Me To We

 I had never heard about this exciting program until my grand daughter Darcy became involved with the movement. She embraced the Me to We program and became a believer to the point where she attended a leadership academy one summer and spirited her school chums to become involved in building a school in Costa Rica. She was so enthusiastic that her feelings motivated many with whom she connected. She travelled to Costa Rica and was involved in the actual construction of the school.

Her mother was struck with the same magic as this movement is contagious arising from a humble beginning with two Canadian boys - Craig and Marc Kielburger - who had an idea to create change - to world recognition within a few years.This movement is a young people's thing with raw commitment to become leaders, agents of change and contribute to society by being a citizen of the world. It appears to be a youth thing at first sight but becomes a people thing where everyone has value and helping people to reach their own potential is important. Started 15 years ago as Free the Children by 12 year old Craig, the offshoot program Me to We has caught on to the extent that it now has world recognition.

Every year there is a We Day event held in cities across Canada and now spreading to the U.S. Thousands of young people and their teachers fill the Air Canada Center and are inspired by celebrities, social justice speakers and musical performers and reaffirm their commitment to "be the change". My daughter was an early believer and travelled to Kenya with Darcy to volunteer, school build and learn about the challenges faced by the people there. She is committed and preaches the word when possible. It has become a family thing and another of my grand daughters went to the Free the Children leadership academy this summer and claims it was a moving program and a life changer. Darcy interned for We to Me this summer and will always be a follower of this movement.

I have been brain washed and have written about this youth movement on occasion. Oprah W. had the Kielburgers on her program and they were a big hit; she strongly endorsed their work by sponsoring a program with FTC. While in Kenya my family members were inspired by the women  who were being empowered with the help of FTC and saw great potential in raising the level of education and life in general. I mentioned that women in particular were empowered because their skills were a source of economic value because the structure was put in place to sell their beautiful handmade artisan products in Canada and the USA.

If  I were a young person this movement would seriously challenge me to help make this world a better place. It captured my family's interest and I believe everyone who discovers this movement will be equally impressed. So Tuesday is We Day, do something that makes that Me  a We by sharing yourself with others.

Darcy learning the art to spackling at the Kisaruni Girls' School build in Kenya

Working on Kisaruni, first girls' residential secondary school in the Mara region.

Masaai women teaching their intricate beading techniques

Home From Africa

What a great welcome from daughter no 1 when she burst through the door to announce that she was home from Africa. If you know my daughter you will understand that for the next hour Theresa and I just sat and listened to the most wonderful saga. She had this dream for years that one day she would go to Africa and take pictures of the elephants. Well she did.

Every word that she uttered was a verification that the money spent and the time away was well worth it. I wanted to go as well but knowing the demands were a little beyond my ability to perform I stayed home. I lived through her dream and every word she spoke was a true reflection of my own desire to be with her and my grand daughter. I loved the vitality and the deep love for Africa she experienced and it was similar to her feelings during her visits to the true north in Nunavut.

Many of her thoughts expressed a similar culture for people who live off the land. She brought me a very symbolic gift as she was given an elders stick for me as I was considered to be an elder in my own country. It is a piece of art with tiny beaded work around a stick which is given to people who are elders in their own right.

I shall treasure this gift and will no doubt be reminded many times about the symbolic significance of this gift. I am so happy to have my loved ones back in Canada safe and richer for their experience in that great continent of mystery and beauty Africa.

Off to Africa

After months of planning and excitement mother and daughter are finally off to Africa. Lyn and Darcy have been in a stage of euphoria because this was a dream for years and finally the opportunity arrived. They are taking advantage of a Free the Children program which permits people to go to Africa and participate in the building of facilities in Kenya. It will be a chance to experience a few days out on safari to photograph and observe the wildlife. Elephants will be the focus but all will be appreciated.

This will be the second adventure for Darcy as she and her schoolmates went to Costa Rica to experience a similar project.There were last minute things to do as the timing was at a time of graduations and school events. Bags were packed with necessary items {no extra shoes for the ladies} and could weigh no more than thirty pounds. For ladies this is a challenge.

We shall be watching for texting from Africa to see how things are going. We are proud of all the folks who do similar adventures to make life better in other countries. We are very proud that members of our family are meeting the challenge. We trust they will make a difference and return home safely.

The Rich Get Richer and You Know the Rest

The past years the governments of the free world propped up the financial institutions of Bay Street and Wall Street to the tune of trillions of dollars. Where did the money come from? You the taxpayer who are now asked to tighten your belts because the Government has given away your future. These corporations have just made profits twenty percent above their best years with your money. The American and Canadian Governments have made policies to make sure the corporations make profits for their shareholders. We are not the shareholders.

The governments of Great Britain, Grease and other countries just brought in budgets which have cuts of 25 percent. The cuts are for cutbacks on the poor and the middle class. We are going to pay for the rich to become richer while the poor will become even poorer. Government here and abroad protect the capitalists who control the wealth of the world. Canada as a country has tremendous wealth because of its resources. They are owned by all Canadians but exploited by a few international companies. INCO was the world's biggest producer of nickel and is now owned by a corporation in Brazil.

The men have been on strike for nearly a year but the foreign corporation has been operating the company on scab labour. Why? Because our governments support capitalism. The workers are just a means to profit.

The other night on TV a Republican Senator apologized to BP Oil for the disruption of their drilling and oil production. With this mindset it is difficult for our youth to have any confidence in government protection of the people they serve. The G8 are meeting and these countries control most of the wealth of the world. They promised to help Africa with their health problem, mainly HIV and AIDS. These countries never lived up to their promises and when they did they sent outdated medicines to these people. A Canadian, Stephen Lewis has devoted his life to the women of Africa and is world renowned for his effort.

He is ashamed of our government for not meeting their commitment and pulling out of their future work by stipulating that abortion will not be supported by funds from Canada. Teenaged girls are raped as acts if war and have to bear children from this terrible situation. We were sponsoring a program that would see these unfortunate souls being cared for by clean clinics. Otherwise a high percentage will die from infection in the back alleys of Africa without proper care.

Let us hope the (legitimate) protesters are heard during the G8 and G20 talks, and ordinary people will benefit from the Billion Dollar Conference held in Canada.

Stager ... De-clutterer

A house down the road from us sold the other day. It was an older home and housed a couple who are moving to Ottawa. The house sold in a day or two after being advertised with a large sign on the front lawn. It is customary for houses to be sold within a day or two if they are priced correctly. The sold sign appeared almost the next day.

Within a few days articles appeared on the sidewalk marked free. Every few hours more and more things were placed outside clearly marked for free. As we are having a yard sale soon to help build a school in Africa, Theresa and I began to pick up treasure after treasure. Our garage began to fill up right after I gave it a spring cleaning. As Theresa and I drove to the grocery store we saw a huge pile of treasures by the side of the road. There was a youngish man there and we stopped to check out the goods.

We talked to the man and he told us he was de-cluttering the house and everything he took out would be given free. This was his task and he was paid much the same as a stager. He also said that under normal circumstances he took the de-cluttered treasures to a charitable organization for resale. This is recycling in the finest tradition. From his work we gleaned quite a few items for our fundraiser for Africa.

People are more and more into this type of behaviour. We find that our generation were collectors and we filled out homes with things that - after a while - become clutter. I am a self -proclaimed collector but in my defence, I also recycle. I pick up furniture and objects and refinish them and give them away. I have never resold a found treasure except once. My habit has helped friends and family and I have this compulsion about waste. Therefore I have to de-clutter several times a year. I might even have to get learned up and become a stagger, or a de-clutterer. In any case I think it would be a good practise to de-clutter at least once a year. I would have to be away when this occurred as all my clutter is viewed as treasures to me.

I might change but don't hold your breath.

All Together Again

It happened as it should with a perfect count for our two day hog wrestle. All the immediate family and significant others gathered at our house for many hours of fun and antics. The two that we were given special notice were at their best and made us proud of their genuine pleasure. My oldest daughter thought that since we were honouring sixteen year-olds we should give them some advice or remarks from our experience.

As they read these little wise verses I personally was impressed with the candor each of them showed as they read unedited remarks. Loud laughter and clapping resulted at the end of each item and we all shared in the joy of being part of such a happy and fun loving family.

We recognized the achievements of our grandchildren and bathed in reflected glory at their achievements. One in particular just completed her BA with honours and will go on to her Honours Degree next, as she was just accepted into that program. What makes her achievement noteworthy is the fact she had two jobs, a full course load and completed the year with honours. Megs is special. A noisy granddaughter who is completing her senior matriculation and will enter university next year, will do so after she travels to Africa this summer with her mother to volunteer and learn for a few weeks with Free the Children. This kid is a super athlete and participates in all school activities in a leadership role.

All the kids are special but some shine more at times and I love the fact that we are happy to recognize the fact. I must be getting old as I have this sentimental leaning now as I never had before. I really lean on my siblings and grand children who enrich my life so much.

Theresa and I get joy just from associating with these bundles of energy. My best time is when we get a political topic going and to hear the wisdom of the young. Sometimes I hear my own words so I must have made a little impression. They all have a green social conscience and a political bias so it is fun.

They have all gone and we are already getting ready for their return...life is sweet.

Womens Rights

For centuries women here and elsewhere were treated as second class citizens. In many countries even today women are no more than slaves or property to be used and abused. In Canada women were slowly recognized as equals but not without a battle. The right to vote, be professionals, have control over their bodies and partake in the political world are taken for granted these days.

Be cautious and wary as there is a movement in this country at the highest levels to erode these hard won equal rights. The free choice issue has been at the center of many political policy agendas. Abortion rules are being developed to change the free choice legislation. Our prime minister is taking abortion off the agenda for the G8 discussions in spite of the growing need for aid to the tortured women of the Congo and others. Other G8 members are appalled.

Human rights has always been an issue in the world of international trade and still we permit monitory gain over rights. Young people and women in particular are exploited by business folk who are interested in the profit line and not the welfare line. We talk of equal rights but use a large portion of our resources propping up dictators and governments who are insensitive to the living conditions of the people they govern. The African question is such a huge problem that we do not know where to start.

Here in Canada we have a man who has dedicated his life to the African people and the aids epidemic. Mr Lewis is a world leader and I have heard him speak passionately on behalf of the women of Africa.He is frustrated in his battle because countries give a promise of help but have rules that are contrary to a plan that will work. Some major contributors will not let the funds to be used for condoms or birth control. Churches do the same in spite of the evidence to the contrary.

The right wing conservative movement in many political parties are thinking in the dark ages but mark my words, they are a powerful agent in setting social programs in our countries. One small but significant item was raised here in Ontario a few weeks ago. Funding for the pride week celebrations in Toronto were cancelled this year after the minister for the government lost her control over her budget for having her picture with the planners of gay pride parade in the paper. This is the largest such celebration in the world and impacts the city to the tune of half a billion dollars by some estimates.

There must be respect for that dividing line between the church and the state. The reason for the government cancelling the funding was the uproar from the religious right. Sad.

The big losers in the future will be women and minorities, just look at history.

Africa

Africa is a place that dreams are made of and the many stimuli we have used to make a mythical picture comes short of the real thing. My daughter and grand daughter are going to Africa next summer and wish to include me in their plans. I wish to go with them but my wife would not consider the journey. Theresa is adventurous but Africa is not on her agenda.

Free the Children sponsor these trips which permit people like me , who have supported the program to be immersed in the actual activities on the ground. You see first hand the work of building schools and support infrastructure for children in Africa and elsewhere. I am torn between the cost for me to have a dream fulfilled, against a adventure involving both of us.

In recent years Theresa and I have been more aware of the needs in far off countries where a little help can make a vast difference in the life of many. I share this view with family members who are well aware of this calling. My grand daughter has been involved in building a school in Costa Rica whereby she and classmates funded the project and went to Costa Rica and actually help build the school.They built more than a school as their involvement built a strong sense of commitment to helping the less fortunate and built a bridge of trust between themselves and their off shore friends.

To travel to Africa would be something of a rare opportunity for three generations of our family to participate in this worthy cause. The bonus would be to photograph the fauna and flora of the great plains and to smell the Africa we so many times saw depicted by Hollywood. The next few days will be difficult for me to decide, and right now I almost talked myself in taking the plunge and saying yes.