Grab a cup of something. This is a long one. I need your help. We have a chance to do something great. To connect. To experience beauty. To serve. And my friends have donated some gorgeous things to give away in support of unlocking this dream.

In exactly one month, on Saturday April 3rd, I have the opportunity to travel for two weeks in Uganda to do the work I most want and love to do: photograph and gather stories of women bravely walking through doorways toward greater freedom in their lives. This is the continuation of my ongoing (dream) project, the Doorways Project, that began with the trip I took to India last fall with SalaamGarage. And, as my theme word for this year is CLEAR, I felt it was high time that the definition of this project be stated, clearly, here.

The Doorways Project combines my passions for travel, beauty, and connection in a mission to capture images and share stories of women from around the world who recognized and then walked through doorways toward greater freedom in their lives.The doorways I speak of involve subtle or significant life decisions
that defy logic, reason, and traditional choices; and that lead to greater
peace, happiness, connection, and, ultimately, freedom from suffering.

It is my hope that the images and stories shared through this project will inspire women who may not yet feel they have found their doorway (or who may have been too afraid to pass through) to begin to look for their own unique passages to freedom from the suffering they experience. Further, it is my vision that the Doorways Project will create new doorways through the featuring and promotion of compassionate international humanitarian organizations and the populations they serve; namely, those women who may not have the strength or resources to open the door for themselves.

The Doorways Project is my way of paying it forward. Of offering myself and my ability to capture images of the things I see. Of finding my own doorways to freedom in the connection and convergence of my story with the stories of women around the world. And of finding that we are truly all the same.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to make the next stop of the Doorways Project in Uganda, where I will follow, photograph and listen to the stories of the individuals and communities supported by the work of the Community Action Fund for Women in Africa (CAFWA). CAFWA's executive director, Linda Cole, is a friend that I have admired for quite some time. She and her husband, Tom (the director of Save the Children in Uganda) are the kind of people that make me want to be better. Simply put, Linda lives passionately through her work with CAFWA, which, to date, has opened doors for over 7,000 women through the various partner programs that CAFWA invests in. These include things like microfinance, skills training, income generation, adult education,
gender-based violence prevention and victim support, health services,
human rights awareness, peace building and conflict management; all focused on improving the lives of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict affected areas. I look forward to following Linda as she oversees these various programs, as well as creating photoessays featuring "a day in the life" with one or two of the women whose lives have been changed since participating in CAFWA's programs.

The photographs and stories I collect in Uganda will be given freely to CAFWA for use toward their promotion, awareness, and fundraising efforts. I will also co-create a
fundraising event upon my return, where we will feature the photographs captured and, as
always, I will donate proceeds from the sale of any print materials
created with the images of women and children served by CAFWA's programs.

And here is the part where I ask for your help.

I need to raise $2000 to cover my travel expenses and to make this trip a reality. I am asking for donations of any amount toward making this happen. I sincerely believe that the images and stories that your donations will enable me to capture and share will give back with interest to the women served by CAFWA.

So, what do you say? Will you help me live my dream?

It's easy. There's a button at the bottom of this post.

As a way to thank you for your contributions, I am offering anyone who donates the chance to participate in a fantastic giveaway. My friends have generously donated their beautiful creations to be given away in support of my dream to do this work. I am so grateful for their talent and their generosity. 

We are giving away:

From Leonie Wise, poet, photographer, and a woman with a brave open heart: 

8×8 print of the original polaroid "Cupcakes of Happiness" 

8×8 print of the original polaroid, "The Path"

From Stacy de La Rosa, BellaWish jewelry designer, writer, photographer, and gorgeous being:

BellaWish original necklace: hand stamped sterling silver teardrop pendant with
brass oxidized skeleton key and two healing gemstones.The moonstone
supports feminine energy and manifesting desires, and facilitates spiritual
growth. The garnet represents passion and success.

And, lastly,  from ME:

an 8×10 original Doorways Project fine art gicleé print of the image of your choice captured on my journey to Uganda.

{UPDATE 3/12} MORE GIVEAWAY ITEMS!

from Leslie Lindell , aka lesophie, photographer extraordinarre:

From Cory Sipper, singer-songwriter, mama, and yoga teacher:

{UPDATE 3/17} EVEN MORE GIVEAWAY ITEMS!

The giveaway is open to all donors.

All you need to do is:

*Donate any amount below, or in the sidebar, toward my journey to Uganda by clicking on the "ChipIn" button.

*Then leave a comment in the comment section of this post.

That's ALL!

*Winners will be chosen at random. One giveaway item per winner. Six Twelve Fourteen chances to win!

*Comments close at 9pm PST on March 19, 2010.

*Winners will be announced Saturday, March 20, 2010.

I thank you, sincerely and truly, for anything you can offer toward supporting this project, unlocking dreams, and opening doors…