TPT Sellers Giving Back for the Holidays

I'm a very lucky person, as my husband reminds me of all the time.  Just because I live where I do, I am a part of the 99% of the richest people in the world.  I don't have to worry about my next meal, where I will lay down my head at night, my physical safety or having any of my needs met.  Heck, I also have most of my wants met to boot.  Sometimes it's difficult to keep this in perspective when we're constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to strive for more and more stuff or that we don't have enough yet.

I want to hold on to this perspective that I am in this lucky 99% majority.  This December I would like to give back to those not as fortunate.  One of the student led groups at my school called VON (Volunteer Now) has been raising money to build a school in Sierra Leone.

This is their Free the Children's Brick by Brick Campaign.  It will take $10 000 to build the school house.  As access to education is an issue near and dear to me, and I would love to support the students at my school, I'm going to try to put a dent in that figure and I would invite you to help me.

On Sunday December 14th, 100% of the earnings I make on TPT will be going to Free the Children's Brick by Brick campaign.   Every dollar you spend in my TPT store on this day will go to this cause.  Why not get some useful educational resources and help build a school overseas at the same time?  Sunday is usually my best sales day so I am very excited for VON and their Brick by Brick Campaign.


Other teacher authors on TPT have also decided to make December 14th their day for giving back and I invite you to happily purchase products from these talented teachers as well.  Each has their own charity they would like to give back to.  Please check them out.

I would like to give special thanks to Erica Colon (Nitty Gritty Science) for being the kind mastermind behind this idea and rounding all of us up for this Great Day of Giving Back.

An InLinkz Link-up

Trekking for Gorillas in Uganda

ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA

Like much of the world's mega fauna, Highland (Mountain) Gorillas are endangered.  Their range is in the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda (the green areas in the map.)  My trek was in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (What a cool name, but it is obviously a misnomer.)

Ugandans Don't Need Gyms!

Don't judge my muscles next to him!

North America has an obesity issue.  I don't think it's deniable.  We spend more money on weight loss: supplements, equipment, gym memberships and diet schemes than any other part of the world.  Yet, we still remain fatter than most of it.  There's no new information there.

But when you visit a place where the people are fit and yet eat nothing but carbs (yes....evil carbs) for all three meals, it brings home how different cultures treat their bodies in relation to their food and their level of activity.

I asked to take a picture with one of the men helping to build the new kitchen at the Almond School (you can see the old kitchen in the back. It's just a shack.)  I asked him if he ever went to the gym.  A laugh was his response and then he shook his head for no.