Saturday, February 18, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Hershey pledging money to educate cocoa farmers
Chocolate encourages the body to release endorphins, chemicals that make us feel good. But for the millions of children who are enslaved on cocoa plantations in West Africa, home to 70% of the world’s cocoa, chocolate is less than sweet.
The Hershey Company has pledged $10 million to educate cocoa farmers on improving their trade and combating child labor. You will be able to purchase a new version of the Hershey Bliss brand, which will be made with ingredients from 100% Rainforest Alliance-certified farms (mostly in Ivory Coast and Ghana) later this year.
To read the entire article, click here.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Yoga Freedom Project
Yoga is rejuvenating, relaxing, and calming. But the yogi activists of the Yoga Freedom Project are not taking the fight against modern-day slavery calmly. What started as just a small idea in early 2011 has turned into a global movement using yoga practice as a way to raise awareness about human trafficking and funds for the Somaly Mam Foundation.
Heather Snyder first became aware and involved with the Somaly Mam Foundation when she read Somaly's book, The Road of Lost Innocence, three years ago. Somaly inspired Snyder with her courageous effort to rescue and empower victims and Snyder quickly began searching online for a way to help. Through SMF's volunteer initiative PROJECT FUTURES global, Snyder found an opportunity to join the fight.
"As the regional leader for NYC Off the Mat, Into the World, I am amongst an amazing group of yogis dedicated to service. I knew I had found my way in to help," Snyder explained. Through the effort of a team from PROJECT FUTURES and fellow volunteers, the Yoga Freedom Project came into being. In the month of January alone, there have been more than 50 donation-based classes around the world.
The month long yoga awareness project culminates on January 31 with a Practice for Freedom, an inspirational class and celebration led collaboratively by Elena Brower, Sri Dharma Mittra, Dana Flynn, Alan Finger, Cyndi Lee, Jodie Rufty, Sierra Bender, Tricia Donegan, and Off the Mat's Suzanne Sterling.
"All of these powerful teachers from varying yoga lineages are coming together to give a voice to this cause and stand in unity," Snyder explained.
Heather Snyder first became aware and involved with the Somaly Mam Foundation when she read Somaly's book, The Road of Lost Innocence, three years ago. Somaly inspired Snyder with her courageous effort to rescue and empower victims and Snyder quickly began searching online for a way to help. Through SMF's volunteer initiative PROJECT FUTURES global, Snyder found an opportunity to join the fight.
"As the regional leader for NYC Off the Mat, Into the World, I am amongst an amazing group of yogis dedicated to service. I knew I had found my way in to help," Snyder explained. Through the effort of a team from PROJECT FUTURES and fellow volunteers, the Yoga Freedom Project came into being. In the month of January alone, there have been more than 50 donation-based classes around the world.
The month long yoga awareness project culminates on January 31 with a Practice for Freedom, an inspirational class and celebration led collaboratively by Elena Brower, Sri Dharma Mittra, Dana Flynn, Alan Finger, Cyndi Lee, Jodie Rufty, Sierra Bender, Tricia Donegan, and Off the Mat's Suzanne Sterling.
"All of these powerful teachers from varying yoga lineages are coming together to give a voice to this cause and stand in unity," Snyder explained.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
2011: The Year of the Volunteer
2011 was a year of action. From Australia to New York City, Los Angeles and beyond, volunteers took action against modern-day slavery in support of the Somaly Mam Foundation. The partnership between Project Futures (an Australian volunteer group) and SMF led to the launch of the PROJECT FUTURES global volunteer initiative was hugely successful. The partnership continues to empower volunteers to take action against sex slavery.
Hundreds of volunteers embraced and continue to embrace the program pledging time, making commitments, and creating new ideas to take action. Volunteers raised impressive funds in 2011 with events and campaigns such as 18 for 18, 50g For Our Sisters, Hamptons Marathon, and the Run for Freedom.
PROJECT FUTURES global officially launched in New York City with a party hosted by Seth Meyers hosted at the Bowery Hotel. The NYC launch raised nearly $20,000 dollars and gained many new volunteers.
The Los Angeles launch was a star studded event. Celebrities and ambassadors such as AnnaLynne McCord, Shay Mitchell, and Ron Livingston showed their support for SMF and mingled with volunteers and other supporters all sharing ideas to create action.
Join PROJECT FUTURES global in 2012. Take action and become part of a global team of amazing volunteers.
Hundreds of volunteers embraced and continue to embrace the program pledging time, making commitments, and creating new ideas to take action. Volunteers raised impressive funds in 2011 with events and campaigns such as 18 for 18, 50g For Our Sisters, Hamptons Marathon, and the Run for Freedom.
PROJECT FUTURES global officially launched in New York City with a party hosted by Seth Meyers hosted at the Bowery Hotel. The NYC launch raised nearly $20,000 dollars and gained many new volunteers.
The Los Angeles launch was a star studded event. Celebrities and ambassadors such as AnnaLynne McCord, Shay Mitchell, and Ron Livingston showed their support for SMF and mingled with volunteers and other supporters all sharing ideas to create action. Join PROJECT FUTURES global in 2012. Take action and become part of a global team of amazing volunteers.
Friday, December 9, 2011
5 Ways to Fight Slavery This Holiday Season
Winter is a season of gatherings and gift giving. So why not make it count for something? Spread the joy of giving and receiving, and have a positive impact on the world while doing so.
Use this guide to take action against slavery during the holiday season with your friends and families, but don't stop there. Together we can give others a reason to celebrate.
- Give a survivor made gift. Visit the Empowerment Store and help support a survivor as she embraces her new life.
- Throw a holiday fundraising party. This holiday season, celebrate compassion, hope, and life by asking your holiday party guests to bring a donation of your suggested amount which you will donate to the Somaly Mam Foundation. Explain to them what their money will help give the gift of survival and empowerment.
- Give the gift of knowledge and awareness. Purchase Somaly Mam's book The Road of Lost Innocence and share it with your friends and loved ones. They will finish the book changed, aware of the horrors aof human trafficking and hopefull inspired to take action.
- Buy slave free gifts. Check out the Ethical Shopping Guide for slave-free gift ideas.
- Use fair-trade ingredients in your baking. You know those chocolate chips in your delicious holiday cookies? Sadly, the cocoa beans may have come from a farm that uses child slaves. One of the most in-demand products during the holiday season, chocolate has a not-so-sweet dark side. Child slaves in West Africa work for no money, starving and tortured. Purchase fair-trade chocolate from companies such as Equal Exchange to make sure that satisying your sweet tooth doesn't harm others.
Use this guide to take action against slavery during the holiday season with your friends and families, but don't stop there. Together we can give others a reason to celebrate.
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