LAF on NPR

Greetings Friends of LemonAid Fund!

Tune your radios and listen up – we're going to be on NPR!

During our stateside visit this August, we spent time all over the country: New York, Washington DC, Stanford University in California and Chicago.

While in the Windy City, we had the privilege of chatting with the producers and staff at WBEZ 91.5FM, Chicago's branch of National Public Radio. In the interview, host Jerome McDonnell highlights LemonAid Fund's mission, our new programs and The Forgiveness Project, the training forum that brought us to Stanford University last month.

Please support us in our third appearance on WorldView by listening to our broadcast on WBEZ 91.5 or listen anywhere at http://www.wbez.org/worldview. We'll also have a link to the broadcast on our Facebook page. Like us, and you can listen in!

Learn more about our work with Dr. Loren Touissant at Stanford, the progress of the PeaceJoyMobile, hear an exclusive interview with Frances Browne, the LemonAid Fund Village Schools proprietress, and more. 

Pass this link on to your friends. Post it to your Twitter feed or on your Facebook page. Print and post the attached flier at your workplace or local coffee shop.  However you do it, spread the word!

Thank you, thank you for your support!

A Special Appeal for Support: Leave a Legacy of Love and Forgiveness

Peace is a crucial component of a functioning, healthy society. Peace is also central to LemonAid Fund's mission, especially in 2011. In conjunction with Dr. Loren Toussaint at Luther University and Dr. Frederic Luskin at Stanford, LemonAid Fund has been involved in an ongoing peace study, The Forgiveness Project, which evaluates the effects of forgiveness training to restore communities and emotionally heal victims following tragedy and trauma. 

Phase I of this study was completed in 2007 with Dr. Toussaint and his "Promoting Peace Through Forgiveness" project. Dr. Peddle of LemonAid Fund aided with research and the published results proved positive. A community's commitment to a forgiving attitude is invaluable to its functionality. 

Phase II of this study is to be held at Stanford in August 2011. Eight educators and administrators from Sierra Leone will help in measuring the impact and value of forgiveness training and be given and taught a forgiveness curriculum to bring back to their schools. It will be a 10-day research and training project at the Stanford University campus, and it's aim is to engage in Dr. Luskin's proven forgiveness methodology and develop culturally specific tools to aid in implementation. 

We anticipate that stronger leaders that are well-versed in forgiveness, conflict resolution and stress reduction skills will emerge from this training and provide a positive example for their communities.

LemonAid Fund is honored to work with the following 8 educators chosen to participate in the event: 

Frances Browne, proprietress of Dele Preparatory School K-12; Program Director for LemonAid Fund

Christie Browne, student

Victoria Samuels, New Life Ministries, Children's Coordinator

Alpha Bangura, Owner of Rural Primary School, Christian Mission School and Foster Care; LemonAid Fund Team Member

Keifala Vandi, Pastor of New Life Ministries Church; Program Manager of Child Ex-Combatant Skills Training & Rehabilitation

Alusine Tempy - Koroma, French Teacher and Theater Troupe Leader at Dele Preparatory School

Aaron Farma, Teacher in Calabatown; Children's Staffing Network

Haja Hurianatu Peters, Proprietress of Muslim Elementary School

Each of these participants will also develop their own individual projects to contribute to the study.

The plans are laid, the benefits will be immeasurable, but we need your help.

The cost for such an event is high, with a single round-trip air fare from Sierra Leone to San Francisco at $2,300. LemonAid Fund has covered the cost for 5 of these tickets, but needs assistance with the remaining $8,144 needed to make the trip. 

Perhaps you'd like to fund a ticket ($2,300), two people's transportation to the Lungi Airport ($24) or support the implementation of one of the forgiveness projects ($250). General donations to the effort are welcome as well, no amount of support is too small!

Without your support, all attendants may not be able to make the trip, leaving The Forgiveness Project unable to achieve it's important goal – the implementation of peace and forgiving attitudes in Sierra Leone.

Please donate on our website www.lemonaidfund.org or send a check to:

LemonAid Fund

490 Lincoln Ave. West

Highland Park, IL 60035

100% of your funds will go directly toward the project. 

Please take a moment to donate to those in need of our aid. We can't thank you enough for your support!!

For the 50th Anniversary of Independence of Sierra Leone

                       LemonAid Fund

would like to give a global gift

to Sierra Leone

on the event of her

50^th Year of Independence

27 April 2011

But we need YOU

to help us bring the inspired gift of the PeaceJoyMobile,*

which can save and change lives, to Sierra Leone.

(see http://www.lemonaidfund.org/ for more information)

We need to raise $30,000 by January 2011 (in addition to our regular budget) for the PeaceJoyMobile to make it to Sierra Leone in time to be part of the INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS.

To make this a global gift we need as many states/provinces and countries as possible represented through your donation. We are specifically asking YOU because you believe in and act on making a difference in this world.

We appreciate you “Summoning your Best Self” by:

1)    Donating now (any amount of donation counts) and ensure your state/province/ country is represented: click www.lemonaidfund.org/supportus/ or go to LemonAid Fund on facebook or send check/money order to:

LemonAid Fund

490 Lincoln Ave. West

Highland Park IL, 60035

2)    Passing this blog post along to 10 friends/family especially in other states/provinces/ countries and encourage them to donate.

3) Send along something from your country/state that could be used in the Windows to the World exhibition

With each donation your declared state/province/country will be filled in on a map that will be painted on the PeaceJoyMobile. Could be where you are living, the country of your birth or your parent’s birth. Sierra Leone will know the whole world supports them in peace and prosperity as it is part of the month of national celebration and then continues to inspire people for years to come. For more information and to follow along go to: http://www.lemonaidfund.org/ and read our Blog.   Could be a great gift to someone you love as well.

*The PeaceJoyMobile aims to inspire people to summon their best selves socially, physically, economically, psychologically, and spiritually. It also will promote prevention and well-being for children, their families and communities in order to achieve the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and vision of Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It will bring educational and health resources and services to people living in areas of greatest need.

TOP of the Country

Our class of stars at the Dele-Peddle International High School in Lower Allentown Sierra Leone West Africa. Their achievements brought the school to a new level with all who took the test passing (13 of 15 at the highest possible score) and the highest overall score for the entire country. The girl child is being helped to shine! Not only is the school campus suburb but the quality of the teaching is as well. And all of this after just three years. Congratulations Again!! 

Number 1

A Dele-Peddle International High School (female) recieved the top score in the country on her Basic Education Certificate Exams. Congratulation Frances!! The LemonAid Village is exceeding our expectations. This is only the second year of having all years of the high school running.

Thank you Simon

Wanted to say a great thanks to Simon for his volunteer work on setting up this LemonAid Fund Blog. It takes people of all kinds to make a 501(c)3 work. We look forward to posting what LemonAid Fund is doing and interacting with all those who have an interest.

Our New Blog!

Welcome to our new blog! Please check back in the coming weeks and months for regular updates on the work being done by LemonAid Fund, our partners and our friends. In the meantime, more information about us as well as current and past projects can be found on our website.