Jan 28. Good morning all. It's been not as cold here in Vermont, but still obviously winter. Martha and Sally had a wonderful time visiting Em in Cambridge last week, but came home with a ruptured eardrum and bilateral ear infections! Ouch. She is staying home to recover before returning to her semester at college.

I was reading the NY Times online this morning.... and as usual, Nicholas Kristof has a wonderful article on social entrepreneurs, and specifically, an idea that some students had, some from Wesleyan Universtiy, to support South African orphans of AIDS, who would not have the chance to go to school if it were not for the efforts of this project, entitled Orphans Against Aids. The NY Times piece is available to read at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kristof.html?em&ex=120166920...

It is an amazing project, ...read more about it at http://www.orphansagainstaids.org/

The project, started by Andrew Klaber, 26, a student at Harvard Business School, supports orphans of parents who have died of AIDS in South Africa. It sends them to school, and provides childcare for younger siblings, among other things. Read about it at http://www.tandajewelry.org/orphans.html. The amazing part is that all the money (virtually) goes to help the children, and the administrative costs of travel, etc, are largely paid for by the workers themselves who came up with the idea to create and support this project. Part of the project includes a jewelry business, where women who are supporting their families can make traditional Zulu beadwork, and stay at home and care for their children while they work on the jewelry. It empowers women, and ensures good care for the children.

"Tanda Zulu sells Zulu Beadwork Project jewelry in the United States, giving 92% of the profits to orphan projects in South Africa.

Many orphans live in child-headed households headed by children as young as 12. This often causes the eldest sibling to drop out of school. The Holy Cross Preschool allows older siblings to stay in school by caring for the young children during the school day. Preschoolers also get 3 meals a day, counseling, education, and a chance to play. Tanda Zulu jewelry sales support feeding and education at the preschool.

"All Orphans Against AIDS officers, staff, and advisers are volunteers; consequently, OAA has no operating costs. This puts OAA at a major advantage; 100% of funds can be applied directly to scholarships for AIDS orphans. Our direct costs are as follows:

- $100-$150 per student per year:
- School Uniforms (two academic uniforms and one gym uniform): $20.00 to $25.000
- School Fees: $10.00 to $15.00
- School Supplies (notebooks, pencils, etc.): $10.00
- School lunches: $30.00 to $40.00
- Books: $10.00
- Basic Health Care: $20.00 to $40.00
- Transportation to and from school (on an as needed basis)
The progress and impact of OAA is tracked closely to ensure that funds are appropriated as effectively as possible; the young people receiving our scholarships have been sought out by local educators, physicians, and/or community leaders with expertise on which youths have the greatest needs. In addition, our local partners provide OAA with biannual reports detailing the educational progress and health of each young person."

We are currently planning an after-school program for 400 high school students in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which we will implement in January 2008. The program promotes empowerment and entrepreneurship through skills development and novel activities. Jewelry sales will help to fund feeding and various activities at the program.

Proceeds from the jewelry are donated through Tanda, the non-profit branch of Tanda Zulu."

I hope that in some small way, by supporting Young Writers' Project, the Vermont Suzuki Violins, and the Vermont Youth Orchestra, that I have demonstrated the power of one person to improve the lives of those around them by simply speaking up for what is right, and for what is important, and then to help others support these causes.

The world is a big place, but we can make it a better place by supporting each other and the wonderful causes that are being suppported and worked on by the many in this world who are more concerned with helping others than in making personal profit.

And, I send a hearty and resounding thank you to those who continue to support the Young Writers' Project via our website. Thank you!

To support the Orphans Against Aids, go to:

http://www.orphansagainstaids.org/how-you-can-help.html
Blessings to you and yours..... Kathleen