I just took the first malaria pill in the course I’ll be finishing next week. My suitcase is empty and a pile of clothes is on my bedroom floor waiting to be washed. I frustrate my husband because I tend to wait until the last minute to pack, often just hours before leaving. He knows, though, that I can get it done, and if I forget something I’ll manage.
Tomorrow morning I fly to Washington, D.C., to meet my #ONEMoms teammates before we travel together to Ethiopia. I have no doubt this group of remarkable women will bond quickly — moving from acquaintances at our individual sites to friends by the end of the trip.
This trip matters to me, and I want to tell you about it.
What is #ONEMoms and why am I going?
To understand #ONEMoms, it helps to know ONE.org and the work they do. Co-founded by Bono of U2, ONE is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that encourages national leaders to support international development and relief efforts through advocacy. The ONE Campaign focuses on fighting extreme global poverty and preventable diseases by mobilizing people to take action — not primarily with donations, but with their voices.
ONE uses highly visible, internet-driven methods to amplify its message, so you may have already seen or supported one of their campaigns. For example, you may recognize the partnership between Starbucks and Bono’s (RED) campaign, which raises awareness and funds to fight HIV/AIDS. Money raised through (RED) is distributed through The Global Fund, an organization that collaborates with ONE.
#ONEMoms is an initiative by ONE that invites mothers everywhere to use their voices together to influence global change. I was invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to Ethiopia to witness ONE’s work on the ground and to share the stories of Ethiopian people, especially the experiences of women.
You can follow our journey through our blogs and social media updates.
Our team:
Gabrielle Blair of DesignMom
Asha Dornfest of ParentHacks
Rana DiOrio of Little Pickle Press
Cathleen Falsani of Sojourners
Liz Gumbinner of Mom 101, Cool Mom Picks and Cool Mom Tech
Jennifer Howze of BritMums
Christine Koh of BostonMamas
Michelle Pannell of Mummy from the Heart
Diana Prichard of Righteous Bacon
Kelly Wickham of Mocha Momma
Maya Haile Samuelsson (our cultural guide, who is also a model and married to one of my favorite chefs)
Karen Walrond (official photographer)
Jeannine Harvey, Ginny Wolfe, and Lindsay Keller of The ONE Campaign
Updates from the trip will appear on the ONEMoms web page. Many of us will use the hashtag #ONEMoms on Twitter and Instagram, and ONE MOMS on Facebook, along with other social channels.
I invite you to join the #ONEMoms movement by signing up on the campaign page and following our journey this week. You can find my real-time updates on Twitter and Instagram @SavorySweetLife.
I’m excited to share this experience with you and look forward to posting photos and videos from what promises to be a life-changing trip.