's a great act of selfish selflessness!

Click below to donate or find out more about the projects being undertaken by Community in Action for Self Help Projects!

http://casp.bellstrike.com/members/theresa-taylor/hope-for-hohoe-community-in-action-for-self-help-projects

Did you watch Half the Sky last week?

Did you watch the Half the Sky premier documentary last week on PBS?  What did you think?

Poverty in the USA?

Think poverty doesn't exist here in the United States?  Well, I wish that were true...unfortunately, even here in the United States, a place many might call the land of opportunity - poverty exists!  Check out this video that highlights the impact of poverty on children here in the US.

Are you out there?

What started as a simple blog to keep family and friends informed of my trip to Ghana, has grown.  It's come to reach almost 1200 people, from 10 countries, on 4 of the world's 7 continents.  Thank you everyone! 

If you've been reading along at all, you are probably wondering...well, what's the next goal!?!?! 

Well this week, I'm bringing the statistics a bit closer to home and extending my time to complete my goal.  This time, I will run until the goal is complete whether it takes me a week or a month!  My new goal is to run 25 miles.  Why is 25 miles significant you ask?

 

According to the US Census  25.4% of residents in the city of Albany, NY live in poverty.  This is almost twice the state and federal poverty rate.  Essentially, one in four people that you pass on the streets of the City of Albany do not have the financial means to live to their greatest potentials.

Goal Completed - 12 Miles for Access to Clean Drinkable Water

So, yesterday was an important day!  After a 2 mile bike ride and 2 mile run I completed 12 total miles of forward movement since Sunday.  Why is the number 12 so important you ask?  Well...let me explain!

A mere 12% of the world's population uses about 85% of the consumable water.  This means that for the other 88% of the population, the majority of which live in the developing nations of the Global South, there is limited access to clean water for daily survival. 

I ran 12 miles to encourage that 12% consuming the vast majority of the world's water, to share that water with the other 88% of our global brothers and sisters.  Consistent local access to clean water can, provide health benefits, opportunities for women and children to do other work including school work, and reduce gender disparities in work, school, and healthy developmental play. 

Next time you turn on the tap to fill a glass, consider making a donation to the organization of your choice that will secure access to safe clean water sources for those who don't already have that.  WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE!

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - I will not give up!

Today wasn't as bad as yesterday, and I have hope that it was worse than tomorrow will be.  I'm making some sort of daily progress.  Two miles of running and one mile of biking adds 3 more miles completed towards my goal for today.  So far 8 miles complete this week and only 4 more to go!!!  Woo hoo!!

Remember... only 12% of the world's population consumes 85% of its consumable water on average.  Moreover, that 12% lives in the small developed world, or as some call it, the Global North.  Let's encourage the 12% to share some of that life sustaining water with the other 88% who so direly need it.  ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKABLE WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE!

Check out this featured non-profit that wants to do something about this!
http://thewaterproject.org/clean-water-wells-in-africa.asp

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - I NEED WATER!

Today was one of the hardest days of exercise I have ever completed.  It's becoming apparent what years of being overweight has done to my body.  My joints are giving way and my muscles are screaming, but I cannot...no, WILL NOT...give up!  Don't give up out there!  I'm standing tall and strong with you!  I realize that it is because I am so heavy at the top of me that the bottom of me feels like it is crushing under my weight, but in reality, it's not.  It hurts, I've screamed, pushed, and pulled through the pain, and ultimately in two days I have completed rounds and rounds of strength training and 5 miles of running.  That brings me to one of the most important points (beyond the lesson of just don't give up everyone), my goal for the week.  I am running for clean water this week!  Did you know...

A MERE 12% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION USES 85% OF OUR WORLD'S WATER CONSUMPTION.  IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS 12% DOES NOT LIVE IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE THIRD WORLD.

This week I will run 12 miles in order to encourage that 12% to think of ways to share our clean water supplies with the 88% who so direly need it.  Water saves lives!  Will you help us save a life today?

5 MILES COMPLETED, 7 MILES TO GO!

GOAL 1 SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - ACHIEVED!

With my 4 mile run from last night...I have officially hit over 11 miles since Saturday and met my first goal.  It wasn't easy, and especially last night I was in need of some inspiration.  My inspiration for the night was my mother.  She's a strong woman who commands the room, and despite many health challenges over the years, has always had a survival spirit.  Yesterday, I ran for my mother, but I also ran to raise more awareness about childhood mortality.  We MUST act now to offer life to children...did you know...

 

In 2003 over 10.6 million children perished before their 5th birthday. 

 



Let's help save a child! 

 

 

In completing my first running goal and raising awareness

about childhood mortality I also accomplished:

 

-Running 11.2 miles in 4 days

-Burned 1530 calories

 

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - GOAL 1: CHILDHOOD MORTALITY

The survival challenge is all about setting personal running goals related to issues addressed by the Millennium Development Goals.  It's about raising awareness while I fight for my health and survival.  This week's key statistic that informs my personal running goal is:

10.6 MILLION CHILDREN IN 2003 DIED BEFORE THEY REACHED AGE 5!  

Help save our world's children!  Visit Community in Action for Self Help Projects and make a donation.
http://casp.bellstrike.com/members/theresa-taylor/hope-for-hohoe-community-in-action-for-self-help-projects

I will continue running until I have completed 10.6 miles.  So far between yesterday and today I have already run 7 miles...only 3.6 miles to go to raise awareness about childhood mortality!

From Poverty Challenge to Survival Challenge!

This week I decided on my next challenge.  I am aware that people all around the world fight to stay alive every day.  From the elderly woman trying to wake up from surgery in the United States to the child fighting to survive malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, life each day is a fight.  Well it's time I fought.  It's time to fight for a healthier life for me and for others.  So...my new challenge is a running challenge.  So many things honestly, have come naturally to me...running is NOT one of them.  That's what makes this personal challenge so perfect.  I will make running goals based on statistics about the 8 Millennium Development goals.  While raising awareness...I'll be fighting for my life, building a healthier life, to offer awareness about the lives of others.  Cheer me on!  This will not be easy, but I'm ready for the CHALLENGE!  The all new SURVIVAL CHALLENGE.

My starting weight 1 year ago was 186lbs.  it is the heaviest I have EVER been.  My goal weight 120 lbs.  More than losing weight, I hope to raise awareness about the daily struggles in our world.  

Be a Global Citizen

Are you a Global Citizen? 

Poverty Challenge is Over...So What NEXT?

Ok, so I need some help with my next idea!  I want to create a video (or series of videos) about what people would like our world to be like in 2025 and 2050.  So...here's what I need.  People willing to do a short 10-30 second video either with me or on your own and submitted to me electronically about what you'd like the world to look like in 2025 or 2050 as it relates to social justice.  We're not talking flying cars, though if flying cars will fix a world problem...GO FOR IT!  Anyone interested??

Poverty Challenge - Thank You!

Thank you so much everyone!  Our small blog has hit an important mile marker!  We have had over 1,000 page views from as many as 15 countries around the world!  Let's keep this momentum going so that we can continue to raise awareness about issues impacting our global community, including poverty!  We're well on our way to 2,000 page views and this is cause for celebration!

Poverty Challenge - What's next

After about 2 weeks on the poverty challenge...we've finally given in.  We've had some of our first real meals in what seems like a long time.  We made it more than twice as long as the average person does on the challenge, and it felt great to know we'd raised awareness about poverty in our global community. 

The real question is...what's next?  What can we do to keep this momentum going?  What can we do to keep extreme poverty at the forefront of conversations.  We're taking suggestions!  Challenge us... to challenge others, to keep talking about poverty!  Suggest some ideas of new challenges!

Poverty Challenge

Will you dare to live below the line?  You might be surprised what you learn about yourself, those around you, and our global neighbors.  Dare to live...Dare to live below the line!

Day 11 and life is good!  I will be strong, I will be brave, I have crossed the line-need a hand?  Mine is here for you to grab...Cross the line with me!

Please consider a donating to Community in Action for Self Help Projects!
http://casp.bellstrike.com/members/theresa-taylor/hope-for-hohoe-community-in-action-for-self-help-projects

Poverty Challenge - Day 9 Check In

Today is officially day 9!  Tomorrow we will have lasted twice as long as the average person who takes the live below the line poverty challenge.  It feels great honestly!  Here are the rough updates:

• Lost 8.5 pounds in 9 days
• Did the math today and have actually spent an average of $.082 per day so far - WooHoo!
• Already have accrued a $4.58 credit from past day's savings
• Have cried no less than 7 times from sheer frustration of life in general and the impact that hunger has on everyday challenges
• Have engaged 10 of my dearest friends as donors to a great organization Community in Action for Self Help Projects
• Have found myself in the middle of countless discussions with people about poverty...conversations that otherwise may never have happened.

Honestly though, I wouldn't be so inspired to keep going if it weren't for the hope that I was able to get from seeing so many people I love supporting a great organization Community in Action for Self Help Projects (see programs here http://casp.bellstrike.com/programs ).  Please consider a personally significant contribution to this great organization.  You can donate here http://casp.bellstrike.com/members/theresa-taylor/hope-for-hohoe-community-in-action-for-self-help-projects.

Whenever I get discouraged I think about my time in Hohoe.  Hohoe was a place I felt safe exploring, a place where I made friends into family, a place where hugs were the most comforting embraces I have ever experienced.  There is no place in the world like Ghana.  It's a complex, challenging, loving, confusing, harsh, beautiful, welcoming place and despite all its dichotomies, it always felt like home.  Give Hohoe a hug back by donating today!  Peace and Love!

Poverty Challenge - Whole Milk

I traded Michael some Jello for 1/2 a cup of whole milk yesterday. I decided to wait to have the milk for breakfast this morning. I had forgotten how rich and creamy whole milk is. It almost tastes like some kind of decadent candy in my mouth. Day 7 is starting off with a real treat!

Poverty Challenge - Me vs. Reality

Today was a day of great reflection.  I decided to buy some Jello today.  I hate Jello, but the idea of eating something sweet and cherry flavored suddenly made my mouth water.  I realized today, that my experience with the poverty challenge isn't a true simulation on many levels.  The most important being, that I know that my experience with extreme poverty can and will end when I choose.  This means that, while I've been craving things I can't afford, I'm able to convince myself that sometime soon in the future I could buy that again.  This means I've stayed away from a lot of things I would like to have, that are a bit out of my $1.50 a day budget.  I realize however, that someone living in extreme poverty does not have this luxury.  They may never see an end to their poverty, and even worse, may never realize the experience of being out of extreme poverty.  I suppose if that were the case for me, I might be inclined to buy the things I could afford for just a day of enjoyment.  Even if there were unpleasant consequences I would still probably go to some pretty big extremes to have just one day where I could treat myself...an important reflection I think.

Poverty Challenge - Coping Through Food

Are you one of those people, like me, who uses food to soothe?  So I've realized before that I use food to cope with life's challenges, and today it's put to the test!  My car has been into the dealer for repair 4 times now for the same problem.  Each time they charge me a fairly significant amount, and each time I come away with a car that no longer run after less than a week.  Essentially, I have a $20,000 paperweight with only 60,000 miles on it and not even GM is able to help.  Today...it broke down again.  More than anything, I want a cupcake and a soda to make me feel better!  I decided to stick this through though, and what sense would it make to give up on the Poverty Challenge just because I am upset about something else.  Tonight...I learn to cope and soothe myself with something other than food...not sure what yet...suggestions????

Poverty Challenge - A Woman Thing?

So... When we first started the challenge it seemed like Michael's first thought was how much food can I buy for $1.50? Mine on the other hand was... Do you think I'll gain weight from eating a lot of starches or lose weight from eating less? I realize that my figure and looks are almost always on my mind. This challenge has been a good time for me to reflect on not just poverty but also what it means to be a woman. It's a chance for me to question the pressures that i put on myself. In any case if anyone is wondering... It's day 5 and I've lost 6 pounds so far.

This is a magical grapefruit! It lifted my spirits yesterday on Day 3 when I had enough money to buy it, and today, half of it made for a great breakfast!!  Great deal for only $1.25.  This is why I have been eating the same rice and split peas all week!

Poverty Challenge - Day 3

It's day 3 of the poverty challenge.  I will have a balance of $1.60 at the end of today to go foraging at the grocery store for some additions to the pantry.  I still have a lot of rice left and a good amount of split peas (had a near miss when I burned the pot of split peas last night, but scraped off the parts that were still good).  I think they'll last me the rest of the week, so I am hoping to buy a piece of fruit tonight.  To think of a grapefruit as an investment is a new experience for me, but I'm really looking forward to it.  I could cut it in half and have it for two whole days! - My mouth is already watering!

So far I've already been craving: Donuts, Chips, Blue Cheese, Olives, and...Pickles.  Weird, I know!  Still going strong!  Most people only make it about 1 week on the Poverty Challenge otherwise known as the Live Below the Line Challenge. So far I'm more than halfway to their goal, but I want to make it longer.  Please help keep my spirits up by donating to my chosen charity!  Link below...

http://casp.bellstrike.com/members/theresa-taylor/hope-for-hohoe-community-in-action-for-self-help-projects


Check out their programs!  Community in Action for Self Help Projects

http://casp.bellstrike.com/programs

The Poverty Challenge

Michael and I are taking the Poverty Challenge.  $1.50 USD a day is the generally agreed worldwide limit for EXTREME POVERTY.  This means that a person is trying to cover all life's expenses on only $1.50 USD a day or its equivalent.  While Michael and I wouldn't be able to do that and still have shelter, a car, or continue working our jobs, we'd like to try to gain some perspective on what that might be like.  So...we've decided to limit our food and drink intake to whatever we can purchase with $1.50 a day.  We've created some rules that you'll see below to guide us.  Most people taking the challenge last 1 week.  We want to last soooo much longer!  Sponsor us by donating to our favorite charity to keep our spirits high!

This challenge won't be easy, but as I go through each day I am reminded of the challenges that the people that I have grown to consider my family in Hohoe, Ghana, West Africa experience day to day.  Please keep our spirits up and donate to Community in Action for Self help Projects on our behalf.  Sponsor us today and become 1 of my top 101!

My fundraising goal is $1000 by January 2013!  This means if 101 people donate $10 or more I'll exceed my goal.  Please become one of my top 101!  Please help the children and families of Hohoe, Ghana today!

Donate Here!


Our Rules for the Poverty Challenge:

1. No person may spend more than $1.50 per day on food and drink combined.  
2. Water is considered free - though in many developing countries to get clean fresh water we would likely have to pay
3. Items from the garden are considered an agricultural venture and are free
4. No stealing from other people's gardens or you'll be arrested by the Poverty Challenge Police (Me)
5. No begging for food 
6. If food is left out as shared food at work you may partake as if someone has invited you over for dinner (Hope you have generous neighbors)
7. Legitimate trade and barter is acceptable (food for food trade or food for work trade)
8. Use of pantry items already purchased before the challenge NOT ALLOWED!  Except for spices
9. No participant may use more than 1 additional day's credit (for example on day 1 the participant is allowed $1.50 and my use up to an additional $1.50 for the next day's credit so purchases may not exceed $3.00 and the second day no purchases may be made).
10. Each challenger is offered 1 foul per week for small otherwise unforeseen infractions (mislabeling of food at the market is a good example).
11. The poverty challenge begins first thing Monday 8/13 and concludes when we have reached our $1000 fundraising goal (or when we can no longer continue on :( )!!  Help us reach our fundraising goal! 

Inspiration

Every setback offers you the opportunity to despair or to reaffirm hope.  Be stubborn.  Be relentless.  Be irrational.  Choose Hope!

Ghana Votes!!!

What do you think?  Ghana is investing in using social media and fingerprint technology to encourage free, fair, and safe elections in 2012.  What do you think??

Social Media and Fingerprint Technology in 2012 Ghana Elections Article

Human Rights Perspective

Who is deserving of what?  This is the underlying question that often is unspoken in the discussion of state assistance programs like Welfare in the United states, the public support of political involvement in foreign aid, and worst of all social welfare systems with limited resources faced with overwhelming need for services.  It is the unconscious question that is asked, but rarely uttered because it seems wholly subjective.  A human rights perspective would allow us to begin to discuss standards and levels of service that are afforded to all people.  These rights outweigh all other priorities and at their best are not in conflict with each other.  

It may be easy to agree that all humans should be afforded food, shelter, basic healthcare, and an education in casual discussion, but this is not our reality.  I hope this video will help us think further about what "development" means for nations and our world in light of the struggle to identify what our basic human rights are.  I also caution the idea that it is simply an aim for developing countries to "catch up" to developed countries, and ask that we be more reflective and discriminating in our concepts of how to address global development in our new world.  

The complex issues of free trade, fair trade, micro-credit and financing, debt forgiveness, multilateral, bilateral, and unilateral aid, and the development of "good governance."  Each of these will be discussion of future posts, but for now, if nothing else, this may illustrate the complexities of our world community.  With little control over the mechanisms it is often the most impoverished and vulnerable that suffer for the decisions of those with power and often money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo 

Can you imagine living off of less than $1 US Dollar per day? This is less than the cost of a 2 liter of soda, pack of gum, and about ¼ of the cost of 1 gallon of gas in the United States. Imagine 1.4 billion people worldwide (more than the populations of China and India – the two most populous countries in the world, combined) live on $1 US or less per day. Poverty often disproportionately impacts women and children around the world.  How can we begin to tackle such a widespread issue?


The UN's Millennium Development Goals include a goal to halve the number of people living in extremem poverty around the world by the year 2015.  For more information about the UN Millennium Development Goals check out this website!  http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

A Time for Change

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Andre Gide

The transformation of my goals and life wishes during a 5 week journey was something I could not have predicted 1 year ago when I chose to leave the shores of the United States to journey to a place I had never been...Ghana...Africa...West Africa. I've decided in light of this epic life realization, that my blog should strive to create conversation and awareness of life for women and children around the world. Not only in the countries and places where I have left a piece of my heart, but in the world at large. So here goes! This blog becomes my effort to open up discussion about our world community and to offer hope and information, aspire to encourage positive change, and create opportunities to connect with others who are equally as passionate about the health and vitality of our world neighbors. Together as one - we can offer a better world to the children not yet born and the mothers we are raising today.

FLASHBACK - Hot Days and Rainy Nights

Oh the weather outside is frightful!  It’s starting to get very cold in New York as we head into the Winter Season.  I grew up in New York, but never seemed to acclimate to the cold harsh winters.   The cold harsh winters here are a stark contrast to the warm summers in Ghana.  Only 5 degrees above the equator the days were warm and sunny and at night the cool rains would blow in and the frogs would begin singing.  During the summer months the weather was very moderate.  While it felt hot to us travelers, to people we were meeting it was less stifling.  As time passed and we headed towards the rainy season in late August the days became cooler and the nights were marked by rains and a cool breeze.  Periodically I check the weather in Accra, the capital city to compare it to the crisp winter air here in New York and I find myself wishing I were still in Ghana! 

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/65472.html