What you are looking forward to?

I am looking forward to October’s distribution. My heart beats faster when I think of the next net distribution. I can’t wait to see the photographs and videos posted on the website of the students and sometimes the mothers with babies receiving a net. I know we our work is really paying off.

Lemonade for Lives

When I was younger, I spent a good amount of my time in the summer sitting behind milk boxes waiting in my neighbors’ yard at the top of our cul-de-sac. It was St. Louis weather- which typically translates to about 110 heat index. We sat with watered down lemonade (the ice had long since melted) and waited not so patiently for a car to drive by. And typically that’s exactly what they did- drive right on by. Our lemonade stand had a higher purpose than buying the much envied bouncy balls that sat right out of reach at our dollar bill store. Usually, any money we made went into the hands of our local humane society. We sold our lemonade for about a nickel and usually sold about ten glasses to our patrons, the neighbors, our parents, and the mailman. The day ended most often with us, hot, sweaty and giddy and sticky from all the glasses of lemonade we snuck along the way. We would proudly present approximately fifty hard-earned cents to our mother (a major humane society volunteer) which seemed fairly substantial after nine hours of work.

Looking back at that simplistic desire to help reminds me of what truly matters in volunteering. I don’t care how little of a difference you feel like you’re making. Sometimes you spend hours fund raising and walk away with 500 dollars, 50 dollars, or fifty cents. No matter what you made a drop in the bucket, and sometimes it takes a whole lot of drops to make a difference.

If I saw a couple of ten year old kids braving the weather to make a couple bucks for charity, nothing would make me tell them to give it up and try something else. No, I think I’d pull over and buy a glass of their watery lemonade then drive away smiling, optimistic about where this world is going.

NETwork Jewelry

Do you know how few people have absolutely no artistic ability? How few people can’t match two colors to save their life, or draw a semi-straight line? Do you realize how rarely this cursed gene pops up? Now I’d like to know what are the odds that in the same person that is trying to make jewelry to help a third world country, these genes would claim stake? How totally unfair is that?

NETwork started making jewelry almost as soon as it began and sense then I’ve been struggling to make beautiful patterns that someone out there wants to buy. I am probably the worst person possible to make jewelry, yet here I am.

But you know what? People buy my stuff. They think my jewelry makes great birthday presents and Christmas presents and they walk away wearing it. It’s crazy! No one ever complimented my artwork in my life, but suddenly people piece through dozens of pieces and say they can’t pick because each is just too beautiful.

I’d like to say that this is my artistic ability shining through, but I’ll be honest- I have none to show. I like to think this jewelry makes itself look good, that the patterns I create look good, and the colors match themselves.

I thought I’d hate making jewelry, but I LOVE it, and you know what all you poor unfortunate people who never got an S+ in art in gradeschool- I bet you’d like it too. You know what, I bet your jewelry would be amazing and I bet you’d love to hear someone ooh and aah over your pieces.

Go to NETwork’s website and e-mail me about getting involved. Artistic people- we may be able to use your help too. :-)

p.s.-I made that bracelet. Those are safety pins. They take a lot of time but they turn out so cool!

Mother Theresa

Good works are links that form a chain of love. -Mother Theresa

Mother Theresa, a remarkable woman who gave a face to the charitable and the spiritual of the twentieth century. Her simple, yet profound words have inspired people for the last twenty years. Her hardwork, dedication, and selflessness earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Mother Theresa was born in 1910 to an Albanian family. By age 12, she knew she wanted to become a missionairy. She became a nun in 1931, but it was not until 1948 that she began her work amoung the poorest of the poor that she became world famous for.

In 1993, Mother Theresa was hospitalized. Although it did not claim her life, even this remarkable woman suffered from malaria.

Doubt

Today in class, my teacher asked us to write about the issue of doubt and it hit a chord. It wasn’t because I don’t think this world is going to get better, because I know it will. It wasn’t because I was frustrated or angry, because I love what I do. But doubt is real and constant and everyone experiences it. I realized that I doubted constantly, not my efforts or my major goals, but sometimes I doubt and become frustrated with myself, my failures and what I do along the way. I wasn’t too pleased with myself and I wondered how I could tell anyone to get of their rears and take action when I was doubting.

But then I reliezed that I’ve doubted constantly. I doubted there would be a better time in my life for me to get involve then at this very moment. I doubted that because I was young I couldn’t make a difference. I doubted that some things are set in stone and will never change. I doubted that some people are apathetic. I doubted that I would live a mundane life.

And at the same time I believed. I believed we would change this world together- starting now and from this moment on; that anyone no matter their condition, abilities, or stage in live has a giant contribution to make; that I, like everyone else have only to take a chance to change a life; that all bad things can change; that every person has felt love and desires to feel it again; and that I will be anything but mundane.

(thanks for the picture Flickr!)

NETwork’s Impact

I know Network is having an impact from watching the distribution videos on the website. It is amazing to see the Ugandan NETwork representatives in the schools teaching the students about malaria, the nets, and how to use them. How powerful is it that these men and women are speaking to the children in their native languages about malaria. There is hope in the voices of the adults and hope in the eyes of the children. I am proud to be part of this.

Check this one out!

Community Service- Just another Way of Doing Time?

So I’d just like to know who decided to scare away so many young volunteers. Really! It’s a sincere question. Which jerk decided that at age eight every child must be subjected to “volunteerism” instead of their usual punishment? Which nonprofit organization decided that most young people should be given the boring meaningless tasks no one else wants? Like really? Licking 400 envelopes for a mass mailing until they have spit and glue all over their clothes and their tongue gets the equivalent of carpal tunnel- Who thought that was a good idea? What about the person who decided every kid should be told the only form of volunteering includes picking up trash along the highway in either 105 degree heat or -2 freezing rain. Even if they chose a nice 78 degree spring day it would be better, but come on! Some kids don’t even volunteer until they get caught stealing or breaking the law. The judge says community service or a $1,500 fine. It’s a bad sign when a kid flips a coin to decide.

But obviously if you’re here, you don’t feel this way. Obviously you know how these cruddy opportunities are the vast minority, how there are countless organizations and causes that really need young people’s help, how much of an impact one person can make. So now what?

You know, but that’s not good enough. Get out there and talk to your friends. Make sure they know how important they are and how much fun volunteering is. Tell them its not just for law breakers, boring high schoolers, or press seeking celebrities. Tell them they can find something they love, somewhere they love, some cause they love. It may take some effort, but hey youth empowerment… it’s kind of worth it.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great is one of the most famous military geniuses. He was educated by none other than Aristotle. He spent his reign as King of Macedonia attempting to conquer the known world. He successfully annexed Persian Empire and is notorious for his admiration and mastery of the Greek culture. Alexander the Great was a powerful youth who appeared invincible. However, at only age 33, he died mysteriously. Experts believe Alexander the Great, military power, king, and conqueror, was yet another victim of malaria.

netWORK in Progress

netWORK in Progress is NETwork Against Malaria's youth empowerment blog. It's purpose is to empower students and young adults to take action and make a global impact by discussing issues and ideas they can relate to. netWORK in Progress's main focus is on volunteering with and for NETwork, the impact teens have had upon it, and the impact it has had on teens and the global community. It also focuses on other issues pertinent to volunteers with an emphasis on youth volunteerism, NETwork, and malaria.

netWORK in Progress is written by students and community members of many ages. They are all global minded people who strive to make a difference in this world. The work of bloggers who post to netWORK in Progress reflects their own individuality and uniqueness.

NETwork Against Malaria

NETwork Against Malaria (NETworkAgainstMalaria.org) is a nonprofit organization that provides insecticide treated malaria bednets to children, pregnant women, and families in rural Uganda.

NETwork Against Malaria has distributed 3,400 bednets to date. Because three children sleep under one net, NETwork has saved up to 10,200 lives.

NETwork is unique because it focuses on education. We distribute through schools and emphasize the importance and proper use of bednets. In America, we focus on the impact individuals, especially young people, can have on their global community.

NETwork Against Malaria was founded by 5 sisters who at the time ranged from 12-20 in age. NETwork understands the importance of encouraging involvement of young people in our world and realizes the impact one person can make.