You did it!
The campaign has reached its goal!
Thank you everyone for going on this journey with me, for believing in me and what I do!
I am on cloud nine right now!
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
Thought you might like to see where I will be going. Here is a map showing the state of Tripura, it is the tiny purple one to the right of Bangladesh.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
Okay this is my final appeal – with only hours to go to meet my goal the campaign needs to raise just $365.00
First, Thank You to everyone who has donated (some of you more than once!), helped spread the word and sent me wonderful e-mails!
Sometimes I think the hardest part of what I do is to ask people for money – but the reality is I, and many people like me, cannot do this kind of work without the generosity of others.
When I am on one of my trips I feel the presence of all of you, especially when things get rough – I think about all of you, your generosity, how you care about helping others less fortunate and I am able to draw strength from that.
So in these last few hours please get the word out –
Let’s raise that final $365.00!
Here is the link to my Indiegogo campaign:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-hope-varanasi-returning-to-india
Thank you,
Linda
Just 40 hours left to raise $925.00 –
That is all I need to reach my goal of $3500.00
I can’t believe that the campaign is almost over and the goal is so close!
I have been asked why do I go on these trips – I can only answer by saying it feels right to me. I have been given so many opportunities through my life and career – it just feels right to give back.
How can I ask people for money? Well I honestly could not afford to do this work without the kindness of others. There are many people who dream about doing what I do but for many reasons cannot – this is a way for them to share in my journey. This is a way for them to make a difference!
So today with just 40 hours left I am asking for you to help me reach my goal.
If 10 people donate $100.00 I will reach my goal
If 19 people donate $50.00 I will reach my goal
If 37 people donate $25.00 I will reach my goal
If 93 people donate $10.00 I will reach my goal
Why should you donate?
Your donation will help a child rescued from child traffickers and violent abuse have a much better chance in life. We (the team of us) are going to clean, paint, build – but we are also going to play with the kids and give them big hugs – to let them know that there are good people in the world.
At the Anwesha Children’s Home these children are taught many of the basics we take for granted – which can be as simple as personal hygiene – they are given an education – something a lot of the rural children living in poverty do not get. There is a counselor living on-site to help them through the rough patches.
These children have been given a second chance – a second chance to have a childhood, a second chance grow up and become strong and productive adults.
Who knows what they will accomplish?
If you cannot donate – please help me by spreading the word – tell your friends, family and co-workers.
Here is a link to my Indiegogo campaign:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-hope-varanasi-returning-to-india
Thank you,
Linda
My Indiegogo campaign – Stories of Hope Varanasi ends in 66 hours
Thank you to everyone who has donated – the campaign has reached $2200.00 – 63% of the goal!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-hope-varanasi-returning-to-india#home
Won’t you help me reach my goal?
If 13 people donate $100.00 I will reach my goal
If 26 people donate $25.00 I will reach my goal
If 130 people donate $10.00 I will reach my goal
Why should you donate?
Your donation will help a child rescued from child traffickers and violent abuse have a much better chance in life. We (the team of us) are going to clean, paint, build – but we are also going to play with the kids and give them big hugs – to let them know that there are good people in the world.
At the Anwesha Children’s Home these children are taught many of the basics we take for granted – which can be as simple as personal hygiene – they are given an education – something a lot of the rural children living in poverty do not get. There is a counselor living on-site to help them through the rough patches.
These children have been given a second chance – a second chance to have a childhood, a second chance grow up and become strong and productive adults.
Who knows what they will accomplish?
If you cannot donate – please help me by spreading the word – tell your friends, family and co-workers.
Here is a link to my Indiegogo campaign:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-hope-varanasi-returning-to-india#home
Thank you,
Linda
Returning to India – need a little help!
I have had the opportunity to travel and teach in some pretty amazing parts of the world. Often I have to raise the money for the trips. I volunteer my time and the monies raised cover travel expenses and materials. In the past few years I have traveled to Mexico, India, Rwanda, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to teach natural dyeing, weaving, and entrepreneurial skills such as marketing and bringing a product into the 21st century marketplace.
These trips are only possible with the help of people like you!
Well, I am about to embark on another trip – but this one is a little different – I am volunteering at a Children’s Home (orphanage) in India for 3 weeks, where we will be cleaning, painting, building and making a safe playground for the kids.
These children have been rescued from child traffickers and violent abuse. At the Home they are safe, well cared for and receiving an education.
Won’t you help to make this trip possible!
What will this money be used for?
The funds raised will help to pay my expenses to travel to India to volunteer at the Anwesha Children’s Home (orphanage).
What are my expenses?
Airfare
Travel Visa
Ground Transportation
Art Supplies for the children
Who is this trip through?
As a Whole Foods team member I applied for and was awarded the 3-week volunteer trip to India. The Whole Foods Team Member Volunteer Program will cover my food and lodging while in India – I must raise the money for the remaining expenses.
For the India trip Whole Foods has partnered with The Miracle Foundation.
http://www.miraclefoundation.org
Originally we (the team of volunteers) were scheduled to travel and volunteer at a Children’s Home near Varanasi. The Miracle Foundation asked that we instead travel to Tripura to a Home that has greater and more immediate needs. The Anwesha Children’s Home has 51 orphans – rescued from child traffickers and violent abuse.
Here is a link:
http://www.miraclefoundation.org/childrenshomes/anwesha
My Indiegogo campaign has reached 39% of the goal or $1370.00 of the $3500.00 goal.
Here is a link to the campaign:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-hope-varanasi-returning-to-india#home
With 10 days left…..
If 213 people donate just $10.00 each I will reach my goal
If 85 people donate just $25.00 each I will reach my goal
If 43 people donate just $50.00 each I will reach my goal
Thank you to those folks who have already donated, helped to spread the word and wished me good travels. While I still have a long way to go to reach my goal I believe that with your help it will happen!
I have had the opportunity to travel and teach in some pretty amazing parts of the world. Often I have to raise the money for the trips. I volunteer my time and raise money for travel expenses and materials. In the past few years I have traveled to Mexico, India, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan to teach natural dyeing, weaving, and entrepreneurial skills such as marketing and bringing a product into the 21st century marketplace.
Well I am about to embark on another trip – but this one is a little different – I am volunteering at a Children’s Home (orphanage) in India for 3 weeks, where we will be cleaning, painting, building and making a safe playground for the kids.
And I need your help to make this trip possible!
My Indiegogo campaign has reached 17% of the goal or $590.00 of the $3500.00 goal.
Here is a link to the campaign:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-hope-varanasi-returning-to-india#home
What will this money be used for?
The funds raised will help to pay my expenses to travel to India to volunteer at a Children’s Home (orphanage) for three weeks.
What are my expenses?
Airfare
Ground Transportation
Art Supplies
Who is this trip through?
As a Whole Foods team member I applied for and was awarded the 3-week volunteer trip to India. The Whole Foods Team Member Volunteer Program will cover my food and lodging while in India – I must raise the money for the remaining expenses.
For the India trip Whole Foods has partnered with The Miracle Foundation.
Originally we (the team of volunteers) were scheduled to travel and volunteer at a Children’s Home near Varanasi. Just a few days ago The Miracle Foundation asked that we instead travel to Tripura to a Home that has greater and more immediate needs. The Anwesha Children’s Home has 51 orphans – rescued from child traffickers and violent abuse.
Here is a link:
http://www.miraclefoundation.org/childrenshomes/anwesha
If 300 people donate just $10.00 each I will reach my goal
If 200 people donate just $15.00 each I will reach my goal
If 150 people donate just $20.00 each I will reach my goal
Thank you to those folks who have already donated, helped to spread the word and wished me good travels. While I still have a long way to go to reach my goal I believe that with your help it will happen!
Thank you,
Linda
With a strong belief that you must respect the craft, materials and abilities of the cultures with which you are interacting, I have been able to travel and share my knowledge with those less fortunate.
To be able to teach a simple craft that we often take for granted to an individual or group that can in turn empower them on the road out of poverty is an experience like no other. It is both humbling and incredibly exciting. In 2009 I traveled to Munnar, Kerala in Southern India and taught a natural dyeing workshop at the Aranya Natural Dye Unit- the above photo is of the amazing folks I had the privilege of working with!
This fall I have an opportunity to return to India, where I will be volunteering at an orphanage in Varanasi – won’t you help me to return to India? The trip will take place Sept 26th thru Oct 16th, 2014. The other volunteers and I will be building a playground for the children, providing them a clean and safe place to play.
I also hope to be able to fly across India at the end of my stay and visit the Aranya Natural Dye Unit to say hello and see how everyone is doing there – to hear their laughter and give them big hugs! This has long been a dream of mine and you can help to make it happen.
I am looking to raise $3500.00 to cover my airfare. The rest of my expenses will be covered by Whole Foods Market’s Team Member Volunteer Program.
As a Whole Foods team member here in Asheville, I was fortunate enough to be chosen to participate in this program.
I have written two books celebrating the people I have worked with (Stories of Hope – Mexico, India & Rwanda and Stories of Hope -Oaxaca, Weavers of Southern Mexico) and will do another book, Stories of Hope – Varanasi.
Over the past several years I have been able to travel and teach in so many parts of the world, India, Rwanda, Mexico, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, in Italy – with middle-schoolers on a US Military base whose parents were stationed in Afghanistan and with NYC 6th graders through the SIlk Road Connect Project.
Even if you can’t contribute at this time you can still help by spreading the word – tell your friends and co-workers – use social media –
Together we can make a difference!
Donations can be made to Stories of Hope through the fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas,
https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/2928
Stories of Hope is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas,(https://www.fracturedatlas.org/) a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Stories of Hope may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
ASHEVILLE — At HandMade in America’s Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs conference Tuesday, the programming centered on hats.
Not that the 50-some participants all made hats — these artists from Western North Carolina explored mediums as varied as candles to films. These hats weren’t made; they were metaphor.
Greg Walker Wilson, the interim director of the Asheville nonprofit, dedicated to growing local economies through craft, said the organization aims to help the AWE members entrepreneur “hat fita little better.”
These efforts are “so that you can stand in your power and say, yes you are a business person,” he told the conference crowd Tuesday morning. “This is meant to be a supportive environment.”
For Linda La Belle, the Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs coordinator, the day-long conference — featuring networking and educational sessions — was also designed to “bring together all of these women and celebrate who they are.”
And part of who all of these women are, despite their differences in age, location and business experience, is that they all wear “a lot of hats.”
“They are creators and makers, but they are also their own PR rep and retail person,” for instance. “I hope the conference will help remove some of those hats or make them lighter on their head.”
AWE is a grant-controlled program of HandMade in America developed to support rural Western North Carolina women interested in creating or growing their small business. The AWE program connects these women with one another, with resources and markets, in a place where quality jobs are few, according to the HandMade in America website.
This year, the nonprofit became a member organization due to cutbacks in funding.
“The AWE program has 67 members, and there is about 300 members in HandMade,” La Belle said. In 2011, she joined the AWE program and took over as coordinator this year.
This group, she said, “is very brave.”
“In this economy, and in this culture, where there is so much craft going on, they still want to do something,” La Belle added.
La Belle is a fiber artist. She taught classes in the field at her store in New York City before moving to Asheville two years ago. She continues to teach: La Belle hosts monthly educational programs for AWE members throughout Western North Carolina.
The most recent session focused on how to create professional product shots; next month’s class centers on how to reach customers and handle difficult clients.
“They learn from each other; I learn from them,” she said. “They are an amazing group of women.”
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013308210030
I am so excited to share this news!
I have just been appointed to the position as coordinator of AWE – the Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs Program at HandMade in America. I will be working with women in four counties (soon to be five) in Western North Carolina.
I am replacing Yoko Morris, who has done a wonderful job with the program. She is much appreciated and will be sorely missed!
Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs Program
HandMade in America developed the Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program to support rural Western North Carolina women interested in creating or growing their small business.
The AWE program connects these women with one another, with resources and markets, in a place where quality jobs are few. The project stemmed from the understanding that the Appalachian counties of WNC are home to a higher percentage of small businesses and farms than any other area of the state. Many of these rural entrepreneurs are women who are creatively fashioning their livelihoods around sustainable, place-based enterprises.
To help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles often encountered in rural areas, the program has developed women’s business networks in several communities throughout the region. These networks connect women engaged in similar entrepreneurial efforts and provide access to business support services the women might not be able to find, afford, or access without such networks.
Here is a another short video about the work I did in Vicenza Italy in March of 2013.
http://vicenza.afneurope.net/Home/ArticleDisplayDD/tabid/657/aid/27849/Default.aspx.
Madderlane 