May 2013
3 posts
3 tags
April 2013
6 posts
February 2013
8 posts
10 tags
The SILCA Inaugural Ball
“It takes a lot of people doing little things to make change happen.” - Dr. Alfred Curtis
Staten Island, New York hosts the largest population of Liberians in the US, and SILCA is the primary governing body for this community. Last night GroundUp Global had the privilege of attending the Inaugural Ball for the newly elected Staten Island Liberian Community Association (SILCA)...
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January 2013
3 posts
4 tags
1 tag
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Notes from Buduburam
GroundUp executive director Camilla Hermann is living and working on the Buduburam refugee camp from November 14, 2012 - December 18, 2012.
By 8am, when we begin our walk to the SCHEFO Office, the sun is already aggressively hot. Each footfall kicks up fine brown dust that settles on one’s skin, clinging to a mix of perspiration and sunblock. The calls of “Obruni!” ring out as I...
December 2012
3 posts
1 tag
October 2012
1 post
8 tags
Ego and Equality
Today is Blog Action Day 2012! At GroundUp Global, this year’s theme, The Power of We, resonates deeply with our work on the Buduburam refugee camp. The theme also raises important questions about work within a community, and the ultimate goal of “development” work in general. Here are some thoughts:
The purpose of development work is to mutually craft the social, economic, and...
August 2012
9 posts
3 tags
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The Question of Inclusion: Dual Citizenship and...
90 million.
That is the amount of money Liberians living in the United States send annually to family in Liberia. These remittances account for over 6.2% of Liberia’s GDP.
The significance of the diaspora’s economic contributions begs an important question: if these skilled, educated men and women were permitted citizenship in...
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Liberian Independence Day
The Staten Island Liberian Community Association (SILCA) hosted a celebratory banquet in honor of the 165th anniversary of Liberian independence.
Vamba S. Fofana, Chairman of SILCA, addressing the banquet
(from left to right) Mrs. Sulunteh, Ambassador Sulunteh, SILCA President Teele Brown
The celebration continued on Sunday with a Ministerial Alliance Intercessory...
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Watch
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Proud to Announce our New Partnership with Pure...
Dear friends, family, and supporters, Together we have a chance to make a difference in the lives of Liberian refugees. I’m not asking for your donations, which you have given so generously in the past, but rather that you join me as a member of PureCharity.com. This amazing company allows you to redirect a percentage of your usual purchases to a charitable cause. It doesn’t cost you anything,...
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“I am a Liberian. I came to Ghana in 2005 when UNHCR had finished registering and...”
– Liberian Refugee Mama Davies shares her story on the Reclaiming Rights crowdmap
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All we need to win $2,500 is YOUR vote!!
Help GroundUp Global & The SCHEF Organization win $2,500 with just a click!! Vote for our infographic design about Women + HIV/AIDS in the GOOD Maker challenge! The money will go to helping refugees return home after living for two decades in Ghana. And we will all love you eternally :)
http://icrw.maker.good.is/projects/storyofone
July 2012
4 posts
10 tags
Adaptability
For the past two years, our team has been in the same geographic location and so meetings, tasks, and projects were all done locally, face to face.
Recently, we graduated. This means a few things: as an all-volunteer organization, we no longer have to divide our time between academics, work, community, and GroundUp Global. It also means we are currently living and working in different states.
...
4 tags
StartSomeGood: The Blog: The Development of a... →
startsomegood:
Academy for Young Entrepreneurs poster (get a hard copy here)
Bill Drayton, founder of Ashoka and social entrepreneurship visionary, is fond of asking parents, firstly, “what would you do if your child was failing maths?” Parents instinctively have an answer for this. They would…
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Trade Not Aid
At GroundUp Global we emphasize Trade not Aid. But what exactly does that mean?
Photo from Africa Fashion Guide’s Cotton Campaign
At it’s core, Trade not Aid is a way of viewing the continent of Africa not as beneficiaries or backwards economies, but instead as partners. Most of the world today agrees that with a growth rate of 6% a year, and six out of the ten fastest growing...
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“The primary threat to women in West Africa is not a man with a gun or a stranger...”
– International Rescue Committee report on Domestic Violence in West Africa
June 2012
6 posts
2 tags
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World Refugee Day
As June 30th approaches, more and more people are raising their voices in fear, protest, or simply acknowledgement of the deeply uncertain and potentially dangerous future for Liberian Refugees unable to return home from the Buduburam Camp in Ghana. Because of the stagnated economy on the camp, men and women who came to Ghana as refugees two decades ago have struggled each day simply to eat. They...
Watch
6 tags
May 2012
4 posts
5 tags
The Question of Corruption
On Tuesday, GroundUp Global team members Sunila Chilukuri and I had the pleasure of speaking at the Wake Up! For Human Rights event. The panel, hosted by Future Project team Amie Dukuray and Tess Gardephe, brought inspired speakers from Malaria No More, Pencils of Promise, US Fund for UNICEF, and GroundUp Global to talk about their experiences in human rights work.
During the Q&A segment,...
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REZA NYC ADINKRA TANK TOPS
We’re proud to announce a new partnership with REZA NYC, a fashion line that celebrates the geometric designs and highly narrative patterns of West African textiles by incorporating them into contemporary American streetwear. REZA NYC produced this awesome Adinkra tank top with silk-screening nonprofit Works in Progress. Proceeds from every sale benefit GroundUp Global. Sold in both black...
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Mother Africa @ John Jay College
The Mother Africa event at John Jay College saw tremendous performances by C3 Boots Step Team, FGNP St. Johns, The Life Long Project band, Rafiya, and many more.
Isaac Katalay & The Life Long Project band
The event also showcased designs by Denzel Lucas and Charenelle of BOWtique
BOWtique
Denzel Lucas clothing
All photos taken by Ali Reza of REZA NYC clothing. Check out the new...
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Sankofa: a fashion affair
What an amazing night! The models looked stunning in fresh designs from Sena West, Nsaa House of Designs, Free People’s Rebellion, Sarah Hassan, Afropolitan Boutique, Lenora Collections, Denzel Lucas, and It’s Archel.
Lenora Collections jumpsuit
Denzel Lucas shirt
There were also incredible musical performances by Isaac Katalay Diallo, Audry Losoko, Jordan Ndombe, and Gep...
April 2012
1 post
6 tags
Why We're Changing
Hello lovely SCHEFO supporters!
As many of you might have noticed on our various social media pages, SCHEFO is undergoing a rebranding of sorts, and our organization will soon be called GroundUp Global. To prevent any confusion, we thought it best to tell you all exactly why. 501c3 Status First off, SCHEFO is currently applying for 501c3, tax-exempt status. In order for an NGO to raise serious...
March 2012
2 posts
