Resilience

I took a hiatus from my posting as I have been reveling in the new addition to our family, Klaebel James Welsh. We adopted him 9 weeks ago and are thrilled to have him with us every minute.

Motherhood has shifted my paradigm quite a bit. I have always had compassion for children but now that I understand the daily, hour to hour, minute to minute needs of a child, my capacity for this compassion has grown. I have always known that our youth have been through incredible trials. It is evident to me now more than ever that the trials they face are more than we could possibly imagine. The mere fact that they have experienced the loss of their parents breaks my heart.It makes me realize just how resilient they are. When I hear stories of our youth succeeding in school, becoming a carpenter, or serving their community, I feel I sometimes take it for granted.

These are children who have experienced great loss and risen above extreme challenges to change their own paths. Take Kennedy for example:

"I have always dreamed of being a carpenter," says 18-year-old Kennedy Kiiru. "I believe I can be a very good mason and maybe one day I would become a contractor. I wish to be a reliable person in the future who will be able to assist my family, whatever the cost." When he was only five years old, his mother became paralyzed. Kennedy was unable to attend school because he had to begin working to support his mother and siblings. Think about that. No school, working in fields to dig for food, worried sick about your mom and eventually loosing her at such a young age. That's more pressure than I have ever experienced. 

Since being placed in the HALO Kenya Home, Kennedy has been a role model for the other boys. He has become a natural caretaker and a humble example to others. Kennedy is a Woodland Scholarship recipient, attending school to become a carpenter. Thanks to our HALO Heroes, Kennedy is capitalizing on an opportunity for a brighter future. He is a brilliant example of resilience, as are many of the children in this video.


These children put life in perspective for me. The next time I am frustrated or feel sorry for myself, I will think of Kennedy.

Through my lens

Art has always been an integral part of our programming. It is a vehicle that provides healing and freedom of expression. Thanks to our volunteers, HALO Youth attended a photography workshop recently during HALO Summer Camp. Featured are a few unique photos of life through their lenses. 

Food for thought

We have all seen the recent news about the food crisis in Africa, particularly Kenya and Somaila. I recently received an email from our HALO Field Coordinator, Asiimwe Venancio, who manages our home budgets and tracks Ugandan trends. The below info from his email addresses issues we are facing in Uganda and how we may handle it. Reading this made me realize, once again, how blessed we are to live in this country. 

Makarere Home Cooking, Uganda

Current situation. 

There is a very high price increase that is very alarming, increased depreciation of our shilling against the dollar and others. In less than three months, the commodity prices have more than tripled and almost quadrupling. A few months back a 50 kg sack of corn was at UGX 40,000 but its now 110,000 and in some places like Kibuli and Ntinda, its at 130,000 and the rest of the commodities are going up like that. What is worrying is that it seems to be going up week after week and we are not sure how much it will be in two months time. Market speculations are that prices are expected to be higher. Inflation rate has risen from 6% to 16.5% and its still going up and it could get worse towards September,October and November if nothing is done in time.

Actually the problem is not that there is a food shortage in the country. On the contrary, there is food though not very much but its in the rural areas and transporting the food town is a problem because of the high fuel prices. By the time food reaches us, its final price is really high.

This has been caused by;

1 - During the presidential and parliamentary elections and campaigns that just ended, its speculated the candidates used a lot of money especially the government candidates that increased the money in circulation thus high prices.

2 - At the start of the year the Central bank issued new currency notes and its speculated that instead of with drawing the old ones, they left them to used too alongside the new ones. It is speculated that this was a plan to have more money for those political campaigns.

3 - The government sold 2 of their 4 bank reserves to purchase fighter planes.

4 - The fuel crisis created by the Libyan war.

5 - Low food production over the past years.

Threats.

One can ask him/herself what if the dollar rates go down or stay normal while the prices continue to soar. There, it might become a big problem for all of us as it would force us to only meet the children necessities and leave others or we ask for budget increments.

This is a season when Uganda has always experienced bumper food harvest and we had hoped that prices could go down in these months but instead they are going up. The coming months of September up to December are always months of food shortages so there is a possibility that things could get worse.

Opportunities.

The government officials are scratching their heads in trying to find solutions to this problem. There is a need to help empower the agricultural sector so that it can support the economy by reducing the food prices which can also help us. The Central Bank is working hard on reducing the amount of money in circulation by employing measures like increasing the bank rates for all commercial banks.

Strategies.

Because of the uncertainties in the future, I have been advising the homes to store more food in this period when things are relatively lower. We think two or three months of stored  food will held reduce the effects of the rotting economy. I have worked with the mentors in identifying a good supplier who is giving us discounts because of buying in bulk so that he can supply to the homes enough food for at least two months. We will then advance them funds to pay this and this would reduce the total money spent on food next months.

 To learn more about how to help, visit http://www.haloworldwide.org/give/1-for-30/

Corporate Social Responsibility for the small business

The past few days I have been in Baltimore contributing to "Think Big Baltimore" which is a great event geared toward empowering and connecting entrepreneurs. I have been honored to speak about our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program called HALO Alliance (www.haloalliance.org). 

Usually CSR pertains to what a corporation is doing to make a positive social impact. This includes examples such as a recycling program, being consious of the impact they have on communities by manufacturing a product, employee volunteer programs, and how they give back in their communities.

HALO's CSR program is unique because it is a seamless way for a small business to partner with us. Most CSR programs are developed for large corporations and can be very complex, taking multiple resources from the company to develop. Through HALO Alliance, small businesses select from a menu of customizable options for their company to receive return on their $125 monthly investment to meet a specific need. 

By making CSR a part of company values and brining it to the forefront of daily culture, the identity of the entire workplace can shift. Employees and clients look at a photo of the supported program instead of that piece of cheap framed print that has been collecting dust for years. They can receive a monthly update on how the children are doing via email. They are given the opportunity to volunteer at the partner organization and they look forward to a Holiday Party where they bring an item of clothing to donate. When they visit the company website, they are happy to see the "Proud to be a HALO Alliance member, supporting x need." logo and link. And best of all, the program is being supported, a need is being met.

I can't say how many times new volunteers come to the office talking about how much they hate their job and how they just want to make a difference. We ask the volunteer about their passions and give them a platform to truly use their skills to give back, which is a win-win. Its how we stay tight and nimble. 

But it can be a win-win-win. We can help the business with employees who "hate their job so much". If their company were to give back, invest in the future of children in need (in HALO's case) and share that with their employees - making it part of their day to day life - would it make a difference in how they view their job? If their employer was giving them true opportunities to get involved and updating them on the impact that is being made, would it shift their paradigm? 

Click here to read stats on CSR.

Large corporations have caught on to this and are hiring CSR Directors, sometimes full CSR departments, to be their moral compass. Small businesses can't afford to do that...but they can afford HALO Alliance, which is why we developed the concept. 

People are more concerned than ever, especially people in their 20's and 30's. They are concerned about recycling, the environment, and social change, among other issues. (Plus, being concerned is cooler than ever). If companies don't get on board with some sort of CSR, they are going to miss opportunities to keep employees happy and engage their clients in their company values (which include making a positive social impact). They may be left behind. The non-profit world is shifting. WIthout innovation, true partnerships, sustainability and social enterprise, we will be left behind.  

The Bond of Family

When a HALO child enters a home, they have most likely lost both parents, been abandoned, or thier  families not capable to care for them anymore due to illness. They then go through a time of getting acquainted with their new surroundings and family. The child in the bunkbed next to theirs slowly becomes their friend, then best friend, then sister or brother.  Their similar backgrounds makes their bond unbelievably strong. Once they live in the home for a while, I have a tough time figuring out who is blood related. 

Timau boys making faces

The caretakers in Kenya don't allow fighting among the children. They teach that the other children are your siblings and you should look out for them. If your brother or sister needs something, you step up to help. The youth in the homes rely on each other for love and support. The kids work together with the Caretakers to clean their rooms, do laundry, fetch water, and do household chores.

Sisterhood in Naibor

Crossing the finish line in Kenya

HALO kids constantly teach me. They truly cherish their family, showing love and respect for them in everything they do. We can all learn from their example.

Henry and his mentor

Where do I sign up?

During the school year, HALO Domestic Centers serve as safe havens that provide tutoring, educational workshops, and future focused programming for at-risk, homeless, and foster youth. This summer the Denver team has put together an incredible camp for the kids offering tennis, bowling, ceramics, choir, art, step, skating, photography, and swimming... Seriously. Where do I sign up?

I went to the HALO Center this week during the start of their first session of four week summer camp. The staff informed me that attendance was lower than expected because there was a family of multiple children who didn't show up. When one of our staff members did a home visit, she learned their family couldn't afford the $10 per child entrance fee, which is charged to instill ownership for the parents. Not only were they struggling with that, their utilities had been turned off at their home.

Think about it. That's no stove, no fridge, no microwave, no warm water. Its no night-lights, no air conditioner, no phone. The kids shower at a nearby recreation center and stay out as long as they can before they go home. 

It is our goal to seek out and reach children in the greatest need. If that means a child living on the streets in Uganda, a homeless child in Kansas City, an orphan in Mexico, or an at-risk youth in Denver, we are ready to help. Giving the neediest child a chance at a brighter future is our mission. With the help of our volunteers, staff and supporters, we are able to offer summer camp, shelters, tutoring, vocational training, mentors, basic necessities, and hope around the world. We couldn't do it without your help. Thank you for making this happen. Click here to learn more about our programs or how to get more involved.

Campers having a blast.

Extreme Makeover: Denver Edition

Until August, 2010 2804 Welton Street in Denver was a a small, run down house on a yard of dirt located in the Five Points community. This area is known for crime, poverty, and with some of the worst schools in Colorado... 

When HALO comes into a community, we seek out the children with the greatest need. We want an answer the question, "How do we make the most profound impact with our resources?" Since every community is different, we spend a significant amount of time meeting with other non-profits, community leaders, and residents to determine how we can best serve the children. 

In Denver, we started with programming for children living at homeless shelters. Our volunteers now reach hundreds of children each month through art therapy and other programs. After researching the community, Nikki Cady (Denver HALO Director)  discovered that the next greatest need was a safe-haven for children. The children of Five Points needed a stable place to come every day for tutoring, workshops, and fitness programs. These proactive programs are geared toward keeping kids off the street, out of gangs, and succeeding in school. 

With a paint job, a lot of elbow grease and countless volunteers, that house now serves as a safe-haven. Every night, 64 children come through those doors to receive tutoring, art therapy, and workshop instruction. These are children who most likely receive free lunches at school, come from a single parent home, or who are bouncing around in the foster care system. 

I recently heard a group wanted to do some landscaping at the center. I was excited to hear this since the dirt yard was less than appealing. My husband Eddie and I showed up that Saturday morning to find more than 30 volunteers laying sod, planting a garden, spreading rocks, planting flowers, and putting in a basketball court. It was way more than we imagined and needless to say, tears came to my eyes. 

Concerts for Kids is run by Walter and Khristie Isenberg, a wonderful couple who are making a great impact in this world. They organize huge concerts each year to raise funds for organizations in Denver. The Isenbergs use their contacts in resources to get corporations donate materials and ask their employees to volunteer at the sites. That Saturday over 800 volunteers were doing the same thing at other non-profits around Denver. 

The HALO Center paints a different picture now.  What was once a desolate, worn down corner is now a beautiful lot with a vibrant home full of kids who deserve a safe haven. It shows promise and hope of a bright future for that community.