New Moon's Reflections

Photos by Veenis BuuTeek™

Happy New Year!!!! May all of your dreams come true and may you be blessed with health, love, and happiness! I can't believe 2013 is here....

It has been a while since I blogged. Some things have been going on in my mind lately... REFLECTIONS, REFLECTIONS!!!

Lets start with 2012. Well... we came a long way in a matter of a few months of starting the "Water Creates Life!" project. Our goal for SSII was to start a project and spread as much awareness as possible for the charity as well as for our projects, and we have reached that goal!;) We had a few successful awareness events as well as several features in publications such as Marie Claire, Elle, BET, Bronx Journal, Ny Post & Times, BBC, Into The Gloss, Fabula Africana, KW report and many more world wide.

Today, we look forward for an action packed successful year!!! There are some great ideas and plans(that I cannot share as of yet) taking place for the year 2013. This year will be the year of action and great results for SSII and for everyone I hope!

Please watch the video below and support us through word of mouth and/or donations! Thank you.

Video of ICRC

LETS MAKE A CHANGE!

LETS MAKE A CHANGE!

On the night of November 15th, 2012 we are getting together and spreading awareness. Please join the movement and help us make a change. Below you will find out how you can help. You can donate directly here specifically for "The Water Creates Life!" project. For further info about the organization and our other projects please visit SSII.

$10will bring fresh clean water every day to one person in a village in South Sudan.
$30will bring fresh clean water every day to three people in a village in South Sudan.
$60will bring fresh clean water every day to six people in a village

 in South Sudan.
$100 will bring fresh clean water every day to 10 people in a village in South Sudan.
$250will bring fresh clean water every day to 25 people in a village in South Sudan.
$500will bring fresh clean water every day to 50 people in a village in South Sudan.
$1,000will bring fresh clean water every day to 100 people in a village in South Sudan.
$5,000 will bring fresh clean water every day to an entire community/village in South Sudan.

We hope this meets you well and you and your loved ones are coping just fine afterHurricane Sandy's Fury. To get help please visit FEMA

You are cordially invited to Southern Sudan Initiatives' and the next installment of Panla's Taste of Africa Event Series on Thursday November 15 2012 at 7pm at Taj Lounge NYC.  A night of entertainment, food, networking, fashion and philanthropy.

Part of the proceeds to benefit the Southern Sudan Initiatives, "Water Creates Life!" project. Feel free to check out our website and blog for more info and a feel for our events. Please purchase tickets HERE to help us raise funds for drilling water wells in my village Bor, South Sudan. If you cannot attend please feel free to make an online donation directly to our project "Water Creates Life!'' 100% of all proceeds donated goes towards the water wells!!! You can help us make a difference and help bring a village to life! 

Participating restaurants/vendors include Panla (catering food from various parts of Africa including West Africa) Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian Restaurant), Madiba ( South African Inspired Cuisine), Le Souk Harem (Moroccan/Mediterranean cuisine), New York's own Cake Man Raven (best red velvet cake you ever had). 

Another exciting and entertaining night of mingling, mixing, and dancing with friends to African/World music classics and hits (Afro-beats, Makossa, Soukous, Zouk) and more - join an amazing group of outgoing and cultured professionals from various parts of the world in a beautiful and comfortable venue. A great place to unwind with friends and network.

Performances by No Small Money, Perfecta Ekpo, duet by Onyinye and 
Kaleta of Zozo Afrobeats. Special guest DJ MOMA.

Featuring guests from the crossover film Doctor Bello- showing in  NYC 11/23/12"

Special thanks to Carrie Sackett for her exemplary work at BGTI.  
  
  
Location: Taj Lounge NYC - 48 West 21st St (btwn 5 & 6th Ave)
Nearest subs: [V, F, trains to 23rd st]; [1 train to 23rd]; or
[4,5,6,L,N,R,Q,W trains to 14th st Union Square station, and walk north to w21st]
.
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One lucky birthday celebrant and 3 friends to win a 3 course dinner ( win birthday Package ) courtesy of Panla 

• Food served from 6.30pm - 9.30pm
• Complimentary hors d'oeuvres served to all our guests from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.
• 2 for 1 Drink specials before 7:30pm.
• Network, mingle, dance from 6pm - 12am
• General Admission $30
• Team of DJs spinning all night.

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Partners -  Arik air, The Africa Channel, Society HAE, f2fAfrica, Adunni Designs  BedVyneWine, Queen of Sheba, Cake Man Raven , Madiba restaurant, Le SoukHarem, Bati Restaurant, Afripop, Zozo Afrobeat, Sahara Reporters, SIPA 

The Taste of Africa Event Series is a networking series geared towards celebrating the best of the Pan-African culture with entertainment, food, music, and fashion while highlighting and raising funds for organizations dedicated to supporting change and development in various parts of the world including Africa.

The Southern Sudan Initiatives, Inc. ("SSII") was established to provide various methods of support to the people of South Sudan, with a particular focus on reuniting families of the Lost Boys and Girls and empowering them with knowledge and other resources to foster sustainable development and self sufficiency.

Hope to see you all be a part of a beautiful cause!

Cheers!
Mari Malek
Southern Sudan Initiatives, Inc.
Co-Founder & Creative Director
www.southernsudaninitiatives.org
www.watercreateslife.blogspot.com
646.571.6472

Safe Drinking Water

help us Supply Safe Drinking Water for my village 

As some of you may know, I am(Mari Malek) still working on getting the first water well drilled for my village in Bor Town Jonglei State, South Sudan. A well in this village means so much-- women and girls will no longer have to walk for water.  With your help we are able to drill wells and transform lives. 

It cost an average of $5000 US dollars to drill a well and that excludes traveling expenses and such. We need your help!!! Every penny counts. Please take the time to help us drill Southern Sudan Initiatives first water well. As soon as we have the first water well drilled the task to build more should become easier. We plan to build as many water wells as possible in South Sudan and with God's will we can make the project of "Water Creates Life!" become a global movement. Here is how you can help us:

• $10will bring fresh clean water every day to one person in a village in South Sudan.
• $30will bring fresh clean water every day to three people in a village in South Sudan.
• $60will bring fresh clean water every day to six people in a village in South Sudan.
• $100 will bring fresh clean water every day to 10 people in a village in South Sudan.
• $250will bring fresh clean water every day to 25 people in a village in South Sudan.
• $500will bring fresh clean water every day to 50 people in a village in South Sudan.
• $1,000will bring fresh clean water every day to 100 people in a village in South Sudan.
• $5,000 will bring fresh clean water every day to an entire community/village in South Sudan.

Please keep in mind that any help goes a long way. Help us make a difference! Please watch the following video to get an idea of what goes on in the process of drilling a well in South Sudan. AND do not forget to donate!;)

This video is courtesy of Water For South Sudan produced by POV-Rose Media, Rochester, NY 

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Make A Difference!

Take The Initiatives To Make A Difference!

Last Week on 19 June 2012 my good friend Millana Snow and I had an awareness summer cocktail and pool party at The James Hotel Rooftop for my charity Southern Sudan Initiatives, benefitting the "Water Creates Life!" project. We had an amazing turn out and a great support from everyone who came. I would like to give thanks to all the wonderful support. Special Thank you to Millana Snow and The James Hotel. "Water Creates Life!" is a movement that will get everyone together to make a difference. Please continue to be aware and supportive of us because there will be many more events and such activities happening throughout the year. Below are some of the photos of the event photographed by the lovely Andrew Lee.

"Water Creates Life!" Event at The James Hotel "Jimmy"

The Importance of Clean Water Access!

Sometimes we do not sit back and think for a second of how the "basic" things in life are so important for LIFE itself. Do you realize how we take these things for granted? Every time that we are taking that breath of air, everyday when you go home and have a space to lay your head on, the food we eat, every fresh glass of water that we consume and can access so easily..... It makes me think and sometimes even makes me feel a little guilty, but most importantly it makes me feel grateful!

Through Thinking and  gratitude I am inspired to take action with my "Water Creates Life!" project and shed as much light as I can on the lack of clean water access. As I observe my life I realize of how fortunate I  am to be amongst the people who have access to safe water. According to the World Health Organization, each year, an estimated 4 billion people get sick with diarrhea as a result of drinking unsafe water.  More than 2 million of them die; mostly children under the age of 5, most of them poor, and most of them living in the developing world. Safe drinking water is fundamental to healthy lives and prosperous communities. That is why I intend to raise awareness and funds to drill wells for the people of my country in South Sudan and throughout the world.  Do you realize every person needs 20 to 40 liters of freshwater per day for drinking, cooking, and sanitation needs alone?  Yet some 1.1 billion people world-wide do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. As a result, many people become sick, some lives are shortened, and some die. 

In South Sudan alone, finding safe drinking water is a struggle for most villages. Ninety percent of the people living in Upper Nile State, South Sudan fled during the country’s 20-year civil war. After decades of conflict, people are returning to their lands to rebuild their lives. Most of these areas cannot provide clean water, health services or education for their children.  As it is, everyone is affected with the issue of unsafe water, women and young girls are the most affected. For some of these women, they face a difficult choice: walk an average of two kilometers (1.2 miles) each way to get clean water from the nearest well—a journey that they would need to make four to six times a day carrying 40 pounds of water each time—or gather water from a nearby pit that they shared with the domestic and wild animals. If they chose the well, they would spend up to eight hours gathering water each day. If they chose the pit, the water would likely be contaminated, making them and their children sick. With YOUR help providing access to clean water, we can make the choice easy... Women can get clean water from a nearby source in a quarter of the time it would take them before, allowing them time to manage additional responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, child care and farming and even time for education for the young girls. Imagine how much of an impact YOU can help me make in the lives of the people we help with such a basic need!

Last week I dedicated my birthday to raise awareness and funds to help provide clean water access in South Sudan. The interest and the support of the people was amazing, thank you to all of you who were there!!! I would like to keep inspiring people to involve themselves and take a stance to make a difference. I hope to spread as much light as possible on clean water through my project "Water Creates Life!" So please help me raise funds, awareness and spread the word. You can donate directly on this website,(all donations go directly towards the drilling of the water well in Bor town, Jonglei State, South Sudan) for our other projects such as Health, Education and Business please visit our main website Southern Sudan Initiatives, Inc.

                                    here are a few photos of the event for "Give Up To Give-Life" Event.

Give Up To Give - Life

The Time is Now!!!

So I have been working on putting my birthday event together. As I have mentioned in my first blog that I will be dedication my birthday to raise funds for our charity's(SSII) first water well! The water well will cost $5000 to drill and it will provide for a whole community. We have chosen Bor Town, Jonglei State, in central South Sudan to be our first target;)

The event is called "Give Up to Give-Life" which in this case my hope is that people will be giving up something in order to give life to another. This will take place, coincidently, Sunday, May 13, 2012 on Mother's day at Cornerstone, so bring your mama;). I have been blessed with so many great and talented creative people in NYC to be a part of this event. I want to thank each and everyone of you for "Giving up to give-life"!!!! Thank you so much to Chef Roble` & Co., YAV magazine, Universal Republic Records, Kreaux aka Solomon Cortes, Meleni Smith, Arama Mara, DJ MOMA and DJ LIONDUB. Also thank you to my Sudanese models who will be representing our country; Atong Arjok, Grace Bol, Nymouch, Eligha Ojok. Specail Thank you to Cornerstone and the staff, last but not least The Artists, the volunteers and our Guests. Thank you ALL. Take a look at the invite.

I am hoping for a beautiful successful turnout! Don't wait to make a difference, The Time is NOW!!!!

Obbaki

Meet Treana of Obakki Foundation

Obakki's Fall/Winter 2012 Collection explores the dramatic timeline of South Sudan, telling a story through color, texture and pattern. Gun metal grays encased in sanguine, earthy neutrals and vibrant ultramarines punctuate each chronological stage. Experience Obakki's interpretation of the unique story of South Sudan as it unfolds through the Fall/Winter 2012 Collection.

Treana Peake is my mentor and a dear friend who has inspired me so much during the short period of time of our meeting. She is the Founder of the Obakki Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses fashion and creative arts as a fundraising vehicle to bring water and education to people in Africa. Obbaki Foundation is currently working in my country South Sudan in which they have drilled over 200 water wells. 

During Fall/Winter 2012 Fashion Week, she presented the world with her beautiful collection of clothing line which told the story of South Sudan. The presentation was timeless and took your soul into a deep feeling of awareness. The show had a bit of a twist to it; South Sudanese models, which in this case is very rare to find people of color being the highlight of the fashion industry.  However the models were beautiful and eager to represent their country, to tell the world our difficult history of war and suffering in an elegant effortless way.

The Obakki line was featured in several world wide publications such as Vogue, Elle, and InStyle magazines. Treana is able to tell the world a story of war, sadness, and suffering by using fashion without losing hope. Treana  is a big hearted woman and a true humanitarian. Her goal is for "People who want to have really high-end beautiful contemporary fashion, but care about where the money is going. Through the sale of this collection, we are able to continue to drill water wells in South Sudan, and throughout Africa."