tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77251340958182289702024-03-12T20:34:51.144-04:00I HEART EXCESS BAGGAGEtravel, philanthropy, people, lifestyleEXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-24389373163691300002012-01-25T17:39:00.000-05:002012-01-25T17:39:50.383-05:0030 For Lupus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQGS32fpiE8/TyCD0tW8tSI/AAAAAAAAALY/yQX7ZPKfnL8/s1600/final+final+front+jan+28th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQGS32fpiE8/TyCD0tW8tSI/AAAAAAAAALY/yQX7ZPKfnL8/s640/final+final+front+jan+28th.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Have you heard, I turned 30 and I'm throwing a big party to benefit the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation. Read all about it here: <a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/30ForLupus/yolandenonobirthdaybenefit">30 For Lupus </a><br />
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To see all of the updates leading up to the event, check out <a href="http://www.yolandemorris.tumblr.com/">Excess Chatter</a>!EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-81958417556539300452011-12-16T07:01:00.000-05:002011-12-16T07:01:41.050-05:0012 Days of Giving!!We've all heard about the 12 Days of Christmas and we've also probably sang the song ad nauseam. As a child, Christmas meant waking up early to open my presents, from toys to clothes, the sheer excitement of ripping open my packages kept me up all night. As I get older, things changed and suddenly it wasn't about the gifts I received anymore but about the gifts I could give to my family and friends. This year, my family has been extended to include those around the world who can't afford the simple things in life like clean water, food, or shelter. From Africa to the U.S., my friend, Kathleen Elie of <a href="http://blog.fashionwithaconscience.org/">Fashion with a Conscience, NY</a> and I (<a href="http://www.yolandemorris.tumblr.com/">Excess Chatter</a>), have teamed up to promote "Gifts That Give Back" a 12 Days of Giving event online. Please support these causes and remember that it is "better to give than to receive!"<br />
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An ONLINE EVENT, exclusively on <a href="http://blog.fashionwithaconscience.org/">Fashion With a Conscience, NY</a> and <a href="http://www.yolandemorris.tumblr.com/">Excess Chatter</a>!EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-32531649604029628832011-11-28T21:06:00.001-05:002011-11-28T21:09:25.261-05:00A Gift That Gives Back!!<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">There are a lot of deals and steals going on for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but hopefully this poster steals your heart and makes you open your wallet for a GREAT cause. "RWANDA RISING" is an exhibit that will take place at <a _mce_href="http://www.bourboncoffeeusa.com" href="http://www.bourboncoffeeusa.com/" style="color: #007bff;">Bourbon Coffee </a>(43 West 14th Street) during the month of December to benefit the children of <a _mce_href="http://www.Facebook.com/theteohproject " href="http://www.Facebook.com/theteohproject" style="color: #007bff;">"Through The Eyes Of Hope"</a> Project in Rwanda. I spent a lot of time with these kids when I was in Rwanda on my <a _mce_href="http://www.pfizer.com/ghf" href="http://www.pfizer.com/ghf" style="color: #007bff;">GHF</a>assignment and not only are they beautiful, but also incredibly talented. These postcards will make great stocking stuffers or gift tags. So stop in for some hot chocolate, latte or whatever and help these kids to rise to their full potential.</div><div><br />
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Also check out my blog post about these children here: <a href="http://www.iheartexcessbaggage.com/2011/06/through-eyes-of-hope-part-2.html">Through The Eyes of Hope Part 2 </a></div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-72568959550389218142011-10-19T21:20:00.000-04:002011-10-19T21:49:40.837-04:00This Time for Africa!I created this video about my trip to Rwanda and the work that I did with the Access Project. Check it out!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="338" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/30348602?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-56288766157585655182011-09-17T10:03:00.000-04:002011-09-17T10:03:23.047-04:00Dare You To Move!<div style="text-align: center;">
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. </div>
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Are you fearful about for next adventure? Whether it's a new job, a new relationship or a new trip, learn to face your fears. I have deemed 2011 as my year of living fearlessly and this has lead me to make some bold moves in my life. From living six months in Rwanda to white water rafting and bungee jumping in Uganda, with each new adventure, I have learned something new about myself. I have learned that I am stronger than I thought and that each new challenge prepares me for the next. Is there something that you are fearful of? In twenty years, will you be kicking yourself for not doing it? Challenge yourself to conquer your fears today! </div>
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EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-55210305714284548492011-09-11T11:30:00.000-04:002011-09-11T09:10:17.061-04:00UNITED WE STAND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Ten years ago today, I was a junior in college. I had an early morning class that ended at 8:20a and I raced uptown to 51st and Madison to start my first day of work as a marketing intern for Berdon LLP. By this time, the first plane had already hit tower one and by the time I got to work, flames had engulfed it. We all watched in horror as the second plane hit and the towers came tumbling down. I will never forget that day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Walking home to Brooklyn with thousands of other New Yorkers who were fleeing the city, we didn’t know what to expect in the hours, days or weeks ahead. We were under attack but we knew that we were more powerful together than separate. This act of terrorism united our city in a way that nothing else ever did. So as we look back to that terrible day, ten years ago, let us always remember that “United We Stand.” </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656;">I had the opportunity to celebrate Labor Day, two days ago, at the home of a good friend. One of the joys of any holiday is to get together with family and friends, laugh, play games and eat good food. Labor Day signals the end of the summer and the end of the barbeque season. So after spending most of the year in Africa, I was happy to eat corn on the cob, grilled chicken, turkey burgers, potato salad, cole slaw, pasta, and everything else that was available. By the end of the night, I was stuffed and happy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656;">If you can't already tell, I love food! Growing up in New York, there is no shortage of diversity of people and variety of food. West Indian, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Ethiopian, Indian, Mexican, and so many other delicious choices are available in this melting pot I call home. One thing that I missed during my time in Rwanda was the lack of variety in food. My choices were limited to burgers and fries, pizzas, traditional Rwandan food and Indian food. But I never went hungry, not even for one day. Somehow I even managed to gain a few pounds, despite my eventual boredom with the food. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656;">These are the problems of the first world. "I am tired of eating that." or "Yuck, this again." Even the homeless people in New York have been known to refuse certain foods because it doesn't whet their appetite. So one day, when I was sitting in a cafe in Kigali, no less, eating a chicken sandwich, I saw an alarming ticker flash across the screen. It read, "Famine in the Horn of Africa." Famine??? I was shocked to see that the famine affected Somalia and parts of Kenya. In this day and age, with all of the aid and resources, to hear that the crisis had been going on for months was astounding. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656;">Famine is defined as a widespread scarcity of food, accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality. Millions of men, women and children across the Horn of Africa are starving and dying from lack of food. I can't even imagine going a day without eating, much less weeks on end. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656;">So after putting hunger into perspective, I have decided that food would be the one thing that I give up for the month of September. No, I am not going to starve myself, but I am going to limit my choices. Normally during the week, when I'm at work, I spend about $10 a day on lunch. That equals $50 a week or $200 a month on lunches alone! From today, September 7th to October 7th, I will give up my weekday lunches, so that hopefully a family in Somalia can eat theirs. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656;">What are you willing to give up? It just takes one thing....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic;">Hunger is stalking 12.4 million people across the Horn of Africa. Starvation is a real threat for children in famine-declared areas of Somalia. As we work together & blog to tolerate #faminenomore, would you <strong>LINK UP</strong> to our post and blog about the <strong>ONE THING</strong> you typically spend $10 on that you could give up this week? Instead of spending money on that one thing, text in your $10 donation to "FAMINE" to "20222" and join World Vision in fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa.</span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-9401341760276090592011-09-03T00:31:00.000-04:002011-09-07T01:07:04.494-04:00After the Storm...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hurricane Irene hit most of the Northeast this past weekend, the same weekend that I was scheduled to go upstate on a retreat to Lake Champion. Although it rained for most of the weekend and I was stranded at Lake Champion until Tuesday, this picture captures the scene on Monday after the storm ended. Peaceful and serene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Young Life’s Lake Champion is a premier 370-acre year round retreat center located in the foothills of the southern New York Catskill Mountains. Our facilities are nestled amongst towering pines, peaceful streams, and overlook our spectacular 50 acre lake which is brimming with a variety of fish. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lake Champion is available for booking during the school season from Labor Day to Memorial Day. During the summer, Lake Champion is filled to capacity with Young Life groups from across the country enjoying a week guaranteed to be the "best of their lives."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lake Champion is devoted to providing a distinctive camping experience through unrivaled service, superior food and incredible facilities amidst God’s breathtaking creation.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">”</span></span></div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-50591771624392425822011-08-31T23:02:00.000-04:002011-09-07T00:27:39.950-04:00Re-EntryAfter spending the last six months in Rwanda, the journey home was bittersweet. I spent my final week in South Africa, exploring Johannesburg and Cape Town and retracing the steps of Nelson Mandela, from Robben Island to Mandela House. It was a great finale to an unforgettable trip.<br />
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At first, I was apprehensive about returning home because I didn't want to forget all that I had seen or experienced. Nor did I want to forget the people that I had met along the way. In some way, each person, whether it was a work colleague, a travel companion, or a taxi driver, had left an indelible mark on my life. Their stories suddenly became my stories and their causes were mine as well. I wanted to fight every battle with them, large and small. From healthcare access to apartheid to child trafficking, I wanted to champion each cause until everyone was healthy, whole and free.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=i0bcf8-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0041T4PGQ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>These emotions were compounded when I picked up a book called "Say You're One of Them" by Uwem Akpan, at the airport in Nairobi. This book told the stories of ordinary children in extraordinary circumstances throughout Africa. The stories include those of a young girl in Rwanda during the genocide, a brother and sister being fattened for slavery in Benin, two best friends in Ethiopia, and a family in Nigeria. It made me more committed to doing something more meaningful upon my re-entry to the States.<br />
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Now, two weeks later, as I sit and reflect on everything that transpired in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa over the last six months, I know that everything happened for a reason. It has forced me to re-examine my life, my career and my ambitions. I have had the opportunity to share my experiences with so many people already, who are curious about Rwanda or how they can lend their skills to developing countries. So I have compiled a list of organizations that I have worked with or come across that have similar projects around the world. These organizations work in Africa, Asia, North and South America, to improve the lives of men, women and children. They are looking for lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, artists, doctors, cooks, role models, and teachers. They need you.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>ORGANIZATIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE</b>: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">1. Pfizer Global Health Fellows: <a href="http://www.pfizer.com/ghf">www.pfizer.com/ghf </a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">2. Global Health Corps: <a href="http://www.ghcorps.org/">www.ghcorps.org </a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3. Peace Corps: <a href="http://www.peacecorps.gov/">www.peacecorps.gov</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">4. Teach for America: <a href="http://www.teachforamerica.org/">www.teachforamerica.org</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5. Venture for America: <a href="http://www.ventureforamerica.org/">www.ventureforamerica.org</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">6. Go Overseas: <a href="http://www.gooverseas.com/">www.gooverseas.com</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">7. AmeriCorps: <a href="http://www.americorps.gov/">www.americorps.gov </a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8. New Yorkers Volunteer: <a href="http://www.newyorkersvlunteer.org/">www.newyorkersvolunteer.org </a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">9. Serve: <a href="http://www.serve.gov/">www.serve.gov </a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10. Volunteers for Prosperity: <a href="http://www.volunteersforprosperity.gov/">www.volunteersforprosperity.gov</a></div><div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d16D6UYtgKs/TmbwMME0LQI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/c3AeYzSwxv0/s1600/DSC04849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d16D6UYtgKs/TmbwMME0LQI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/c3AeYzSwxv0/s640/DSC04849.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With co-workers in Rwanda</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcR1r_K2bNo/TmbwdGU1JDI/AAAAAAAAAJU/vI6ztgdYfjU/s1600/DSC04795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcR1r_K2bNo/TmbwdGU1JDI/AAAAAAAAAJU/vI6ztgdYfjU/s640/DSC04795.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With TEOH Project kids in Rwanda</td></tr>
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</b>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-2145709442186365742011-08-24T07:07:00.000-04:002011-08-24T07:07:14.018-04:00Continue to Make Communications a Success!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCQq_Lc3vlo/TlTbLeQBUVI/AAAAAAAAAJM/qMt2OvF9DkY/s1600/success-and-failure-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCQq_Lc3vlo/TlTbLeQBUVI/AAAAAAAAAJM/qMt2OvF9DkY/s640/success-and-failure-sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;">In order to reach my objectives, I have decided to stop the comparisons between Rwanda and the U.S., and focus instead on the lessons that I can learn. I have decided to start motivating my colleagues to develop more stories from the field and finally, I have decided to continue to develop communication skills among the staff of the Access Project.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><a href="https://fellows.pfizer.com/?p=187#more-187">Continue reading</a></span></span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-60638936498042231042011-08-18T05:54:00.000-04:002011-08-18T05:57:28.597-04:00Stop and Take a Different Approach<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;">If there is one image that comes to mind when I think of the continent of Africa, it is the image of starving children. After years of seeing commercials on television that depict malnourished children, it has left an indelible mark on me. Yet, I was largely ignorant about the causes and solutions being implemented throughout the developing world to eradicate poverty and hunger. My fellowship with the Access Project has given me the opportunity to learn more about global health care access and the goals and strategies being implemented around the world. This has allowed me to take a different approach to my own work here in Rwanda.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><a href="https://fellows.pfizer.com/?p=97#more-97">Continue reading</a></span></span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-12612388866887812752011-08-13T09:29:00.000-04:002011-08-13T09:29:32.267-04:00Write for Success<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;">I have decided to start doing some things that haven’t been done before in communications. I want to start an incentive based communications strategy to allow the Access Project District Health Advisors (DHAs) to take an active role in finding stories that will help showcase the project’s work. This strategy will hopefully motivate the DHAs to send in more content and help me to meet my goal of four articles per month from the field.</span><br />
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</span></span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-27413363240522487212011-08-12T06:44:00.001-04:002011-08-12T06:44:47.164-04:00Going the Distance<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;">How far would you travel for medical attention or even clean water? Would you go three miles or even ten miles? How about 7045 miles? That’s the distance between New York City and Kigali, Rwanda. After leaving New York in late February, I arrived 16 hours and 5143 miles later in the “Milles Collines” or the “Land of a Thousand Hills” as Rwanda is commonly called. Before arriving in Rwanda, I had never considered the distance from my home to the nearest medical center or closest drink of water. Doctor’s offices are numerous in Brooklyn, as a health care representative with Pfizer, I once worked<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://fellows.pfizer.com/?attachment_id=87" rel="attachment wp-att-87" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://fellows.pfizer.com/?attachment_id=89" rel="attachment wp-att-89" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></a> in an area where there were six offices on one block! However, most Rwandese people, especially those who live in the rural villages that comprise 80% of Rwanda, think about these questions daily. As I began to develop story ideas and articles for the Access Project, distance was a common theme that stood out to me as I began visiting Access supported health facilities and conducting interviews.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><a href="http://fellows.pfizer.com/?p=45#more-45">Continue reading </a></span></span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-68067215539650152002011-08-06T12:23:00.000-04:002011-08-06T12:23:33.511-04:00Healthy EntertainmentAs a sales representative with Pfizer, I have spent countless hours in the waiting rooms of numerous medical facilities. As I’m waiting, I try to make good use of the time by placing patient education materials on the tables and shelves that adorn the office. Most often these patient education materials get lost in the piles of books and magazines scattered throughout the office. One thing that I have enjoyed in the time that I have been in Rwanda is learning about different approaches to patient education. Instead of brochures, imagine if a drama, dance and singing troupe came into the office while the patients were waiting to be seen. The troupe’s sole purpose was to educate the patients about cancer, HIV/AIDS and the different medical options available. An attention grabbing performance would undoubtedly do the trick of entertaining while educating the patients.<span id="more-95"></span><br />
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<img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-90" height="400" src="http://www.rwanda-direct.com/rwanda-intore-dancers/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Intore.gif" title="Intore Dancer, credits Maurice Nkundimana, www.cartoonscenter.com , ...and so whose will find out the beauty of our country, will know that we also improve technology and arts" width="550" /><br />
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<a href="http://fellows.pfizer.com/?p=95#more-95">Continue reading</a>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-52994007333319655942011-08-02T15:51:00.000-04:002011-08-02T15:51:10.672-04:00Designing the CauseI met Liz during my first week in Rwanda. Liz, a student with the School of International Training (SIT), was spending six weeks in Rwanda with this unique study abroad program that paired students with global policy and health experts in developing countries. <a href="http://www.theaccessproject.com/"><span style="color: #289de9;">Access Project’s</span></a> founder, Josh Ruxin, a world-renowned public health expert and Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, was leading a discussion with the group of SIT students on critical global issues. <br />
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<a href="http://fellows.pfizer.com/?p=69#more-69">Continue reading </a>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-10913919866517705292011-07-28T01:35:00.000-04:002011-07-28T01:35:50.691-04:00From the Beginning....<div><blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that I haven't posted anything in a while, but I have a good reason. The last few weeks have been extremely hectic as I prepare to wrap up my fellowship. However, I wrote a couple of blogs for the Pfizer GHF website, reflecting on my fellowship experience in Rwanda. You can read a portion of my blog entry below: </span></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">“</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">RWANDA?” I blinked a couple of times as I looked at the email. The Pfizer Global Health Fellows Program had recommended me to the </span></span><a href="http://www.theaccessproject.com/" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Access Project</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, based in Kigali, Rwanda, and they wanted me to interview at their New York office at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I was in utter shock at the location of the assignment since I knew very little about Rwanda except the genocide that took place in 1994, which led to the death of close to one million people. So I was less than thrilled at the prospect of working there for close to six months. </span></span><a href="http://fellows.pfizer.com/?p=42#more-42"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Continue reading here</span></span></a> </span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; word-spacing: 1px;"></span></div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-19218942718152966222011-07-21T07:52:00.000-04:002011-07-21T07:52:23.009-04:00Somalia - The Horn of Africa<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2016014977"><img alt="PHOTO: US: Somalia Food Crisis One of Biggest in Decades" border="0" height="360" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/ap_Somalia_Drought_jt_110716_wg.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/somalia-famine/story?id=14088327">Picture courtesy of ABC News</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“If we don’t act now, famine will spread to all eight regions of southern Somalia,” said Mark Bowden, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for Somalia. “Every day of delay in assistance is literally a matter of life or death.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"></span>The United Nations has declared the ongoing food-crisis in Somalia as a </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/world/africa/21somalia.html?_r=1&src=recg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">famine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. What began as a </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/8301764/Somalia-drought-threatens-two-million-people.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">drought</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> in </span><a href="http://video.th.msn.com/watch/video/drought-hits-somalias-internal-refugees/yun5ctjz"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2009</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> has escalated into a severe humanitarian crisis in recent months. From the beginning of the year, UN Under-Secretary General Valery Amos reported that Somalia "is again teetering on the brink of a much larger scale disaster due to the threat of a countrywide drought. Two million people, about 27% of the population, are in crisis." Now approximately eight months later, the world is taking notice and international relief organizations like </span><a href="https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9480&9480.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=17115690000&s_subsrc=k2&JServSessionIdr004=rg0jje2s81.app304a"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">CARE</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, have issued an Emergency Alert. Please donate what you can, to help the millions of people in Somalia address their food shortage and gain access to healthcare and other necessities. </span><br />
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<a href="http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?funnel=dn&item=1754360&go=item&section=10366&"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">World Vision</span></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.worldvisionacts.org/drought_grips_east_africa"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">World Vision ACT:S</span></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/somalia_30967.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">UNICEF</span></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7539035/k.B9FB/Africa_Drought_Sparks_Food_Shortage_Child_Hunger_and_Humanitarian_Crisis.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Save the Children</span></span></a><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 150px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></div><b><h1 class="headline" style="color: #333333; font: normal normal normal 25px/26px georgia, 'times new roman', sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.05em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 20px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Additional Resources: </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jun/06/somalia-devastated-by-drought-crisis"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Poverty Matters</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'times new roman', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
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</span></span></div></h1></b>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-10690931429058594352011-07-01T09:11:00.000-04:002011-06-30T19:14:16.959-04:00Independence Day and Liberation Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bigfoto.com/themes/fireworks/fireworks-feuerwerk-l9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.bigfoto.com/themes/fireworks/fireworks-feuerwerk-l9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Today, Friday July 1st is Independence Day in Rwanda. It marks the end of Belgian rule on July 1, 1962, after 50 years in power. <a href="http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/happy-liberation-day-rwanda/">Liberation Day</a>, is celebrated three days later on July 4th, and marks the end of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Ironically, Independence Day did not free Rwanda from conflict, it opened the door for further bigotry and hate. It wasn't until 32 years later when the genocide ended, that freedom was granted to all Rwandans. Here's to many more years of peace and progress in Rwanda. Happy Liberation Day Rwanda! </span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0Kigali, Rwanda-1.950106 30.058768999999984-2.0190305 29.979169999999982 -1.8811814999999998 30.138367999999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-24336259461472856142011-06-30T18:15:00.000-04:002011-06-30T18:15:40.799-04:00Pics of the week: June Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">June marks my fourth month in Rwanda and it was filled with a lot of great moments with friends and colleagues. Here are some of my favorite pictures: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a wedding with friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the big top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful wedding dancers </td></tr>
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EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-43641485306247530522011-06-30T08:52:00.000-04:002011-08-12T08:53:15.806-04:00Happy Birthday Niyah!!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - Mark Twain</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For anyone that has ever traveled with friends, you can identify with the quote above. The best way to test the depth of your friendships is to travel with your friends. Over the years, I have traveled with a lot of my friends and while there have been some bumps along the way, most of my friendships have endured. One person that has been a constant travel companion is my friend Niyah.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I first met Niyah in 2005 on a missions trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil and since then, she has become one of my favorite travel partners. We have traveled to Cancun, Fiji, the Philippines, Haiti, Hawaii, Rio, and Egypt. The last time I saw Niyah was at the airport in NY on June 30, 2010. She was moving to Sydney, Australia to study Film and Television Production. It was a bittersweet occasion because I didn't know when I would see her again, but I was proud that she was finally pursuing her passion for making documentary films. Films that will shed light on injustice all over the world. June 30th also happens to be Niyah's birthday, and in her honor, I am showcasing some of the vacation and missions trip videos that she has produced over the years. Hopefully these videos inspire you to pursue your passions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Niyah!! </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></span></div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-37207758257788310502011-06-19T15:40:00.000-04:002011-06-19T16:00:35.319-04:00Through the Eyes of Hope (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Part 2 of my interview with Linda Smith, a photojournalist based in Rwanda. Linda is the founder of the "<a href="http://www.eyesofhopeproject.com/">Through the Eyes of Hope</a>" (TEOH) Project. </i></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTOy-R3XZo0/Tf5HLVe-mzI/AAAAAAAAAI0/rtFUT3plnX8/s1600/257245_10150211105527190_629227189_7660791_37057_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTOy-R3XZo0/Tf5HLVe-mzI/AAAAAAAAAI0/rtFUT3plnX8/s400/257245_10150211105527190_629227189_7660791_37057_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda with the Mayange students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In a tiny, dimly lit room in Mayange, Linda is instructing five students on the “Cards of Hope” postcard project. The students are all boys who have been with the project for the last four years and range in age from 13 to 18 years old. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX08jsaqkRU">Mayange</a> is located in the district of Bugesera, an area that suffered the most during the Rwandan genocide, 17 years ago. The area with the assistance of the <a href="http://www.millenniumvillages.org/">Millennium Villages Project</a>, has been rebuilt in recent years and is now a model for health and community development. Jean, the oldest boy, credits the TEOH Project with helping him gain financial independence. “This helps me to fund my school fees and buy other small things for my family,” he says. When Jean’s father passed away in 2005, he was left to care for his two sisters and brother, while his mother worked to provide for the family. The TEOH project helps him and the other boys to earn a living by selling their photographs within the community.<br />
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Jacques, who is sitting next to Jean, wants to be a doctor when he grows up, and in addition to school fees, his earnings from the TEOH project enabled him to buy a goat and two hens for his family. He echoes, “I want to continue studying and this project helps me do that. I want to take more pictures so that we can build a photo studio here in Mayange and maybe even open a computer learning center.” As Linda explains the postcard project to the boys, their eyes light up at the prospect of sending their photos to people around the world. Immediately they start thinking of things to write on the back of the postcards. “Will it make it to New York? I want to go there someday,” says Fils, a shy 16 year old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLRfhGuNkA4/Tf5HrRF1GWI/AAAAAAAAAI4/14tueW5il60/s1600/257245_10150211105542190_629227189_7660794_659660_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLRfhGuNkA4/Tf5HrRF1GWI/AAAAAAAAAI4/14tueW5il60/s400/257245_10150211105542190_629227189_7660794_659660_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the Mayange boys</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div>The room suddenly fills with loud chatter and a barrage of questions from the boys to Linda. The room, which doubles as an Internet café, is located in the middle of the dusty streets of Mayange’s center. Janvier, the owner of the café, loans the room to the project on Saturdays, in exchange for a small fee. The boys keep their donated cameras throughout the week, which multiplies their opportunities to take pictures and earn money. After a period of sharing and reflecting, the project wraps up for the day and Linda says goodbye to the boys in Mayange. She then prepares to go to the Kagugu School in Kigali, an hour away. </div><br />
When she arrives, Prossy Yohana, her assistant, has already started to hand out the cameras to the 13 boys and girls present. As the children leave to take pictures within the community, Linda reminds them that they are low on photo paper so they have to limit themselves to three customers each. Even as the children groan at the thought of losing business because of limited supplies, Kofi, a rambunctious 13 year old, is already negotiating with the other kids for their three-picture allotment. Kofi has been a part of the TEOH Project for the last three years and is arguably the most outspoken and enterprising student in the project. While Linda has her share of problems with working children like Kofi, by combining the photography business with art therapy and counseling sessions, the children have been able to overcome some of the trauma associated with the genocide, including the loss of their parents and other loved ones.<br />
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As Linda reflects on the last few years, she notes that her lowest point came two years ago when she lost one of her students to an unknown infection. Emile, an ambitious 15-year-old boy who was one of the first students in the photography project, became sick in late 2009. Although, Linda suspected that Emile was suffering from appendicitis and he was quickly admitted to the hospital, Emile passed away the following morning from stomach complications. Linda was devastated and for a brief moment, she lost hope and considered abandoning the project all together.<br />
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Ironically, it was another incident involving one of her other students that convinced Linda not to give up. Odila, a young girl who had been with the project since the beginning, also fell ill. Odlila lost both of her parents to AIDS and she was infected with HIV. Cared for by her sister who could barely make ends meet, Odila was severely malnourished. When it came time for her to be placed on medication (ARVs), her immune system was too weak to support the regimen. Odila spent over a month in the hospital before finally pulling through. Through prayers and other interventions, Odila did not suffer the same fate as Emile and Linda’s hope was restored.<br />
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The students are thankful that Linda never gave up. She persevered and now she is seeing the fruits of her labor. “I want to be the President of Rwanda when I grow up,” says Kofi. “Linda has helped me so much by showing me how to take photos and how to relate to other people. Before the project, I couldn’t buy myself anything, now I can buy lotion, clothes and I can be smart.” Valentine, another one of the students at Kagugu, wants to be a doctor when she goes to college in a couple of years. “This project has helped me to take photos and now I can buy books for school and other personal items for my hygiene. I see Linda as my mom, before she came, we were lonely, but she has been comforting us and teaching us.”<br />
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More so than photography, perhaps the greatest lesson that Linda is teaching these students is the importance of hope and faith in their future. For many of them, it hasn’t been an easy road but they now realize that they can put the past behind them and dream big. They are the vision for the new Rwanda, and we can see the world through their eyes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda with the students at the Kagugu School</td></tr>
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</div><div><i>For more information on Linda Smith and the "Through the Eyes of Hope" Project, please visit their website: <a href="http://www.eyesofhopeproject.com/">www.eyesofhopeproject.com </a>or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/theteohproject">www.facebook.com/theteohproject</a>. </i></div><div></div></div></div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-78529842338492589362011-06-18T12:28:00.000-04:002011-06-18T17:50:41.578-04:00Through the Eyes of Hope (Part 1)<i> The first part of the my interview with Linda Smith and her project, Through the Eyes of Hope. Linda recently started an initiative called "Cards of Hope" (see right panel) to raise funds for a photo studio in Rwanda. See below to find out how this project started...</i><br />
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“These poignant accounts and many others like them depict a country on a path toward reconciliation. The resounding voices of survivors touch us in ways that no other words could,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the Visions of Rwanda photo project. The project, displayed at the United Nations on the 15th commemoration of the genocide in 2009, the work of a photojournalist named Linda Smith, who first began visiting Rwanda in 2006. As she made subsequent visits to Rwanda, Linda founded the Through the Eyes of Hope Project (TEOH Project), a non-profit with the goal of teaching basic photographic principles to extremely disadvantaged children and educating children who are interested in learning about the children of other cultures.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-867fJuMD4is/TfzMrGgm0tI/AAAAAAAAAIk/GcUYbEMf1Xk/s1600/linda+baby+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-867fJuMD4is/TfzMrGgm0tI/AAAAAAAAAIk/GcUYbEMf1Xk/s400/linda+baby+2.jpg" width="400" /></a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda as a baby with her aunt and brother</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Linda was born in Hawaii, the daughter of an air force officer and a stay-at-home mom. The family left Hawaii before Linda’s fourth birthday and settled in a small town in Norwalk, CT right outside of Stamford, Connecticut. Growing up, Linda had a love for photography and majored in Photography at Syracuse University before moving to London to work as a photographer. While apprenticing some of London’s best photographers, Linda obtained her Master’s degree in Media and Communications at Goldsmith, a constituent college of the University of London. Following her three-year stint in London, Linda returned to the U.S., this time settling in New York City where she started her own wedding photography business.<br />
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</div>After two years on the wedding circuit, Linda went on a missions trip with a local church to Rwanda in 2006. It was her first trip to Rwanda and she felt strangely drawn to the tiny country in East Africa. She was asked by her church to photograph the entire trip. She made the most of her by photographing several communities and non-profit organizations that she visited. After ten days, she left Rwanda, knowing that she would come back one day. As soon as she returned from her trip, Linda contacted the Rwandan Embassy in Washington D.C. about displaying her photos and when they agreed, Linda organized an exhibit highlighting Rwandan life. At the exhibit, Linda established some contacts that lead her to Rwanda the following year. Linda’s idea was simple, take cameras to Rwanda and teach children how to take photos, so they could tell their stories through pictures. The following year, she organized a month long workshop with genocide orphans and HIV infected children. It was while conducting this workshop that Linda met Prossy Yohana who would eventually become her assistant in the project.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXEXA7wmJdk/TfzJ00h4I4I/AAAAAAAAAIg/yUA5z-cgvbg/s1600/5340_126658827189_629227189_2942381_1801708_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXEXA7wmJdk/TfzJ00h4I4I/AAAAAAAAAIg/yUA5z-cgvbg/s400/5340_126658827189_629227189_2942381_1801708_n.jpg" width="400" /></a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda with the first group of children in Mayange.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The Kagugu School, a primary school in Kigali, sponsored the first workshop, and the children were selected by their peers based on their social needs. The workshop went so well that Linda didn’t want it to end, in fact, with Prossy’s help, the workshop continued on Saturdays while Linda returned to New York. However, Linda found it hard to stay away and returned to Rwanda within three months, at which time she introduced the photography workshop to children within the Millennium Villages Project as well as Partners in Health (PIH). By that time, word had begun to spread about the work that Linda was doing with the children and by the fall of 2007, the United Nations contacted her about working with both genocide victims and perpetrators. The six-week workshop later became the <a href="http://www.un.org/preventgenocide/rwanda/visions.shtml">"Visions of Rwanda"</a> exhibit, which was displayed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in the spring of 2009, before moving to Rwanda in 2010.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>When she returned to Rwanda to coordinate the exhibit in the latter part of 2009, Linda was subsequently offered a teaching position at a university in Kigali at the beginning of 2010. She accepted the position and moved to Rwanda full-time in April 2010.When Linda moved to Rwanda, she set her sights on working with the children in Kagugu and Mayange. Beyond just conducting photography workshops, Linda wanted the project to become self-sustainable so she came up with the idea for selling passport pictures, and prints to people in the community. The students would take pictures, sell them for 500 Rwfs (approximately 75 cents) and use the money to support themselves and the project. By giving ten percent of their earnings to the project, the kids buy their own photo paper and other materials, while using the remainder for school fees, food or other necessities.<br />
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In the midst of instructing the students and getting the project off the ground, a tragedy happened that would haunt Linda for a long time. She was at a crossroads, and the future of the project began to look uncertain. The bright hope that she had suddenly turned to deep disappointment and anger…<br />
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<b>(stay tuned for part 2)</b><br />
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</div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-26495534335158443052011-06-09T14:51:00.000-04:002011-06-09T14:51:40.250-04:00Quote of the week: "We Have Lived."<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">As a blogger and writer, I spend most of my days thinking about stories and how to make them meaningful for the audience. It's hard sometimes to know what will inspire, motivate and challenge readers to take action and support a particular cause or way of thinking. Coming from a sales background, I am persuasive by nature, but telling a story is more than persuasion or strong arm tactics, it's connecting with readers in a way that touches their hearts. The people that I am writing about whether a nurse, patient, colleague or government official, all have a story that will touch at least one other person. This quote by Natalie Goldberg sums up the purpose of writing: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"We have lived. Our moments are important. This is what it is to be a writer: to be the carrier of details that make up history." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Natalie Goldberg: Writing Down the Bones</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=i0bcf8-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1590307941&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Another wish list book that I came across today is Tell to Win by Peter Guber. I downloaded the first chapter of the book from his website and I look forward to reading this book in the future. I will post a review when I do. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=i0bcf8-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0307587959&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div></span>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-24688791979789835462011-06-01T10:04:00.000-04:002011-06-01T10:09:34.434-04:00Access News!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Check out the latest edition of the Access News! This was a definite labor of love, hope you enjoy it! </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left; width: 420px;"></div></div>EXCESS BAGGAGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17943832367735972837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7725134095818228970.post-39721716547408096172011-05-29T09:02:00.000-04:002011-05-29T09:02:41.280-04:00Musanze - Picture of the WeekThis week, I took my second trip to Musanze, a district in the Northern province of Rwanda. Musanze is the most mountainous district and is home to five of the eight volcanoes that comprise the Virunga chain. The Virunga chain is a mountain chain that spans the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and the <a href="http://www.rwandatourism.com/parks.htm">Volcanoes National Park</a> in Rwanda. Since I was in town for business, I did not visit the Volcanoes National Park, which is the home to Rwanda's famous mountain gorillas. However, I did take a lot of pictures of the beautiful mountains, here is one of my favorite pictures:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rigFaRDQca0/TeJCkX4w_II/AAAAAAAAAHg/En-b9jx2J-Q/s1600/DSC_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rigFaRDQca0/TeJCkX4w_II/AAAAAAAAAHg/En-b9jx2J-Q/s640/DSC_0447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<b> Fun fact:</b> Musanze is the top tourist destination in Rwanda because of the mountain gorillas. The 1988 movie "Gorillas in the Mist" about primatologist Dian Fossey, was based on her work with the gorillas in Rwanda. See the movie trailer below:<br />
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