HOPE LIVES ON

I wiped a tear away and looked around hoping that no one saw me. I did not want to give an explanation for the tears that welled up in my eyes. But there were others doing the same thing, after listening to the young men and women from South Africa's School of Hope speak about their young lives.

The Active Compassion Transforms(ACT) mentees class of 2010 along with their teacher were here on a two weeks excursion, made possible by the ACT organization. In spite of a life laden with trials and tribulations, this group of young adults were on a new journey. They told their stories of the past but did not linger on their hardship, instead they spoke with confidence about the path their lives have taken, fully aware of the possibilities that lay ahead.

We were gathered for the gala planned in their honor and as the band played, we mingled and ate the delicious meal, some prepared by the hands of these grateful young men and women. This evening was for them but they profusely thanked their mentors and all who contributed to their new-found happiness and well-being. The spirit of the room was kind, joyful,inviting and everyone seemed happy to be of service to those in need.

I am always in awe of Erica Lee, the founder of this wonderful organization. She had a vision and has worked hard to take it to this juncture. One of the speakers at the affair said that no one would believe the work it takes to put this all together. I know this is not a small feat, it's just that Erica wears hard work so well, no sweat is visible. She does not seek accolades; she only wants the best for these budding young men and women. She wants them to believe in themselves and to continue to have hope. Kudos to all the volunteers for the magnificent job they have done.

The Choose To Care Organization wanted to make sure their feet were taken care of; our shopping spree was full of glee and not soon forgotten. My dear young men and women, walk safely and with pride even when the shoes are scuffed and the heels are worn down. Let nothing hinder your progress.

"When we have shoes

we all have shoes,

when we have no shoes

we have no shoes together."

The above contributed to Anthony Mulango of the Mudzini Kwetu home for abandon girls in Kenya, East Africa. I have translated that to mean that we are indeed our brothers and sisters keepers. Visit ACT at:info@activecompassiontransforms.org

Peace & Love!

Our Work Is Not Yet Done

For those of you who have followed CHOOSE TO CARE blogs, you would have known that we turned three(3) years old in September 2010. Since its inception we have bought shoes for hundreds of children and young adults in need; some were wearing ill-fitted shoes, others may not have owned a decent pair of shoes. We have remained steadfast in our mission to provide shoes for children and young adults through established charities that are giving various services to the youth in need and also to any child who may be referred by a caring individual. Our ministry does not take us to only foreign lands but to places right here in the USA.

These are some of the Agencies with which we have linked to prepare the youth for a meaningful journey.

(1) Aje Foundation/Miami based servicing Haiti,www.ajefoundation.com

(2) Fiver Children's Foundation/NYC,www.fiver.org

(3) One Home Many Hopes/Boston based servicing Kenya,www.onehomemanyhopes.org

(4) Children International/USA based servicing kids in Zambia,www.children.org

(5) Child Fund International/USA based servicing kids in Sri Lanka & Liberia/www.childfund.org

(6) Vineyard International Christian Ministry/Bronx,www.vineyardusa.org

(7) Anchovy Primary School/NYC based, servicing Jamaica, WI

(8) Shoes4Shoeless/Dayton,Ohio,wwwshoe4theshoeless.org

(9) Active Compassion Transforms(ACT)/NYC based,servicing kids in S.Africa,www.ACT.org

(10)Solidarite Chambellanaise/Brooklyn based,servicing kids in Haiti

(11)Songeni Village Football Team/South Africa

The need is great, our work has just began.

"Deeds of giving are the very foundations of the world."

The Torah

HOT TO TROT

My wanderlust led me to the midst of hustle and bustle. At first sight it reminds you of any large city, people and cars everywhere but this is no ordinary city, this is Cairo, Egypt, with a mind of it's own; where antiquity exist side by side with modern. The sighting of a horse - drawn carriage or a camel in the midst of heavy traffic seemed natural. The stop lights if you can find them, I was told are for show, no one pays attention. Instead, the blowing of the vehicles horn is a language on its own and the horn is the master of the road, which the drivers understand very well. When a driver cuts off another the horn gives off an angry sound, stay in your lane brings out a warning sound. Letting a fellow driver through is music to the ears, a courtesy sound that seemed to say, thank you, and so on. The Pyramids, the sphinx, citadel and oh yes, Khan el Khalil Market, where haggling is a daily exercise; the alluring smell of incense, all add to Cairo's flavor. When I gaped at pedestrians trying to cross the highways, laden with cars, the guide put me at ease, letting me know it is a way of life. This is the city that makes no excuse for its appearance, it does not hide its laundry because company is coming. The attitude is "take me as I am." And I loved it!

The next leg of my journey took me to Aswan where my travel partners and I boarded the Sonesta for an adventure down the River Nile and to Luxor with its huge columns. The ship took off and my eyes darted from left to right, not wanting to miss the splendor of the river banks with its lush vegetation. And in each town where we disembarked, the captivation prevailed. The chapters of my history book, things that I had learned about on ancient civilization began to come to life. This tour of an historical era took my breath away. The stories, the secrets of the Pharaohs, the kings and queens revealed as we strolled through tombs and temples and listened to the tour guide translate the meaning of the hieroglyphs, the ancient Egyptian script. The brilliant people who designed these structures thought about everything, the preservation, the art with meaning, the architectural designs, the calendar of different seasons which included harvesting and days of celebration.

We learned about the the valley of the kings and queens, about Queen Hatshepsut, described as the greatest female ruler who dressed herself like a man and called herself pharaoh. New information has been revealed of the life and death of King Tut. Aswan and Luxor and the towns in between that we visited have a laid back attitude but boast of importance, nevertheless. There is more exploration everywhere, looking for lost treasures and restoring the treasures of the mysterious and magical ancient Egypt. So many will keep coming to see Egypt's pride and joy.

Like the gorgeous towns, I have many stories to tell but too many to reveal here. This one however is a contender for the centerpiece of my journey. When we disembarked in Edfu, a town along the riverbank of the Nile, a young girl called out to me to buy her goods. She did not have much, a few bracelets with the scarab(beetle) in a blue stone. I was hurrying to keep up with my group and could not stop. The young girl about ten years old, told me in well-spoken English that she would see me when I returned. Sure enough, there she was and we hugged as if were long lost friends. There is something about young entrepreneurs that tugs at my heart; of course I helped to boost her enterprising spirit, bought a few of her goods and gave her enough to buy some more stock.

A new found acquaintance on the ship asked out of the clear if I was a dreamer and I answered with a resounding yes. I am always dreaming about the next destination, I love different cultures, I love learning new things, it has made my life so much richer. It has taken a longtime to get here, setting sail on the Nile has been a dream come true. As my mind wandered, while driven to yet another excursion, I peeped through the window at a horse-drawn carriage with a happy face tourist. The horse's gait was full of excitement, as if it was happy to share the road with modern transportation, bursting with pride as it kept pace. "Look at me, I am hot to trot." As it merrily galloped along.

Shokran, Shokran, Egypt for your invitation and the lessons learned. I had my fill of falafel and pita, delicious dates and yogurt and tasteful local dishes. This new year I plan to feast on koshary, a simple vegetarian delight. Thank you for allowing me to climb through the narrow shaft of the Great Pyramid of Khufa in Giza, bent over in an awkward position, determined to make it to the top. Thank you for pointing me to the Nubian village, sailing on the faluca (sailship) putting me closer to the stomping ground of Queen Nefertiti. Now when I wear my cartouch or some other Egyptian ornament, I will understand better the symbols and the history behind them.

You have guessed right, my mind is wandering to the next globe trotting but for now I will savor the time I spent with this wonder of the world. Nature has been very generous to Egypt and likewise Jordan, but Jordan is another story for another time.

KEEPING IT TOGETHER

A new season had began and the time had come for us to be back together for more of a good thing, this time around there was going to be dancing. It was three (3) months since our last gathering and we were hungry, not only for the delicious cuisine that the 20/20 Downtown Club promised but we were 'starving' for relaxation and mingling.

We stepped into a crowded room where people lined the walls and I immediately knew that we had made a huge mistake, there was music alright, so loud that it was about to pierce our eardrums but hardly any standing room. The manager politely told us that we had not made any mistakes, we had a confirmed reservation but they just could not accommodate us.

We were happy to make a quick exit and we headed to Maryannes, our stomping ground, the same restaurant where we had left our footprints three(3) months ago, at our last gathering. They welcomed us and quickly set up the tables to accommodate us. We have sang praises for the great tasting dishes but tonight Maryanne's has earned yet another stripe, this time for superb hospitality. We were off to a good start; the laughter, the chatter, the clamoring for attention set the tone for our end of year outing and we were determined to have a blast. There were a few new faces and the meet and greet and catch-up started. We studied the menu, some of us already knowing what delicious choices we would make.

The Birthday Girl was surprised when the waitstaff brought out a cake with wishes of long life emblazoned on top. We all sang with gusto, out of tune, in high pitched voices, what did it matter! We had set this time aside to perform the BALANCING ACT. Everyone seemed relaxed,it is as if we had put all our worries on the back burner and there was no room for arrogance. Tonight we were able to quiet our minds, even in this din. We had cut ourselves some slack and we had the time of our life.There was certainly a lot of energy in this place.

And the winner is? Lucky walked away with WORDS, a compilation of quotations, poems and photos. Some of us tarried a while longer as the group dwindled. "Keep it together, until the next time," was my way of bidding everyone a safe journey. This Women's Club group handled the night's missteps well; our feathers were not ruffled, we took it all in strides. As I stepped outside, the warm air hit my face, I looked up to the clear skies and whispered "color me happy."
It was Maurice Chevalier who wrote:
"Each moment is a treasure, enjoy it!
We are travelers on life's highway, enjoy the trip.
Each lovely twist and byway, each bump and dip.
Voila, that's life, enjoy it!"

A Merry New Year to you all!

Make A Difference Day - October 23, 2010

I was not sure if we needed a special day to do good deeds but each year that I read about the ideas and the effort so many people made on this one day I began to think that for those persons who gained from these acts of kindness, what a wonderful day this must be for them. Make a difference day is sponsored in partnership with the HandsOn Network and supported by Newman's Own and more information can be found at makeadifferenceday.com.
This year CHOOSE TO CARE committed to making a difference by providing a brand new pair of shoes to 20 boys and girls. When traveling in certain distant lands you inevitably come face to face with so many children and young adults walking around in flip-flops that have worn thin, sometimes a piece of bark or cord fashionably tied up what's left of the shoes on the young child's feet, while others walk around shoeless. From these experiences and knowing the importance of protecting ones feet from cuts, infections and ill-fitted shoes, CHOOSE TO CARE A Not for-Profit Organization was created to bring pride and joy to the child or young adult in need of a brand new pair of shoes.

Since taking this journey we have partnered with other Not for-Profit organization which work with the youth in various capacities, here at home and abroad. One such partnership is the Vineyard International Christian Ministries Church, located in the Bronx, through which Choose To Care has provided shoes for the children of newly arrived immigrant families or others who find it difficult to fully provide for their children. Sometimes within families, there are 3-4 children in need and only 1 child may receive so that other families can benefit also. The coordinator weighs the needs and at times boys will receive while girls have to wait their turn or vice versa. On October 23, 2010 we wanted to make a difference in the lives of the children who were passed over because prior donation could only stretch so far. On this day 20 boys and girls received a brand new pair of shoes. There are still others but next time around, we promise. We hope this small gesture will produce happy feet and place a smile on their faces.

All is Well!

HE IS WEARING THE RIGHT PAIR OF SHOES

For the past month or so I have been served up a plate full of negative encounters. Usually I have the resources to deal with the struggles of life. I mutter sayings such as "water off my back," "this too will pass," "Que sera sera" and I go my merry way, letting the chips fall where they may. But of late these ruse are coming so fast that I am working so much harder to find inner peace and inner strength.

While I was pondering these events in my life I came upon this book titled: CHANGING SHOES by Tina Sloan. I am fascinated by any reference to shoes and the settings in which it is used knowing there is always a deeper meaning. This is right up my alley and in keeping with the mission of CHOOSE TO CARE a non-profit organization, formed to provide a brand new pair of shoes for children and young adults in need, so that they may journey to a more meaningful life.

The author of CHANGING SHOES talks about the importance of wearing the right shoes for the right moment and what each pair of her shoes did for her in different situations that occurred in her life. It made for excellent and easy reading and gave me a nudge to face the albatross around my neck once and for all. What shoes should I wear while going on this venture? I brought out these well-worn pair of pumps, the one that conforms to the feet and fit so well that it painlessly takes you where you want to go. This pair of pumps says, with happy feet you will feel on top of the world and have no fear going there. Sure enough it took that albatross right off my neck.


But the story I really want to share is the story of Anthony Mulongo, Founder and Director of Mudzini Kwetu, a home for the parent less girls. He had traveled to a few cities in America{NY,Boston,Washington D.C.} from the coastal area of Kenya to tell his story of rescuing young orphaned girls from the dangerous streets of Mtwapa, Kenya. He is greatly supported by Thomas Keown, founder of One Home Many Hopes, a Boston-based nonprofit organization. To join their efforts or to learn more, go to onehomemanyhopes.org.

A rainy day calls for the right and sensible shoes but I carried along my stylish pump, the one that says, this is important business and you need to get on board. I was on my way with my co-worker to meet this man who gave up his budding career to take on this precious mission.

I did not need to change from my lowly rain boots, they were right for the setting. We were in the company of a vibrant group of people all revved up to give a helping hand. The founder, Anthony Mulongo, a humble young man was pumped with questions after questions. Some of the attendees were curious, others fact finders and a few gave suggestions on how to garner more donors. At the end of the night, this Rescuer gave sound reasons why we should help to build a school in his Kenyan community.

On the screen of the video that tells the stories of the young girls, were shoes of all sorts belonging to the girls I assume. This was a nice touch. Each pair represented a deeper meaning for the girl who owns it and for the persons who made it possible for her to own a pair of shoes and so much more. One of my newest and favorite quote comes from the founder Mudzini Kwetu. It goes:
"If we don't have shoes
no one has shoes.
If we have shoes
we all have shoes together."
He is certainly wearing the right pair of shoes and making a difference in the lives of these parent less girls.

I don't expect a pair of shoes to wipe away my troubles but I have translated my experience into a new attitude, laying my burden down and making sure I am wearing the right pair of shoes. So from October 18 to November 20 and beyond we can put our best foot forward and help ONE HOME MANY HOPES{OHMH} to reach their goal to build a school for 700 boys and girls in the Kenyan community of Mtwapa.
Keep choosing the right pair of shoes!
All is well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHOOSE TO CARE

I still remember the long flight home from Brazil. I had visited Bahia, a tropical paradise strewn with poverty. In Rio, the Favella, stretches of slum is the address for the very poor. The sight eats away at your heart. On the plane ride home I curled up in my seat, with a muddled mind, trying to get comfortable. I had put on my "thinking cap" and jostled to position it just right because I had some serious planning to do. I knew I did not have the means to do much but there has to be something I could do. In my travels and here in Brazil, children and adults were walking around in flip flops that had worn thin. Sometimes a piece of bark "fashionably" tied up what's left of the shoes to their feet. Others walked around in their bare feet. That was my AHA moment. "I will place shoes on the feet of the shoeless children and the young adults." We know the pride and joy that age group gets from having a brand new pair of shoes. That's it, I tried to make a convincing argument with myself. "I want to protect their feet from cuts, infections and malformation, squeezing into too tight shoes." And so began the idea of CHOOSE TO CARE, finally I curled up and slept peacefully the rest of the way home.

That same night after unpacking, I wrote down my plans and just to let you know, giving birth was not an easy passage and I will save you all the labor pains; but with some pushing, CHOOSE TO CARE came to life. Now 3 years old, still in the toddler stage but growing by leaps and bounds. We have made connections with a number of organizations that assist children and young adults, who are in need. So whether it is for the young athletes who need good shoes on their feet while they hone their skills, or for the children who no longer have to hold their heads in shame and will not miss a day of school because they are now sporting a brand new pair of shoes; it is our honor to protect their feet. Not too long ago I had the great pleasure of watching two very poor young girls in Zambia with brightly lit faces, choose not only one but two pairs of shoes for themselves. This was their special treat.

So as we approach another year we will buy more pairs of shoes, we hope to put more smiles on the faces of the youth in need and to erase any doubts we may harbor that all things are possible. Thanks to all who have contributed to keep this organization viable from the embryonic to the toddler stages, you have been a wonderful cheerleader."

"My vision is clear.
My mind is set.
I have gotten this far
And there is no turning back."

All is well!