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August 26, 1920 signifies a very important date in history for Women in the United States. Although the 19th amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, it was not declared in effect until eight days later on August 26, 1920. Now, every year we celebrate Women’s Equality Day on August 26 to commemorate the anniversary of Women in the U.S. gaining the right to vote. We also take pause to focus on other equality issues still faced by women.

Although throughout the years women have made great strides towards achieving equality, the fight must continue until we can ensure that women have equal economic opportunities, equal education, and an end to gender-based violence. Of all of these, I believe that education is the most important as it is the root to solving all inequalities for women.

In order to solve the problem of inequality, we must first be educated enough to know and realize that said problem exists. From a global perspective, many women, and men, have taken that first step to recognize the issue at hand; and many have already made an impact with their activism.

However, there are still many women and young girls throughout the world that are unaware that a gender equality issue exists. Think of young girls who grow up in a culture where they are taught that their role in life is to stay at home, be the homemaker, not receive an education, and be subservient to men – sometimes to the point of taking physical and emotional abuse. They’re so indoctrinated into this lifestyle they’re unaware that any other way of life exists.

Once we are able to educate women (and men) on the gender inequality issues that exist, we must then fight against it. Education is another key component here. Not only being educated on the causes of these inequalities, but ensuring that women receive a proper, and equal education as well.

We can’t ask for equal rights in the workplace if we don’t have educational equity to begin with. The whole concept is that women receive equal pay for equal work. So it stands to reason that if women don’t have equal education/experience, they can’t possibly have equal economic opportunities. Thus, it’s up to us as a society to provide educational equity world-wide, and it’s up to women to take advantage of those educational opportunities so that they can be entitled to/have earned the equal economic opportunities they are seeking.

This is why we at Hope for Hearts make it our focus to provide both traditional and vocational education opportunities. To give all children, female and male, equal opportunity to an education that can lift them from poverty to prosperity. You can help join the fight by making a donation today!

Peace and Love,
Cristen

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Summer is winding down and back-to-school season is upon us. Many parents are rejoicing, while kids may be groaning, that soon they will be returning to the land of lectures and homework. If the kids in your life can be included in this group, perhaps they’re in need of a reminder of the importance of education.

While many here in the US think that education is a right, the unfortunate reality is that worldwide it is really a luxury that not everyone can afford. In Uganda especially, public schools require payment in order to be able to attend. Not many families can afford to send their kids to school, so the kids end up working in the family business or doing odd jobs to support the family.

For orphaned children, the situation is much more dire. They have no familial support, and in some cases, older children have to support their younger siblings. They end up begging on the streets, prostituting, taking any lowly odd job just to fight for basic necessities to survive. Facing these extreme economic troubles, the ability to earn an education is far beyond their reach. Without this education, they are doomed to a life of the streets without hope of self-sufficiency or independence.

So as your kids are grumbling of returning to school, use this story to remind them that they are fortunate to be able to receive an education. They should be thankful that they have a place they can go to each day to see their friends, laugh, play, and learn. Remind them that the skills they are learning today will provide them with a lifetime of opportunity to earn money and support themselves, and one day their families. And it could always be worse…

Take it a step further, you can buy one of our handmade Kambulagos (or necklaces) as a back-to-school gift to the student or teacher in your life. It is a symbol of the importance of education. Each necklace is hand-made by women in Uganda who have learned a trade skill that provides them a steady source of income. Additionally, proceeds from each Kambulago sold benefit the orphaned children at our schools in Uganda by providing them with a free education that will give them a hand up to live a prosperous life of independence and self sufficiency. Talk about a win-win.

Kambulagos come in a range of colors and sizes and vary in price from $15-$30 plus shipping and tax. Take a look at our selection and order yours today at: hope4hearts.org/products

With Gratitude,
Cristen

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The great writer C.S. Lewis once said “Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.” If this is truly the case, then perhaps it’s time we explore affection in the weekend word.

af·fec·tion
əˈfekSH(ə)n/
noun

  1. a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.

There is no question that most people need affection in one form or another throughout their lives. Researchers have been studying the effects of affection on children for decades, and so far the research has shown that regular affection from a parental figure is necessary for proper brain development. Many orphans in Russia during the 80’s and 90’s did not receive regular love and affection from those who cared for them. Babies were left to cry alone in cribs. Young children had to learn how to self-sooth and protect themselves from other kids, or authority figures, in the orphanage. As a result, researchers found that they lacked proper social skills and literally had smaller, underdeveloped brains.

It seems like such a small aspect of life, but the need for affection is very important for the growth of our children. And if the studies are right, those who have to go without it will have a harder time as they grow older in life. Lack of affection is a threat to all orphaned children across the globe – including the orphaned children in Uganda right now. So many children are left on the streets without family, protection or affection. Without our intervention, they too could end up like the children I just described.

At Hope for Hearts, we provide a loving, caring environment that promotes growth and development. Our nuns provide loving support as parental figures, and the children become family, looking out and caring for one another. It is this type of environment that promotes brain development. Rather than striving to seek basic affection, kids can focus on furthering their education to lift themselves from Poverty to Prosperity.

A simple hug is a powerful thing. And while you may not be able to share a hug with our kids, you can provide an opportunity for them to share affection by sponsoring a child to attend our school today!

With Love,
Cristen

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Community. What does that word mean to you? Is your community comprised of the geographical block that you live in? Perhaps your community knows no physical boundaries but is tied by a group of people coming together for a common goal? A community takes shape in many different forms. Let’s explore and discuss our community in this week.

com·mu·ni·ty
kəˈmyo͞onədē/
noun

  1. a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
  2. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

With more than 7.5 Billion people, planet earth is the largest community that we know; billions of people joining in one common goal of survival. Within that community exists several smaller communities. People joined together over common interests, workplace, and residence, this list goes on.

Last week we talked about the achievements we can reach when individuals work together towards common goals. This upcoming week the stage is set for individuals around the world to come together and decide what one of those common goals should be.

On July 11 the global community celebrates world population day. Developed by the United Nations to enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development, the first World Population Day was observed in 1990, and continues to be a global community gathering to this day.

This year the UN will host a summit based on Family Planning. According to the UN’s website “Around the world, some 225 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods, for reasons ranging from lack of access to information or services to lack of support from their partners or communities. Most of these women with an unmet demand for contraceptives live in 69 of the poorest countries on earth.”

This is an ongoing issue for women in Uganda. In a young country where political turmoil, disease, war, death, and poverty have dominated lives of its citizens, the adult population has been rapidly decreasing; leaving the next generation of the country’s citizens lacking adult mentors and familial support systems.

The nation is now one of the “youngest” nations of the world with more than half of the population being under 15 years old. With a lack of adults to care for the children, they need our help now more than ever. There are too many orphaned children in Uganda without proper education or a means of survival. Forced into prostitution just to barely survive. Many young girls are not properly educated about family planning and even if they are, they may not have access to family planning methods when they struggle to provide basic necessities for themselves.

By taking away the pressure to find such necessities including food, water, clothing and shelter we are freeing our students minds to focus on receiving a good education so they can turn into the future leaders. You can do your part to help raise the future leaders of Uganda, and the world, by making a donation today.

Peace, Love and Kindness,
Cristen