Asian Pages
Stone Soup for the World
Life-Changing Stories of Kindness & Courageous Acts of Service
October 15-31, 1999
"My father used to say that one person could make a difference and
each of us should try. This book tells the stories of people who have
made the difference, and they are an inspiration to us all."
-Caroline Kennedy
Stone Soup for the World: Life Changing Stories of
Kindness and Courageous Acts of Service, is a powerful collection of 100
true stories celebrating ordinary people doing unforgettable deeds that
tap our imaginations, and rekindle the spirit of giving. All of the
stories recount heroic humanitarian acts and lead us on an inspiring
journey to discover what is working in the world.
With a opening message by. General Colin Powell, Stone Soup for the
World features stories from organizations such as: Christmas in April,
Food from the 'Hood, City Year, Teach for America, KaBoom!, Urban
Appalachian Council, INROADS, Foster Grandparents, and MADDADS. The book
is edited by Marianne Larned and has a foreword by Jack Canfield.
Like the children's folktale "Stone Soup," all of these stories remind
us that, with a little imagination and cooperation; we can make the world
a better place and recreate a compassionate basis for human interaction.
Stone Soup for the World includes inspirational stories by: Nelson Mandela,
Reverend Cecil Williams, Ram Dass, Steven Spielberg, Frances Moore Lappe
and Former President Jimmy Carter.
One of the stories, Awakening, is about Dr. Patrick Mendis, who lived in
Minnesota for many years. The story describes Mendis' experience of
growing up in a tiny Sri Lankan village and his participation in a
shramadama work camp. These camps were organized by A.T. Ariyaratne
who created a powerful volunteer service and grassroots human development
organization to benefit the small villages of Sri Lanka. Ari called his
crusade Sarvodaya, a term Gandhi used for "awakening of all." Mendis is a
professor of Public Policy & International Relations for the University
of Maryland-Asia and is teaching in Japan at the present time.
A handbook for humanitarians, Stone Soup for the World
[ISBN: 1-57324-118-0] is a warm celebration of the service of hundreds
of thousands of people and a springboard for thousands more looking for
hope and direction.
|
