The fun never stops.
First and foremost, Carl and I became grandparents on December 31. Absolute and beautiful joy - no other words for it! Tjitske and Matt, in case there is still someone out there who doesn't know, became beautiful parents of a beautiful boy: Keegan Charles. He will have his own blogspot soon, being brilliant and all that. He is working one the 2nd as well as the one-before-last letters of the alphabet, but he has his 'o' down pat! I am so glad that Tjitske said I can come anytime and as often as I want. That feels special. Of course there is that 3 hr ride in between. Keegan is just gorgeous and seeing one's own daughter as a parent is an amazing experience.
Keegan was born while we were still in Jamaica, celebrating our 40th anniversary on Dec. 29. We had a marvelous villa with all the trimmings and were surrounded by the best: Sander and Deirdre with their excellent halves Liz and Mike, and also our dearest friends, now for 45 years, Marry and Kees Jongsma from Holland. What a treat! Jamaica was quite amazing and I couldn't get over the difference between Jamaica, other islands, the Dom Rep and Haiti. No matter what anyone sees about poverty and lack of structure: there truly and so sadly is nothing like Haiti. Not even close, and that includes the trips we took deeper into the forests in Jamaica. Sure, there is poverty - just still no comparison. There ARE 'normal' stores, roads, stoplights, better education and jobs...the many we take for granted. Nowhere so in Haiti. It is time! Take charge, Haiti! Give what you have been given and use it well, and boot the rest out. It's your country. Not 'love it or leave it' but 'love it - so fix it!'. That's always been my motto for the USA - but it certainly fits for Haiti! Can you imagine Australia or Russia coming over here to fix our unemployment problems?? Help: fine. Take over? Eh..no.
OneBigBoost. Always on my mind and booming. Look at the website www.onebigboost.org to see what we have done these 13 months, and you can leave messages there as well!. We are truly proud of it, and so grateful for everyone who has sent donations and helped in other ways. It comprises 99% of the project! You can write to onebigboost@gmail.com if you have questions, want to get involved etc.
Last October we, Beth and I, were invited to present a PowerPoint presentation to the PA chapter of the
UN's 65th anniversary. That was really exciting and, among other things, resulted in a local young teacher coming with me on my next trip to Haiti! We've kept the PPT and are now starting to show it at other places: schools, organizations etc. Not necessarily for fund raising (depending on the situation)- often just informative about small things a small org can do, or about the situations in Nepal and Haiti in general.
It keeps me very busy: contacts, planning et, and I love it. I wish I could somehow put in more clay days, but part of the problem is lack of space: I feel claustrophobic in the tiy space I have. I'll get there again.
I am leaving for Haiti some time next week, ow that many stirred-up situations in Haiti have quieted down, and friends there have assured us that it is fine to come now. Katie, the teacher, is coming with me, as is a friend of Lisa's in Germany, Dinah Dreher, for whom OBB has foud a great place to volunteer for the spring and early summer. Lisa has taken on the position as OBB Ambassador to Germany and already she did such a wonderful thing here that will touch many people's lives!!
Our big and most exciting thing this spring is that Carl and I are going to the UK in May, to spend a glorious week with Annemieke, Mark, and their new baby to be born in April. We really can't wait - it is on my mind every day! MORE pictures and stories! More newborn miracles.
In April I am going to Holland for a very short week, staying with Marry and Kees. Reason for the trip: Frans Bruggen is conducting in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (newly discovered violin concerto by Clement), and I will finally be there to enjoy all that 'live'. What a incredible treat that will be..my eyes get warm at the thought. I hope to see him, and visit Mabel and Jan as well as my cousins John and Jany...it will be fabulous. I don't even care what the weather will be like! (can be fierce!)
The trip to Haiti includes a volunteer project at school, meeting with the people of a very successful restavek (identured slave children - the neglected ones) program, meeting friends re a ew hostpital/clinic and setting up the seeds for a micro business for women there (clay project-write for details) and we're looking for small-time investment: a $100-$200 pp (or more) contribution to assure income, 5% interest, guaranteed paid back by the end of a full year. That will set them up to receive a micro-loan in Haiti! Interested? write me for details. A lot to do in 7-10 days, and we'll see how far we get!
Time to go again. Life is good: my best friend as husband, a life with good friends, great family, a grandson who already takes after me (cuddly and expensive to keep), time for Haiti and the many things in other places...great new clay projects (mostly in my mind)not much more to ask for!!
All the best to each of you!
Oh yes: my comp is having problems with 'n' and occasionally with 'a'. When writing pant or band or snap etc, the spell-checker doesn't pick up the missing letters, and I don't want to check it all for the rest. :D
Marianne
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Monday, October 18, 2010
Forgot...ps
Forgot to tell about our Jean Mary in Haiti. He is nearly 5 now, and was admitted to the American-English school! I.e. it is an English-speaking school that follows the American curriculum.
After the first day (last Monday) he announced he could speak English: yes and no.
By the end of the week he could count to 20 ( and know other things, beyond a doubt) and when asked what he liked best about his new school he said what every American kid says: lunch and recess!
After the first day (last Monday) he announced he could speak English: yes and no.
By the end of the week he could count to 20 ( and know other things, beyond a doubt) and when asked what he liked best about his new school he said what every American kid says: lunch and recess!
OneBigBoost is growing!
This is all so exciting!
Since the visit to Haiti, many things have happened.
We are still receiving donations and, in spite of the large amounts we have herded to the proper places, we still have a sizable amount left. Since there is SO much to be done that is a good thing!
(my cat just tried to jump onto my desk and missed - that was weird! You should have seen the dumb look!)
We sent large amounts of money to Haiti, in chunks, until the last refugee patient had left the hospital. Over Easter we decided to entrust Dave Porter, Keystone College, with $500 to help his work with a permanent project at the orphanage in Gwo Jan, Haiti. (part of Port au Prince)
Our next project took us back to Nepal. Beth knows a group of people who are involved in translating an English-language novel into Nepali. The name of the book is SOLD, written by Patricia McCormick. It describes the typical situation in Nepal and its neighboring countries: a 12 year old girl is taken from home, for a cash exchange, with the assurance that she will have a good job, good family and education in Kathmandu. Instead, she ends up in brothels in India. Letting the families in Nepal know what is going on - an estimated 1200 girls each year - is not simple: most people in the mountains cannot read or write, nor do they have television. But most everyone has radio! And this is how this group is trying to reach the population most affected by the situation and the project has several segments.
1-Translation of the book into Nepali
2-Distribution of the book to all libraries and schools (3 books to each)
3-An amazing, acting-out of the book by Nepali radio actors, one evening a week, to inform
people in a way they are eager to follow. Like a radio play.
4-Workshops for (mostly rural) teachers, making them aware, learning to identify and teach the
community about the truth of these 'families'.
OneBigBoost decided to sponsor two of these teacher workshops at $300 each. One time, one place, serving many.
It is not so easy to really stick with that, but focus is a must. There is so much need everywhere.
I always wonder what will be next, or will we 'get stuck' with the money left in the account? And what if people keep giving money?(which is happening)
So now another two things have happened.
1- I read about the problem in Haiti with last years' tents and tarps falling apart, leaving people in hot sun, drenching rain and night-time cold. I kept wondering how we could kelp just a few people/families. A dear friend said "hey-I know a man who owns a tent factory. A big one. I'll have him call you!". And she did. Markus is the CEO of a huuuge tent-making company in Wash State, something ..folding homes...google it. They are all yurts, anywhere from family yurts to complete hospitals. He is the one who donated thousands of these to Pakistan, works with the Red Cross, armies etc. Knowing all that, I decided to ask him to sell us 10 yurts at the lowest yurt price you get if you buy 5 000 of them. At first he laughed, then told me he will have an offer for me on Thursday..... We have designated $3500 for it, possibly giving home to 10 families that way.
2- This group of young NGO people are building self-composting toilets all over the quake area, and doing a great job. They are collecting all the compost, and want to start a model garden in Febr/March. OBB is going to designate $1500-$2000 to buy quality garden implements, tree saplings and tons of seeds. Sari's daughter, Elina (16) , is hoping to fly over from Finland to help me with this exciting project. It will be wonderful to have her by my side!
OneBigBoost/I was invited to do two presentations about our organization at the PA celebration of the United Nation's 65th anniversary. That celebrations is this Thursday, Oct 23, and Tjitske was a marvelous over-the-phone teacher to teach me PowerPoint. I was very impressed. I'm loving it, and set up a 22 minute presentation, leaving enough time for questions and accidents of the 35 minute session (x2). The presentation is about the power of one, that small things make a big difference in a person's life. That one small act is really perfect - it doesn't have to be a multi-million dollar, complex organization with complex rules.
It starts with a beautiful picture I took in Sussex: a lone poppy sticking its head through a fence.
But wait...there's more! The mayor of Scranton contacted me yesterday: they need to know our umbrella/connection to non-profit 501(c)3 contact (thank goodness we have that!!) - because the Scranton Foundation is giving us a donation on Thursday. Oh boy. And Markus is going to be there, and I'm sitting with him for lunch.
What a life!
So yes, besides the utmost joy of having a son and a daughter who are blossoming in their work, TWO daughters pregnant and as always beautiful, having everyone home for Thanksgiving AND going to Jamaica for our 40th....life is a beautiful place to be.
Since the visit to Haiti, many things have happened.
We are still receiving donations and, in spite of the large amounts we have herded to the proper places, we still have a sizable amount left. Since there is SO much to be done that is a good thing!
(my cat just tried to jump onto my desk and missed - that was weird! You should have seen the dumb look!)
We sent large amounts of money to Haiti, in chunks, until the last refugee patient had left the hospital. Over Easter we decided to entrust Dave Porter, Keystone College, with $500 to help his work with a permanent project at the orphanage in Gwo Jan, Haiti. (part of Port au Prince)
Our next project took us back to Nepal. Beth knows a group of people who are involved in translating an English-language novel into Nepali. The name of the book is SOLD, written by Patricia McCormick. It describes the typical situation in Nepal and its neighboring countries: a 12 year old girl is taken from home, for a cash exchange, with the assurance that she will have a good job, good family and education in Kathmandu. Instead, she ends up in brothels in India. Letting the families in Nepal know what is going on - an estimated 1200 girls each year - is not simple: most people in the mountains cannot read or write, nor do they have television. But most everyone has radio! And this is how this group is trying to reach the population most affected by the situation and the project has several segments.
1-Translation of the book into Nepali
2-Distribution of the book to all libraries and schools (3 books to each)
3-An amazing, acting-out of the book by Nepali radio actors, one evening a week, to inform
people in a way they are eager to follow. Like a radio play.
4-Workshops for (mostly rural) teachers, making them aware, learning to identify and teach the
community about the truth of these 'families'.
OneBigBoost decided to sponsor two of these teacher workshops at $300 each. One time, one place, serving many.
It is not so easy to really stick with that, but focus is a must. There is so much need everywhere.
I always wonder what will be next, or will we 'get stuck' with the money left in the account? And what if people keep giving money?(which is happening)
So now another two things have happened.
1- I read about the problem in Haiti with last years' tents and tarps falling apart, leaving people in hot sun, drenching rain and night-time cold. I kept wondering how we could kelp just a few people/families. A dear friend said "hey-I know a man who owns a tent factory. A big one. I'll have him call you!". And she did. Markus is the CEO of a huuuge tent-making company in Wash State, something ..folding homes...google it. They are all yurts, anywhere from family yurts to complete hospitals. He is the one who donated thousands of these to Pakistan, works with the Red Cross, armies etc. Knowing all that, I decided to ask him to sell us 10 yurts at the lowest yurt price you get if you buy 5 000 of them. At first he laughed, then told me he will have an offer for me on Thursday..... We have designated $3500 for it, possibly giving home to 10 families that way.
2- This group of young NGO people are building self-composting toilets all over the quake area, and doing a great job. They are collecting all the compost, and want to start a model garden in Febr/March. OBB is going to designate $1500-$2000 to buy quality garden implements, tree saplings and tons of seeds. Sari's daughter, Elina (16) , is hoping to fly over from Finland to help me with this exciting project. It will be wonderful to have her by my side!
OneBigBoost/I was invited to do two presentations about our organization at the PA celebration of the United Nation's 65th anniversary. That celebrations is this Thursday, Oct 23, and Tjitske was a marvelous over-the-phone teacher to teach me PowerPoint. I was very impressed. I'm loving it, and set up a 22 minute presentation, leaving enough time for questions and accidents of the 35 minute session (x2). The presentation is about the power of one, that small things make a big difference in a person's life. That one small act is really perfect - it doesn't have to be a multi-million dollar, complex organization with complex rules.
It starts with a beautiful picture I took in Sussex: a lone poppy sticking its head through a fence.
But wait...there's more! The mayor of Scranton contacted me yesterday: they need to know our umbrella/connection to non-profit 501(c)3 contact (thank goodness we have that!!) - because the Scranton Foundation is giving us a donation on Thursday. Oh boy. And Markus is going to be there, and I'm sitting with him for lunch.
What a life!
So yes, besides the utmost joy of having a son and a daughter who are blossoming in their work, TWO daughters pregnant and as always beautiful, having everyone home for Thanksgiving AND going to Jamaica for our 40th....life is a beautiful place to be.
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