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Problem Solver – a thinker who focuses on the problem as stated and tries to synthesize information and knowledge to achieve a solution.

Well, I want to tell you a story about the little school who could…problem solve. 

St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy was in a predicament about six years ago with the cost of water, making it the highest budget item. Thinking caps went on and the leaders went to work. The decision to invest in $22,000 rain tanks to catch rainwater would eliminate the huge water cost. Rainfall provides an alternative to polluted groundwater in developing countries because almost no regulation of waste disposal and drainage issues means high contamination in springs and surface sources.

Did you know?

·        More than 40% of people living in the greater Kampala area live in unplanned settlements – only 17% have access to piped water.

I say the rain tanks are a success! Problem solved! Next challenge, please.

Peace and Love,

Cristen

I wanted to pass along this article I came across in Bloomberg Business Week. Graduates from top business schools are being provided extra incentives to start their careers in the nonprofit world. Last month I shared an article on LinkedIn about Harvard Business School in particular. There were 19 graduates set to receive $50,000 each for their nonprofit gigs. Read that story here. Prior to embarking on their MBA journey, some of the students worked for charities providing services to Africa.

Stats floating around the internet – and this one in particular from the Wall Street Journal – show nonprofit starting salaries can be 30 percent lower than for-profit counterparts.

Talk about social value. These graduates are networking for good. The article points out about one-third of the Harvard grads stay with the organization after the first year.

I’d like your opinion. Do you think the incentive is a win–win venture? What would you do – take the large corporate salary or give a hand-up to the world in the nonprofit sector?

Peace and Love,

Cristen

Here in America, May and June signifies graduation celebrations. We throw parties to honor our children, and they are showered in monetary gifts. The milestone is marked and time to move onto the next adventure.

Well in Uganda, there are smart and dedicated students who dream of attending school. Often these dreams are cut short because they lack the means to pay for tuition, and university enrollment rates remain low. Graduation celebrations are not so common.

Education is transformational. Education directly determines one’s access to employment and quality healthcare in Uganda. Often youth must make a choice: learn or lose. The girls who agree to life at St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy want to change their lives and believe in the old African proverb, “If you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

Education changes lives and opens doors. I ask you to open your hearts and support our education efforts with a graduation gift. Give our girls a hand up so they have the means to move onto the next phase of their journey. Together we can help break the cycle of poverty and empower our girls so they too can celebrate the momentous occasion, graduation.

Peace and Love,

Cristen

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Education, whether be it formal or informal, provides us with knowledge, skills and confidence to build a self-sufficient future. Education is at the heart of our work with St. Elizabeth Girls’ Academy (SEGA).

Access to education in Uganda can be a huge challenge and competitive in nature. Youth crave an education, but most cannot afford the school fees.  At SEGA, girls not involved in one of our vocational training programs attend local schools.

The education system breaks into seven years of primary school. Those that pass the primary leaving exam head into secondary school for six years, but at year four must take another exam to continue. Finally, those who pass their secondary school A-level exams move onto the university level. I am proud to say SEGA has five girls currently attending university. In its 10-year existence we have nine success stories of girls graduating and moving into business and financial careers. 

Education is the single most effective way to escape the cycle of poverty. Your support leaves a direct impression on the livelihood of hundreds of girls and their community. Our girls choose to take the long and winding road from life on the streets to a life of self-success. Now, that is the type of dedication I personally fund.

Peace and Love,

Cristen

P.S. Do you believe in the value of providing a hand-up for education? A gift of $240 supports one girl for one year.

Girls love to take part in our seamstress-training program for the simple fact that sewing is a very natural home business in the Ugandan culture. Uganda is known for its wide array of handcrafted products.

During my 2011 visit, I chatted with the girls while they were preparing their exam projects. They practice old school – on the treadle type sewing machines because electricity is scarce at the school. I found that not having the fancy equipment that developed countries are accustomed did not break their determination.

Not every girl will become our next Donna Karan or Betsey Johnson, but every girl will carry her head high with hope. This trade allows girls to immediately jump into sustainable income generating activities upon graduation.

When funding is available, Hope for Hearts helps boost their business adventures with a sewing machine gift when they successfully complete the program. With their new tools in hand, and a seamstress certificate, girls will take on the working world and break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families.

Education – training and gaining skills – I am proud to have supporters who value the importance of providing a hand-up to women to reach their financial independence.

Peace and Love,

Cristen

P.S. Did you know a gift of $250 provides one girl with a sewing machine upon graduation?