Personal Blog of Ashley Cawthra

Make change!

I volunteer for an amazing youth leadership program called the YES. I have been apart of this organization since 2001 and it's something I am very proud of. We are looking to take our work even further and move into high schools!

We want to help in transforming the high school atmosphere into one of mutual respect, appreciation and create an environment that fosters community, growth, education and empowerment. YES!

We have an amazing opportunity to gain much needed financial support from Avivia Community Fund. Please vote for our project and help make change! It will only take a few minutes.

http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf4291

Every last minute

Things are starting to get back to normal which really means back to crazy! My first full week of school will start next week.  I have been feeling a bit under the weather - slightly concerning with h1n1.  I am in the faculty of health sciences after all. I should be a bit more careful? ha. I'm feeling better. I havent' had too much time for much.  I whipped up this set of embellishments this morning. I've had all the supplies ready I just needed the time to get'er done.  So here they are!

They are officially for sale in the shop.    I really love making embellishments.  I also really love using them in projects. There will be more to come.. both projects and embellishments.

Have a good weekend!

Ashley

" The poorest of the poor, around the world, have the worst health. Those at the bottom of the distribution of global and national wealth, those marginalized and excluded within countries, and countries themselves disadvantaged by historical exploitation and persistent inequity in global institutions of power and policy-making present an urgent moral and practical focus for action. But focusing on those with the least, on the ‘gap’ between the poorest and the rest, is only a partial response.

… In rich countries, low socioeconomic position means poor education, lack of amenities, unemployment and job insecurity, poor working conditions, and unsafe neighbourhoods, with their consequent impact on family life. These all apply to the socially disadvantaged in low-income countries in addition to the considerable burden of material deprivation and vulnerability to natural disasters. So these dimensions of social disadvantage – that the health of the worst off in high-income countries is, in a few dramatic cases, worse than average health in some lower-income countries … – are important for health."

Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health , Commission on Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, August 28, 2008, p.31

Yes he can.

I watched the day he won the election and I watched today as he was sworn in.  It was as always interesting to compare Canadian and US coverage but thats for another day.  I was moved seeing the first black president become officially the first black president.  It hit me though at the end of the inaugration that he will one day have to leave the White House, just like Bush.  It made me ponder what's to come and will he be a two-term president.  Will there ever be another black president?

Kiva continues

A couple of weeks ago I committed to pledging $25.00 a month to a different Kiva entrepreneur starting December 1.  I almost forgot but remembered this morning.  I did a search on the Kiva "LEND" page and finally found Miriam Zavala from Nicaragua. 

"Miriam Zavala sells vegetables in the Central market in the city of Chinandega. She is well known for being a lady, and she has doubled her efforts with the goal of keeping her nuclear family, bringing food for her three school-aged children. She is a single mother and she does not have any source of income aside from her business.

To this end, she has engaged Ceprodel (Kiva field partner) to receive a loan that will allow her to buy more vegetables to sell to the public. This loan will be of great benefit to her and she will manage to make her business a success. "

I chose Miriam for several reasons, maybe these will help you when you decided to lend to a Kiva entrepreneur.  Miriam sells vegetables, something I believe to be beneficial to improving health of her community, as well she is a single mother supporting three children.  Finally her repayment schedule is two months and the loan delinquency rate of Ceprodel is 0%.   Watch my progress {here}

Currently Miriam needs an additional $125.00 to reach her full loan.  Donate today or just simply see what micro-credit is all about. www.kiva.org

Ashley

 

A busy day ahead

So far this morning has been productive.  I planned out another gift card holder and its almost all prepped.  Next was a photo shoot for my new page banner *it's going to be GREAT, I can't wait*. The only problem however is that I need good ol' photoshop to edit and resize the photos for the banner.  I have photoshop on my laptop but due to some unforseen events I have lent out my laptop cord to someone in great need.  It will have to wait til Sunday. 

In scholarly news, Dr. Seear the author of one of my texts, came to my lecture on Thursday.  It was an interesting lecture to say the least.  He's an interesting man and after hearing him lecture, it makes some of what he says different somehow.  He's brilliant and honest, something that the world needs more of.  One of the  greatests thing he said though, was that historically speaking, development and aid has been over medicalized and has been far more harmful than helpful.  It filled my heart like a balloon.  Not too long ago, maybe a few weeks back, I was looking into nursing programs.  Part of me felt like I could really do something that way.  After Thursday's lecture I have changed my mind and am commited to the social aspects of development.  More on this lecture later.

Finally, before I skip off to work, I have started a guest book.  Find it {here}.  I don't know why that never crossed my mind until today

TGIF,

Ashley

DO something amazing

www.kiva.org

Check out this website. Really, click on the link, open up the page and check it out. 

"Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world."

What does that mean? It means that instead of making a blind donation to a big organization you can choose who you donate to and see where your money is going.  You can see how much they need, who they are and even how long it will take to repay.  It gets better.  Because kiva is based on micro-credit or micro-lending, you get your money back.  Say what? Where else do you get your donation BACK.  Of course, after the entrepreneur has repaid their loan (part of which you have contributed to in the first place) you have a choice to withdrawl your money, donate it to kiva or contribute it to another entrepreneur. 

Why are there micro-credit loans?  Many people, especially in the developing world do not have credit to get the credit that they need. Moreover the access to banking institutions is often problematic {read more}. 

Just imagine, if you donated $25/month over a year to different entrepreneurs, you would accumulate $300.00.  Anf if you did the same thing the next year, you would have $600.00.  You could then continue donating that money over and over and over.  at the end of 5 years you would have $1500.00.  $1500.00 is more than many loan requests on kiva. That means you could fufill one whole loan yourself.  Just think how many lives we each could change by donating $25.00 per month.  That is actually less than $1.00/day which is what many of these people live on. 

I think that starting December 1, 2008 I am going to donate $25/month to different entrepreneurs and track my progress here for you all to see.  Hopefully it will inspire someone else, even if it is just one person to make change.

Check it out, www.kiva.org

Much love,

Ashley

It's time.

I cannot believe it. I am watching history on international television.  The first black president of the United States of America will be announced shortly.  More than his race he's a democrat.  I can only hope that this opening of both eyes of the United States will bring about change.  Maybe the melting pot will become more of mosiac and people of colour will be seen as equal.  I am excited to see how Obama deals with the war on terror and the unjust behaviour of his predecessor.  It is a new day and a new time in "the greatest nation on earth" (Senator McCain).