partners

Happy Monday!
I wanted to give everyone an idea of where this hard earned money will be going. Off the Mat into the World has chosen four main organizations to partner with. They are all based in the U.S. so that we can ensure our money is being put to work in the correct ways.



1. YouthAIDS: Our trip and purpose will be launched by spending some time with the YouthAIDS organization. They have a location in Uganda - and Seane Corn, along with Ashley Judd and Josh Lucas, is one of their Ambassadors. Working with them we will gain insight on the cultural significance and impact that HIV /AIDS has on the African continent and the people. They will help us to educate ourselves and others in order to reduce ignorance, fear and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

2. Building Tomorrow: Working with Building Tomorrow we will be building a school with our own hands, a community center and a sustainable farm from the ground up - side by side with the residents of a rural village in Uganda. The community center will also serve as a place of residence for the teachers of the school. And as an added bonus of its completion the government will pay the salary of the teachers if a school is present!

3. Shanti Uganda: Working with the Canadian based Shanti Uganda - we will work in a very remote area of Uganda to assist nuns and villagers in building a birthing center for mothers infected with HIV/AIDS. Not only will the center serve as a place for safe birthing - it will also create opportunites for the women in the community to be educated in midwifery, giving them an income producing skill, safe practices, and fostering community.

4. New Hope School and Orphanage: The New Hope School and Orphanage is home to many brilliant, bright, beautiful children that have HIV/AIDS and have lost parents to either the internal war in Uganda or to AIDS. Their nearest water source is over a half mile away, and it is the same water that animals "live" in. Our hope is to buy these children new mattresses for their sleeping quarters. As it is right now the children sleep 2 - 3 children per bed, one child peeing the bed is enough, 2 or 3 children peeing the bed makes it unbearable. Seane who traveled to Uganda last year said the smell alone was horrifying. Let's help to create a brighter reality for these children by giving them all a clean bed of their very own.

These are a few of the amazing organizations that we will be partnering with. Some of the money will stay within our own borders to implement the education and awareness that Off the Mat into the World is working to manifest. Please let me know of any questions you may have and have a beautiful day!

Shanti Om, Andrea

** Stay tuned for upcoming events**