Jump for Joy! Photo Project
Showcasing the beauty of the human spirit - in mid air - around the world
Jump for Joy! Photo Project
Showcasing the beauty of the human spirit - in mid air - around the world
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“Look out on life with amazement, not shock. The variety, the diversity, the manner of every person, the beauty amidst the drudgery, the contrasts, the opportunities, the heroism in the lives of ordinary people, your gifts, your talents, your friends – even just one friend – is all awesome. Live in awe, and entertain wonder, and you will be knocking on the door of true love. Don’t kill it with cynicism or criticism, don’t sabotage your life with moaning and complaining. Open the eyes in your head and the eye in your intellect and choose to see the stunning, awesome, diverse beauty of life happening around you right now. Meet it with your heart and you will enrich and be enriched in one single moment.” – Unknown
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Hello everyone.. Hope you are all well and happy :)
If you are already following me on other social media channels you may already have heard that last week, that to my surprise - the Jump for Joy Photo Mural was removed on April 30, 2015.
Luckily, I happened to pass by that morning as it was being removed. It was an emotional experience watching it disappear, I wish I'd had warning to let everyone in the mural know it would be gone.
None the less... every ending is a new beginning ... a couple of days later, I was already out scouting locations for a new Jump for joy Mural in the DTES :) AND I found the perfect wall! Its bigger and an amazing location.
I tracked down the building owners, they love the idea and I'm meeting with them in a couple of weeks to see how we can make it happen. Not to mention, how honoured I am if I do get to work with this wonderful group of people :)
I will keep you posted as things progress and once its confirmed with make a public announcement and start the fund raising process. Stay tuned!
I will need a LOT of new jump for joy photos for the new Jump for Joy mural. Im on the look out for interesting, creative, passionate, inspiring people around Vancouver to showcase on the new wall. My preference is for people creating positive, uplifting change in the world, and inspiring and supporting others to succeed. If you are inspired by someone and would love to see them celebrated please let me know :)
Speaking of inspirational people... on to this weeks fabulous featured jumper :)
ALPHA KIRABIRA! 
ALPHA KIRABIRA ...
Q: What inspires you to jump for joy?
A: The non-profit team I work with at Help Change My City Alliance. Changing lives of the marginalized youth that we meet with on a weekly basis in the community and when I see people helping those in need. When people call and say they want to be part of what we are doing. When a company calls and asks ‘how can we help your non-profit’ and truly get involved.
Q. Your experience doing jumping photos?
A: It was a good and fun time. It is something that needs to be done. It is important to celebrate wins in life in different ways and jumping for joy is one that is sometimes overlooked.
Q: What inspires you in life?
A: My mother in Uganda. She is known as the mother of 10,000. In the last 35 years she's worked with non-profits who work with orphans. She started orphanages, helped me start schools, babies homes, and community children projects and is always looking for more ways to help children in need.
Q: Your greatest passion?
A: Stories of people who come from nothing and difficult times, building their lives, becoming successful and remembering to give to those in need. People who have lived fortunate lives yet still know the importance of giving to community.
People who have enough love to lay down their life for their loved ones, friends and community because there is no grater love than that.
Help Change My City Alliance. It's the platform we've built with the mandate of giving opportunities to marginalized youth in our city. The personal development and advancement of the lives of at risk, homeless, out of foster care youth and teen parents. The youth that need our help and the answer to helping youth is in their development and continuous support.
Q: Your driving force?
A: I have been given much. I have to give much. Giving to me changed my life therefore my giving can change a life.
Q: Philosophy?
A: Live a legacy life now to leave a legacy.
Q: Anything in the world?
A: I would open up centres where youth know they can drop in to take personal development and advancement courses, skill training and continuous support. The marginalized youth in our cities need it desperately and they are hungry for it.
Q: Working on?
A: We are working on it through Help Change My City Alliance. We have started a Day Drop In Program for homeless youth where the environment and community is intentionally designed with mentorship, personal development, personal growth, leadership and skills training at its core. We are dedicated to breaking down the negative reputation and stigma that surrounds youth and young people who have had a difficult and troubled past. We live to show them that they are valuable, loved, cared for, part of community and have great potential to positively impact their future and the community they live in. We have been mentoring lives for the past 7 years. I am excited about inviting people to come and give with us, through giving skills, talents and abilities.
We are working on a fundraiser for Help Change My City Alliance. The event is called the Little Black Dress Gala. It is going to be great. It involves fashion, awards, information about our work, beautiful hearted people giving to youth in Vancouver.
We are selling tickets on our website and Eventbrite.
Mini Bio:
I was born in Uganda. My life changed when an organization from Canada came and helped my then single mom with two kids. My mom still works for them today. She started orphanages for the organization. I was sponsored out of one of the orphanages to go to school in Vancouver, BC. At the age of 17 I went back to Uganda and started my own schools with the help of my mother and family. Today the schools have helped over 7500 kids get an education. I started a baby’s home two years ago in Uganda to help mothers who struggle with raising their babies. Instead of abandoning them, they can are bring them to us for nurturing, love and care.
I believe it is important to give back overseas but also important to givein our own back yard in Canada. I believe that we are to be about living and giving, giving and living.
CONNECT WITH ALPHA:
FB: Help Change My City
FB: Little Black Dress Gala Facebook
WEB: Help Change My City Alliance
Photos of Alpha were taken in one of the fasted jump for joy shoots yet in Yaletown - Vancouver, BC Canada.
JOY! WHAT MAKES YOU JUMP FOR JOY?
It is such a pleasure hearing from you! Please, stop by and post your own jumping photo on facebook, say hello on twitter, or check me out on Instagram :)
Have a great week, with lots of fun and filled with joy!
Much love, Eyoälha
Jumping selfie by Eyoälha. |
