Author, Speaker, Activist and Artist

‘Friends of Steven’ Rwanda- March 15 – 25, 2010

Steven Turikunkiko, a Rwandan pastor and community leader, has a family of more than 20 adopted children and has formed Gasogi Village for people who are widowed and orphaned by war, disease, and poverty. I have known Steven for several years now and have the greatest respect for his integrity, his devotion to the most needy and his sacrificial service. “Friends of Steven” supports his work to serve the disadvantaged people of his community.

I am headed back to Rwanda by special invitation and even more special provision…

The travel team consists of: Generous heart-ed Activist Lori Martin; travel companion from Amahoro 07

Parker Logan, Filmmaker and and Long lost friend from high school days

And, me!

Goals for the trip:

We hope: …to deepen our long-term friendships with Steven’s family and the people of Gasogi Village, gathering details about their lives, progress, and needs. …to launch new and solidify existing micro-enterprise projects with the women of Gasogi so that they can be more self-supporting, ie: a sewing co-op, and bead making for blind women. (This project needs $1,000 more to launch.) …to update and review accounting and bookkeeping systems with Steven’s help in order to streamline reporting to donors. …to report back to our first-world communities with film, photos, and words that inspire others to join Steven’s work. …to learn from our African friends who know how to hold hope, practice deep forgiveness and create community in the middle of great adversity and against all odds. We will bring that inspiration back to share.

Here’s how to contribute

1. Make a contribution of any size toward a general fund that will allow us to generously respond to needs that arise while we are in Rwanda (things like: urgent need for nutrition, school supplies, medical care, shoes)

2. 25.00 Buy a fresh sleeping mat for a child. Gasogi Village has 85 orphans and Steven’s household is home to 22 orphans. That is 107 sleeping mats needed!

3. Invest in Micro-enterprise. A cooperative of women who were blinded in the genocide have a dream to begin a bead making business. Half of the funds have been raised for this. Help bring this dream to life and give women who have been unable to provide for themselves a way forward. Goal- 1,000.00

To make a tax deductible contribution to these funds, make your check out to “Second Mile”

Note on your check: “Friends of Steven, March 2010.” Your tax-deductible donations can be sent to the address below prior to March 12th. Attach a separate note indicating how you would like your gift to be used. Please be sure to include your mailing address so you can get your tax-deductible receipt.

Go The Second Mile

c/o Kelly Bean

18140 Shady Hollow Way

West Linn, OR 97068

The travelers:

Lori Martin- activist

www.rwandanroad.blogspot.com

lori@themartins.com

Kelly Bean- writer, community organizer

www.kelly-bean.com

bean.kelly@gmail.com

Parker Logan- filmmaker

parker@parkerloganmedia.com

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