The path is growing longer and as each stone is laid, excitement builds and new ideas are born. Chapter 2 of Under The Baobab Tree is chock full of phone calls, arranging meetings, research, flights, sleepless nights, and the ever-growing excitement that keeps our adrenaline pumping. We have been busy meeting with potential board members, board of advisor candidates, and interviewing teachers for the education director positions. Yo is constantly on the phone, arranging meetings, writing emails, making calls, and waiting for call backs. He is grouchy due to extreme lack of sleep. But, hey, there is a plus. Not only is he working hard for a great cause, but if you EVER need a stressed out friend between the hours of two and five AM, you now know who to call. He has been traveling back and forth between New York and San Francisco in order to meet with the right people and get the wheels turning. If only the other nonprofits for Malawi had a team of such dedicated individuals we could help end poverty and revolutionize the International NGO market.
And now, onto the details. Speaking of Yo’s most recent trip to New York (Yes, the city that never sleeps. And, yes, of course Yo held true.), we are so pleased to introduce you all to Alli Arnold. Alli has worked closely with designers such as Kate Spade, The New Yorker, and Barneys. She is currently engaged in a project with FIT. Her work can be seen all over the streets of Manhattan, and you can check out the pictures of her illustrated banners in our photos section. We feel extremely honored to have her illustrate our upcoming children’s book, which will tell the stories of Under the Baobab Tree and the Tales of Malawi through a synergy of words and images. Alli and Yo have been collaborating about what sorts of child-friendly illustrations will be included in the tale of under the baobab tree and how these illustrations will help us get our story out. After all, pictures can speak a thousand words.
While Yo was away, Lisa Bernard and Dr. Raj Patel, who have been working away in San Francisco, are happy to announce a new addition to our Board of Directors, Mr. Donald Stern. Donald Stern will be an active participant in building the foundation for a future of sustainable development by using the newest low-tech green systems to provide valuable resources to the community. Donald Stern has an extremely impressive resume as a technology guru, holding over 46 patents crossing many industries. We will disclose on future dates some of the solutions he has created for our Nonprofit in Malawi and products we will offer to other International NGO’s to create clean water and a greener sustainable environment.
Since my blogging has begun, Yo has added another board member. We are elated to announce that Kevin Taylor of Taylor & Mrsich, LLP, www.globaltechlaw.com, will be joining our Board of Directors. Kevin has an illustrious career as a founding partner of his law firm and will guide us in our development.
In addition to the foundation of learning and the school, all of the excitement hovering around our children’s book, and Yo’s sleepless, grouchy, cross-country travels, we are reaching out to collaborate with AIDS awareness groups through AIDS education and prevention techniques. Africare, who has delivered more than $710 million to AIDS in aid to Africa since 1970, World Vision, a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice, and RED, as you see everywhere from Gap t-shirts to I-pods, are some of the organizations that we would like to learn from. It is no secret that AIDS is a serious problem throughout the countries of Africa, affecting vast populations all over the continent. Malawi is no exception to the destructive nature of this monstrous pandemic. Too many children are left without parents as a result. Many families take in orphaned children, leading to overcrowding and lack of resources and a subsequent lack of proper care for growing children. There are often as many as ten to fifteen children living under one roof. Dr. Patel has remained passionate on this subject throughout his assistance in the development of Stop Aids Worldwide, and we hope to continue the efforts in Malawi.
On top of AIDS, cholera, and other third-world nation epidemics, Malaria is another problem that plagues all of Africa. Malawi, again, is no exception. By administering something as simple as mosquito nets, the instances of malaria can be drastically decreased. Like the roots of the baobab tree, something as simple as a nylon net has the power to alleviate much unnecessary pain and even save lives. While education and the school is perhaps our number one priority, it is our intent to aid Malawi in these areas as well so that the children can experience the joys of learning as well as all aspects of life in a safe and healthy environment. In fact, Dr. Perry Jensen (www.partnersinmalawi.org) who is building a hospital in Malawi, has agreed to collaborate with us in checking each child to be sure that everyone is in good health. Under the Baobab Tree is thrilled to be working with Dr. Jensen. We will also set up medical files and records so that all medical history will be tracked. If there are medical problems, we will be certain to get these children the proper care and treatment needed. If there are no problems, we will make it our job to be sure that it stays that way. Education cannot be enjoyed and utilized to the fullest without health, and in order to implement both of these key factors of life, we will remain committed to these children. Remember, we don’t like temporary fixes. A plastic band-aid does not solve the problems of the world. Our hope is to help make change through education, change that not only affects today, but affects tomorrow and every tomorrow here on out.
As I debrief everyone after the Memorial Day Weekend I will put up the pictures and find out what’s happening next in the development of our wonderful little nonprofit being developed for the children of Malawi Africa.
read more | digg story
And now, onto the details. Speaking of Yo’s most recent trip to New York (Yes, the city that never sleeps. And, yes, of course Yo held true.), we are so pleased to introduce you all to Alli Arnold. Alli has worked closely with designers such as Kate Spade, The New Yorker, and Barneys. She is currently engaged in a project with FIT. Her work can be seen all over the streets of Manhattan, and you can check out the pictures of her illustrated banners in our photos section. We feel extremely honored to have her illustrate our upcoming children’s book, which will tell the stories of Under the Baobab Tree and the Tales of Malawi through a synergy of words and images. Alli and Yo have been collaborating about what sorts of child-friendly illustrations will be included in the tale of under the baobab tree and how these illustrations will help us get our story out. After all, pictures can speak a thousand words.
While Yo was away, Lisa Bernard and Dr. Raj Patel, who have been working away in San Francisco, are happy to announce a new addition to our Board of Directors, Mr. Donald Stern. Donald Stern will be an active participant in building the foundation for a future of sustainable development by using the newest low-tech green systems to provide valuable resources to the community. Donald Stern has an extremely impressive resume as a technology guru, holding over 46 patents crossing many industries. We will disclose on future dates some of the solutions he has created for our Nonprofit in Malawi and products we will offer to other International NGO’s to create clean water and a greener sustainable environment.
Since my blogging has begun, Yo has added another board member. We are elated to announce that Kevin Taylor of Taylor & Mrsich, LLP, www.globaltechlaw.com, will be joining our Board of Directors. Kevin has an illustrious career as a founding partner of his law firm and will guide us in our development.
In addition to the foundation of learning and the school, all of the excitement hovering around our children’s book, and Yo’s sleepless, grouchy, cross-country travels, we are reaching out to collaborate with AIDS awareness groups through AIDS education and prevention techniques. Africare, who has delivered more than $710 million to AIDS in aid to Africa since 1970, World Vision, a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice, and RED, as you see everywhere from Gap t-shirts to I-pods, are some of the organizations that we would like to learn from. It is no secret that AIDS is a serious problem throughout the countries of Africa, affecting vast populations all over the continent. Malawi is no exception to the destructive nature of this monstrous pandemic. Too many children are left without parents as a result. Many families take in orphaned children, leading to overcrowding and lack of resources and a subsequent lack of proper care for growing children. There are often as many as ten to fifteen children living under one roof. Dr. Patel has remained passionate on this subject throughout his assistance in the development of Stop Aids Worldwide, and we hope to continue the efforts in Malawi.
On top of AIDS, cholera, and other third-world nation epidemics, Malaria is another problem that plagues all of Africa. Malawi, again, is no exception. By administering something as simple as mosquito nets, the instances of malaria can be drastically decreased. Like the roots of the baobab tree, something as simple as a nylon net has the power to alleviate much unnecessary pain and even save lives. While education and the school is perhaps our number one priority, it is our intent to aid Malawi in these areas as well so that the children can experience the joys of learning as well as all aspects of life in a safe and healthy environment. In fact, Dr. Perry Jensen (www.partnersinmalawi.org) who is building a hospital in Malawi, has agreed to collaborate with us in checking each child to be sure that everyone is in good health. Under the Baobab Tree is thrilled to be working with Dr. Jensen. We will also set up medical files and records so that all medical history will be tracked. If there are medical problems, we will be certain to get these children the proper care and treatment needed. If there are no problems, we will make it our job to be sure that it stays that way. Education cannot be enjoyed and utilized to the fullest without health, and in order to implement both of these key factors of life, we will remain committed to these children. Remember, we don’t like temporary fixes. A plastic band-aid does not solve the problems of the world. Our hope is to help make change through education, change that not only affects today, but affects tomorrow and every tomorrow here on out.
As I debrief everyone after the Memorial Day Weekend I will put up the pictures and find out what’s happening next in the development of our wonderful little nonprofit being developed for the children of Malawi Africa.
read more | digg story
5 comments:
I'm not that grouchy lol.
Thanks Meg. Thank you Lisa, Raj, Kevin, and Don for working so hard on helping us get this incredible nonprofit for malawi off and running.
please visit us and make a dollar contribution if you can.
www.underthebaobabtree.org
I love hearing all of the updates about your school in Malawi- Africa is really in need of education.
Meg, do you think you could do a vlog as well and we can post it on YouTube? That would be awesome!
www.underthebaobabtree.org could have links to it...
Thanks!
Lisa
Please contact me with any questions, or donations:
lisa@underthebaobabtree.org
Meg:
I think your blog could be compiled into a nice memoir for Malawi one day. I think the students when they are older would appreciate it as well.
Lisa
Thanks guys. I would love to vlog! Thank you for the idea Lisa! Yo, a little grouchiness is okay every once in a while due to lack of sleep.. after all, it's for a good cause. :-)
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