It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, right after the E-2010: 9th NaFFAA Empowerment Conference, when I visited Dr. Tom K. Stern and Yolanda O. Stern. I remember that the rain had dissipated to a moisturizing mist as I disembarked from an East Bay Bart Station. Serendipitously, God and the Universe believed it was time for the three of us to reconnect and catch up. Yolanda O. Stern had done a remarkable job in presenting One World Institute’s Projects for Peace at the E-2010. Thus, we had a lot to talk about.
The 2010 Holiday Gift Video Catalog from One World Institute, focusing on “Pearls for Peace,” is one of the results of this life-changing visit. There’s a lot more in store for all the volunteers in this non-profit organization. We’ve created an OWI
Community blog. One step at a time, we’ll get there.
The message I sent my Facebook friends is:
I hope you can support me in my holiday non-profit project. If you’re looking for unique, meaningful gifts, I have something to offer online. It’s TheOneWorldInstitute.org’s “Pearls for Peace” project. They are featuring BASIL ANIK, a Fisherman-Artist from Jolo, Sulu, who creates one-of-a-kind brooches suitable for everyone. Video catalog at http://bit.ly/g5qVf4.
Your donations, starting at $25 per brooch, will help save many lives in areas of conflict. For more information, see http://OWIcommunity.tumblr.com. Special orders accepted at [email protected]. Please pass on to your friends. Happy holidays!
Welcome to One World Institute’s “Pearls for Peace,” a project for the soul… Featuring Basil Anik, Artist, of Jolo, Sulu.
Bas and his wife have four children. He is saving money to send them to school. Living on the water at the Tulay (bridge) in Jolo, Bas is a fisherman who makes dried fish to sell.
Recently, he volunteered his humble house on the water for The One World Institute’s “Movie Nights” and a reading program for children sponsored by Thomas M. Ortega Stern. “Books for the Barrios” supplied the books.
Basil Anik’s home has been disrupted by many conflicts caused by war. Last year, an errant missile hit the Anik home and wounded his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and two sons. The year before, his home was ruined by a typhoon. People helped to rebuild Bas’ home for the fourth time — in true “rebuilding community” spirit.
When we first started “Movie Nights”, we were expecting 50 children. Instead, almost 300 came from all the stilt houses — but due to the unexpected heavy weight of these movie-goers, the bridge fell. We had to postpone the project until the community’s residents fetched bamboo from the mountains to rebuild and reinforce the bridge.
One day at a time, life changed for the residents of the Tulay…
Children come to read with volunteers from the local schools. Games and contests are organized for them during special holidays…
Bas is also now supervising a “Basketball for Peace Program.” Teams compete on a beach court when low tide sets in. Basketball teams’ uniforms are made locally for US$100.00 per team. The donor gets his own colors and company name on the uniforms. At the end of each final tournament, the players keep their uniforms…
Most of the young adults in 2010 came to get tutored at the Tulay. All of them have graduated. As they look forward to being in high school, we celebrate their achievements as milestones…
Bas began experimenting with creating brooches by following instructions from a “do-it-yourself” book. Today, your donation of every pin provides pocket money for food to the apprentices who come to assist in polishing and shining the finished products. Bas cannot make new brooches until he dispatches this batch because he had invested his savings for tools and materials…
In areas where war can wreak havoc and destroy communities, a sustainable livelihood through the artisan craftsmanship of these “pearls for peace” saves many lives.
We thank you for making it possible for Basil Anik and his team to continue creating one-of-a-kind brooches…
ABOUT THE BROOCHES:
“Sulu Wildlife Series. Materials: .999 Silver from Tongkil Island & Sulu Mother of Pearl.
The traditional brooches depict fruits and flowers of Sulu. The pins are worn by both male and female for the “sablay”— or to hold a shirt closed or to keep a scarf secure. Men wear it on their lapels and women pin it to their head scarves. There are many uses for the pin, so let your imagination go to work.
One definition of “sablay” is “a loose piece of clothing, worn by a person, that is simple yet elegant and joined in front by an ornament; as well as the draping object or fabric on the shoulder.”
Since the brooch is made of pure silver, it is soft to the touch and needs delicate handling. No two brooches are alike. Â
Brooches in 14/18Kt gold can be custom-made to your specifications, too. Please contact us at [email protected] for any special orders.
DONATION: $25.00 for one brooch; 45.00 for two brooches; Volume Discount: For 10 to 20 brooches, get 10% discount; For any brooch at $50 or more, get 15% discount for the Holiday Season. LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE.
Use PayPal to donate at
http://theoneworldinstitute.org/donations/index.htm.
For more questions or special orders, email us at [email protected].
(The producer of this video is Lorna Lardizabal Dietz, http://OWIcommunity.tumblr.com. [email protected].)
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