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July 29, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Pockets of Dreams, by Susan Sagun
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means
caring for orphans and widows in their distress ... (James 1:27
NLT).
Robert and John, two young boys in the rural area of Kiryagonja,
Uganda, were recently discovered by neighbors abandoned and alone in
their crumbling mud and tin hut. The boys remember their mother
vaguely, before she was cast out for reasons unknown by an alcoholic
husband in a country where women have few rights. Eventually
their father simply walked away, overwhelmed by the burden of caring
for his sons. When found, the boys had not eaten in several days.
This is a true and far too frequent occurrence in Africa where means of
sustainable income is even more difficult than the sparse living
conditions. With the all too familiar images of starving children and
dying adults, the whole problem can feel too overwhelming to any one
individual to make a lasting impact.
One innovative company is making it easy and fashionable to make a
difference. Pockets of Dreams™ is a unique clothing line of little
girls' dresses. Every dress has 7 pockets, each pocket symbolizing the
dreams that every child should have a chance to come true -- dreams of
family, friends, health, wealth, education, opportunity and love. The
dresses are really cute but what makes them unique is that for each
dress purchased, life gets a little easier in Africa.
Through partnerships with local seamstresses in Uganda, Pockets of
Dreams administers the Ugandan Fabric Fund, which assists local
seamstresses in buying fabric. As part of their relationship with
Pockets of Dreams, Ugandan seamstresses make one dress and gift
it to a child in need in their own community and then make a second
dress which they sell to profit their own families -- creating a viable
in-home business. John and Robert's story may have turned out very
differently if their mother had been empowered to create income to feed
her young sons, assisted through Pockets of Dreams or a like program.
Local seamstresses are selected through in-country ambassadors.
Seamstresses who have moderate sewing skills and motivation to run
their own businesses are chosen, with preference given to women with
school-aged children. The local ambassador administers the distribution
of funds and oversees the donation of dresses to girls in nearby
communities. This kind of grassroots activism insures that individuals
are the direct recipients of the aid provided.
Recently, Pockets of Dreams, gifted a collection of new uniforms
to a local school for impoverished children. The excitement was
electric as Dianna Eckhardt, the Pockets of Dreams ambassador in
Uganda, presented the dresses. For most of the girls, it was the first
time they had ever received a brand new piece of clothing, much less
one made especially for them with faith, hope and love. These dresses
were sent with the absolute conviction and belief that life can and
must become better for these young ladies, their mothers and their
entire families.
We can help these dreams come true!
Pockets of Dreams firmly believes there is a new wind in the air -- a
position of favor and restoration that can happen quickly when people
both care and step forward to help. With God's help, we believe that
change can happen quickly.
Many of the young girls we met in Uganda are nearly as optimistic as we
are! For example, Judith, an 11-year-old, takes her studies very
seriously, often chiding her classmates for talking out of turn.
Rachel, a 9-years-old, would make you believe she was a first year
medical student pushing herself daily to read her English lessons
louder and longer than the day before. Rebecca, also 9-years-old,
walks through her village every day in clothes so torn and tattered,
they barely serve a purpose. But every day she smiles broadly and tells
everyone who will listen of what grand new thing she has to be
exuberantly happy about.
These young ladies emerged as leaders in their small village
school on the day the Pockets of Dreams dresses arrived. They listened
attentively as Dianna explained the meaning of the seven pockets. Then,
Judith, Rachel and Rebecca carefully explained to the younger girls
what every pocket meant -- dreams of family, friends, health, wealth,
education, opportunity and most importantly love and ensured they
understand that somewhere -- on the other side of the world -- real
people truly believe these things can and must come true for them.
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For more information on Pockets of Dreams or to order a dress, please
visit the website:
http://www.pocketsofdreams.com
See also the YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqtaPPe5ET0
---------
(c) 2008 Susan Sagun.
RELATED LINKS:
* Our Compassion Child
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080213_doreen.html
* Down the Dusty Bumpy Road
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080214_bumpyroad.html
* Snapshot
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080215_snapshot.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200807/20080729_pockets.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SEE THE MORNING, by Chris Tomlin
Award-winning artist Tomlin offers a whole new set of soul-inspiring
easy-to-sing songs about God's faithfulness.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
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