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Family vacations are rolling to an end as summer winds down, and school’s back in session. I don’t know about you, but I find a great way to reminisce your summer is over a family meal. In honor of family meals month lets venture out of our comfort zone and create masterpieces from another country.

You know my heart is in Uganda with the girls. So I think its perfect to recreate a Ugandan meal to try this month in honor of our hardworking girls.

Here are some links to a meal recommendation:

Appetizer
Here’s a yummy looking dish of greens, Ugandan Spinach and Simsim to start off the meal from Food.com.

Main Entrée
Food.com has this four star Ugandan Plantains with Chicken Stew.

Dessert
jocooks.com features a Mandazi, African Donut recipe to rave about.

Drink
Try this non-alcoholic Ugandan Ginger Tea from Drinksmixer.com.

Enjoy your family time and learning about another culture.

Bon hamu (Bon Appetite)

Peace and Love,
Cristen

   “Friendship with oneself is all-important because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Here’s a great cultural project for your kids to fill the last days of summer. Make a card to send to our girls at St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy. Why? Two days from now, July 30 is a day of recognition that kicks off a few more days of celebrating friendship – the International Day of Friendship.

The United Nations uses International Day of Friendship to promote the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, and cultures can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. Governments, organizations, and community groups are urged to hold events, activities and initiatives that promote solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation.

The UN desired goal for the day is to involve young people, our future leaders, in these community activities that promote international understanding and respect for diversity.

So I propose cards. Children can introduce themselves; send encouraging words or just a simple smiley face. This will make our girls smile.

Add a little history lesson for the kids to take away during the project: Dr. Artemio Bracho proposed World Friendship Day in July 1958 during a dinner with friends in Puerto Pinasco, a town on the River Paraguay about 200 miles north of Asuncion, Paraguay.

Plus, keep these other friendship dates in mind, and make a friend smile.

• National Friendship Day is on the first Sunday in August.
• Women’s Friendship Day is on the third Sunday in September
• International Friendship Month is February
• Old Friends, New Friends Week is the third week of May

Peace, Love and Friendship,

Cristen

Send cards to:     

St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy


P.O. Box 371-372


Las Vegas, NV 89137

 

 

 

 

 

St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy believes in educating up by working with girls who were once living off the streets. During my trip – wow, almost two years ago – I met a few of our alumnae who now volunteer with the school.

Prior to choosing their path to SEGA, they lived on the streets, some begging and prostituting to survive. These ladies thanked me for making sure their school had the funding to continue. I thanked them for being true to themselves, and working hard to make a beautiful life.

We went on to discuss how important it is for them to return to the school and give back for the girls who currently are working through the tough times to make a better life – our future alumnae. Our alumnae believe in the program and want to help more girls discover a self-sufficient lifestyle. This learning cycle empowers our graduates and creates future leaders, thus creating a hand-up, not a handout scenario.

So I leave you with this quote.

“No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another.  Thank you.”  ~Author Unknown

Sending a huge Hope for Hearts hug to all our supporters and to our alumnae. You rock!

Peace and Love,

Cristen

p.s.

#67minutes honors Nelson Mandela by spending time participating in charitable acts representing the 67 years he spent in public service.

You have heard me talk about the new campus from time to time. In fact, 23 months ago we announced the launch of phase one for the new campus. Then, the chirping stopped. Markets dove and investments decreased.

We can only achieve what the funds allow. In the last two years we have presented proposals to funders – we are working hard and the dream will become a reality. We work hard, because our girls work hard to achieve their dreams.

The last few weeks I have been telling you about how we problem solve and create profit centers to bear the burden of our funding. Well, I will tell you what the new campus means to girl education. On the food front the new land will allow us to implement an entire animal husbandry and agriculture curriculum, currently not available at SEGA due to lack of land. These careers in Uganda are among the top sought out fields employing more than 80 percent of the labor force in Uganda.

Support our new campus initiative today and provide a hand-up to our leaders of tomorrow.

Peace and Love,

Cristen

St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy must practice what it preaches – self-sufficiency. We problem solve, plan for the future and steward our funds wisely. Earlier this week, I told the story about our drinking water. The problem: highest expense. The solution: rain tanks.

Fast-forward about six years, and jump from rain tanks to food. Yes, SEGA is facing another problem. Food is our largest cost now. But just like the rain tanks, we have a plan of action. We are solving that problem through long term planning. The key word here is profit center.

Current SEGA profit centers include entertainment rentals and catering programs for local events and celebrations. You will see expansion of these programs with the new campus. As well, new profit centers will emerge – food and uniforms. We will grow our own food, as well as sell locally, thus decreasing our $2,500 monthly food cost. The spacious campus will allow the seamstress program the ability to take on uniform contracts from schools and hospitality centers.

All funds from our profit centers are invested right back into SEGA. As we increase our profit center dollars, we become less reliant on donations, and the girls gain true hands-on experiences and education.

 

Peace and Love,

Cristen