Sunday, April 24, 2011

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!!