bloggings

Mick Hughes Girls Sponsorship Support Fund

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:09:43 +0100

Mick Hughes lost his battle to cancer earlier this month.

Mick was a generous supporter of COME UNITY’s Sponsorship Program and has sponsored one of our girls in Ilbissil since we launched our program. His daughter, Ashley, is the head of our Sponsorship Program and knows how many extra fees, charges and legitimate needs transpire through a program like ours. We would like to set up this fund to have resources for costs relative to our Sponsorship Program. These could be: providing for outgrown school uniforms, supplies, books, Bibles, feminine hygiene products, special speakers for encouragement. If there are remaining funds we could provide a scholarship fund towards one or two of our sponsor girls who plan to pursue further education.

On a personal note, Ashley has been one of the longest truest supporters of COME UNITY. She was part of COME UNITY before there wasn’t anything, really, to be part of. She has believed in COME UNITY even when I haven’t. I never had the honor of meeting her father, Mick, but in recent weeks I have heard plenty of stories to know that the extreme generosity, commitment, love and devotion that I have known through Ashley is an inherited Hughes family trait. What a world it would be if we all lived such intentional generous lives as Mr. Hughes did.

To contribute to the Mick Hughes Girls Sponsorship Support Fund, please make checks payable to ‘Compassion Corps’. Please write “Mick Hughes Fund” in the memo line. Send them to:

PO Box 63

Bridgeport, PA 19405.

God bless you, and God bless the Hughes Family.

the year of...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:43:13 +0100

2012. The year of going big.

Two main things on my mind this morning, as I prepare to head off to McCarter Theatre. They’ve been selling our goods at their lobby boutique since October, and I’m hoping they want more!

6K!!! Last year we were pretty excited that our race expanded from the bounds of Philadelphia to the rolling hills of the Midwest. One race in 2010. Two in 2011. And in 2012, we’re going for four or maybe FIVE races!!!! Our races usually boast about 200 walkers, runners, stroller pushers and dogs of all sizes, shapes and speeds. We have around 20 volunteers that make the race happen on that very day. But, a team of just 8-10 people are really the ones who make it happen. They work hard, invest time, sweat and hopefully no blood or tears into planning details of the 6k. Food, signage, web marketing, registration, band, volunteer recruitment, timers, awards, info. They meet 6 or 7 times before the race and at the end of April 28^th, they feel like they WON. These groups are forming now in Philadelphia (Plymouth Meeting area), Fort Wayne Indiana, Sarasota Florida, Duluth Minnesota, and New Hampshire. It’s not too late to join. If you’d like more info about any of those places, let us know--- no commitment required to get more info--- comeunitynow@yahoo.com

EMPLOYMENT. This year I will become an official COME UNITY employee. That is crazy and very exciting to say! Stay tuned in the near future for more details on that. Come August, I’ll be the official acting Director of COME UNITY. Most importantly, the next few months will be some important opportunities to start raising funds so that NONE of the donations we bring in at our fundraisers will go towards a salary. Ever. I plan to raise a salary and those funds will be earmarked specifically for my salary. We will always be able to look everyone in the eyes at our fundraisers and know their giving is going to where we say it is.

Look out for more good stuff from CU, coming soon!

Merry Christmas!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:36:35 +0100

Happy Holidays from COME UNITY!

At a recent Board of Directors retreat we learned a good lesson that to avoid growing weary it is a good practice to document your successes. As 2011 comes to an end, here’s the short list on what we’ve been up to!

In 2011 we…

-took a team to Kenya

-held two 6k races in Indiana and Pennsylvania

-started a new well in Ethiopia and took on new sponsor girls in Kenya

-raised nearly $15,000 for our future water and sustainability projects

-completed our 501(c)3 application (and await our approved status!)

I’m excited about all of this stuff. In charity work like this it can sometimes feel like I’m spending my time writing emails, planning events and recruiting volunteers. For you, maybe it feels like you write your check each month so your Sponsor Child can attend school, or you come participate in our latest fundraiser. And it’s not every day that we get to see the fruit of those efforts. The seeds of what is being sewn here at home are planted in a dry and weary land far away--- and there is where there is a harvest of lives changed! Girls are going to school because of you. People are drinking clean water because of you. Your contribution in big and small ways really is making a difference. How can I thank you enough?

I am grateful for a incredibly committed Board of Directors and team of volunteers who know what it takes to turn nothing into something. Out of the empty air they have invested time and more time into detailing out what COME UNITY is about. Who we are, exactly, as an organization. What are we all about. Why. The nitty gritty. We sat in a house one weekend and didn’t get up from our seats until our mission, our vision and some important next steps on the way to NPO status were hammered out. An important thing as we’re on the tipping point of going from little fundraising organization to big time impact maker and world changer. We love what we came up with… and we knew you would too! For us, it’s about sustainability. We are not the savior of our partners, we are not the answer to all their problems. We are a temporary hand up, and we desire to help create a sustainable system for them so they can live respectable lives.

Our mission: To partner with developing societies by creating opportunities for self-sufficient life.

Vision Statement: COME UNITY will create a world where people are not causes and ‘aid’ is a history term. Every person will have clean water to drink, a respectable life and a way to make ends meet. Girls will have equal opportunity at being educated and women will be a valued part of their community. We will compel generation after generation to be knowledgeable, involved and give generously to those who are less fortunate. We will not be a forever solution to the communities we partner with. COME UNITY’s vision is to bring healing, wholeness, relationship and solution so our organization will not have a reason to exist.

Can I get a little personal here? 2012 is a big year for me. Dance has long been the passion of my life. When I was eight I fell in love with performing in the Nutcracker, and, well, 25 years later it is still my full time career. In April I am getting married to the love of my life! And in June I will retire from twelve years of being a professional ballerina. Three knee surgeries, a new husband and home 90 miles from ‘work’ and a growing desire to commit more of myself to COME UNITY are beckoning me to a different life. I feel the spectrum of emotions, but most days I am ready and really excited to pack my ballerina bags and journey into a new season of life!

In 2012 we will…

-take a team to Africa, build a new borehole, love on our sponsor girls!

-expand the COME UNITY 6k Run/Walk beyond PA and IN. Will your city be next?!...

-host a professional dance event in PA as part of Philadelphia Fringe Fest

-have a baseball camp, a volleyball tourney

-hold a super cool COME UNITY benefit

-have a part time staff! (Guess who?!)

We have loads to be grateful for. Thanks for being part of all we do. Celebrate this season with a lot of joy! Love, Kristin

Quite a year.

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:13:44 +0100

Dear Friends,

It has been an awesome year for COME UNITY . Two 6k races, one dance event, volleyball and sailing fundraisers, one team trip to Africa and to date 5 clean water projects around the world, 15 sponsor girls, 9 cows, sustainability projects and much more. In the works are a clean water project in Sheda, Ethiopia--- and the reason I write you today: Pokot, Kenya.

The Principal at Alale Primary School in Pokot told us, “the 7^th and 8^th grade girls are most vulnerable. Their fathers will sell them for a dowry to a husband--- and the husbands sometimes come to our school and take their new wives away.” Can you imagine? Their fathers are paid a dowry of one beer or one goat. Young girls are often married to a much older man who has more than one wife. They bear lots of children; they are not valued at all. As I sat on my bedroom floor a few weeks ago and read about sixteen Pokot girls we have promised to sponsor, these unfathomable stories again broke my heart.

One of our new Sponsor Girls writes, “I am sixteen years old. My Father died when I was in Class Five, and a few months after my Father died, my Mother was inherited by my Father’s brother when it came to the end of the third term. After a few months, I was forced to be circumcised so that I could be married. I decided to run away from home. I went to my uncle’s house where I was treated like I was not related. When he tried to molest me I ran away and met a lady that took pity on me. She took me to her home where I was at least better. I performed well in school, and then the lady died, so all the time I was chased from school because of school fees. My principal has allowed me at school without fees for that term. I don’t know where help will come from, but if I lift up my eyes to the heaven for God as the Provider for all the earth. I promise myself not to give up, even if life becomes more difficult I can persevere and at last I trust that I can conquer and celebrate.”

Sponsorship facts:

-1/4 of all girls in developing countries are not in school

-Educated girls have fewer, healthier children that are 40% more likely to live past the age of five.

-Every extra year girls spend in primary school boosts their eventual wages by 15-20%; in secondary school, 20-25%.

-In Pokot, girls already in sponsorship programs have had parents come to their schools offering meager funds towards their girls’ education, as if they now see value in her education since someone else does.

Maureen has been sponsoring a COME UNITY Sponsorship girl for a year and a half. She writes, “For years I had thought about sponsoring a child somewhere in the world. The ads and opportunities are everywhere. But something inside me didn't feel compelled enough to actually take the step and participate. Programs always seemed distant and run by corporations I knew little about. When COME UNITY announced their sponsorship program though, I knew this was what I had been waiting for. I had heard of the town the girls were from, knew people who had been there. For some reason, the picture of my future girl, Ruth, seemed like more than just one of the pictures I had seen so many times. The results so far have proven that I made the right decision. I have had the chance to write Ruth letters, and I have received letters back from her. Ones not sent through a system from an unnamed source who told her to write them, but ones hand delivered by friends of mine. They have returned with stories of meeting her and I find myself believing that is possible that one day I too will get to meet her. More important than the personal interaction and just KNOWING that she gets to go to school and build a future has been the words she has shared with me in her letters. To read a handwritten letter by a young girl who lives in a family that has been devastated by poverty, but now has a small glimpse of hope is amazing. To know that I have been allowed to be the one who can offer that hope to her is something that brings great joy to my life.

I am not someone who stops and buys coffee every day so when someone says the number 500 dollars a year, that seems like a lot. It does seem like an actual sacrifice. There is definitely something I won't buy this year because that money went towards Ruth. But the benefit of giving my money to Ruth instead of whatever I now will not purchase far outweighs the benefits of my purchase. The ability to offer a bright future to someone who might have been heading to a rather dim one is certainly worth the sacrifice.”

To Sponsor a girl:

- We ask one year of sponsorship at $1.40/day or $500/year

- Your contribution funds her education, uniform, room and board, food and routine visits by our international partners

- Pay monthly, quarterly or yearly

- Writing your girl and receive letters from her twice per year

It is our goal to find sponsors for all 16 girls by January 1^st, 2012. $1.40 a day isn’t much to us. It is the world to her. Please consider giving! If you’d like to ‘give’ sponsorship as a Christmas gift, we can help you make cards that give one month of education ($42) in the name of your brothers and sisters, and cousins and parents, as you wish.

Please email Ashley for more info: ahughes212@hotmail.com

Our girls.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:15:15 +0100

Last week I sat on my bedroom floor and cried as I opened my email to find 16 beautiful faces, and 16 heart wrenching stories of the girls we have committed to finding sponsors for. We heard many similar stories when we visited their homeland of Pokot, Kenya this past July. Perhaps it shouldn’t take my breath away quite as much as it did--- but, then again, injustice this weighty shoud never cease to take our breath away.

One of our girls writes, “I am sixteen years old. My Father died when I was in Class Five, and a few months after my Father died, my Mother was inherited by my Father’s brother when it came to the end of the third term. After a few months, I was forced to be circumcised so that I could be married. I decided to run away from home. I went to my uncle’s house where I was treated like I was not related. When he tried to molest me I ran away and met a lady that took pity on me. She took me to her home where I was at least better. I performed well in school, and then the lady died, so all the time I was chased from school because of school fees. My principal has allowed me at school without fees for that term.

I don’t know where help will come from, but if I lift up my eyes to the heaven for God as the Provider for all the earth. I promise myself not to give up, even if life becomes more difficult I can persevere and at last I trust that I can conquer and celebrate.”

The stories sound fake sometimes. I think our lives of Starbucks, and running water, weekends full of wine and movies and dinner out must seem false to them as well--- or at least unimaginable. These stories are real. Their lives are real. Polygamy, early marriage, a serious devaluing of girls and women and FGM are very real to the girls of Pokot.

As if teaching these girls that their lives are valuable isn’t enough, Eva Jenker writes, “ when any child fails to acquire the basic skills needed to function as a productive, responsible member of society, society as a whole—not to mention the individual child—loses. The cost of educating children is far outweighed by the cost of not educating them. Adults who lack basic skills have greater difficulty finding well-paying jobs and escaping poverty. Education for girls has particularly striking social benefits: incomes are higher and maternal and infant mortality rates are lower for educated women, who also have more personal freedom in making choices.”

So, what did you spend $1.40 on today? How about our girls? comeunitynow@yahoo.com

Collaborations.

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:14:15 +0100

Last weekend was Fringe Fest. This was the BIGGEST collaboration of dancers we’ve ever attempted, and it was a sheer success. It was incredible to look at the blank stages as dancers from all regions--- NJ, NY and Philly blanketed the stage with their tendues and plies. Ballet dancers. Jazz dancers. Modern dancers. They all shared the same generous spirit. Some friends from Lustigdancetheatre have been doing events like this since 2007. They are the tried and true COME UNITY veterans, if there is such a thing. The newbys included 180 Dance Company, Opus 1, both Philly based groups. Old friends Jonathan Windham brought some friends from NYC to join the parade, and Justin Bryant brought a partner from Philadanco. Cameron Lussier choreographed his second piece for COME UNITY. Backstage was a little, well, congested. But, we surely made it work.

The lobby was decorated by photos that illustrated the ten truths. For sale were amazing baked goods, African goods like recycled paper necklaces and most importantly, beadwork from our friends in Ilbissil, Kenya. The audience wanted a piece to remember the night.

I left the Painted Bride that night, full of happy. Full of joy. Full of gratitude for those who gave. Full of hope that this cause is not mine alone- but yours as well. Let’s be honest--- an event like this is lots of work. Work that makes your hands and feet tired, but your heart swell with fullness. Worth it? For sure.

(PS. We are going to put together a committee to put on our Fringe Fest event year to year. Wanna join that team? Motivated? Go getter? Got some leadership or organizational skills? Email comeunitynow@yahoo.com)

Africa reflections

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:44:13 +0100

Just in July I had the privilege of taking our first team to Africa. What a joy for me to watch my teammates experience Africa through their own eyes. I was so excited to share a world with them that has been part of my life for so long, and part of their lives as well--- yet, from across the ocean. As incredibly smart, observant generous individuals it was awesome to see them take in Africa--- and to learn from the things that impacted each of them in profound ways. They respond differently, engage differently, have heartache differently, and even take pictures differently--- I enjoyed the fact that Niall was taking photos of the typical blue sheet metal roofs, and squatty pottys along the way. Rachel was quick to make our friends at ease and take photos of them that do their personalities justice. I loved that Jess was so engaging, vision-oriented in the way she processed ‘the work’ part of what we do in East Africa. Peggy was struck by so many injustices that make the simple way of life there so far from the ways we live. As we were leaving our good friends in Ilbissil, I was struck by the blessing that Pastor Kiroka left us with. He said (not quoting word for word…)

‘We know that Kristin has been coming to see us, and that many people have been hard at work raising money so we can have water and our girls can go to school. Now we see you. You are not old, rich or powerful people. You are young and you are regular individuals, you have average jobs. But we see your hearts, that you are giving what you can. We are so thankful to you.’

Going to Africa can often be overwhelming. I want to help everyone. I want to say ‘yes’ to every need we come across. But we have limited funds, limited time, and limited people. If we sit around thinking about our limits, we would never do a thing--- the greater point is that we CAN do something! We can change one life, and another life. One community and another community. Thank you to you young, regular, giving folks who have journeyed with us thus far.

Details of Kenya

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:31:46 +0100

Well I have arrived home safely and have readjusted to life in the USA (well at least to the time zone.) Week one in Kenya was an experience, it started off with Kristin and I arriving late but safely in Kenya. We were warmly welcomed by the Cassel family, their beautiful home, comfy beds and loving hugs were a welcome treat. We spent Monday catching up on sleep, and hugging and kissing giraffes (a huge highlight for me, as a giraffe is my absolute favorite animal).

Early Tuesday morning we picked up a very tired but excited Rachel, Peggy and Niall. We headed straight to the Massai Market. The talent that is displayed in the works there is like no other, so is the pushiness of the brokers. Wednesday we woke bright eyed and bushy tailed for a day with Charles. We headed first to the Pema School, a school that services over 100 preschool aged children for the Buru Buru slum. The Directors of the school have a wonderful vision, their students are consistently testing (with high marks) into primary school, enjoy coming to school, and they even work with a Medical clinic so that the students are able to get the healthcare they need.

We then headed to Kibera, the 2nd largest slum in the world, to St. Michaels school, where the 600 students attend school from 6am - 6 pm Monday – Saturday, partly because they want to learn the other part because they have nothing else to do or nowhere else to go. The Director there has great hopes for his students but struggles daily with the limited resources. We ended our day on a more hopeful note, by stopping at the Kiserian Sustainability Project. We were able to see their soon to be fish pond, their bore hole, and the new glass beads projects. Rachel, Peggy and Niall were a fantastic group to have with us, they asked so many wonderful questions and we were able to learn so much. We ended the day with a delicious meal and some quality team time.

Thursday started with a nice reminder that I was doing Kenya with a bunch of professional ballerina’s. They spent the morning showing their talent not only in dancing but also with teaching, when we headed to Ilbissil we left behind a very happy, energetic, dancing, group of children, young men, and construction workers. In the early afternoon we arrived in Ilbissil to a very warm, welcome from Pastor Kiroka. What a happy, loving and funny man he is and a phenomenal story teller (hopefully one day you will be privileged enough to hear one) We spent the afternoon seeing all of the ways our Bore hole and self-sustainability projects have positively impacted the area. Spent some time with the deaf students at the primary school, watched students walk ten feet for a drink (instead of to the river miles away) and meet some very grateful parents of our sponsor girls. That evening tired and dusty we were greeted by a friend in our toilet, a very large frog.

Friday we drove to Enkasurai primary School, Kujiado a very rural mountain area. We walked down the mountain to the river to gather water (dug from the river bed) with the school children, explained about freckles, sunglasses, and arm hair, played games with the youngest ones and taught the older children the timeless art of friendship bracelets. When we arrived back in Illbissil we were met by the mothers of our sponsor girls with bags full of beautiful hand beaded jewelry, key chains, decorations and headbands (check the website for purchase information), another self-sustainability project for the people of Ilbissil.

Spending time with the people of Ilbissil solidifies the importance of what we do and makes me that much more grateful for all of your support both financially and spiritually. As I head home the rest of the team spends the day with the sponsor girls, travels to Nakuru National Park and Pekot all the while looking for ways COME UNITY can partner with the people of Africa. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I look forward to the stories they will have to share when they return on Saturday.

Jessica

Trip Continues in Kenya

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:35:10 +0100

We now continue our trip in Keyna. The rest of the Come Unity team has arrived! We met beaming Niall, Rachel and Peggy in Nairobi yesterday morning. We ventured to the Maasai Market shopping, had lunch out, and have since spent
the evening back at our host's, the Cassell family, home. It was so fun to see them, and everyone is doing well.

Today we will spend the day with Charles Mokaya, visiting Kibera slum and a few projects his organization participates in Thursday we leave for Ilbissil. There we'll see our sponsor girls, cows, families, our borehole and the community that knows us well.

A Week in Ethiopia

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:30:44 +0100

I write from a internet cafe in the Addis airport. One week has gone quickly in Africa, each day feels like three days in one--- getting up and doing the morning, travel during the day, visit new communities at night. This is the first time we've been on a computer all week, and in a few hours we'll arrive in Nairobi. But first, an update on week one, Ethiopia.

The world can be a tiny place. On our flight from Istanbul to Addis I sat next to a man who actually knows my cousin Mike. The man is a MLS scout, here looking at players from the national team. A reminder that though we are far from home, there is familiarity in the strangest places. Jess and I arrived quite tired and late in Addis Ababa. Pastor Mekebib picked us up from the airport, then the other guys early the next morning.

Day one we spent in Addis, just seeing Mekebib (meck-bib)'s local church there, visiting his church, hearing stories of what they are doing for their community, assessing the need. He hosted us the whole week, and I'm glad for the chance to get to know him over six days. He is doing a lot of cool things in his local church, but also responsible for the other rural communities we would visit later in the week. Tuesday we drove to Jimma and stayed for one night there, doing much the same thing we did in Addis, and then Weds we drove into the most rural part of the country. Google Shishinda and that is what they say is closest to what you can find on a map. Beta Ganet is where we camped. Two nights.   We felt safe, and the most difficult thing on those nights were the thunderstorm and rain that soaked our tent!!! ugh :( The local churches each have their own amazing stories of what God is doing amongst them. Really, we heard incredible and unbelievable stories and were happy for the chance to encourage the local communities and leaders.

We assessed many needs and look forward for the chance to further our work here. At one church, while the team was speaking I went with Jess out back to use the bathroom we looked to the left. They were slaughtering a goat!!!! For us :(    We ate as best we could. We were surprised with plates of lamb more than once, once at 7am, once after we had stuffed ourselves full of granola bars and dried fruit. Oh and beef jerkey. It is an honor to have a goat sacrificed, and we want to do all we can to honor the people.

The people are often the same, curious looks in their eyes and excited for the chance to connect with us. We have made many friends, and it has been a fun week traveling the country and reconnecting with some folks we've known for years. We'll arrive in Nairobi in a few hours and will be joined by the rest of our team on Tuesday morning. Thanks so much for all who have chosen to love and support us, and make this work happen. What we are doing is not possible without you.   More soon...

K and the team :)