The Newsletter of ONE WORLD CHILDREN’S FUND • 2015
Girls to Women
Creating Bright Futures in East Palo Alto “I’m an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them.” –Michelle Obama
L
ess than ten minutes from Facebook’s headquarters is a blue shingled home hidden behind plum trees in an East Palo Alto residential neighborhood. A chain link fence shields the red handwritten letters, “Girls to Women,” at the front door. This is where something special happens for Carla, a sparkly-eyed 10 year old with sweeping eyelashes. She’s been a regular at Girls to Women for the past year. “I used to be way behind in school. Now I’m super better,” she says with a dimpled smile. “Now I’m so advanced ‘cause here people actually stay with you and ask to check your homework.” Carla, who lives with her grandparents, is one of 50 girls, ages 6 through 14, who make Girls to Women their home away from home. Since its early beginnings in 2007, 500 families have been involved with the organization and between 60 and 70 girls pass through their doors annually. Most girls are from single-parent, immigrant families in East Palo Alto, and they depend on Girls to Women for after-school and summer programs. Academics, as well as art, nature and science education, movement and fitness, and social development are being offered in a multicultural non-denominational setting. It is the only girl-centered youth development organization in the community. Executive Director Pat Foster started Girls to Women in 2007 on the premise that out-ofschool learning and enrichment opportunities are critical for the healthy development of all children. And for girls from underserved constituencies in particular, time spent in a single gender environment boosts math and science learning, builds general self-confidence, and blunts negative self-stereotyping. “Once we take a girl, we don’t let her go,” says Joanna
Leon, Girls to Women Site Coordinator and lifelong East Palo Alto resident. Leon, a Mexican-American bilingual speaker, lives just three blocks away from the Girls to Women home. She is a strong advocate for appreciating the values and strengths in the community. “Something I really love about this organization is that it’s really small and we really get to know the girls and the families. They can call me up on any day. We form life-long bonds with these girls.” Leon has seen a lot of change in the girls since she started in 2009, after graduating from Stanford University. “When I first started here, the girls asked questions like, ‘What is college?’ Slowly, those questions have evolved. Now I hear, ‘What can I major in at college?’ So the whole mindset has changed.”
The weekly Tai Chi workshop at Girls to Women’s summer program Leon remembers one year when the girls constructed their own colleges out of cardboard boxes. This led to a discussion about the college admission process and what they had to start doing now to get to that point. Leon takes it upon herself to write an academic plan for each child and often attends teacher parent conferences for the girls. Both Leon and Executive Director Pat Foster, make themselves available to the girls and their families, literally 24/7. It’s not unusual to find Leon, Foster, and newcomer Jasmine Waiters at work at 7:00 P.M. On a recent weekday continued on page 3 è
Dear Friends,
A Letter from One World’s Executive Director
W
elcome to our Annual Newsletter! In this issue you will meet incredible women in East Palo Alto, CA and in rural Northern Pakistan who are working hard to ensure that girls receive quality education, excel at school, and create a future brimming with opportunity. Each year, I am inspired by the impact of the One World community. Champions have raised more than $600,000 so far this year. These funds go directly to more than 40 community organizations like Girls to Women and Mubarika School, providing children with education, healthcare, and shelter in over 20 countries. Each of our partners excels at providing children in their community with the support and services they need. I would like to especially acknowledge the skill, expertise, and dedication of our Partners to their work and communities. It is with thanks to their strengths that the One World model works. Each and every day we get to work with the very best of humanity. You can read about some of our newest partners here in California, and in Jamaica, Burkina Faso, and Brazil! Also, a huge thank you to One World Champions. Your efforts and dedication to raising funds and awareness for children’s programs around the world is inspiring! Finally, I also wish to acknowledge our new strategic partners who have helped us grow effectively and thoughtfully this last year: University of Hong Kong, University of San Francisco, African Diaspora Network, Moca Foundation, Rose C. Stone Foundation, and Segal Family Foundation. I urge you to stay involved One World’s Executive with this amazing global community. Director Steph Allie You will continue to see that if we Heckman (right) with work together, we can create a world Founders’ Circle member where every child has an education, Kate Strasburg healthcare, and shelter. To learn more you can contact me or find us online at owcf.org | @owcf | facebook.com/oneworldcf. On behalf of the Board, Staff and Volunteers at One World, thank you. I look forward to seeing you throughout the year! With gratitude and best wishes,
Steph Allie Heckman 2
Executive Director steph.heckman@owcf.org
Meet One World Champion:
Huma Zafar
“My passion is humanity and helping break the poverty cycle. I am a Gender Consultant at the World Bank and we make strides in helping raise the living standard for the poor people in Pakistan. Through my work I’ve learnt that the impact we need to make is by educating girls. I call it the girl effect and that is what I want to see at Mubarika and the 13 villages we support” — Huma Zafar
H
uma Zafar is One World’s Champion for the Mubarika Campus School in Pakistan. So far, she has raised more than $55,000 for the students. One World is proud to be partnered with Mubarika. Their compassion for not just education, but all of humanity shines through. Huma is motivated by this approach, saying, “Education is a starting point, not the answer. We are educating people so they may better their lives.” Champion Huma Zafar with Mubarika Education in student holding a donated solar light Pakistan cannot keep up with the country’s rapid population growth. Especially for children outside of the urban centers, schools can be in poor condition or simply too far away. Fortunately, programs like Mubarika’s provide free education to the underprivileged, complete with transportation, internet access, and English classes. The school has partnered with community leaders to provide “a rich education for poor children.” Of their many positive examples, one Mubarika student exemplifies the goals of the organization. Coincidentally, her name is Mubarika. Upon finishing her Matric Exam (Pakistan’s equivalent to a high school education), she received top marks in the country and “put in a request to further her education to become a doctor.” With her family’s support, the campus staff was able to apply for and receive a grant allowing Mubarika (the inspiring girl) to attend school in the city and work towards her medical career dream. Along with other student successes, the Mubarika campus has goals that go beyond exam scores. They are also deeply invested in local life by providing employment, water canteens, vocational training, and space for cultural events. In every instance, Mubarika is growing with the community. One World and Huma would also like to thank the Rose C. Stone Foundation in California, who is now supporting the education of students at the school.
Girls to Women
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evening, one could find all three leading a parent orientation for the upcoming summer program. Waiters, who just graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA, has just been hired as the new program director. She is thrilled. “Ms. Pat recognized me from a YouTube video I made that went viral,” Waiters explains. Waiters, who aspires to be a teacher, is a talented performance poet with a social conscience. “Basketball and poetry saved my life,” she says. “I started playing basketball when I was four and I started writing poetry in third grade. My teacher snatched a poem I wrote, thinking I was passing notes in class, and took me outside. When she read my poem, she cried.” Inspired by Maya Angelou, young Waiters’ viral YouTube video entitled, “Ponytail,” might bring tears to your eyes as well. Waiters wants her words to be her legacy, and her goal of inspiring young people landed her a permanent position at Girls to Women. “I heard the girls talking and saying, ‘I got so much swag.’ And, I said, give me another word for swag. Give me an academic word. They had nothing. So I said, the word you’re looking for is charisma. Let’s look it up. One of the definitions is ‘inspiring devotion to others.’ Being cool—having swag—is giving back to the community. At the end of the day, the girls were walking around saying, ‘I have so much charisma!’” “She’s a natural,” says Foster. Foster is no newcomer to after-school programs for atrisk youth. She has over 22 years’ experience as a resident and a community advocate in East Palo Alto. As a woman of color and an immigrant herself, Foster’s familiarity with the vulnerabilities and strengths characterizing families among marginalized constituents goes beyond the professional level to the personal. When asked why she focused on girls, Foster replied, “If you’re going to change society, you’re going to have to change women.”
Foster grew up in the Caribbean in a household of six children. “I always go back to my mother. She was a very powerful woman and wanted the best for her six children. She turned to Learning together in Girls to education because she saw Women’s after-school program it as the way out, especially for her daughters.” “Girls to Women is a second home for these girls. We nurture, support and provide role models from our community for them. It is a safe place. To me this is what makes us different from other places. Enjoying the garden at Girls to The parents feel free to call Women in East Palo Alto on us about all kinds of issues,” Foster continues. “When my 15 year old cousin passed away, my heart froze,” explains eleven year old Donaji, who goes by “Isle” now because she was bullied over her name in second grade. “I was in tears for Girls from the after-school program two months. Then my all dressed up for Halloween parents moved me into this program. It has relaxed me. I started playing, crocheting, and making bracelets. Best of all I made new friends. I would be a different person if I didn’t get to come here.”
Welcome One World’s Newest Partners ASIA Build a School in India (Mata Balak) Sangola, India Champions: Andrew Lederer and Robert Cornwell Mata Balak was formed over 30 years ago when a group of financially independent, rural women came together with the mission to ignite the self-confidence and social image of rural women through education and empowerment.
Topu Honis Shelter Home Oecussi, Timor-Leste Champions: Cate Johnson and Jean Olson Topu Honis Shelter Home provides shelter, food, clothing, healthcare and education to over 100 children who are
orphaned or who come from abusive families. Children at the home access formal education and learn vocational skills such as weaving and working in the vegetable gardens.
AFRICA ASFOP - Teega Wende Orphanage Passore, Burkina Faso Champions: Garrett Johnson and Megan Greenfield ASFOP was formed by a group of local women in 2003 when primary school teacher, Angèle Zida noticed that the orphans in her class were falling behind other children, if they were even enrolled at all. They have now grown from serving 2 children in 2003 to 225 in 2014. The Teega Wende Orphanage itself hosts about 35 children. continued on page 4 è
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Our Newest Partners
continued from page 3
Nkomo CBO KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Champion: Suzanne Cross The mission of Nkomo CBO is to provide support to Nkomo School and its students, with a focus on assisting the orphans and vulnerable children of the community. Nkomo CBO serves annually more than 350 children and young adults.
One World Partners Partners in Development Foundation
Hololulu, Hawaii
Precious Life Foundation Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Champion: Sheri Maier Precious Life Foundation provides young pregnant girls and women with access to support, counseling and assistance with their babies – before and after birth. Their goal is to ensure girls and women are able to support themselves when they return to home. They are taught farming and basic business skills adapted to helping them sell produce at local markets.
Nkomo CBO
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Tinga Tinga Secondary School Arusha, Tanzania Champions: Barbara Krause and Tom Mertens This rural school serves a community of Maasai in Tanzania providing quality secondary education to 311 children.
Zambian Institute for Sustainable Development (ZISD)
P.E.T.I.S.O.S.
Bariloche, Argentina
Lusaka, Zambia Champion: Chiluwata Lungu Transforming Zambia into a prosperous nation by empowering young people through sustainable socio-economic development is the goal of ZISD. The vision of the scholarship is to ensure that the most brilliant underprivileged Zambian children stay in school. This program has expanded to 49 students at 13 schools across five cities since its launch in 2010.
AMERICAS Crea+ Sao Paolo, Brazil Champion: Regina Ponce Crea+ aims to develop at-risk-children in Brazil through extra-curricular math, social, cultural and sports activities for at-risk children in the Brazilian public school system from 5th grade to 8th grade.
Rotary Club of Negril Negril, Jamaica Champion: Lillie Barrows The club focuses its energy, time and money on the youngest members of the community (3 to 6 years old), and youth that have fallen between the cracks. Through early child development programs, children are significantly better prepared when they enter the mainstream educational system.
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continued on page 7 è
Tinga Tinga Secondary School
Arusha, Tanzania
Make a Difference Worldwide * New Partners in 2013/2014
India (Kerala)
∙ The Helen Keller Institute for the Visually Impaired
Pakistan (Wazirpur-Marrara,Punjab)
∙ Mubarika Campus
India (Coimbatore)
∙ ShivaShanta Mother & Child Health Center India (Rajasthan)
Kenya (Nairobi Area)
USA (Honolulu, HI)
∙ Nirvanavan Foundation
∙ Akili Dada ∙ Kusoma International (LMEF) ∙ St. Vincent’s - Children of Kibera
∙ Partners in Development Foundation*
India (New Delhi)
∙ Zakat Foundation of India
USA (San Francisco Bay Area)
India (Sangola)
Uganda (Jinja District)
∙ Build a School in India (Mata Balak)*
∙ El Shadai Family Foster Home
India (Bihar)
Uganda (Kawempe)
∙ People First Educational Charitable Trust ∙ Nari Jagran Manch ∙ Prajna Vihara School
∙ Bitone Children’s Center and Troupe*
Tanzania (Arusha)
∙ Tinga Tinga
India (Jharkhand)
∙ Jagriti Vihara (Hospital for Hope)
Secondary School*
Help Exploited Youth)
Myanmar (Burma)
∙ Build a School in Burma
Tanzania (Moshi)
Sustainable Development (ZISD)*
Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)
∙ Precious Life Foundation* South Africa (Tembisa)
∙ Siyazigabisa*
Topu Honis Shelter Home Oecussi, Timor-Leste
Jamaica (Negril)
India (Hyderabad)
∙ Smaraami Foundation
∙ Zambian Institute for
Victor Hugo School
Organization
Wende Orphanage*
Zambia (Lusaka)
∙ Global Chalkboard Project
∙ Pa-O National Development
∙ ASFOP - Teega
∙ CAMME (Center to
Haiti (Gonaives)
Thailand (Mae Hong Son)
Burkina Faso (Passore)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Goma)
∙ Girls to Women ∙ NovatoSpirit*
∙ Foot2Afrika*
Tanzania (Karagwe District)
Timor-Leste (Oecussi)
∙ Topu Honis Shelter Home*
Nicaragua (Tipitapa)
∙ Rotary Club of Negril*
∙ COMPALCIHT Association
Nicaragua (San Ramon)
Ecuador (Cuenca)
∙ Tadeo Torres
Children’s Home
∙ Fundacion Denis Ernesto Gonzales Lopez Panama (Bocas del Toro)
∙ Bocas School Project
Argentina (Bariloche)
Brazil (Sao Paolo)
∙ Crea+*
∙ P.E.T.I.S.O.S.
∙ Tunaweza Fund
Zimbabwe (Harare)
∙ Batsiranai Craft Project
South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal)
∙ Khulani Special School* ∙ Nkomo CBO*
NovatoSpirit
Crea+
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Sao Paolo, Brazil
Build a School in India (Mata Balak)
Sangola, India
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One World Financial Statement October 1, 2013 — September 30, 2014
Below is the projected financial overview of our fiscal year ending September 30, 2014. For a copy of our IRS Form 990, please check our website at www.owcf.org. For other questions about our finances, please contact us at: info@owcf.org.
One World Founders’ Circle Event—May 2014
Deep Gratitude for Our Founders’ Circle!
A
t One World Children’s Fund, 100% of money raised by Champions goes directly to our Partners worldwide. One World does not charge administrative fees, instead, the money raised through Benefit Luncheons and Founders’ Circle membership supports the infrastructure of One World. With a pledge of $1,500 to $25,000 per year for at least three years, members of the Founders’ Circle stand together to create a world where every child has an education, healthcare and a safe place to call home. One World is deeply grateful to Founders’ Circle members. You are critical to the growth and sustainability of One World’s mission and vision. On behalf of the men, women, and children we serve, a huge thank you to our current members: • Alan & Penny Dunckel • Alex & Emily Jonas • Anand Chandrasekaran & Tina Aggarwal • Anne Marie Caple • Ann & Ken Emanuels • Ben & Patty Winslow • Chip & Kay McIntosh • Chitra Rajeshwari & Peter Lauer • Dawn Thomas • Ed & Linda DeMeo • Frank Hathaway • Frances Ho & George Yu • Howard & Liza Garfield • Irene Hoover • Jake Silverstein • Jamie Lockwood & Doug Parkes • Jane Reece & Paul Ossa • Jennifer Wilson • Jody Applebaum • John Parker & Nancy Hardesty • Joy Robinson
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Karen Hagewood Karim Ajania Kate Strasburg Kelly Keegan Ken Becker Kiran & Priya Kamity Linden Willis-Kilgroe Lorraine & Noble Hancock Martha Gates & Spencer Commons Michael Kilgroe & Patricia Savitri Burbank Pamela & Martin Krasney Paul Strasburg & Therese Saracino Peter & Lisa Cracknell Shanti Cliff Steph “Allie” Heckman Steve Gasner Tom & Judy Munzig Wylie & Janet Greig
If you would like to join One World Founders’ Circle, please contact One World’s Executive Director, Steph Allie Heckman, at steph.heckman@owcf.org or call 415-255-3014
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Statement of Activities Income
US Dollars
Direct Contributions
596,755
Non-Governmental Grants
316,516
Investment Income
886
Special Event Fundraising
113,691
Total Income
$ 1,027,848
Expenses Grants and Program Expenses
829,086
Fundraising Expenses
104,947
Administrative Expenses
115,442
Total Expenses
$ 1,049,475
100% of donations designated for particular grassroots partners went to support their project expenses and no portion was used to cover One World administrative costs.
Fiscal Year 2013 Income
Expenses & Grants
Direct Contributions 58%
Grants and Program Expenses 79%
Non-Govt. Grants 31% Investment Income 0.01% Special Event Fundraising 11%
Administration 10% Fundraising 11%
Our Newest Partners
continued from page 4
Partners in Development Foundation Honolulu, Hawaii Champion: Barbara Slone PIDF inspires and equips families and communities for success and service, using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions. PIDF annually serves over 2,700 children and young people along with about 1,000 parents or caregivers and nearly 4,000 community members.
NovatoSpirit Novato, California Champion: Marian Schinske NovatoSpirit serves Novato’s low-income kids by offering a safe environment of mentorship and movement through scholarships in karate, tae kwon do, dance and soccer. Their goal is to instill resiliency and character in youth. Instructors provide one-on-one mentorship, long-term athletic programs, and accountability for participants and their families. Today it serves 52 Novato youths age 7-18.
YES! I want to make a difference! ¨ Use my donation where most needed 1016 Lincoln Blvd • San Francisco, CA 94129 415-255-3014 www.owcf.org
I am interested in supporting: For partner descriptions, visit our website at www.owcf.org
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Akili Dada (Kenya) ASFOP - Teega Wende Orphanage (Burkina Faso) Batsiranai Craft Project (Zimbabwe) Bitone Children’s Center and Troupe (Uganda) Bocas School Project (Panama) Build a School in Burma (Myanmar/Burma) Build a School in India - Mata Balak (India) CAMME (Democratic Republic of Congo) COMPALCIHT Association (Nicaragua) Crea+ (Brazil) El Shadai Family Foster Home (Uganda) Foot2Afrika (Tanzania) Fundacion Denis Ernesto Gonzales Lopez (Nicaragua) Girls to Women (East Palo Alto, CA) Global Chalkboard Project - Victor Hugo School (Haiti) Helen Keller Institute for the Visually Impaired (India) Jagriti Vihara - Hospital for Hope (India) Khulani Special School (South Africa) Kusoma International (Kenya) Mubarika Campus (Pakistan) Nari Jagran Manch (India)
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Nirvanavan Foundation (India) Nkomo CBO (South Africa) NovatoSpirit (Novato, CA) Pa-O National Development Organization (Thailand) Partners in Development Foundation (Honolulu, HI) P.E.T.I.S.O.S. (Argentina) People First Educational Charitable Trust (India) Prajna Vihar School (India) Precious Life Foundation (Zimbabwe) Rotary Club of Negril (Jamaica) ShivaShanta Mother and Child Health Center (India) Siyazigabisa (South Africa) Smaraami Foundation (India) St. Vincent’s - Children of Kibera (Kenya) Tadeo Torres Children’s Home (Ecuador) Tinga Tinga Secondary School (Tanzania) Topu Honis Shelter Home (Timor-Leste) Tunaweza Fund - KCBRP (Tanzania) Zakat Foundation (India) Zambian Institute for Sustainable Development (Zambia)
One World Children’s Fund is a charitable organization described by Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and a qualified organization eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. Our EIN number is 77-0479205.
¨ Enclosed is my check for $_________________________________ payable to: One World Children’s Fund ¨ I authorize an automatic charge from my credit card: ¨ Visa ¨ MasterCard Credit card #________________________________________________________________ Card expiration date: (Month/Year)________________________ Amount of donation authorized $_______________________________
¨ one time
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Name (as shown on account):______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Daytime phone:______________________________ Home phone:_______________________________ Email:________________________________________________ Signature:______________________________________________________________________________________ Date:_________________________________________________
¨ I would like to volunteer with OWCF (please enter your contact info above) ¨ Please contact me, I want to know more or have ideas to share (please enter your contact info above) ¨ I’d like to learn more about Planned Giving opportunities with OWCF (please enter your contact info above)
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1016 Lincoln Boulevard San Francisco, CA 94129 Phone: 415-255-3014 Email: info@owcf.org Website: www.owcf.org
Mission:
O
ne World Children’s Fund is a non-profit organization committed to serving children
affected by poverty.
One World Team BOARD MEMBERS
Vision:
O
ne World envisions a world where we all act together as one global community to ensure every child has an education, healthcare, and shelter.
Janet Greig Chair
Chitra Rajeshwari Vice Chair
Christian Stefansen Treasurer
Frank Hathaway
Secretary
Emily Jonas Howard Garfield Karen Hagewood Karim Ajania Nkechi Emeruwa STAFF
Steph ‘Allie’ Heckman Executive Director
Stephanie Judkins
Finance & Administration Manager
Katie Boswell
International Program Manager WEBSITE & PRINT MEDIA DESIGN
Duke Houston
Creative Director, Houston Graphics