TML bloggers recently helped promote Indego Africa’s work — here’s what they had to say:

Jessica Ashley of Sassafrass Jess

“Connecting to Rwanda”

But I chose my bit of Indego Africa artistry from the organization’s site, wherean online marketplace is packed full of beautiful things for sale. I picked this Horn & Tin Toggle ring, handcrafted and signed and reminding me as I type to move forward bravely and with power on my own and surrounded by a community of other women, as these artists have done.

Elizabeth Atalay of Documama

“Shop For Good With Indego Africa”

My love of Africa is apparent in our home as well, in treasures that I brought back, and influences in our decorating style. The Indego Africa online catalog is full of the type of textured, colorful, and richly designed clothing, accessories and home goods that I love. Although I will most certainly go back for more (I’m looking at you batik top!) since we are in the process of decorating our home I selected an item from the housewares selection.  I chose a striking black and white woven bowl, and because I love the fabrics so much, I added a set of gorgeous handmade cards each with a different patterned fabric sewn on to my order.   I was surprised at how quickly my order arrived after it was placed. The bowl is amazing, and I will have a hard time actually parting with the note cards, so if you get one you know you are really special!  I am so excited to share this site with friends, and to have found a great new source for meaningful gifts that give back! To find out more about Indego Africa, the programs they offer, the impact they are having, and that you can contribute to, you can visit their website, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and enjoy the eye candy on Pinterest.

Tawanna Browne Smith of Mom’s Guide to Travel

“Indego Africa Brings Together Fashion And Social Enterprise”

It’s not a leap for me to buy any of the products you see on the Indego Africa site – I have similar items in my home. I’ve been buying stuff from West African shops in Harlem (NY) since I was in my teens, picking up items like kinte cloth, masks, jewelry, trinkets, and housewares for my grandmother. But I have to admit that I’ve never thought about the people behind the products.

Holly Rosen of Culture Mom

“Invest in Women Who Can Change the World”

Indego Africa is an award-winning, design-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise that lifts women-owned businesses in Rwanda toward sustainable economic independence through access to markets and education. They provide opportunities for women in difficult circumstances to not only meet their families’ basic needs but also acquire skills that enhance long-term earning potential.

Photo credit Indego Africa

The concept of the bucket list and the life list has grown in popularity as our sheer options for life abound. In the midst of feeling overwhelmed — the average American receives over100,000 words of information a day– writing down a few simple phrases has huge power to shift our lives.

I recently began working with an executive coach and the first thing she had me do was write down my “intentions” for the next year on an index card. Write it down, and it’s more likely to come true. This tradition holds true for me. When, growing up, my mother brought my sister and me to women’s retreats around the summer and winter solstices, a favorite ritual was to “burn and affirm.” Burn a piece of paper stating those habits we want to erase, affirm and keep those goals we so badly want to accomplish. Now, 22 years later, I’m paying an expert to do the exact same thing.

The Mom 2.0 Summit, which I just attended, got a lot of snark from the Wall St Journal. On some level, I could understand the snark when seen from an outsider’s point of view. Blogger conferences are indeed full of people vying for product endorsement deals. So is “American Idol” and the Super Bowl. It’s the American way. Every time I anticipate one of these conferences, I dread the commercialism and feel anxiety over expectations I can’t meet. But every time I head home from one, my heart sings, thinking about the amazing women I’ve just met. I feel my karma in life steer in the right direction just by connecting with women who choose to share their voices through social media. As a woman, it’s not an easy thing to share your voice at all. Many people could learn a lot from women online.

As moms who care about societal and community issues, we know that one of the most important tools for future social change exists right in our own homes: our children. There is so much potential for them to take the reins and advocate for a better world when they grow up. But how should we nurture and harness this potential?

When researching Parenting Without Borders, I discovered that there are a lot of fascinating ways – ways that go beyond participating in food drives, donating used clothing and toys, or making sandwiches for the homeless – that parents in other cultures believe will help them to raise children who want to do good for the world around them.  One of the many surprising lessons I learned was that it’s not just big acts that teach kids to care. On a daily basis, we also have many chances to inculcate awareness, empathy, and compassion in our kids. If we want to raise kids who will make a difference, we should start at home and ask them to be responsible to those closest to them – to do chores, take care of their siblings, and be competent, helpful members of the family community.

Research shows that children who pitched in at home were actually more likely to volunteer or do community service when they grew up. This isn’t surprising – kids who help out at home have daily opportunities to see and anticipate the needs of others. The more frequently a child sees how his small acts help others – how helpful it is when he folds his own clothes and puts them away, or helps to wipe the table – the more likely it is that later on he will understand that his acts for a wider community, even for those across the earth, do make a difference.

In most cultures around the world having kids pitch in is pretty common. I talked to kids in countries from Sweden, Finland, Japan, and more who run errands, clean the bathroom, cook, do the laundry, and get themselves and their siblings to school. Adults believe this helps cultivate children’s feeling of belonging, competence, and responsibility. We can take a cue from other cultures and guide our kids too: take those few minutes to walk them through how to fold socks, always have them be responsible for their own school things, teach them how to run the laundry machine – so that helping out others becomes a lifelong habit.

In this spirit, The Mission List is giving away three copies of my new book Parenting Without Borders to coincide with Mother’s Day.  Enter here to win!

We’re so excited to share an excerpt of a piece from our fearless leader Morra Aarons-Mele that appeared in The Accelerators blog in the online Wall Street Journal. Be sure to read the entire piece and learn about Morra’s thoughts on working, being a mother, and acting as a strong, positive role model to her two sons.

The stumbling block, I believe, to many women starting their own companies is that they worry they won’t have enough time to be “good moms.” I would not have started my company, Women Online, had I thought too much about it. Instead, my business began because I freelanced through graduate school and then again when I was pregnant and a new mom. I wanted flexibility. What I got was a thriving company.

Our culture’s very image of an entrepreneur is someone who works 24-7. But 60% of full-time working mothers would prefer to be part time. These two facts placed against each other would seem to say that moms aren’t going to be entrepreneurs. I call B.S on that. When you’re an entrepreneur you can decide what kind of work life you model for your children.

Catapult is a crowd funding platform that allows donors to support social good projects that benefit women and girls at home and abroad. Some of our favorite projects include birth waiting homes for women in Sierra Leone, a mentor program that helps refuge women adjust to life in the U.S., and secondary school scholarships for Ethiopian girls.

Indego Africa connects African women artisans with training and access to the global market via their online store. Indego Africa’s artisans create gorgeous jewelry, accessories, and home accents. We’re especially in love with this handmade bowl. We could tell you how much we love them, but you should go look for yourself!

The Friends of Mel Foundation supports cancer research through sales of beautiful beaded bracelets. Founded in honor of Mel Simmons, who lost her battle with cancer five years ago, Friends of Mel grants have benefitted dozens of small, grassroots organizations that work to enrich the lives of cancer patients and survivors.

Scrubadubdub! Did you know that 3,000 children’s lives could be saved every day with just a bar of soap and clean water? Soapbox Soaps benefits children in need by donating one bar of soap for every bar sold. Available at brick and mortar stores like Whole Foods and online, these bars come in a variety of scents, including lavender, lemongrass, and spearmint.

Want to make a donation to a cause your mom cares about, but aren’t sure which organization she’d choose? Bluebell Giving greeting cards make it easy to make a donation in a loved one’s name. Order a card, choose how much money you’d like to donate, and when the recipient receives the card she can decide which partner organization receives the donation. Bluebell partners with over 180 organizations, including HealthyWomen.org, Children’s Defense Fund, and Dress for Success.

Julie Marsh on JulieMarsh.net

“Marijuana in the ’20s. LSD in the ’60s. Cocaine in the ’80s. Is sugar the drug of the 21st century?”

In March, I read Dr. Robert Lustig’s recent book Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease. It’s a comprehensive discussion of the science behind obesity, and the relationship between obesity and what we eat (not simply how much we eat). Dr. Lustig is a pediatric endocrinologist who shares patient anecdotes to illustrate his discussion points, but the vast majority of the material is hard science, presented in an accessible and compelling manner.

Over the weekend, I watched the documentary “A Place at the Table” by Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush. It tells the stories of two children — one in Colorado, one in Mississippi — and one mother in Philadelphia who struggle with hunger. Hunger activists Jeff Bridges and Tom Colicchio — an actor and a chef, respectively — appear in the film, along with an economist (Raj Patel), a sociologist (Janet Poppendieck), and a US Representative (McGovern, D-MA), among many others. “A Place at the Table” thoroughly covers the issue of hunger from political, economic, and social perspectives.

Connie Roberts on Brain Foggles

“Hunger in the USA Portrayed in A Place at the Table Movie”

Hunger is a crucial problem in the USA. The documentary movie, A Place at the Table portrays the reality of living with food insecurity of 50 million people. Just think about that number and let it sink in. In one of the richest countries of the world, adults and children suffer needlessly.

Doesn’t the government help feed those in need? Not as they did in before. In the 1980’s, when an economic crisis hit this country. Programs were then slashed as more people were need of assistance with the basic issue – hunger.

Alicia Bello on Daughter of the Dyaspora

“Hunger in America: Not Everyone has a Place at the Table”

When we hear the term “food insecurity,” we typically think of  some war-torn, resource poor nation in the developing world. Yet, according to the documentary A Place at the Table, over 50 million people living in the United States (which works out to one in four children) have no idea where their next meal is coming from.

You can watch A Place at the Table online via Amazon. For more information, visit A Place at the Table’s website. Tweet your members of Congress and tell them hunger is an issue critical to your vote. Make a donation to Share Our Strength, an organization working to keep end childhood hunger in America.

Check out these post from our bloggers who shared their thoughts:

Jessica Cohen at Found the Marbles:
“Could You Live Below the Line?”

Imagine if you took the entire population of the United States and multiplied it by four.  Then imagine handing each one of those people $1.50 and telling them to feed themselves for the day with just that amount to spend.  How many people do you think could actually rise to the challenge?

Jessica Cohen at Found the Marbles:

“Thoughtful Tuesday: Below the Line”

This week I have been living below the line in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the World Food Program.  What an eye opener this week has been, starting with budgeting for 15 meals on just $7.50.  By the end of Monday I was cranky. By the middle of Tuesday I was nauseous.  Wednesday I was cranky, nauseous and so unenthusiastic about the food options available to me for $.50 a meal that I did not want to eat at all.

Heather Barmore on Poliogue:

“Could You Live Below The Line?”

In education we often speak of outside factors that can contribute  to or hinder a child’s ability to learn. For example a child who is unable to see the chalkboard but their parents cannot afford to bring that child to the eye doctor. So, the child sits in the class and suffers. Then there is the child who fears the walk to school because of whatever violence surrounding their neighborhood.  And then there is poverty. Poverty which is the root of the above. It’s poverty that causes a child to come to school hungry each day and yet that child is still expected to learn and perform. I’ve heard plenty of stories of children who hoard food come Thursday knowing that it will have to last until Monday morning. School is too often the one place for a child to receive proper nutrition.

Dresden Shumaker on Creating Motherhood

“Below the line and dangling”

Yesterday was day one on the challenge and it brought up some unexpected emotional issues.

First of all you guys know that I am on a path to get healthy. This means that I have been making great choices about what I eat and when I eat. Eating regularly was one of the odder milestones that I conquered as skipping meals was something I had started doing for any number of reasons. Worried about weight? Don’t eat. Worried about money? Don’t eat. Not eating was one of the things that helped keep me fat.

Dresden Shumaker on Babble:

“Ben Affleck Will Live on $1.50″

What is the significance of $1.50? For some of us it wouldn’t even get us our favorite morning coffee treat. It doesn’t pay for a gallon of gas and it won’t get you a ride on most public transit.

$1.50 is a small number that illustrates a big line: the poverty line.

Kelly Whickam on ONE:

“Living Below the Line: Day 1″

I begin my journey of spreading awareness of worldwide hunger by vowing to live on $1.50 a day for meals. To do this required a lot of planning, visiting a grocery store I rarely go to (Aldi) and plucking things from the garden though not a lot has sprung up already. Today’s meals will include ramen from Aldi’s that I bought for $1.69 for 12, chicken broth, and water to drink. Naturally, I will be soooo over ramen after this week.\

Kelly Whickam on Mocha Momma

“Living Below the Line: Day 2 Recap”

It’s Tuesday night and, by my count, I’ve been functioning for a very long day at work (that included a 5 hour track meet!) on very few calories. I have updated my Babble blog (if you’re really that interested in this Living Below the Line challenge) to show exactly what $1.50 meals can look like. Meals, grocery store planning, and cost per serving are now a part of every moment of the day. (*note: CPS = cents per serving.)

Kelly Whickam on Mocha Momma

“Living Below the Line: Day 3 Recap”

This afternoon I was able to hop on a phone call with the Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, her son Hunter Biden who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Food Program so that we could talk about food and the lack of it for those living below the line of poverty. It was a great phone call where my fellow teammates and I got to ask questions about the challenge, the work of the WFP, and about how we have a worldwide challengeon our hands. Most importantly, though, about how we have the tools at our disposal to fix it.

Kelly Whickam on Mocha Momma

“Living Below the Line: Day 4 Recap”

There’s so much that’s bothering me through this challenge. Food is everywhere but it’s not for everyone. I noticed at work that someone left a Jiffy Peanut Butter to-go cup in the kitchen and I thought, “That’s way too expensive but awfully convenient. I wish I could take along snacks like that.” After that, I noticed that one of my co-workers left an empty yogurt cup on the counter and when I bent down to look at it I laughed at the very pretentiousness of the marketing.

A guest post by The Cuban on Kelly Whickam’s blog, Mocha Momma

“Live Below the Line: Day 4″

Everyone who knows me, and even some of you who don’t, knows that when it comes to the kitchen, hubris is my middle name. No challenge is impossible, no recipe too big.

Of course, Kelly understands this side of me better than anyone so it is not at all uncommon for her to sign “Us” up for numerous cooking challenges. This is how this conversation usually goes: …

Jessica McFadden on A Parent in America:

“Eating in Solidarity with Extreme Poverty Worldwide: #BelowtheLine for World Food Program USA”

Eating only $1.50 a day is HARD. Over the past five months I have committed to living more healthfully, and I have purchased and prepared the highest quality food I have ever imbibed. I have lost weight, but rarely felt hungry as my pampered, overfed American body digested those roasted almonds, organic vegetables, sprouted-grain breads, green smoothies, free range chickens and more.

Morra Aarons-Mele on Huffington Post:

“Eating at The Ritz on $1.50 a Day”

For the next five days, my food budget will be limited to $7.50. What does $7.50 buy? Here in Boston, not much. And to make things even more challenging, I’m going to be traveling for work most of this week, including a stay at the Ritz Carlton for the Mom 2.0 Summit. The very idea of staying at the Ritz and eating boiled eggs skirts parody, but cynics be damned, I’m going to do it. I was cheered to hear that last year, the actress Amanda Peet noted sitting next to a colleague participating in LBL who happily pulled out a bag of cheap eats at an A-list Hollywood dinner during the Challenge. If she can, I can.

Saute garlic and ginger (as much as you like) ’til fragrant. Add 8 cups homemade veggie broth. Once all cooked, add in ramen or soba noodles. Greens if you have them. Hot sauce or soy sauce, simmer for a bit, and you’re all set. It’s really good! – Morra

The inequality of wealth and poverty in the world is extremely apparent when it comes to one of our most basic needs: food. Could you live on just $1.50 per day? For the 1.4 billion people who live in the most extreme poverty — what the World Bank calculates to be the equivalent of $1.50 USD per day — this is reality.

Next week, I’m going to join Ben Affleck, Hunter Biden, and other fantastic luminaries in trying to go five days eating on $1.50 a day.

Image credit mynicolita.com