PopImpressKA Journal for Ordre des Chevaliers Hospitaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem Presents: “Homeless Children in a Rapidly Urbanizing World: Policies and Initiatives inspired by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child” October 14th, 2015

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October 14 Panel, Committee

MORE IN DETAILS ABOUT STEERING COMMITTEE

4. Sister Patti Lyons - Speaker

Work in Philippines

Sister Patti Lyons, “Learning some signs so I can Speak to them.”

CHILD WELFARE

Patti Lyons has been committed to children’s causes throughout her adult life, especially the prevention and treatment of child abuse.  Improving the lives of abused children is the driving force in her long career to serve the most vulnerable.  She practiced and been involved with the administration of social services since 1961, after graduating from Indiana University with a Masters in Social Work. Her career began in County Public Welfare, servicing families with children in need, through the program known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children.  As a Child Welfare Consultant with the Indiana State Department of Public Welfare, she worked tirelessly with judges and prominent community figures to establish child welfare services in areas where they were nonexistent.

HAWAII – CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICE

After moving to Hawaii, she opened the first satellite outreach office in Waianae, Oahu for Child and Family Service, (CFS), a private nonprofit human service agency.  Later, at CFS, Lyons established the Advocacy Program and Neighborhood Services Division before becoming the Assistant Executive Director. Her advocacy efforts led to the establishment of the Child Protective Service Center (CPS) under the Department of Human Services (DHS) in 1968. She became the CFS President and CEO in 1980.  To learn more about managing a nonprofit, Lyons returned to school and received an advanced degree, this one in Business Management.  She also taught classes in Advocacy and Community Organization at the University of Hawaii Graduate School of Social Work.

PHILIPPINES

Her association with the Philippines began in 1987 while evaluating an adoption program for Filipino children operated by Child and Family Service.  In that same year she was involved in establishing a shelter for street children in Baguio City, Philippines.

CONSUELO FOUNDATION

In 1990, Patti left Child and Family Service after 23 years to become the first President and CEO of the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation at the request of its founder and benefactress.  As the head of this operating foundation, she was responsible for managing both the headquarters in Hawaii and its Philippine branch in Manila.  Today, she serves as Historian and Secretary of the Board of Directors. Her work and important contributions have been honored by many. Her public service commitment includes serving on seven local, national and international boards.  She chaired the Centennial Celebrations and 2010/2011 National Conferences of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities (formerly Alliance for Children and Families and Family Service America).  Involvement with abused children, women and families continues to be her primary focus.

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5. Serena Deutsch, Ph.D. - SPEAKER and STEERING COMMITTEE for UN CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, THE UN MDGS 2015

Above: UN Presentation on The Psychological Impact of Being a Child Soldier by Dr. Serena Deutsch

In addition to her Clinical experience, Dr. Deutsch is a public speaker and has developed programs over the past 20 years addressing Child Protection on the Internet, Character Development, Bullying and Cyberbullying and Child Trafficking on the Internet.  Dr. Deutsch is a Humanitarian and is developing programs to rebuild the Educational and Medical Infrastructure in undeveloped and underdeveloped countries throughout the world.  She is also developing programs to protect the safety and wellbeing of children in the United States, Europe and West Africa. She is an International Speaker and is bringing awareness and working to address the plight of over 100 million orphaned homeless children throughout the world.  According to UNICEF these are more conservative estimates given the enormity of the growing issue of homelessness of children. There are no public records for all of these children and it is not possible to develop accurate statistics. Dr. Deutsch is the Psychological Consultant to Birch Wathen Lenox School and the Independent Schools in NYC for the past 15 years. Dr. Deutsch has brought her Parenting Workshops, Character Development and Resiliency Workshops,  Internet Safety Workshops and Bullying and Cyberbullying Programs and Workshops to schools and conducted assemblies and talks to parents, children and teachers to provide children with knowledge, skills and  strategies to insure their social, psychological and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Deutsch is the Executive Vice President of One Bright World in Liberia and Ruthar Educational Programs in Ghana and Benin and Toga. She is also Vice President of Innocence In Danger in the US and is on the Executive Board of Innocence in Danger in the UK. Dr. Deutsch is on the advisory board of Daniel’s Music Foundation in New York and is a frequent participant on panels and symposiums at the UN, in Washington and throughout Europe and West Africa. 

 

6. TAISHA H. BREHAUT - October 14, STEERING COMMITTEE 

Additional Representative to the UN, Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem, 2015 / 2016. 

Taisha H. Brehaut is a Fine Artist based in New York, she is honored to be a part of the October 14, Steering Committee. 

Her works have been exhibited at Avery Fisher Hall, Saatchi & Saatchi and the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art. Her works have traveled from the South Pacific to  Montreal, Quebec, France & to New York City.

TAISHA H. BREHAUT

“I am honored to participate with the Committee for this conference as the problem of orphans  world-wide and here at home in America, is one that everyone can connect to and be involved with in such a way that can make a real difference. Not enough has been accomplished and we are interested to create awareness and put in place ways that the issue may be addressed in such a way that truly helps.” As a young student Taisha was the “Orphan Representative,” for her school class, she would collect donations, transmit to the Head Master’s office, inspiring her fellow students to participate in helping those less fortunate than themselves. Based in New York, Taisha is included in the collections of Sol LeWitt, the Federal Reserve Bank, New York, new York and in numerous private collections internationally. She hails from New Zealand, was born in Australia to New Zealand parents and emigrated to America in 1998 to take up a position at the Yale School of Art. Philippe de Boucaud of Paris, selected "Vignettes," her hand-made moving images of postcard-like vistas, for "The Fourth Free International Forum," in Bolognanno, Italy, 2010, the place where Joseph Beuys, planted his trees - inclusion in an exhibition at St. Cyr Ecole, France, followed. Taisha's works have featured at Avery Fisher Hall's, Cork Gallery, the Gallery at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Saatchi & Saatchi, New York City, the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, the Eli Whitney Museum, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the Yale Art and Architecture Gallery, Salomon Arts Gallery, Tribeca and Yellow Fish Art Gallery, Montreal, Quebec. 

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7. Juliet Hanlon - October 14th, STEERING COMMITTEE

 Juliet Hanlon has sung with Sting, Ziggy Marley & Rita Marley, Roberta Flack, Guy Lobe of Cameroon, and other African & International artists as well as & Jim Henson of Sesame Street, and dozens of children’s albums for MacMillan Publishing, commercials, as well as acting in major motion pictures & commercials.  Inspired by her heroes Little Steven, Sting, & Bob Marley, the Late President Mandela & Danny Schecter, as the singer for her band VORTEX, she has produced events that became models for entertainment using music as a vehicle for change in the world.  Vortex brought bands together united in Debt Relief , serving projects of NETAID.org, she founded Hands Across America, Make Poverty History, Co Produced “No Excuses Concert” for the UN MDGS 2015 goals @ Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, has been a Goodwill Ambassador  for World of Hope International, MEDIA FOR HUMANITY,  Innocence In Danger International, and several NGO’s of the UN.  Her band VORTEX’s music has been featured in Meera Gandhi’s movie “GIVING BACK”, Danny Schecter’s documentary “Weapons of Mass Deception”, Sundance Channel’s & Benjamin Selkow’s “SUMMER IN THE CAGE” among others.  She is a Child Rights & Welfare Advocate,  Founding Member for Amnesty International’s CIRCLE OF LIGHT,  Trustee for Innocence In Danger- UK, Board Member IID USA,  Advisory Board SSMAC, a member of SAG, ASCAP and AFTRA. Currently, Ms Hanlon serves as a UN Representative & Dame for the Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem.  She continues to record and sing with her band VORTEX and released the album MIND THE GAP (between poverty & wealth) on iTunes where it continues to sell today.  She envisions a world where there is no such thing as homeless children.  www.insidevortex.com   www.facebook.com/insidevortex

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Olga Papkovitch Artist, Designer,

Publisher of PopImpressKA Journal

and Humanitarian. From the age of 5 art has been her passion, and she became an artist at the young age of 12. Now her PopImpressKA Art Collection by Olga consists of over 100 of her paintings. She has been exhibiting nationally and Internationally and has her art pieces in Museums around the world, such as Marina Tsvetaeva Memorial flat & Museum Cultural Center In Moscow, and National Gallery of A. Kasteev in Kazahstan. Olga’s passion for people and their stories gave her an inspiration to found her company PopImpressKA (which stands for Poppular Impressive Kaleidoscope). She is a founder of PopImpressKA Journal, which focuses on starting artists, and helping people move forward in their careers. The journal comes out 4 times a year online, and may be ordered privately in print on line www.popimpresskajournal.org. Olga also started an incredible clothing and accessory collection called PopImpressKA Brand. She put her copyrighted original art pieces on silk in a form of a quilt and combines them with variety of silks and other materials that gives her collection elegant, classic and trendy look. She designs dresses, skirt, blouses, shirts and very original one of a kind wearing pieces. He clothing collection also includes bags, as well as ties and bow ties and vests for man. Olga often works for charities like orphanages, cancer, and kids with leukemia. In doing so she feels she gets back so much more than she gives. When asked what area of her life is most important to her she said she does what needs to be done at the present time. Olga’s positive mindset means she has no trouble networking as she attracts invitations to events and parties meeting success-driven people everywhere she goes. On the other hand, she spends considerable time alone either painting, or reading history, science or art, the main subjects in which she has an interest. Olga and I got into a philosophical discussion regarding peole and how they find what they like to do in life. She believes in the importance of self-love first prior to seeking acceptance from others. She believes that staying true to your heart is very key to any success story, have faith in what you do. Olga is a hard worker who loves what she does. She’s always productive whether it be in her art or charity work. Olga said she is inspired by all people, and when asked to describe herself in one word Olga said, “Humanitarian.”

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9. Meera Gandhi is CEO and founder of The Giving Back Foundation, 

with operations in New York, London and Mumbai.

Mrs. Gandhi is a well known humanitarian and philanthropist dedicated to solutions for human suffering and deprivation around the globe. She is of Irish and Indian ancestry. In the summer of 2010, she completed a film entitled "Giving Back," that shows how several of her well known friends are giving back to humanity in different ways. She produced, directed and hosted the documentary. The film, set in four continents, is a global journey that begins with the words of former U.S. first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, "When we cease to give, we begin to die."

Quest Magazine hosted the premier screening of the film for a VIP audience of 150 at the Disney Screening Room on Park Avenue in New York City in July of 2010. The film is scheduled for a Fall 2010 release with DVD roll outs in New York, London, Mumbai, Delhi, Istanbul, Paris and Hong Kong. Meera's "Giving Back" film features singer and global rights activist Bono; lawyer and human rights champion Cherie Blair, wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair; human rights activist and daughter of Ethel and Robert Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy; Hillary Clinton, through the EleanorRoosevelt Val Kill photo journey, and a host of well known faces from around the world. Meera Gandhi will bring out a coffee table book in 2011. The "Giving Back" book will showcase the works of many more charities and people with whom she has been involved for the past 25 years. She works with several key women's and children's causes around the world.

She is noted for her life motto, "We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it." 

Meera Gandhi completed the Executive Education Program from the Harvard Business School in December of 2007. She has an MBA from Boston University (1987-89), where she graduated in the top 5% of her MBA class with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. She has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Delhi (1982-85) where Meera was Student Body President in her final year 1984-85, and Vice President the previous year at the Jesus and Mary College. She is a graduate of the Lester B. Pearson, United World College (1982), Canada. There she obtained the International Baccalaureate diploma with honors. In 1980, she finished her HSC exam (High School Certificate) from the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai, India, with distinction. She was Head Girl (Student Body President) of the school and House Prefect. Meera Gandhi was an office Bearer of the Interact Club (a subsidiary of the Rotary Club) and acted as Director of Community Services. In that capacity, she visited and worked every weekend at 'Asha Dan' (Mother Teresa's home for the orphaned), The Blind Home and the Lepers' Home. Meera was awarded the PTA Medal for Leadership and The Jardine Shield for Head- Girl of the year 1979-80 from The Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai. Meera Teresa Gandhi was born in Mumbai, India, the daughter of an Irish mother, Ellen Mary McCarthy, and an Indian father, Admiral Perbodh Nath Agarwal. Teresa is Meera’s Baptism name, after her Irish grandmother, Teresa Hogan McCarthy of Dublin, Ireland. Raised mostly in India in the cities of Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, Mrs. Gandhi also spent childhood years in London and Dublin. She spent two years of her youth at school in Canada. In 2000, the Gandhi's purchased the former home of Eleanor Roosevelt on Park Avenue in New York City. They have hosted a long list of world leaders at their historic residence, including: The Hon. Cherie Blair, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rahul Gandhi, Kerry Kennedy, Robert Kennedy Jr., Gabriel Byrne, Glenn Close, Mira Nair, the late Ismail Merchant, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, CNN's Anderson Cooper, the late historian Arthur Schlesinger and many more. Meera currently live in New York. Her hobbies and leisure activities include yoga, meditation, jogging and studying history, especially the writings of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. "History teaches one many lessons," said Mrs. Gandhi. In the words of Kerry Kennedy, "Meera Gandhi is one of those remarkable women whom the angels must have sent to teach us a lesson on how to lead a fruitful life."

 10. David Trotter is a filmmaker, author, and speaker 

Development Support at CRY Child Rights and You.

 

 Vijayalakshmi Arora has 20 years of experience in the field of child protection. Beginning her career with a grass roots organisation The Concerned for Working Children, Vijayalakshmi then had the opportunity to work in different organizational contexts including International NGOs, the UN, Academic Institutions and the Government of India. Presently she is working with CRY as Director, Development Support.Vijalakshmi has specialized in child protection, and has the experience of programming on various issues including Child Labour, Child Trafficking, Juvenile Justice, multidisciplinary approach to victims of child abuse. She has extensive experience in programming, policy advocacy, defining and implementing long term programming strategy and organization building. Vijayalakshmi has worked both within India as well as abroad and she has been professionally associated with organizations including Oxfam GB, Save the children UK, International Save the Children Alliance, UNICEF, National Law University of India, Central Adoption Resource Agency ( Government of India) among others . She holds an M Phil Degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

 12. Daniel Thomas Hopson 

www.childrenoftheforest.org

Whilst working as a teacher in Japan Daniel took a holiday to Thailand with friends. At the end of the holiday Daniel’s passport went missing. Friends returned home, leaving Daniel with a further week in Thailand. While waiting for a new passport, Daniel decided to use this time to visit Thai foundation named Children’s Village. At Children’s Village Daniel became interested in the work being done to help abused and abandoned children from the Bangkok slums. Though what really inspired Daniel was that the social worker who introduced the project had actually grown up in the foundation. From a difficult background she had been assisted by the foundation and was now not only supporting herself but countless others. The potential for profound change was confirmed. Six months later Daniel left Japan to work at the Children’s Village in Thailand. He stayed there for two years, teaching and learning much from the co-workers, social workers and founder. At that time the director and staff decided to visit the border area. During this visit Daniel was first introduced to the plight of the stateless migrant communities. Observing the children’s lack of access to education, their widespread exploitation and abuse, Daniel decided to relocate to the border area. With financial assistance from family and friends an area of land was purchased. Together with local volunteers Daniel began providing basic education for the stateless children. After a seriously abused child asked for shelter the need for a protection center was recognized. In response to the needs of the area, a basic medical program and mother and child protection center were soon established. However, it was only after appearing on the front page of the Bangkok Post that new funders and staff enabled the project to truly develop to its present level of assistance.

13. JACK Healey

The Human Rights Action Center was founded by Jack Healey, the world-renowned human rights activist and pioneer. An effective and innovative leader in the human rights movement for 50 years, Jack helped move the topic of human rights from closed-door diplomatic negotiations to widespread awareness, public debate, and direct citizen action. Colleagues credit him with making human rights a major focus of governments, advocacy organization, and individuals around the world. Called ‘Mr. Human Rights‘ by U.S. News and World Report, Jack brought human rights to the global stage by his creative use of media and enlistment of world-class musical talent as advocates and spokespersons as Executive Director of Amnesty International USA for 12 years. Throughout Jack Healey's many years working as a human rights activist, he has been recognized for his achievements through various awards. These include the Bill Graham Award in 1991, the 1989 Elvis Presley Award for the International Rock Tour of the Year, the 1996 House of Blues Martin Luther King Jr.: Spirit of the Dream Award, the 1985- 1986 MTV Video Music Award - Special Recognition, Humanitarian of the Year and the Pollstar 1988 Readers Poll Award. (These awards can also be seen on the media page) Jack has also been the recipient of seven honorary degrees from Universities across the United States For a full list of Jack's distinctions, please visit his LinkedIn page.

www.humanrightsactioncenter.org

14. Mechai Viravaidya

Following his education in Australia at the Geelong Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, Mechai Viravaidya returned to Thailand and started his career with a governmental development agency. He quickly came to the conclusion that the rapid population growth was hindering rural development; however, the country’s social mores impeded frank discussion about family planning. That is why he established the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), one of Thailand’s largest and most successful private, non-profit, development organizations. Since 1974, PDA has initiated community-based family planning services, innovative poverty reduction and rural education programs, large-scale rural development and environmental programs, as well as groundbreaking HIV/AIDS prevention activities throughout Thailand. Mechai Viravaidya had a pivotal role in Thailand’s immensely successful family planning program, which saw one of the most rapid fertility declines in the modern era. The rate of annual population growth in Thailand declined from over 3% in 1974 to 0.6% in 2005, and the average number of children per family fell from seven to under two. Mechai Viravaidya also pioneered and championed many of Thailand’s social mobilization and community development efforts that are now taken for granted. Although Mechai Viravaidya has spent much of his time in the NGO sector, he has also served in the Thai government as a Senator and as a member of the cabinet on four occasions and was the chief architect in building Thailand’s comprehensive national HIV/AIDS prevention policy and program. This initiative is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding national efforts by any country in combating HIV/AIDS. By 2004, Thailand had experienced a 90% reduction in new HIV infections. In 2005, the World Bank reported that these preventative efforts helped save 7.7 million lives throughout the country and saved the government over US$18 billion in treatment costs alone. In 1999, Mechai Viravaidya was appointed the UNAIDS Ambassador. Mechai also endeavored to empower the rural poor to eradicate poverty where government institutions had fallen short in doing so.  To this end, he has established the Village Development Partnership to improve long-term financial sustainability for rural villages. Over the past 23 years, the program has worked in over 400 villages to bring about rural development in the five key areas of community empowerment, income generation, health, environment, and education. The same principles of socioeconomic empowerment were utilized in emergency relief to restore communities to prosperity following the devastating 2004 Tsunami. Mechai Viravaidya has established the Lamplaimat Pattana Primary and the Mechai Pattana Secondary School, which provides revolutionary private education at no-cost to rural children. In 2003, the Lamplaimat-Pattana Primary School was opened to provide no-cost, private education for the children of rural Buriram Province in Northeastern Thailand, followed by the opening of the Secondary School in 2009.  The school has been praised by both the Thai Ministry of Education as well as international universities as a revolutionary model for education as it effectively harnesses children’s creative abilities to solve problems with finite resources. To ensure financial sustainability for PDA, 16 for-profit companies have been established that are affiliated with PDA and are mandated to put funds towards the non-profit organization. Companies and businesses include the popular Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant chain, the Birds & Bees Resort in Pattaya, as well as Real Estate and Manufacturing businesses. These companies provide a substantial portion of the funding required to conduct extensive rural development activities and operate the Lamplaimat-Pattana Primary and Secondary schools.  Mechai’s latest innovation in social enterprise is the Business for Rural Education and Development Co., Ltd.(BREAD), which endeavors to achieve profitability and eventually assist PDA attain a higher level of financial sustainability through business activities such as rural tours, homestays, and e-commerce for rural agricultural products and handicrafts.  Mechai believes that this new model of Businesses for Social Progress will foster long-term sustainability amongst non-governmental organizations rather than being completely dependent on third-parties for donations. Additionally, Mechai Viravaidya served as Chairman to several of Thailand’s biggest companies including Krung Thai Bank, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Company, and the Telephone Organization of Thailand. For his efforts in various development endeavors, Mechai Viravaidya has been acclaimed with numerous awards, recognition, and honorary doctoral degrees as well as the United Nations Gold Peace Medal (1981), the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service (1994), one of Asiaweek’s “20 Great Asians” (1995), the United Nations Population Award (1997), and one of TIME Magazine’s “Asian Heroes” (2006). Mechai and PDA have recently been the recipient of the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health in 2007, the Skoll Awardees for Social Entrepreneurship in 2008, and the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health in 2009. Mechai Viravaidya is married to Thanphuying Putrie Viravaidya, His Majesty the King’s Deputy Principal Private Secretary, and they have one daughter, Sujima Viravaidya. Mechai also has two grandchildren, Mek and Mok, who both sponsor a village in Northeastern Thailand through the VDP.

15. Suresh Kumar, President of Harvest India

Suresh Kumar Kethera was born in the state of Andhra Pradesh. His father passed away unexpectedly at a young age, and he and his brother were raised by their mother, Lalitha Kumar. Due to being a widow, she was forced to work at an orphanage, and thus her boys were raised in this home. After his own personal encounter with Jesus, he committed his life to learning and service for the benefit of Harvest India. Having earned a Doctorate in Missions from Gutenburg University (Germany) and an MA in Sociology from Acharya Nagarguna University (India), he is the author of "Compelled: How to Live for Something Beyond Yourself”. Suresh and his wife, Christina, have been married for 21 years. Together they have three children (David 16, Mercy 12, and Lalitha 5) and 14 foster children.  

Harvest India provides full shelter, care and education for 1800 orphans in 28 rural villages of India.  Their work, success and impact have been exemplary throughout India.  Harvest India are also taking care of hundreds of elderly men and women and widows in separate homes that provide shelter and care.  Harvest India also provide care for HIV/AIDS victims.  Harvest India is providing medical help, and food to over 650 people living in the  Leprosy Colonies in the State of Andhra Pradeshia.   Harvest India have three Elementary Schools, three Baccacleurate Degree Colleges and are providing more than 2,000 students shelter education.  Their work includes the rescues of women from the sex trafficking industry, providing safe shelter and giving them jobs so that they transition their lives to being independent and living with dignity.  Harvest India also have seven nursing Colleges providing medical education to 450 students in India.  Harvest India provide emergency relief in times of any natural calamity from fire, flood or other environmental disasters.   

www.harvestindia.org

16. Danny Paradise

 

Danny Paradise has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1976 and teaching worldwide since 1979. He initially studied with David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff, the first Western teachers and adepts of Ashtanga Yoga.  In 1978 and 1980 he also studied with the Indian teacher Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Danny also has studied Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Karate. Danny is a musician, singer, songwriter, performance artist and film maker and film producer. As an early advanced practitioner from the west he has helped initiate people around the world in public classes since 1979 as well as teaching some of the world‘s most renowned and talented musicians, actors, sports champions, artists, designers, film directors and dancers. Danny was the first western traveling Ashtanga teacher introducing the practices of Yoga throughout the world. Some of the more well known people Danny has introduced the practices of Ashtanga Yoga include the Mime Marcel Marceau, Graham Nash, Sting and Trudie Styler, Madonna, Paul Simon and Edie Brickell, John McEnroe, Patty Smyth, Donna Karan, (DKNY)  Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, (Pearl Jam), Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Weir and Micky Hart, (The Grateful Dead), Lyle Lovett,  Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens),  Chris Botti, Dominic Miller, Andrea Griminelli (Classical Flutist) and many others. Danny draws from the teachings of Krishnamurti, ancient Egypt, contemporary teachers such as Carolyne Myss and Marianne, Williamson, as well as many shamanic nature based indigenous native cultures including Mayan, Hawaiian and Native Americans. He communicates the teachings of ancient traditions in a non-dogmatic, contemporary, compassionate, humorous way. Danny teaches the Ashtanga Yoga sequences with emphasis on an expanding, evolving practice as well as showing derivative poses, modifications and variations. He strives to create independence from teachers and systems. Danny recognizes Yoga as an ancient Shamanic practice and relates Yoga to all Shamanic, nature based, indigenous explorations from North and South America, Polynesia, Tibet, Africa and Asia. The Yogis and Shamans were the early pioneers of consciousness, healing knowledge, and communication with the spirit realms. The basic premise of Shamanism is that nature is our spiritual guide and teacher. Danny’s main objective is guiding people to evolutionary consciousness as well as to help people develop a healing, sacred, personal, meditative, joyful, non-dogmatic Yoga practice. Yoga is designed to create well-being, help people fulfill personal destiny and learn to age with vitality, energy and grace. Danny teaches Yoga as a means of creating personal authority, personal responsibility leading to universal responsibility.

www.dannyparadise.com

Danny's Music CDs: 'River Of The Soul' & 'Travelers, Magicians and Shamans'

His DVD is called 'River Of The Soul'

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17.  Mechai Viravaidya

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18. AMICUS FOUNDATION & Children of the Forest

Amicus Foundation/Thailand, a nonprofit organization which Matthew and Mary Kelly started in 2006, is mostly funded by the Matthew Kelly Family Foundation. The projects we support below primarily focus on children or families at risk and poverty stricken communities.  We help provide them with the opportunities and resources to better their lives so that they can become self sufficient and capable members of their communities. Our objectives put emphasis on education, vocational training and social development.  

Empowerment through education is the cornerstone of our philosophy.

Children of the Forest in Sangkhlaburi on the Thai/Burmese border provides protection, education, health care and opportunities for abused, abandoned, orphaned or otherwise at risk stateless children and mothers from the Karen and Mon Hill Tribe groups.  Almost 1,000 individuals are cared for each day.

• Free School Program (Kelly Anusorn School) provides free education for around 250 stateless children of Hill Tribe and Burmese descent, helping them to escape a cycle of poverty and exploitation.
• Child Protection Program/Young Children’s Home- Songbird Farm provides a safe and supportive home for 24 children. This program strives to create a family environment and the staff provides guidance and support designed to directly address the particular needs of each child.
• Outreach Education Program/Jungle School Program provides support to many villages including 9 basic schools in remote jungle areas on both sides of the Thai/Burma border.  COF provides infrastructure, teaching resources and supports the salaries and development of the teachers. Up to 500 children are attending.
• Mother & Child Protection Program provides abandoned mothers and their children with immediate shelter, food, safety and medical care.
• Borderlands Youth and Art Program- We provide a full-time skilled mentor/educator who assists the children with emotional guidance as well as educating them on critical and sensitive personal issues.
• School Bus Maintenance, teacher training and child sponsorship

Skills for Life supports vocational training and job opportunities for underprivileged youth from Northern Thailand Hill Tribes.  Training includes a horse grooming program in partnership with the University of Chiang Mai and hotel management/hospitality training at the 5-star hotel 137 Pillar’s House and other vocations.

Baan Dada Children’s Home and Community Services in Sangkhlaburi supports over 60 disadvantaged children, providing them with shelter, food, medical care and education. We provide funding for vocational training at the home as well as funding to support teachers in 6 community schools in Burma.

Scholarships- Amicus Foundation provides scholarships to underprivileged students living throughout Thailand. Several of the students we have supported have graduated from university and acquired stable employment.

Special Projects:

Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Abuse Center (ATCC) currently provides refuge to nearly 50 victims of sexual and slave labor exploitation. The center provides a safe home, opportunities to attend school and assistance from counselors and social workers. The ATCC program has been fundamental in the tracking and arrest of dozens of child traffickers and pedophiles.

Rural education development program provides qualified teachers at Baan Huaydaeng, a rural school in Isaan, and supports teacher trainings, English camps and workshops that benefit hundreds of students, teachers and community members in the region.

Assistance to families in need supports individuals with physical disabilities and the neglected elderly.

Hill Tribe Communities are located in extremely isolated and difficult to reach regions of Northern Thailand. We support these communities by providing funding for vocational and life skills training programs.

Women With a Mission (WWM)- We provide support for students at the Karen Development Training Center/Hway Ka Loke Boarding House in Mae Sot.

Luang Nua-We help support 15 families in the rural community of Doi Saket, Chiang Mai.

Kelly Lifelong Learning Center (KLLC) A facility constructed in Pattaya which hosts students from the well-known Mechai Bamboo School in Buriram Province as well as regular trainings and seminars for people in surrounding areas and provinces.  These activities include environmental camps for school children, workshops for community members and students on how to maximize the use of poor soil in addition to rural school teacher training.

Children of the Forest, based in Sangkhlaburi just 20 km from the Thai-Burma border, is a region which has become home to vast populations from Karen and Mon ethnic groups.  Originating in Burma, these groups have been subject to persecution by the Burmese military since it seized power in 1962, and tens of thousands of families have crossed the border into Thailand, seeking a better future.  

At this time, a growing number of children and families in the area live in a perpetual state of poverty due to exploitatively low wages for migrant workers.  They are generally without access to education or healthcare and often lack a secure home. Children are the most vulnerable victims of these circumstances, routinely being abandoned, abused, and sold to traffickers.  Displaced and stateless, there is scant opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty that has crippled their families.

Children of the Forest (COF) provides protection, education, healthcare and opportunities to migrant Karen and Mon children and mothers living in the border region in and around Sangkhlaburi.  Since 2005, over 5,000 neglected or exploited stateless children have benefited by these specialized programs. Without the safety net of COF's protection programs, it is highly likely that at least half of these children would have been forced, tricked, sold or trafficked into dangerous and exploitative work environments.  

We raise awareness with children, teens, and the wider community about the risks from hazardous underpaid work, sexual exploitation, and trafficking.  Our organization works to promote the development of our beneficiaries, empowering them to build self-sufficient and fulfilling futures through programs such as our mother and child protection center, free school program, and jungle school outreach.

By providing a safe and supportive environment, Children of the Forest strives to provide hope and opportunity to those most in need and create paths to stability and happiness.

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Suresh Kumar, Executive Director India based NGO Harvest India which provides orphan care, serving a leoprosy colony & an interviewed speaker in David Trotter's film MOTHER INDIA, providing orphans a home & education.  

www.harvestindia.org

CRY, India CEO Viji Arora, Development Support Director for India, (www.cry.org) one of the most respected Children's Rights NGO in the world, providing legal representation, support, protection and enforcement serving underprivileged children in India. 

Patti Lyons, Member of the Hawaii Priory Ordre des Chevalier de St. Jean de Jerusalem, 50 plus years work in child welfare of those affected by abuse and neglect.  She has established Child Protective Services for the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Healthy Start, & The Consuelo Foundation in Hawaii & The Phillipines.

Dr. Serena Deutsch, Dr. Deutsch is a Clinical Psychologist, Global Child Protection and Welfare Expert, Vice President of the NGO Innocence in Danger, USA, is on the Board of Directors UK, Ruthar Foundation in Ghana, One Bright World in Liberia and an Advisor to Daniel's Music Foundation, for Children with Major Physical Disabilities. Dr. Deutsch is a Speaker on Child Protection and a Global Leader on Internet Safety and Protection for Children. 

Dr. Virginia Greiman, Esq., Former Dep. Attorney General, during the Reagan presidency, Harvard Law Professor, Boston University Professor, author, lectures on mega projects, she advises governments around the world in designing, she is part of a global initiative of leaders building cyber laws to protect all on the internet.

Mrs. Meera Gandhi, Speaker (www.thegivingbackfoundation.net),  Philanthropist, Humanitarian, Founder of St. Michael's School & Orphanage in India, Founder & President GIVING BACK FOUNDATION, Movie Producer & Director for GIVING BACK, the Documentary film, & Book GIVING BACK.

Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to President, Diplomat, Former Chief of the United Nations Treaty Section, Attorney At Law, Sri Lanka Supreme Court, President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka who he served as the Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process.

Matthew Kelly, Founder (http://childrenoftheforest.org) orphans of Thailand/Burma war zone, a 15 year project taking children living in a forest and providing them with homes, education and sustainable projects to build better futures for them.

Daniel Hopson, Executive Director (http://childrenoftheforest.org) refugee orphans of the Thailand/Burma border conflict, a 15 year project taking children living in a forest and providing homes, education and sustainable projects to build futures for these orphans.

Khun Mechai, Thailand GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AWARD, Politician and Leader of Thailand fostering children’s rights initiatives and programs for child welfare first.

Homayra Sellier Founder (http://www.innocenceindanger.org), Founder & President, Innocence In Danger International, with chapters in 13 countries around the globe, providing summer camp rehabilitation projects, working with government enforcement to convict criminal pedophile rings, advocacy and represent victims who cannot face perpetrators during the prosecution process, influencing laws that protect children’s rights.

Helen verDulin Palit, Harvest America; Founder & General Director, Founder Maple Leaf Harvest, Angel Harvest Inc., Aloha Harvest Inc., City Harvest.  (http://www.americaharvest.org)

Welcome Introduction to event and Articles of the UN Convention on Children's Rights to be presented by Juliet Hanlon, Child Welfare Advocate,  Trustee Innocence In Danger UK, Board Member IID USA, Advisory Board SSMAC, UN Representative to NGO of UN Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem, Recording Artist with VORTEX.       

David Trotter Filmmaker & Activist, presenting his film MOTHER INDIA: Seen through the eyes of homeless orphans. (www.31million.org, www.motherindiafilm.com)

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Ladies & Gentlemen, Esteemed Leaders, 

On behalf of Countess Nicholas Bobrinskoy, Grand Chancellor of the Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem, NGO Member to the United Nations, it is our pleasure to invite you to attend our Launch Conference addressing the plight of homeless orphans worldwide.

Hosted by the Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem

UN Chapel 

777 First Avenue @ 44th Street New York, NY 10017

On October 14th 2015

Conference UN MDG 2015 Goal 1: Eradication of Poverty 

UN Convention on Rights of The Child:

Plight of 210 Million Homeless Orphans Worldwide 

Chaired by Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury

Co-Chaired by Countess Nicholas Bobrinskoy

Speakers:    Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury,Countess Nicholas Bobrinskoy, Viji Arora, 

Dr. Serena Deutsch, Meera Gandhi, Dr. Ginny Greiman, Juliet Hanlon, Daniel Hopson/Video w/Jack Healey, Matthew Kelly,  Dr. Palitha Kohona, Suresh Kumar, Patti Lyons,  Helen verDulin Palit, Homayra Sellier, & David Trotter 

Conference 10-1 speakers

Documentary Film on the work of Patti Lyons 

Lunch break 1-2:15

Conference 2:30 to 5 speakers

Documentary Film, CHILDREN OF THE FOREST , serving homeless children & orphans in post war zones of Burma & Thai borders

Film Screening 5 to 6 with Questions & Answers 

by David Trotter MOTHER INDIA: Life Through The Eyes of Homeless Orphans                                      

RSVP: by 12 October, 2015

Tax Exempt Donations Welcome

www.oosj.org

www.fifthavepsych.com

www.innocenceindanger.org

 www.popimpresskajournal.org

www.thegivingbackfoundation.net                

www.taishabrehaut.com 

www.31million.org

www.insidevortex.com

www.motherindiafilm.com

www.childrenoftheforest.org 

www.cry.org

www.askanewyorker.com

Timeline   October 14,2015  

 

Morning Conference 10 - 1 pm

 

THE PROBLEM/ISSUES for Homeless Orphans 

    

              Event Welcome Juliet Hanlon

 

10:10 - 10:30          Chair & Moderator H.E. Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury   

10:30 - 10:35          Co Chair Countess Bobrinskoy will read Greetings from Bishop Rodney Michel

10:35 - 10:50          Dr. Serena Deutsch USA 

10:50 - 11: 25         Film by Dame Patti Lyons, Intergenerational Abuse, Consuelo Foundation

11:25 - 11:40          Viji Arora India: Skype Conference, CRY India

11:40 - 12:05          Homayra Sellier, Innocence In Danger Switzerland

12:05 - 12:25          Suresh Kumar, India

12:25 - 12:45          Q&A with guests and Speakers from Session I

 

Juliet Acknowledgements to H.E. Amb. Chowdhury for Morning Session, Co-Chair & Order 

Lunch 12:45 -2:00

 

Afternoon Conference 2:00- 6 pm

 

THE SOLUTIONS/OPPORTUNITIES for Homeless Orphans:

 

2:00 - 2:20              Co-Chair Countess Bobrinskoy Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de     Jerusalem USA & Worldwide Priories

2:20 - 2:40              Dame Helen Plait Harvest America USA & Canada

2:40 - 3:00              Intro’ for Jack, Jack Healey Human Rights Action Center, Skype Conference USA

3:00- 3:15               Video Intro & Child Trafficking Film, Matthew Kelly- Children of the Forest Thailand/USA

3:15 - 3:35              Children of the Forest Film/Powerpoint presentation, Daniel Hopson- Thailand

3:35 - 3:50              Mechai Viravaidya video recording- Thailand

3:50 - 4:10              Meera Gandhi  Giving Back Foundation  USA/UK/India

4:10 - 4:30              Professor Ginny Greiman Harvard Law School, USA

4:30 - 4:45              UNICEF?

4:45 - 5:35              David Trotter MOTHER INDIA/Producer & Director USA Film/Q&A

5:35 - 5:55              Q&A w/guests & Speakers from Session II

 

5:55 - 5:57 Appreciation & gratitude - Countess Nicholas Bobrinskoy, Grand Chancellor Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean, de Jerusalem

 

6pm End

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Special Thanks to the staff of The Tillman Chapel, the Church Center of the United Nations:

Reverend Dionne Boissiere

Velda Dhanoonal

John Lynch

www.ericderosaphotography.com

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PROGRAMM

October 14, 2015    HOMELESS CHILDREN IN A RAPIDLY URBANIZING WORLD

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ctober 14, 2015    HOMELESS CHILDREN IN A RAPIDLY URBANIZING WORLD

Chaired by Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury,

Co-Chaired by Countess Nicholas Bobrinskoy

Former Undersecretary General UN, High Representative to the UN

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative to the UN,  has devoted many years as an inspirational champion for sustainable peace and development and ardently advancing the cause of the global movement for the culture of peace that has energized civil society all over the world. 

As a career diplomat, Permanent Representative to United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of UNICEF Board, UN Under-Secretary-General, the Senior Special Advisor to the UN General Assembly President, and recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, Spirit of the UN Award and University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, Ambassador Chowdhury has a wealth of experience in the critical issues of our time - peace, sustainable development, and human rights. 

Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy and leadership in advancing the best interest of the global community are boldly imprinted in his pioneering initiative in March 2000 as the President of the Security Council that achieved the political and conceptual breakthrough leading to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in which the Council recognized for the first time the role and contribution of women in the area of peace and security.

Equally pioneering are his initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”. 

He served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 1996 to 2001 and as the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, responsible for the most vulnerable countries of the world from 2002 to 2007.

In March 2003, the Soka University of Tokyo, Japan conferred to Ambassador Chowdhury an Honorary Doctorate for his work on women's issues, child rights and culture of peace as well as for the strengthening of the United Nations. In May 2012, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa degree from the Saint Peter’s University of the United States.

 Ambassador Chowdhury is a member of the Advisory Council of IMPACT Leadership 21 and is the first recipient of the IMPACT Leadership 21’s Global Summit Frederick Douglass Award Honoring Men Who Are Champions For Women's Advancement in October 2013.

He is one of the 12-member Asia-Pacific Regional Advisory Group on Women, Peace and Security hosted in Bangkok and also a member of the UN High Level Expert Advisory Group for the Global Study on the 15-year implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000).

He has been the Chair of the International Drafting Committee on the Human Right to Peace; an initiative coordinated from Geneva and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the New York City Peace Museum. 

Ambassador Chowdhury is the Founder of the New York-based the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace.

He is a founding Co-Chair of the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organisation (IESCO) with headquarters in China and is a member of the Advisory Council of the National Peace Academy in US. 

He is the Honorary Chair of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the UN, New York and Chairman of the Global Forum on Human Settlements, both since 2008. He has been a part of the 12-member Wisdom Council of the Summer of Peace for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, a world-wide participatory initiative to advance the Culture of Peace. 

He has been decorated by the Government of Burkina Faso in West Africa with the country’s highest honour “L’Ordre National” in 2007 in Ouagadougou for his championship of the cause of the most vulnerable countries.

Dr. Chowdhury has structured curricula and taught courses on “The Culture of Peace” at the Soka University of America and the City University of New York in 2008 and 2009. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University of the United States. 

He is a Patron of the Committee on Teaching About the UN (CTAUN), New York.

Public speaking and advocacy for sustainable peace keep him engaged at the present time. 

Co Chair: Countess T. Bobrinskoy, GDOOSJ , HEAD CHAIR of Organizing Committee for UN CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, THE UN MDGS 2015 and Honorary Speaker for the Symposium.

 Countess Bobrinskoy,  COUNTESS NICHOLAS BOBRINSKOY (Born de Timasheff) was born in Berlin and studied in France. Receiving a degree - Magna Cum Laude from The SORBONNE.  After moving to the USA when her father was invited as a professor to HARVARD. She was an interpreter for a French political VIP, taught at two colleges for several years and had two books published. She was involved in social affairs as a member of the US social register. 

COUNTESS NICHOLAS BOBRINSKOY created The Russian Nobility Ball and is on the board as a director of several US organizations. In 1976, when her husband was elected GRAND PRIOR OF THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS  HOSPITALLER OF ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM, she contributed her time and knowledge to it’s development worldwide. She remains active organizing charitable programs for the Order. Having become a member of the UN as a DPI/NGO,  COUNTESS NICHOLAS BOBRINSKOY continues to organize cultural and charitable events. She has two children and four grandchildren. At present she is writing another book besides continuing her husband's design business. SHE MARRIED COUNT NICHOLAS BOBRINSKOY, GREAT-GREAT-GRANDSON OF HM EMPRESS CATHERINE THE GREAT OF RUSSIA. SHE IS OFTEN INVITED TO GIVE TALKS AND INTERVIEWS DEALING WITH THE ORDER AS WELL AS HISTORICAL RUSSIA.    

Viji Arora, Development Support Director for CRY, (www.cry.org) India’s premiere Children's Rights NGO that has transformed the lives of over 2 million underprivileged children through projects on the ground, advocacy with policy makers and engaging with the public and the private sector.

CRY – Child Rights and You: Ensuring Lasting Change for Children

CRY – Child Rights and You is a unique Indian NGO, founded in 1979 - initially as the dream of a single individual who had a deep faith that happy, well-cared for children are the basis of a society worth living in. Since then, we have grown into an institution that over 35 years, has transformed the lives of more than 2 million children in some of the most deprived areas of the country. (http://www.cry.org/about-cry/stories-of-hope.html )

Working with 300 grassroots organisations across 23 states has enabled us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the myriad issues that impact children across the country. Our programmatic approach has been built through extensive grass roots experience, and is uniquely suited to the Indian context.  ( http://www.cry.org/about-cry/our-approach.html ). We not only reach out to children in distress, we are also dedicated to identifying and addressing the causes of that suffering -- through creative projects on the ground, lobbying with policy makers and engaging with the private sector to expand the scope of corporate social responsibility.  (http://www.cry.org/about-cry/nature-of-support.html )

CRY’s willingness and ability to identify people and organisations with exceptional commitment to children and to support their new ideas or approaches from inception has led to some of India’s most ground-breaking initiatives in the child rights area. Just two examples of this are: Dr. Shantha Sinha’s landmark work on child labour that is today the model for eradication of child labour across India, first funded by CRY at a time when no one believed child labour could be ended.   She later went on to win a Padmashri award and a Magsaysay award for this work. Another case in point is that of Andal Damodaran - CRY was an early funder of her work on education and teacher training, again at a time when there was no funding for improving this kind of work. Today, she is one of India’s leading advocates of child rights and was awarded the National Child Welfare Award in 1985 by the Government. CRY was one of the first supporters of organisations focused on quality education and was also instrumental in driving the movement for the fundamental right to education that brought about the constitutional amendment in 2001.

CRY also has a robust volunteer network with over 2000 people from different walks of life comes together to volunteer time and effort to the cause of child rights. These volunteer groups take up various issues and campaigns and have so far reached out and impacted over 10000 children. (http://www.cry.org/what-to-do/be-a-cry-volunteer.html )

At CRY, our effort has always been to utilize our resources in an efficient and optimum manner and ensure the maximum possible impact on children, at the same time remaining accountable to our donors. It is with this in mind, that in 2012 CRY drew up its ten year goals. These goals are linked to Education, Health, Nutrition, Protection and Participation and sets out a road map for what CRY wants to achieve in the space of child rights by 2022. These long term goals, have helped CRY set up short term plans in turn and hence resources are being used optimally. CRY is also in the process of developing the Result Based Management System which will help us become even more accountable and improve effectiveness of our programming approach making CRY a more efficient change maker in the child rights space.  

Dr. Serena Deutsch is a Nationally and Internationally acclaimed Child Welfare & Protection Expert. Dr. Deutsch's programs coupled with her vast experience as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist have provided over 20 years of service in the treatment of Children, Adolescents and Adults.  In addition to her Clinical experience, Dr. Deutsch is a public speaker and has developed programs over the past 20 years addressing Child Protection on the Internet, Character Development, Bullying and Cyberbullying and  Child Trafficking on the Internet. She is a frequent participant on panels and symposiums at the UN, in Washington, Europe and throughout West Africa.  Dr. Deutsch is a Humanitarian and is developing programs to rebuild the Educational and Medical Infrastructure in developing countries throughout the world.   She has also developed programs that continue to protect the safety and well being of children in the United States, Europe and throughout West Africa.  Dr. Deutsch is an International Speaker bringing awareness and working to address the plight of over 210 million orphaned homeless children throughout the world .  According to UNICEF these are more conservative estimates given the enormity of the growing issue of homelessness in children.  Dr. Deutsch is the Psychological Consultant to Birch Wathen Lenox School and the Independent Schools in NYC for the past 15 years. Dr. Deutsch has brought her Parenting Workshops, Character Development and Resiliency Workshops,  Internet Safety Workshops and Bullying and Cyberbullying Programs and Workshops to schools, conducting assemblies and talks to parents, children and teachers to provide children with knowledge, skills and  strategies to insure their social, psychological and emotional well being.  Dr. Deutsch is the Executive Vice President of One Bright World in Liberia and Ruthar Educational Programs in Ghana and Benin and Toga. She is also Vice President of Innocence In Danger in the US and  is on the Executive Board of Innocence in Danger in the UK.  . Dr. Deutsch  is on the advisory board of Daniel’s Music Foundation in NY.

Suresh Kumar, Executive Director India based NGO Harvest India which provides orphan care, serving a leoprosy colony & an interviewed speaker in David Trotter's film MOTHER INDIA, providing orphans a home & education.  www.harvestindia.org

Patti Lyons, Member of the Hawaii Priory Ordre des Chevalier de St. Jean de Jerusalem, 50 plus years work in child welfare of those affected by abuse and neglect.  She has established Child Protective Services for the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Healthy Start, & The Consuelo Foundation in Hawaii & The Phillipines.

Dr. Virginia Greiman, Esq. Professor Virginia A. Greiman

Professor Greiman holds academic appointments at Harvard University Law School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government Program on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery and Boston University. She is a recognized international scholar on cyber law and cyber trafficking, human trafficking and modern slavery, international law and development, megaproject governance, national intelligence and cyber security, and public private partnerships. She is part of a global initiative of leaders building cyber laws to protect all on the Internet. She served as a diplomatic official to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development in Eastern and Central Europe, Asia and Africa and has held several high level appointments with the U.S. Department of Justice. She has held executive and advisory positions with some of the world’s largest infrastructure megaprojects. Professor Greiman is a member of the Board of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Citizens Academy and formerly served on the U.S. Attorney General’s Crime and Corruption Task Force. 

Meera T. Gandhi

Meera T. Gandhi is a well-known humanitarian and social activist who divides her time between New York City, London and Hong Kong. She is the founder of The Giving Back Foundation. Mrs. Gandhi is noted for her Life Motto, "We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it."

Meera Gandhi is the daughter of an Irish mother, Ellen Mary McCarthy of Dublin and an Indian father, Admiral Perbodh Nath Agarwal from UP, India. She grew up in India, England and Ireland and was educated in India, Canada and the United States, where she received her MBA. In 2007 Meera Gandhi completed the Executive Education Program from the Harvard Business School. She is married to Vikram Gandhi of Credit Suisse and they have three children, two daughters and a son who currently attend schools in Wales, the United States and England.

Through her Giving Back Foundation Meera Gandhi is devoting her life to charity and to helping those in need: abused and hungry children, widows, the sick, the deaf and blind. She is particularly interested in education as the stepping stone to success.

Mrs. Gandhi recently produced and directed an inspiring documentary, musical CD and coffee table book, all entitled Giving Back.

The “Giving Back” film and book include touching vignettes of Meera's prominent and not-so-prominent friends and illustrates how their philanthropic endeavors are indeed changing the world. Included are Cherie Blair, Kerry Kennedy, Patricia Velasquez, Kristi Yamaguchi, Steven Rockefeller, Francine Le Frak, Raj Loomba, Clodagh, Ronan Tynan, Deborah Norville, Narcisso Rodriguez and red carpet interviews with Bono and others. The film, book and CD were introduced in eight cities in 2010 and 2011: New York, London, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Delhi, Dublin, Paris and Istanbul. 100 percent of the proceeds from Meera Gandhi's brilliant Giving Back project will go to charity.

Donna Karan International recently honored Meera Gandhi by naming her as one of its small group of prestigious leaders in the Donna Karan International “Women Who Inspire” initiative.

In the words of Kerry Kennedy, "Meera Gandhi is one of those remarkable women whom the angels must have sent to teach us a lesson on how to conduct a fruitful life."  

TheGivingBackFoundation.net

MeeraGandhi.com

Matthew Kelly, Founder (http://childrenoftheforest.org) orphans of Thailand/Burma war zone, a 15 year project taking children living in a forest and providing them with homes, education and sustainable projects to build better futures for them.

Daniel Hopson, Executive Director (http://childrenoftheforest.org) refugee orphans of the Thailand/Burma border conflict, a 15 year project taking children living in a forest and providing homes, education and sustainable projects to build futures for these orphans.

Khun Mechai, Thailand GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AWARD,After serving as an economist at the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) for eight years, Mechai Viravaidya founded the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) in 1974 to address the unsustainable population growth in Thailand of 7 children per family and an annual growth rate of over 3 percent. A variety of innovative methods were applied in conjunction with mobilizing and training a network of 320,000 rural school teachers and 12,000 village community members to make contraceptives available throughout Thailand. This resulted in Thai families having fewer than two children and a more sustainable annual population growth rate of 0.5 percent today. When HIV/AIDS first appeared in Thailand in the late 1980s, similar approaches were used to initiate a major prevention program. According to UNAIDS, this endeavour achieved a 90 percent decline in new infections and, according to the World Bank, an estimated 7.7 million lives were saved during the period of 1991-2012. While acting as Chairman of PDA, Khun Mechai was made a member of the Senate during 1987-1991, 1996-2000, and 2000-2006. He was also appointed to such key positions as Thailand’s Cabinet spokesman, Deputy Minister of Industry, Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister, and Chairman of several of Thailand’s largest government-owned enterprises including Krung Thai Bank, The Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT), and PTT-EP. In addition to these responsibilities, he also served as a Research Associate at Columbia University, as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University and as a Council Member at several Thai Universities. He recently became a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, the National Reform Assembly and the Parliamentary Reform Council on Education during 2014-15. Following his success at promoting family planning and HIV prevention, Khun Mechai has aggressively approached the problem of rural poverty by empowering the poor through the Village Development Partnership, to build sustainable entrepreneurial capacity, community empowerment, income generating activities, water and sanitation at the village level. This project, which is a partnership between a rural village and a sponsoring company, is marked by extensive community involvement as beneficiaries, planners, managers, and most importantly – as partners and leaders. In 2008, he established the Mechai Bamboo School in Buriram province, Northeast Thailand, to re-engineer rural education and to enable the school to be a life-long learning center as well as a hub to improve the quality of life of all community members. The Bamboo School aims to foster a new generation of rural youth who are honest and innovative social entrepreneurs and community development leaders. For his efforts in various development and educational endeavours, Khun Mechai has been awarded numerous awards, recognition, and honorary doctoral degrees. He was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service (1994), recognized as one of Asiaweek’s “20 Great Asians” (1995), the United Nations Population Award (1997), one of TIME Magazine’s “Asian Heroes” (2006), the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health (2007), the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2008). Most recently, he was honoured with the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health (2009) and selected to be the first recipient of the Geelong Grammar School Medal for Service to Society (2014). Khun Mechai was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria and the University of Melbourne. He was born in 1941 in Bangkok, Thailand, and is married to Thanpuying Putrie. They have one daughter, Sujima, and two grandchildren.

Helen verDulin Palit,  

Dame Helen verDuin Palit - SPEAKER for UN CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, THE UN MDGS 2015

United Nations October 14, 2015

Helen Palit, while running a soup kitchen for Yale University, feeding the homeless wanted to give her guests more than just soup and bread which was 12 bowls if they liked her soup and a loaf of bread for lunch.  After a trying day at the soup kitchen, must have been a full moon as most of her guests were totally “acting out.”  She definitely needed a drink after she cleaned up and locked the kitchen door.  Across the street to the restaurant for her Margarita to calm down, and some food; a potato skin appetizer to balance the alcohol! When the potato skin, almost the size of a softball was placed in front of Helen, she mentally, was wearing her former “restaurant manager hat.”  She asked the chef, “What happened to the insides of the potato?”  He told her that even though they serve potato soup, potato salad, and mashed potatoes each day, they still had 30 gallons of cooked potato leftover!  She was stunned, then pointing across the street, telling him that her soup kitchen could really use all of the potato insides to thicken her soups.  8 am the next day, the chef brought over the spuds.  30 gallons: think of your refrigerator at home, the metal and plastic plus all of the space inside and double that.  This is the amount of 30 gallons of spuds!  Everyday, 7 days a week the potatoes were given.  Six quiches and the spuds were given the next day, as the chef forgot to put the ham in, distracted while talking with his girlfriend, but on that day’s menu!  Jack assured Helen that the quiches in the oven now did have the ham in it, in case she was coming over later for dinner. Her volunteers were intrigued with the story; then each went to their favorite caterer, restaurants, stores, produce shops and more.  Within three months, Helen had a gourmet soup kitchen.  Another three months TOO MUCH FOOD for her soup kitchen! Then the Harvest began… and now in 1,336 cities of the world feeding 2 million meals a day. This is the best food in each city; 10 billion meals and counting since 1981.

What can we do together? Companies and professionals of many skill sets are working in Africa, South America, and other Third World countries with a very low “standard of living.”   Their business, whether it is shooting a film, managing safaris, transporting foods by ships, trains, and planes or managing their 3,4 or 5 Star hotels or resorts in these geographic areas, like Fiji.  The management know that they have good food leftover on a daily or periodic basis.  Their company policy, is that they cannot give the extra foods to their employees, as giving of food may be abused.  

“I would like to explore with professionals in these parts of the world, to explore how we can connect the good leftover foods to trusted charities / religious groups and other programs that can receive the good foods and give, not sell the foods, to those in need.  Possibly adapting my proven Harvest model while tailoring it religiously and culturally to each community’s ethos and spirit. Additionally I would like to brainstorm how we can work with returned Vets and give them new skill sets plus regain confidence in themselves, like growing organic gardens for themselves and others.  This could become a paying job with increased belief in themselves and their past. On the wall is a map of Southern Ontario, Canada. The green dots are food companies that can give food free to our Maple Leaf Harvest charity based in Toronto.  Red dots are the soup kitchens (free restaurant for the homeless), food pantries (free grocery for families with working kitchens) and shelters (free bed and a meal for the homeless).  Blue Feathers are for the Indigenous First Nations communities

Juliet Hanlon has sung with Sting, Ziggy Marley & Rita Marley, Roberta Flack, Guy Lobe of Cameroon, and other African & International artists as well as & Jim Henson of Sesame Street, and dozens of children’s albums for MacMillan Publishing, commercials, as well as acting in major motion pictures & commercials.  Inspired by her heroes Little Steven, Sting, & Bob Marley, the Late President Mandela & Danny Schecter, as the singer for her band VORTEX, she has produced events that became models for entertainment using music as a vehicle for change in the world.  Vortex brought bands together united in Debt Relief , serving projects of NETAID.org, she founded Hands Across America, Make Poverty History, Co Produced “No Excuses Concert” for the UN MDGS 2015 goals @ Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, has been a Goodwill Ambassador  for World of Hope International, MEDIA FOR HUMANITY,  Innocence In Danger International, and several NGO’s of the UN.  Her band VORTEX’s music has been featured in Meera Gandhi’s movie “GIVING BACK”, Danny Schecter’s documentary “Weapons of Mass Deception”, Sundance Channel’s & Benjamin Selkow’s “SUMMER IN THE CAGE” among others.  She is a Child Rights & Welfare Advocate,  Founding Member for Amnesty International’s CIRCLE OF LIGHT,  Trustee for Innocence In Danger- UK, Board Member IID USA,  Advisory Board SSMAC, a member of SAG, ASCAP and AFTRA. Currently, Ms Hanlon serves as a UN Representative & Dame for the Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem.  She continues to record and sing with her band VORTEX and released the album MIND THE GAP (between poverty & wealth) on iTunes where it continues to sell today.  She envisions a world where there is no such thing as homeless children.  www.insidevortex.com   www.facebook.com/insidevortex

Daniel Thomas Hopson (Children of the Forest )

Whilst working as a teacher in Japan Daniel took a holiday to Thailand with friends. At the end of the holiday Daniel’s passport went missing. Friends returned home, leaving Daniel with a further week in Thailand. While waiting for a new passport, Daniel decided to use this time to visit Thai foundation named Children’s Village. At Children’s Village Daniel became interested in the work being done to help abused and abandoned children from the Bangkok slums. Though what really inspired Daniel was that the social worker who introduced the project had actually grown up in the foundation. From a difficult background she had been assisted by the foundation and was now not only supporting herself but countless others. The potential for profound change was confirmed. Six months later Daniel left Japan to work at the Children’s Village in Thailand. He stayed there for two years, teaching and learning much from the co-workers, social workers and founder. At that time the director and staff decided to visit the border area. During this visit Daniel was first introduced to the plight of the stateless migrant communities. Observing the children’s lack of access to education, their widespread exploitation and abuse, Daniel decided to relocate to the border area.

With financial assistance from family and friends an area of land was purchased. Together with local volunteers Daniel began providing basic education for the stateless children. After a seriously abused child asked for shelter the need for a protection center was recognized. In response to the needs of the area, a basic medical program and mother and child protection center were soon established. However, it was only after appearing on the front page .of the Bangkok Post that new funders and staff enabled the project to truly develop to its present level of assistance.

Danny Paradise 

www.dannyparadise.com

Danny Paradise is an International Yoga Teacher, Musician, Songwriter, Performer, Recording Artist, Film Maker, Film Producer and Activist. He began studying Ashtanga Yoga in 1976 under the guidance of the West's first adepts David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff. Since 1979 Danny has initiated people world wide in the practices and philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga.  In the course of 36 years teaching and traveling,  he has also taught some of the world's most renowned Musicians, Performers, Film Makers, Artists, Designers, Sports Champions as well as Tibetan Buddhist Lamas, Priests and Indigenous Tribal Leaders.  Danny also practices and studies Kung Fu and Tai Chi and incorporates elements of these practices in his teaching. He relates Yoga to all Nature based Indigenous teachings and practices and recognizes Yoga as an ancient, sacred Shamanic Teaching designed to help people to heal, manifest their Dreams and learn to age and approach transition with vitality, clarity, tranquility and grace.

 www.dannyparadise.com

 www.amicusfoundation.org ( Thailand section)

www.facebook.com/amicusfoundationthailand

 Homayra Sellier Founder (http://www.innocenceindanger.org), Founder & President, Innocence In Danger International Founder whose mission is protection and defense of minors against all forms of abuse and exploitation. Innocence in danger is born at the head quarters of Unesco, on 1999.Since 2000, IID is an independent organization active around the globe, offices in 8 countries, offering juridical, medical, psychological acces to victims of sexual abuse, violence and trafficking and post trauma therapies; providing summer camp rehabilitation sessions, working with governments and law enforcement agencies to convict criminal pedophile rings, advocacy and represent victims during the prosecution process, influencing laws that protect children’s rights as ratified in the UN Convention on Child Rights.

 Mechai Viravaidya www.mechaifoundation.org   

Jack Healey

The Human Rights Action Center was founded by Jack Healey, the world-renowned human rights activist and pioneer. An effective and innovative leader in the human rights movement for 50 years, Jack helped move the topic of human rights from closed-door diplomatic negotiations to widespread awareness, public debate, and direct citizen action. Colleagues credit him with making human rights a major focus of governments, advocacy organization, and individuals around the world.

Called ‘Mr. Human Rights‘ by U.S. News and World Report, Jack brought human rights to the global stage by his creative use of media and enlistment of world-class musical talent as advocates and spokespersons as Executive Director of Amnesty International USA for 12 years.

Throughout Jack Healey's many years working as a human rights activist, he has been recognized for his achievements through various awards. These include the Bill Graham Award in 1991, the 1989 Elvis Presley Award for the International Rock Tour of the Year, the 1996House of Blues Martin Luther King Jr.: Spirit of the Dream Award, the 1985- 1986 MTV Video Music Award - Special Recognition, Humanitarian of the Year and the Pollstar 1988 Readers Poll Award. (These awards can also be seen on the media page) Jack has also been the recipient of seven honorary degrees from Universities across the United States

CREATE YOUR FUTURE  tells how a kid from Pittsburgh inspired musicians, artists, young and old, rich and poor, to make their voices thunder for those who have been silenced by oppression and tyranny. In his twenties, after leaving the seminary, Jack stepped onto the front line with Dick Gregory, Muhammad Ali, John Lewis, and Chris Hani, among others, to tackle real issues like hunger and civil rights. With his soul stirred for action, Jack joined the trenches as Director of the Peace Corps in Lesotho, southern Africa, and then became Director of Amnesty International USA. Recognizing that music is a universal language, he inspired rock ‘n roll stars to tour the world and raise consciousness about human rights. Passionate and tireless, Jack’s work was only beginning. In 1994 he founded the Human Rights Action Center where he has kept a youthful glow on his love of human rights standards and has done magical events with his drive. Jack believes that creating your future is not just a possibility—it is a responsibility; one that we owe ourselves, our family, our community and our world. www.humanrightsactioncenter.org 

Musician, songwriter, and record producer, Matthew Kelly's music career has spanned over 45 years. He has performed and toured extensively with many of the worlds most renowned blues musicians including T-Bone Walker,Brownie McGee, Champion Jack DuPree, and Mel Brown(Bobby Blue Bland), and many more.. Matthew has on numerous occasions performed live with the legendary band The Grateful Dead, as well as being a guest artist on three of their records.  In 1973, along with Bobby Weir of the Grateful Dead, Kelly formed the well-known band Kingfish. Kingfish, along with several other Grateful Dead offshoot bands with Bob Weir, kept Kelly on the road and in the recording studio until 1999, when he made the decision to leave the music business. Although Matthew was no stranger to doing benefit concerts throughout his lengthy musical career, it was not until his association with environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill, his co-recipient of the Ark Trust Genesis Environmental Award, that he was finally moved and inspired to devote himself full time to benefiting others through working with Amicus Foundation of Thailand, which he co-founded with his wife Mary in 2006, although the first project had been initiated 7 years earlier. Since then, they have worked continuously on projects throughout Thailand, focusing on helping children and families at risk by developing educational opportunities and assisting impoverished communities, with support from the Matthew Kelly Family Foundation, of which Matthew is president.

David Trotter Filmmaker & Activist, presenting his film MOTHER INDIA: Seen Through the Eyes of Orphans (www.31million.org,  www.motherindiafilm.com)

Olga Papkovitch Artist, Designer, Magazine Publisher and Humanitarian. From the age of 5 art has been her passion, and she became an artist at the young age of 12. Now her PopImpressKA Art Collection by Olga consists of over 100 of her paintings. She has been exhibiting nationally and Internationally and has her art pieces in Museums around the world, such as Marina Tsvetaeva Memorial flat & Museum Cultural Center In Moscow, and National Gallery of A. Kasteev in Kazahstan. Olga’s passion for people and their stories gave her an inspiration to found her company PopImpressKA (which stands for Poppular Impressive Kaleidoscope). She is a founder of PopImpressKA Journal, which focuses on starting artists, and helping people move forward in their careers. The journal comes out 4 times a year online, and may be ordered privately in print on line www.popimpresskajournal.org. Olga also started an incredible clothing and accessory collection called PopImpressKA Brand. She put her copyrighted original art pieces on silk in a form of a quilt and combines them with variety of silks and other materials that gives her collection elegant, classic and trendy look. She designs dresses, skirt, blouses, shirts and very original one of a kind wearing pieces. He clothing collection also includes bags, as well as ties and bow ties and vests for man. Olga often works for charities like orphanages, cancer, and kids with leukemia. In doing so she feels she gets back so much more than she gives. When asked what area of her life is most important to her she said she does what needs to be done at the present time. Olga’s positive mindset means she has no trouble networking as she attracts invitations to events and parties meeting success-driven people everywhere she goes. On the other hand, she spends considerable time alone either painting, or reading history, science or art, the main subjects in which she has an interest. Olga and I got into a philosophical discussion regarding peole and how they find what they like to do in life. She believes in the importance of self-love first prior to seeking acceptance from others. She believes that staying true to your heart is very key to any success story, have faith in what you do. Olga is a hard worker who loves what she does. She’s always productive whether it be in her art or charity work. Olga said she is inspired by all people, and when asked to describe herself in one word Olga said, “Humanitarian.”

This Event was host by UN NGO Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem

www.oosj.org

Report to the UN about child welfare in 2013 with statistics

http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/getmedia/2633ca17-c417-44ee-b215-917b4898b2c5/SOS_AR2013_digital_use.pdf

Special Thanks to our sponsors: Ordre des Chevaliers de St. Jean de Jerusalem, www.oosj.org, H.E. Amb. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Kennedy Moore, The Crosby Hotel, David Trotter, Hugh O’Donnell for his graphic design, Steve Baldwin, Mary & Matthew Kelly, Dr. Serena Deutsch, Olga Papkovitch & POPIMPRESSKA www.popimpresskajournal.org,  Taisha Brehaut, & Meera Gandhi of the Giving Back Foundation, Ceu D’Elia, 

Tax Exempt Donations Welcome