One of the main goals of Girls for Africa is to help girls give back to their communities. So the leaders sat the girls down and brainstormed all the ideas they had to do just that. And because the girls are so involved in the community, the list was long! But at the top of their some was bringing some extra love to kids and families who are in the hospital. For various reasons, many of the girls had been patients of the hospital growing up, and remember how lonely and hopeless they often felt. They wanted to make sure that other kids who are in similar situations feel the opposite – full of love and hope. So today, we’re helping the Girls For Africa crew show some love to those who need it most – kids and families at Children’s Hospital of Omaha. The girls knew that Walmart was the place to go to shop for the stuffed animals. And so we showed up at Walmart with three cars full of GFA girls, ready to pick out the best and coziest stuffed animals around. One hour and four … [Read more...] about Some Extra Love
Changemakers365
The Essentials
Yesterday, we helped the women of Girls for Africa make a new South Sudanese family settle into their home in Omaha. And today, we’re welcoming another family, this time from Congo. The girls wanted to make sure that the family had all the essentials they needed to start their new life out right. So they let us know how we could contribute, how we could help make them feel at home. When visiting them for the first time, Elizabeth and Nyamat showed them how things in their house works – the sink, the shower, the stove. There are so many new things to learn! While there, they took note of the things they needed, and we helped to get it to the family of eleven. Then we gathered some girls from Girls for Africa to deliver the items. They got two side tables for the living room, lamps, a microwave, a dish rack dryer, cleaning supplies, a laundry basket and detergent, personal hygiene products, a waste bin, a shower curtain and small mirrors, hats and gloves, socks, and … [Read more...] about The Essentials
Welcome Home
Yesterday, we met Girls for Africa and the amazing women – Elizabeth, Tabitha, and Nyamat - who founded the group. They're always looking for opportunities to give back to the refugee community in Omaha. And When they heard that a South Sudanese family of nine was being resettled in Omaha from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, they decided to do something to help welcome and support them. Kakuma is where many South Sudanese girls in Girls for Africa were born. And they know firsthand how tough the transition to the U.S. can be. So the leaders of the group went to the airport to greet the family and provide a warm first welcome to their new home. As soon as they exchanged hugs and smiles, Elizabeth and Tabitha realized that they had known the family from their own days in Kakuma! Martha, the mom of the family, also remembered and Elizabeth and her family leaving for the U.S. 20 years ago. “It was an amazing experience,” said Elizabeth. “They are such a beautiful family. It’s crazy … [Read more...] about Welcome Home
Girls for Africa
Sometimes you run across people whose energy and determination sweep you up with them – and you’re automatically along for the ride. For us, those people are Elizabeth, Nyamat, and Tabitha. They’re the incredible women behind Girls for Africa – a mentorship and empowerment group based in Omaha, Nebraska. It’s hard to imagine when these women sleep. Originally from South Sudan, they do so much for their community, while at the same time pursuing their own lives and careers, that sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day! What fuels them? Coffee probably helps, but mainly, it’s their desire to give back - and to help the next generation of girls grow up strong. About a year ago, Elizabeth, Nyamt, and Tabitha started Girls for Africa for middle and high school age girls. Their goal was to create a space where girls can feel comfortable being themselves, and build strong, healthy, and meaningful relationships. It was designed for the South Sudanese community, but it’s … [Read more...] about Girls for Africa
Party Like Its 2017
Today is the last day of our month of gratitude - and what a ride it's been! We've learned that sometimes, taking just a moment to say a simple thank you can mean the world. You never know how far a gesture of gratitude can go for someone in need of appreciation. Our last stop? Thanking our ENTIRE Asili family in Congo. On day 365, we're throwing them a party. But not just any party. Family and friends are invited too, and we had an extra surprise – an option to take family portraits for their homes. Plus, plenty of goat kebabs to go around – and then some! Company parties don't always have the best reputation. Sometimes people bring their spouses, but for the most part people pay a visit and leave shortly after. But in Congo – and particularly for the Asili – this was not the case! Almost 100 people showed up to the party - spouses, children, cousins, and extended family. It felt like all of Bukavu was there. The energy was electric. We kicked the night off … [Read more...] about Party Like Its 2017
Renaissance Man
Valery is what you might call a renaissance man. He's a talented piano player. A Chinese speaker. A father of two. An expert in American movies (particularly romantic comedies).A philanthropist. And, a dedicated member of the Asili team. Valery manages the enterprise side of all three of Asili's social enterprises - that's a clean water business, health clinics, and agricultural cooperatives. But he brings his creative and diverse talent to everything Asili does, helping to craft Asili's strategic vision and exploring what the future could bring. We wanted to thank Valery for the long days and nights he's dedicated to building Asili up, and for believing in our potential to help change Congo's narrative for the better. And because we know that family is so important to him, we decided to do something special, for everyone. We took Valery and his two young boys out for a fancy dinner - a rare treat that they normally wouldn't indulge in. "Wow, this is really special, … [Read more...] about Renaissance Man
No Cinderellas Here!
Asili clinics are spotless. We believe that beautiful, calm, and clean spaces can make all the difference when it comes to helping heal not only physical traumas, but emotional ones too. And all who walk inside Asili's doors remark on how clean and tidy our clinics are. But there's a big reason for that – our incredible cleaners. Asili cleaners work behind the scenes. Because it's often unseen, the job can often go without enough thanks. On Day Day 363, we wanted to share our gratitude with the cleaners in a big way - by giving them a goat! Goats are incredibly important in Congo. Given as a gift, they're a symbol of respect and also a source food. Not many people can afford meat on a regular basis. So having a goat around - which can feed dozens of people – is a big deal. It is not always the fanciest or high-profile job that's the most important. Often times, the unseen heroes are the ones who make all the difference. The Asili cleaners are a huge part of … [Read more...] about No Cinderellas Here!
Leading the Way
The last week of gratitude has been dedicated to ARC’s social enterprise - Asili - in Congo. And everything Asili does is influenced by one man - Abraham Leno. Abraham is the Country Director for ARC in Congo. When you see Abraham interact with his team, you can see his unique style of leadership shine through. He cares deeply for everyone, and wants everyone to be their best selves through Asili. And he's also deeply respected - his team looks up to him like a friend and a father. Aside from his Asili family, Abraham has his own family back in the U.S. But until December, Abraham hadn't taken a day off – he hadn't seen them since June. Abraham’s hard work and caring heart is exactly why we wanted to thank him. He was soon leaving for Minnesota to speak at ARC's annual Changemakers Ball, and to meet up with his wife. So we knew just the thing for him. On Day 362, we thanked Abraham with a $500 visa gift card, that he could use in Minnesota's Mall of America, the … [Read more...] about Leading the Way
Yes way, Jose!
Jose is the head of Asili operations. He has a hand in everything from big picture strategy to the daily ins and outs of Asili to human resources and hiring. He takes on a lot. Plus, he was one of Asili's very first employees – he's believed in Asili from the very beginning. But everyone needs a day off every once in a while. A relaxed and refreshed mind can do wonders to put an extra pep in your step. So for Day 361, we thought there was no better way to thank Jose than to give him and his wife some much-needed time away in sunny Gisenyi! Gisenyi is a resort town in Rwanda, just a short boat ride away from Bukavu across Lake Kivu. And we couldn't wait to surprise him with the good news. When we told Jose and his wife Leotine that we were giving them a weekend away, they could hardly believe their ears. They couldn't remember the last time they had been on vacation. We asked them to take some photos of their weekend away for us. "We will, from the beach!" Leotine … [Read more...] about Yes way, Jose!
An Oasis of Orchids
In the spirit of recognizing those who help make our work possible, we're turning now to one of our most important partners in Congo - the staff at Orchid hotel. When teammates from out of country come to work with Asili, we can always rely on the Orchids Hotel to look after our guests and provide them with not only a positive experience, but a delightful one. The Orchid Hotel is an oasis of peacefulness and rejuvenation. The staff alternates living on site for half the week, switching with their colleagues for the other half. They show a huge amount of dedication to what they do, providing excellent service, always. On top of that, the Orchids Hotel was one of Asili's first customers, purchasing both water and potatoes! So for Day 360, we're saying thanks and showing them a little hospitality this time around. Orchids staff put new meaning to the idea of service with a smile. From going out of their way to get to know you, to spending time sharing their stories … [Read more...] about An Oasis of Orchids