Tag Archives: Ethiopia

Jun12

Traveling To Ethiopia With The International Reporting Project New Media Fellowship

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Traveling To Ethiopia With The International Reporting Project New Media Fellowship

“Eat only with your right hand, never with the left.” My friend advised, referring to the injera pancakes used in Ethiopian cuisine to scoop up food.  Her advice aimed to spare me the disapproving looks and awkward moment of a cultural lesson learned the hard way. Leaving in just a few days for my trip to Ethiopia, I have been gathering all the travel tips I can get.

I am thrilled be traveling to Ethiopia along with the eight other New Media Fellows selected for the International Reporting Project trip to report on Newborn Health.  The International Reporting Project was established to fill the void in reporting on global issues.  The IRP fellowship gives U.S. Journalists the opportunity to travel to foreign countries, and share the stories that would not typically be seen in the mainstream media.

We will be reporting on Ethiopia’s development in preventing newborn deaths, a challenge in a country where somewhere around 90% of women live in low resource, rural areas and tend to give birth at home.  We will also explore surrounding issues such as maternal and child health, immunizations, nutrition, and access to healthcare.  Ethiopia is the second most populated country on the African continent, and is a country comprised of diverse ethnicities.  It’s landscapes are varied as well, topography ranges from mountains to jungles, to one of the hottest inhabited regions on earth.  We will be visiting remote villages to meet with NGO’s, Frontline Heath care Workers, and mothers to witness first hand the challenges, and the progress towards saving lives in Ethiopia.

Please follow our journey at #EthiopiaNewborns , on Twitter , Facebook & Instagram

I will be reporting from Ethiopia as a fellow with the International Reporting Project (IRP)

Dec10

Mindful Giving Guide: Gifts That Give Back

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Mindful Giving Guide: Gifts That Give Back

GIVE:

10 Gifts That Give Back:

1.FashionABLE  Scarves: The scarf pictured here was exclusively made for ONE by fashionABLE out of 100% light weight African cotton. The Feleku scarf was created when the ONEMoms (Including my amazing sister-in-law Jeannine Harvey) were on their recent trip to Ethiopia. ONE has partnered with FashionABLE, a company that works to create economic opportunities for women in Ethiopia by creating handmade scarves.  Each style is named after the woman that designed it and includes a tag describing what she is able to do as a result of having a job. This scarf is named after Feleku, who is now ABLE to face new challenges.

2.Lollie Beads Bracelets are created from fair trade recycled glass beads made in Uganda. So they are not only gorgeous (the glass beads look and feel like sea glass) but they are good for the environment AND help support sustainable livings in a developing country.

 

 

3.I first heard of The Anchal Project at the Rhode Island School of Design Student and Alumni Art sale where I bought a small moleskin notebook to support it.  Since then they have branched out into an incredible array of crafts including these beautiful quilts to support  their mission: “Anchal merges design, business, and education to empower marginalized and exploited women living in India.”-Anchal Mission Statement

4.These Tom’s wedges are at the top of my teenage daughter’s wish list, so you know they are cool! Tom’s keeps its designs fresh while still managing to provide shoes and glasses to those who need them. I know I’ve said this before, but I love their One for One business model (and pledge to support it with as many shoes as I can get away with!)

5.Whenever I carry my FEED bag I get compliments and inquiries about it, and I love promoting their wonderful program.  Products from

FEED Project make perfect gifts that give back, each product tells you how many kids you are feeding by purchasing it, and you can choose the product based on what efforts you wish to support.  This season I’m lusting after the DKNY collaboration Survival Tote and  NYC  hoodie sweatshirt that supports relief efforts for hurricane sandy victims.

6.Sari Bari  Sari Bari is a safe place of employment where women who have been exploited in the sex trade or who are vulnerable to trafficking can experience a new life in the making. Gorgeous Indian textiles are woven into clothing, accessories and home goods. Tee-shirts, bags and jewelry all help these women live free lives of restoration and hope.

 

Alex & Ani jewelry is a favorite gift of mine to give, not only is it made from recycled materials, locally owned and founded by a woman, but has a Charity By Design division where a percentage of proceeds from each Charity By Design bracelet goes to a specific cause.You can also customize your gift to the recipients personality or interests with their amazing selection of charm bracelets and charm necklaces.

 

 

7.1000 ShillingsUgandan Paper bead necklaces.  The women artisans earn capital for their own small businesses by making limited-edition products for 1000 Shillings. Each product sold through 1000 Shillings helps a woman establish a small business, which enables her to support her family. We also aim to tell the in-depth story behind each artisan.  The company works with six single mothers in the Namatala slum, Uganda.

 

A Gift As A Gesture:

Sometimes it is hard to find the perfect gift for someone who has every material thing they desire.  Still you want to give something as a token of your appreciation to them and the below gifts are the perfect solution that everyone can feel good about.

Photo by Elizabeth Atalay

8. Heifer International :

“Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth.  It all started with a cow.  Moved by the plight of orphans and refugees of the Spanish Civil War as he ladled out meager rations of powdered milk, Dan West, an Indiana farmer, volunteer relief worker and Church of the Brethren member, grasped that the people needed “a cow, not a cup”—cows that could produce milk so families would not have to depend on temporary aid. From that simple idea, Heifer International was born.” – From the Heifer International Website

9. Save A Life This Christmas with Maternity Worldwide :  “No mother should die while giving birth. By ordering a Safe Birth Certificate you will enable a mother in a developing country to safely give birth to her baby.  Long after the bubble bath has been used and the Christmas hampers have been eaten you will have given a lasting gift which will save a mother’s life and enable her baby to grow up with their mum.”- From the Maternity Worldwide Website

10. UNICEF Child survival Food Pack: “One amazing gift, that does it all. The Child Survival Food Pack has everything needed to save a severely malnourished child, from the time they are brought into an emergency feeding center on the brink of death, till when they are healthy again.  Therapeutic Milk and Therapeutic Food are the miracle supplies that treat severe acute malnutrition. Water Purification Tablets provide clean and safe water and prevent water-borne diseases. Multiple Micronutrient Powder and High-Energy Biscuits give a child the vitamins and minerals needed to stay healthy.  Your precious gift can bring a child back from the brink of malnutrition, with enough supplies to nurture them to good health for several months.”- UNICEFUSA.org

 

I am a proud member of The Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health. Some of the suggestions for this post came from the Global Team of 200.   Our Motto: Individually we are all powerful. Together we can change the world. We believe in the power of collective action to help others and believe in ourselves to make this world a better place for our children and the world’s children.  Follow along with us here on Tumblr, on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook for the latest Global Team of 200 news.

Oct10

Twitterpated About The ONEMoms In Ethiopia

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Twitterpated About The ONEMoms In Ethiopia

Photo by Gabrielle Blair

Photo by Rana DiOrio

Photo by Liz Gumbinner

Photo by Alice Currah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot tear myself away from my twitter feed these days! I am pretty much a twitter neophyte, (usually I tweet out random things with misspellings to my thousands of followers that I immediately regret), but with the ONEMoms/ONEMums in Ethiopia this week, I am completely hooked on twitter. It has been so much fun to be able to truly follow along with them on their trip to Ethiopia, and to get real time photos and stories from the field.

 

FashionABLE scarf

From their arrival in Addis Ababa, to a visit to Mary Joy Center,  where ONEMom, Supermodel, and Activist Maya Haile and her husband celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster sponsor ten children. To the FashionABLE factory, where gorgeous scarves are literally saving the lives of the women who make them, giving them an alternative to exploitation and providing a sustainable  business, and education. Those of us following along got a peek at the visit to the Hamlin Fistula Hospital where 90% of the women who are seen and treated are cured.  Each new place bringing photos and stories of hope flying home to us to share. The stories are all bursting with hope brought on by visiting these amazing facilities that are changing lives, saving lives.   The ONE Moms & ONEMums, are part of ONE.org,  “a movement of moms everywhere using their extraordinary power to spread awareness for the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. These moms are leading a movement to promote education, engagement and activism on behalf of the world’s poorest”.- ONEMoms  ONE.org does not ask for money but for voices.

ONEMoms in Ethiopia

Voices for those without the ability to amplify their own voices. The children, the oppressed women, the ones with no outlet for their grievances but acceptance.  The twelve moms on this trip to Ethiopia are all women with strong voices in media and in their fields, a Publisher, a Pig Farmer, a Lawyer, a Scientist, Food Bloggers, Mom Bloggers, a Supermodel/Activist, and a designer, their diverse backgrounds coming together to send a shared message.  These programs are working, look at the progress, and the possibilities.  You too can add your voice by joining ONEMom.

 

 

 

 

 

You too can follow their amazing journey  and share it with others via SoundCloud, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, ONE Moms blog and the members individual blogs listed below. But I warn you; you may not be able to tear yourself away!

Gabrielle Blair, DesignMom @designmom
Alice Currah, Savory Sweet Life @SavorySweetLife
Rana DiOrio, Little Pickle Press @LPP_Media @RanaDiOrio
Asha Dornfest, Parent Hacks, @parenthacks
Cathleen Falsani, Sojourners @godgrrl
Liz Gumbinner, Cool Mom Picks and Mom101 @coolmompicks @mom101
Jennifer Howze, BritMums @jhowze
Christine Koh, Boston Mamas @bostonmamas
Michelle Pannell, Mummy from the Heart @michelletwinmum
Diana Prichard, Righteous Bacon @Diana_Prichard
Maya Haile Samuelsson, MarcusSamuelsson @GateHaileMaya
Kelly Wickham, Mocha Momma @mochamomma
Karen Walrond, Chookooloonks @Chookooloonks (the trip photographer)

Sep26

Social Good Summit in NYC

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Social Good Summit in NYC

The Author with colleagues from ONEMoms, World Moms Blog and Fundraise.com outside the Media Lounge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Social Good Summit is a three-day conference where big ideas meet new media to create innovative solutions. Held during UN Week from September 22-24, the Social Good Summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders to discuss a big idea: the power of innovative thinking and technology to solve our greatest challenges. The most innovative technologists, influential minds and passionate activists will come together with one shared goal: to unlock the potential of new media and technology to make the world a better place, and then to translate that potential into action.” -Mashable.com/sgs

I was thrilled to be able to catch a glimpse of the Social Good Summit held in New York City this past week.   I  came away feeling hopeful and inspired by both the content being presented, and the amazing people so passionately involved in making the world a better place.  I only wished for more time to attend all of the fascinating panels and talks, but was happy to be there even briefly to soak in the collaborative energy that comes of so many people with common goals gathering in one spot. The summit was sponsored by Mashable, the U.N. Foundation, The Gates Foundation, Ericsson, UNDP and the 92nd street Y where it was held.  A range of global issues were highlighted along with the way in which social media can play a role.  The Social Good Summit ran concurrently with The Clinton Global Initiative and U.N. Week, bringing NYC even more than its usual buzz of  humanitarians, activists, media and diplomats.

My colleagues from World Moms Blog, founder Jennifer Burden and World Voice Editor Nicole Melancon had pre-registered for press passes into the Clinton Global Initiative as well where they were able to live tweet and blog about the speeches given by the entire Clinton family, Mitt Romney, and Barak Obama!  The first thing I did upon arrival was head to mid-town to try to get a walk on Documama press pass to the Clinton Global Initiative.  I was not granted access, and it totally felt like being denied at the velvet rope, but was so worth the try!  The Social Good Summit had a line-up of powerhouses in their own right, like Jane Goodall, Nick Kristof, Anthony Lake of UNICEF and Gabriel Jaramillo of the Global Fund, among many other great names.  Although I was unable to view all of the speakers,  they were all live streamed by Mashable.com so that anyone who wished to hear them could .  On site, such revolutionary speakers addressing the audience charged the rooms at the 92nd street Y with excitement and hope.

As a prelude to the upcoming ONEMoms trip to Ethiopia a group of  ONEMoms members and community partners in town for the summit got together for dinner at Red Rooster Harlem .   ONEMoms blogger, philanthropist and model, Maya Haile Samuelsson, will be traveling to Ethiopia with ONEMoms in October. Her husband Marcus Samuelsson is the Chef and Owner of Red Rooster, so it was a natural choice, but it also happens to be one of the hippest spots in the city. We dined on Red Rooster favorites such as Helga’s Meatballs, and dessert of decadent Sweet Potato Doughnuts. Our favorite cocktail was called the “Yes, Chef” and takes its’ name from Marcus Samuelssons’ recently released memoir titled “Yes, Chef”. (which I had read and loved!)

Next year I plan to make it a point to set aside time to attend the entire Social Good Summit, in the mean time I am filtering through the plethora of innovative ideas and exciting programs being executed by presenters and attendees of the conference.  A couple of cool programs that debuted this week were the Shot@Life  Moments Matter mobile App and the Half the Sky Facebook game.  The Shot @ Life Moments Matter Mobile App helps you track your childs’ milestones from ages 0-5 through your photos and entries, while building awareness about the Shot@Life campaign that helps to give children around the world a shot at a healthy life. The Half The Sky Facebook Game  is a compelling way to do global good by helping to empower women by unlocking real world donations while playing the game.  These are great examples of ways in which social media can be harnessed and put to good use.  The three way live global chat at the Social Good Summit between Nairobi, Beijing and New york highlighted how technology can bring the world together. We need to keep developing new ways to use social media to bring the world together for the greater good of mankind, and for me the 2012 Social Good Summit was a great place to start.

Aug3

Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster NYC: Ethiopia-Sweden-America

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Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster NYC: Ethiopia-Sweden-America

Marcus Samuelsson’s story is amazing.

He was born in Ethiopia, and when he was only three his mother walked for days with her two children to get medical care to treat their tuberculosis. Sadly, his mother did not make it, but Marcus and his sister received the care they needed to recover. A year later they were adopted into a loving family and brought up in Sweden. It was the love of cooking that his Swedish grandmother instilled in him which he credits for guiding him to where he is today. He has risen to become a world-renowned chef and author of Yes, Chef; A Memoir in which he details his fascinating life.

Me with Chef Marcus Samuelsson at Red Rooster

While in New York City for the Blogher conference I had the pleasure to meet Chef Marcus Samuelsson and check out his acclaimed Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlem. He has created a vibrant atmosphere in which to serve what he describes as American comfort food with hints of his Swedish and African roots. While there, he greeted us with the same easy smile and warm welcoming manner with which he seemed to grace all those he encountered. He graciously took us on a tour downstairs to Ginny’s Supper Club , which is fashioned as a modern speakeasy and opened in 2012 as a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance. The food was amazing and the ambiance electric, so if you are looking for a cool night out, Red Rooster is where you want to go.

A drink called Yes, Chef