barefoot ball!

It is always encouraging to hear of others doing great work. Operating in Uganda, the United Future Foundation (UFF) focuses on making education and skills training available to youth living in poverty stricken areas.

UFF is hosting the Black Tie and Barefoot Ball (not bare football as I first read it to be... another fundraising idea perhaps?) on May 15th, at The Hilton, Sydney. We take our hat off to anyone who can get a function of this size up and running! So congratulations to both Annabelle and Dave and all the best guys for what is shaping up to be a fun-filled night, not to mention a worthy one!

You can find out more about UFF by visiting their website.

p/hop

Pennies per hour per pleasure is an initiative being run by Medecins San Frontieres. A b+c friend is championing this unique knitting project. All money raised goes to MSF, an extremely worthwhile organisation. You can read about our friend, Lou who is featured this week knitting in Egypt by visiting the p/hop blog!

The idea of p/hop is to donate based on how many hours of pleasure you get from knitting your free pattern, which have been generously donated by designers. There is no set price to a pattern - you can give as much or as little as you like! 

We wish the p/hop team all the best in their attendance at their upcoming festivals. For those who are keen to jump on board do sign up - the world needs more knitters and MSF needs your support so they can continue to provide medical aid to those who need it most! 

Walk for Stuart

Friends of the b+c team are taking on a massive challenge this month. Isabel and Vanessa are heading off to walk the 788km of the Camino de Santiago trail in aid of the Stuart Mangan Appeal. 

Stuart, in april 2008, due to a simple rugby tackle was completely paralysed from the neck down. Stuart will require 24 hour care for the rest of their life. You can show your support for these two adventurers by giving generously to this extremely worthwhile cause by visiting here. They have already raised a staggering 4000 euros! Go girls!

Make sure you visit their blog to keep up to date on how they are progressing. It is bound to be full of hilarity and no doubt a lot of heartache. 

We wish them all the best on their journey and can't wait to see them back home safely!

world aids day

Today marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. In 1988, the World Health Organization declared the first World AIDS Day in an effort to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS issues, including the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV/AIDS. The day is also an opportunity to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and to highlight the need for continued development of education and prevention initiatives.

Funds raised support services for people living with HIV/AIDS, related medical and counselling services, support and peer education groups.

Red ribbons are available from selected retailers so jump up and buy one now in support of this worthy cause.

introducing... The Katolo Project

It was very exciting news when Kimberley and her film company Ariella Pictures decided to jump on board the bricks + cartwheels wagon! After embarking on documentary projects in Australia, Israel, Holland and Germany, Kimberley has found her next project. Fostering a deep passion for human rights and education, Kimberley's inspiring vision to capture The Katolo project; its journey for both the bricks + cartwheels team, and the community of Katolo, has taken off.

With a degree in Film Production and 8 years experience in the media behind her, Kimberley is excited to be combining her passion with a project that is sure to change the lives of a community forever.

Kimberley will be heading over with us in January to start the filming from the very beginning. We are excited at the prospect of this and cant wait to see the first footage!

As you can imagine this lengthy filming process needs funding to get it off the ground. Anyone who is wanting to support The Katolo Project can do by purchasing a pack of christmas cards.

These cards are just what is needed to brighten up your christmas this year! Not only is each one hand made, each one is a beautiful piece of photographic art as well. A pack of 5 = $30. Some of the stunning images taken in Kenya are featured on the cards below.

To purchase your cards email kimberleyduband@gmail.com

All money raised will go towards the realisation of the documentary The Katolo Project, a project which i am sure will be a beautiful tale of the Katolo community, the construction of the secondary school for girls and most importantly the role of education in rural areas.

gala dinner snaps

oh and check out some more of the great snaps taken by the lovely Zoe (mentioned here) from the special night. Thank you Zoe!

MOvember

It's MOvember time again! The month formerly known as November is upon us again and some of our nearest and dearest are growing and grooming their mo's to raise money and awareness for men's health - specifically prostate cancer and male depression.

It's a great cause and a great fundraising event for the whole month. So if you can: grow your mo, and if you can't: make sure you sponsor someone who is, or donate here!

afro funk @ cafe lounge - November 9

The lovely Kimberley, who is coming to Kenya with us in January to film our progress, has organised this awesome event to be held this Sunday, 9th November from 3pm til 9pm!

So bring your AFRO WIG and AFRICAN STYLE and join us for an AFRICAN INSPIRED event at one of our favourite places, the unique Cafe Lounge. There will be amazing food and cocktails too...

The Lounge Funk DJs - Louis Love, JRDynamite and Mr Rick are gearing up for summer to help RAISE THE ROOF for the bricks + cartwheels Katolo Project. Ariella pictures invites you personally to get down and funky and show your support (and throw your hands in the air) for a good cause.

There will be a fun raffle on the night!! Prizes include: ipod shuffle, jb hi fi vouchers, facial - supplied by The Beauty Room, wine + more... Be there!!

There is a $10 Donation. The b+c team will be there with bells on!!

through a foreign lens

Through a Foreign Lens is a photography exhibition we heard about through Frankie Magazine. The photo journalist Jay Gunning has been travelling around the world taking some beautiful photos. The photos all highlight the issues of poverty and justice.

The photos were on exhibition yesterday, the 2nd of October at 22 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane. Did anyone see it? Any reports would be great to hear. Oh and the best thing about this exhibition is that all profits from the night were being donated by the artist to the wonderful Oak Tree Foundation, we've mentioned them here before.

designer drinks september 08

Another successful designer drinks was held this month at the Faculty of Architecture, Design + Planning - University of Sydney.

Thank you must go to Alister, a long time and particularly valuable b+c team member! He is always ready and willing to spread the word about the project and rallied everyone together to part with their gold coins for the night. Thanks also to all the thirsty students who together raised $234.80 for the secondary school for Girls in Katolo!!

Until next time, here's cheers!

on my wish list...

PlayPumps International’s mission is to help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions of people across Africa. The PlayPump water system are innovative, sustainable, patented water pumps powered by children at play. Installed near schools, the PlayPump system doubles as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children. Already in communities across South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zambia- they are currently expanding to Kenya and fingers crossed we'll be able to work together to bring clean drinking water and a whole lot of fun for the kids of Katolo!

Have a look at their cool bags on flashbags - I am eyeing off the Spinning Smiles extra large box bag, with 10% of the profits going directly to PlayPumps International. It is on my Christmas list already- what a cool way to start a conversation...

we have an announcement.....

bricks + cartwheels is hosting their very first inaugural Gala Dinner, and we are inviting you to attend! It is on the 1st of November at The Red Box in Lilyfield, Sydney and we're so excited! Check out our invitation designed by the lovely Gemma Lush our talented graphic designer.

It is going to be a great night with lots of food, drinks, dancing and general fun. With ALL proceeds going towards the Secondary School for Girls in Katolo, Kenya. We understand that for some $120.00 is alot of money but we can promise it will be a night to remember with amazing African entertainment and loads of great prizes (Bholu is one of our generous sponsors). We even have a short film of recent footage from the community of Katolo.



For more information or to buy a ticket visit our website here. We hope to see some of you there!

It's daffodil day!

How lovely to see the sunny daffodils dotted around the city on this wet grey day that is daffodil day - a day to celebrate the spirit of cancer survivors and their families, carers and medical specialists, bringing hope and goodwill for the future of all Australians touched by the disease.

sneak peek

The bricks + cartwheels team succesfully ran and finished the city2surf on the weekend. It was a great day and there will be more photos and stories to come. I just couldn't resist posting this as soon as possible. This photo was featured in the Sydney Morning Herald and shows 2 of our wonderful runners having a great time, running their hearts out. A final tally of funds raised and exciting snippets from our day will be up soon, so stay tuned.

jeans for genes day

Today is jeans for genes day! This girl is wearing awesome jeans. I forgot to wear jeans today, but i bought a lovely gold badge at the station to make up for it. Check out the website to see how you can donate or help. Its a very worthwhile cause.

Orange Launch 08

bricks + cartwheels headed to Orange NSW for some fundraising fun on June 14. The cold weather did not deter our 100 guests as they wined and dined and listened to the dulcet tones of Rosie-Jane Stone followed by Nashville starlet Susannah Stone + band who blew the roof off the Parkview Hotel!

The day was a HUGE success! We raised a massive $5000 - we are now well on the way to raising the funds for Stage 1! Fantastic effort! We were blown away by the generosity of all who attended. On behalf of the bricks + cartwheels team and the community of Katolo we would like to send you our most sincere thanks.

It was so lovely to see so many familiar faces and to share the work of bricks + cartwheels. To those who were unable to attend thank you for your generous donations, your contributions will go directly to the community of Katolo, Kenya and the direct delivery of the Secondary School for Girls.

There were prizes galore - thank you to all our sponsors and supporters! Thanks must also go to the Parkview Hotel for all their hard work in making the event the success it was!

The Life Cycle - ride from Perth to Sydney

6834kms later and they have arrived in Sydney! Joel, Jim + Lindsay's goal was to ride from Sydney to Perth and raise $10 000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service while also raising awareness about the health and environmental benefits of the bike - and they have done it!!

The trip has taken the boys from Perth, the far west coast of the continent, across the vast expanse of the Nullarbor plain to Adelaide, along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne, and back up the east coast to Sydney. The boys traveled unassisted -carrying all their own supplies.

Well done to the guys, what a trip and what a worthy cause. bricks + cartwheels are always impressed and inspired when we see the dedication of young people such as this!

For more info and to read the boys blog visit here.

Kinross Wolaroi School coin trail!

Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange NSW held a coin trail in aid of bricks + cartwheels on June 11.
Students of the secondary school scrounged around at home and collected bucket loads of coins and laid them all out for an inter house competition to see who could make the longest trail!



It was a huge success with the total value of coins amounting to $1400!

It took accounts 3.5 hours to count ALL of the coins. The houses had a fantastic time - loud and organised chaos but very orderly as well!.


Congratulations to all the staff and students for raising such a HUGE amount!

On behalf of bricks + cartwheels and the community of Katolo thank you to Kinross Wolaroi for their support and their amazing donation!

gentlemen's ball 2007

The annual Sydney Gentlemen’s Ball was held at Pruniers, Woollahra on the 15th December last year. A great night was had by all. Everyone scrubbed up very nicely indeed!

A big THANK YOU to all of the 2007 Gents Ball committee. They did a great job and ensured the night was a huge success!

Thank you to all those that bought raffle tickets in support of bricks + cartwheels - a massive $5000 was raised! bricks + cartwheels is extremely grateful.



Thank you also to Bowen Legal and Rhod Webb of Signarama City North for the fantastic b + c banner. How cool is that! It will no doubt be a valid contribution to all of our fundraisers from now on!

bricks + cartwheels Launch Party

bricks + cartwheels hosted their first fundraiser at the Marlborough Hotel, Newtown last Thursday 29th November. It was a fabulous night! Over 300 people attended and we raised $6500 with every cent going to building the Secondary School for Girls!

It was an opportunity for everyone to get together, have a few drinks, a dance and of course there were lots of conversations all night about bricks + cartwheels in Kenya!

The raffle was a big highlight with so many great prizes how could it not be! A select few were lucky to take home a very fashionable bricks + cartwheels bag stuffed full of goodies.

Thankyou to everyone that came and showed their support. We appreciate your generosity.