Sponsorship Journey

I am beyond thrilled that we raised enough funds at my March 8, 2014 charity run/walk to sponsor 14 women through Women for Women International's (WfWI) Congo program.

Our Equal Exchange Team at our 2014 Event

Simply by taking the time to come together, we are now supporting half a class through WfWI, and are able to be a part of a journey taking place half a world away for 14 remarkable women. 

Over three years ago when I first learned about the conflict in Congo, and how my use of electronics products gave me leverage to do something about it, I didn't yet fully understand that I would become a part of something which would actually have impact.

Dedicated Volunteers

 By impact, I mean human-to-human connection with women who live in Eastern Congo.  


And so, it is with a thankful heart that I embark on the sponsorship journey with all of you, my fellow supporters. Over the course of the next year I will send and post monthly snippets about the 14 women we are sponsoring. In order to protect their privacy photos will only be sent via my newsletter, and so should you wish to receive the more detailed newsletter updates, please subscribe via my webpage (click "subscribe" on the bottom right of the page).

You will also have the opportunity to correspond with the sisters.  To send a message of encouragement and support simply email me at: amandapdxrunforcongo@gmail.com.  

I encourage you to take the time to do so as Women for Women International has been told time and time again by their program participants that messages from their sponsors provide hope and encouragement beyond measure, and provide a sense of togetherness during times of loneliness. 

Some of our runners on 3.8.14

Should we receive responses from our sisters (it can take quite some time to receive responses due to the logistics involved on their end living in more rustic places), I will of course pass those along in my blog and monthly newsletter as well. 

Meet 2 of The Sisters
That said, please meet Sisters Maria & Kate.
Maria: is married with 6 children
Kate: is single with 1 child

Their Journey*
*(The following is from an update I received from Women for Women International)

Maria, Kate and our other 12 sisters are now finishing their fourth month of training.

In the last few months, the sisters have been in health and wellness classes.  We (WfWI) believe that women cannot be active members of their communities if they are not well, both physically and emotionally. Over the next several months, our sisters will continue to learn methods of prevention and treatment of key health issues for themselves and her family members.

Health is a human right. Our sisters class will focus on the concept of health as an essential human right. This is a crucial starting point for women who live in areas where poor nutrition and preventable diseases are a part of everyday life. She will learn basic skills, nutritional information, sanitation and disease prevention.

Coping with post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of the women we work with are survivors of great violence, suffering and loss.

In DRC, at least 5.4 million people have died as a result of conflict and its consequences since 1998. With rape used as a weapon of war, an estimated 48 women are raped every hour in the DRC, resulting in about 1.8 million women having been raped.

This may be the first time they are able to discuss and deal with the trauma that they have been living with. Your sister will learn to recognize stress as a normal reaction to the events she has experienced, develop tools for coping with her symptoms, and be given access to resources for additional help if needed.


Protect yourself and your family. Your sisters will learn about communicable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, sexual reproductive health, mental health and environmental health. In addition, they will learn about pregnancy, infant care, family planning and hygiene. When a woman is healthy, she can focus on healing and learning as she moves forward in our program.

**************

Thank you again for your support, and please take the time to send a message of support to Maria and Kate as they go through their journey with Women for Women International.

Amanda Ulrich
Team Congo PDX Founder
Women for Women International Volunteer Ambassador
amandapdxrunforcongo@gmail.com

Team Congo PDX Pairs with The Fitness Studio for @ Cause + Event Portland

This is the official blog post from your Portland, Oregon Volunteer Women for Women International Ambassador, and I am pleased to remind you all that Team Congo PDX will once again be participating at Cause + Event Portland on September 13, 2014 in Bethany Village.

Team Congo PDX from the 2013 Cause + Event Portland

We've teamed up this year with The Fitness Studio.The lovely Annette Vaughn will be working with me to recruit team members, and before the race will lead you all through a pre-race warm-up.

When you join Team Congo PDX at Cause + Event Portland half of your registration fee (Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & free kids fun run), will be a donation to Women for Women International.  Our team is multi-distance as each person will run/walk individually.  The team is about raising awareness & funds for one cause.  You can also join our team & run or walk virtually (meaning you run or walk on your own).  The event will fill, and so you should register in the next few weeks.

Part of this year's 10K course

 Child care is available on race day, and each team member will receive a free Run for Congo Women pedestrian pin to wear on race day so that we can identify each other on the race course! Also, if you don't already have a Run for Congo women t-shirt, contact me and I'll get you one (see below for email).

Registration Link: https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=25465

*In the "Charity" field select: "Women for Women International" 


*In the "joining a team field" select: "Team Congo PDX"!

Team Fundraising Page: http://bit.ly/1jzKDvd 
*The team member who raises the most funds via this page will receive a prize!

Thank you all for your continued support!  Together we can impact lives half a world away.


Amanda Ulrich
Team Congo PDX Founder
Women for Women International Volunteer Ambassador
amandapdxrunforcongo@gmail.com

Team Congo PDX 2014 Supports 14 Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo

On International Women's Day 2014 (3.8.14), 132 runners and walkers gathered in Downtown Portland to support Women for Women International's program in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  In all, the event raised more than $5,000 which was enough to sponsor 14 women

Photo taken by Alexa Brandt Photography

in Congo, who have recently been enrolled in Women for Women's one year program.  As a part of the program, sponsors can send letters of encouragement and support to their sisters throughout the year-long program.  

Here is where you come in, Team Congo PDX supporters. Over the course of the next year (May 2014 - May 2015), you will have the opportunity to send letters to our 14 sisters. Please submit your letters, no matter how long or short, as follows:

1) email: amandapdxrunforcongo@gmail.com & title your email: "Letter to WfWI Sister"

2) Or you may submit your letter(s) via our website "Contact Us" page.

We will make sure to send your letters to our sisters, and will share their responses on our Facebook page, and via email. 

Thank you to all who came out to support us this past March. Without your support we would not be able to impact the lives of 14 women in DRC, and we are proud to be able to support these wonderful 14 women! 

In order to protect the identity of our sisters, personal information such as photos, etc. will only be shared with supporters via email.  

Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run - 3.8.14 Top Tier Raffle

We are just over a month out to Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run, and we are excited to announce that this year we have 5 awesome incentive items (we have 2 of each item) donated by Women for Women International (WfWI) to offer to 10 supporters to raise $100 or more via our online fundraising page with (WfWI).  All proceeds will benefit their Congo program. We also have 1 special item donated by the local Portland Equal Exchange Co-Op, as well as free entry from Foot Traffic for their all women's training program. 

Here's how it works:

• To enter the raffle, set-up an online fundraising page here: http://wfwicongo.kintera.org/teamcongopdx (if you set-up your own team, please email the event organizer by 3.7.14 with the url to your team page: amandapdxrunforcongo@gmail.com);

• Raise $100 or more by 3.5.14 from family, friends, colleagues (funds raised must be posted to online fundraising page);

• Then, on event day (3.8.14) we will draw 10 winners, and each will win one of the following items donated by Women for Women International: 

Yes, it's that simple! 

Gem Stone bracelets made by Afghan women enrolled in WfWI's program.






If you Knew Me You Would Care by WfWI founder Zainab Salbi.

Run for Congo Women 

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

            Half the Sky DVD 

Bracelet & Necklace made by 

Rwandan Women enrolled in 

WfWI's program:

African Gift Box from Equal Exchange 

(This gift box supports Panzi Hospital in Eastern Congo)

Comp entry to Foot Traffic Women's Academy 

(begins 3.8.14, but okay to miss the first session)

Well, what are you waiting for?  Get out there & fundraise!

Team Congo PDX Cause + Event Rundown

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 Team Congo PDX participated in Cause + Event Portland, a local running/walking event which benefits the charity of the particpant's choice.  Team Congo PDX brought 47 team members to the event, and had participant's entered into both the 10K and 5K run, as well as the 5K walk and virtual walk/run.

Group photo!

$10 of each Team Congo PDX member's registration fee was a direct donation to Women for Women International's Congo program.  In total we raised$545, which is enough to sponsor one woman for one year, plus 40% toward a second one year sponsorship.  This amount represents each team member's registration fee and donations ($470 fees / $75 donations).  

Women for Women International's one year program in Congo provides women (mainly from the east) with job training skills, as well as trauma counseling as most women have been victims of sexual assault/violence, and upon graduation are given a micro loan in order to put their newly learned job skills to use.  (Team Fundraising Page).

It was truly a fun day, and the event was well planned. About 5 months prior to the event Team Congo PDX entered into a friendly side-challenge with Team Angel MS Warriors to see who could bring the largest team.

Team Angel MS Warrior Captain Charlie & Team Congo PDX Captain Amanda

The losing team was to complete an exercise of the winning team's choice. Although Team Congo PDX lost the challenge, The Angel's were great sports & did the 80 some-odd jumping jacks with us pre-race (a great way to get warmed up)!  Rumor has it the challenge is on again for next year (Save the date: 9.13.14 Cause + Event!)

The race course itself was brilliant in that it consisted of several out & backs and so you got to pass by & high five your fellow team mates as you passed by them.  A great way to recharge your running/walking spirit! 

The after-race celebration was also upbeat & much fun.

Team Congo PDX members warming by the heater pre-race

 I enjoyed being able to say hi and thank you to as many Team Congo PDX members as possible, and was inspired at the cross section of our team: co-workers, running friends, fellow activists, high school classmates...

A special thank you to the Never Again Coalition for helping to recruit Team Congo PDX members, and of course the the Cause + Event volunteer race committee, and in particular Race Director Amy Little.

If you'd like to support Team Congo PDX, you can join us for our annual charity group walk/run on International Women's Day (3.8.14): Click here to register.

Final Stats: Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run - 3.9.13

The final stats are now in for my 2nd Annual Team Congo PDX's Group 10K/5K Walk Run, which was held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 to coincide with International Women's Day.


Participants running (sisters Ann & Carrie)
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Participants: 148 (10K:66 / 5K:82)

5Kers starting their route
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Funds Raised: $4,806

(Team Congo PDX Page, Rock Creek Multi-Cultural Center & Brenna Kutch)

100% of each participant's registration fee was a donation to Women for Women International's DR Congo program, and the amount above is comprised not only of the registration fees collected, but also of the funds collected the day of the event for the purchase of raffle tickets, as well as donations collected in the months and weeks leading up to the event.

The funds raised are enough sponsor 12 women for one year via Women for Women International's DR Congo Program.  These women will be enrolled in a year-long training program which will give them the skills needed to support themselves and their families.  They will also receive trauma counseling, and at the end of the program will be given a micro loan so that they can begin to support themselves using their newly learned skills.

Volunteer Hours: 

88.5 hours / 21 Volunteers

Volunteers Patrick & Scott check-in participants at Foot Traffic
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Volunteer hours were donated in order to ensure that the event went as smoothly as possible, and for that I thank all volunteers!  Volunteers set-up the after-event reception areas, set-up the registration area, ran-registration, directed participants out on the route and helped to clean-up afterwards. 

A special thank you to Patrick Whalen, Starbucks Manager extraordinaire, who worked hard to recruit route volunteers via the Starbucks Community Service Site.

A local massage therapist from Raven Healing Therapies donated her services by offering a 15 minute massage for the participants free-of-charge.  Photographer Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions donated her services by capturing the day in photos.  I thank them both for the generous donation of their talents.

I also thank the following volunteers: Kayla Smith (event co-coordinator), Kevin Putnam (sponsor), Craig Moore, Ann Shannon, Richa Sehgal, Alysha Atma, Allison (Foot Traffic), Dan, Anna & Hannah and Starbucks volunteers: Scott, Monica, Ramona, Susan, Anna, Sharon & Joseph.

SPONSORS: 5

($3,000 value)

I owe a BIG thank you to all of the event sponsors for without their support, my event would not have been the success it was: Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, Foot Traffic, Diversitech, Starbucks & Great Harvest Bakery. 

My sponsors made it possible to advertise the event, print promotional materials, manage off-line registrations, provide the before and after event gathering spaces, and of course yummy treats to enjoy at the after-event reception. 

Most importantly, however, their sponsorship conveys their commitment to the cause, and for that I am grateful.  

RAFFLE PRIZES: 30+

($500 value)

Over 30 raffle prizes were donated to the event by the following supporters:

Thank you!

Community Support: 8 Groups

At the event were the following community groups: Oregon Coalition for Humanity, Portland's Equal Exchange Co-op, Never Again Coalition, Atma Foundation, Arise for Congo, The Embrace Necklace, & One Million Bones, all of whom sent representatives to table at the event in order to share with participants information about their work related to issues in DR Congo, and to provide information about other ways to become involved in the cause.

Also present in order to lend her support was Sarah Adkins from the Oregon Student Nurses' Association.



Participants making bones for One Million Bones
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

MORE THANK YOUS

Thank you to all of the participants who came out in support of Run for Congo Women. It was an amazing day, which would not have been possible without your support!  I hope to see you all next year (Save the date: 3.8.14).

I would also like to thank Bonnie Wilson from Run Oregon for taking time out of her busy schedule to participate in the event, and then write an event recap for the Run Oregon blog. Thank you Bonnie!

Bonnie Wilson finishing up the 10K
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Thank you to Kayla Smith for helping me with the event--you are an amazing friend and co-event organizer!  Thank you to Kevin Putnam for running the show at the after-event reception, and for your continued support of Run for Congo Women.  Thank you also to Laura Thomas, Downtown manager of Foot Traffic, for your guidance and support. Thank you Jeanne Kraje for your support and reassurance.  And last, but far from least, thank you to my family and coworkers who patiently put up with my over-the-top stress level in the weeks and days leading up to the event.  I will not ever forget your reassuring words and support!

Happy 5K finisher
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com

Reasonably Unreasonable

                   As I sit at my computer listening to the Swing Kids soundtrack contemplating what Holocaust Remembrance day means to me, and why it is that I make a point to remember on this day each year, my mind flashes back to a quotation by George Bernard Shaw I came across recently while reading Half the Sky:

“Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world.  Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves.  All progress, therefore, depends upon unreasonable people.”

                A powerful quotation packed full of turned-upside-down meaning. Perhaps a bit on the absolute side, but still the quotation has punch.   Who wants to be unreasonable?  Me, that’s who.

                Let’s take a moment to remember two extraordinarily unreasonable individuals:  Oskar Schindler and Paul Rusesabagina.  Oskar Schindler, an ethnic German Catholic and eventual member of the Nazi Party, saved the lives of over 1,000 of his Jewish contemporaries from the Holocaust by employing them in his various factories during the war.  Oskar Schnidler was viewed by many as an opportunist with extravagant tastes, and yet he created a “reasonable” facade which acted as a shield that saved lives.  Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu and manager of a luxury hotel in Kigali, also saved more than 1,000 lives by bravely sheltering both Hutus and Tutsis alike during the 100 horrific days of the Rwandan Genocide that violently claimed the lives of more than 800,000.  Paul Rusesabagina used the walls of Hotel des Mille Collines as a literal, overt, and “unreasonable” shield to save lives.

                Oskar Schnidler pretended to adapt to the world around him, and therefore appeared “reasonable”, while Paul Rusesbagina refused to adapt to the violence of his fellow Hutus, and took an “unreasonable” stand which could have cost his life, but didn’t.   Despite the two different approaches, at some point both men refused to adapt to the world around them, and in their own heroic ways adapted the world to their view of how things ought to be.

                To me Holocaust Remembrance day is not only a day to remember the Holocaust, but also a day to remember all genocides, and to then identify current genocides (The Nubian Mountains in Sudan for example) and crimes against humanity about which I can speak up and do something.  Maybe this sounds like an unreasonable expectation of myself, and to some perhaps even trite and futile.  

                Acutely aware that some think my passion’s overwhelming and far too big for one person to take on, I will forge ahead with a reasonably unreasonable mindset.  Although my unreasonable outlook does not place my life in danger, it does risk eye rolls, private sighs of here-we-go-again and possibly annoyance.  Nevertheless, I will continue to advocate for the women, men and children of DR Congo who have suffered for far too long, and advocate for the SEC’s immediate release of strong 1502 regulations.  I will gladly fulfill my role as an Ambassador for Women for Women International**, and will also do what I can to support local causes which benefit and advocate for those in my immediate community who need it most.  All of this I unreasonably promise.

**WfWI “works with socially excluded women in eight countries where war and conflict have devastated lives and communities.”  http://www.womenforwomen.org/

Sources: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005787 http://hrrfoundation.org/ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5324187 http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/calendar/