May 24, 2011

As “The Oprah Winfrey Show” nears the end of its 25th and final season, the Friday, May 20 episode of the program featured an hour titled “Oprah’s All-Time Favorite Guest Revealed!” updating viewers on the lives of some of the program’s most memorable guests. During the show, Oprah also revealed that her favorite guest of all-time is Tererai Trent, a woman from the village of Zvipani in Zimbabwe.

Tererai touched the lives of millions when she first appeared on the program in 2009, sharing her passion for an education, and a lifelong dream to go to school. Never giving up, Tererai made her way to the United States in 1998 with the help and support from many of the people in her village. Three years after arriving in the US, she received her Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Education, and today holds both a Masters and Doctorate degree. After achieving her dream of an education, Tererai never forgot about the people who helped her along the way, and felt that she had to give back to the community by somehow bringing better education options to the children in her village. Her new dream was to re-build the Matau Primary School in her home village in Zimbabwe.

Girls share a book and smiles outside of their classroom at Matau Primary School in Zimbabwe. May 4, 2011. Photo Credit: Eileen Burke/Save the Children

Tererai Gets the Surprise of a Lifetime

Knowing that this was Tererai’s life mission, Oprah wanted to give Tererai the surprise of a lifetime, and during her appearance on the program, it was announced that The Oprah Winfrey Foundation would donate a $1.5 million grant to Save the Children to re-build the Matau Primary School, fulfilling Tereri’s dream of quality education for thousands of children in her village.

“What Oprah did is beyond my wildest expectations,” said Tererai Trent. “She has given dignity to the girls, and women of this world, by saying education is important. She has given dignity to the teachers because they are now able to teach in an infrastructure where they are able to motivate the kids to perform better. She has given men a different way of thinking about girls going to school. When they see this, it will encourage everyone to see the importance of education. There was a fire in me that wanted to achieve it. I never dreamed that it would be at this level” she added.

Construction to Begin in Next Few Months

With the $1.5 million grant, Save the Children will begin construction on new classrooms, latrines, a preschool playground, a school administration building and teachers’ houses in the next few months at Matau Primary School in Tererai’s home village. Save the Children also will supply locally-made desks, chairs, books, toys and other learning materials for students and preschoolers.

Beyond infrastructure updates, the education project will improve learning and help youngsters get on track for school, reaching nearly 4,000 children at Matau Primary School and in neighboring communities. School figures from the Matau Primary School alone show a pressing need to enhance the quality of education. Last year, only 14% of 7th grade students at Matau Primary School passed the national completion exam, and five percent of first and second graders dropped out of school.

Save the Children will also spend three years training teachers, carrying out a community-wide literacy program, and helping instructors plan and prepare activities for preschoolers to help them succeed in school.

“Tererai is an inspiration to all of us. She is proof that you can come from a small village and still dream big because education has the power to transform lives,” said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. “Save the Children is grateful to Oprah for this contribution which will allow thousands of Zimbabwean children who aspire to be the next Tererai to learn, grow and succeed in school and life.”

The Dream – Realized!

Hope or Die is committed to providing for the welfare of those who are in between critical stage in their lives. If your showing effort, we got your back. So its one thing to hear about the unfortunate and do nothing, but its a complete other thing to know about the unfortunate and still choose to do nothing.

Clothing donations are needed by many of the 600,000homeless families in the United States. But the need doesn’t end there: more than 28 million children living in low-income families and their parents could also benefit from donated clothes.

Clothing donations to qualified charitable organizations are tax deductible. For tax deduction purposes, The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industriespublish guidelines for the valuation of donated items, including clothing and shoes.

Clothing-donation needs include: school clothes, coats and other cold-weather accessories, professional clothing for employment interviews, and shoes, which wear out quickly and must be replaced often, especially among growing children.

Donated clothes are critical for mothers and young children who must flee their homes because of domestic violence or abuse. Often these women and children leave under dangerous circumstances with only the clothes on their backs.

Clothes donations are also especially needed by homeless veterans. Up to 40 percent of homeless adults are veterans, with more joining their ranks from the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars.

Clothing donations should be clean, undamaged, and reasonably wrinkle-free. Clothing can be folded and packed in sturdy boxes or bags; avoid hangers. Items that come in pairs (shoes, gloves, socks) should be kept together (shoe laces can be tied together, gloves and socks can be stuffed inside each other). Pockets should be emptied and any belts should be securely fastened to their appropriate items.

• The Salvation Army, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart will pick up clothing, shoes, and household items from most locations in the United States. If you don’t have a lot of items, you may want to ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers if they would like to make a clothing and shoe donation as well. The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries both have drop-off locations for your clothing donations and other items. Some Big Brother Big Sister facilities accept donated clothing and shoes as well. (Click “find my local agency” to see if the one near you accepts donations.)
• Check with schools and day care centers in your area. Many of these facilities have family centers that collect clothing and shoes for students who are in need.
• If you live or work in an area where you have access to homeless people, you can offer clothing and shoes to them personally.
• Soles4Souls is a nonprofit that collects gently used shoes for children and adults in need.
• If you have clothing suitable for women who have special needs, see Hand-Me-Down Used Clothing for Women.

Your clothing donation can make a big difference in the lives of children and adults in need. For tax purposes, you should keep a list of the clothing you donate. Donation centers usually give you a tax receipt, but if you mail your clothing or shoe donation to a charity, also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope so it can send you a receipt. Shipping costs are tax deductible as well.

NEW!!! What Are Food Banks?
Food Banks are distribution hubs. They supply the food to the Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, Shelters etc. They in turn provide that food to the individuals that need it. Food Banks do not directly serve individuals in need.

Food: Are you or anyone you know hungry but do not know where the next meal is coming from? Seriously! Here at Hope or Die we do not believe anyone should be without a meal to get through every day. That’s why as we continue to grow we are diligent in selecting random locations in cities around the world to ensure those we come in contact with have a meal to prevent their stomach from touching their back by starving. We Care!