Janell Hofmann's blog

Going Back

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 16:54

Going Back -

I have been back and forth, up and down, inside and out, about taking a second trip to Kolkata, India with Made By Survivors (MBS) this upcoming January.  When I left Kolkata in February 2010, I vowed to come back every year.  It seemed like a possible and practical goal.  After all, I had done it once, I could do it again – with ease – from here on out.

Brendan's Bracelets

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 20:13

 Earlier this year, my eight year old son Brendan and I were discussing “The India Girls” (the term we use for survivors in our house). He had been wearing his MadeBySurvivor's bracelet that read “Freedom” to school and mentioned that some other kids had shown interest in it. I thought about ways we could bring the bracelets to his peers, hoping that both the style and the cause would catch on. I offered Brendan a micro loan to purchase a batch of bracelets up front at wholesale cost.

Janell's Top 10 for TEN

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 20:29

Well, for the past month or two, I have been contacting a laundry list of bloggers to help promote our fabulous MadeBySurvivors product line for the holiday season.

Holiday, Hope, Home

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 20:58

 The house was roaring all weekend - basketball games, messy school projects, my baby's 3rd birthday party, an emptied and organized attic. I was all over the internet on a quest to search for holiday gift ideas the grandparents have been begging for. My mind was racing on where to begin my “to do” list. I matched my calendar with Adam's for the next three weeks, so we don't miss an orthodontist appointment, a turkey trot, a “Holidays Around the World” celebration.

One

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Thu, 10/07/2010 - 13:53

For a month or so now, I have been teaching a local “Girls' Group” course on leadership, service, teamwork and healthy attitudes to middle school girls on Cape Cod. Every week as I prepare my curriculum, purchase supplies, review and research touch points, my mind (well, my heart, really) wanders to thinking about the girls I met in India. Surprised?  Well, to me, this seems only natural since majority of them are the very same age and I find working with this age group - regardless of location on the planet - catapults me directly into my “element”.

Love and Freedom

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Mon, 08/16/2010 - 14:09

About one month ago, I crept downstairs from my bed around 1:00am.  I was tossing and turning, consumed by an on-going discussion that my husband Adam and I had been having.  The Freedom Festival 2010 was on our minds.  We are founders and co-chairs of this event that benefits The Emancipation Network.  And almost every e-mail and text we sent each other, almost every after dinner clean-up conversation, and almost every late night chat involved the Freedom Festival.  As the weeks crept closer to our mid-August event date, we were ironing out and coordinati

Freedom Festival 2010

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 14:55

So I'll gladly take this opportunity as a chance to proudly promote a very special upcoming event.  Saturday, August 14th will be the 2nd annual Freedom Festival to benefit The Emancipation Network.  If you are anywhere in the area stop by Heritage Museums and Gardens, at 62 Grove Street in Sandwich, Massachusetts.  We have a full lineup of artists planned to start at 3:00 and end at 10:30.  Tickets are $25 and children under fourteen are free!  All proceeds will go to TEN in an effort to reach more survivors, more women and children at risk of trafficking, and assi

Inspiration

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 20:50

 After a laptop crash, repair and ultimately a replacement, I'm back in action as a regular blogger for TEN. Please forgive my absence. And know for certain that the “India girls” (as my children call them), the cause, the inspiration were always on my mind, even when I couldn't get the words to you. It's good to be back.

The World is Yours To Change

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 19:12

This week I was invited to speak at a local private school about modern day slavery. They have been studying Indian philosophy and religion in their Humanities program for seventh graders. The teacher, so very wise and open minded, thought that I should do a presentation on my trip, discussing the social issues I had encountered while volunteering with The Emancipation Network. Considering India and Africa host most of the world's 27 million slaves, I thought this to be a wonderful opportunity.

A Letter to My Daughter

Submitted by Janell Hofmann on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 08:07

I often write letters to my children, not so much for them to read now, but as a living memory of their childhood.  Last week I felt a sudden and intense urge to write to my growing daughter, Ella.  I really wanted to share it here, because while I did write it specifically for her, I think the message is universal.

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