As updating and posting to social media is my main job for GGA, I spend part of each morning, cup of strong coffee at grabbing distance, surfing news sites. It's entertaining, heart-wrenching and educational. But some articles make a lasting impression. A couple of months ago I came across a photo-essay. It showed how some Nepali women practice the chaupadi tradition, sleeping in sheds isolated from their communities while they menstruate. I'd never considered that periods were anything other than a sometimes inconvenient but integral part of being female. That in some places and cultures, periods are shameful and taboo. That they represent a huge barrier to education for large numbers of girls who don't have access to sanitary conditions at school or any means of dealing with their menstrual flow. That it's an equality issue.

Today is Menstrual Hygiene Day. I love that the date has been chosen for its significance - 'May is the 5th month of the year, representing 5 days, or the average number of days (between 2-7) a woman or girl spends menstruating each month. And, 28 represents the average number of days in a menstrual cycle.' And that it is drawing attention to a problem that's been hidden, thanks in part to our own embarrassment about discussing normal bodily functions. It's important that we do talk about periods. As Menstrual Hygiene Day org.'s fact sheets state, menstrual hygiene is fundamental to:

• Advancing education
• Ensuring health
• Strengthening economies
• Protecting the environment
• Basic Human Rights
  
  

It's heartening that organisations and NGO's are addressing the issue in practical ways, for example Days for Girls who provide eco-friendly feminine hygiene kits to girls in over 75 countries. Our supporter Maria at The Three Musketeers is helping to organise this sustainable alternative to the sanitary pads used by the girls at our partner projects in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Things will only change if we talk about periods for what they are, a part of life for 49.7% of the world's population, 5 days per month for 40 years during their lifetime. Without shame. And make them easy to deal with. As with many issues, education for all is key. Education gives access to knowledge and skills and breaks down myths and taboos. It's time for a change. Period.

The drumbeat gets louder. The kids toss and turn. Their bodies contour in different shapes. They use their strength to build human pyramids. The crowd applauds. The performers bow down. The smiles are priceless. It seems like a good show for a circus, but it’s a breakthrough in a children’s home.

Maisha, our children’s home partner in Kenya, cares for twenty-two children who were orphaned mainly by HIV/AIDS, conflict and extreme poverty. They are provided with shelter, food, and education in a semi-rural farm environment outside of Nairobi.  These kids have gone through immense grief and trauma. Aside from basic necessities, they have unique psychosocial needs.

In 2013, Maisha introduced weekly drumming and acrobatic classes taught by local Kenyan professionals. One of the teachers they partnered with was Peter Waithaka, more commonly known as "Doc". Doc was a former member of the Kenya national acrobatic team called African Sakata Acrobats. He is currently a social entrepreneur, working on other projects that address educational and life skill needs among Kenya's underserved youth.

With the help of Doc and local drumming teacher, Robinson Owino, or "Robbie", the project has been a success. The classes not only help the kids learn how to do somersaults and synchronize the beat of the drums, it also helps develop their self-esteem. The kids learn about teamwork and the value of support in a community. These classes are also good for the community because they provide employment to the locals as well as inspiration. "The smiles they give us after learning a new acrobatic stunt or pyramid give us strength to persevere and be there for next class," said Doc. The teachers have become role models for the kids to look up to. And the experience brings joy to the children’s lives by providing a fun and healthy environment for them to heal. 

One of the Maisha girls was homeless, orphaned and exploited by the age of nine.  Five years later, despite making overwhelming progress in adapting to home life at Maisha, she still suffers from deep emotional trauma. She has a difficult time focusing in school and at home. Yet for the first time, her teachers are seeing her blossom in the acrobatic class.

They observe that some of the other youth, who are academically challenged and started school at a later age, are also doing well in these classes. Acquiring new skills and thriving in a new environment has helped them believe in their own potential. Our hope is that these experiences will guide them to make positive choices in the future.

In other parts of the world, Circus therapy is proving to be an effective tool for psychotherapeutic healing. Clowning about has helped boost confidence and encourage camaraderie among Finland’s disaffected youth as well as the elderly. Women in London who are suffering from depression are learning to fly trapeze while building their confidence and strength, and moving them towards employment. Young people at risk have discovered a safe haven to find their balance at Halifax’s Circus Circle.

Life can be a great balancing act and at some point, people find themselves walking on a tightrope. But it’s inspiring to know that there are many ways to help people make it all the way across such as teaching acrobatics to a little girl in Kenya to help her believe in herself. 

Thanks to a connection with the School of Architecture in Barcelona (ESARQ) we advertised for a volunteer architect to help supervise and advise on this project. And we got lucky with two Italian architects, Francesca and Veronica, who are on site daily and send us weekly reports on the progress of the construction work. We are happy and grateful for their collaboration, advice and help, and to see the building grow and change week by week. 

Check out their latest report on the house progress!

Is it possible for your heart to break and open at the same time?

Yes.

3 Musketeers Children’s Fund was founded by Brian and Maria O’Shea to honor the memory of their beloved children Søren (11 years old), Saoirse (9 years old) and Connor (3 years old) who died tragically in a car crash one year ago.

The fund’s aim is to support projects improving health, education, and safety for children in countries where no other alternatives are available to them.

Saoirse would have celebrated another birthday last week.  To honor her, the 3 Mustketeers are funding new beds, lunch boxes, and exercise books for the Maisha orphans in Kenya.

We are so grateful to 3 Musketeers and so deeply moved by their story… as are the children at Maisha who met co-founder Brian O’Shea when he visited the Maisha home earlier this year. 

“I was so sad when he told us about his family,” said one of the Maisha boys, “He is a very good man.”

We can’t think of a more beautiful way to commemorate the O’Shea children than by giving love and light to less fortunate children around the world.  Thank you to 3 Musketeers for your grace, generosity, and inspiration. 

We are so excited to announce a new partnership with RetailMeNot to support the sustainable housing project for the Maisha children's home.

"We at RetailMeNot are incredibly proud to support The Gracias Foundation and the Maisha Home for Children in Nairobi," said Giulio Montemagno, SVP of International at RetailMeNot, Inc, and a regular volunteer at Maisha.   "We have witnessed first-hand the caring and safe environment the Foundation has provided for the children and the incredibly positive impact this had on their lives, empowering them to overcome past traumas, restoring hope and enabling them to pursue their dreams."

The housing project is already underway. We expect the project to complete by early 2015. Checkout our Facebook page for regular photo updates.

A warm-hearted Asante Sana from The Gracias Foundation and all the kids and staff at Maisha!  We are forever grateful for your support! Read on for the official press release below...

By Michael Forzato (Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

What will I take from my experience at Maisha? Well I don’t think that question can easily be answered with words because words can never fully embody how someone feels or describe the connection that one has with the people of Maisha. This connection is felt right when you walk through the doors of the home, seeing the smiling faces of twenty-two children and the wonderful aunts and uncle as they welcome you as if they had known you for years. This connection only grows as time passes because the close corridors of the Maisha home leave little room for privacy and separation. You sleep together, you eat together, you laugh together, and you play together. This interconnectedness, and the people’s natural amicable character is what make Maisha such an ardent place. 

By Michael Forzato (Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

During my winter break in 2010 I was lucky enough to visit Mombasa, Kenya. I was excited to explore a different continent that I had never set foot on. We got on the plane in Zürich, Switzerland and set off on our seven-day trip to Africa. 

I was never nervous, to be honest, but also very eager, a similar feeling I get when I join a new basketball or soccer team or about to move to a different country and experience different cultures. 

We got off the plane in Africa and I was shocked. There was not much thought put into what I should expect when I got off the plane, but it definitely wasn’t what I saw. Perhaps I was relying on the African stereotypes of the country, where it is made up of vast savanna with wildlife roaming the great plains. In some cases this is true, however what I witness driving in a taxi to our hotel was very much different to my expectations. It was actually quite sad the living conditions that these people were forced to live in. Shacks after shacks lined the unpaved dirt street that bare feet walked upon. 

(Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

We are deeply honored to announce a partnership with MoneyGram Foundation to empower the Maisha children in Kenya with secondary tuition, academic tutoring, a computer lab, and support for a new boarding house for the existing kids and the next generation of Maisha scholars.

"MoneyGram believes education transforms lives, and the foundation is privileged to work with worthy organizations that are providing life-changing education programs to those who need them the most," said Pamela H. Patsley, chairman and chief executive officer, MoneyGram.

School tuition and tutoring support will span the next 5 years, while the computer lab and boarding house projects will commence this year.  

A huge thank you to MoneyGram Foundation for their commitment to empowering quality education for children around the world. Asante sana! Please read on for the press release below...

Starting today, all donations to the Maisha safe housing project will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000, thanks to the generosity of our ecstatic activist and 2x Maisha volunteer, Giulio Montemagno.

The Maisha kids are desperate for better living conditions and enough space to safely grow into young adults. Construction will start in just a few weeks, but we've still got a big gap to close.

So, join us in empowering dignity for these extraordinary kids, and for the next generation of Maisha scholars.

(Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

What does your profile pic look like on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?  Is it a headshot, a photo of you with family or friends, or an icon or quote?  Do you use your birth name or a pseudonym?  

What we show to the world online says a lot about who we are.  We have a choice as to how we present ourselves. Sometimes we may even protect ourselves - blocking personal details from the scrutiny of the public. Likewise, we protect the identities of the children, teens and women we support.  We are sensitive to their rights to remain safe and secure. 

For example, some of the kids we work with carry the intense weight of two secrets they can't reveal to their classmates:  

1. They are orphans.
2. They are HIV positive.  

(Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

This January, we're turning two!  We are thrilled by how much we've achieved together, and YOU are at the center of it all.  So, a huge Thank You (Gracias) to everyone!  We hope you'll enjoy our birthday video!

(Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

The red earth of rural Kenya is great for growing plentiful crops, trees and flowers. But not for roads. When it rains, a sticky, mucky surface forms, which dries into ruts, bumps and potholes. A good, sturdy, reliable vehicle is needed to navigate these obstacles and reach a destination safely and quickly. Additionally, the cost of a single round-trip to Nairobi for food shopping, hiring an old, unreliable taxi is around $37.

After many months of research and planning, we are pleased and proud that we have been able to purchase and deliver a Toyota Voxy minivan to the Maisha home. Our board member, Bence, travelled to Kenya and used his extensive knowledge about vans to oversee the purchase and ensure the best quality, price, and value for the donated van funds. 

By Rachel Crowther (Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

I was shocked by the recent report from the WWF that we had used the world’s resources for 2013 by 20th August. This made me think of the quote:

 “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”

It also reminded me of a facebook post that Gracias president Amy made during her trip to Kenya. Preparing to plant beans, maize, and potatoes to complement the sugar cane, paw paw trees, banana trees, avocado trees and kale on the Maisha farm, Mama Maisha said "Fertilizer is chemical. Chemical is bad. Manure is natural and good. Food taste better. Kids need to learn about agriculture!" 

By Rachel Crowther (Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

The pictures of the attack on and siege at the Westgate Mall have been on our TV screens for days now. Questions swirl through the media: Is it over? Just how many people were killed? Who are the perpetrators?  Personal stories are surfacing, a pregnant mum-to-be and her husband were shot and died just two weeks before their baby was due. Tears spring to my eyes, and I can’t even begin to imagine the grief, devastation and suffering felt by their family and friends.

But hidden amongst the images of bleeding bodies, smoke and the sounds of gunfire are also tiny sprinklings of hope. Of people coming together to support and give to their fellow human beings, touched and moved by what is happening.

By Amy Paulson (Reposted from The Gracias Foundation, now called Global Gratitude Alliance)

At 6.30am on September 5th, I landed at Zurich airport after an ultra intense three weeks of field work, monitoring and evaluations, diligence, project research, and more – not to mention manual farm and house work, and more importantly, spending precious time with the local kids.

It’s now one week later and I’m just now starting to clear my head.

Traveling in Africa can be an overload of the senses and the emotions.