The Shanti Uganda Ambassadors are individuals who we believe represent our values as an organization and are leaders in their communities and in our global family. We are honoured to have the ongoing support of the following people as part of our Ambassador program. Not only do they share our story, but provide ongoing financial support, hold fundraisers and bring awareness to the importance of supporting Ugandan women into their own communities.
All of our ambassadors wear the Shanti Uganda jewellery, bags, malas and tshirts. Please check back soon for updates.
We are pleased to announce our 2010 Shanti Uganda Ambassadors…
DAVID NEWMAN & MIRA
Kirtan Troubadours
www.davidnewmanmusic.com
www.sacredcymbals.com
“It brings us great joy to be a part of the Shanti Uganda family. Their commitment to sharing the benefits of Yoga with communities in need is in alignment with our dharma of offering Kirtan, which brings people together in song, celebration, and prayer! We also feel deeply passionate about the importance of supporting women in natural, traditional ways of childbirth and are grateful for the Shanti Uganda projects, which empower women in this way.”
David Newman and Mira have devoted their lives to the upliftment of humanity through Love. They travel extensively singing Kirtan (devotional chanting) and sharing the spiritual, devotional, meditative and musical aspects of yoga. Their music embodies a devotional mysticism, distinctive musicality, and a deep respect for India’s ancient chant tradition. David’s sublime melodies and soothing voice combined with Mira’s ethereal vocals and rhythmic percussion create an atmosphere for healing, joy, and openness of heart.
GLORIA LATHAM
Founder of Semperviva Yoga and Director of Yoga Teacher Training
www.semperviva.com
“I am inspired by this organization as it honours the traditional wisdom of its communities and strives to improve health conditions and employment opportunities. I also appreciate getting to know the people involved and honouring their dedication to this great work.”
Gloria Latham is the founder of Semperviva Yoga, and Director of Semperviva Yoga Teacher Training College. She is known for her dynamic classes that inspire her students to both find their inner strength, and their inner peace. You can study with Gloria both in Vancouver, and on the island of Kythira, Greece.
Gloria has been inspired by the work of her fellow yoginis and friends, Gurmukh, Shiva Rea, and Seane Corn, to work through her yoga community to reach out and give back.
“As yogis, it is our responsibility to spread the peace that we have achieved through our yoga practice.”
Fundraisers at Semperviva Yoga have supported many local organizations and charities; including RainCity (RainCity Housing provides innovative, specialized housing and support services for people living with mental illness, addictions and other challenges), as well as international organizations such as War Child (dedicated to providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance to war-affected children around the world)
SALLY BROWN BASSETT, Ph.D.
President – Women Like Us Foundation
www.womenlikeusfoundation.org
“I was fortunate to have visited the women that Shanti Uganda supports in that country and to see the type of sustainable projects being offered. It is incredible! It proves that a few dedicated people can truly make a difference. My goal now is to truly support Shanti Uganda’s efforts with the Birthing Center long-term. There will be trips offered to Uganda to work at the Birthing Center through Women Like Us Foundation in the future. We are glad to be involved.”
Dr. Sally Brown Bassett is a social entrepreneur, world traveler, and yogi. She has traveled to over 130 countries and has held numerous positions from airline stewardess to C.E.O. Sally went from the galley to the boardroom in 30 years in the travel industry.
Sally is president and co-founder of a non-profit called Women Like Us Foundation, dedicated to empowering and inspiring women and girls to make a difference globally and locally. This foundation has evolved with Sally’s desire to make more of an impact with global sustainable projects.
In 2003 Sally founded an organization, Peace through Yoga, which supports trips mixed with yoga, humanitarian work, and adventure. Sally enjoys teaching yoga to children as she travels around the world.
NIKIAH SEEDS
Woman’s Spiritual Rites Activist and Mother
www.redmoonkeeper.com
www.MamaGoddessBirthShop.com
“As a woman and mother who has spent the last 10 years supporting Birth as a Rite of Passage for both myself and for other woman I know that there are some pretty simple basics that need to be in place for a woman to give birth with respect and dignity. Supporting Shanti Uganda with the birth program is an honor."
“The importance of working with Traditional Birth attendants in Uganda can not be underestimated, nor can the putting in place of basic needs such as sterile gloves, clean drinking water and support for the families waiting. Shanti Uganda is doing all of these things and more! My question is “What else can I do?”
Nikiah Seeds has been working with pregnant mothers for over a decade through teaching, doula work, and as the founder of Mama Goddess Birth Shop.
Nikiah’s newest venture is Red Moon Keeper, a website and Blog dedicated to inspiring and awakening women’s mysteries through Workshops, her Moon Blog, the creation of Sacred tools, medicine jewelry and ceremonies.
Nikiah is also a mother of two spirited and wonderful children who think that her work with Shanti Uganda is great-Partly because they are proud of their mama, but also because they have family through their dad there…
NARAI
Singer, Songwriter, Musician
www.myspace.com/naraimusic
“Shanti Uganda is a unique organization that addresses the need to build and strengthen communities in the wake of devastating conditions. It is an organization that shines a beacon of hope for survivors of war, poverty, and HIV/AIDS by providing programs that value and encourage physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. In a world where we face numerous challenges that may appear daunting and insurmountable, organizations such as Shanti Uganda, become increasingly necessary.
The world is in need of change. I believe that as an artist, I have a responsibility to share, to inform and inspire. I choose to support Shanti Uganda because I believe in empowering others to create and live a sustainable life with dignity.
I personally appreciate their Birth Education, Assistance and Training Program, which aims to lower infant mortality rates and combat the culture of medicalizing birth. Through this program, women are able to take back control of their bodies in a manner that honours traditional methods and knowledge about birthing a child into the world. I also appreciate the Income Generating and Scholarship Projects that encourage financial independence and education, which can liberate participants from the shackles of poverty.
To quote the famous words of Mahatma Gandhi, “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” As a person i want to make a positive difference in another persons life—which is why I feel passionate about contributing to this organization in whatever way I am able. I believe that by joining and supporting Shanti Uganda as an ambassador, I can help bring about much needed positive change."
It wasn’t until the age of 15 when NaRai (who was born in Seoul, Korea, and adopted at 9 months by Canadian parents), learned that her name was a Korean expression meaning “to sing”. By this time, she had long since been writing, recording, dancing and performing her own music. Her R&B group was already busy making a name around Vancouver for being hard-working, and was drawing attention from some major contributors on the production and choreography side. And they would subsequently garner serious interest from certain industry heavy hitters.
“Being in a group taught me a lot” says NaRai. Still, she was not being creatively fulfilled, and soon decided to branch out on her own. Part of defining her own sound was jumping head-first into production and composition. Her classical training in piano, combined with her natural affinity for music and a stint at Columbia Academy (for recording and engineering), made this a natural progression; so she began building her own songs from the ground up, very carefully creating the unique sound she has developed today. This sound can not be placed in a one-dimensional box; it contains Soul, Hip Hop, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, and anything else worth mentioning, thanks to her clear vision and the help of some talented local beatmakers.
BRENDA FEUERSTEIN
Director, Traditional Yoga Studies
www.traditionalyogastudies.com
Brenda Feuerstein started practicing Hatha-Yoga postures at the age of four, which primed her for her later profession as a personal fitness trainer and health consultant. At the age of six, she started learning to play the piano, and her keen interest in music enabled her to participate in piano competitions and also to teach piano in her early teens.
Over a period of twenty-three years, she operated a health business offering training and educational programs especially in remote communities in Canada. She conducted numerous workshops specializing in stress management, positive lifestyle, and motivation.
In the last three years prior to retiring from her health business, she particulary focused on teaching and promoting Hatha-Yoga in the Canadian education system. At that time she also developed a strong interest in the spiritual side of Yoga, which prompted her to go on Yoga retreats and simplify her life.
Most of her adult life, Brenda has participated in academic distance-learning programs in a variety of subjects. She strongly believes that distance learning is the best way of educating people who otherwise would not be able to continue their education.
Since 2003, she has been involved in getting TYS’s distance-learning program off the ground. She now serves as director of Traditional Yoga Studies.
She is the coauthor of Green Yoga and Green Dharma.
With the blessings of her teacher, Brenda commenced teaching Saddharma-Yoga in January 2009.
