Dear friends,
please see further down the announcement of the ONE project that is being developed by Chellie Kew. See www.qfund4aids.org.
Most fondly!
Evelin

ONE: One People ? One Voice ? One Humanity ? One World

“An ancient African theologian, St. Augustine of Hippo, famously defined the essential moral and spiritual problem of all time as our tendency to let our interests curve in upon ourselves. The morbid pursuit of personal advantage is killing us -- on the individual, corporate, and national levels. The ONE summit, however, presents a refreshing and humanizing alternative. Bringing together dedicated young people from around the world to establish genuine international community is nothing less than laying the foundation for a just and humane world order. This is about hope and a new future. It is simply right.”
- William W. Rankin, Ph.D., M.P.P. President, Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance

THE CHALLENGE
Nowhere on earth are living conditions more dire than in AIDS-plagued Africa. For the past four years, the work of The 'Q' Fund has brought to the world an awareness of the plight of the African people. My time there allowed me to witness first-hand a virus without bias. Indiscriminately it afflicts young and old, wealthy and impoverished. My eyes were opened to the devastation caused by a disease that threatens the very existence not only of an entire continent but of mankind itself. Yet despite that stark reality, somehow the extraordinary orphans of Africa have transcended their most basic survival needs to assume responsibility as the new “elders” of their communities, often caring for a multitude of younger siblings. With courage and grace these children confront overwhelming loss and suffering. It touched my heart and awakens a sense of the true meaning of humanity. I no longer view Africa as a continent ravaged by disease, but rather as one which offers tremendous hope for a future. In Africa lies the cradle of mankind, whose seeds are sown into the fabric of each and every one of us, and through the eyes of orphans the message is clear: now is the time for every human to rise to the height of his or her humanity, and see one another – irrespective of race, creed, color, sex, or nationality – as members of one global community.

THE MISSION
Education
Over the next 5 years, The 'Q' Fund will embark on a mission designed to foster a new world vision by selecting senior high school men and women from around the world who will effect social change both in their local communities as well as on a global scale. The challenge to these young leaders will be to learn to collaborate with people from a variety of ethno-cultural, political, religious and social backgrounds. To facilitate this process, beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2010, The 'Q' Fund will sponsor an annual trek to the summit of Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro for 20 pre-selected participants. These young adults will be challenged to look beyond obvious differences in background, appearance, traditions, and language, and foster a sense of trust, reliance upon, and respect for those with whom they mark their symbolic journey to the heights of their inner humanity.

Logistics
In early 2005, with the backing of The National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS) we will begin to accept applications from students currently enrolled in private high schools around the globe. Our inaugural summit will begin with 20 females, alternating with a group of young women one year and young men the next. Participants will be selected based on an essay which details what the applicant believes he/she will bring to the experience, what he/she will gain from the experience, and how he/she will use a new global view to foster their “widened aperture” within his/her local community. Each participant will be required to submit detailed plans for raising the funds ($10,000) necessary to make this journey, with a 25% cap on funds donated by family members. After the initial 2005 summit, all participants who have completed the journey will serve as mentors for those selected to embark on future climbs.

The 5th anniversary trek will be marked by a co-ed climb comprised of leaders from each of the previous summits who have been chosen by their fellow climbers. Summiteers will be asked to select the person who has demonstrated exemplary results in effecting a change in view for their family, community and world. The 20th climber that year will be given to a person from Tanzania whose participation will honor the use of their sacred mountain, but also to recognize and thank the Tanzanian’s Maassi who will perform a nightly ritual on each trek to educate the participants about the importance of land, water, air, cattle and mankind.

The Long-Range Vision
Beginning in 2006, we will sponsor an annual international conference for those who have participated in the Kilimanjaro climb. Our summit will be hosted by those countries who express a deep commitment to fostering the development of a global vision. The week-long meeting will provide a forum for team building exercises, and will also enable these young leaders to have face-to-face planning and strategy sessions with members of the international community who have demonstrated exceptional vision and implementation in their humanitarian efforts. The goal will be for each individual participant to begin to expand his or her vision of “One people, One voice, One humanity, one world” to the international community. By sharing what each has achieved on a local level, these young leaders will engage in brainstorming sessions to forge well-defined collaborative efforts that continue to “widen the aperture” around the world.

The Need
For a detailed proposal regarding our requirements and how you or your organization can assist, please contact us . The first annual international conference gathering will be hosted by Oldfields School in Glencoe, Md. Summer 2006.