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Ameena Project volunteers are good people. They give faithfully and generously to a community on another continent that they will most likely never visit, to improve the lives of children and families they may never meet.
As we close out this hard year, we're sharing two of their stories to fill your hearts with hope as we look ahead to a brighter 2021.
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"Each vase takes 8-10 hours to make," says Earl. "The finishing time has actually extending a bit as I discover new ways to address imperfections and improve the finish."
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MEET EARL
Earl Stutzman of Albany, Oregon is a self-taught master woodworker. In the 1970s, he built custom homes and has since created incredible pieces of heirloom furniture for his extended family and friends.
A retired facilities manager from HP, Earl shows his support by requesting a donation to Ameena Project in place of payment for his beautiful and intricate wooden vases. And if that wasn’t cool enough, his vases are crafted out of reclaimed wood that was on its way to the trash heap. (He’s also Tia’s dad!).
Q: Tell us about your one-of-a-kind wooden vases.
A: Each vase is made up of about 156 pieces. The process for building the segmented vase is to cut the wood into small wedge-shaped pieces, glue the segments (typically 12) into rings, glue and stake rings together, and use a turning lathe and tools to create the desired shape. I apply the dye, sand it lightly to accentuate the grain, apply 10 coats of lacquer, and coat the inside of the vase with Flex Seal so that it can be used as a functional vase.
Q: There is a neat backstory to the materials the vases are made of. Tell us about that.
A: This project is two years in the making. When I first started out, I went on YouTube and looked at turning lathe videos. I saw a guy make oversized decorative vases for business entryways, using segmented rings, and I started thinking about how I could do that on a small scale.
I had been buying exotic woods for my vase concept, but they didn’t hold my interest. At the time, my brother Marvin was working at the Mennonite Village, a retirement community in Albany, and one of his projects was to refurbish duplexes. In the process, he and his team would tear out window casings made of Douglas Fir.
Marv knows I like to reuse wood in my shop so he would hand off the pieces of fir, which one wouldn’t typically think to use for a handcrafted project like this because it’s a soft, basic grain. But I was sitting in my shop one day and took a closer look at the grain of the fir and realized the simplicity of it would allow me to derive interesting patterns.
I made four vases for the Mennonite Village to put on display in their entryways as a thank you for the wood supply. Since then, I’ve received seven orders, mostly from employees and residents who have seen the vases and asked where they can get one. Marv has been the marketing manager for me ever since!
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Q: What inspired you to request a donation to Ameena Project in lieu of payment?
A: Being a parent and grandparent, I want opportunities for my kids and grandkids, and we take it for granted that we can do that here (in the United States). But I recognize that in many communities around the world, it is a big deal to have an educational opportunity. I want to support that.
Q: How does doing that make you feel?
A: I like knowing that the customers are enjoying a one-of-a-kind piece I’ve created. I made something beautiful out of dumpster wood! Plus, they are receptive to the idea that they are making a charitable donation. I like that I am able to raise some awareness for Ameena Project.
If you are interested in ordering a one-of-a-kind vase from Earl, let us know and we will put you in touch!
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Natalie Prins (left) suggests donations to Ameena Project for photoshoots like this recent one for a family friend's senior portraits.
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MEET NATALIE
Natalie Prins and her husband Craig have been faithful donors and friends of Ameena Project since 2011. In the spring of 2012, Craig accompanied the Mays on the first formal visit to Ameena Centre in Kiang’ombe, and as the picture below reflects, he quickly captured the hearts of staff, kids, and the community with his eagerness to engage in all things Kenyan. This experience gave the Prins a deep understanding of the joys and needs of Kiang’ombe families. Since then, they have found various ways to fundraise for Ameena Project in their Salem, Oregon community.
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While Natalie has a law background, she is also a talented hobby photographer who has found a way to use her skills to benefit Ameena Project.
Q: What led you to decide to ask your photography subjects to donate to Ameena Project instead of collecting payment?
A: At one point I had hoped to turn my photography hobby into a source of income, but I was struggling with also wanting to do something that I felt would serve others in a more meaningful way. I didn’t see how taking pictures would allow me to make a difference in the way that I wanted to. Then I had a lightbulb moment and realized that I could donate a portion of the income from each session to Ameena Project. The idea was to develop a social business and promote to potential clients that part of their payment would benefit Ameena Project. Not long afterward I was able to meet New York Times-bestseller Bob Goff at an event, and I ran the idea past him. He said I could keep it really simple and just ask clients to donate directly to Ameena Project rather than filter it through my business. Ultimately I decided not to start a business and instead am happy to just give friends portrait sessions for free when they ask.
Q: How does doing this make you feel?
A: Taking portraits is fun and something I enjoy doing, but people often insist on paying me. Instead of accepting payment, I just send them the link to Ameena Project and ask them to make a donation. I get to do something I enjoy in my spare time, my friends get portraits, and Ameena Project gets a donation--it’s a win-win-win situation!
Q: What would you say to others who are considering donating their time and talent in a similar way?
A: I would say that many people already give their time and talent for free to friends and family, and frequently those on the receiving end are grateful and truly want to repay the favor. When they make an offer or ask what they can do, it’s common to respond with, “Oh, that’s OK. Don’t worry about it!” But it’s a short trip to say instead, “It’s truly not necessary, but if you really want to do something there is an organization that means a lot to me that could use some support!” Everyone so far has been happy with this suggestion as a way to give back.
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Ameena Centre school will reopen in January for the first time since the Kenyan government closed schools in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. These past many months, our staff have facilitated food supply distributions to Ameena Centre families and built a new school structure to meet social distancing requirements when students return. Please pray for Ameena Project staff and school families as they follow health guidelines and adjust to a new normal in 2021.
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