My Everyday Mystic by Jan Puta: blog for the soul

Many people want to make a difference in the lives of others but don’t know where to start. The issues going on around us range from helping survivors of tornadoes and floods here in the US to sending supplies to people around the world devastated by drought, starvation, earthquakes, and war.

Begin we must —  or nothing gets done and no one gets help. That’s why I’m inviting you to join me in being somebody’s hero.

Once a year I help put together a fund raising event that supports The Empowering Women’s Future: AIDS Orphan Sewing Project in Tanzania, Africa.

Here’s what the AIDS Orphan Sewing Project does:

Without family, money, and skills, the girls orphaned by AIDS in Bukoba, Tanzania, were the perfect prey for those who would exploit them. Without outside intervention, these 15 to 20 year old girls were prime targets for human traffickers.

The Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus organized these young girls and created a three year program for them to learn the basics of sewing, and ultimately, to become tailors.

Many of the girls who come to the Sewing Project walk one to two hours each way — and one girl walks three hours.

During this training program, students are encouraged to bring to class orders from their village customers and to work on the clothing under the supervision of the instructor.

One of the major motivations for these girls to diligently study in the Sewing Project and to graduate is the prospect of creating an income to buy food for their family and to help educate their siblings.

Upon graduation, each girl is given a treadle sewing machine so she is fully independent. Several of the first graduates staff a store in town that sells their dresses and nightgowns. Occasionally, they receive a contract from the government to sew uniforms for children going to school.

Through the Sewing Project, more than fifty girls in their teens or early 20s now have a chance for a modest existence.

Here’s what you can do to be somebody’s hero:

Any donation you can give keeps one more orphaned girl out of the clutches of human trafficking, and opens the door to her becoming an independent adult capable of taking care of herself, and maybe even her siblings.

Make a secure donation online with PayPal to the AIDS Orphan Sewing Project.

Think and Act Globally
Send your donation now!

Here’s what your money can buy in the African economy:

• $5 buys fabric for a first year student for one month
• $30 buys sewing supplies (needles, thread, scissors, ruler, tape measure etc) for one student
• $60 buys porridge for one girl, once a day for a year (this may be her only meal that day)
• $60 buys fabric for a first year student for a year
• $100 pays for the teacher’s salary for one week
• $250 buys a treadle sewing machine given to a third-year student upon her graduation from the program

As you can see from the list above, your US dollars go a long way in the African economy. However, this year we have an urgent need and special request for you to help us with.

There are 23 young women going to graduate from the 3-year sewing program. At $250 per machine (that includes the shipping costs), we need $5,750 to purchase and ship 15 sewing machines to be there for these exceptional girls on their graduation day.

I can’t begin to tell you how awesome this graduation gift and experience is for these young women to have a future with hope! I’d like to see us step up to this challenge and get those 15 sewing machines ordered now!

Consider sending a $250 donation for a sewing machine:

• as part of your tithing to charity
• as a gratitude gift for your own blessings and wellbeing
• as a family gift to raise awareness “that we’re all in this together”
• as your “charity of the month” to bless
• as your family or business foundation’s contribution
• as a tribute to someone you love for their birthday, anniversary, special occasion
• as a memorial to someone you love who has passed on

There are 23 opportunities here for us to take charge and make sure another young woman gets her graduation gift on time! I’m claiming responsibility for making sure one of those gifts gets there on time! Won’t you step up and send whatever you can? Together we can make sure all 23 young women get this life empowering gift on their graduation day.

Any gift you can give is graciously welcome, and endears you to these young women as heroes and helpers in their time of need.

To make sure every dollar of every donation goes only to the AIDS Orphan Sewing Project, I will personally pay whatever fees PayPal takes out to process your donation.  None of your donation is ever spent for administrative work here or in Africa. Even the bank donates the cost of the wire transfer to get the money over to Africa. Every cent will go first to purchase these 23 sewing machines, and then to help meet the other needs of all of the young women who need a hero cheering them on.

Will you join me? Will you be somebody’s hero today?
Make a secure donation online with PayPal to the AIDS Orphan Sewing Project.

Think and Act Globally
Send your donation now!

The Eighth Annual and Final Tanzanian Trunk Show, a fund raiser for the AIDS Orphan Sewing Project, is going to be on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It is our once a year effort to educate the public about the dangers and prevalence of human trafficking, and to collect donations for the Empowering Women’s Future foundation that supports the sewing project! I will be adding your donations to whatever we receive at that event. Let’s hold the vision that together we’ll make it happen — all 23 sewing machines will be there on graduation day for these 23 young women!

—————————————————————————————————————————-
With your help, we can do it. Send a corporate gift – send a personal gift – send a tithe for the month – whatever you send is appreciated. Donate now while you’re thinking of it! Use this PayPal button above or send a check to AIDS Orphan Sewing Project, c/o Janice M. Puta, 590 Luco Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
—————————————————————————————————————————-

If you need a receipt for tax purposes, email me with your request at Janice@OurSpiralJourney.com

Thank you for stepping up to be somebody’s hero today! You have made a young woman’s day brighter and her future even more promising.

Blessings always,
Janice M. Puta
Advocate for People and Animals
Our Spiral Journey, LLC
http://www.ourspiraljourney.com

P.S. For additional photos and the full story of how the AIDS Orphans Sewing Project started, please read this article: “Empowering Women’s Future: The AIDS Orphans Sewing Project”