Happy International Day of Happiness from One Spark. We wish you a day of complete peace and joy. To mark the occasion, we thought we would share a video that always makes us happy. :)
Peace.
For All Phenomenal Women
Friday, March 7, 2014 4:34 AM
"Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me."
-Maya Angelou
On International Women's Day, One Spark honours and celebrates phenomenal women everywhere. Here's to our moms, sisters, aunts, wives, grandmothers, cousins, girlfriends, daughters, nieces, colleagues, mentors, teachers, and friends. Happy Women's Day!
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me."
-Maya Angelou
On International Women's Day, One Spark honours and celebrates phenomenal women everywhere. Here's to our moms, sisters, aunts, wives, grandmothers, cousins, girlfriends, daughters, nieces, colleagues, mentors, teachers, and friends. Happy Women's Day!
A Simple Call to Action on International Women's Day
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 5:56 AM
Our tagline at One Spark is “We believe in possibilities.” In a way, it’s also our mission, our vision,
and the bottom line to our values. The
struggle facing women globally, and in our own backyards, is well-documented by
so many amazing organizations doing such great work to light a match in the
dark corners of oppression: to educate women and girls; to end slavery and
trafficking; to end the rape and brutalizing of women as a war tactic; to end
child marriage and female genital mutilation; and to end intimate partner
violence, among other important and impactful work.
One Spark is built on the idea of opening doors to new possibilities
that provide options and alternatives to women experiencing violence. Our great hope and vision is that having a
financial safety plan could be a single, critical spark in the fire of courage
and determination that leads to change.
In the process, women may feel more empowered over their circumstances
and, systemically, we can also begin to address poverty, housing, unemployment, and
other key issues that impact both individual and community health and development.
Our call to action is to ask you to do a simple thing this International Women's Day: please consider helping One Spark to access the tools women need to build their own financial safety plans to courageously work towards violence-free futures. We are currently seeking used, but functional, laptops that women can use to help generate income. If you are a business that upgrades retired computers, or an individual that has a working laptop that you no longer use, please consider donating it to our Entrepreneurship Program...a small act that will have incredible impact. Computers will be used by women working to generate self-employment income: it will provide access to fundamental technology that can exponentially expand business/employment opportunities. More information on our programs can be found at http://one-spark.ca/programs-services.
Our call to action is to ask you to do a simple thing this International Women's Day: please consider helping One Spark to access the tools women need to build their own financial safety plans to courageously work towards violence-free futures. We are currently seeking used, but functional, laptops that women can use to help generate income. If you are a business that upgrades retired computers, or an individual that has a working laptop that you no longer use, please consider donating it to our Entrepreneurship Program...a small act that will have incredible impact. Computers will be used by women working to generate self-employment income: it will provide access to fundamental technology that can exponentially expand business/employment opportunities. More information on our programs can be found at http://one-spark.ca/programs-services.
This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating hope and
new roads that can lead to safety, security, and amazing potential fulfilled! Thank you in advance for your support!
To donate a laptop, please email Corrie Schneider, Executive Director, at corrie@one-spark.ca or call us at 416.697.0620.
On Family Day...
Monday, February 17, 2014 3:12 PM
On Family Day, we wanted to share with you one of our favourite videos: it's of Patrick Stewart answering questions at Comicpalooza. A woman asks him what he is most proud of that is unrelated to acting and he answers with a response that pays tribute to his mom, who was a survivor of domestic violence, and also talks about work he has done to address challenges faced by his dad. In the course of his response, he passionately states that "violence is never, ever a choice that a man should make" and provides comfort to a brave survivor. He demonstrates how our love for and experiences with family - whether wonderful or challenging - can ultimately inspire us to do amazing things.
Happy Family Day from One Spark.
(You can read Heather Skye's first-hand account of her experience with Patrick Stewart at http://lemonsweetie.tumblr.com/post/51652237280)
(You can read Heather Skye's first-hand account of her experience with Patrick Stewart at http://lemonsweetie.tumblr.com/post/51652237280)
Beyond Micro-Hopes
Monday, January 27, 2014 9:07 AM
“Microfinance is an incredibly powerful tool … but we must move beyond micro-hopes and micro-ambitions for women.”
-Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
In an earlier post, we talked about why One Spark is focusing on assisting women to become entrepreneurs. We highlighted a vision of women building an individualized financial safety plan and financial security by exploring the options available to them through self employment. In this TedxWomen talk, reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon talks about how far-reaching and powerful the outcomes of investing in women entrepreneurs can - and will - be.
-Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
In an earlier post, we talked about why One Spark is focusing on assisting women to become entrepreneurs. We highlighted a vision of women building an individualized financial safety plan and financial security by exploring the options available to them through self employment. In this TedxWomen talk, reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon talks about how far-reaching and powerful the outcomes of investing in women entrepreneurs can - and will - be.
We Remember
Friday, November 29, 2013 12:23 AM
We are just over a week away from December 6th and as part of the One Spark Candle Campaign, we are asking you to place lit candles in your window that day to honour women lost to violence and to light up our communities with hope for women experiencing violence. Many may have personal reasons for lighting candles, but if you are looking for a reason to take part in this campaign, please watch this video from Women's College Hospital...it puts a name and a reminder of real lives lost in Ontario to violence...and provides a powerful reason to remember and to work to end violence. Please light a candle on December 6th and then post pictures of your lit candles on the One Spark Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/onesparkcanada) so that those experiencing violence know we stand with them. Thanks.
One Spark Candle Campaign
Monday, November 25, 2013 5:53 PM
“Millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even murdered in what constitutes appalling violations of their human rights. [...] We must fundamentally challenge the culture of discrimination that allows violence to continue. On this International Day, I call on all governments to make good on their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I urge all people to support this important goal.”
-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
“Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries or geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace.”
-Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is a critical opportunity for the international community to take pause; reflect on the causes and the pervasiveness of violence against women worldwide; and to contemplate meaningful actions to bring an end to the violence.
To mark this day, One Spark is proud to be launching the One Spark Candle Campaign. This campaign asks people to place lit candles in their windows on December 6th, which is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
The meaning of the lit candles is three-fold: to honour the women we have lost to violence; to give hope to women experiencing violence; and to bring the issue of violence against women out of the darkness. With a goal of one million people lighting candles on December 6th, we hope women experiencing violence will find strength and encouragement through a mass outward display of community support.
What can you do?
First, please remember to put lit candles in your window(s) on December 6th. Show your willingness to stand with women experiencing violence and honour those that have been lost to violence. Use this opportunity to talk to your families, friends, and children about preventing and ending violence.
Second, post pictures of your lit candles on the One Spark Facebook page. In addition to glowing windows, we want our page to light up with hope, and to demonstrate an international commitment to ending violence against women.
Third, share this blog and promote the Candle Campaign through your social networks. Our goal is to have one spark become a million glowing candles that send a message of hope to women experiencing violence, as well as a message that our communities will not tolerate violence.
Finally, “like” the One Spark page on Facebook for updates on the campaign and for information that you can share with your networks. You can also follow us on Twitter a @onesparkcanada as well as get updates through the One Spark company page on LinkedIn.
Thank you for being an important part of this campaign. It’s time for change, and we believe it can begin with a single spark.
Corrie
Executive Director
-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
“Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries or geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace.”
-Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is a critical opportunity for the international community to take pause; reflect on the causes and the pervasiveness of violence against women worldwide; and to contemplate meaningful actions to bring an end to the violence.
To mark this day, One Spark is proud to be launching the One Spark Candle Campaign. This campaign asks people to place lit candles in their windows on December 6th, which is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
The meaning of the lit candles is three-fold: to honour the women we have lost to violence; to give hope to women experiencing violence; and to bring the issue of violence against women out of the darkness. With a goal of one million people lighting candles on December 6th, we hope women experiencing violence will find strength and encouragement through a mass outward display of community support.
What can you do?
First, please remember to put lit candles in your window(s) on December 6th. Show your willingness to stand with women experiencing violence and honour those that have been lost to violence. Use this opportunity to talk to your families, friends, and children about preventing and ending violence.
Second, post pictures of your lit candles on the One Spark Facebook page. In addition to glowing windows, we want our page to light up with hope, and to demonstrate an international commitment to ending violence against women.
Third, share this blog and promote the Candle Campaign through your social networks. Our goal is to have one spark become a million glowing candles that send a message of hope to women experiencing violence, as well as a message that our communities will not tolerate violence.
Finally, “like” the One Spark page on Facebook for updates on the campaign and for information that you can share with your networks. You can also follow us on Twitter a @onesparkcanada as well as get updates through the One Spark company page on LinkedIn.
Thank you for being an important part of this campaign. It’s time for change, and we believe it can begin with a single spark.
Corrie
Executive Director
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