MEET SOME REAL HEROES
Somaly Mam was sold to a brothel in her native Cambodia when she was a teen. After several years of rape and torture, she escaped that life. Then as a grown woman, she braved the rage of the powers that controlled the sex trade and returned to the same brothel, offering food, medicine, education, and freedom to the girls trapped there. Two organizations Mam founded have freed more than 6,000 girls from a hellish life in the brothels of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam despite the constant risk of reprisals against her. (More)
Aitan Grossman received his Giraffe Commendation at his Bar Mitzvah, which means Aitan was 13 years old, not the youngest Giraffe ever, but close. To know more about what this young man is doing, check out his website.
Sarah Herr is a high school cheerleader in Bettendorf, Iowa. That’s as good as it gets in teen society, right? The prettiest, the most popular girls in school are the ones out in front of the stands, leading all the cheers. But Sarah went beyond that teen highpoint—she stuck her neck out to create and train a whole new squad of cheerleaders, girls who are usually sidelined from teen activities. Have a look at the Spartan Sparkles.
Dora Andrade teaches poor kids in Fortaleza, Brazil to dance—with their bodies and with their hearts and minds. She sold her jewelry and used the cash to create EDISCA (School for Dance and Social Integration for Children and Adolescents), where she not only teaches dance and self respect, but provides access to meals, medical exams, dental care and computer training. EDISCA’s kids get such great care, wealthy families have tried to get their kids in. (more)
Sierra Leonean John Bangura saw his parents, other relatives and dozens of friends killed in the fighting in his country. Bangura says he lived for vengeance until he was inspired to work for peace and recovery instead. Through his program, Hope-Sierra Leone, Bangura is now doing community development work in his country, healing the wounds of war. (more)
Cheryl Perera, of Toronto, founded OneChild, a non-profit that focuses young people on stopping the commercial sexual exploitation of children. (more)
Stan Brock has been an adventure movie hero, a television host, a bush pilot/rancher in the Amazon, and a karate expert. But his greatest challenge is his current one— directing his nonprofit Remote Area Medical, a free service that takes doctors, nurses, dentists and veterinarians into areas of the world where there is absolutely no medical care. (more)
On Video
GIRAFFE ACTION, FAR & WIDE
In the UK
Dr. Musharraf Hussain O.B.E., founder of the Karimia Institute, president of the the UK's Christian-Muslim Forum and Trustee of the National Centre for Citizenship talks with Giraffe's John Graham about the launch later this year of Giraffes/UK. They're shown here in the studio of Dawn Radio, Karimia's broadcasting facility in Nottingham, England. Giraffes/UK will honor heroes there, regardless of their ethnicities or religious affiliations and will aim at narrowing the dangerous gap between Muslims and non-Muslims throughout the UK.
In Singapore
Giraffe Founder Ann Medlock went part way round the world to fabulous Singapore to keynote a conference at Singapore Management University. Ann's talk was about female Giraffes and the changes they've catalyzed in communities large and small. (Go to our online database and ask for stories about female Giraffes. There are hundreds of great stories.) Conference organizer Kirpal Singh invited Ann to keynote after hearing her speak at the American Creativity Association and then reading about her "near-TED experience." Ann wrote about the Singapore adventure in her monthly email to friends of Giraffe. If you're not already receiving that email, subcribe to Heads Up now. You can also read a full-page interview with Ann in the Straits Times. If you think Ann might be a good addition to an event you're planning, contact us about getting on her calendar.
In Georgia
Giraffe materials for young kids include Two Tall Tales told by Stan Tall & Bea Tall, our cartoon young giraffes. Brenna Christie, the guidance counselor at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon, Georgia, wrote us to say that Tattnall kids who did the Giraffe Heroes Program were being brave and compassionate all over the place. She sent us illustrations that Tattnall students have done for Stan & Bea's stories. Here's a sample ~
In Kyrgyzstan
There's a spin-off of the Giraffe Heroes Project in Kyrgyzstan. Eight people received the first commendations.
In Nigeria
Inspired by the stories in Voices of Hope, the Giraffe Heroes Project's anthology of heroes around the world, fourteen students in Oporoza, Nigeria have formed the “Giraffe Service Club International." Their purpose is to "serve humanity." That's their teacher, Job Bebenimibo, at front row left. (more)
In New Jersey
Mary Lou DiCaprio, a parent/volunteer who leads Giraffe teams at a school in Mountain Lakes NJ sent this response to a recent Giraffe e-message: "Having heard President Obama's announcement about increasing the number of math and science teachers, and taking into account my B.S. in chemistry, I believe that I'm being called to be a part of the new spirit of hope, with Giraffe as my guiding light." (more)
In Maryland
An inspiring film shows what's happening as the Giraffe Heroes Project works with community groups serving young people in Wicomico County, Maryland.
1 Way 2 Help
GIRAFFES AFTERSCHOOL
We now offer you a tool kit you can use to train tomorrow's heroes, after school. (Full info)
ANNOUNCING
GIRAFFE HEROES INTERNATIONAL
We are pleased to announce Giraffe Heroes International (GHI) under the direction of John Graham, a veteran leader of the Project and a former US diplomat. (Read the full story)
Free Lesson
Here's a gift for teachers,
a free Giraffe lesson
that helps kids find
real heroes in their world.
Free Tips
You can have help for your cause right now via our free Coach's Corner.
YOU & THE FOUNDER
From time to time, Ann Medlock, this Project's founder, does a brief but inspiring email called Heads Up. You can check out past copies here. They're so good (and so free) we bet you'll join the Heads Up circle and send them on to friends & family.
For further wit & wisdom from Ann, check out her speeches, radio commentaries and OpEds.
