World Trust Foundation Teams with SVC ...
... and live-satellite feeds to create virtual classrooms for students to interact with other cultures around the world," said Tess Cacciatore, WTF Founder and...
Tsunami Relief Fund - written
by Tess Cacciatore
December 2005 marked the first annual GLOBAL
QUEST FOR PEACE CONFERENCE, held in Bali, Indonesia. For me
this conference was life-changing and culturally rich in every
way. My heart really connected to the people there, as well as
to the people from many countries, who attended the conference
on behalf of pursuing peaceful resolutions.
Some times it takes a disaster to bring
people together, much like the global stillness on September 11,
2001. These days are no different… except for the culprit of this
current disaster is mother nature herself.
Could this be
a special message for us all to take care of our precious planet
earth?
Needless to say, there was a deafening
silence once again… as those of us all over the world watched
in shock as the details came over the airwaves that an earthquake
had caused a tsunami, which in turn damaged, killed, abandoned,
plumaged, devastated the beautiful coast lines of several places
that touch the Indian Ocean.
As we go on with our daily lives in our
protected homes, we witness the numbers of deaths rising and watch
the faces of injured people who are facing death with impending
starvation and water contamination. Or, we also see the eyes of
innocent children, searching for their parents and siblings who
will never return.
What can we do?
There are plenty of wonderful organizations
who have already come to the rescue, as well as many countries
that have sent money to the needed areas. However, there is still
so much to do and these efforts will take a lot of commitment
on our part.
Once the media has turned its attention
to other items in the news and the cameras have turned off, what
will happen to these areas that need our help to rebuild? Perhaps
this is our chance to make a long-lasting impact and feel good
about helping those in need.
What is World
Trust Foundation committed to do?
We are beginning a 2-prong fundraising
program that fits with our mission of bridging cultures and connecting
children around the world. Both of these programs will raise funds,
which in turn will give 95% of the monies raised directly to restoring
the villages and helping the people who are affected. Also, in
light of our vision to collaborate rather than compete, we are
developing these programs in tandem with other like-minded organizations.
Our first effort is to raise money to build
a village in Sri Lanka. Why Sri Lanka, when there are several
other places that need our help? We feel that once this pilot
program is underway, that there will be opportunities to take
this program to other areas that were seriously affected by the
disasters.
How do you propose
to do such an undertaking?
As said, we insist on working and collaborating
with quality, like-minded people and organizations and this is
no different. We are on a core committee, which is beginning to
meet on January 13th, to begin the plans of fundraising and to
solidify the vision of transformating the devastation to a place
of hope for the many displaced people.
These efforts will take hours, months and
years of hard work and determination… and we're ready to take
this on. A Buddhist Temple, (Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara) based
in Los Angeles, CA, run by Reverend Walpola Piyananda, will lead
our coalition of organizations who are committed to making this
a success.
Currently Reverend Piyananda is working
with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to set the course. They are
in the initial phases of adopting villages to rebuild. They are
working on housing designs that can be built for approximately
$1,000 a home. We are committed to rebuild at least 1 village
of 450 homes. In round numbers our goal is to get 1,500 people
to commit at least $25 a month for a least one year. When our
goal is reached, we will raise $450,000, therefore creating 450
homes.
Of course there are different ways to divide
up the $450,000 commitment, by larger monthly contributions which
will help us realize this goal even faster. The fund is set up
to take automatic monthly deductions from credit cards or bank
accounts.
The Prime Minister¹s office is working
to determine the name of the village our group will build. As
soon as this is determined, then a separate account will be created
under the name of the village. Each member of our fundraising
program will recieve a monthly newsletter giving details of the
progress, with accompanying photos of the houses as they are built.
We are also working with our partners out
of Colorado, who can potentially help us create the village to
be run by solar energy. It is our hope that this vision will be
underway in a very short period of time and we can then lend to
making a positive impact on those who have been greatly impacted.
There is also the vision that one day in
the future there will be beautiful trees grown, the sounds of
laughter will come from children, as time will hopefully heal
their wounds. You and I will be able to walk through this village
and know that we did something to make a difference to so many
people in need.
Please let us know what you would like
to commit on a monthly basis, or if you want to make a one time
donation. Every cent will help.
Our second fundraising effort is to empower
children of the Los Angeles area, so they feel like they are making
a difference.
A local school in the Calabassas, CA area
is committed to raise money to send down to the needed areas.
Keeping in line with our commitment to bridge cultures and connect
youth, this is our way to assist the students of LA to begin a
grassroots program that includes creating a colored banded bracelets
to show their involvement and commitment to the cause.
These bracelets, much like the Lance Armstrong
yellow, will show the world that kids care and can make positive
changes.
All schools are welcome to participate.
If your school wants to be involved, please write to tess@worldtrust.org
and let us know.
CarLou Interactive Media & Publishing
Fall 2004, CarLou Interactive Media & Publishing is launching the for-profit arm to raise funds for the YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND - to assist with youth reachign their goals to continue their education, participate in a global conference or participate in goal-orientated programs that help other youth, the environment or animal preservation.
The first release, BELLA WISHES, is a fun-loving book for young girls, to instill the message of the importance of dance and exercise, to creatively express themselves, and to understand the value of a strong body image from an early age. BELLA WISHES, is a toe-tapping, finger-snapping, belly dancing hippopotomus, who dances from page to page. At the end of hte book, there is a CD for girls to play the theme song for hours of enjoyment and dance. The second track on the CD is the narration of the book to help those learning to read.
Ancillary merchandise is coming in Spring/Summer 2005 - with a matching 30 minute dance exercise DVD, aloing with a fashionable, durable exerise clothing line. Proceeds from these products and all products will go to the YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND, to help World Trust Foundation create sustainable revenue streams.
In the line of helping out with the environment, CarLou Media is partnered
with Future
Forest in London England, to assess the Co2 emmissions put
out by the producton of all products. The conclusion of each phase
of production is to plant the exact amount of trees to offset
the emmissions.
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BESLAN FOR PEACE: World Trust Foundation Teams with Peace Kids
November 17, 2004 Pat Montandon gathered the troops to bring the banner of hope to the Robert Louis Stevenson School in Burbank, CA. Her mission is to recreate a journey that she took over twenty years ago, when she brought youth to Russia with a message of peace.
Children as the Peacemakers, is nonprofit, nonpolitical and nonsectarian. We have inspired widespread examples of goodwill, trust, and cooperation and opened vast channels of communication between nations and individuals Funding comes from other foundations, businesses, special events and individuals.
Pat Montandon founded children as the Peacemakers in 1982, on the premise that the key to creating a peaceful world lies in our children. Pat believes the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, "If we are to ever have peace in the world we must begin with our children."
January 2005 marks the journey again, where the message of peace is needed now more than ever. Montandon is planning an excursion to Moscow where a meeting is to take place with President Putin, to sign the Declaration of Dependence. The next part of the journey will be to bring the banner of hope that children from around the world have made, to bring hope to the town of Belsan where the children were murdered by terrorists on their first day back to school.
The dramatic red silk banners are the foundation of white peace doves that are sewn on by hand by the children of other nations. The names of the children who lost their lives are written onto the banner for a memorial for their names to live on for the hope of peace.
Cacciatore and Montandon have come together, so that World Trust Foundation could help support her efforts, by bringing youth and spreading the word of the work that is being done for peace.
"When I met Pat, I thought I was looking into a mirror for my future. I can only dream that I can accomplish what she has in her years and I am here to support her in any way that I can to bring the message of peace from both of our foundations. I am not here to recreate what is already done, but to support the efforts of those who are already on the road. Peace Kids is an effort that I stand behind"
To learn more on Peace Kids click here.
To sponsor a youth to attend the peace journey in January, please send email
to tess@worldtrust.org.
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