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Fashion for ending hunger

Farm Africa: Fighting Poverty and Ending Hunger

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We all know how serious poverty and world hunger is. We all know that certain countries suffer more than others. What we probably don’t know though is how many people across the world are affected. In case you’re wondering, that number is nearly a billion people.

It doesn’t just stop here. With growing populations and climate change, food production needs to rise by around 70% over 40 years to meet demand.

For that reason, Dulce Salerno is a proud supporter of Farm Africa.

Established in 1985 by Sir Michael Wood and David Campbell, Farm Africa’s mission is to end hunger and reduce poverty permanently by unleashing African farmers abilities to grow their incomes and manage their natural resources sustainably. Farm Africa believes that Africa has the power to feed itself and therefore works directly with local farmers to help them unleash their potential to feed Africa’s people.

Farm Africa has successfully helped families in Africa efficiently manage their small crops to produce more food from it, generate more business from their livestock, increase fish farming by promoting aquaculture, harvest the forests in a sustainable way, and build resilience to climate change.

Beatrice is one of the women whose life was transformed thanks to the efforts from Farm Africa. Previously surviving on just one meal per day, her crops are now enough to provide her and her family with three good meals a day and generating money by selling the surplus of food left. You can read her story and other success stories on Farm Africa’s website: http://www.farmafrica.org/stories-from-our-work/beatrices-story.

You can join Farm Africa’s battle to end hunger and help other families like Beatrice’s. Visit Farm Africa’s website to find out how you can contribute to Farm Africa’s cause and eliminate hunger: http://goo.gl/JBXjTq

It is also worth noting that whenever you purchase any Dulce Salerno product, you are directly helping Farm Africa in their fight against hunger, as Farm Africa is one of the charities supported by Dulce Salerno. Therefore, a portion of Dulce Salerno’s profits (100% of which is equally and fully divided among all charities supported by Dulce Salerno) will go out to Farm Africa. In addition, the following Dulce Salerno t-shirts (available in different styles) are designed specifically for Farm Africa and 100% of the profits generated by the sale of these specific items will go fully to Farm Africa.

Dulce Salerno’s “Feed the Future” Tee designed especially for Farm Africa

Posted by Dulce Salerno

Water.org: Transforming millions of lives around the world

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Safe and clean water. A most basic and vital human right that we so often take for granted. Well, here is something to think about the next time you take a long shower or bath, or throw away a bottle of water that isn’t empty yet: one in ten people lack access to safe water and, believe it or not, one in three people lack access to a toilet.

Those statistics might sound shocking when you first hear them, but the water crisis is real. The good news is: it is solvable. And the better news is: you can also help.

Dulce Salerno is a proud supporter of Water.org.

663 million people, 1 in 10 lack access to safe water; 2.4 billion people, 1 in 3 lack access to a toilet. Water.org is dedicated to changing this. Through sustainable solutions and financing models such as WaterCredit, we can provide safe water and the dignity of a toilet for all.

Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org pioneers innovative, community-driven and market-based solutions to provide access to safe water and sanitation — giving women hope, children health and communities a future. To date, Water.org has positively transformed millions of lives around the world, ensuring a better life for generations ahead.

Water changes life and a little bit of help can make a huge difference. In fact, every one US dollar invested in water and sanitation provides an economic return of four US dollars. And for only $25, Water.org can bring someone access to safe water.

There are various ways that you can get involved to help water.org beat the water crisis. From making donations, to starting a fundraiser, getting social, taking part in athletic competition, etc… Visit Water.org website to find out more about the water crisis and how you can contribute: http://goo.gl/K1EmCy

It is also worth nothing that whenever you purchase any Dulce Salerno product, you are directly helping people gain access to safe water, as Water.org is one of the charities supported by Dulce Salerno. Therefore, a portion of Dulce Salerno’s profits (100% of which is equally and fully divided among all charities supported by Dulce Salerno) will go out to Water.org. In addition, the following Dulce Salerno t-shirts (available in different styles) are designed specifically for Water.org and 100% of the profits generated by the sale of these specific items will go fully to Water.org.

Dulce Salerno’s “Give Water” Tee designed especially for Water.org

Posted by Dulce Salerno writer Diana Zeidan.

Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon: A world of Hope for our Children

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Imagine a world where hope rules over fear. A world where the health and wellbeing of children is a priority. A world where children are treated equally regardless of their gender, race, religion and without any discrimination. Imagine a world where hospitals do not shut their doors on the poor and where children do not die just because their parents can’t afford their medical bills. Imagine a world filled with kindness, compassion and love, and where people lend a helping hand to help the children in need. A world where smiles can be drawn among struggles and difficult times. A world where terminally ill diseases do not terminate a child’s hope of recovery or chances for a better life or future. Such a world does exist.

At the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon, children from different backgrounds, different regions and different religions all share one thing in common: Hope.

Inaugurated in 2002, the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL), which is affiliated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH) in Memphis, Tennessee, and works in close coordination with the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), has treated over 1000 children with cancer and has provided over 4000 consultations. CCCL’s doors are open to all children diagnosed with cancer, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, religion or nationality, giving an equal chance to all children to fight their battle against cancer. In addition, parents don’t have to worry about not being able to afford treatment as all children at CCCL are treated at no cost to their parents, providing equal chances to the rich and poor.

With a passionate and professional team committed to its mission of hope and healthy future for the dear children, CCCL has an average cure rate of 80% among its patients.This incredible cure rate is a step closer in realizing Danny Thomas’ dream (founder of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis) that no child should die in the dawn of life.

We can all take part in that dream too.

Being a non-profit organization that covers all costs related to the treatment of their patients within the center, CCCL depends only on donations to be able to carry out its mission. It depends on passionate volunteers who want to make a difference in these children’s lives. It depends on the compassion and generosity of good people who believe in helping others whenever they can. It depends on humanity. It depends on US. On ME. On YOU.

No child deserves to suffer. We cannot prevent cancer from striking our children, but we can help them fight this battle, we can help give them hope, and we can help make this difficult journey a little easier for them.

There are many ways that we can help the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon maintain this world of hope, love, equality and above all health for our children. Visit CCCL’s website to find out how you can make a difference: http://goo.gl/xBggK3 and follow their social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) handle @CCCLebanon. You can also directly donate to the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon through the following link: http://goo.gl/2qTTQO

At Dulce Salerno, we care about our children and we are proud supporters of CCCL and its mission. For that reason, whenever you purchase a Dulce Salerno item, you are directly making a difference in a child’s life and contributing to their fight against cancer, as a portion of Dulce Salerno’s profits (100% of which is equally and fully divided among all charities supported by Dulce Salerno) will go out to CCCL. In addition, the following Dulce Salerno t-shirts (available in different styles) are designed specifically for CCCL and 100% of the profits generated by the sale of these specific items will go fully to CCCL.

Dulce Salerno “Hero” Tee designed especially for CCCL

To the health and future of all children, with love.

Posted by Dulce Salerno

A Special Visit to Birds’ Nest

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“If we are ever to have real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the children.”

Mahatma Ghandi

Good habits start at a young age

The best way to create a good habit is to plant a seed at a very young age. Some children are born into privileged and healthy homes, while other children are born into more difficult circumstances. It is important to teach our children from a young age to be thankful for what they have; it is important for them to know that not all children have it easy; and it is important to teach them to have compassion and to help those in need whenever possible. When positive habits are installed early on, they stay with us for a lifetime.

The Welcome

The Welcome

A special visit

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Dulce Salerno along with her two older brothers (aged 5 and 3) and her mother headed to the old city of Jbeil (Byblos) to spend a day with the children of Birds’ Nest, an orphanage and school for Armenian children. The purpose of the trip was to visit the children and the school, play and spend time with them and draw a smile on their face. But it was also an important lesson for the children: to interact and play with children from different backgrounds and share their toys with them, and to practice the habit of reaching out a hand to the less fortunate early on in their childhood.

During our visit, we were happy to see that the children at Birds’ Nest are well taken care of. They are sweet, disciplined, smart and social children, and they love to interact with new people. They showed us much affection by running to greet us, smiling and laughing with us, and hugging us goodbye as we were leaving. When you don’t have much in this world, it takes very little to make you smile. And when you don’t have a family of your own, a little love and affection is all you need.

Fun with the kids

Fun with the kids

About Birds’ Nest

Birds’ Nest was founded in 1926 by a Danish missionary, Miss Maria Jacobson who dedicated her life to the Armenian orphans until her death in 1960. Since then, Birds’ Nest is under the jurisdiction and protection of the Catholicosate of Cilicia whose catholicois extend their fatherly blessing and love to the Armenian orphans. Birds’ Nest is Authorized by the Ministry of Education of the Lebanese Government.

Birds’ Nest provides a home for orphaned children and children from families with social problems such as drug addiction, alcoholism, child abuse, mental disorders. It ensures their education, helps in their social and psychological rehabilitation and contributes to their well-being and health development. Birds’ Nest also puts a special emphasis on extra-curricular cultural and sportive activities. The number of student varies between 130-160 depending on the annual budget balanced by generous donors. The children grow in a loving and caring atmosphere and after their graduation, they become a good asset to both the Armenian nation and humanity.

How you can help

There are many ways that you can contribute to the children of Birds’ Nest. For one, you can visit the school to spend time some quality time with the children and bring a smile to their day. You can donate clothes and toys, and you can donate money. For more information, please contact them on +961-9-540867.

Posted by Dulce Salerno