Who Wants to Go to Uganda? YOU Do!

For those of you who remember Sarah Longacre’s trip to Uganda a couple of years ago, you may also remember the stories, photos and adventures she shared upon her return. It was wildly educational, fulfilling, challenging, rejuvenating AND transformative!

Now’s your chance to visit Uganda (Jan 14-23, 2013) through Shanti Uganda, where Sarah helped build a birth center. Here’s your opportunity to contribute to maternal health and the ongoing work of this incredible organization, while experiencing another culture and daily yoga.

A bit about the trip:

Collectively raise funds to contribute to the health and empowerment of Ugandan women and then join your Celebrate Uganda 2013 team to embark on a 10-day journey into the heart and soul of The Shanti Uganda Society.

Learn more about the trip here!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

 

Celebrate Mother’s Day Near & Far with These Great Gifts

With so many wonderful ways to support mothers both locally and abroad, we at Blooma thought we’d offer a few Mother’s Day gift ideas.

• Support local mothers in need (and support doula care) with this gift to your mom or to yourself — become an Isis Rising founding mother! Isis Rising is a prison-based pregnancy, birth, and parenting program provided to women at Shakopee Women’s Prison.

If you donate $25, $100 or another amount in your mother’s name, she’ll receive a hand-made Mother’s Day Card. Donations of $100 or more will qualify the honorary donor as an Isis Rising “Founding Mother,” and their name(s) will be incorporated into a public art piece to be hung and displayed at Isis’ parent organization, Everyday Miracles Pregnancy Center. Donations of $500 or more will also include a bouquet of flowers hand-delivered by an Everyday Miracles volunteer (if in the Twin Cities area).

• Near and dear to Sarah’s heart  is Shanti Uganda, which began with a vision to bring the healing power of yoga and conscious birth to communities experiencing trauma in Uganda. (This is where Sarah helped build a birth center in 2010 with the generous support of Blooma families!).

The gorgeous beaded jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, and earrings), handmade yoga mat bags and handbags sold through Shanti Uganda are available in celebration of Mother’s Day at 40% off, AND support women who’ve graduated from the Income Generating Training Program. Each woman must be HIV positive and either a grandmother taking care of multiple grandchildren, a widow or in a situation of extreme poverty. Just enter  “springcleaning” at checkout for the discount.

• The book from National Public Radio called Mom: A Celebration of Mom from StoryCorps ($14) makes a great gift for your own mom, grandmother, sister, or new-mom friend. “Meet mothers and children of all kinds—immigrants, adult children caring for an elderly parent, a woman remembering the sound of her mother’s laugh, and visit families in moments of profound joy and sadness, courage and despair, struggle and triumph.”

• And of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend a Blooma gift card for your loved ones — great for using toward any of our yoga classes or a wellness service such as a massage or acupuncture.

Happy (almost) Mother’s Day from Blooma!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Merry Christmas from Blooma!

Merry Christmas to all the families we are so honored to share space with. We love you & wish you much health and happiness in the year to come!

We also want to share a special holiday greeting from Shanti Uganda, the organization Sarah Longacre worked with in 2009 during her Off the Mat, Into the World trip. From Shanti Uganda, here’s an update of the progress made in the last year:

Over 100 girls reached through our Teen Girls Empowerment Programs. 

In one year the Birth House has had a reach of over 10,000 people. 

Supported our Women’s Income Generating Group with more than $18,000 in funds through 
fair trade jewelery and textiles. 

72 new registered clients in the last month and 10 new babies born in the last two months! 

Weekly infant immunizations and support services for teen mothers. 

None of which would be possible without your generous support. From our family to yours, Happy Holidays. 

~ The Shanti Uganda Society ~

We at Blooma continue to feel so thankful for all your support of Shanti Uganda, and all that you do to make Blooma the wonderful community that it is. Sending big love to each and every one of you!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Shanti Uganda: updates from an African birth center

It’s hard to believe that Blooma founder, Sarah, has been back from Uganda for a year and a half. But it’s not hard to believe how the work that she and many others did to build a birthing center there continues to impact women.

Below are some of the highlights from the latest Shanti Uganda update, and a wonderful video about the organization.

Four babies were recently born at the Shanti Uganda Birth House! All of them brought into the world in a peaceful and empowering birth environment for both mom and baby! Our midwives have been busy this month and currently have 85 mothers (and counting) registered to give birth over the next few months. All of them will receive comprehensive care during their pregnancy, throughout their birth and after their babies are born.

With love & gratitude,

Alisa & the women of Blooma

Shanti Uganda Birth Center Update: It’s a girl!

At this time one year ago, Blooma owner Sarah Longacre was in Uganda helping to build a birth center— with all of your much-appreciated support.

Good news! The birth center’s first baby came into the world on Jan. 28, attended by three midwives. It’s a girl!

It was the mama’s ninth baby, and after the birth, she told the midwives that she had “never felt so cared for or welcomed.” Read the entire story at the Shanti Uganda blog.

We are elated for this mother, for the existence of this birth center, and full of gratitude for all that you’ve done to help support the building and ongoing operation of this birth center.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Update: Shanti Uganda’s birth center

The Maternity & Learning Centre Team at the birth center in Uganda where Sarah Longacre traveled to last year!

This time last year, Blooma founder Sarah Longacre was preparing for her month-long trip to Africa. As part of the Off the Mat, Into the World SEVA Challenge team, Sarah and 20 others raised a total of $574,000 (thanks in large part to each of you!) and traveled to Uganda to help build a birth center.

It’s unbelievable to us that almost a full year has passed since Sarah’s trip. We thought you’d like an update on what’s happening with the birth center since each of you were so integral to raising funds for it to be built!

Sarah helping to make bricks to build the birth center. Such hard work to make one brick!

“The maternity centre has been running in full swing and getting busy and we’re very excited to have our first baby born at the centre in January,” reports Shanti Uganda. You can click here to learn about the midwives who work at the center.

If you would like to stay involved with the work that Shanti Uganda does, you can! Much help continues to be needed.

Yoga mat bags, made by the Shanti Uganda Woman's Group and available online for just $30!

There is a sponsor a midwife program (helping to pay her salary) or you can shop online for fair-trade jewelry, handmade yoga mat bags, and more, all lovingly made by the Shanti Uganda women’s group. Yet another option: purchase a $15 birth kit, which includes everything a woman needs to have  safe, sterile, and supported birth.

Sarah and Blooma continue to be eternally grateful for your help in raising funds to build the birth center. As we reflect on how lucky we are to have so many birthing options available to us here in the Twin Cities, we are especially grateful for all the ways you make Blooma shine and for your help and dedication to help women in Uganda have safer births.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma