Global Village Voice

James, a GVS 4^th grader living in Curacao, has started volunteering for an animal shelter in a very low-income neighborhood. On James’s first day, people had the opportunity to have their pets spayed/neutered for free. They treated 29 dogs and one cat. James helped pick up the animals at their homes and helped them relax. He was given a t-shirt for his efforts, and was on TV and in the newspaper. Great work, James!

Pictures after the jump!

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Posted under Activism, Education, Life Stories, Students and Alumni

From their website:

“In response to the earthquake, my daughters, Riva and Caitlin, and I have developed a reading out loud program in Creole for Haiti’s displaced children…Read, Read! We like it because it has a musical sound such as La la la! and is fun and easy to remember…To provide an engaging, interactive, and fun hour long activity for children displaced by the earthquake that will also encourage literacy, create a model for parents to read to their children, reinforce Creole, contribute to job creation, and be part of much needed efforts to address the trauma and anxiety children are suffering since the earthquake.

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Posted under Activism, Current Events, Education, Life Stories, Students and Alumni

I head out in the dark
to catch the magic moment –
the crack of dawn

My dog runs ahead
her exuberance, her ecstasy
is contagious

I look West
and the full moon
is hanging high in the sky
by an etheric thread

I look East
and the dark sky begins to blaze
from the hidden sun

My big booted feet
take strong, giant steps
The crow of the roosters
Cheers me on

I turn and head for the wild
I lean against a huge boulder
and watch the bright full Moon
Slowly sink

The Earth feels like Eden
Like a playground
Where all we are asked to do
Is feel the forces of Life

The first light of day
A mixture of the sun and moon
Illuminates the world
Everything is aglow

Together we stand
Between the sun and the moon
In a field of joy

Posted under Life Stories, Personal Growth, Soul Food

It’s no use trying to save the world
When I myself am drowning

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Posted under Life Stories, Personal Growth

My mother is working on her memoirs, and when she sent me this I couldn’t help thinking of the similarities between her story—from over 50 years ago—and Maryanna Newton’s reflections on the recent Obama inauguration.

June 3, 1953–Coronation Day

By Penny Carless

I spent the night before the coronation camped out on the Mall in London, amongst many thousands of others, young and old, from all over the British Commonwealth and world.  Our much beloved young Queen was to be crowned Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey and we were all there to cheer as she, and so many other dignitaries and royalty from all over the British Commonwealth, passed by in wonderful fairytale carriages.  Read More…

Posted under Life Stories