Deborah and Jonathan Goldman were some of Tribe Rising’s very first supporters.  We’re very grateful to Deborah for sharing some of her journey and her reasons for supporting Tribe Rising in the interview below:

What impels you to support Tribe Rising? And why should other people care about what Tribe Rising is doing?

Tribe Rising is a perfect example of incredibly passionate humans making positive change in our world. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty – and with excellent leadership, kindness and expertise, Tribe Rising has made an impact. What a blessing to be able to support directly here and know the funds are fully being used in India properly.

Was there someone or something in high school that influenced you as a student, or set you on a career path?

My High School Spanish teacher organized a summer “study abroad and live with a family” program in Guadalajara Mexico. This program has forever changed my life by enabling me to speak Spanish and help others in California who are Spanish speaking.

What was the best trip you have ever taken?

Our best trip was to South Africa where we saw the life of wild animals, along with exploring the culture of surrounding communities and worked with a program to support reading in a preschool there.

What is the best book you have read in the past 12 months?

Kristin Hannah’s The Women is an incredible novel of the women nurses who served in the Vietnam War. Despite studying Vietnam with Historian Stephen Ambrose, I had never learned about women serving in Vietnam before and the additional challenges they faced.

What is the one thing you’d like to share with the Gurap students?

For the Gurap students, I would advise them to never stop exploring their country and the rest of the world; with books, computers and maps, understanding the nuances and cultures of different nationalities is engaging, interesting and will help you be a better human.