Why the Girls to Women mentoring program works
Last month, the girls of Girls to Women put on a fantastic production of the Wizard of Oz in East Palo Alto. Sitting in the audience, One World Children’s Fund was really impressed to see how a group of young women tutor-mentors helped the girls and how the girls clearly looked up to them. We asked Girls to Women to explain the secret of this successful model to our supporters and this is what they said:
Here at Girls to Women, we’re convinced that the low-income Latina, African-American, and Asian/Pacific Islander elementary- and middle-school girls whom we serve benefit immensely from culturally-similar role models. While other mentors have certainly inspired them and contributed to improved outcomes, we literally see the extra spark in the eyes of the girls and their parents when they encounter the effective, motivated young women from our community whom we’ve recruited to serve as academic tutors.
While they’ve helped the younger girls with their homework assignments, these tutor-mentors have also sent empowering messages about culture, identity, and personal potential.
About a year after our inception in early 2007, we began recruiting young women from the noted local Eastside College Preparatory School to tutor our participants. The model worked well, and we began recruiting a pool of up to 18 Eastside students each semester to help with the academic support effort.
Noting that all secondary-school students in California must complete community service hours, we started making inquiries and, beginning with the Fall Semester 2010, selected a larger group of young women not just from Eastside, but from all of the several local high schools serving East Palo Alto. The result was as good as we could have wished for — and it meant that we could meet our standard of “one-on-one academic support for every girl who needs it” entirely from within our community.
Twenty-nine high-achieving young women contributed over 1,200 hours of one-on-one academic tutoring, program activity supervision, and general mentoring and leadership development for the younger girls each semester during School Year 2010-2011. We’re planning to continue this practice as the start of School Year 2011-2012 rapidly approaches. If any readers want to know more about how we put this fruitful collaboration together, drop us an email at info@girlstowomen.org or call us at 650-326-6431.
Here are some photos of the girls and young women learning and having fun together:
Girls performing the Wizard of Oz: Puneet Dhillon and Jasmin Lopez (Back Row); Brianna Luna, Sara Noriega, Arylyne Nava and Heilala Raass (Front Row)
A tutor-mentor helps the girls out with a three-legged race: (from left to right) Puneet Dhillon, Viviana Luna, Sara Noriega, Andrea Miller, Alicia Ponce (high-school tutor-mentor), Arlyne Nava and Ana Maria Valencia.
To donate to Girls to Women, please click below:
Kenya; One World Partner St. Vincent’s Addresses Food Crisis
Prolonged drought — dubbed the worst in 60 years — coupled with soaring global food prices and deteriorating livestock prices has caused a severe food crisis in East Africa (namely in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia). The crisis is characterized as the worst the world has seen since the Great Chinese Famine of the late 1950s. In Kenya, food shortages have reached critical levels and the Kenyan government has declared a national emergency.
While Northern Kenya has been particularly hard hit with a flood of refugees entering from Somalia, people throughout the country are also being affected. In Nairobi’s already vulnerable informal settlements, where most households live on less than a dollar a day families, families are unable to afford the cost of food.
St. Vincent’s: Children of Kibera Response
One World project, St. Vincent’s: Children of Kibera is witnessing the effects of the crisis, as most families of our nursery school children are running out of food. Even under normal circumstances, the two daily meals that our nursery school children receive are sometimes the only meals during the week that children receive. St. Vincent’s is responding to the crisis by extending our school calendar by at least one week into the summer break so that children can continue to receive the two daily meals provided as part of our program. In addition to the school meals, St. Vincent’s has increased by 50% the number of HIV-affected nursery school families provided with take home food baskets. Adequate food supply is particularly critical for HIV-affected families, as people taking ARVs require a balanced diet for the medication to be effective.
To donate to the children of St. Vincent’s, please click below:
Team One World: Jean Olson
I had the pleasure of catching up with Jean a few days ago and wanted to share her story with all of you!
Jean is as you may know, has been involved with One World since 2006, as a Project Champion for Familia HOPE Orphanage in Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor). The HOPE Orphanage is the home of 32 children. It is important to note there’s no adoption in Timor-Leste, and the children live together as a family, with the older ones looking after the younger ones, and all helping out with chores. The orphanage, depends on donations to operate and provides for all the children’s needs including food, shelter, education, health care and love.
This is what motivates Jean to train and run for Team One World. She will be running the half marathon in San Francisco this Saturday. Her goals is to raise at least $500 by July 30th and is almost there !
I asked Jean what advice she has for future runners who would like to join Team One World and how they should train. She said, start gradually, jogging with friends for fun. It is Important to run regularly, stretch and eat a proper diet. For those interested in long distance running and its important to follow training guidelines and training schedules with the proper distances.
Jean would like to emphasize, One World has a unique operating model: 100% of your donation will go directly to the HOPE Orphanage.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to “Jean’s Run for HOPE Orphanage” you can do so online at: http://www.active.com/donate/teamoneworldsf/jeanolson.
Thank you for your dedication Jean, good luck on Saturday!
Volunteering; One World’s June ‘CHAMP’ of the Month!
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” ~Dr. Seuss
We couldn’t have said it better because at One World, we believe ‘Change Happens Among Motivated People‘ (CHAMP). There are so many people within our community who donate their time and effort and we want to honor these exemplary individuals for all their hard work in helping us reach children around the world.
Each month we accept nominations for those who have gone above and beyond in volunteering with us and this month, we are so honored to have you meet our June ‘CHAMP’, Duke Huston. Congratulations Duke and thank you from everyone at One World!
The Nomination:
“Never seen but always there, Duke is the dedicated force behind One World’s branding and communication such as our newsletter, invitations and soon, our new website.”
From Duke:
I’m touched, and a bit dizzy to be included among One World’s CHAMPs — who have done so much more with their lives for your cause. Thanks for the award, everyone. I’m truly honored.
Since the launch of Team One World and because of so many altruistic people, we here at One World have been gaining more and more support for the children we help. Thanks to our runners, they have been raising awareness and collecting generous donations which will go to the children we serve.
For more information about Team One World and our partnership with Marathon Matt, please click here. However, to support one of our runners, Ashlee, please read her words below:
Hello,
Tonight, as I write this letter, I try to keep in mind that “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” I think of this because as I sit here, icing my elevated, bruised foot, I try and remember that training for this race was never going to be easy- and yet, I think of the children in our projects and how obstacle-ridden their path is- and I find assurance in knowing that running for them- opportunities will lead their path ‘somewhere’.
On July 31st, I will be running the San Francisco Half Marathon to fundraise for a San Francisco based nonprofit in which I am extremely committed to, One World Children’s Fund. One World is a community of people committed to supporting children around the world who lack the most basic necessities. They do this by empowering people living in the US to champion grassroots organizations that are building sustainable solutions to local problems affecting children and their caregivers.
Although, it’s just a minor stress fracture from over training (being too eager probably), I plan to take another week off from training and assess how my foot is after that. However, I WILL participate in the race- even if I have to walk- because I’m thinking about the children and all that they have to endure, day in and day out- just to get by.
I have already reached 80% of my goal raising $795 thus far and still have $205 left to raise. I realize times are a bit rough these days but anything you may be able to spare would be truly appreciated and 100% goes to the children in our projects around the world. If you have any questions about One World or the San Francisco Half, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and enjoy the rest of your week.
Best,
Ashlee
To visit Ashlee’s Fundraising page or to support her efforts, please click below:
It is an absolute honor to share this CNN article and video featuring One World Children’s Fund’s project in Argentina, Fundacion Gente Nueva AKA P.E.T.I.S.O.S. (Prevención y Erradicación del Trabajo Infantil SOS) and it’s Founder, Elena Durón Miranda. The project’s US Champions are Sharmon Hilfinger and Luis Trabb-Pardo, who both grew up in Argentina and now reside in Palo Alto, California.
Congratulations Elena! We are so proud of you and all that you have done for these children!
By Brittany Stahl, CNN
June 9, 2011
Bariloche, Argentina (CNN) – During a visit to Argentina 11 years ago, Elena Durón Miranda was horrified to see children as young as 3 years old rummaging through a trash dump for food and valuable materials.
“I saw children collect green sausages, a bag of potato chip crumbs, a bag of noodles with cream, and recovered leftover yogurt next to a diaper,” said Durón Miranda, a Mexican psychologist who was visiting Bariloche to do research. “The children began to gently clean the food — wiping each little noodle, each potato and peeling the sausage skin so methodically and accurately. It was as if they had done this same activity many times.”
Durón Miranda said there were maybe 200 children at the dump collecting things to eat and sell.
“At that moment in time, my son was the same age as many of them,” said Durón Miranda, now 41. “So that struck me as horrific.”
Durón Miranda learned that many children in Bariloche, a popular city for skiers and tourists in southern Argentina, drop out of school and spend their lives working at the dump.
Determined to restore their dignity, Durón Miranda decided to stay in the country and start a nonprofit called PETISOS, which stands for Prevención y Erradicación del Trabajo Infantil SOS (Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor SOS). The organization aims to provide children with free education and extracurricular programs so they have an alternative to working.
Today, approximately 200 boys and girls in Bariloche benefit from PETISOS.
“We carry out very personalized tracking of all the boys and girls we work with,” Durón Miranda said. “We work with the families, we work with the schools, we work with the medical or health centers in order to … get them out of the labor situation.”
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2011 CNN Heroes
When she was starting, Durón Miranda first set out to understand what was leading the children to work in the dump.
“I wanted to know what would lead a family to let this happen,” she said. “What I did was set up camp inside the garbage dump and work with the children, right alongside them. I picked through garbage, too. I also watched how they got around, everything they did. So the families started to develop a lot of trust in me.”
While Argentina has laws against child labor, the majority of working children do so for their families as unpaid laborers, according to the International Labor Organization. Parents don’t force their children to work, but the children join in at an early age because work activities often revolve around family networks.
“All parents want a better life for their children than what they had,” Durón Miranda said. “However, there are times when their situation is so precarious they have no other way out but for the whole family to work and try to make ends meet.”
PETISOS programs are open to anyone in the community, working or nonworking. But involving a working child can be a lengthy process.
Durón Miranda and her team start by tracking a child and observing his or her work habits. After earning the child’s trust, which can often take between six months and a year, they set up a meeting with the child’s family. Then they develop an integrated plan for helping the child and try to get the family to understand the importance of education.
“When you work in situations where the context is one of such great poverty, it’s very difficult to talk to parents about the long term because usually they live in the immediate term,” Durón Miranda said. “We tell them that a child that has more years of schooling has the opportunity to get a better job and eventually (make) more money than (they make) doing subsistence work.”
PETISOS has a team of professionals and volunteers working with the children to ensure their growth.
The children are enrolled in school and have a tracking group to make sure they attend. There are afterschool workshops held at the PETISOS headquarters, where children can get help with their homework or do art projects. And psychologists, doctors and social workers are also available to work with the children and their families.
Family heads can also receive job training and child-rearing support.
“The parents are happy with the project because they realize we’re concerned about the children. … We give them an incentive to have a better future, a different future,” Durón Miranda said.
Oftentimes, there are several children from the same family in the PETISOS program.
Rosa Del Carmen Aguilar is a single mother of seven who used to work in the garbage dump to provide for her family. Durón Miranda’s programs helped Aguilar get out of the dump and keep her children out of trouble.
“I didn’t have a salary, I didn’t have a job, and we always have the need,” Aguilar said. “I resorted to her. She was the person I had the most trust in. … The kids are moving forward, and we’ve gone a long way.”
The group is funded by grants and donations. As a result of PETISOS efforts, many children have gone on to graduate from high school and attend college. There are others who are working stable jobs, and many young women have started families and are more sensitive to the upbringing of their children.
“That’s very important for us,” Durón Miranda said. “I think that’s where we start to break vicious cycles stemming from negligent upbringing and upbringing with mistreatment. I think that’s our greatest success to date.”
Durón Miranda describes her job as “full-life” rather than “full-time,” but she said she can’t imagine it any other way.
“The problems these boys and girls are living, and which we spend all our time on, are very painful,” she said. “Fortunately, we have the capacity to transform pain into the desire to do something about it.”
To like Fundacion Gente Nueva on Facebook, please click below:
To donate to the children of Fundacion Gente Nueva (P.E.T.I.S.O.S.) please click below:
Children of P.E.T.I.S.O.S. (AKA Fundacion Gente Nueva), February 2011
Dear Friends,
Greetings from at last a rainy Bihar. I thought you would like to see the latest child going home from Rescue Junction (People First Educational Charitable Trust), after all without your support it might not even be open today.
Best Wishes,
Nick, Rescue Junction (People First)
After Two and Half Months Abhishek Found his Family Thanks to Rescue Junction
(News From AAJ Hindi Newspaper on 18th June 2011)
- Latest child Reunited With Family After Being Rescued From Rescued Junction
Abhishek’s mother went to Muffashil police station who had handed over this boy to Rescue Junction for care and re- unite. His mother said we are very poor and my child lost on 13th April 2011.
She said when she was in the hospital her got child got seperated from her and when she made an inquiry from local people she was told that her child was possibly kidnapped or his kidney was sold. She was devastated because her child was deaf from his childhood. She also made a complaint in local police station, Warsaliganj Police Station.
When she met with her child Abhishek she just became almost mad in happiness and smiling face was the proof of her pure Joy. She was too much happy with the Rescue Junction and local press and media and she gave a lot of thanks to Rescue Junction and Press.
(The Press had helped us by publishing a story that this little deaf boy was looking for his mother).
To help support the children, like Abhishek of People First AKA Rescue Junction please click below (100% of your donation goes to the children in this project):
It is more than appreciated. Thank you.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to be ‘fitlanthropic’ this fall, look no further than Team One World launching on Saturday, 8/20 @ 9:30AM!
One World Children’s Fund is joining Marathon Matt’s fall half marathon training program (Halloween 13.1) targeting the Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon on 10/29 OR the Lake Natoma Four Bridges Half Marathon (in Folsom) on 10/30.
Matt’s programs regularly attract 150-200 runners of varying levels of experience. If you’ve never run more than a couple miles, Matt has a training level that will work for you. If you’re a seasoned, savvy runner looking to post a personal best, Matt has a training level that will work for you as well. 
PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- Tuesday night runs in the Marina OR Downtown
- Thursday night bootcamp or speedwork in the Marina
- and Saturday long runs.
TEAM PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE:
- 15% off at Lombardi Sports in San Francisco
- An Adidas technical training shirt
- An email newsletter supporting your training/fundraising, clinics/seminars, social events, and much more!
You can participate in Team One World in one of two ways:
- Pay To Play-Simply pay the $150 registration fee and 10% of your fee goes directly to One World Children’s Fund
- Fundraise for One World Children’s Fund-Your registration fee is waived, but you are asked to raise $500 for One World Children’s Fund. You will be provided a fundraising webpage and fundraising support throughout your training.
Whichever option you choose, One World Children’s Fund (and you) wins!
Obviously, you can wait until the day of launch to join, but the sooner you join, the sooner you can start fundraising!
Who is Marathon Matt? Not sure if this program’s right for you? Check out the clip below.
Matt’s been executing world class training half marathon training programs for years and has garnered a ‘few’ 5 star reviews on Yelp. See what other people have to say about their experience working with Matt:
Better yet, see firsthand what Matt and his programs are all about via the following video clip!
Questions/Concerns? Email: MARATHONMATT@MARATHONMATT.COM
Or feel free to donate to the members of Team One World:
Champion Jean Olson, fundraising for her project Familia HOPE Orphanage in Timor-Leste
Father’s Day; Last Minute Shopping Idea
Still looking for that perfect gift to give your dad, grandfather, uncle, etc. this Father’s Day? Buy ANYTHING on Amazon.com for him with their one or two day shipping option thru this link here and proceeds go to One World Children’s Fund!
*For more information about our partnership with Amazon.com please click here.
Organized By:
Burmese American Women’s Alliance (BAWA) -bawalliance.org
Co-sponsored By:
Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) -badasf.org
First Congregational Church of Palo Alto- Peace and Justice Committee
For More Information, Visit Bawalliance.org or Call:
Mabel Tun (650) 321-5587
To make a donation to our own Burmese project, Build A School in Burma, please click below:
Children from Build a School in Burma
