Each year to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., many Americans will take a Day ON, not a Day OFF! They will volunteer with National Service programs, seniors, non-profit organizations, parks and more to make a difference. This year join others all over the country and volunteer on the King Holiday, which will be celebrated this year on Monday, 1/17/11..
The Kiswahili word of the week is “kumbuko” which means reflection.. As you start the new year, take some time today to reflect on how you were of service to others last year. If you don’t feel like you were able to volunteer or serve enough last year, then today is a perfect time to start. As you reflect, think about what you wanted to do, where you wanted to serve, how you wanted to serve and when you wanted to serve. Starting today make a plan to DO IT or DO IT MORE this year.
The Kiswahili words of the week are “ujenzi wa timu”which means “the building of teams”. When building a team, you are working together as one in order to accomplish your goals. Have you ever heard of the saying “There’s no I in team” ? This simply means that you can get more done with a team than by yourself. Regardless of the size of the team, If you don’t work together as a single unit, the whole team can be unbalanced and fall apart. When your team consists of members or players that are able to work together as a unit, equally balancing out the group, it is creating a backbone to an unselfish, but yet a winning team. Remember- “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”-Unknow
December 1 is AIDS day. This is the day to take action and tackle HIV and to protect yourself and others from HIV transmission. Did you know that an estimated 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV, and yet one out of five don’t know it? World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to take action! Here are a few simple, powerful, and engaging ways: Join the Facing AIDS Initiative - You can share photos and messages on the Facing AIDS Flickr group. By putting our faces to AIDS, we can help reduce the stigma around HIV and promote HIV testing! Facing AIDS Flickr group : http://www.flickr.com/groups/facingaids2010Locate HIV Testing and Other HIV Services - By locating a local HIV Testing and other HIV services areas, you can have the “heads up” on your status. - If you are having trouble locating a HIV testing center, you can go to the following site: http://www.HIVtest.org/ or You can also send a text message with your ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948) Read the National HIV/AIDS Strategy -Recently, the White House released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. It gives you information about HIV Diagnosis, Prevention, and Access to Care. After you’re done reading this, you should share it with your friends and family in order to spread HIV awareness. -http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/Posters and Tools - Go to the following website and Download these posters and the World AIDS Day logo. Get fact sheets about the epidemic and other resources. This will inform you and others about AIDS. - Poster, World AIDS Day logo and fact sheets : http://www.aids.gov/world-aids-day/posters-tools.htmlTweet & Blog About It - You can Share information on Twitter about how you’re taking action for World AIDS Day (and beyond!)
Use the official hashtag #WAD2010. - Write a blog post about why you choose to Face AIDS. - Not a blogger? Comment on someone else’s blog post or ask your favorite blogger to write about HIV. Follow the blog series about World AIDS Day. Blog series: http://blog.aids.gov/
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as unnecessary information. As you share this information, you are keeping your friends and family updated about about AIDS. “Information is the seed of knowledge and intelligence. It will only grow when it’s watered.”
The Kiswahili words of the week is “Kuongeza fedha kwa ajili ya misaada ya majanga” which means “raising money for disaster relief”. When you think of the word fundraising, what comes to mind? Is it just the money that’s being earned? Or is it the cause that it’s for? Regardless of the size of the fundraiser, the profit that’s made will always make a difference no matter what. Remember” We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” ~Mother Teresa
“The Thanksgiving holiday is coming up! Thanksgiving is a day, for many cultures in America, to take time to say thanks for events that have happened in their lives. Many recognize their personal good fortune and the good fortune of their family and friends. Many people will travel many miles to simply share love and a special, warm meal with their families. But did you know that there are others that are less fortunate than you, who wished they could have a warm meal in their stomachs? Statistics show that there are about 56% homeless persons living in shelters and another alarming 44% of homeless persons that roam and live exclusively in the streets, struggling to meet their needsChallenge = With a few friends and family, you can conduct a “feed the hungry for the holidays” can food drive. This will help increase and spread the warmth, love, and happiness. “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ~Buddha
The Kiswahili word of the day is lengo la kuweka, which means “goal setting”. By setting a goal, you’re giving yourself something to strive for and it’s a desire that you want to achieve. In order to set a goal, you must be able to imagine, conceptualize and understand the goal. By visualizing your success in great detail, you are conditioning your mind and preparing yourself to achieve your desired success. Keep in mind that accomplishing your goals isn’t always easy. You will face many obstacles that are standing in your way, but remember that as you pass each obstacle one by one, you’re becoming a stronger person. NEVER say the words ” I can’t do it!” or “I give up”, but instead, you must have faith and believe in yourself, after all “what the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve” - Napoleon Hill”
“Here’s a little challenge for you guys. I’m sure that there are unwanted and unused makeup laying around in the house. how about collecting unused makeup, perfume, and other beauty products for a center for abused women. These beauty products will help lift the sprits of the abused women and higher their self esteem , after all, cosmetics are a women’s best friend. Statistics shows that 95% of domestic violence victims are women and Every year over 2 million women in the U.S. report being beaten by their domestic partners, thus this causes causes emotional or psychological problems and/or psychological or medical illness. for more info, visit http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/serviceideas.shtml#Child. And remember, dont give up because “whatever the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve” - dr. napoleon hill”
the word of the week is hii ni nani mimi. This means “this is who I am”.Being yourself is the key that symbolizes your identity thus giving you your own individuality,which is apart of you and no body can take that away from you nor change it! Statistics: More than 4.3 million teens each day go through changes just to fit in. they change the way they present themselves, start using drugs, etc. just to desperately fit in or “be cool.” Before you want to change yourself and become something that you’re not just so you can “fit in” or “be cool” Ask yourself: Why would I want to change myself and become something that I’m not? Is this trouble actually worth it? What will i gain from this?always remember ”Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”-Dr. suess
