A note from the Board

This year promises to be a time of growth, change and challenge for The Pangea Network.

The first half of 2008 saw the greatest expansion of Pangea support in our history. We held two large fund raising events, our first in Houston and our first silent auction at the Dionysus Salon in Market Street. In addition, the team conducted public awareness events all over the Houston area at art galleries, university fairs and public schools, continuing our focus on telling the stories of the women of the world.

But the challenge was also the greatest in our history. The violence that followed the elections in Kenya stretched our resources as we sent much needed emergency funds to communities we work in.

The rising price of food worldwide will hit our program beneficiaries hard in the second half of 2008. Many members of our generous community have offered in the past to host home parties, fundraising events in your neighborhoods, churches or community centers. Never more than now have we needed that support. Please be sure to contact the team to schedule your event to raise badly needed program funds for the remainder of the year.

Last, we are happy to announce that Pangea has hired three interns this summer to help create marketing materials and complete grant applications for our programs. These three college students are bringing a wealth of energy and bright ideas as well as a passion for our work. Their photos and bios are included in this newsletter. Please read about them and join us in thanking them for their invaluable contribution.

Recent Trip - The Holy Land

In March, we went to the Holy Land to visit with partners and women in our programs. A major focus of this trip was to begin work on an exciting new project, a book that highlights women in the Holy Land. The Pangea Network is collaborating with Jo-Anne Power, a published author, to collect stories of both Israeli and Palestinian women to share their lives, loves, heartaches and dreams. Their voices are strong, sorrowful and at the same time hopeful and we look forward to sharing these incredible lives with you in the coming year.

Education Outreach

This spring, The Pangea Network was thrilled to present to classes at several schools in the Houston area. Students were introduced to life in Kenya and learned how they could help make a difference in the lives of women living in challenging circumstances. Many students at Kempner High School in Sugarland, Texas were so moved by the situation in Kenya, that they organized a school wide sale of the bracelets made by HIV+ women in our Beads of Hope Project. Thanks to their efforts and passion, they raised over $450 for our programs.

In an effort to advertise the fundraiser, a group of young women put together a video to explain the situation and the project. The incredible video and thank you cards, created solely by the students, revealed to us how much of an impact one presentation can have on young people in our communities. Click here to watch the video

Meet our Summer Interns

Emily Leber is a senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is majoring in Fashion Merchandising with a focus on Marketing. Emily plans to graduate in May 2009, and pursue her career in Fashion. Her long term goal is to own and operate a boutique and later create a global private label.

Gabriella Lopez is a junior in college at Loyola University in New Orleans where she studies English and Communications. Gabriella recently returned from spending a semester abroad in London where she studied literature and Communications. After graduation Gabriella hopes to pursue a career in Communications.

Victoria Lewis is a junior at Princeton University studying art history. She has traveled extensively and lived abroad. She hopes to study for a year in France and pursue a career in museum curation or art dealership. She is an accomplished painter and photographer and hopes to attain a certificate in the visual arts.

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