Well, this is it, friends.
Several months ago, we (I feel like we’ve been on this journey together) began reading and weeping over the plight of orphans in the world.
Then we started praying.
Then planning.
Then blogging.
Slowly and steadily, we’ve found structure and focus for our dream of a project that will reach out beyond our borders and give hope to the most impoverished young women in the world. It will also give vision to young women in America who – whether or not they know it or feel like it – are the richest people in the world. If we can send an orphan like Judy to college, that’s amazing and wonderful. But if we can – in the process – create a generation of young women who are concerned with social justice and willing to develop the “spirit of rescue”, then we have done something much, much bigger.
To this end, we have created the Amani Life Project. The word amani means “safe and secure” in Swahili. It will create a way for American women to partner with African women and make a miracle happen.
The Amani Life Project is dedicated to the dream of sending orphaned girls to college. Many organizations exist to help them start a little business or buy a cow or borrow money. We, however, are committed to the idea of helping orphaned women pursue a college degree (nearly unheard of for an abandoned child in a third world country) and to become WHATEVER they want to become (chills!)
So, you’ve read my posts on the condition of orphans in the world (if you haven’t, check them out – they’re called Tuesday’s Child and are strewn throughout my blog) and now you’ve heard just a little of my dream…so I’m going to go ahead and “do the ask”. Would you like to dream with us? Here’s what we need:
- Moms who know that it’s time for young women in America to have a cause bigger than who they date or what they wear.
- Young women who are concerned that the world beyond our borders is not safe for the dreams of their global sisters.
- Creative thinkers of all kinds (and gender!)
- Those who are willing to the be the voice for our Amani Girls (the girls from Africa we have chosen to assist in pursuing a college education) on their middle school, high school or college campus.
- Donations of services such as printing, design work and promotional materials.
- Those who want to travel and see the world…experiencing and explaining the plight of the orphaned child.
- Amani Partners: those who “get involved” to the tune of $10 per month and in doing so, help to change the outlook for a girl who would otherwise have a dangerous or uncertain future.
Well, that’s a pretty doable list – and already we’ve had resources dropping out of heaven to help us launch this exciting mission! If you’re ready and want to be a part of the wonder, please, oh, please leave a comment here with your email address. For those of you who are blog-shy, shoot me an email at amanilifeproject@gmail.com. If you just want to know more, steer your cursor on over to our new web site: www.amanilifeproject.com.
It’s time to make a difference,
Bo
P.S. When you stop by the web site, BE SURE to check out our Shop for Social Justice store – filled with awesome Amani stuff. And, when you read my clever item descriptions, take a moment and think to yourself: Bo really has too much time on her hands. 🙂
I’m in! And I do not think you have too much time on your hands, I think you’re just too clever and don’t know what to use it on so you choose to unleash it on clothing titles! 🙂
Thanks, Whit – that’s very kind of you, considering you’ve been enduring the backlog of my “clever” your whole life. Thanks also for your significant and strategic contributions to the launch of Amani. Let’s keep imagining that first day of school. 🙂
Bo, I am in as well. I haven’t even had time to check out the website. I know you said to give you a couple of weeks, but whenever you are ready to assign tasks let me know. God will carve the time out of my schedule for this project because I know it’s going to be powerful and I am excited! To quote Mr Bob Dylan…”times are a-changing”…and I want to be a part of it!
WOOOHOOOO….I sent in a query on the website, I checked everything except filming the blogspot thing…I’m not that talented. I can cut hair(or pretend too), drink coffe, and spin lots of plates at once but filming and creative things…not me. AND I CAN HELP AN ORPHAN GO TO COLLEGE!!!
BRILLIANT! I can’t wait to meet!
It’s finally here! Thanks Bo for letting God dream inside of you. I’m so excited for what’s ahead…and I just quit my job to travel the world! 🙂
ps…I want an AMANI morning drive-by mug…and they are out of stock…how can they be out of stock??? LOL I’ll be patient, but I want to be a walking, drinking AMANI LIFE PROJECT person
Tracy – I KNOW! So frustrating! That’s our vendor’s issue and we’ll see how soon that can be fixed because I want one too! 🙂
Dang! I deleted your comment. Leave it again…oh how I love comments! 🙂
Ok, I’m in too. I trust God will lead me in the direction to listen closely to how He desires me to be involved. He’s breaking me ever so gently right now, all I can handle little by little. But there are moments when the immensity of His love for the lost is breaking my heart and bringing me to complete surrender to be used for the healing that needs to happen so there is a solid foundation for dreams to be achieved.
I’m In!
As if I wasn’t ‘in’ before. 🙂 Oh how excited I am for this whole thing. So exciting. It’s great to know that you are a part of something bigger then the everyday things that we care about.
Love you!
-Tess
Lame! I always forget to log you out before I leave a comment. Sorry for the confusion.
🙂
Well you know we’re in! Eric and I are there for you in ANY way you need. (We’ll even go to Africa with you! – like that’s a sacrifice?! Haha)
Wow, Bo. This is beautiful. The heart. The concept. The vision. The dream. The name. And even the website. I’m so proud to be alongside you in this journey to love orphan girls, and specifically to help them to fulfill their dreams. wow. love you!
Ah..Bre, Ann, Lindsay and my wonderful Tess: thanks so much for your support. And thanks to everyone who emailed and called and showed up in airports and such. I’m beyond excited about all that is just around the next corner! Stay tuned…it’s about to get really good.
I’m totally in. I’m up in Washington but would love to do what I can!
Hey Angie – great to hear from you! I’m actually in Washington right now too – speaking at a ladies retreat here. There’s a lot you can do – I’m going to post more on that next week.
Hooray! What Fun! This idea is so brilliantly constructed that I have no doubt that it’s going to bless and bless and continue blessing without limits. The giving and receiving is reciprocal. I’ve been blessed already and all I’ve done thus far is desire the purchase of a mug that’s not available and become VERY EXCITED! I can’t fathom ever coming up with this vision. It definitely has God’s fingerprints written all over it and one day I’d love to hear the story of the birth of Amani Life Project…
I’m loving your follow through of a bold move Bo! Thanks for helping me to define and answer my “what can I do?”
Can’t wait for what’s to come.
Holly
Hello again Bo!
You know, the timing of this whole new ministry launch is quite amazing to me. Do you know that right before you started your “Tuesday’s Child” orphan blogs, I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. And it was like I was all-of-a-sudden “missing” you in a deeper way than I had for years. So I googled you, discovered your blog, and WOW!!! now you’ve got this new orphan focus.
And guess what??? I just want you to know that I’m super-excited about coming (with a friend) to hear you speak at this weekend’s SELAH women’s seminar at George Fox University. (About two months ago, I heard about this, and strongly felt that I was supposed to go.) So now, I’m wondering if maybe you’re going to have a table set up at SELAH to share about AMANI. ‘Cause if you are, and if I could help you out by sharing the vision . . . or selling mugs or aprons . . . or whatever . . . just know that I’m at your service!!!!
I love you, dear friend!!!
Ann
Hey Ann – I emailed you! Let me know if it doesn’t show up. Love you! -Bo