Eyes on Africa

"Clear vision is a gift we often take for granted" - Eyes on Africa

When I was in third grade, my teacher called my mom and said that she thought I might need reading glasses because I would put my head down on my desk when to read or write. My mom immediately made an appointment for me to see the optometrist, and within a week of that phone call I had my first pair of glasses.

This month’s blog post is supporting Eyes on Africa. Eyes on Africa provides free eyeglasses through a distribution program in communities that don't have access to vision care. 

Eyes on Africa Logo.

Eyes on Africa has been distributing eyeglasses since 2005. They have partnered with non-governmental organizations (NGO's), the Peace Corps Volunteers, medical clinics, mission teams, churches, and community leaders. 

Being someone who has had reading glasses, and glasses for well over ten years, I am able to understand the importance of being able to have them when I need them.

Selfie of me in my glasses.

If you wear glasses you understand the importance of getting your eyes checked, and being able to get the glasses you need.  

I decided to donate to Eyes on Africa directly. The donations go to provide the glasses, as well as provide the services necessary to examine the eyes. 

There are two ways you can supports Eye on Africa. You can support the directly by visiting their website http://www.eyesonafrica.info/how-to-help/, or by purchasing sunglasses from Diff eyewear at http://www.diffeyewear.com

Sources:

http://www.eyesonafrica.info

http://www.diffeyewear.com/pages/charity

Free Hugs Project

"Fear and hatred cease to exist when love is in abundance" - Ken E. Nwadike Jr. (Free Hugs Project)

This months post is different. This month isn't going to a charity but going to support a good cause. This is about inspiring change, something that every single person is capable of doing. 

Over the past few weeks, and maybe even months, I find myself struggling with the world we live in. 

Being 23, I am so sad to say that acts of terrorism no longer surprise me as much as they should, because they are now happening so regularly. But I am devastated to say that shootings are now a regular part of the news and don't surprise me anymore. 

It feels like everyday I turn on the tv, or look at social media I am hearing about some sort of shooting, whether its a police officer being shot, a police officer shooting someone, a completely accidental shooting, or a gunman opening fire in a public place. Never would I have thought that I would be growing up in a world where gun violence, gun abuse, and shootings would become such a  normalized part of society. 

I stumbled upon The Free Hugs Project, and immediately fell in love with the work that they are doing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzyzbnsYEE

The Free Hugs Project was established by Ken E. Nwadike Jr. to spread love, inspire change, and most importantly, bring awareness to social issues. The Free Hugs Project was born in 2014 at the Boston Marathon (one year after the bombing), with a free hugs sign, a camera, and a tripod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvn-rgk1bPo

Nwadike said "While viewing the devastation of the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, I was determined to be a participant in the next race. I failed to qualify by just 23 seconds, so I decided to attend the event in a different way. I provided free hugs to runners as encouragement along the route. This simple act made national news headlines and lifted runners spirits. Hugs produced smiles and gave runners an extra boost as they ran." Now over 30 videos have been created raising awareness on social issues, but inspiring change to happen and spreading love through something as simple as a hug.

A hug between my mother and I. 

I have decided to donate to the Free Hugs Project. Donating to the Free Hugs Project makes the videos possible. It covers the travel expenses for the crisis response team of huggers, film crew, security, and to promote the videos. 

You can help the Free Hugs Project by visiting http://freehugsproject.com/donate/

Sources: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvn-rgk1bPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzyzbnsYEE

http://freehugsproject.com

Alcohol Abuse Awareness

Picture from my personal Instagram.

This month's blog post is about Alcohol Abuse Awareness. 

In the United States 1 in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence. That comes out to 17.6 million adults in the United States is suffering from alcohol abuse or depending on alcohol on a regular basis. 88,000 people die each year due to excessive alcohol abuse.

I have personally been affected by alcohol abuse or dependency, and I have seen how it has affected people I love. 

At 8:30 in the morning, on the 101 freeway at Tampa Ave, on August 10, 2011, my dad was traveling to work when he was side swiped into the center divider by a drunk driver. When people hear this story they are shocked by two things, one that it happened at 8:30 in the morning, and second that the man who side swiped him was on his way to check himself into rehab (as he told the police). Getting the call that my dad was in a car accident and was being taken to the hospital, was the scariest call I have ever received. 

I remember growing up hearing stories of my grandmother (my father's mother). From what I understand she was a great mother, who always wanted the best for her children and pushed them to reach their fullest potential. But then I was always told about how she was an alcoholic. When I think of her the first thing I usually think about is how she was an alcoholic. 

Pura Vida Alcohol Abuse Awareness Bracelet.

I purchased two bracelets from Pura Vida for this months post. The bracelets are $5 each, and $1 from each bracelet is donated to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). 

I chose Pura Vida for two reasons. One because it was started by two college graduates who took a graduation trip to Costa Rica. They fell in love with Costa Rica. While there they crossed paths with two bracelet peddlers, and had them make 400 bracelets to take back home with them, they sold them at a local boutique; within days the bracelets were sold out! Thats when the developed the idea of Pura Vida (Pure Life in Spanish). Now the two bracelet peddlers and 100 of their friends have full time jobs making bracelets for Pura Vida. Second because the money is donated to NCADD. Each donation is used to help provide support services for individuals and families suffering from alcohol abuse and dependency.

Results of my Am I Alcoholic Self Test on NCADD Website. 

The NCADD website has a self test that you can take and see if you are an alcoholic, at risk, or not at all. Based on my family history and how I answered the questions I am considered to be at risk. With this information I know that I am at risk and will work to make myself aware of situations to try and prevent myself from becoming an alcoholic or dependent on alcohol. You can take the self test at https://www.ncadd.org/get-help/take-the-test/am-i-alcoholic-self-test 

You can help by purchasing a Pura Vida bracelet at http://www.puravidabracelets.com/products/alcohol-abuse-awareness, or by making a donation directly to https://www.ncadd.org/get-involved/make-a-donation

Sources:

https://www.ncadd.org

http://www.puravidabracelets.com/products/alcohol-abuse-awareness

Save the Elephants

Photo from treehugger.com 

Elephants have always been my favorite animal. They can typically live for up to 70 years, weighing between 5,000 to 14,000 pounds. 

There is something about elephants that I find so majestic. They are one of the most beautiful creatures in this world. They are so smart, and capable of displaying and having strong emotions. 

Dr. Jane Goodall said “I have spent hours and hours watching elephants, and come to understand what emotional creatures they are…it’s not just a species facing extinction, it’s massive individual suffering.”

Between 1979 and 1989 half of Africa’s elephants were lost due to the ivory trade. It is estimated that the worlds forest elephant population has declined by 62%. Between 2010 and 2012 it is estimated that 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory. Ivory has reached a per kilo dollar price of 2,100. 

Keychain purchased from Ashely Jewels. 

This months blog post is dedicated to Saving the Elephants. I decided to purchase the keychains seen above in support of the elephants. A portion of the proceeds go to help save the elephants. 

You can help the elephants by purchasing keychains at http://www.ashleyjewels.com/collections/keychain/products/magnetic-elephant-love-keychain, or making a direct donation to http://savetheelephants.org/get-involved/donate/.

  

Keychains on my keys. 

** This post is late because I was waiting on the arrival of the keychains, if you order the keychains please be aware that they are shipped from China and take a little bit longer to arrive.**

Sources:

http://www.soselephants.org/fun_facts.html

http://worldelephantday.org/about/elephants

http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/20110629-african-elephant.jpg

Love is Louder

It's hard not to care about what people think of us, or take what they say about us personally. Today we live in a world where what people say about us almost always gets to us.

Especially when you're younger, its hard not to let what people say about you get to you. When I was 15 years old, I let what others said about me online and at school control my life. Their words had so much control over my life, but also over what my other friends thought of me. 

They had so much control, that I would try and find reasons not to go to school. I even went to look at a new school. My dad told me that I could move schools if I wanted but I would just be running from the situation. 

People will never stop talking about other people. Its hard not to let their words get to us, but its up to us how we react.

Recently in my small tight knit community a story came out of a member of this community having differing views from the majority on Israel. This was brought to light because this individual got a job on a well known presidential campaign. 

A parent in this community posted a link to an open letter to this individual on her Facebook page from a peer. Other parents s in the community began posting comments on the Facebook post. They have created hashtags about this individual, saying “We are all disappointed and ashamed of her”, saying that they are sad for this individuals parents and family, wondering what went wrong.  Young adults not far from her age were saying “She makes me want to vomit”. 

Posts about this individual continued to pop up on Facebook from members of this community. There have been a few members to stand up for this individual and say “Dear friends, I respect whatever you believe about this situation. Blasting … here is not productive”. 

Seeing these things made me think about 15 year old me, and how it made me feel. I began to do some research on bullying and cyberbullying. I found that the UK had a lot of charities set in place for this issue. I then began researching for charities in the US, I found that a lot of them were set up after people passed away due to bullying or cyberbullying. After hours of research I came across the Love is Louder movement. 

The Love is Louder movement is a project that was set up under The Jed Foundation, with Brittany Snow. The purpose of Love is Louder is to support anyone who feels misunderstood, alone, or mistreated.

Love is Louder is not just about bullying, its about lowliness, negative self-image, discrimination, and depression.

I supported Love is Louder by purchasing a shirt, as well as making a small donation. 

Photo of shirt purchased from Love is Louder

You can support Love is Louder by visiting http://www.loveislouder.com

Or share a photo, art, video, or music on Facebook or Twitter using the #loveislouder

Sources: http://www.loveislouder.com