Heal & Thrive | Trauma therapy & biz training

Project: Our December 2019 Seeds of Exchange  fundraiser is benefiting the sistahs of Beauty for Ashes Uganda (BFAU). Every $20 donated will fund one mama heal and thrive through trauma therapy and extensive business training. This is no small thing. It is exponential and game-changing for 1,230 single mamas and widows (our sisters!) in Northern Uganda and their 7,500 children. Yup: that’s nearly 9,000 women and their families in Uganda.

By December 6, y'all helped us HIT our initial $2,000 goal. And, because we KNOW y'all LOVE big, we're up'ing the goal to $5,500, which will mean that the launch can happen for ALL of the 1,230 Beauty for Ashes sistahs. Let's. Do. This.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME …
Because my life’s WHY is fueled first and foremost by LOVE – and my soul sistah Brandi Lea, founder of BFAU radiates LOVE in who she IS and what she DOES. What this organization is doing among a community of vulnerable, brave, and never-givin’ up women in Northern Uganda is fueling and sustaining unshakable worth and jaw-dropping opportunities to these amazing mamas and their children.

It matters.
It matters a lot.
It matters a lot today.

WHY THIS IS SO IMPACTFUL & IMPORTANT …
You might be wondering why these mamas have trauma and why is there a community of single moms and widows? (The answer to that requires a bit of a history lesson.) These sisters live in a unique part of Uganda that has made their trauma stories complicated. They are far enough north that the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) came violently through their villages, far enough south that they were deeply impacted by the Bush War (civil war with Idi Amin) and far enough east that the Karamojong Raiders have greatly impacted them. Thus, in the last forty years, they’ve been impacted by three different sets of war or rebel movements. Brandi and her organization have heard over and over how these sisters are gripped with fear, flashbacks, and PTSD. The impact of this trauma in their day to day lives is real and palpable.

We believe in healing and beauty – always and for all – even in the midst of the worst of the worst.

From BFAU founder, Brandi: "I want to see our mamas heal. They're worth it. Their kids are worth it. I can hardly imagine without tears what it will be like for them to experience healing and more training. I can't wait to watch them SOAR! Over the years of working with these mamas, we’ve heard their hopes for both trauma therapy and business training, and believe they are right about the impact both will have on their families. This is what they’ve said to us:

‘When we heal, our minds will have peace.
When our minds have peace our businesses will thrive.
When our businesses thrive, our children will flourish.’

So, it is to their requests, their wisdom, their hope for the future that we are launching this program in 2020. Thank YOU for joining us.”
 
PROGRAM DETAILS …
TWO amazing ways to empower mamas with more TOOLS for both healing and thriving in this world!
1) Partnership with Tutapona to bring a team to Northern Uganda for 6 months to walk every single one of our mamas through trauma therapy. REAL group therapy where they will learn and grow and HEAL! In fact, with past participants in these programs, Tutapona has seen a 60% decrease in PTSD symptoms. 60%!
2) Partnership with the ever-amazing Sarah Ray and her brand-new curriculum to bring 4-6 months of business training. She went in 2014 to teach two mamas from every group and they are STILL talking about it and her! This program will be training our literacy coaches and our staff in a 16-module curriculum to walk our mamas to even greater levels of thriving in their businesses will rock their worlds.

DONATION DETAILS …
Beauty for Ashes Uganda’s (BFAU’s) need this month is $29,500, so they can provide for all of the mamas in their community. Yes, their dream is audacious. But we have a hunch that this is gonna happen as we each give what we can. If you or someone you know is interested in giving a large chunk of the larger funding need, please reach out and let’s talk.

-Small and large gifts are tax-deductible to US donors.
-You can DONATE from anywhere in the world.
-Let us know if you have trouble donating and we’ll see how we can help.

CREATIVE WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS PROJECT …
1 – COLLABORATE! …FORM A TEAM on GoFundMe and help us raise funds for a special occasion or celebration ... or just because you want to! (Contact Sarah DT for info or to set your team up.)
2 – CONNECT WITH, follow, and friend our team:
www.beautyforashesuganda.org | Facebook & Insta: @ beautyforashesuganda
www.seedsofexchange.org | Facebook & Insta: @seedsofexchange | sign up to receive stories from ‘round the world to inspire & ignite: bit.ly/SeedsStories
3 – SHARE! Send this link to 5 PEOPLE passionate about trauma therapy, business training, global community, human rights. Let’s see how we can EXPAND this organization’s community connections!
4 - ASK FOR A DONATION to be made on as a gift to YOU this holiday season!!! OR GIVE a gift in honor of someone you love this holiday season!
5 – Call, text, or email and say THANKS to someone who has been a part of helping YOU heal and thrive!

JOIN US AS AN EVERYDAY PHILANTHROPIST …
As part of our call to all to be an everyday philanthropist, each month I spotlight a project or program in the world. Our partner’s focus is in at least one of these five categories: human rights, education, health, community emergencies, and art-activism. I am blessed with a huge pool of changemakers in my community – so there is never a lack of trusted organizations with whom to partner.

This sort of “everyday philanthropy” is about an unrestrained generosity rooted in the reality of your everyday life. Generosity feels good. It is part of your purpose on the planet. It finds ways to share with others the treasure trove of whatever you have and whatever you love. It makes a difference with your small and large acts alike … living with a commitment and connection to your sisters and brothers near and far. Explore and discover your unique – right here and now – calling to be an everyday philanthropist today.

I get it: These stories and the very invitation to give and to BE philanthropists isn’t always comfortable. Or easy. Sometimes it’s the world’s pain pricking our hearts that wakes us up to see – and say yes! – to our destiny.

With all my heart, I believe that the lights of our lives turn ON when we find ways to love, care, and serve each other … especially those on the margins, the outsiders, the hungry, the sick, the vulnerable. So, pay attention to what makes your heart thrum, brings tears to your eyes, a knot in your stomach … I believe those are the things that are often clues to our next steps and leaps … to our purpose on the planet … and is what makes our lives glow.

So, today and together, let’s dispute the suggestion that philanthropy is an exclusive club only for those deemed wealthy. Today and together, let’s dispute that the only thing that matters and makes a difference is giving in “big” ways. The movement that will be unleashed when we live as generously unrestrained philanthropists WILL light up the world.

You are loved. We belong to each other. Let’s standTALL together and light up the world!

Sarah Davison-Tracy, Seeds of Exchange 
& Brandi Lea & the team of Beauty for Ashes Uganda

More information about Beauty for Ashes Worldwide Inc (Beauty For Ashes Uganda): To Empower Women, Especially Single Mamas And Widows, To Reach Long-Term Sustainability For Their Families. We Also Offer Short Term Aid Such As School Fees For Secondary School Kids, Emergency Medical Relief, Small Gifts, And Water Projects.