Newsletters

Program Spotlight – San Pedro Delights and Inspires

Beth Karbe fell in love. The people of San Pedro, Peru captured her heart and delighted her soul. She wrote to us and told of her experience in the Peruvian highland village:
 
“I wanted to take a quick moment to tell you that my experience in San Pedro was truly the most extraordinary week in all my 60 years on this diverse and beautiful planet. I will most definitely want to go back, so plan on hearing from me again!"
 
Yesenia was wonderful. Ruth, our cook, was a delight. The children of San Pedro were sweet, open, lovable and real teachers to us all. It took the town only a very little while to warm up to our presence, and when they did, the experience was awesome.
 
I have been asked many times what the highlight of my 3 week (multi-city) trip was… without hesitation my answer is always San Pedro. The living conditions were a challenge sometimes, and the schedule was non-stop. We were all exhausted physically, but so happy, so satisfied, so very deeply grateful for the gifts that came every day, in every new experience. I couldn't hold it all. And I am still letting it all sink slowly in.
 
Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for all the work you do on behalf of so many of us.”
 
Beth is amazing. She was so inspired she has created a fundraiser at her church for the creation of an irrigation system that will change the lives of everyone in the village for the better. She has a slide show, a pdf broschure, a silent auction stocked with items, and has created a terrific story of her San Pedro trip to inspire the donors. Her goal is $10,000, and knowing the energy, drive, and big heart within Beth, it is going to happen.

Fundraiser – Ghana Chief Needs Elders

“US Volunteer crowned Chief looking for Team of Elders” is the title for this exciting fundraising event. Here is the story:
 
On his volunteer trip to Ghana, on July 8, 2010, Peter, a 34-year-old software developer from Chicago IL., was officially made chief of Mafi-Wudukpo, a village in Ghana. Peter accepted the new moniker Torgbui Nubueke I (New Dawn) from Torgbui Torbo Dakpui III and an assortment of Ghanaian elders, welcoming him as a chief of the agrarian village located in south eastern Ghana.
 
Peter, and his wife Colleen Sheehan, 29, a senior associate producer at Oprah Winfrey Show, were in Ghana July 3-9, 2010. Colleen taught in the village while Peter helped construct sanitation facilities, including digging trenches, laying conduits, drainage, and mixing concrete. On July 8 and the day before Peter and Colleen were to leave, their Globe Aware guide notified Peter that the chief had decided to make him a chief. A formal ceremony was held that day.

Peter was dressed in a traditional robe, provided special beads, special sandals and two girls were assigned to follow and fan Peter as he made a formal entrance before the entire village. “I quickly realized that this was not simple gesture. This was no joke and this was real,” relates Peter.” I remember thinking to myself that I had better be attentive, very present in the moment and pay attention to every detail.” “During the ceremony my translator was explaining that the chief felt that the fact two Americans came all this way to help his village marked a new era for the region, hence, ‘new dawn’ became my honorary name.” Adds Peter, “The chief explained that my wife would be crowned ‘Queen Mother’ on our next visit since tradition dictates both ceremonies cannot be held on the same day.”
 
Peter received a plot of land to build on and he also received a ram during the ceremony. “Living in the village we were able to overcome the language barrier by communicating through active participation and working within their environment,” says Peter. “While I am proud of what were able to accomplish, we are now absolutely committed to ensure that this is just the very beginning of the work we will do for our new family in Mafi-Wudukpo.”
 
What a great honor for both of them!
 
Please help them with your support in raising an additional $6,000 so we can give the next generation of kids in their adopted village a chance to learn, grow, and prosper.
 
Donate Here - http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/campaign-0-3088

Travel for Good - Tiffany’s Trip is Set

Tiffany wasted no time in setting up her trip to Ghana with us and she is ready to go. There are several other volunteers booked on the same date as Tiffany so she’ll have a great group to work with while she realizes her dream of helping make the world better by helping its children.
 
Again, here is a link to her winning entry: Click Here

Remember, you could be the winner of Travelocity’s next $5,000 grant. Here is a quote from the program manager:

“We encourage anyone with a passion for travel and volunteering to enter,” says Alison Presley, manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good program. “Don’t let the video entries intimidate you – the submission process is easy. Most of today’s smart phones can take a quick video and what we’re really looking for is a passion for volunteering.”

All you have to do is create a video of yourself telling about why you want to win. The next contest is open now and accepting entries until September 30. Follow this link to set up an account and submit your video: Click Here

Global Gourmet – Ghana’s Goodies

Accra Banana Peanut Cake (Ghana)

This is a nice moist cake and is an actual dessert recipe from The Zaar World Tour 2005. The Zaar World Tour was a fun cooking game/competition where chefs are placed on a team and virtually travel the world in their kitchens. The teams visit the regional forums at specific times and pick recipes from other players or their teammates for each region.
 
Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup butter or 2/3 cup margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 large bananas, peeled and mashed (very ripe)
• 1 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped (divided)

 Directions 

1. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
2. Cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs.
3. Add dry ingredients alternately with mashed bananas just until combined; stir in ½ cup chopped peanuts.
4. Scrape batter into well-greased 9" x 5" loaf pan; sprinkle top evenly with remaining chopped peanuts. Bake in 180C oven 60 to 65 minutes or until skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; turn out of pan and cool completely.
6. Wrap in plastic wrap or foil. Cake is best if served next day.