Lily's Wool Project - Helping Women in Africa Support Themselves!

I love to highlight inspiring projects, especially those sparklers among us privileged Americans - people who just see a huge need and decide to do something to make a difference. Like LIlly Glarion, of Boulder, Colorado, who is building on her extraordinary Bat Mitzvah project. Here, in her own words, as reported in Reform Judaism Magazine:

Becoming a bat mitzvah meant I was going to become an adult in my community. Like everyone else, I would practice my Hebrew prayers, prepare a d’var torah, and do a mitzvah project. At first I thought I’d collect canned food for a homeless shelter or do volunteer work—something simple. But when my mom told me about a small group of women in Kenya who wanted to learn how to spin wool and weave cloth to support their families, I decided that a project in Africa was as good as any.

In my mind I said, “Whatever.” I didn’t have clue about what I was getting myself into.

Lilly raised money and in time, the idea that was hatched when her mom sent next to a Kenyan woman on an airplane, became a reality. Spinning adds value to the wool produced near their village, providing employment and greater incomes. When women's earnings increase, they invest it in improved nutrition and schooling for their children, the best bang for your charity buck around. She doesn't describe this as microfinance, because they're giving rather than loaning the machinery, but the ends - self-sufficient livelihood - is identical. Lilly's funds paid for a loom, spinning wheel, and spinning training sessions, setting the women up with a small enterprise to launch their entrepreneurial spirits. I love that they trained a few of the women who in turn teach the others. I also love that this project is a collaboration between Lilly and her mom Susan. What better mother-daughter project can you imagine than making the world a better place by helping third world mothers improve their lives and their children's as well?

Read the whole story here, and learn more about their project at their website, Lilly's Wool Project: Helping Kenyan Women Become Self-Sufficient.

Click here for information on how to donate to this really special project. Their fiscal sponsor, International Peace Initiatives, accepts Paypal or credit cards, if you prefer donating electronically. Susan Dexter of IPI says to just earmark your PayPal donation for Lilly's Wool Project in Kenya. To confirm by email, her address is nomadsusie@frontiernet.net.

Agahoza Shalom is Up and Running!

This letter from Anne Heyman, the founder of an orphanage/youth village in Rwanda which she founded after hearing of the plight of African orphans, especially post-genocide in Rwanda. She is a philanthropist with vision, and set about bringing it to reality. I blogged about her when the village was still on the drawing board - how thrilling that the kids have no moved in and it's up and running! She is truly one of my heroes!

From Anne Heyman:
I am writing to you from the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, where last week we celebrated our official opening. As I sit outside watching the sun rise and listening to the cacophony of bird songs that fill the air I think about something one of our children said to me: At Agahozo-Shalom I have found peace for the first time in my life. I feel it here; the gift of life.

What is it about this place that is so extraordinary? It is a beautiful – stunning really – setting, that is for sure. Our “campus” – the farm, the colorful houses, the school and community center – are unlike anything ever seen in this part of the world. But they are not the miracle or the magic of this place. Children who arrived here 6 months ago quiet and shy, who couldn’t look you in the eye and spoke very little English, not only performed skits, gave speeches, sang songs and danced at our opening ceremony, but they planned it all themselves. Songs to their parents, urging them to rest in peace now; to take comfort in the fact that their children are well taken care of. They assure their parents that they have found a new family and home and will be fine. They tell their parents they will do well and live a good life, and look forward to seeing them at some point in heaven. The children performed a skit about a child who comes to Agahozo-Shalom next year desolate and desperate about the miserable state of her orphan life. In the play they tell her that it is different hear at Agahozo-Shalom and introduce her to her new mother and sisters and brothers. When she is not immediately comforted by their words and embraces they take action: they invite her to join them in games, they draw her out and bring her in through leading by example. They had a debate about which subjects they were going to take in school next year and why – what they can achieve, how they can help their community and their country with their education. And the play and debate were all in English!

When you arrive at Agahozo-Shalom you drive through gates that are painted with the words, in English and Kinyarwanda: “If you see far, you will go far” – one of the many constant themes that are part of our children’s daily lives. The huge, colorful mural outside the community center is the next thing that catches your eye – scenes from traditional Rwanda, from life at Agahozo-Shalom, of the path to the future. The philosophy of the Village, which is all about repair, community, taking responsibility for oneself and doing for others is reflected in everything that is done here: the way the children are spoken to, the programs that are offered and they way they are run, even the way the site is physically laid out. And the results, even in such a short time, are tangible. When you sit in the dining hall at lunch you hear conversations amongst our children taking place in English. Knowing that all higher education in Rwanda now has to take place in English they understand that this is key to their future. Kids who had never seen a computer before they arrived here proudly show you the power point presentations they have learned to do. They tell you about what they want to be when they grow up. They are ambitious and determined. And while many still struggle with the trauma of their past they are getting help and moving forward. And they are so eager to share – and in many cases have already started sharing – what they are learning here with others outside our walls.

This week our children are studying for and taking end of term examinations. As their thoughts turn to vacation, ours turn to next year. What are we going to need to be able to provide this gift to another 125 children whose amazing potential will only be realized if they come to live at Agahozo-Shalom? There are additional staff to be hired – house mothers, counselors, teachers, therapists, kitchen staff. We could use another nurse. And of course all new staff need to be trained in our philosophy and methodologies: Everyone at Agahozo-Shalom is expected to be an educator. The physical needs – beds, closets, desks, sheets, towels, personal supplies, dining hall furniture, school supplies and furnishings - are significant too. Our science labs (physics, biology and chemistry) need to be fully equipped; we are certainly going to need many more computers. In the doom and gloom of world news today Agahozo-Shalom is truly a shining light; a beacon of hope for so many. More than that, we are establishing a replicable model, one that soon will become a teaching and training center for others. There is no doubt in my mind that many of our students will be instrumental in bringing this model to many others, who, without a place like ours, would have no future. You can play an important part in making this happen. Whether your gift is large or small, in cash or in-kind, it will make a significant difference in the lives of so many. Please visit us on-line at agahozo-shalom to make your contribution.

As I close this letter I would like to let you know that our visitor houses are nearing completion – and they have hot water! We are putting together a program for short term volunteer groups. If your college, synagogue, church or other organization would be interested in an educational/volunteer experience in Rwanda, please contact tina@agahozo-shalom.org.

From the hills of Agahozo-Shalom I wish you Amahoro – Peace – and I thank you for standing up and being counted amongst those who are truly changing the world.

Anne Heyman

Founder, Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village

Finding the Needle in the Haystack

Our new verbs like googling, Craigslisting, Ebaying, MapQuesting, facebooking, and freecycling, represent incredibly useful functions for the flow both of information and actual stuff. They connect PROVIDERS to SEEKERS in ways that could not have been imagined even a few years ago. Embracing these techniques provides surprising solutions to heretofore unsolvable problems.

Case in point: my digital camera which dropped from my bag and I unknowingly drove over. Dead. However, I love the camera. Knowing that its parts alone were costly, I set out to replace just the casing. And wouldn’t you know, the same model was being offered on Ebay, carefully warning the camera did not include memory card, battery, or manual…. Bringing that exact provider with this precise seeker – is that not a miracle? We can now find the needle in the haystack!

Fast forward. Today said camera stopped working; instead, a nasty “lens error, restart camera” message appeared. Neither trying that nor taking out and putting the battery back in did the trick. I was all set to just buy a new camera, knowing that repairs cost more than replacements, when I thought to google the camera model + “lens error message”. What popped up was MyBiggestComplaint.com, a blog that collects contributor gvetches.

There were no less than 159 complaints about just this problem. Many of the people had already done the research and reported standard camera site advice was useless. What does work, however, is to bang the camera hard. That didn’t work for mine, so I scrolled through the comments until a different fix was reported: adjust the lens itself, in case it is infinitesimally off-center. Eureka! Thirty seconds later my camera worked, and I’d saved $100. I added my method, so the next person has 160 people chiming in the fix-your-damn-camera chorus. Yup. This is miraculous.

PS - My laser printer stopped working - the paper LED blinked red and all the jiggling and bangin didn't work like it usually does. Thinking I'd need to buy a replacement tomorrow anyway, I googled "Brother HL2040 printer light blinking" and a site full of people's fixes came up. Third suggestion was the charm....

Join ShareOwners.org

My son Zach recommends joining this new group which works on corporate accountability issues and promotes shareholder activism.

ShareOwners.org is working to help promote market fairness for investors like you and me. This is our chance to have a real voice by working together. We need your help to make this work! Please click here to join the nonprofit and nonpartisan ShareOwners.org now.

Their site has a lot of great resources. Welcome to the fight! And keep your rooting for Congress to pass the Climate Change bill today!

New Homes for Mom's Damask Tablecloths

I've been on a decluttering tear, anticipating that the bid we have in on a short sale might, might, might be accepted by the mystery bank. Let's hear it for helping them detoxify their assets!
Looking around my home, I am eager to land my eye on things that are so much a part of my life that I never see them. The damask banquet tablecloths are a perfect example. I think they're from my parents, maybe from my in-laws. They are beautiful, formal, and require either professional laundering and pressing, or a chunk of time with an iron and starch. Forget it. I switched to non-wrinkle a few decades ago. I held the line for the seder, though. My cousin and I used to iron the tablecloth a day or two later, making a brief visit to the early 20th century. Gave up on that when I bought faux-damask wash and wear cloths and no one noticed the difference.
OK. I know I will never use these cloths. However, my mother prized them. She died 15 years ago, so I can't just call and ask her if she's OK with this. I was surprised at how aware I was of giving away something that was at one time a sort of family dowry item.
Enter freecycle. Several people expressed interest, and each now has a lovely tablecloth. I doubt I will ever think of the tablecloths again. However! There was a third table cloth, from an aunt. It is cutwork, yellow with white applique, exquisite. I used it once and it was a royal pain to clean, more suited for Versaille than a 21st century home. Way too obscure to put up on Ebay. Instinct said "Keep it", but for what?
Inspiration hit. Repurposed, the cloth could become beautiful window treatments for that mythic new house. On a window, instead of a table, we can enjoy the beautiful handiwork every day. So you don't have to give EVERYTHING away. When you edit, the treasures become more apparent.

Daily Worth: Smart, Wise, Classy and Sassy!

DailyWorth launched this winter, in the midst of financial storms, and arrives daily to remind its readers - primarily women - that we need to take care of ourselves and be smart about money, ever more so if there is less of it flowing in our lives. We get daily pep talks reminding us that getting our financial life in order requires that we get our heads on straight. No more pretending and denying that our finances are in control if they're not; time to admit that we often sabotage ourselves when we don't make ourselves pay attention to those boring numbers, pesky statements, and annoying details - they can make the difference between abundance and subsistence!

The Daily Worth Duo, Amanda and Cristina, both live on my street. I take great pride in having introduced them - realizing that these two terrific new neighbors both work at home, like me, we had tea one day - our faux water cooler. In truth we never found time to do this again, but when Amanda went looking for just the right writer to bring her DailyWorth dream idea to fruition, lo and behold. That spot-on, talented communicator was RIGHT DOWN THE BLOCK.

It's quick to subscribe to DailyWorth and the fun part, you'll receive a pithy daily suggestion about how to be financially proactive, professionally astute, and develop more backbone, something we all need. The graphics are understated and elegant and the writing sparkles. Hats off to Amanda who birthed Maya right along with bringing DailyWorth from concept to reality and leading the team onwards and upwards. They're a new link on my blog roll.

Now Nicholas, Alexander, Dylan, Maya, and Zuzu - my next door neighbor doggie - know what their moms do all day!

What is the Opposite of Frugal?

Reading all the media on the New Frugality, I am bemused. The presumption is that the opposite of frugal is luxurious. I disagree with that premise. For me, and many others, the opposite of frugal is wasteful. Why be wasteful, no matter what the economy looks like? Especially given environmental issues and overconsumption of resources.
I also disagree with another common idea - that the opposite of frugal is generous. I maintain that one can be frugal AND generous - in fact, frugality empowers generosity. Being sensibly frugal allows one to allot resources wisely - and generously. And makes splurging for an occasional luxury possible. Frugality is not about deprivation. It's about judgment.

Fidelity Investors: A Change to Vote AGAINST Genocide

Amazingly enough, Fidelity Investments is recommending that its shareholders vote AGAINST a shareholder sponsored resolution designed to "prevent holding investments in companies that, in the judgment of the Board, substanitaly contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity." If you have a Fidelity account, a proxy ballot will be arriving shortly, if it hasn't already.
Follow their simple instructions and go to
proxyvote.com . All you need to do is type in your unique 12-digit ID which is right there on your ballot, so no password or user name or anything that requires trying to remember anything! Then click on VOTE, and the ballot comes up. There are only 2 things to vote on. The first is whether you are in favor or opposed to the board nominees. What is important is #3, a lengthy list of all its various funds, followed by the wording above. They recommend you vote AGAINST, but what you want to do is vote FOR. I am such a good girl that I don't think I ever voted against a company's recommendations, but in this case, it feels great. You are voting for not being complicit with Chinese petroleum interests in the Sudan funding the Darfuri genocide!
Check out Investors against Genocide for more information. Similar resolutions can be voted in at Vanguard and American Funds.
Good work, IAG!!

Gorgeous image - here's its url -

All Things Solar in Philadelphia: PV America

Trade shows are candy store venues for wonks - and PV America, the solar industry's expo, does not disappoint! If you're in the Delaware Valley, you can attend for free today (Tuesday, 6/9) from 12:00-8:00. The show features row upon row of solar suppliers, manufacturers, marketers, financers, and installers - everything you wanted to know about solar.
Solar is finally going mainstream, due to stimulus money, state subsidies, improvements in technology, and dropping prices. According to Rhone Resch, head of the Solar Energy Industry Association, you could refinance your mortgage to pay for your system and when all the tax credits and state subsidies are factored in, you'll be saving more than you're paying for your system. Probably easier said than done, but solar is at last becoming competitive and easier to access.
Installation of solar is part of what drives up the cost - all those parts needing to be connected up on roofs. New manufacturing techniques have been developed to add more of those parts at the factory, bringing down installation costs considerably.
In fact, according to industry spokespeople, we're not far off from the day you'll buy solar power just like any other large appliance - at your big box home store. Not sure your average handyman will want to hang out on the roof, but once installation is simplified, even this will be possible. Home Depot already stocks a wide array of solar arrays!
My favorite solar vendor is Konarka, one of a number of manufacturers of plastic film impregnated with solar collectors. The material is light-weight, flexible, and even beautiful. (That's the pic here.)

Konarka Power Plastic is a photovoltaic material that captures both indoor and outdoor light and converts it into direct current (DC) electrical energy. This energy can be used immediately, stored for later use, or converted to other forms. Power Plastic can be applied to a limitless number of potential applications – from microelectronics to portable power, remote power and building-integrated applications.

The possible applications are endless, a great potential for innovation. I imagine third world women microentrepreneurs creating panels made of it, on site - creating solar jobs, as well as helping to expand its availability. It is capable of absorbing energy even indoors, so imagine if it becomes cheap enough to be wall-covering. And of course it's perfect for camping, or just walking - here is a computer bag which charges its laptop:
And, last but not least, their material is organic. Way cool!

Green Pizza - Beyond Pesto

This green pizza box is very cool - though I don't think it's possible, at least where I live, to recycle cardboard with pizza residue. Hat tip to www.unconsumption. Hat tip #2 to Becca for telling me about Unconsumption!

Green Box: Pizza Box Turns into Plates & Storage Unit. jeniwright

Kind of awesome. Via: Retro Thing