© Door Of Hope Australia

Firstly, I want to thank-you all for your support. I’m very lucky to have such amazing family and friends I mean it.

Secondly, DOHA passes on their heartfelt thanks for your support and donations. With your help they can make a real difference.

How to make an online donation to Door Of Hope Australia:

Go to http://bit.ly/dTTOI
Click ‘Add to Cart’.
Enter the Qty you’d like to donate (1 = $1).
Click ‘Checkout’.
Follow the payment steps.

Direct Deposit details can be found here: http://bit.ly/VdkDv

If you have any questions or issues, please don’t hesitate to email the lovely Michelle Harry at mharry@doorofhope.com.au

FYI, 11 (eleven) is my favourite number. It was my Nana’s favourite number. And Franny rather fancies it too.

Only eleven days until I leave for Sudan. And to signify this super special day, here are eleven reasons why I’m traveling half way around the world to film a documentary in Sudan for DOHA:

1. I want to be a part of something BIG. Special. Good. Inspiring. I don’t want to be a taker in life. I want to be better. I want to help people in need, and I can. So I’m going to.

2. I hope the film will influence change, hope and happiness – even if it’s for only one person.

3. I think this journey will give me a greater perspective on life – I know I’m lucky, but I don’t think you TRULY know just HOW lucky you are until you’ve lived and breathed the grass on the other side.

4. Hopefully I get to meet lots of people who will share their stories with me because you can NEVER have too many friends – write that down! Yes NOW!

5. I’ll be helping an organization and people that I believe in. I met Bryan because I was destined to help him – v.Nostradamus I know.

6. I want to set a good example for my son, and hopefully others too.

7. I love to create. The opportunity to help people through creativity suits me to a tea.

8. I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life and I’ve never been to Africa. There goes the roof!

9. If everyone said ‘No’ to this opportunity, quite simply, this world would suck :-/ Seriously, close your eyes and imagine your child was orphaned, hungry, sick, homeless, traumatized – wouldn’t you want someone to help them? That’s what I thought.

10. Why not.

11. There are 2.2 billion children in the world. 1 billion are in poverty. 121 million uneducated. 2.2 million children die annually because they are not immunized. 15 million children are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. 1.6 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live without electricity. 400 million children with no access to safe water. 270 million children with no access to health services (∞).

^ A couple of truly inspiring videos about the Sudan war.

As previously blogged, I’m traveling to Sudan with Door Of Hope Australia (Bryan Grasby and Michelle Harry) for 3 weeks to film a documentary. I leave for Melbourne on the 29th of September, and will then fly to Nairobi via Hong Kong, and then onto Sudan < jet lag pills, check.

The film will cover the history and reasons behind the civil war, the 21 1/2 year struggle, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the upcoming election and referendum, the tragic death of Dr John Garang, and the struggle to bring about development in the devastated Southern Sudan. The film will feature firsthand stories by those who dedicated and sacrificed so much to ensure equality could come to the marginalized people of Sudan.

Bryan and Michelle have arranged so many amazing interviews and locations to visit and film! I’m excited/anxious/bla bla bla < Mr Mraz would say I’m a beautiful mess > I’m incredibly passionate and motivated about the documentary and trip, and cannot wait to live it and possibly inspire some change and hope in this world.

Y’all come back now for more Sudan blogs/vlogs.

♥ Jen

(?)