Amarok Society: Start with Mothers

Road to October 21st #1
What If the Answer Has Been Mothers All Along?
If you live in Winnipeg, we'd love to invite you to something extraordinary.
On Wednesday, October 21, you'll travel with us into some of the poorest slums in Bangladesh, India and Uganda—not through statistics, but through the lives of remarkable women.
Women who were once told:
"You'll never learn to read."
"Your life will never change."
Today, they're educating neighbourhood children, ending child marriage, reducing violence in their communities, and creating opportunities their own children never dreamed possible.
It's one of the most hopeful stories we've ever had the privilege of witnessing.
Join us for an evening of powerful stories, unforgettable videos, live music and conversation as we explore one simple question:
What happens when a mother who has never had the chance to learn is finally given that opportunity?
You'll leave inspired, challenged and perhaps seeing poverty—and its solutions—in a completely different way.
📍 West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg
🗓 Wednesday, October 21
🎟 Free admission. Donations welcome.
We'd love to welcome you.
Road to October 21
Join us as we count down to an unforgettable evening celebrating the extraordinary power of mothers to change the world—one child, one family and one community at a time

The weather is heating up in South Asia - just as most countries there are imposing restrictions in energy consumption in response to the Iran-US/Israeli conflict. Some analysts state that Bangladesh is the worst-affected country in Asia as they import 95% of their energy.
When energy costs increase, food prices increase too - affecting the poorest more than anybody else.
Why?
Because many of them already spend more than 80% of their income on food. When prices increase, all they can do to respond is skip more meals.
Despite extreme austerity orders to reduce hours, we think we can keep our no-energy use schools and children's micro-schools running.
In times of extreme stress and crisis, it's important to keep schools open, giving a place for mothers and children to keep coming together, focusing on the future, and finding support in one another.

Bangladesh relies heavily on fuel imports and is now facing an energy crisis. Austerity measures have been ordered with restricted hours for schools and businesses.

We may be able to continue operations under the radar as our electricity use is nil.

However - there is serious concern about rapidly increasing prices for the basics amid this hyper inflationary time.

The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Driving a Wave of Global Energy Rationing Countries are rationing fuel, cutting flights, and paying families cash just to keep moving

It was great to see Michael Maloney at the Belleville Rotary Club multi-service club event last week. 19 years ago Michael invited us to work with Rotary. Since then we've partnered with over a hundred Rotary Clubs around the world to teach mothers to teach neighbourhood children.

Start with Mothers is opening schools where child illiteracy rates are the highest: Africa.

In the slums of Kampala, Uganda, we’re opening 4 new schools for mothers. These mothers are so excited to finally get the opportunity to learn to read and write! Soon, they’ll also be teaching - and bringing education to the children of their community.

Meet Eve. She’s one of our first teachers. Growing up and living in this slum herself, she knows everyone and organized over a hundred mothers who came to hear about this opportunity.

An African proverb captures the spirit of Amarok’s mission in Uganda: “The highest prison walls in the universe are not made of brick or stone but of ignorance.”

Get involved with Start with Mothers!