A littleHUMAN Drummer

We hear of adults that contribute their story of incredible talent to their parents introducing them to it at an early age. Well, this is my littleHUMAN friend, Lena. She is just under 3 years old and is already learning how to be a musical genius. Her parents are very dear, old friends of mine from high school. They married as high school sweet hearts and I always spend time with their family when I head back to NY for a visit. I couldn’t help but take some photos of Lena as she is learning her way around the drums. Love this girl!

Happy Monday!

A Tatum Butler Story

As an adult looking at a child’s development, I find myself overwhelmed with joy and curiosity of how they choose to pick up the smallest new gestures, new phrases, new facial expressions. Over the holiday, I had some solid quality time with my niece who is just shy of 3 years old. This age is perfection. She is full of energy, highly entertaining, and is communicating through words like never before. Her parents told me that she has taken on a new phrase at bedtime. After her normal book read, she now says, “Tell me a Tatum Butler story.” (Which is her.) My first reaction, “What?! Where did she get that from?”

Who knows.

Here is a photographic Tatum Butler story that I captured on my last morning in NY. Its true, I may have let her jump on the bed under the covers. So if she picks that one up at home (mom+dad)…. it was me.

by admin

show hide 5 comments

ANNIE

 

 

 

OLGA

 

 

 

WASH Program :: UNICEF :: Sierra Leone

During the month of July 2011, I did a whirlwind tour of three countries in two weeks, roundtrip. The last visit was touring UNICEF programs in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I was like a kid in a candy store. I was over the top excited to learn from this agency and get a better understanding of systematic approaches to programs like, WASH.

Thankfully, my assumptions held true. I will wave my flag high and proud to promote the works of UNICEF. I was so impressed with their dedicated team, the passion, the partnerships. Their investment isn’t ‘just aid’. Rather, its rebuilding, character development, and self-sustaining.

Here are photos from two schools that have adopted the WASH program for their students. Enjoy!

[Below is more information directly from UNICEF]

UNICEF works with government and other partners to create conditions for change – or enabling environments – to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of all water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)  programmes.

Working directly with community-based organizations and communities and families themselves, UNICEF helps to ensure that households have access to a clean and secure supply of water, and safe and convenient sanitary facilities. Through hygiene promotion  – and especially the promotion of hand-washing with soap – UNICEF works towards maximizing the health benefits, focussing in particular on the survival, growth and development of young children.

UNICEF works towards making schools healthier and more attractive to children, especially girls, through WASH in schools programmes. Healthier children are more effective learners, and girls who spend less time fetching water have more time for school. Helping to build separate and decent sanitation facilities in schools can reduce dropout rates, especially among girls. And hygiene promotion in schools creates conditions where children themselves are agents of change in their families and communities.

UNICEF works in more than 90 countries around the world to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices.

(Information sourced from www.unicef.org)