Mae Berkel doesn't just inspire us. She affirms us with her authenticity, depth and compassion. Her very presence makes you feel welcome. She sees the best you and you can't help but marvel that no matter what she's doing, she brings 100% of herself to the experience.
The joy she brings to her roles as mother, grandmother, great grandmother, wife and First Lady of Rotary International District 6670 (2009 - 2010) is what makes her so intoxicating. We want that joy in the roles we inhabit as mothers, wives, workers, daughters and friends. And while we admire her style and applaud her choices, her greatest influence is that she makes us want to be our own best selves.
Mae recently authored a book The Children From The Slums which tells the story of children in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Through this little potent and propelling book, Mae has provided Rotary Clubs, churches or other civic organizations the opportunity to purchase these and share with their children a window into the world.
For only $5 per book, you can pass this important story to others.
The small book with stunning graphics is an uplifting story about a small girl who is brought by her mother to one of her aunties where she becomes one of the slum children. She feels abandoned because her mother never comes back. The slum children take her by the hand and tell her not to cry. She learns to have a ball with so many friends, children in the same situation as she is.
When her aunty gets sick, she is brought to an orphanage with her cousin and for the first time both of the children are going to school, getting a meal at school and one at the orphanage instead of only once a day in the slums.
Then both of them are chosen to go to a large piece of property outside the city where a school was build with a dorm for students as well as for the teachers. Where water was drilled and were sun and wind power gave electricity. They help on the land to grow vegetables and on a small farm with 2 cows, goats, rabbits, and lots of chicken. Never did they have such a good life. They meet up with many of their slum friends and this created a large family where children look after each other and where they can play and learn together.
They find out who cared enough for the children of Kenya to help them out in this difficult time where many, many children are AIDS orphans.
Find out what people are saying about the book. Click here to read letters from around the world
