HEY EVERYONE!!!
Tomorrow I fly to ARGENTINA!
I’m so excited.
40 days, visiting family and friends
Enjoying sunshinee
ILL MISS YOU ALL !!!

Life is so different over there!! Your days are made up of being outside ALL THE TIME. From morning, to late nights at cafe’s with the fam, or hanging outside your house with friends, or dancing the night away at a quinceanera (traditional birthday for girls who turn 15) Probably only half of the people there own a computer. It’s old fashioned but I LOVE IT!!

Anyways, I’ll miss our little get togethers But I hope i am there in thoughtttttttttt
I got inspired the other day and wrote a song for all you reach lesothians. A part of it goes like…

Some people walk by
and some stay for a while
Some have a permanent place in this heart of mine.

(Maybe ill videotape myself and post it, when I get there and settled in.)

YOU GUYSSSS! I love you all and will miss ya but I hope to see all of your smiling faces when I return, because we better always have our little monday get togethers

Ill upadate you all on my south american adventure! Even though it’s not a new experience, BLOGGING about it sure will be.

UNTILL WE MEET AGAIN

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This semester of school, I am a part of a program called CELP, which is an environmental leadership program for grade tens.  Every morning we begin our day with a morning reading, one of our assignments.  Yesterday I had a morning reading about AIDS, as it was World Aids Day. I figured there couldn’t be a more perfect day to spread the awareness to my class.   Enjoy!

As some of you may have known, today (yesterday) is World AIDS day.  AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and it affects the body’s immune system and its ability to fight off disease and infection.  AIDS has taken its toll worldwide, killing 2 million people in the year of 2008 alone.  This is a quote that I think represents why this is happening:

“Just because we cannot see it does mean that it is not there”

-Anonymous

I think that this statement really applies to us here in Canada.  We are lucky enough to have some of the lowest rates of people with HIV/AIDS in the world, but even better, we have access to proper treatment.  For this reason, we don’t see a lot of struggle with AIDS, we don’t see the effects and tolls it takes.  However, just because we can hardly see the effect of AIDS in Canada doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

280,000 children in Africa died from AIDS in 2008.

33.4 million people worldwide are living with AIDS today.

6 people die per minute because of AIDS, probably the time it has taken me to read this morning reading.

If all this is happening right now, why aren’t we doing something about it?  We have the resources, we have the money.  Now is the time to show that we want to make a difference, and even though we don’t see AIDS on a daily basis, we know it’s there and we care.  We can all be active and global citizens, just like we learned in our civics class.  The issue is out there, it’s up to us to fix it. Even if we could save just one child’s life, wouldn’t it be worth it?

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Dictionary definition: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement.

Well, I think its safe to say that perseverance was a key ingredient in our event.  There were setbacks, stumbling blocks,  and plenty of hinderances, but we got through it!  Thinking back to our first planning session, I can remember some of our crazy ideas.  There was a book reading, an interschool dance, and a semi-formal event, just to name a few.  I remember we eventually decided that the dance was the way to go, and then we got that email from Abid, stating that the dance was a no-go.  That was probably our first obstacle, but we picked ourselves up and found our way through it.  There were definitely some points in the planning process when we all had doubts, but somehow we were able to overcome those doubts and throw a fabulous event!

On the day of the event, I remember making a mental list in my head of things that could potentially go wrong…let me tell you now, the imagining what could go wrong was the most stressful part of that day.  I have a very active imagination, which some may say is a good thing, but at that moment I was not thankful for it.  Of course, none of these things actually happened (thank goodness!).  But as my imagination was running away with me, I remembered something that Henry Ford once said: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” After remembering this, my mind finally snapped back to reality and I was able to persevere through all my doubts and worries.

And then there’s the Rubik’s cube.  As many of the leaders know, I am now able to solve a Rubik’s cube (with a sheet of algorithms in front of me).  My relationship with the Rubik’s cube started last Saturday, when I started my attempt to solve it.  I didn’t make very much progress, and Abid was kind enough to let me take it home to work on.  It sat alone on my desk, taunting me, until Monday night when I decided to take another crack at it, this time with the help of the internet.  I twisted, and turned, and eventually solved the first layer, and that took a great deal of perseverance.  There were many times when I was ready to do an old trick my cousin taught me: peel off all the stickers and put them on the right side.  I am so glad I didn’t do this, and I can thank my stubbornness for that.

Once I solved the first layer, I built some momentum and finally solved it on Saturday morning, to the delight of others who had seen me struggle through.  The mistakes I made were certainly frustrating, but I didn’t let that stop me.  I think that this Rubik’s cube is a great comparison to our event.  We started out slowly, not knowing anything about event planning, but eventually we got the hang of things and we were able to work as a team to make it all come together.  There were times when we had to start over, retrace our steps and ask for advice from those around us, but in the end all the hard work payed off!

-Natalie

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Last night, the Aviva Community Fund voting closed at midnight.  Thinking that you had to be in the top ten to qualify for the semi-finals, I was madly voting for Hopeful Documentary.  I voted over 150 times right up until 11:45 pm when my Internet crashed.

I realize that even if I had been able to vote, I would not have been able to vote our way into the top ten.  I had not implemented a solution early enough and was working last-minute at a problem that I could have foreseen.  I had left something, something that I could have controlled, too long and had run out of time to solve it.

Is humanity not currently doing this same thing with some of its problems?  We have tipping points – points of no return.  Eventually our atmosphere will fill up with so much carbon that the effects will be irreversible.  You cannot reverse human extinction when the individuals of the population are too sick and few to produce a new generation.

Like I did, humanity is leaving its problem solving up to the last minute.  We are not taking adequate preventative measures, but waiting until the problems become very evident and pressing before taking serious corrective measures.

As previously mentioned, when I was voting last night, my Internet crashed at 11:45.  Another problem with leaving issues until the last minute is uncertainty.  We do not know what resources we will have to work with in the future.  We cannot foresee how the problems will evolve and grow.  For all we know, our atmosphere might not be able to hold anymore carbon at all.  For all we know, the AIDS virus could mutate to become totally untreatable.

And while we were staring at problems that we had the capability to fix, they would pass the point of no return.

I know that some people get an absolute high from completing an entire project in that one night right before the due date.  I know that some people love procrastinating on their chores.  I know that some people do not feel the need to study for the tests for certain classes until they start failing the course.  I know that some people go on crazy voting rampages for grants at the last minute.

But I am not talking about projects, chores, tests, or votes.

I am talking about the fact that we are running out of time as we allow our biggest problems approach their points of no return.  And that we are not changing our ways quickly enough before it is too late.

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Words could never describe what you all mean to me!
Were all such different people,
Yet we have so much in common.
It sometimes takes us a while to get rolling with an idea,
But when we get rolling,
Were unstoppable.
Were united
Were inspired
Were hopeful.

I never thought I could be in a room, with so many people as passionate as the ones I have met. As I write this I get a little teary eyed, Not because of sadness, but because of the imense joy it brings me to remember the past 6 weeks. All that we’ve accomplished.

October 14th 2009.

Who would have thought that autumn day at UofG , a room full of strangers, that a few weeks later we could grow to care for eacother as we do now.

November 28th 2009.

The night we worked so hard for.  Argued. Compromised. Worked. Did we come out successful? I think raising seven thousand dollars proves we did!! But aside from the money, its the night we encouraged each other, worked together, and became as united as ever.

I thank all of you for being such important people in my life. I never knew things like this could happen to a person in such short time.  Make so many friends, do so many things, Feel so many emotions!

To the teachers and mentors and everyone, EVERYONE involved in making this program such a success, I thank you all. For teaching us, encouraging us, inspiring us, and believing in us.

Wherever the future takes each and every one of us, I know we’ll be people working for change. Were inspired. What else can we do but share that inspiration with the world?… And WHY are we so inspired?

Because we have HOPE.

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Dream Big
Part 2 of Living with HIV

As you may have read in my previous blog, my uncle David is HIV-positive.  He discovered this 20 years ago.  After 5-6 years of living every day with thoughts of HIV, he began volunteering.  This was a major turning point for him and he decided to take the matter into his own hands and make a difference.  He became involved with an organization called Toronto People with AIDS (TPWA).  As the elected treasurer, he made sure that the organization had enough money to fund people with fundamentals from haircuts to financial advising (since most were on welfare and couldn’t afford it).

One year, their funding began running low, and the organization was in desperate need of funding.  My uncle had the idea of a unique bike rally from Toronto to Montreal.  His idea was to gather a group of people to fundraise $2,000 each and participate in the bike rally.  It started small, 30 ambitious people signed up the first year.  They were able to raise $50,000 (after expenses) which was used to fund community support programs.  The event wasn’t all that fancy the first time around.  They wanted to make sure as much of the money could go to the charity as possible, so they slept in tents along the way.  Over the years, the word has spread about the cause and the event. On the 10^th anniversary, my uncle received a letter of recognition from Premier Dalton McGuinty. This past summer, the bike rally raised over $1,000,000 in their 11^th year! To date, they have raised over $5 million dollars for the cause.

Sometimes, great ideas start out small.  All it takes is a worthy cause, passionate volunteers, lots of hard work, and a great event to make a difference.  We have all of these things, so we have such potential!  As a group of 24 students, we can make a difference.  The silent auction/performance fundraiser tonight is our first step towards the future and bigger things to come.

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ohmygoodness, I never would have thought we’d make over seven thousand dollars! That’s just phenominal, think of all the people we just provided with a chance to live!!!

In one night, we raised that much. Just think how much we can raise over the next years. I was really just overwhelmed at the stupendous generosity Guelphites are willing to demonstrate for this amazing cause, sponsers and attendees alike. I cant thank you all enough.

Last night, Abid mentioned how he had been in a little bubble. Of course that was not the first time I heard the phrase used, but for some reason, most likely because I was stationed where I could see all the people in the crowd, it got me thinking. Look at a bubble literally. Not a soap bubble which pops, but maybe a kinder surprise (trust me to be thinking about food! lol) which is sort of soft, but still hard. Imagine a whole bunch of tiny people inside a chocolate bubble, sounds pretty good doesnt it? Surrounded by delicious food, never bothered by the outside world. Well, there are some holes in this bubble, from when those who knew that this couldn’t be all there is broke out of it, and left behind a hole in the wall.

Those of the people close enough to this hole could chose to look out of it, if they were brave and strong enough. Others would look out and not be bothered by what they saw. Still others would hide their faces so they wouldnt have to look. But the brave ones, who dont like what they see and want to change it, they make their own holes as they break out of the bubble. They go in to the outside world to help rectify all the bad things you’d never see in a bubble, and they leave another hole behind each and every one of them. Soon enough, there are so many holes in the bubble that almost everyone can see out of it, and they aren’t afraid to help anymore because they can all see the ones who have gone before them. and eventually, there are so many holes the bubble starts to crack, and it breaks and dissapears, the rubble being tossed away by the wind.

That is what happens when you go outside your comfort zone and let passion for people guide you towards helping those who dont have it as good as they deserve. and I’m proud to say I think we are all well on our way to cracking open this bubble. Yesterday, yes, I was excited by our revenue, but what made me the happiest was seeing all those seats fill up. I’ve always been one of those people who plans way too much in advance, I’m a ‘big picture’ kinda girl. Last night, all those people gave genorously, but we gave them the opportunity to see hear about whats going on. We INSPIRED them to make a difference, and they in turn will inspire others. Everything in life is a cycle, we’re turning these wheels and we’re going to pick up speed! We can end it!!! I’m so heartened with our success, I mean, we’re just kids, but we did it. Anyone can do it, we’re on our way. Congratulations, everyone, I love you all so much, you’re going to do great things.

~delaney <3

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Last night our event was a HUGE success. We made $7300 for OHAfrica and the Bracelet of Hope through generous donations from the Guelph community. Going into the event I was expecting to make $1000, or $2000 at best. I started to realize that we would make more than that of intermission when I was looking at how much each silent auction item was going for.

I was really impressed at how organized back stage was. I was expecting it to be chaos, but the productions committee pulled it off spectacularly.

Another thing that really pulled the night together was the big peace sign on the wall. I didn’t really know what it was as it was going up, but after, it made the auditorium look even more amazing than it already did. (ps. I go to GC and I have never seen the aud. look better…even for commencement)

The real money maker was the silent auction. Every item was bid on. Some items went for more than $100. I was impressed with the way things looked, from the scattered confetti, to the handmade number signs. You guys really made us our money.

When I arrived at the school in the morning, I figured that we had lots of time. Then the time started to slip away and I started to realize that our event was in two hours! I was working the tech with Helen and I did whatever she needed me to do. I kind of felt useless at times because she didn’t need anything, but at other times I was a big help (I like to think).

Great job everybody! We really pulled it off!

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WOW!!!!! Our event ROCKED. We pulled it off and it was great. When we first were educated about the task of planning a fundraiser, I was…..scared. I didn’t think that we, 24 youth, could pull off a solid, professional event. I was proved wrong.

During our first event planning meeting I began to become more confident in our skills, we all had connections and experience in parts of planning fundraisers. Two weeks ago everything started coming together. We had posters up, donations, sponsors. I new that we could pull it off, I just wasn’t confident in it looking professional. Today everything fell into place and our event looked sooo professional. As everything was coming together, I realized the capacity we have. As youth we are told that we don’t have capacity, that we are incapable of doing mature and beneficial things. Today proved we are like empty vessels. We have so much capacity just waiting to be used. As a group we planned and ran a event raising $7000 without any elder person telling us what to do. We the youth did it all. To me that is capacity.

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