As the kinesthetic learner I am, our scavenger hunt was the perfect and most fun experience I have had 

in awhile. The scavenger hunt stretched our brains to solve clues, but also, stretched our bodies, 

venturing to our destinations. The first of the clues lead us to the Molly Brown House Museum. I had 

never been to the museum, but instantly remembered writing a paper on Molly back in 4th grade. I was 

so excited to finally get to go! The house was amazing and I learned so much about Molly. I loved 

learning that she would actually yodel out on her front balcony. It makes me want to step out on my 

front patio and give yodeling a go! The next clue lead us to the Capital building. I love the architecture of 

the building and had never known the stairs had any more meaning besides being stairs. The stairs 

signifying the miles above sea level of Colorado was a very cool addition. The next stop was to the 

Denver Public Library. The library is beautiful! I could have stayed there all day! I love books! Even 

though we weren’t able to look inside Jill Tietjan’s archives we were able to look at the inventory for the 

archives and that was just as fantastic! There were so many awards and certificates. I thought to myself, 

what an amazing woman! She’s achieved so much! It inspired me to achieve as much as I can and do as 

much as I can, to make a difference in others lives and my own. We then traveled to take a picture In 

front of the black American West Museum. I was shocked to see it as a cute house. The fact that the 

museum was a house made it feel more familiar. When we went in front of Coors Field to ask people the 

questions I was so excited! It reminded me of those Youtube videos I watch all the time, of people 

walking up to random people on the streets and asking them questions. The answers were surprising! 

The answers people gave would be really close at times and then way off at others. I had the best day 

ever! I’m so thankful to the Blossom Project for this unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for what’s to 

come!

            This Tuesday I went on a retreat called the Homeless Plunge. We started at school, then made our way downtown by bus. Once we got there, we walked several blocks to the St. Francis center for the homeless. They gave us a tour of the place, all the while telling us the reasons why someone might become homeless and what they offered as services. The shelter stays open from 6 am to 6 pm, and people can store their things, giving them an address that they can use for licenses, jobs, and mail. They have shower rooms and a "store" where people can pick their own clothes in exchange for chores. They have an office for people who cannot afford to go across town or who feel more comfortable working at the shelter. At this shelter there was a majority of men, because of a women's shelter a couple of blocks down. There are different centers for men and women and children, because some women have suffered in the past because of men, or they are just not comfortable staying with men.

            Then we talked with the one therapist who worked there. She deals with new incomers and assesses their need for medication or other therapy. Mental illness is one of the top, if not the top, reason why people become homeless. And even if they don't have it at first, the stress of living only day to day and predispositions to mental illness actually cause mental illness. That really hit me hard, because even if you don't have any mental health problems, the stress of living can bring it on. And if you have to take sleeping medications, but are sleeping on the streets, you won't, because you have to make sure nothing bad happens to you.

            We then went to The Voice newspaper headquarters, where we learned that it is written completely by those who have experienced homelessness, and sold by homeless or "vendors." That was pretty cool, because later I saw people selling them on the streets and understood what that stood for.

            Then outreach workers from Urban Peak, a homeless teen organization, and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless came and in groups we walked all around downtown, giving socks to people who wanted them. Some we just said hi, gave them the socks and moved on, but some engaged immediately in conversation. We talked to one man who made unique dreamcatchers out of bike chains, delicate bracelet chains, and pretty geodes or liquor bottles. We could tell he was proud of them, and understandably, because one of them had gotten into an art gallery. He was very optimistic about getting a website to start selling them to a wider population, because that was the best way to do it without a permanent address.

            I was pretty tired just riding back, but I could only imagine how the homeless felt, walking and standing all the time. And just talking to them made me realize that for some of the most visible population, they are the most invisible. People see them and walk right on by, never stopping to talk unless it's an outreach worker giving them supplies. And why? Is it because if someone has achieved comfortableness, they don't want to disturb it with someone else's uncomfortable situation? Or do they think it's their fault that they are homeless and they're too lazy to get a job or be productive? All of these things we talked about in a reflection once we returned to the school. If there are any other opinions on that I'd love to know them.

            Lastly, when we got back to school, we divided into groups of 5, and were given $5. Then we were told to buy dinner AND breakfast for all 5 of us. We argued about how we could get the most food for less. It was very hard, and my dinner was a piece of bread with turkey, and my breakfast bananas and peanut butter. Breakfast you say? Yes. We slept over at the school- outside that is. We had sleeping bags and pillows but not much else. It was to simulate actually being homeless and having to sleep outside. It was rough, but definitely worth it for the experience. I realized just how privileged I am, having BOTH parents who can clothe and feed me, being able to go to school coming from a warm bed, and driving in a car that I can use pretty much whenever. I am extremely grateful for my experience on this retreat, and if anyone else has a similar opportunity, take it. It's worth it.   

Senior year of highschool is so pressure filled. Its not the part about getting into college

that I am worried about, its the part where I have to pay up more money than I have ever seen 

in my life. College is so expensive and one thing that family members keep trying to shove down 

my throat is that I don’t want to go into debt. That is something I obviously want to avoid, but it 

seems so inevitable

. You have to be the best of the best to get the scholarships that help you avoid having 

to pay a single dime when it comes to tuition and board. Along with being the best of the best is 

a financial need that has to be proven my financial documents. If your parents make too much 

money to qualify for the financial based scholarships, but not enough to actually provide any 

contribution a person is pretty much on their own at that point.

So when you’re not the best of the best and you have the weighing pressure of how do 

I pay for a decent education a few ideas begin to leak into one’s mind. One idea is spend your 

last high school career mindlessly filling out applications and trying to claim the money that so 

many financial advisors say is out there. There are also financial advisors who say that is not 

the right way to go and to only consider a select few. Money seems unreachable and debt looks 

likes its the only option.

Education comes at a very high price and so many people out there want it. To compete 

with the best of the best is tiresome. A car payment is what the debt of college can gain you, 

only you don’t get the car in the end. Instead you get a degree, and that if you have no prior 

work experience in the field you’re searching for it can become nearly impossible to get hired.

It is a very time consuming thought of having to pay for college. Yet, I often wander into 

thought of the possibilities that can happen once I go through the college experience. So many 

amazing things can be learned and introduced to me. Passions and inspirations may be thrown 

my way in a storm that would not be possible without that car payment of debt. I hate to think 

that money is the only thing holding me back from those experiences.

So whether I like it or not, I’ll sit day after day listening to the educated financial advisors 

searching for a way to pay for college. I think searching for money to go to school is closest I’ll 

get to understanding not having primary and secondary school readily available for children in 

other countries. Though I know in my search, I ‘ll probably never fully understand it.

The internet is home to various riches: videos of cats, marketplaces, and answers to homework problems; however, among this vast community lay hidden web pages dedicated to making the world a better place. They offer opportunities for users to make themselves into philanthropists by giving to those in need. Below are a few unique and constructive examples as to how a single idea has transformed the lives of women and others in the developing world.

1In in India there is an estimated 3 million forced sex workers with about 90% of that being internal. The International Princess™ Project founder, Shannon Keith, discovered this display of modern day slavery on a trip to India in 2005. She heard stories of girls being sold by their families, mothers trying to provide for their families, and pimps picking up orphans off of the street. Unfortunately, the few who are able to return home must face social stigma and have no way to survive. Ignited by what she saw, Keith gathered up her friends and founded International Princess™ Project to empower women and provide opportunities for those who have lost everything. Working with a skilled seamstress, they created a simple pattern for pajama pants, termed Punjammies, made out of the traditional Indian Sari that women could use to learn how to sew. With each stitch, the brave women who escaped sex slavery can forge new and respectable lives. Now there are over 150 women employed by the Project at 3 of their sewing centers in India. You can donate directly to The International Princess Project, but by purchasing your own pair of pajama pants or any of their specialty products at http://intlprincess.org/, you are actively employing and assisting strong and independent women whom have experienced horrors that we can only imagine. The humanitarian efforts of Shannon Keith and her friends have transformed the lives of women in India and with every purchase of Punjammies, you too can be a philanthropist.

Furthermore, at http://www.shethinx.com/ you can purchase a pair of underwear for yourself while providing seven washable and reusable pads for adolescent girls in Africa. The undergarments that the buyer receives with their purchase are made with a moisture wicking layer, an anti-microbial and stain-resistant layer, an absorption layer, and a leak-proof layer that can absorb up to 2-6 teaspoons of liquid, depending on the style purchased. They have been designed for women to wear them during their menstrual cycle without the waste and burden of using pads or tampons. However, with every purchase, you ensure that one girl in Eastern Africa can stay in school, get a job, and be a productive member of society. Over 84% of girls in the developing world (approximately 10 million) are forced to leave school early because they are unable to properly regulate their menstrual cycle. Due to the lack of resources, women and girls must stay home when they are on their period and are unable to attend school or work.  THINX has teamed up with AFRIpads to provide work for women in Africa to manufacture reusable cloth pads in order to2 improve menstrual hygiene which would allow girls to continue their education. The organization employs native women to produce their products, creating more opportunities for women in a male-dominated society. By making their products reusable, AFRIpads also ensures that the environment is protected as there is very little waste associated with their pads. With the spectacular benefits for the consumer, the recipient, and the creators of the kits, you can be sure that your purchase will benefit yourself and the developing world. You can also donate to the cause directly at http://afripads.com/blog/.

If you would prefer to give directly to an organization rather than receive a gift in return, the Global Fund for Women is a nonprofit organization which works to advance women’s rights. By giving at 3 http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/, you are supporting women-led organizations around the world. Their vision is a “just, equitable and sustainable world in which women and girls have resources, voice, choice and opportunities to realize their human rights.” By funding in more than 170 countries focused primarily in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Fund’s primary goals are to end gender based violence, ensure equal rights to resources and politics, and allow all women to make their own reproductive and sexual choices. They do this by challenging laws and cultures that promote discrimination and abuse, supporting democracy movements, legal reform and women’s participation in politics, and advocating for campaigns aimed to secure women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Finally, the Global Fund for Women provides grants for organizations or groups of women whose aim is to improve the lives of women around the world. This organization not only advocates for women’s rights and equality, but also empowers women to take action and change the world.

Not every philanthropy website is based on women; http://freerice.com/ serves to provide food for anyone who is struggling to find their next meal. The website advocates two goals: to provide a free education and free food in the form of rice to those in need in order to end world hunger. As you are educating yourself in the form of games and activities, the points you accumulate translate into grains of rice that will be given to hungry human beings. Freerice is owned by the United Nations World Food Programme and is a nonprofit website. It promotes that “somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide.” While you spend some down time learning new information in a variety of subjects, you are providing someone’s next meal; it is a win-win situation.

Some of the activities available on the website are:



·       Literature

·       World Hunger

·       Famous Quotations

·       English Vocabulary

·       English Grammar

·       Multiplication Table

·       Basic Math (Pre-Algebra)

·       German

·       Spanish

·       French

·       Italian

·       Latin

·       World Landmarks

·       Identify Countries on the Map

·       World Capitals

·       Flags of the world

·       Human Anatomy

·       SAT® Preparation



 

As the player moves on in the game, the questions accelerate in difficulty. One right answer is the equivalent of a donation of 10 grains of rice; the amount of rice to feed a single adult for a whole day is approximately 19,000 grains. The website boasts that they have raised enough to feed over 5 million people in the developing world. By playing for just 5 minutes you are actively assisting those who do not know where their next meal is coming from without having to concede any money. Being a donor isn’t about how much money you give; by giving your time, expertise, or services, you are considered a philanthropist.

Donating your time, money, and talents through internet based organizations changes people’s lives who are in need of help. The internet connects us to people around the world and in doing so, we able to interact and donate to those millions of miles away. Sitting on the couch, watching an episode of Friends, you can be a philanthropist. And these are only just four examples; on the vast expanse of the web there are thousands of websites dedicated to improving the livelihoods of women, children, and those in poverty in the developing world. It only takes a few clicks to make a big difference.

Photo Credits

1 http://shop.intlprincess.org/Punjammies/?id=950

2 http://www.thecausemopolitan.com/31-days-of-giving-day-2-thinx

3 http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/what-we-do/economic-and-political-empowerment

Works Referenced

http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/index.php

http://afripads.com/blog/

http://www.shethinx.com/mission/

http://www.shethinx.com/technology/

http://intlprincess.org/about/