Save Children from Sex Trafficking! // The Somaly Mam Foundation {Sevenly}

Sevenly is one of my absolute favourite organisations and I buy vests/t-shirts and jumpers/sweaters from them as often as I can. They enable me to promote world change in 3 ways: 1) giving to a cause, 2) being a billboard for change by 'wearing my heart on my sleeve' and 3) by wearing garments that are ethical.

Dale Partridge and Aaron Chavez got together in January of 2011 with the mission of leading a generation toward generosity. With a belief that people mattered, they began a journey to change the world. On June 13th 2011, Sevenly was born. By creating weekly cause campaigns where customers could purchase products that gave $7 to a weekly charity, Sevenly successfully unlocked not only a way to crowdfund for causes, but to drive massive social awareness as well.

This week's organisation that they are supporting is The Somaly Mam Foundation and together, they are fighting to put an end to child sex trafficking.

Today, untold numbers of children are exploited in Southeast Asia's sex trade. Children, living in this very poor region of the world, are particularly vulnerable to the false promises of traffickers. In some cases, men pay to have sex with children as young as three years old. Often, these girls are imprisoned in brothels, where they are beaten, raped, and tortured on a daily basis.

THE SOLUTION? This week you will help rescue and rehabilitate young girls who have been held captive as sex slaves. Your support can help provide an investigation and brothel raid in addition to providing a safe environment where survivors will receive food, shelter, medical, and psychological care.

Watch this weeks '1 cause 1 minute' video from Sevenly for more details.

So get involved! Even if you can't give financially, share this cause on facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, etc! Get the word out! 

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: http://www.somaly.org/}

Save the Bees!

Bayer has just sued the European Commission to overturn a ban on the pesticides that are killing millions of bees around the world. A huge public push won this landmark ban only months ago -- and we can't sit back and let Big Pesticide overturn it while the bees vanish.

Bayer and Syngenta, two of the world's largest chemical corporations, claim that the ban is "unjustified" and "disproportionate." But clear scientific evidence shows their products are behind the massive bee die-off that puts our entire food chain in peril. 

Just last month, 37 million bees were discovered dead on a single Canadian farm. And unless we act now, the bees will keep dying. We have to show Bayer now that we won't tolerate it putting its profits ahead of our planet's health. If this giant corporation manages to bully Europe into submission, it would spell disaster for the bees.

Sign the petition to tell Bayer and Syngenta to drop their bee-killing lawsuits now. 

The dangerous chemical Bayer makes is a neonicotinoid, or neonic. Neonics are soaked into seeds, spreading through the plant and killing insects stopping by for a snack. These pesticides can easily be replaced by other chemicals which don’t have such a devastating effect on the food chain. But companies like Bayer and Syngenta make a fortune from selling neonics -- so they’ll do everything they can to protect their profits. 

The EU banned these bee-killers this past May, after a massive public campaign and a clear scientific finding from the European Food Safety Authority that neonics pose huge risks to bee populations. Bayer fought against the ban every step of the way, using tactics taken from Big Tobacco -- pouring millions into lobbying and fake science to stop decision-makers from taking action. 

Now, we have to defend this landmark ban for the bees, and our food supply. Sign the petition now to tell Bayer and Syngenta to drop their aggressive lawsuits!

We have to stand up for the European ban now, from Europe and from around the world. The current ban only lasts for two years before it's up for review, and Bayer is now determined to stop it before it even comes into force in December 2013. If it is allowed to intimidate the European authorities with impunity, then the pressure to overturn the ban will be huge. This will be a massive victory for the poison industry, and a devastating loss for the bees, and all of us. It will make every environmental regulation more difficult, because companies that can't win on the facts can use their enormous profits to fund expensive, baseless lawsuits.

Bayer is an enormous company with a ton of public-facing brands. Neonics are a big part of its bottom line, but it can't afford poor publicity on a global scale. And if word gets out that Bayer is wrecking our ecosystem and threatening a creature responsible for pollinating a third of all our crops, the company will have to back down.

SumOfUs staff and members have literally just gotten of the plane from a convention in Chicago where we took the fight for a ban in the US right to the industry itself -- so we know how important it is to hold the line. 

Sign the petition to tell Bayer and Syngenta to drop their bee-killing lawsuits now. Let's build on this landmark victory and take the bee-killing pesticide ban global.

**********

More information:

EU insecticide ban triggers legal action, Nature News, 28 August, 2013

Become a Tutor {Mandela Day} 34 / 67 ways to change the world

OK so I took a little break from it, but as promised on Mandela Day 2013 (19.07.13), this is part of my series on their 67 suggested ways of changing the world. This one comes under the category of 'Become an Educator':


34. Offer to provide tutoring in a school subject you are good at.


I tutor out of school hours (I am a teacher) to earn some extra money, but it had not really occurred to me to also provide free tuition as a way of doing charity. I don't know why- it makes total sense to! Often, the children who need that extra time, attention and input the most are the ones who do not have the resources at their disposal to access it. 

So whether you are a teacher, or are just specialised in a subject (have an A-level/ college certificate/  university degree / studying at university / have a practical skill), please consider passing on your knowledge and skills to those who need it most, but cannot afford it.

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: www.captutors.net}  

October vs Human Trafficking

This has been a good month for the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery! So much seems to be happening in terms of legislation being stepped up and people standing up to this oppression and fighting for freedom!

- 16th October marked the end of  Freedom Challenge (The A21 Campaign), the 11 day cycle via the major trafficking routes in Europe. 

- 18th October this month was Anti-Slavery Day, which was brilliant! So much awareness was raised by so many individuals and organisation. 

- This month The A21 Campaign also launched their pilot high school curriculum in the USA (contact them via their site for more details).

- New legislation will mean that traffickers can be given life sentences now, rather than a cap of 14 years: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24571971 and http://news.sky.com/story/1156086/slavery-fight-to-stop-traffickers-steps-up

- Spokespeople like Lisa Kristine spoke out again about slavery and the fact that more than 30million people are enslaved today (more than double the amount of those taken in the entire transatlantic slave trade from Africa): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMLoxLUPWhw 

- The A21 Campaign South Africa launched recently and has been hosting incredible events ever since, including their National Anti-Slavery Week.

- My friend posted a #throwbackthursday of the Run3KforFreedom event that we planned earlier this year that raised over £1,200 and it encouraged me to think of what we could do next year with more planning and advertising!

I just wanted to share some of this with you to encourage and inspire you! Please, never give up on fighting for the millions of people who are enslaved, or to forget the one: the mother, sister, daugther, father, son... who has been stripped of their rights and dignity and subjected to abuse every day.

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” {Helen Keller}

"It takes just one thought, one action and one voice to make a difference. What will be your one today?" {Ndaba Mandela, The Mandela Project}

Blessings!

Ronell x

 {photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153380442255089&set=a.10153377959065089.1073741825.143678730088&type=1&relevant_count=1}

World Food Day 2013 {Action Against Hunger}

Action Against Hunger is really getting stuck in with World Food Day today and this is how they are making a difference and inviting you to join in!

Blessings!

Ronell x

Malnutrition is predictable, preventable, and treatable. 
With your help, we can make it history!

World Food Day: October 16, 2013

Every year 2.3 million children under age five die from causes related to malnutrition—and it simply 

doesn’t have to be. In 1979 the United Nations declared October 16th World Food Day to strengthen 

national and international solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, and to 

draw attention to achievements in food security and agricultural development. The day has been 

celebrated every year since 1981.

How We Take Action

From rural mountain villages to the confines of refugee camps to ethnically divided cities, Action Against
 Hunger treats and prevents malnutrition in more than 40 countries around the world. Our programs are
launched most often during times of crisis and focus on the most vulnerable, including young children and
women who are pregnant or nursing. Learn more about our nutrition programming, which helped 1.2 million
people last year:

Evaluate Nutritional Needs

Treat Acute Malnutrition

Prevent Acute Malnutrition

Build Local Capacity

3 Ways You Can Help Save Lives

Join our fight to save lives by taking action, and get your friends involved too!

	Fund a Food Project For $45 you can you can provide a malnourished child with a full course of treatment.
	Spread the Word! Share our images with nutrition-focused quotes and statistics to build support for our lifesaving work!
	Join our Community Join thousands of Action Against Hunger supporters and subscribe now to our monthly newsletter and alerts.

Help us fight hunger around the world

Say Yes!

"Mary [mother of Jesus] needed a steadfastness of heart to keep saying 'yes' to God. But she became the woman she was born to be, and the Kingdom was never the same... the salvation of mankind rested on the courage of a woman, a teenage girl. What if she had said 'no'? ... Your lingering disbelief that anything important hangs on your life is only evidence of the long assault on your heart by the one who knows who you could be and fears you... What lives, what destinies are hanging on your 'yes' to God?"

{Captivating, John & Stasi Eldredge}

31 Status // Young Chozen

A friend of mine sent me a link to this site called 31 Status. It is a site started by Young Chozen and his wife Lizzie Chozen following the success of one of his songs containing the lyrics "31 status girl". 

The mission of the 31 Status movement is to show women around the world what a Proverbs 31 woman looks like in todays generation. They are working to set a new standard of beauty in a world that tells us sex and seduction is the only way to find love. At 31 Status, they believe true love comes from God, an want to help women know Him and know themselves in a greater way. They are working to empower and encourage women to better themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually. Their goal above all else is for women to embrace "Who and Whose you are" as a female and as a 31.

   

The 31 Status site has an online store where you can buy t-shirts to support and promote the movement. They have downloadable resources including a daily devotional, a study guide and a survival kit. They also have a blog where you can go for insights and inspirations. 

So check it out and set your standards higher! (for yourself if you are a girl/woman, and for your partner/future partner if you a re looking to date a girl/woman).

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: http://www.31status.com/#!store/c1igb}

Knowing Who I Am in Christ {Joyce Meyer}

I read the post below on  today on Joyce Meyer's daily online devotional and got a much needed boost, so I thought I would share! :) It is long, but totally worth it.

Blessings!

Ronell x

Knowing Who I Am in Christ

by Joyce Meyer

Not sure who you really are? Read this list of Biblical truths that reveal who God made you to be.

I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10).

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14).

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18).

I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16).

I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5).

I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17-18).

I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues.  I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:17-19).

I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9-10).

I have given, and it is given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men give into my bosom (Luke 6:38).

I have no lack for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).

I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13).

I show forth the praises of God Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

I am God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).

I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10).

I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I am a spirit being alive to God (Romans 6:11;1 Thessalonians 5:23).

I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4).

I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22,25).

I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).

I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37).

I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11).

I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).

I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9).

I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit; I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19).

I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13).

I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12).

I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7).

I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).

I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13).

I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7).

I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).

I am healed by the stripes of Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).

I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4).

I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11).

I am submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Jesus (James 4:7).

I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

Download PDF

The Big Knit // Follower Submissions

I was really blessed to receive images from a friend of the knitting she has been doing for The Big Knit since my post yesterday! Well done they are gorgeous! Keep up the good work! :)

Please feel free to post your pictures in the comments sections! :)

Blessings!

Ronell x

{follower submitted}

The Big Knit // Supporting Age UK {Innocent}

Go to thebigknit.co.uk and find out how innocent will use one million little woolly hats to raise £250,000 to help look after older people this winter! 

So this is the basic idea...

1. People all over the world knit hats for the innocent Big Knit. 

2. We put the hats on our smoothie bottles 

3. For every one we sell we donate 25p to Age UK 

4. They spend it on things like blankets, hot water bottles, hot meals and social gatherings 

5. Which keep older people warm, safe and well this winter. 

Every year, 24,000 older people die needlessly because of the cold - your little hats make a big difference! So join in at thebigknit.co.uk and help Age UK to support the elderly in the ways they need it the most this winter!

Be inspired to join in and knit a hat for the big knit! http://youtu.be/10QNfMwcuxk 

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: www.payhembury.org.uk}

Coach Extramural Activities {Mandela Day} 33 / 67 ways to change the world

As promised on Mandela Day 2013 (19.07.13), this is part of my series on their 67 suggested ways of changing the world. This one comes under the category of 'Become an Educator':

33. Coach one of the extramural activities the school offers. You can also volunteer to coach an extramural activity the school doesn’t offer.

I am a Primary School teacher and am lucky to teach at a school that offers many different extracurricular activities for the children. Education is so much more than sitting in a classroom and reading, writing, maths, science, etc. It has to teach student life skills and interpersonal skills and most importantly, about themselves- who they are, what they are capable of and what they love. 

This is where extramural/extracurricular activities come in! Maybe you can offer your skills in sport, drama, art, public speaking, cv writing- pretty much anything!- and see whether the school would like to use your skill. If there are no skills you feel you can offer to start up a club, why not ask if you can volunteer to help someone who can? 

Or perhaps there are no opportunities for this in your local schools, but you could get involved at a local community centre or a 'big brother/ big sister' programme (also see my post on mentoring).

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: http://www.rhl.org/blog/blog/dorm/extracurricular-activities-why-are-they-so-important/3302/}

Be a Mentor {Mandela Day} 32 / 67 ways to change the world

OK so I took a little break from it, but as promised on Mandela Day 2013 (19.07.13), this is part of my series on their 67 suggested ways of changing the world. This one comes under the category of 'Become an Educator':

32. Mentor a school leaver or student in your field of expertise.


In my church (regenerationchurch.co.uk) we have a discipleship structure where there are mentoring and accountability partnerships in place for anyone who is serving regularly, in a position of leadership or in an upfront role. To me, this was a bit of a shock and a new way of doing things that I had not encountered in previous churches. At first I was not too happy about it, as I use to be a very private person, but now I fully see the value and necessity of it! 

I started off as a mentee (unaware that I was in desperate need of guidance!). After some time, I was asked if I would be interested in mentoring some of the younger girls. I was terrified and said NO because I was sure I was not equipped to deal do it, but my pastor/mentor reminded me that it is God that equips us to do what He calls us to! 

So now I am a mentor as well, which can be scary as it is a huge responsibility, but at the same time can be extremely rewarding! If I think back to many of the major crossroads in my life where I clearly made the wrong choice, I see a common denominator that is not having had someone older/more experienced that I felt I could fully trust or go to for advice. 

I feel blessed and grateful to have my mentor that I can go to for advice and wisdom, and my accountability partner who always seems to be going through similar things to me and is an incredible support! I am also blessed to have a couple of mentees who are teaching me just as much as I am supporting them. 

Kids and youth often don't have positive role models at home or stable adults that they can go and talk to when they need support and advice, so if you can fill that gap, then please consider doing so! If you are part of a church with a mentoring programme, GREAT! Get involved! Otherwise, you can search for Christian or secular organisations that look for mentors for children and young people. Think of the role models in your life- if they were lacking/non-existent, just think how much you have longed for stable/constant ones. If they were solid role models, be grateful and be realistic about where you would be without them! Now, imagine being able to be that rock for a child or a young person... and then imagine how much easier it would be for them to understand when you start telling them about the love of God and how He is ALWAYS there for them and will NEVER leave or disappoint them..? You see what I mean..? :)

Mentoring can be personal, spiritual, academic, career-orientated, skills-based, whatever! Find out what the need is and see if you can meet it.

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: http://www.nhslocal.nhs.uk/story/coaching-and-mentoring-guidance} 

National Anti-Slavery Week, South Africa // Freedom Challenge {A21 Campaign}

So as a South African by birth (and at heart!) but no longer geographically, I was incredibly happy and proud to see the birth of A21 Campaign South Africa and to see the people of South Africa embrace the challenge with the open arms, rolled up sleeves and creativity that I have only seen there :)

This week is National Anti-Slavery Week in South Africa. So if you are in South Africa, please find out how you can get involved with this wonderful cause and do your part to put an end to the injustice of human trafficking and modern day slavery in the 21st century! 

{photo credit:   

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=229541390543537&set=a.198415223656154.1073741829.192162980948045&type=1&theater}

Visit The A21 Campaign's international site here for more information and resources about human trafficking and for more ways to get involved: www.thea21campaign.org

Also, please look at the Freedom Challenge information- a team of 8 freedom fighters who have partnered with The A21 Campaign to raise $210,000 and a huge amount of support and awareness for the work of The A21 Campaign by cycling along the major trafficking routes for 11 days through 10 countries! Freedom Challenge starts on 6th October in the mountain regions of Sofia, Bulgaria until 16th October when it ends in London, UK with riders cycling at least 100km each day! 

Find out more about their mission, the riders, the route, the partners supporting Freedom Challenge,  how you can get involved and to donate either to individual riders or to the cause.

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=628366273852049&set=a.358564384165574.82760.194115677277113&type=1&theater}