Filed under: Books, Dewey's Read-a-thon, Peace | Tags: Child Upliftment Cetner, Cork Boat, Dewey's Read-a-thon, John Pollack, Nepal orphans
So my reading has gotten off to an incredibly slow start as I received two lengthy phone calls, and have been distracted by other people’s blogs since I started almost two hours ago. So far in Cork Boat, we learn about the author’s obsession with building things, particularly things that float, his sailing adventures in college, and his job as a Washington speech writer for the folks in the Clinton administration. At some point around the time of Clinton’s impeachment, Pollack becomes so disillusioned with politics that he decides to quit. Not just find a new job. Quit.
So far this is my favorite quote: “Worse yet were the press conferences that members held in the Radio and TV Gallery, standing in front of the shelves filled with fake books, just to lend some gravitas to their empty rhetoric.” Fake books! What! For how much money that is spent in Washington, they can’t go down the local thrift store and find some real books to put on those shelves. Who knows, some of those people might even start seeing titles that catch their eye, and slyly slip one into their briefcase and get a little dose of perspective. If you could pick a book to send to a Rep. or Senator to read what would it be?
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this myself, but on the official read-a-thon page many people are trying to raise donations for charities. I have recently taken on the task of becoming the international fund-raiser of a charity that is very close to me, as it is run by a couple of really good friends I met while living in Nepal.
It is a small non-profit orphanage that was started by a group of karate instructors and students to help out 20 kids that they knew who had become homeless and sometimes parent-less due to inter-caste violence, and from the civil war with the Moaists that has been happening in Nepal for about ten years. They rented a house and run the orphanage all from their own funds and some small local donations. Their bills have become higher than what they can raise locally, and they have asked me to help them find some new funding so they can keep the orphanage open.
Besides just providing housing, they also pay for all the food, clothing, and school supplies (public school in Nepal requires kids to pay for their own books and uniforms), so that the kids can lead as normal a life as possible.
Child Upliftment Center website.
I managed to get a paypal account set up for them to make it easier for people to make donations. No amount is too small, as even $5 goes a really long way in Nepal. The average yearly income is only about $250 US per person, and they are still at only about a 40% literacy rate for women.
Currently reading: Cork Boat: A True Story of the Unlikeliest Boat Ever Built
Pages read in current book: 28
Pages read total: 28
7 Comments so far
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Ruby Ramblings 
That is a really cool quote. Hope you’re having fun reading! =)
Comment by Melanie October 24, 2009 @ 2:13 pmWhat an amazing charity. Happy reading!
Comment by millymarie October 24, 2009 @ 2:16 pmHave a great time today. Don’t feel stressed that you haven’t read as much as you want to. This is all for fun! Also, thanks for letting everyone know about the charity.
Comment by karinlibrarian October 24, 2009 @ 2:59 pmKarin
Awesome charity choice! Happy Reading!
Comment by Trisha October 24, 2009 @ 3:34 pmThat is a great charity to spread the word about. Good luck reading!
Comment by Aarti October 24, 2009 @ 3:45 pmAn amazing charity…I want to donate as well.
Comment by bybee October 24, 2009 @ 4:13 pmYou’ll settle in and get more read as the night goes on.
That sounds like a great charity. Good luck today and happy reading!
Comment by Belle October 24, 2009 @ 5:23 pm