Our Holiday Activity Guidebook
Published on the 8th of November, 2022
During the holidays, you can feel more connected to communities across the globe through finding ways to give back or simply learn. When participating in these various activities, bring along friends or family—the more the merrier!
These are some of our favorite holiday activities, but be sure to put on your Sherlock hat and see if there are any unique ways in which your community gives special care to the holidays.
1. Watch An Expert-Led Film
At With My Own Two Hands, we believe in the power of storytelling. Our films tell the stories of the incredible individuals and communities that we work with in East Africa, and the impact of clean water and sustainable agriculture on their lives. This holiday season, get cozy with your family and friends and watch our newest film, The Women of Kibera. Follow along with our Film Screening Guide, which you can download here.
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The Women of Kibera (2022) gives an inside look into the impact water independence and sustainable agriculture can have on a community in Kenya. You'll meet Veronica, a loving mother, small-business owner, and member of the Kipawa Group—an all-female financial-lending group—who proves just how clean water and determination can shape economic empowerment in her community. Veronica is a testament to the intrinsic power women hold and how access to clean water is vital for women in Kibera to encourage and maintain health, education, and lifelong prosperity.
2. Start Your Own Garden
Interested in growing your own food, but don't know where to start? If you’re a first-time gardener, begin with the basics through an at-home container garden.
The easiest veggies to grow and use are cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and strawberries. Make sure you have a spot with 6-8 hours of sunlight and a water source close by. You’ll need containers, soil, compost, seeds, and a shovel. For larger plants to flourish, you may need a deeper container to hold about 12 inches of soil. For example, a 5-gallon container would work for tomatoes and squash but a smaller container is better for plants like lettuce, which has shallow roots.
Visit thewellco.co/container-gardening for illustrated instructions on container gardening.
3. Listen and Learn from Experts
During the holidays, it’s important to come together as a community to celebrate, even if that means virtually.
On Friday, December 9th at 9am PST, we're hosting our final virtual coffee chat of the year and we we’d love to have you with us. Join us as we come together to celebrate Human Rights Day. Learn from Feminist Advocate and WMO2H Board Member, Juliana Vélez, on how we can actively find ways to shift power dynamics, strengthen collaborations, and build bridges to create space and opportunities for feminist solutions. Click here to RSVP.
4. Support Women-Led Businesses
Thanks to AmazonSmile, you can support women-led businesses this holiday season while giving back to With My Own Two Hands, at no extra charge to you. Amazon has even put together a list of women-owned businesses, so that you can order from women-owned businesses while supporting our cause.
Just go to smile.amazon.com, choose With My Own Two Hands, then start shopping through smile.amazon.com. 0.5% of your purchase will go directly to our programs! If you have the Amazon Shopping app, go to Settings -> AmazonSmile -> support With My Own Two Hands. Shop now.
5. Plant a Native Tree
Looking for the perfect fall activity to do alongside your family? Now’s a perfect time to plant a native tree in your own backyard.
Hardy and resistant to disease and pests, native trees are crucial to restoring local ecosystems and increasing biodiversity. After finding the right tree to incorporate into your yard, all you need to do is dig a deep hole, prepare the roots, then plant your tree in the hole with enough soil and mulch before watering your tree.
Visit californianativeplants.com for more illustrated instructions on tree planting.
6. Visit a Natural Water Source
Freshwater ecosystems provide crucial regulating services, such as water purification, flood mitigation and the treatment of human and industrial wastes. Whether it be a tranquil pond, wetland, or stream, your community is sure to have a freshwater ecosystem close by.
Visit your local wetlands to see wildlife, go birding or take a tour to learn more about the important role wetlands play in our ocean and coastal health.
7. Empower a Woman with Clean Water
Women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours every single day collecting water for their families. This colossal burden restricts women from pursuing income-generating activities and girls from getting an education.
When women are equal partners in implementing water solutions, projects are optimized to women’s rights and needs, benefiting everyone. This holiday season, join us in empowering women - and their communities - with clean water because, "When you empower women, you empower a nation" (Veronica, WMO2H Water Beneficiary). Click here to learn more.
