The Meaning Behind the Name and Logo for "Mama Hope"
-Description by Nyla Rodgers, Founding Director
When I decided to create this organization in honor of my mother and to raise funds for women-led community efforts, I wanted a name that equally honored my mother's memory as well as these strong women who nurture hope in their communities. I feel that Mama Hope does just this.
I saw in Kenya that hope is an active emotion. Starting just with hope, courageous and resourceful women have created a better future for their villages. As I've heard from so many, when my mother taught others to be more creative, she also brought them hope. I think of her as Mama Hope. I also consider these strong African women who have created effective grassroots organizations to be Mama Hope. Through the work of Mama Hope, we seek to help communities meet their basic needs while also giving them the tools to help themselves in the long term. This combination is what gives people hope.
Mama Hope Logo
I incorporated four main attributes in the logo of Mama Hope: vision, community, peace, and interconnectedness. Below is a description of how the different symbols included in the logo represent these attributes.
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Vision
The
Giraffes represent vision. While visiting the village that my mother assisted
in Kenya,
I was presented with a statue of two intertwined giraffes. The villagers told
me that your mother "was like a giraffe. She could see her feet but she
had the vision to see far beyond and it is obvious that you are a giraffe as
well." The giraffes not only evoke the spirit of my mother, they also
symbolize Mama Hope's philosophy. We are addressing both the immediate needs of
the community as well as underlying causes of poverty in ways that are both
sustainable and supported by the community.
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Community
The Tree
represents community. In Kenya
communities meet in the shade of large trees in order to hold classes, discuss
and make decisions about community matters, relate the news of the day, and
tell stories. One of Mama Hope's main
goals is to provide the resources required for communities to become stronger,
more cohesive, and better able to independently overcome the problems that they
face.
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Peace & Interconnectedness
The center of the Mama Hope logo is an Ethiopian symbol representing peace and interconnectedness. In Kenya, I was told, "once you stop giving you cease to live, but your mother continues to give even though she is no longer living." My mother never left North America but her forward-thinking and kind acts continue to improve the lives of people thousands of miles away whom she never even met. As we help meet the basic needs of people and give them the tools to help themselves over the long term, we are working towards more communities that are thriving and peaceful. As we collaborate with our generous supporters and the visionary women leaders in Kenya, we are recognizing and promoting the fundamental interconnectedness between individuals across the globe.
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