TWLOHA-to write love on her arms

[Marta Karen Micol]

Girovagando per la rete ho scoperto questo sito: http://www.twloha.com/
"To Write Love On Her Arms" è un'associazione non-profit che si occupa di donare speranza ed aiuto alle persone che soffrono di depressione, di dipendenze, di altri disturbi autolesionisti o tendenti al suicidio. E' gestita da volontari che si occupano dell'ascolto e del sostegno verso le persone in difficoltà e che a sua volta ha creato altri progetti altrettanto utili, come Fears&Dreams.
Sono capitata per caso sul loro sito, ma l'ho apprezzato molto, i loro intenti sono chiari e a mio parere molto importanti:

VISION:
The vision is that we actually believe these things…
You were created to love and be loved.  You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story.  You need to know that your life matters.
We live in a difficult world, a broken world.  My friend Byron is very smart - he says that life is hard for most people most of the time.  We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments.  You need to know that you're not alone in the places you feel stuck.
We all wake to the human condition.  We wake to mystery and beauty but also to tragedy and loss.  Millions of people live with problems of pain.  Millions of homes are filled with questions – moments and seasons and cycles that come as thieves and aim to stay.  We know that pain is very real.  It is our privilege to suggest that hope is real, and that help is real.
You need to know that rescue is possible, that freedom is possible, that God is still in the business of redemption.  We're seeing it happen.  We're seeing lives change as people get the help they need.  People sitting across from a counselor for the first time.  People stepping into treatment.  In desperate moments, people calling a suicide hotline.  We know that the first step to recovery is the hardest to take.  We want to say here that it's worth it, that your life is worth fighting for, that it's possible to change.
Beyond treatment, we believe that community is essential, that people need other people, that we were never meant to do life alone.
The vision is that community and hope and help would replace secrets and silence. 
The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles.
The vision is that we can reduce the suicide rate in America and around the world.
The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need.
The vision is better endings.  The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships.  The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love.  The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise.  The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change. 
The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead. 
The vision is the possibility that we're more loved than we'll ever know. 
The vision is hope, and hope is real.
You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story.

L'interesse mi ha portato a cercare un progetto simile in Italia e l'ho trovato nell'associazione "Telefono Amico Italia ONLUS", un centro di ascolto a distribuzione nazionale, per maggiori info:  www.telefonoamico.it

Mi piacerebbe riuscire a diventare volontaria nell'associazione...chi lo sa, forse un giorno! intanto condivido con voi l'idea

[Marta Karen Micol]

La storia di Renee e dell'associazione diventano un film: "Renee the movie."

The story of Renee Yohe has been told in the writings of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) founder Jamie Tworkowski, as well as by Yohe herself in her book, Purpose for the Pain. Now that story of the young woman from Florida living through, or in spite of, her addictions, depression and self-injury, and her journey to rehab is being told in film.
David McKenna, one of the film’s producers, and Tworkowski, who are both a part of that story, hope that the film, Renee, will increase the conversation about these issues and reach even more people.

McKenna had met Yohe during her addiction and recovery, and kept in touch with her. She had gone through rehab, but things had deteriorated. It had gotten to the point that something had to be done or they may lose Yohe, McKenna said. He offered to pay for her rehab treatment if she would go. The story focuses on the five days leading up to rehab as Yohe became sober in order to enter treatment. McKenna offered his home to her for the five-day journey that brought together friends and others to support her. The group included Tworkowski who wrote the story about meeting Renee and the five-day journey, posted it on My Space and later founded To Write Love on Her Arms – the same name he gave the story.

Tworkowski said the film gives a glimpse at the unique response to that story and the birth of the organization.

“Our hope for the film is that it will spark conversations that lead to lives being saved as people choose not to walk through their struggles alone,” he said. “Our hope is that this film will spark honest conversations that lead to people getting the help they need and deserve.”

TWLOHA has since reached millions through its work to help those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide, and has donated more than $850,000 into treatment and recovery. It uses Facebook and Twitter pages to further the conversation, as well as meeting people where they are – at college campuses, communities and through music – but the film can increase the conversation.

McKenna said what makes Yohe’s story unique is that it was told, which made it OK for others to hear. The movie gives that story about love, faith and hope another avenue to be told.

“There’s nothing more powerful than film,” McKenna said. “It’s an opportunity to change lives.”

And that opportunity comes through reaching the masses, he explained, which is getting in the box office. That was McKenna’s goal when he began looking for a production company. Instead, he found others who joined his efforts and founded a new company.

Two Streets Entertainment was formed through a collaboration of investors and producers to ensure this story is told. Shooting of the film is complete, and it is now in the editing process, expected to be released in the first quarter of 2012.

The film stars Kat Dennings as Renee, Chad Michael Murray as Tworkowski and Rupert Friend as McKenna. Tworkowski joined McKenna on set, answering questions of the actor playing him and working with other staff members designing the TWLOHA office on the set.

Nathan Frankowski is the director who also helped write the script with Kate King Lynch. In addition to McKenna, Renee is produced by Cameron “Kim” Dawson and David Nixon, and executive producers Tom Swanson and Jayson Stringfellow.

McKenna said he had dreamed of making this film and the timing was right. He hopes to donate proceeds from the film to support organizations focused on these issues, and one of those would be TWLOHA.

-Halogen TV