The night before our journey

This is my first attempt at blogging. And I can't think of a better reason to start.

I've dreamed for much of my life of going to Africa and I've always saw myself working with children there. As I write this on the eve of my trip to Kenya, I can't believe that my dream has become a reality. What makes this journey even more special to me is that I get to share this experience with one of my best friends since college, Marc and one of my dearest friends from the Department of Education, Karen.

When I was in the 5th grade I was asked by my teacher to write a list of my goals for the future. I wrote that I wanted to be a lawyer and live in NYC and help children around the world. My teacher wrote back to me that I should think of some more realistic goals in addition to the ones I had listed. I declined. And well here we are;) 

As you may or may not know I've spent my legal career working on issues impacting women and children and have volunteered my services to these causes outside of work. I've always felt most connected with the cause through direct action. When Marc suggested the idea of volunteering with children in Africa I felt like this was the right time and that we should not put it off. We did some research and came across International Volunteer Headquarters, a nonprofit based in New Zealand. The organization appealed to us for many reasons. Their volunteer service trips received consistently good reviews, they were not religiously affiliated and their program fees were not outrageous. While I am Christian, I did not want to travel to Africa with an organization that pushed religion. My priority is helping the children in anyway needed. 

I want to thank my family and friends for their constant love, support and prayers.

I hope that you will enjoy what we post and that our blog encourages you to follow your dreams and give of yourself in anyway that you can.