this is great, Julie.:) I'm going to set up a new thread for 10%ers to post comments on that increase awareness of projects which touch their hearts (Like this one). THis could also go under Fridge Magnets.

Thanks Julie for bringing this in the limlight. Its also reminds me of so many on the street of Nairobi facing the same problem. Here they are refered to as the "street families" I think everyone has a role towards this course.

Thank you for working to raise awareness on this.

Kenneth~Kipawa Afrika~Ng'ethe said:

Thanks Julie for bringing this in the limlight. Its also reminds me of so many on the street of Nairobi facing the same problem. Here they are refered to as the "street families" I think everyone has a role towards this course.

When I was in Mongolia last year, there were many such street families. One made an open type house, more like a space marked off for their nest. It gave me great joy to bring them hot meals several times a week. What gave them the greatest joy, to my surprize was my ability to bring them a book on their culture written in their own language, one that the monestaries were issuing. One of the issues in Mongolia is the insurge of western religions (not that this is wrong) but moreover, the lack of their own cultural roots. Anyways, this family rejoiced and gave many thank yous for receiving this booklet. THe book was written for and by Mongolians.

Michael Maranda said:

Thank you for working to raise awareness on this.

Micheal, Darlene and Ken... thank you for noticing my intention to raise awareness. I was wondering about the appropriateness of this type of post. So many of us have first hand experiences and it would be nice to be able to share the jewels we have discovered on our inidividual/collective journeys...

I dont see anything innapropriate. Maybe someone else does.

What is one of the principle uses of the Internet? ICT ... Information and Communications Technologies ... we share information and perhaps raise awareness.

What may come of awareness? That's hopefully part of the capacity of more and more to realize their own power...

Sometimes we hear of the problems or need in the world and they can be overwhelming. But as part of a narrative we bring order... the narrative can show beauty in an event or in a people, and so the world is humanized.

They arent categories in a distant place, but part of a human story. And of course, valuable for that.

Thanks again.

Julie, Thanks for sharing this inspiring work that is going on at this monastery. love, Patricia

Julie, there are few things more appropriate than this if any. thanks for all you are doing to raise the awareness. We are able to change lives thru' convsersations such as this. This inspiring work will touch others elsewhere in the world to really look and see who needs help and be in positon to give it as they can.Thanks Julie

Thank you very much julie for starting this initiative.

Hi Julie - what you have put up here is a dot on the map. By becoming aware of the dots on the map, we are building the capacity to connect awareness and action.

Thank you for being you! (hope that makes sense)

Thanks Julie for sharing this.It reminds me of the time i was in Kiech Kuon,southern sudan alot of children would confess that they attended school without breakfast and sometimes without lunch. This made most of us teach without taking breakfast as most of the time it was cooked late. Keep on letting people know about this to help those who dont have.

That's GREAT Julie. Feel encouraged to make more and more of such issues of concern known to many. You never know, a solution could be lying in store somewhere.

Samuel Ngotho said:

Thanks Julie for sharing this.It reminds me of the time i was in Kiech Kuon,southern sudan alot of children would confess that they attended school without breakfast and sometimes without lunch. This made most of us teach without taking breakfast as most of the time it was cooked late. Keep on letting people know about this to help those who dont have.

Samuel, for most of the children that come to this soup kitchen it is the only meal they have. In 1999 I attended an international volunteering conference put on by the United Nations. My job was to work with 150 young people (17-24) who came from 150 countries to write a document on how to engage young people in international volunteering efforts. One of the most difficult realities I faced was meeting the young people who attended from Africa (a group of 30 from different parts of your country). The young men from Kenya that I spent some time with shared with me how they only eat one meal a day in the country. Most who attended the event, in Switzerland, were amazed by all the food we ate (which was part of the conference agenda). The young man who I am thinking about, shared how he would often share his one meal with those who didn't have one for the day.

And, to put things in balance (because I don't understand why some are born in places with more food than others)... another African friend of mine from Zimbawbwey, who lives in California (an onetter), informed me how he plans to return to his country to work with the youth, to help them start social businesses... while he agreed we have money here, he felt the quality of life was better for the family where he came from.

I know my friend Ted Ernst felt the same way when traveling to Kenyna to work with refugees as part of the Humanist Movement. He wanted to much to convey to his African friends how lucky they are to have the families they have. Some of us in America have close families, however, the stress to make money (which we need to support the house, the car, the food, the clothes)is so high here in America. And, we are somewhat trapped into the lifestyle that exists here, very difficult to get out from within the system, unless you are very wealthy or very poor (from a money point of view).

Anyhow, I am thankful that we can exchange these dialouges together. The families in Mongolia are the most beautiful I have ever spent time with. During my trip, I had the good fortune to spend many nights traveling from yurt to yurt and eating goat stew, a cup of Mare's milk and a bit of homemade cheese that came from their nomadic practices... The families all sleep in one yurt! And, they seem to communicate mind to mind or perhaps it is heart to heart.

Richard Kananga. M. said:

That's GREAT Julie. Feel encouraged to make more and more of such issues of concern known to many. You never know, a solution could be lying in store somewhere.

Thank you for the encouragement Richard... I will take you up on your encouragement. On the way home from the bay area this week, I began thinking about how to bring this type of work forward in a way that also expresses what I learned about how humans and human systems organize, what's needed to help support uplifts (locally and globally)... so, over the next weeks and months I will begin to show what I learned during my fellowship in community youth development to provide both examples and opportunities for others to join in building a universal peace wheel together... through linking and sharing and growing an interdependent networking support system... thanks...

Up until I made this news post, I haven't been able to see how to bring this knowledge here to O.NET... get your eyes posted!!!

Patricia, Dolma Ling is not a monastery. It is a nunnary set up with instructions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to explore how to help victims of cultural genocide rebuild their collasped cultures. This particular nunnary is a pilot project being used as a model to understand how they might do the same in Tibet and other places.

The following is quote from HHDL about the Dolma Ling nunnery and their efforts.

"In ancient Tibet, educational programs were available in some nunneries. But in recent times there are no standard training programs in any of them. Dolma Ling can therefore set a precedent and become a model for nunneries throughout Tibet."

• His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Oct. 9, 1995 during a visit to Dolma Ling.

Dolma Ling is one of 4 such nunneries now operating in Mongolia. Prior to Mongolia becoming a democracy all monastastic operations were destroyed. What's so wonderful about these nunneries, is that they are also a statement of women's rights, as only men were allowed such educational persuits in previous times.

Very interesting.

With all due regards, Julies efforts will go a long way in reminding and caring for all mankind; each person in his or her own way. The greatest thing is that our creator, GOD, recognises all our efforts. your efforts are heart-warming which reminds us of our role to society.Thanks a lot.

Thank you David and welcome to O.NET. I see you work to grow tea and corn in Narobi. How wonderful.

Hi Julie,

I set up the thread on The 10% Club for postings like this (that increase awareness of projects which touch our hearts).

It's called Journey of the 10%: Projects and Stories .

Please come by and add this story! love,D

Hi Julie!

I lived in Mongolia in 85-87.

I saw all that you describe. I was good you I understand. Mongolia was a raw appendage of Russia, their culture tried to destroy.

Mongolia very poor country, but with huge potential.

If fairly life of nomads is poor life, simply to help them and to create good conditions for life it means to destroy their culture.

The help should consist in education programs (adapted for their culture). They should choose as them to live.

Hungry and frozen children it is very bad, in it the charitable organizations having bases or creating them should be engaged on the basis of official bodies.

Alexey

Alexey,

Alot has changed since 85-87 in Mongolia. The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) who runs this effort works to perserve the tradition of the Mongolian people.

It is a most amazing country, a social democracy that has huge potential, yet only a decade of freedom. It will be interesting to see how they use their cultural wisdom (the nomadic elders are amazing - had the good fortune to spend a month with 1000 of them in meditation at Ganden Monestary).

Also visited several nomadic families during my 2004 visit. I am hungry to go back and be with the Mongolian people. When I visited Mongolia it was if I had gone home. My heart sings the same tune. I am hoping that Mongolia will become part of the Peace Center Network.

Julie!

My father worked in Mongolia and I, my mum and the sister lived with him.

We lived in Sineshand and then in Baganuur.

Sineshand it almost in desert, there was 5 three-tier houses and much jurts.

Mongolia is very similar on a way of development to Ukraine. We 15 years are independent. Our culture was destroyed with 70 years. But we revived.

Alexey

What a wonderful experience for you and your sister. So much work to do. I'm looking forward to working with you. I'd like to know more about your culture in Ukraine. Do you skype? http://www.skype.com (we can talk for free on-line)

Hi Julie!

I am very bed spiak for English

Give me your eMail please.

It is more easy for me.

Alexey

motivate@frontiernet.net

Also we can speak for free through our computers at http://www.skype.com my user name is juliecaldwell