Last Saturday, we held a Garden Party to raise money for the Empowerment Project we are establishing with Destiny Women in Uganda.
We have an aggressive goal this year, $25,000! I am so grateful to say that with donations raised from Jodi Holman’s Ragnar Relay and the Garden Party, we are close to half way there!
I truly can't find the words to express my appreciation to all who volunteered and donated to help us put together a magical evening in Amilia’s Garden!!
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| The Raffle was so much fun - Thanks to Rachel, Helen and Tammy! |
Our Board Members, Charlie Peck, Jackie Collins, and Jodi Holman, family, friends, volunteers and local businesses all connected and came together to provide beautiful decorations, delicious food and fun and fantastic raffle donations!
Jackie and Jodi went all out to make the night a special event! Special thanks to Collins and Holman and Peck Families as well! Tom even safely engineered a square tv on a round pole! And Charlie became a jack of all trades the week before, making sure the space was fixed, cleaned and safe for all!
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| Tom and Jodi Holman, Jen and Brad Lawson |
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| Happy Raffle Winners Robin and Neal! |
There were
quite a few raffles that almost turned into an auction – as quite a few
people really wanted to win the cruise, with Charlie Peck on Buzzard’s
Bay!
And to top the event off, Ingrid
Nevins, of Medfield won the Grand Prize drawing on June 1, a 5-night stay in Orlando at a beautiful VBRO condo, courtesy
of the Holman Family!
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| The Tent and Garden were Pretty as a Picture! |
We all had a great time and we were blessed with perfect Garden Party Weather!
Shout out to Barbara Seeglitz and Anna Luhrmann, for help with gardening, organizing and decorating.
And after I spoke, we all lit tea lights and
placed them around Amila’s Memory Garden.
I will carry the memory of this night with me for a long time.
I’ve included in my blog this week, a copy of my talk, "How Ubuntu Illuminates our World" and added photos from the party...
“I’d like to welcome and thank you for joining
us tonight at our Garden Party. We appreciate your taking time to come and
learn about the Empowerment Program we are establishing with Destiny Women in
Uganda."
"We have a small, but mighty group of
dedicated people, on our Amilia’s Light board that I’d like to introduce to
you."
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Jackie Collins, Director of Operations
Jodi Holman, Director of Communications |
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| Charlie Peck, Treasurer, Director of Finance |
"I want to thank them and all our
volunteers for their hard work and dedication in putting this event
together I’m so thankful, to have them
along on this journey with me and their efforts have helped to catapult us toward
the next phase of our shared dream."
"I want to take a minute and acknowledge
our contributors. The love, support and generosity has meant so much, and has
already made a difference! We’ve been able to provide solar lighting, Wi-Fi and
computer equipment, school fees and medical services to Destiny Women."
"Because of you, I’m privileged to stand
here tonight, and ask you to help Amilia’s Light raise $25,000 to establish an
Empowerment Project for Destiny Women’s graduates."
"I’ve come to love the African term Ubuntu,
which means, 'I am, Because of Who You Are'"
"Desmond Tutu, who led the anti-apartheid
movement in South Africa, wrote",
‘Ubuntu…speaks of the very essence of being human…. When we want
to give high praise to someone, we say, ‘Hey so-and-so has Ubuntu. You are generous, you are
hospitable, you are friendly...caring and compassionate. You share what
you have.
It is to say, ‘My humanity is inextricably bound up in yours.’
("If your interested, you can read more in his book, 'No
Future without Forgiveness'.")
"Ubuntu means that we can connect and transform
each other by freely giving of ourselves. Ubuntu aptly describes how the
successes we have at Amilia’s Light are directly dependent on your connection
to us. Your support and contributions help transform
the lives of young girls who have been involved in trafficking, 6800 miles from
here in East Africa."
"A La Oprah, “You’re connected, you’re
connected, your connected, and we’re all connected… and NOW we’re all connected
with Destiny Girls in Uganda!"
"Let me give you a brief history of how
Amilia’s Light came to be."
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| Miriam and Fulukas Boroa |
"Our family was introduced to the
Co-founders of Destiny Women, Miriam and Fulukas Boroa in 2009, by our pastor,
Phil Bauman. Destiny Women has successfully rescued and rehabilitated over 50
girls. Our family sponsored five of
these girls in 2010."
"I was
inspired by their work and we started this non-profit in Amilia’s honor. Just last fall, we received our tax-exempt status."
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| Destiny Girls |
"Some, of the girls, especially those that
have sponsors, have been able to attend school and find valuable work. But many
still struggle - Which is why we are supporting this Empowerment Project."
"This past March, I went to Uganda to work
on the Empowerment Project and spent over a week with Destiny Women, their board
and the girls."
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" I will be the keeper of the flame
and together with all of you,
lives will be changed
as we illuminate our world!"
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"I’m struggling to describe what happened during this trip; I was both deeply moved and our time together was rewarding."
"I’ve been told, that I am the keeper of
the flame, the heart of Amilia’s Light.
I don’t think I understood what that meant, or how it translates into
running a non-profit. I can tell you though, that, without a shadow of a doubt,
this trip solidified God’s purpose for me."
"During the trip I had a chance to
reconnect with the girls we sponsored and got to know few of the other girls
who have graduated Destiny Women’s Rehabilitation Program."
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| Our Proud Gradute - Esther |
"I met Esther Kasiri.
(You might remember
her from my blog...)"
"Esther’s father died when she was young, Her
mother has HIV and struggles to support the family. Esther, with help from a sponsor, was able to
obtain her degree in social work."
"Yet Esther is giving back and making a
difference. She volunteers in the
community and has become a key leader in Destiny Women’s Rehabilitation
Program."
"With the money we raise tonight, DW can
hire Esther to counsel, care for and mentor the girls who will benefit from the
Empowerment Project."
"Teddy’s Path is Not As Clear."
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| Michelle and Teddy |
"Teddy is fun loving, creative and has exceled at making Ugandan beaded jewelry. And she gives the best Hugs! . "
"But Teddy is at a crossroads…Amilia’s light sponsored her school fees, and paid for surgery on her foot. However, she missed a lot of school because of the surgery and hasn’t passed her senior 4 and that means she can’t continue in school."
"She is back living at home, in an
unhealthy environment and her future is bleak…"
"The night before I left, I sat with her
and tried to convince her to stay with Miriam and Fulukas, but she doesn’t want
to leave her family and her sole support."
"The Empowerment Program would give Teddy a
leg up, and the ability to start a jewelry making business, work with a mentor,
take a business workshop and live in a safe environment."
"
Now, let me tell you about our most recent
success story – Anita!"
"You see, just two months ago, I sat on a
mud floor, with Anita and looked at the holes in her roof, and worried about
what she was going to do when rainy season started…"
"Thanks to the donations we raised in May, we've been able to get Anita, started in a business training course - THIS WEEK!"
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| "My prayers have been answered." |
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| Anita's first day of Business School |
"The money we raised this month is going to empower Anita."
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| "Together we have made a difference in the life of one girl in two short months! |
"And that’s how we change the world
one girl at a time – one donation at a time!"
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| Let’s Illuminate Our World! |
"Please help us meet our goal tonight, to
raise $25,000 for the Empowerment Project.
Your tax-deductible donation can be put in the donation box
‘conveniently’ located at the bar. "
"Would you join me now and light a candle
in Amilia’s garden?"
Michelle Luhrmann
Founder, Amilia’s Light
(Find out more about Destiny Women and the Empowerment Project in earlier blog, and our website)
If you have already donated to our cause, we thank you so much! You have already begun to make a difference!
If you were unable to attend our event and would like to be part of the solution to help end sex trafficking - one girl at a time, please consider a contribution toward the Empowerment Project.
You can mail a check to
Amilia's Light
P.O. Box 83
Medfield, MA 02052 or use our Paypal Link TO DONATE
A football field length of barbed wire
crawl? That one was tough! One wrong
move and I sliced my ankle!
