That was one BADASS fundraiser

This past thursday gave host to a very successful BADASS fundraiser. Both of our Lethbridge based Global Youth Network (GYN) teams came together to put on a night of game playing, two-steppin', pizza eating, alcohol encouraged all around FUN at a newly renovated country bar here in Lethbridge.
Tickets were sold out, everyone was dancing and having a good time, prizes were won and all hearts were content in the knowledge of helping out a good cause. Good job Lethbridge!! Thank you to EVERYONE who came out in support :)

John and Devon having some fun on the dance floor

The team doing a great job at selling pizza 

Some lovely ladies who came out to the event 

Some line dancing on the d' floor 

On a side note... A friend of mine was telling me about a project his dad was involved in where  you buy a master card and have a certain percentage of your expenditures go toward random not-for-profit organizations. I don't know the exact details but I do plan to look in to this further and I encourage you all to do the same.

As for going to Brazil, we have another two and a half months to prepare, which seems like a long time but it's been creeping up so fast with school and everything else on the go.

Apparently our post in Brazil can be physically straining with all of the soccer and moving around we will be doing. Those of you who know me will know that I greet this with excitement as I love being active and taking on a challenge. We have entered an intramural soccer team for Tuesday nights which has proven to be a challenge getting participants to play so late at night but everyone has been having a great time and putting in some real effort, and who knows.. We might just win a game one of these days :)
We are now in the process of planning a silent auction, I will keep you posted on the time and location of this.. But for now I must go try to find some really sweet auction items (if you have any or any ideas let me know!)    Until next time...

Annessa Nina

Online Donations

So for my trip I am asking for donations, be it $2 or whatever you can spare. This is the process to online donations. Please follow my blog regardless of your donations. Thank you :)

If you do not wish to donate online you may write a check to Global Youth Network.. But do not put my name anywhere on the check!

1. Go to the website: www.myglobalyouthnetwork.o

rg

2. Go to the donate now tab at the top right of the page

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on  donate now 

4. Insert the amount you wish to donate. If you donate $15.00 or more you may get a tax receipt

- Select the calgary Brazil team

-Put Annessa Morrison in the message/instruction box

- Select the in honor/on behalf button

- Make sure you provide your information so the donation can be processed

-Now SMILE because you helped out a great cause :D

Cheers,

Annessa Nina

First steps

As you are about to find out, I Annessa Morrison will be volunteering in Brazil for the month of May. I have been accepted through Global Youth Network, a grass-roots student oriented volunteer program, to expand my mind and try to work on some social injustices.

Global Youth Network (GYN) is a volunteer program whose main focus is social justice throughout the world. It is a grass-roots program which basically means we all go meet contacts in the places we travel and do whatever work we thinks needs to be done, or the community needs us to do for them.

In Brazil our team will be travelling to Fracisco Morato and Sao Paulo. In Francisco Morato we will most likely be helping out with after school soccer programs for kids who can only go to school for a couple hours a day and in Sao Paulo we will be dealing with drug addicts of all ages, bringing them hot chocolate etc. I'm not exactly sure what to expect as every trip is different as things change and different needs are registered.

One thing I can guarantee is that this will be a great and emotional learning experience that I can share with you, via this blog, and hold in my heart for the rest of my life.

As with many volunteer trips this journey begins with fundraising. Our fees total up to $3800.00 without travelling gear (Wow!). We are really pushed to fundraise as much as we can. I suppose it will be more meaningful to work our butts off and to be rewarded with the knowledge of our hard work rather than just being handed a trip that we could take for granted.

Throughout this whole process I look forward to keeping a weekly blog and taking YOU along on my journey :)   Cheers

-Annessa Nina