In Progress | Strategic Roadmap
Rock Out at Bayside
It's $15 to register and if you pre-register, you get some free pizza!
http://youtu.be/JAvUiXKo6IQ Read More
$1
Big Mac in Los Angeles = $3.75
School lunch = $2.25
Publix Chocolate Milk (small) = $1.30
Daily Income in Malawi = $1
Which means the $15 you pay for registration is equal to the daily income of fifteen people in Malawi.
Register at: http://www.firstgiving.com/takingbacklives/2011-sunset-walk
Read MoreMalawi and Malaria
World Map Adjusted for Malaria Deaths
Malaria is a terrible disease that affects six million residents of Malawi every year. It is a third world problem, a disease that is easily prevented and is nearly nonexistent in first world countries. For just $5, a basic mosquito net can be purchased for an individual, which is placed over one's bed and prevents mosquitoes from getting the chance to bite in the first place.
Read MoreWhy Walk?
When I first became involved in Taking Back Lives at the Sunset Walk last year, I was not entirely sure what I was getting myself into and quite frankly, knew absolutely nothing about the organization itself. You cannot imagine my surprise when a good friend of mine, Jackie Aranibar, called me at near midnight a few months later, asking whether I would be interested in helping out with the next annual Sunset Walk. “You won’t have to do much,” she said, “Just give us some ideas and advice and you’re good to go!”
The next thing you know, I’m sitting down at a meeting with Kay Yoder, Executive Director of Taking Back Lives, Daniel McNellie, the Taking Back Lives genius at graphics and marketing, Michael Moran, a hard-working incoming freshman at Southeast and of course, Jackie Aranibar. During that first meeting, I was thoroughly inspired by the passion of the people that made up this organization. Working on a wire-tight budget, they were empowered with a deep desire and belief to make life better for the people of an inconspicuous village named Mazembe in Malawi. What originally was intended as an avenue for me to simply share my ideas grew into a full-scale participation in an organization that I truly believe in.
Today, I am helping Taking Back Lives with two events, the Sunset Walk and their upcoming Rockout for a Cause. I only wish I had the time to do more, because of all the great things this organization does. They do not just throw money at something, nor do they care simply about fundraising – instead, their vision is to inspire the youth of our generation to be models for the world and build a foundation of success for the villagers in Mazembe. They work with them to come up with solutions and they work collaboratively with each other to think of the best solutions. They’re friendly, nice, approachable and very open-minded, but most importantly, they are determined individuals, uncompromising in their vision of a better Mazeme, a better Malawi and a better world.
How could I not be a part of Taking Back Lives? Once I knew about the organization, there was no way I could turn down the opportunity to work with them. I encourage you to come out on October 29, all the way to Siesta Key Beach, to meet these people, to be inspired and to see how you can help “be the change” in our world. Taking Back Lives does not simply want your money, they want you to be impassioned. Their goal is to change everyone’s life for the better – yours included. Come out and discover the good that you can do for yourself, your community and your world.
Why are you walking? I am walking to change lives. Walk with me at the Sunset Walk on October 29 at Siesta Key.
Register at: http://www.firstgiving.com/takingbacklives/2011-sunset-walk
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The Face of HIV
Did you know: 900,000 Malawians are living with HIV?
That is nearly two times the entire populations of Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice combined.
The first case of HIV was reported in Malawi in 1985. Between 1985 and 1993, the rate of HIV prevalence among women increased from 2% to a staggering 30%, substantially crippling the social and economic structure of Malawi in the next decade. In 2009, the national average HIV infection rate stabilized at 17%, meaning that nearly a fifth of all people living in Malawi have HIV.
Unfortunately, the people most heavily affected by this epidemic have been children. Due to this disease, nearly half a million children are orphaned and one-hundred-twenty-thousand are infected with the disease themselves. HIV has also wrecked havoc on food supplies, causing farmers to be unable to produce enough food to sustain the population. This culminated in a food crisis in 2002 and a large amount of starvation throughout the population.
In Mazembe, Taking Back Lives works to prevent the spread of HIV. Thanks to the contributions received from numerous donors, our classroom block is able to educate children and adults on the prevention of this terrible disease. Together, we can help the people of this village, and others like them, overcome this terrible disease and live a life free of the phantom of HIV.
Why are you walking? I am walking to help rid the world of HIV. Walk with me at the Sunset Walk on October 29 at Siesta Key.
Register at: http://www.firstgiving.com/takingbacklives/2011-sunset-walk
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Why Taking Back Lives?
Picture your school.
Now picture everyone in your school as an orphan.
Then picture every class having over one hundred students.
Finally, picture a classroom with no textbooks, no tables and no chairs.
In today’s day and age of instant communication, social media and television, it is hard to take a look outside of our own worlds and see what life is like for the rest of the world. We are so accustomed to having everything we want that it is hard to imagine that billions of people live in depressing poverty and have to survive on the most basic of nourishment. Billions of human beings are restricted, due to a multitude of circumstances, from getting ahead in life. Billions of men and women from all around the planet have no hope for a better life. Every day, their toils are largely ignored by the rest of the world. Why should they have to live this way?
 Students without a desk in Mazembe. |
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This fundamental question is what the non-profit organization Taking Back Lives seeks to answer. Their mission is to empower youth the world over, teaching them the value of an education and the fact that each person has value and adds value. Founded by a young high school activist, Cassandra Yoder, after an inspiring mission trip to Malawi in 2007, Taking Back Lives (TBL) has worked tirelessly ever since to bring hope and prosperity to people who have never had the chance to dream of a life beyond a daily struggle for survival.
Laying the first classroom block slab.
Through hard work and dedication, TBL constructed its first classroom block in a small village named Mazembe. They went on to start a scholarship program for students that otherwise could not afford more than a basic, primary education, since education beyond the minimum costs money in Malawi. In light of these successes, they decided to do more, establishing adult literacy classes for the mature members of the Malawi village, which became so popular that adults traveled from neighboring areas to attend. That is not all – they also created a teacher development fund to improve the quality of their educators and allow the villagers to begin teaching themselves. They do not simply throw money at the problems and expect them to solve themselves – they ask the villagers for what they need and establish programs to meet their expectations.
What is their goal in Mazembe? To work with the members of the village to develop long-term plans for investment, bringing it out of the darkness of depression and into the light of hope.
Volunteers with the schoolchildren in Mazembe.
If a person could define Taking Back Lives in one word, it would have to be commitment. The people who work at Taking Back Lives – Kay Yoder, Ken Polotan, Dan McNellie, just to name a few (and not counting the innumerable adult and youth volunteers) - all believe in one simple thing: a better world for all people, everywhere, and they work harder every single day to see their goal come into fruition.
Taking Back Lives represents so much to the people of Mazembe and the people of Malawi. After being used to a life of hardship, with little attention from the rest of the world, TBL has shown them that we do care and that they have the tools to make a better life for themselves.
Together, we can make a difference in the world. Together, we can help transform the fortunes of Mazembe and the lives of the youth of Malawi. Together, we can teach them what it means to dream.
Why do I walk on October 29? I walk because I believe in helping others take back their lives.
Be sure to register:
http://www.firstgiving.com/takingbacklives/2011-sunset-walk
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Awesome Event Called Replay!
Hi my name is Danielle Richardson and there is a terrific event that I am going to and it's called Replay! It's being held at G Wiz on September 10th from 10 am to 2 pm. It is a conference for Manatee and Sarasota county high school teens where you get informed, inspired, and engaged to make a difference in the community in the field you are interested in! There are also awesome live speakers who you will get a chance to speak to over lunch. It is a great conference to go to because it won't be boring and it's free! Learning about the field you're interested in by professionals in it and lunch, for free! All you have to do is to go on to the Taking Back Lives Website, go to the events section, click on replay an fill out the application. The fifty spots are filling up so sign up quick! You won't regret it!
Read MoreManaTEENs Affecting ME!
As you know, one of our speakers at re:play is going to be Laura Lockwood, founder of ManaTEENS. I am proud to say that I have been a ManaTEEN for 2 years. And if you are a ManaTEEN then you know that emails are sent out weekly about upcoming service opportunities in the community. I received a very special email 2 years ago that had a survey attached to it for members to fill out if they had the time. At the moment, I had nothing else that I needed to do, so I spent about 20 minutes filling it out. The survey was about how I felt about various problems facing the world today. I sent the survey unknowing of where it was really going and I never gave it a second thought. I wouldn't have thought about it again if it wasn't for the fact that I received an email from somebody in response to it. As it turned out, the survey I filled out went to Taking Back Lives! At the time I didn't know who they were, but they were asking me if I would be interested in starting a Making Your Mark club with them at my middle school. I eventually did start a club, but I couldn't stop there. I became more involved with Taking Back Lives and now my involvement is going on 2 years strong!
Can you believe that joining ManaTEENs has resulted in my totally unrelated passion, which is being a part in the magic of Taking Back Lives!? I am now both a committed ManaTEEN and Taking Back Lives intern! And more importantly, I love being both!
I hope to see you at the re:play conference!
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