A New Model for Humanitarian Aid
September 1 Breaking News: You made it possible for us to reach a major milestone in establishing Project LIGHT - we are returning to Rwanda in October and we need your help more than ever. 33k more by October 31 funds all of Phase I. Click here for our 9.1.10 video update. Watch videos about our vision and work below.
Stay tuned for more miracle announcements... 
Special Donation offer: Anyone donating $50 or more in the next 7 days will receive the downloadable version of The Grace Process Guidebook and Meditation CD. Click here to view description.
Thank you to our new friends in Denver especially Kathy Gann, Theosophical Society and Owen McAleer, Institute of Noetic Sciences.
Project LIGHT: Rwanda will establish the world's first International Youth Healing Center.
“Project LIGHT gives birth to a much-needed model of humanitarian aid that addresses basic survival needs, emotional healing, and economic self-sustainability. By developing heart-centered healing and leadership programs for traumatized youth, students, and humanitarians, we seek to shine LIGHT on one of the greatest human gifts that can unite us all—the power and resilience of the human spirit.”
- Dr. Lori Leyden, Founder of Create Global Healing and Project LIGHT
A collaborative training program and grassroots-driven resource center run by young adults for young adults.
Imagine an international youth healing center where young people receive emotional healing and training, real opportunities for economic independence and the freedom to become heart-centered, leaders. With advanced technology to have real-time interactions between these young people, students, donors and our visionary Resource Partners in the fields of education, healing arts, business and entrepreneurship. With a business incubator to develop products and services that will make the Center self-sustainable. Now imagine Centers like this – all over the world – in Congo, Sudan, the Middle East, India, China, Russia, and right here in our own backyards, where our young people are given the opportunity to create global connections and collaborations that lead us into a peaceful future.
Our Mission
Project LIGHT is holistic, sustainable, doable — and our exit strategy gives full ownership to our grassroots partners.
We are committed to creating a new model for humanitarian aid that provides a “handup” approach of lasting change through emotional healing, social responsibility and economic sustainability based on Heart-Centered Leadership™ principles:
- Cultural respect
- Resource sharing
- Social and environmental responsibility
- Character development
- Teamwork
- Creative problem solving
- Community involvement
- Compassionate communication
- Forgiveness and reconciliation
Why Us?
Over the last 3 years, with a relatively small amount of money and a small group of volunteers, we have trained over 400 orphan and other genocide survivors in Rwanda. Our orphaned young people have trained hundreds of others, experienced 90% reduction in trauma outbreaks in one year, as much as 20 to 26% relief in just a few days, and much more. Visit CreateGlobalHealing.org for our history and all-volunteer track record.
Why Rwanda?
The Rwandan government is working diligently on societal and economic recovery and our Rwandan partners are committed to healing themselves and their country - an ideal mindset for Project LIGHT.
Our orphan genocide survivors, aged 16 to 25, live with physical and emotional scars of gruesome memories, mutilation, disease, poverty and little hope for the future. Yet the courage, resilience and willingness to forgive that these young people show us inspires our vision for how world healing can take place.
"You have made a difference in our hearts and in our lives. Now we have hope and we know this is not our burden alone to carry. Forgiveness is so hard but we are willing now because we know we need each other. There are many of us who need your help. Please don’t forget us and please come back." - Celestin, Student Leader representing orphan genocide survivors
Co-creating the Dream - Our Fundraising Goals
Phase I - $33,000 by October 31, 2010 will fund our:
- September trauma healing programs in Rwanda
- Qualifications and ability to apply for grants and foundation money
- Comprehensive curriculum, documentation, technology and sustainability design
Phase II - $339,050
- Implementation – Center is operational and training begins!
Get Involved! Here’s how you can help...
1. Donate – 100% of your dollars directly support Project LIGHT.
2. Suggest a resource – Do you know of an angel funder, philanthropist or foundation who might share our vision?
3. Spread the word – Forward by email, Facebook, Twitter - Sample message: New humanitarian aid model – support first International Youth Healing Center. Check it out www.ProjectLIGHTRwanda.com
4. Volunteer or Host a fundraising party – contact us to learn how.
There Will Be a LIGHT
Take a moment to breathe in this beautiful song by Mr. Ben Harper, which we have nominated as the official Project LIGHT: Rwanda theme song. There WILL be a LIGHT!
For more information and full business plan please contact:
Lori Leyden, PhD, MBA
(805) 898-2050
Some of our International Resource Partners and Advisors:
