“Talk story” is a Hawaiian expression that means to “chat informally.” Talk story isn’t just in passing, but is the kind of long, meandering, meaningful conversation that can last for hours. It is about sharing personal experiences and perspectives, creating a relaxed space for building community, trust, relationships, and connection.
This issue of Something Good in the World’s E-Newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Jane Goodall, whose organization, The Jane Goodall Institute, has supported our work since 2016. But it’s more thanthat. Jane Goodall herself helped Something Good in the World to put the Children’s Peaceful Garden on the international map, and encouraged our students to spread the word of our Roots & Shoots project.
At Something Good in the World, we are resilient. As many of our partner organizations are seeing their funding cut back, and losing their staff members, as well as their students, we are holding steadfast in the knowledge that we cannot give up. This is a time to work even harder to support our community.In the 23 years of our existence, we have never given in, though often under scrutiny by some who didn’t understand the need to give access to nature-based education to all children equally.
On October 29, 2024, Something Good in the World was honored to receive a Loving Arms Award from Abbott House for our work with their refugee youth in the TRC (Transitional Resources for Children) program. The award recognized SGITW’s Director, Barbara Sarbin, as a “Friend of Abbott House,” but with a slight change to the name of the award when it was presented live! As it was crafted by Doris Laurenceau, Senior Director of the TRC program, in her beautiful, off-the-cuff presentation speech, SGITW’s Director was given a “Super Hero Award.”
Something Good in the World has always stood for Peace: engaging children in creative and imaginative play in the Children’s Peaceful Garden; guiding with sustainability and ethics in our approach to environmental education; encouraging humane treatment of all living things; modeling humanity for children in interpersonal relationships and communication; and teaching the interrelatedness of nature’s living systems.
Something Good in the World has always stood for Peace: engaging children in creative and imaginative play in the Children’s Peaceful Garden; guiding with sustainability and ethics in our approach to environmental education; encouraging humane treatment of all living things; modeling humanity for children in interpersonal relationships and communication; and teaching the interrelatedness of nature’s living systems.
From seed to sprout, the power of seeds hold all the potential for what will grow out of them. At Something Good in the World we are experiencing firsthand how something so tiny can become something so powerful. Our motto has always been: “Small steps towards a big difference,” but this concept goes far beyond words…
Every time that Something Good in the World engages in outdoor educational programs with children and families, it feels like nothing short of a miracle. So much goes into making these free programs possible: the foundationsthat fund the work, the educators who prepare the workshops, the schools andshelters who help organize the trips, the people who transport the students,the farmers who host and guide us. None of what we do would be possiblewithout the people who support the programs because they understand theimpact that nature has on the well being of children of all ages.
In June 2022, Something Good in the World is celebrating 20 years as a non-profit, charitable, children’s educational organization, under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code! And we want to celebrate with you! If you are on our email list or follow us on Facebook, you already know that we have taken up a daily challenge to post videos and photos of the past 20 years of success stories, which happened because of your participation! Whether you were a student, a parent, a teacher, or a supporter of our programs, we want to hear from you with your stories, photos, videos, and memories.
This fall, Something Good in the World really accomplished something amazing…We shipped our Envira Pod mobile educational trailer and Earth School materials to Hawai’i thanks to a generous grant and the tireless fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Volcano School of Arts & Sciences! Now our programs can continue to flourish in both Hawai’i and New York!