world malaria day

Each 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria. Each of these deaths is avoidable. Join the world’s largest international effort to end malaria deaths. The countdown has begun.

25 April is a day of unified commemoration of the global effort to provide effective control of malaria around the world. This year's World Malaria Day marks a critical moment in time. The international malaria community has merely two years to meet the 2010 targets of delivering effective and affordable protection and treatment to all people at risk of malaria, as called for by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

The next two years present a rare window of opportunity to save a million lives by rapidly delivering malaria interventions - protective nets, diagnostic tests, antimalarial drugs and indoors spraying - to all people at risk of the disease and to pave the way towards virtually ending deaths by 2015.

You can read more at the Roll Back Malaria website here.

This is also an interesting and tragic story of Briton Harry Yirrel who was volunteering in Ghana.  For all of us fortunate enough to be travelling in endemic areas there could not be a more compelling and convincing reminder to take your malaria prophylactics...

leaving on a jet plane...

I'm off everyone... I arrive into Kisumu on Monday evening and then head off to spend Christmas with my Kenyan brothers and sisters at Rang'i. I'll then return to Kisumu via Katolo to meet Kirstin, Georgia and Harriet - just in time for New Years on the 30th.
Have a lovely Christmas break everyone - stay tuned for reports on the progress of Stage 1 in early January.
xx Amber

this time next week

one of the bricks + cartwheels team will only have one more sleep until they are leaving on a jet plane..... all the way to Kenya! Yes, she's counting down. It's all getting so close and very exciting.  

Here's hoping the rain stops for the weekend. Photo from here.

green school

The world's first green school has just opened in the riverside jungles between Denpasar and Ubud. Constructed entirely of bamboo the Green School's goal is 'to prepare students to become responsible global citizens in a world offering challenges and opportunities that can not be imagined at this moment'. Most students are children from all over the world with some local Balinese students offered scholarships to attend.



And with classrooms that are as spectacular and beautiful as these, the journey from pre school onwards will surely be one to remembered.




It's enough to make me want to go back to school! If you're in Bali - the school is open for tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am sharp. Bookings are required.

we're so excited...and we just can't hide it...

We're heading to Kenya soooooo soon! We've raised the cash, are finalising the masterplan and preparing for Stage 1 construction of the Secondary School for Girls which will kick off when we're in Katolo in January.

On Sunday at AfroFunk we met Sarah from Hands of Help who will be in Kenya in January too. Kisumu will be the party capital of Kenya on the 20th January when Barack Obama is inaugurated as President. We'll most likely be celebrating with locals at the Jomo Kenyatta stadium in Kisumu or creating a party of our own with anyone who might be in Kisumu too? Let us know if you will be near by!


Meanwhile, how cute are our gorgeous friends Toyi and Scorvel - we can't wait to see them!

Kenya here we come!

It's official! The b+c team are heading over to Kenya in December! We are very excited about spending 2 months in Katolo with the community and cant wait to get our hands dirty! We will keep you posted on all the details leading up to the trip...

Things are also hotting up for our bricks + cartwheels gala dinner on Nov 1. With all things running smoothly this event should complete our fundraising efforts for Stage 1 of the project. Our good friend, and b+c team member, Mike is jetting in to Sydney, straight from Katolo to be with us on the night. He will be sure to take back all the stories from this special night to the Katolo community!

Thank you in advance to all those who have donated their time to the event, and to our sponsors, in particular MBMpl Pty Ltd Quantity Surveyors and Technical Advisors. It is going to be a cracker of an evening!!

Melbourne trip - art deco exhibition

One of the bricks + cartwheels gang along with a few friends spent a great 5 days in Melbourne last week. There was so much to see and do, we shopped, ate, drank, visited art galleries and walked a lot. There is something about Melbourne that is so interesting and fun. The laneways throughout the city could be explored for weeks on end I'm sure. The highlight of the trip was definitely our visit to the NGV to see the Art Deco exhibition that is on at the moment. 

The exhibition was huge and full of absolutely beautiful and inspiring things. It really explained how Art Deco covered a huge range disciplines from painting to architecture, fashion, home wares, cars and much more. It was also very interesting to see how Art Deco was influenced by different countries, cultures and people.  I would say it is worth a trip to Melbourne purely to see this exhibition. It was excellent! More Melbourne tales to come...... 

If you never ever go, you’ll never ever know!

So that slogan endorsed by none other than Darryl Somers is well past it’s used by date but it still rings true. On a recent trip we discovered the rare beauty and deep rooted culture of the Northern Territory. Here are a few highlights...

Ubirr at sunset is a sight to behold. Located in the East Alligator region of Kakadu National Park, it is famous for its rock art. The panoramic views are breathtaking, not to mention the exquisite art which in some places is a mind blowing 40 000yrs old… hard to comprehend.

Injalak Arts + Craft Centre at Oenpelli aims to promote and preserve the indigenous art and culture of Western Arnhem Land. Located at Gunbalanya, a small Aboriginal township the centre was opened in 1989. As a non-profit enterprise any income stays within the community and assists in its development. It is managed by an incorporated Association whose members are the artists and community. The Associations major emphasis is on cultural maintenance and economic self-determination. Such a fantastic initiative and with no doubt the best place to purchase bark paintings and woven pandanas baskets – it is chock a block full of beautiful artwork.

Architecture viewing is always a part of the itinerary and the Bowali Visitor’s Centre didn’t disappoint! If you can believe it the gutters were one of the outstanding features… Designed by Glenn Murcutt and Troppo Architects this building is a long 168m. In true Troppo style the building offers a close relationship with the bush setting through its wide verandahs, rammed earth walls, ironwood floors and natural stone features. The roof line and east west orientation encourage airflow – in temperatures of +30degree heat and 90% humidity it is amazing you feel comfortable under its eaves.

What is so important is that they worked very closely with the traditional land owners. Local contractors were employed and local Aboriginal associations sourced all the materials including the extensive display items that you can explore and learn of the country and its people. It is so pleasing to witness the results of a building which has originated from a community consultation process - and it is a success!

just because

I love this photo, it reminds me of Buenos Aires. The colours, and courtyard and patterns and furniture are all just so Argentinian and beautiful. The photo is from Ella Argentina and we found it at here at El Beso (what a great name).

The Cool Hunter

Our friend Flea recently came across this website, The Cool Hunter..... their tag line is that they "roam across Australia and the globe so that you're in the know", and they actually do. We want their job! They have topics from architecure, art and design to gadgets, ecoworld and street. This site is literally bursting with cool stuff!

We want to go to this hotel in Chile,

This one in Tokyo,

This one in Greece,

and this golf club in Switzerland..... (we can't even play golf)

This art exhibtion in Buenos Aires,

and we might even get to this cool new Aesop shop in Adelaide....... at least it's in the same country.

This website is seriously cool......