Thursday, November 29, 2012

Hands of a Hero Foundation





Dear Readers, 

Have you ever concerned yourself with the matters of the world and wondered what you could do to help?  Have you come across a philanthropist movement and wondered how you could help?  Have you ever wanted to bring change into the life(lives) of the less unfortunate but have yet to find a means?...well look no further.

Hands of a Hero Foundation is a registered non-profit organization in Canada that concentrates on transforming the lives of less fortunate children in Canada. We focus on empowerment, mentorship, educating and preparing children for their future endeavors.

We also focus on eliminating poverty and putting smiles on the faces of deprived children in Ghana. We are devoted to creating programs that provide sustainability, livability and prosperity for under privileged children in Africa.
  Mission
  1. Hands of a Hero Foundation’s mission is to support less fortunate children in Canada and Ghana by empowering, mentoring, educating and improving their standard living conditions.
  2. Our ultimate aim is to create awareness, raise funds, and implement programs to help eliminate poverty among children. We hope to make a difference in the lives of children by giving them hope for a brighter future.
Motto:  “Every helping hand is a hero in a child’s life”.

Vision 
Our vision is to offer social-economical support, as well as recreation and educational programs, to change lives, and help children realize their full potential.


 


What they do

Ghana Initiatives
Heal the World: this is a health initiative that focuses on collecting and buying medical supplies for medical facilities.
The Shining light: collecting clothes and non-perishable food items.
The Toy Drive:this project focuses on collecting toys, teddy bears and stuffed animals.
Little By Little: The goal of this project is to buy school supplies.


Canada Initiatives 


You Count (Youth Opportunities Uplifting Champions Over Underestimated Notable Talents)
You count aims to enlighten youths about the importance of their existence in their communities. The goal of this program is to mentor and motivate youths to recognize their potential in life and provide the key resources they require to achieve their goals and aspirations

Youth Mentorship Program:  This is a one-on-one mentorship and empowerment program for youth.
Creative Minds -Summer program:  workshops to educate youth from 14 to 18 years of age with specialized skills, such as leadership development, creative writing, public speaking and fashion design workshops.
After School Program:  This initiative concentrates on helping children with homework, tutoring and engaging them in hands-on activities such as art and painting.
Tele-counseling Program: This initiative, concentrates on counseling students over the phone about courses and grades they need to obtain and/or achieve, in order to qualify for the right program in college/university.

Future Project Proposals in Ghana
Community Center project: the purpose of this project is to establish a center that will provide social, health, educational and recreational programs for young children in Ghana.  

If you are interested in sponsoring HOHF projects/events, volunteering or donating monetary funds or/and items please contact them by phone at 6478747764 or by email at contactus@handsofahero.org 


Stay Connected

Web :www.handsofahero.org

email : contactus@handsofahero.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/handsofaherofoundation

Twitter: www.twitter.com/handsofahero
 




**Express and Reflect on your World** 

Sincerely, Prissy Birago

Friday, March 30, 2012

Sorry but you're black!

What is the definition of rule of law in our society? Rule of law means everyone is treated equally in respect to the laws that govern us. It means everyone must obey the laws that are legislated in our society. The law does not discriminate based on social status, racial background or ethnicity. Moreover, no citizen is superior or above the law and everyone has the same equal right.

Question: Do you think rule of law is fair to all citizens?? Think about it for a second.
In my opinion, I believe rule of law is radicalized because most laws implemented in our society are created to target a certain racial class, particularly black people.

Geezzzzz where do I begin?? One of the most controversial cases in 2012 is the case of 17 year old Trevon Martin, who was gunned down by George Zimmerman in February 2012. If you have been following this case for the past few weeks, you can clearly see that many people are disappointed and fuming at the justice system. There is overwhelming evidence supporting the fact that Zimmerman killed Trevon out of poor judgment because he was a black boy wearing a hoody and looked suspicious. How can a man kill an unarmed adolescent boy, claim self-defense and allow him to walk away freely for so long?

Is this what we call justice?? Once again I am appalled and disappointed in the system.
So do you think the justice system is being fair to Trevon and black people as a whole?? 

OK, let me shift your mind to some laws that are systematically constructed to target the black community that many of us may not be aware of; for example, mandatory minimum -prison sentence.

It has been argued that laws within the criminal justice system such as the mandatory minimum -prison sentence and the plea barging unfairly targets black people. Do you know that black people are more likely to receive a harsher punishment than  white people when the same crime is committed?  As a result, there are disproportionate number of black people that are charged, investigated and also convicted for criminal offenses. This is a product of racism and discrimination against black people in the criminal justice system and also the over-surveillance in the black community.Racism in policing is very evident in black communities through systematic random checks that are hidden in police work .For example, police officers tend to stop and question a black person that is seen driving a nice expensive car.  

In addition, mandatory minimum- prison sentence and the plea bargain  impact the black community because most black people charged of a crime results in having a criminal record and being incarcerated. Mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug offense charges and firearm have been connected to the over-incarceration of black people in United States and in Canada. 

Harsher penalties are associated with crack cocaine because it is seen as the black people’s drug mainly because it's cheaper to afford and is common in the black poor communities in United States. On the other hand, anyone charged with the use of powder cocaine receives a lighter sentence because powder cocaine is considered to be a white peoples’ drug. For example, In United States, five-year mandatory minimum prison term for 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine triggers five years prison term.

Consequently, more black people are being incarcerated because of this drug law and because of mandatory minimum sentence; many black people are pressured to get a plea bargain in order to get a shorter imprisonment if they are not rich enough to hire a lawyer to defend them. As a result, an innocent person that is pressured into a plea bargain is sentenced and receives a criminal record.

It is a sad reality for black people, but I am certainly not surprised of how Trevon is being portrayed as a dangerous black boy in this case.

Inevitability, if the role was reversed and Zimmerman was a black man, he would not be allowed to walk on the streets of Florida. He would be handcuffed and taken to jail and would face the bitter side of the law. There would be no such thing as “innocent until proven guilty” for him. As a matter of fact, he would be guilty before he is proven guilty. Of course in the state of Florida, he would be facing the death penalty or life in prison without parole. In the end, the justice system would non-verbally express to him; Sorry but you're black!


**Express and Reflect on your World**

 Sincerely,

 Priscilla  Birago

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

OMG what was I thinking???

 
Have you ever looked back and thought to yourself … OMG what was I thinking?

What was I thinking wearing that outfit?
What was I thinking when I did that hair?
What was I thinking when I dated that “guy”?
What was I thinking back then?

Different thoughts randomly run through my complex brain when I reflect on moments in my past, and all I can do is laugh and say thank God I’ve changed.

But guess what??  I do not regret anything I did as a young girl, because my past experience has really shaped me into the woman I have become today.

Name it and I have probably done it!

Crazy hair colours, i.e. purple, red???   Yeap! Pink and purple was my favorite hair colors.

Piercings??  I loved my piercings…I had my bottom lip and upper lip pierced.

Tattoos? Got one on my back when I was 17... what is the meaning of a cross with a rose in the middle again ??

Shaved hair/ bald??  Yes I thought I was the coolest chick on the block back in 06-07.

Excessive drinking??  My 21st birthday in New York was a memorable one… if I even remembered anything. I had a hangover for 2days.

Dated bad boys?? OMG that shouldn’t even be a question. Bad boys were my back bone.

Partying every day??  Partying was my daily bread in university.

Crazy outfits?? Laughing out loud … I thought I was a “fashionista” back in the days. I’m not sure what happened to my fashion sense.
2007 - BEFORE 
2012 - After 
 
Will I ever go back and do the things I did when I was younger?
No, but I certainly reflect on them because they keeps me motivated to do what I do today.

Who am I today??
I am a strong christian, a wife, a potential mother, criminology /sociology graduate, an aspiring criminology lawyer, co-founder of Hands of a Hero,  csc analyst, hairdresser, business woman, writer, mentor, and a risk taker.

This is just the beginning of greater and better things God is performing in my life. I am grateful and humble to the almighty God for guiding me through my darker days to my brighter days. 2012 has started just right; it will be a year of reflecting back and accomplishing more goals. In all I give thanks to God.


**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago