Love + Mutuality: Let’s Buy a Plane Ticket for a Sister to South Africa
It's Valentine's Day and I have been sick in bed with the flu for two days. I am watching "Eat, Pray, Love" because a dear friend once told me she watches that movie when she needs to reflect on her life. I'm at the point in the movie where Liz Gilbert writes to her friends to ask them to help build a house for one of her new friends in Bali. I paused the movie to write this.
This coming April, I have the wonderful privilege of participating in a Women's Somatic Retreat in Cape Town, South Africa. I will be there with a group of women leaders from around the world—peacemakers, priests, poets, professors, non-profit leaders, teachers, artists and more. We will be meeting together for a whole week. While many of the women in the group are from South Africa, women will also be flying in from the Middle East, Australia, Europe and the United States. I am one of only a few White women in the group, and I am so deeply honored to have been invited into this circle. Many of the women in the group need support to get to South Africa. That is why I am writing.
Could you help me buy a plane ticket for ONE of the participants from the United States? She's a faith leader, a single mother, an activist, and someone whose voice is dearly needed at this time in history in the US and our world. This trip to South Africa will give her a beautiful time for healing, connection, and rootedness—to gain strength for the work ahead. A time with like-minded and like-hearted sisters. A time to fill her cup, so she can do her most beautiful work in the world.
We've created a GoFundMe to help us raise money for the plane tickets. (We need to purchase 6 in total.) We have a way to go, so now I am asking for your support. Any amount would help. Safety is a concern, which is why we haven't shared this on social media.
Several years ago, we launched a campaign around Valentine's Day to buy ID cards for women in Burundi. It was a profound experience in which I learned that when you help another person get an Identity document, you also find your own identity.
We don't do this for the benefit, but I also know this:
When we rally together to help another get free, we also become a little more free.
When we rally together to help another gain more capacity, our own capacity increases.
When we rally together to help another find her voice, we find ours.
When we rally together to help another person own her joy, vitality, and wholeness, we also claim ours.
So, in the spirit of Love and mutuality, would you consider contributing to this cause, please?
Here's the link:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-the-somatic-womens-leadership-retreat
You will also find more information there.
No amount is too small. Your prayers and good vibes towards our initiative are also treasured.
With much Love,
Idelette
xo