“It’s time to make like superheros. Put your underpants on the outside – we’ve got a freakin’ world to save.”
~ Cate Bolt, Project 18 President
I joke about being ‘over-social medialized’ (totally a word) frequently. We spend so much time hunched over our computers/ laptops/ smart phones: Blogging, Tweeting, Klouting, Stumbling Upon, Digging, Googling.
And to what end? To write, to connect, to laugh, to tease, to promote, to vent, to rant, to share, to find a place in the world.
Social media is powerful. One blog post, one tweet or retweet, could make a difference. So why not harness this power and REALLY make a difference?
Lerner, of Stay At Home Babe, is doing just this. She is putting on her underpants outside and making like a superhero. She has reached out and gathered a group of us bloggers to set out to make a difference in the lives of some very special but underprivileged children.
Today, July 18, we kick off Heart for Art Bloggers-Unite-For-Bali.
Before we get into that, let me just tell you briefly about Project 18.
What is it?
Project 18, incorporated in Queensland, Australia, is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for humanitarian and conservation projects, which lead to empowerment through education, employment and understanding. It is however, NOT a charity, they raise funds through community fundraising projects and selling items on their online store.
What are we helping with?
We are focusing our efforts on Foundation 18, based in Bali, Indonesia. It is a group home based in Ringdikit and they also run an education outreach program offering sponsorship to children who remain in the care of family.
The group home takes in children who no longer have a family, or whose family can no longer take care of them. I love their “it takes a village” philosophy, providing a safe family environment to the children, with onsite staff taking on parental roles. The home is currently at capacity with 9 girls ranging from 3 to 13 years, in residence.
What are we doing?
Heart for Art is an exchange program. The girls do not speak English, so letters will not do them much good. What can do we do then? I’ll quote Lerner directly, as she says it better than I ever will.
“We will show them that people care, that the world is bigger than what they see right now, that there are many people they’ve never met who are cheering them on in their journey to become strong young women. We send them drawings from us, our children, maybe get local school art classes involved. We send them images from our world, our hearts and they send us what the world looks like to them. Making their world bigger and the big, bad world smaller, all at the same time. I wanted to figure out a way for people who don’t have disposable income to give to still have a way to make a difference in these girls’ lives.”
See why I love this babe?
All you have to do is make something for these kids – get your own children involved! Draw, paint, craft – as long as your art is from the heart and made with love. Please send your work of love and art to:
Lerner Farrington
Attn: Heart For Art
18 Suffolk Rd
Lincoln, LN1 2UG
UK
Or, if you prefer, send to:
Cate Bolt
Attn: Heart For Art
PO Box 239
Glass House Mountains, Qld 4518
Australia
How else can you help?
There are so many ways you can help!
- Web Hosting Services: There are some of you who are contemplating the move to a WordPress self-hosted blog. With discounted rates and knowing that your hosting service will go to an amazing cause, why not purchase one of two blog hosting packages from the P18 shop?
- Make a purchase from the Project 18 Inc. shop or Etsy shop.
- Buy a ‘brick’ of Fairtrade chocolate and help P18 build a ‘chocolate classroom’.
- Make a one off, or regular monthly contribution directly to Foundation 18, Indonesia
- Grab a banner or button from the Project 18 website and add it to your blog or website.
- Follow Project 18 Inc on Twitter and on Facebook
- Participate in Auctions for Education – pick up a bargain and know the money is going to Educate kids.
If you would like more information or has any questions, please email HeartForArt18@gmail.com.
This is a cause that’s close to my heart, and Lerner’s. It would mean so much to us if you could join in – make some art from your heart, purchase something, donate, raise awareness by blogging and tweeting this – any little bit helps. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” ~William James
*Linking up with Bees With Honey’s Let’s Bee Friends to spread more awareness!
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On a separate note, I have a guest post at Mommy Is In Timeout today, while Elena is on vacation in the West Coast. Do go by and check my post on things you can only do while on vacation! Thank you.
Alison
Latest posts by Alison (see all)
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Hi, I'm Alison. I write. I mother. I make wishes. I keep memories. Founder of Little Love Media, social media consultancy. I get by on copious amounts of chocolate, cupcakes, coffee, blogging & social media.
Lerner is amazing–and this campaign is incredible!
Elena recently wrote…One Month To Go!
Yes she is, and yes it is!! Thank you for your support, Elena!
What a great cause. I will check it out and see what I can contribute.
mom2kiddos recently wrote…Young Kids Should Be Banned From
Thank you, please do!
What a great campaign. I have not children at home to help with the art project, but am heading over to the web page… What a wonderful thing!
Ann recently wrote…Linguine with Two Cheese Sauce – and a few other things!
Thank you so much Ann!
I’m going to do my Christmas shopping at P18! But none of the images are coming up. Are you able to see them? Once I see the images I’ll be buying my sisters and the grandmothers their presents here for this year
Thank you for sharing this project with us; this is where I hope blogging can take us in the future!
Kim recently wrote…Return to Sender
I couldn’t see all the images either – might be a problem with the site on their end. Try later? Thanks so much Kim. It’s people like you that keep the world going round.
What a cool idea. I will totally get involved in this.
MamaRobinJ recently wrote…Hello, Inspiration – The Matter of Motherhood
Wonderful! Look forward to seeing what you’ll be doing
What a wonderful idea! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Cheryl recently wrote…Five things that show my age
Thank you Cheryl! All credit goes to Lerner
Excellent way to be pro-active!!! xxx Great Idea.
kim sisto robinson recently wrote…My Big Fat Italian Family
Thank you Kim!
Okay, that made me a big squishy bear. I admit it. There, happy?
Stay At Home Babe recently wrote…Heart For Art: The World Isn’t Big or Bad
Yay!!!!! Mission Squishy accomplished
Hi Alison, just wanted to pop by and thank you personally for taking part in this initiative. I can’t wait to see the look on the girl’s faces when they see the art. You’re right about social media, too! It can be overwhelming sometimes and some don’t see the point in it at all but we’ve managed to completely fund and run our operations with the support of the kind Twitter, Facebook & blogging community, so we think it’s ace.
Thanks again for your support!
Hi Cate, thank you for stopping by! You are such an inspiration. Too often, we take, take, take. Time to give back. I do hope my little part helps.
How wonderful is this?! Sooo great that you are blogging & spreading the word about a mission to help young girls grow to be strong women!
My brother lived & taught in Indonesia for a short time and loved it there. He said he really enjoyed the people. I read your post & flash through the images in my head of the pictures he showed us.
Thanks so much for sharing with us! :>
Karen recently wrote…Kick Ass Shoes
Sharing this was a pleasure. I do hope you jump in on this!
What a great cause and idea! We all need to think more about giving back.
Natalie recently wrote…Life’s Lessons: Random Edition
Yes, yes we do.
Thanks for sharing this … I had not heard of it before and we would love to be involved. That Lerner, she keeps on showing her squishy side, she tries so hard to hide it!
By Word of Mouth Musings linky recently wrote…Maybe Today is my Reminder to be My Own Muse
oops … not sure why my name has linky on it … but nope, just me, no linky
By Word of Mouth Musings recently wrote…Maybe Today is my Reminder to be My Own Muse
Hehe no worries! And yes, Lerner is a total teddy bear though she denies it. Would love to see you get involved, Nicole, you have so many loyal readers!
What a great idea! Thanks for making us aware of this, Alison…also love that I can buy chocolate.
Jessica recently wrote…Summer-Feral
You’re welcome, and yay for chocolate!!
Ahhh, this goes so well with our homeschooling curriculum. Thanks!
Yay!! I do hope you’ll blog about your efforts when you have the chance? *hopeful*
this is an awesome campaign! i look forward to getting my little man to make a little something to send!
Cam recently wrote…Rockin the baby
Yay! So glad to hear that. Could you blog it too? (totally asking outright)
Awesome! Offering a blog hosting package as a way to contribute is genius. I’ll have to look into that.
Christine recently wrote…The Mess in the Playroom
Yes, please do! Thank you.
Thanks for spreading the word about this!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently wrote…An Attitude of Gratitude – My Baby
Thank you for reading and your support!
What a cool concept!
Missy recently wrote…I Miss Junior High
It’s a great idea, isn’t it? Lovely Lerner.
This is a great idea and a great cause. I guess I better get busy, huh?
jacqui recently wrote…On This Episode Of Drunken Karaoke…
Yes, please do!
What an awesome idea! I don’t have kids so…can I send one of MY drawings?
Of course you can!! (as long as it’s not tampon birds and condom balloons)
Your post made me want to bring one of those girls home with me. She’d be fishsticking it up with us in no time. I can’t adopt the world, but you’ve certainly presented myriad ways to try. Thanks for the links. What a great project.
I wish you could too. Let me know what you do, thank you for the support!
Great wonderful idea.
I have to hop over to Lerner’s now and find out more.
Thanks for spreading the word.
You are a good woman.
Alexandra recently wrote…I Have Nothing To Wear: A Dictionary
Thank you Empress. It would be lovely to have you on board to spread the word, you have great influence
Thanks for sharing this info with us and raising awareness on what Project 18 is all about, and how it’s positive impact on a matter that’s very dear to our hearts: children.
Just writing this post makes you a superhero in my eyes!
Sweaty recently wrote…My First Guest-Post Ever!
Thank you dear friend. I’m not a hero at all – just someone with a blog
Your daughter draws right? Maybe she can draw something for these girls?
what a phenomenal way to reach out to the rest of the world. I am going to tell my boys School/Daycare to look into this also, so that they might be able to do one project to send over to these children.
As always, you always bring the greatest ideas to light.
Kir recently wrote…RemebeRED: BreakDance
Yay, that is fabulous, Kir! Thank you so much.
Lerner is the one who brought this cause to light, kudos to her.
What a wonderful idea! I may know some people I can pass the info on to : )
Motpg recently wrote…Climbing to the Top of the Footladder
Yay, that would be great!
Passing this along to my daughter and her friends, who are VERY into drawing these days. Thanks!
Lori recently wrote…Wordless Wednesday: Mommy on the go!
That would be wonderful! Thank you Lori.
I am a teacher headed back to school in less than 2 weeks (yikes) maybe I can do this with my class. Worthy and wonderful project!
Oh that would be wonderful Terry! Thank you.
What an amazing project!
Now to get the kids drawing. Or else I will just have to order lots of chocolate.
xo
babymama
Babymama recently wrote…Just a girl. And her swing set.
Yay thank you so much!
This campaign sounds amazing! I will pass this along to people I know.
Bruna recently wrote…let’s BEE friends with … Kimberly!
Bruna, that would be FANTASTIC! Thank you.
I am SOOO on board with this! Just copied down the addresses! I found your site via The Red Dress Club’s Blogger’s link-up!
This stuff DOES make a difference.
I may put up a post of my own about this. If I do, I’ll be sure to link to you, here! Thank you!
Laura Page recently wrote…"So it Goes"
Thank you so much Laura! It’s people like you who make the world a better place
Do write a post – you can write about how you helped and you can link back here, or to the person who’s really the one driving this, Lerner of Stay At Home Babe (www.stayathomebabe.com).
Thank you again!
Love the hairpins in the etsy shop! Thanks for the exposure to this group.
May recently wrote…I Think Keith Urban was Right, You are a Stupid Boy
Thank you for the support!
What a wonderful idea! I have 3 little girls who love to draw and I can never say no to chocolate.
Jessica Anne recently wrote…Alice’s Last Adventure
Jessica Anne, it’d be wonderful of your girls can draw something for the Bali girls!!
Who can say no to chocolate?