Posts Tagged ‘Philanthropy’
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp’s Photo Journal: Part 3
Our guest blogger Jess Cramp finishes off her photo journal with her adventures in Palmerston.
” I was lucky enough to spend the entire month of April on a remote outer atoll called Palmerston, studying sea turtles. We spent every afternoon snorkeling the lagoon looking for turtles (and sharks!).”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“We brought everything we could possibly need….except women that could cook! Haha. This is Matua, teaching Kelly and I how to make proper coconut bread.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“Wondering what “turtle research” looks like? Find the egg chamber, dig until your fingernails bleed and count the number of egg shells. Every once in a while- you find a baby turtle, and that’s worth every scratch.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
” While I love research and policy work, I revel in the time with kids. Sometimes, your attention makes the difference.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“Part of living so remotely, is total self-reliance and of course, team work. We spent the day replacing thatch at the school.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“While on Palmerston, my friend Tina and I ran a shark survey alongside the team’s turtle research. This baby grey reef shark is paying me a visit. They aren’t the killing machines that Jaws portrayed. I promise.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Green
” It’s business time! What I love about my job is the ability to transform fears through open discussion and fact sharing. This is Mayor Bob Marsters of Palmerston writing a letter to the Prime Minister, in support of shark protection. If I had my way, the entire campaign would be run by locals.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
Thanks for reading! Here’s a sunset to keep you dreaming. What’s life without adventure?
With love and sunshine,
Jess
Learn more about Jess through her Matador Ambassador profile
Check out more of Jess’s experiences on Destination Global Good
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp’s Photo Journal: Part 2
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp shares more of her adventures in the Cook Islands and her volunteer work throughout the world through her photo journal.
“Last year, I was part of the 5 Gyres crew, which sailed from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to Tahiti, trawling for trash and taking water samples every 50nm. We’re already well aware of our impacts onshore…”
PHOTO CREDIT: Kitt Doucette
“We were aboard Sea Dragon for 3 incredible weeks, reveling at the many faces of the open ocean.”
” This is a nurdle. These petroleum-based pellets are used to manufacture plastics. We found this nurdle on Henderson Atoll. It is uninhabited, in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, but still a victim of the industrialized World.”
“Next stop: Cook Islands. Almost a year ago, I committed to volunteering in marine conservation for PICI…and I don’t regret it. Lucky for me, looking for hawksbill sea turtles, like this little guy, is part of my job!”
PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen Lyon
“But life in paradise isn’t always sunny skies! With an important meeting on the horizon and nothing but a scooter, what’s a girl to do?”
“One of my very favorite things about my new “career” is getting into local communities. Here are some local Cook Islands kids showing me their shark fins in support of our shark sanctuary efforts.”
“Surfing in the Cooks is not for the faint of heart. Here’s me, wondering if I made the right choice in paddling out.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Bastien: www.justinbastien.com
With love and sunshine,
Jess
Learn more about Jess through her Matador Ambassador profile
Check out more of Jess’s experiences on Destination Global Good
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp’s Photo Journal: Part 1
Our Guest Blogger, Jess Cramp, shares with us some of her most incredible experiences, bits of wisdom, and beautiful photography in this photo journal.
“I’ve wanted to fly for as long as I can remember. So when I decided to take the leap and follow my dreams, this was first on the list!”
“First stop: Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. I volunteered in a field hospital as a pharmacist and learned fairly quickly that I was not tough enough for disaster relief. Haiti was heartbreaking and humbling.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Cody Doucette
“I remember being completely amazed at the smiley, relaxed faces on many of the kids, even with a panorama of unsightly tragedies.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Cody Doucette
“Next stop: Panama. I spent about six months volunteering in Bocas del Toro, Panama-mostly in water quality and marine science education. But my real passion was found in trying to help the local indigenous tribe, the Ngobe-Bugle, to start a sea turtle monitoring program.”
“Bocas is a Caribbean jewel with gorgeous beaches and amazing waves, but there’s so much litter along the roads, in the drains and along the back beach that it hurts my soul.”
“I felt so lucky to be a part of the Water for People team in Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala. They work with communities on clean water, hygiene and sanitation. And my favorite part is that they stick around to ensure the systems work.”
“Hand-washing can save lives in developing countries. These little ones are on the right track thanks to W4P’s commitment. Kid sized washing stations at a cistern full of water!”
“Guatemala. Imagine someone coming to your home unannounced and asking when and how often you wash your hands? When you travel, spend time with locals. Drink the water they offer, even if it has six teaspoons of sugar in it. Sit in their home. Listen. You will have no choice but to adapt your views of the world.”
With love and sunshine,
Jess
Learn more about Jess through her Matador Ambassador profile
Check out more of Jess’s experiences on Destination Global Good
Kind Campaign visits the Element family!
Kind Campaign visits the Element office to meet the team!
View post: Kind Campaign
March 2012
True heart…
Kyleigh Kuhn‘s name is recognized strongly in the fashion industry as a model gracing the pages of Vogue, Who What Wear and various other style hubs… but few know this woman’s beauty truly runs much deeper in spirit and heart.
With a mother as founder and key operator behind the non-profit organization Roots for Peace, a seed of philanthropy and selfless care towards those in need was something instilled in Kyleigh since day one. At age 13, she took her first trip to the Balkans, helping Roots for Peace in it’s mission of replacing the deadly minefields with prospering farmland. From there, this seed took strong root, growing a heart of graciousness towards the issues within this world and taking strides to solve the problems of those considered “less fortunate”.
Since graduating with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Kyleigh has not only continued on in her strong modeling career, but also managed to begin TWENTY FOUR SUNS. With a vision to set up sustainable business models within war torn villages, Kyleigh has begun collaborating with designers and high end retailers to utilize and grow the skills of artisans within rural Afgan, to help build their resources towards a more prospering community for the future.
The Element Eden family couldn’t be more inspired to not only hear Kyleigh’s story, but get to know this woman on a personal level.
Thanks so much for chatting with us Kyleigh, we can’t wait to one day travel with you and start getting our hands dirty!
Love you…
~One leaf~
On this day a pause, again.
Like one leaf falling in silence,
the loneliness, and smallness,
wavers in the bow;
being stilled for but a breath,
a whisper saddens to tears.
-Sam Nelson
Love and remembrance… 9/11
Beautiful shot by dear friend Lauren Ward