Baskets and Sisterhood.The Red Basket Project....

The Red Basket...

A few weeks ago I bought a stamp that looked tome like a basket or gathering pot of some kind. I bought it home and rubbed red ink on it, and as soon as the ink hit it's surface the words Red Basket came to mind and stuck so firmly that I wrote them down in big letters in my workbook.
An idea was forming but had not yet taken shape, I knew that this would be something wonderful but what exactly it might be was still a mystery to me..

It sat on my desk for about 2 weeks giving me great happiness to look at it,but the mystery of it's deeper meaning giving me no hint whatsoever, until....
Until during a phone conversation with a friend who is also a red drum leader, and she asked me if I had given any more through to her suggestion of giving back in some way?
 I had completely forgotten that part of our conversation and as I sat with her reminder it all came to me in a  flash-as these things often do!
The Red Basket Project would be a gathering place a way to give back....

Traditionally baskets were made by women and used for gathering, and it is in the spirit of this gathering that the Red Basket project formed. As women working with women, leaders understand the importance of giving back and as such each leader donates a portion of money from each Red Drum made to helping other women.
So it was in the spirit of this that I choose Shanti Uganada, a non profit that I have been involved in some way or another with since their humble beginning and a place that I trust and know does the work they say they are doing!

A little bit about what Shanti Uganda does:
Over 800 women around the world die during pregnancy and birth every day. 99% of maternal deaths occur in under resourced countries, half of those in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda alone, 16 women die during pregnancy and birth every - single - day. At least 14 of those deaths are preventable. 

Shanti Uganda improves maternal & infant health throughout East Africa using a unique collaborative care model that utilizes registered Uganda midwives as primary care providers and Traditional Birth Attendants as labour support. 

The Shanti Uganda Birth House is a solar powered maternity center on one acre of land in the Luweero District of Uganda and provides mother-centered care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. 
Examples of how far donations go:
$10 – Supports 4 Prenatal Classes for one Mother
$15 – Provides a monthly staff breakfast for Shanti Uganda’s midwives and Ugandan staff 
$25 – Provides one week of fuel to operate Shanti Uganda’s emergency transfer ambulance
$30 – Supports one week of laboratory services
$50 – Supports one birth
$100 – Provides weekly prenatal yoga, prenatal & postnatal education workshops for an entire month 
$200 – Pays for Medical Supplies for an entire week

Some circle leaders may choose to become a monthly Birth Partner donor, while others may donate a percentage each time they host a workshop by donating online. 

The wonderful thing about Red Basket project is that it is not mine!
If you are a woman and want to participate join us--it is that easy!
The Red basket can be taken out into any community and finds gathered there and directly donated to Shanti Uganda. All you need is to find yourself a Red Basket and a passion for helping others! 
If you wish to join our collective pop me an e-mail and let me know or better yet join our Facebook page and share your stories...

Much love
Nikiah