GlobalGiving Progress Reports

38 Hectares of Valuable Resources for the Maleku: "This Farm Is Now Completely Forested"

Roberta Ward Smiley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:29:16 GMT

Crew and tractor loading trees from nurseries

In December LRFF and the Rio Sol planting crew planted the remaining 14 hectares of pastureland on this farm. This was the largest single property we had to plant for the Rio Sol Biological Corridor project. Also more than 18 Maleku families created nurseries of 500 – 1500 trees of 110 native species to supply the trees for this property, high above Tonjibe in Viento Fresco.

It was a huge job hauling all of the trees from the separate nurseries to one central area. There the tractor and trailer picked them up, about 1500 at a time, hauling the planting team and trees about 4 kilometers to Viento Fresco. Once there the tractor and crew distributed the trees around the 14 hectares.

The transport took about as long as it did to plant the trees. You can see in the photos some long distance pictures of this amazing project. It’ll be fun to watch the pastures fill in with forest in the coming years.

It will be a dream come true if we can fund raise to purchase this property. It would be the first in recuperating the Maleku territory that is rightfully and legally theirs.

Long view of pastures with holes dug for trees

Jacobin feeding on unknown vine w/cups of nectar

The planting team who planted Marvin's in Dec 2011

Links:

Tractor and planting video at Marvin Castro's

Healthcare for Pregnant Women in Nicaragua: "Clinica Verde: Open for Business!"

Susan Dix Lyons — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:59:18 GMT

Clinica Verde waiting room.

Dear Awesome Supporters:

In the final weeks of January, our Board of Directors traveled together to Nicaragua for our annual meeting – and to see Clinica Verde open and serving patients. We wish you could have been there with us!

Between January 9 and 31, we served 837 patients: 624 women, 213 men, 231 children under the age of 9. Our Clinic Director, Jennifer Owen, reports that common concerns include bronchitis, pneumonia, dehydration and diabetes. We have a superb, committed staff in place on the ground and excellent leadership moving forward.

Said Owen: "I see evidence every day that we are making tangible changes in people's lives, and I see places where we can grow and improve every day. People are proud to be able to come to a facility like this, and people are very proud to work here. There is a really special kind of joy in coming to work every day, confident that you have a stellar staff in place that is committed to achieving the mission of Clinica Verde in a measurable way. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and that is going to require a lot of resources. But I know we are doing something that matters, and I know we have the right team in place. That's a pretty great place to be in, one month into operations."

Thank you for believing in Clinica Verde and our work to create a new model of care for families living in poverty. Clinica Verde belongs to the community, but it is there because of people like you.

Please don't hesitate to contact me personally if you have questions or ideas for our work in the world.

Saludos,

Susan

susan@clinicaverde.org

Links:

Short video about our clinic opening. (By Brian Capener)

Helping refugees resettle in Chicago: "From Burma to Chicago"

Kim Snoddy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:48:04 GMT

The Story of Htoo Eh and Her Family

In the years before her life was uprooted by Burma’s military junta, Htoo Eh was a primary grade school teacher in Tay Dey, a village in southern Burma. She and her husband Kle-Klo Say had been married four years and had had two children before deciding their village was no longer safe, due to constant bombardment from the Burmese Army. Though the family was frightened, they were prepared for the arrival of the brutal military regime; inside their home was an emergency kit stocked with clothing and a few pounds of rice, ready for when the family had to flee at a moment’s notice.

The family traveled for one month through the jungle, resting on the ground of the dense forest. However, at each place they took respite, they would again encounter the Army and were forced to run off. Soon the family reached an area of the forest known as Ee Hto Hta. There, Htoo Eh and Kle-Klo Say created a makeshift home from bamboo. They stayed in their new “home,” for three months then decided the only way to remain safe was to go to a refugee camp in Thailand. However, by then, the Thai government had closed the Thai-Burma border where the camps were located so access to the camps was stopped. Their only choice then, was to sneak in.

It was an extremely risky move; risky because the Burmese border was only 2.5 miles from the camp. However, the family arrived at the Mae La Oon refugee camp in northern Thailand in 2006 after successfully traversing the carefully guarded Thai border. Though there were wooden houses set up in the camp, they were incredibly overcrowded, offering no privacy for the small family. So, like before, they constructed a bamboo hut for shelter. It was in the camp, in 2007, that their second daughter – Eh Htee Say – was born.

The conditions of the camp were hardly sanitary, consequently, every few weeks the children got sick. A year after their youngest daughter was born, the family experienced another hardship. Htoo’s husband, Kle Klo Say became sick and never recovered. In 2008, after seven years of marriage and three children, he passed away leaving the family fatherless.

Throughout the ordeal, Htoo Eh maintains that she was, of all things, lucky. Lucky to have arrived at the Mae La Oon camp when she did, for her family was among the very last group able to register for resettlement with UNHCR since 2006; thus their 5-year process of coming to the United States began.

Htoo Eh arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on November 3, 2011 with her three children – Soe K’ Paw Shee (9), Shee Say (7), and Htee Say (4) – and younger brother, Day Htoo (18). She is grateful for the chance she has been given. Here, her children have not been sick and are attending school. She says their apartment is warm and there are more than enough clothes for her and her family.

Her Baptist roots bring her to church every week, helping her to handle the challenges she faces in Chicago. She wholeheartedly appreciates the churches that helped co-sponsor her family. She is humbled by their collaborative efforts to furnish and set up the apartment before the family’s arrival. Their generosity has helped the family begin to live their new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance in the U.S.

She dreams of the day when her mother and sister, who are still in the Thailand camp, will join her in Chicago. She is eager to learn English so she can get her high school diploma. Although she is currently searching for any type of job, she hopes to one day return to her teaching roots.

And on her left hand, with painted nails, she still wears the wedding ring that was given to her a decade ago.

###

Links:

Visit our website!

Biodigester social environmental economical impact: "Biodigester - The project beginning"

Sebastiao Pedro Neto — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:25:26 GMT

Biodigester intalled

Dear Srs.,

The project is located in Valenca RJ and Rio Preto MG, a very pour rural area inside the Atlantic Forest. This native forest is under pressure. The needy farmers works with catty and use the forest as heat energies. The manure goes to the soil and to the river, polluting this resources. The management of this manure produce methane gas that goes to atmosphere causing the global heating. With biodigesters we can provide environmental social and economical benefits for this farmer and for the earth.

With biodigesters the farmers can put all manure inside it. Actually they use a manure pull before discard it in a river on in a soil without treatment. At this condition all methane produced in the pull goes to atmosphere. The gasholder of biodigester storage this gas for the farmer uses. The complete anaerobic system inside the biodigester create a wonderful bio fertilizer to substitute chemical and fossil fertilizers. The farmer obtain time because he stop to cut woods from Atlantic Forest.

We will improve the life of the beneficiary farmers because they will obtain a free heat energy and fertilizer for all his life and for others generations. They will add value on their production and this is an advantage for all community around the beneficiaries creating new economics situations. Water and soil pollution will be solved for many squares kilometers and many tons of methane and carbon will not go to the atmosphere, affecting positively many people around the world.

At this moment we are registering the farms could participate the project.

When we get the founds of the winter challenge will install immediately two biodigesters, one in Valença and other in Rio Preto.

Biodigester with gas

Year of mentor activities for 50 vulnerable youth: "Thank You!"

Rose Rezai — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:23:58 GMT

Success at the lanes!

Last fall nearly 375 youth began the school year with a Friend by their side. While some of our youth are nearing the end of their 12 ½ year journey with their mentors, others are just beginning to experience what it means to have a Friend who is committed to their happiness and well being.

No matter what age they are or what their circumstances, all of our youth benefit from time spent with their Friends doing activities that help them develop skills and personal interests. Friends look for every opportunity to provide the youth they mentor with fun and enriching experiences that bring joy into their lives and broaden their horizons. Activities include playing board games, creating arts and crafts projects, riding bikes, playing sports, exploring fun places and events in the community, and enjoying the outdoors.

When they are first matched with their mentors in kindergarten, many of our children find it difficult to believe that the mentor will not be just another adult who leaves them or lets them down. It takes consistent, long-term effort to show our children that they will always have a Friend to stand by them, and the time spent doing activities together is a crucial component of that effort. The more children and Friends play together, the stronger their bond becomes. This bond in turn forms the basis for a long-term relationship in which children trust the advice and support their mentors offer.

Over time, this support enables youth to succeed in spite of the numerous obstacles they face, as evidenced by our most recent annual third party program evaluation:

85% of program graduates have earned a H.S. diploma or GED, though 50% of our youth have a parent that did not complete H.S.
98% of program youth have avoided the juvenile justice system, though 60% of our youth have one or more parents who have been incarcerated
98% of program adolescents have avoided early parenting, though 60% of our youth were born to a teen parent

Thank you for helping us provide new experiences and opportunities to our youth! With your support, we will continue to change children’s lives for the better…one child at a time.

Links:

Essential Water Projects for Bolivians: "The Vilaque Water Project is Underway!"

Dawn Kennedy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:13 GMT

A young girl sent to collect water.

QBL has initiated the project by visiting the community, listening to the residents voice their needs and concerns, and completed a feasibility study for the water project. QBL has helped organize the families in Vilaque committed to participating in the project and formed a water/sanitation project committee. In addition, the community members have made commitments of their time and labor. Construction has begun; six smaller water intakes and storage tanks have been installed. Piping will be installed once the rains subside, hopefully this month. They are expecting to inaugurate the project in March. The formation of a local water committee helps to guarantee its sustainability. The members of this committee will change annually. These types of efforts do not leave families dependent on outside aid. By carefully choosing to support projects that help the indigenous people provide food for themselves and create safer water supplies QBL promotes independence among the indigenous population. QBL has an office in La Paz with a staff of four indigenous Aymara-speaking Bolivians who have graduated as agricultural technicians and are giving back to their own people. Our La Paz team is working with the community of Vilaque. As you can see in the photo attached the houses are dispersed over a broad geographic area; the community members put in an immense amount of physical work, such as mixing cement or laying pipes. This contribution gives them a well-deserved sense of ownership. Please continue to support this project financially. I believe QBL’s effectiveness is increased by the amount of respect, social justice, honesty, community building and service shown to all those involved in the mission.

Beneficiaries of a clean and safe water supply!

A villager collects water from the current source.

Community members measure distance for piping.

Community installed water storage tank.

A view of the geography in this community.

Preserving Rainforest and Education in Costa Rica: "Moving in the Right Direction"

Roberta Ward Smiley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:48:42 GMT

Crested Caracara Falcon a common siting in area

We are moving in the right direction with this project. Many generous donations were received during the month of December from employees at the Eli Lilly company. Thank you so much for caring about Omar and Miriam Quesada.

At Christmas time Omar and Miriam came to visit as they do almost every year. I was excited about the influx of donations and told them what had happened. Over 10% of the project’s total funding has been raised. I promised them that when we receive the disbursement from Global Giving for these donations we would pay them what has been received. It’s better for them to have whatever is available to date than have it sit in bank waiting for all of the funding before paying them.

School begins this week and the GlobalGiving disbursement will be here any day. The check we are able to write them will help Miriam’s daughter buy the necessary items for this years classes.

Thank you for your generous support and send this project around to your friends. They may agree with you, it’s a cause to be passionate about.

This orchid needs undisturbed forest to thrive

Hawk of the Quesada forest

Links:

Releaf w/LRFF and Rootz Underground

Help Provide Clean Water to Corail Lamothe, Haiti: "Funding and Travel for Implementation"

Kevin Friedman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:13:29 GMT

Plans for constructing a new storage tank were submitted for review by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). We are addressing a few items and looking to travel in April or May of this year to start construction. We will be working with a local contractor for the construction of the storage tank.

Through various local charitable organizations and grants we have been able to raise enough money to move forward with construction of a large centrally located storage tank, collection system, and purchase of sand filters.

We continue to reach out to the local community for support and keep in touch with Corail Lamothe to follow track the progress of the piloted improvements.

Thank you for your continued support.

Rancho Bienvenido, Maleku Reserve, Costa Rica: "Great News for the Maleku Tribal Council"

Roberta Ward Smiley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:59:52 GMT

Bienvenido Cruz C., Pres. of Council w/Daniel

After a long wait and many obstacles the Maleku Tribal Council received their legal registration in January. They are now a nationally recognized organization. This means they now have the ability to apply for grants to implement the many community projects they've been planning.

We attended a meeting last October conducted by directors of the UN's Small Grants Program in Costa Rica. They encouraged members of the Tribal Council to make their priority pushing forward to receiving their legal status to apply for a Small Grant (up to $20,000).

The old Rancho Bienvenido is still standing but continues to deteriorate. The Council needs a meeting place more than ever now.

Thank you again for your generous donation to the Rancho Bienvenido project. Please pass this report and project to others you know. Maybe they will feel as passionately as you do about this simple, straightforward project.

Rio Sol nursery next to the old Rancho Bienvenido

Links:

Thank You Look What You've Done

Educate 70 children in the village of Mora, Mali: "Caravan to Class: Mora School Project Update"

Barry Hoffner — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:40:05 GMT

Mora School in construction

Dear Friends of Caravan to Class

Thank you so much again for making our 2011 Global Giving Winter Challenge such a successful campaign which completed the funding for our Mora School Project.

I wanted to report to you on some of the statistics of the Caravan to Class Global Giving campaign itself, the progress on our Mora school project, and the challenging situation in the North of Mali where Caravan to Class operates.

Global Giving Statistics

Caravan to Class finished our Global Giving Mora school project campaign with the following highlights:

First in funds’ raised with $29,206 out of 276 small charities
Fourth in number of donors with 171

In addition, we are happy to report that we were successful in increasing our outreach beyond friends and family donors, one of the main objectives of our Global Giving campaign:

61% of all donors were new and unaffiliated donors
19% of donors contributed using gift certificates
14% of all donors were anonymous donors
roughly one-third of our donors are from outside the United States, including donors from Russia, Australia, Turkey, Mali, Spain, Sweden, Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Singapore, and Hong Kong
52% of donors gave $10 - $25, 7% $26 - $50, 11% $51 - $100, 18% $101 - $250, 12% more than $250

Caravan to Class is very excited about our new partnership with Global Giving and we see them as a cornerstone of our social media outreach strategy. We will continue to list projects (#9810, #9808) on Global Giving, under Caravan to Class, as well as use them for our annual fundraising campaign in November-December.

The Mora School Project

As of the beginning of February, the school is almost completed on the outside and the inside should be finished in the coming month. The students are already learning inside the classroom while construction is being done on the outside. Our school has been certified by the Timbuktu Ministry of Education. In addition, the head of the village reports that roughly 45 children are attending school. Our target, by the end of the school year, is for the school to be at capacity, or 70 children.

Situation in Northern Mali

While there have been problems in the far desert areas of Mali in the past, violence had not touched Timbuktu in recent years. Unfortunately, in late November 2011, there were two kidnappings of foreigners within 24 hours, one on the main street in Timbuktu, with one German tourist shot and killed. The Malian military mobilized to attack bands of former Malian, mostly Tuareg, fighters with the Gadhafi regime who have fled Libya in recent months. As usually happens in these conflicts, the most vulnerable of the population suffer and this is unfortunately the case with many of the Tuareg near Timbuktu.

The Caravan to Class schools are still open, although some fearful families have temporarily moved to Mauritania. We hope that a resolution is found in the very near future that will restore calm and peace in the region. In the meantime, Caravan to Class is more determined than ever to move ahead with our schools. In this difficult time, our schools remain one of the very few sources of hope in the villages where we operate.

At Caravan to Class, we want to express our gratitude to you for supporting us and the children we serve in the Sahara Desert Region of Mali.

Sincerely,

Barry Hoffner

Executive Director, Caravan to Class

Links:

Caravan to Class photo exhibit at the SFJCC

Create 40 New Jobs & 3 Businesses in Nigeria: "LI Gala February 17th at the Nigerian Embassy"

Marshall Bailly II — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:01:29 GMT

Gala Invite

Dear Friend

I have exciting news: Leadership Initiatives will be hosting our sixth annual Gala for Global Change at the Nigerian Embassy on February 17th celebrating Nigeria’s 51 years of independence. This is the first time Leadership Initiatives history that we have been selected as the opening event for the Nigerian embassy’s event season.

In 2010, Leadership Initiatives hosted the largest attended event at the Nigerian Embassy with over 300 participants, a record we plan to beat in 2012.

This year, Leadership Initiatives has tapped diverse talents to create a beautiful showing of local and professional artists and artisanal producers from around the world to enhance this special event. Join international dignitaries, US officials and local celebrities at the Nigerian Embassy for a dazzling night of artisanal food and cocktails, a silent art auction with several surprise live auction items, and Leadership Initiatives 1st Annual Service Awards ceremony.

Leadership Initiatives Sixth Annual Gala For Global Change

Date: February 17th, 2012

Time: 6 p.m. V.I.P. Preview $100

7-9 p.m. General Admission $35

Where: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 3519 International Court NW Washington, D.C. 20008

Please bring friends, dates, parents, potential supporters and professionals. Your attendance will help Leadership Initiatives expand on the successes of 2011, notably the launching 24 new business initiatives in the fields of mechanics, carpentry, electronic repair, tailoring, farming and transportation. New leaders were created as graduates reinvested in Leadership Initiatives programs along with our first orphan care program, providing the communities’ first outreach, job training, care and education program for disadvantaged orphans.

This year's event is being hosted by the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, the honorable, Dr. Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, who will be in attendance. V.I.P Preview tickets are available to allow a small group of attendees to have a more intimate experience with the attending diplomats and artists.

More information and tickets are available on the Art Gala website at:

www.LIgala.org

We hope you will join us as we celebrate a momentous year of growth and development both here and in Nigeria.

Sincerely,

Marshall Bailly, Lynsie Hall and Khalifa Lawan

Executive Director, Gala Committee Chair and Field Programs Manager-Nigeria

Gala Invite 2

Hamzi Graduate

'Greening' a Girls School in South Africa: "Graduation 2011"

Adrienne West — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:48:03 GMT

2011 marked three major milestones for the SA College for Tourism (SACT). As well as being formally recognised as an Institute of Excellence by the South African education and training authorities, we celebrated our tenth anniversary and achieved our first ever 100% pass rate. We couldn’t be more proud of the Class of 2011!

An inspiring graduation ceremony on 18 November, we bid farewell to the 89 young women who came to the College from 8 different countries across the sub-continent. Special tribute was paid to Dr Anton Rupert and Mrs Huberte Rupert, whose shared dream of establishing the College as a stepping stone to a brighter future for the marginalized youth of rural South and southern Africa, made the day possible.

The festivities continued a week later with a reunion of past students of SACT. Eighty seven women gathered on campus for a weekend of fun, cultural activities with good food (prepared and served by twelve of the 2011 graduates who stayed on to assist), good wine, and hours of reminiscing.

We are also very proud to announce that at least 73% of our graduates for the years 2001 to 2010 are gainfully employed, while seven are successfully operating their own small businesses, bravo ladies!

As we gear up for an exciting 2012, we stop to thank our donors and ‘Adopt a Student’ sponsors; you have helped to keep this dream alive and have become a part of the SA College for Tourism family. Our most sincere thanks go to each of you and we look forward to sharing our continued successes with you.

Education through arts for under-served youth: "Press"

Moira Rubio — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:47:59 GMT

On Monday February 7th ph15 directors were interviewed in the most listened FM radio show in Buenos Aires (Basta de Todo).

We had a wonderful feedback with many people wanting to donate their photo equipment to the project and volunteering in the workshops.

You can listen to the whole interview and see some photos in this link:

http://basta.metro951.com/2012/02/06/ph-15-en-basta-de-todo/

Seems like a nice way to start 2012 activities.

Thanks a lot for been part of ph15 with your collaboration. All the staff and kids are really grateful.

Links:

Suma tu mirada

HELP EDUCATE 750 GIRLS IN RURAL INDIA: "A SPECIAL VISIT BY OUR YOUNG SUPPORTERS FROM OVERSEAS"

Urvashi Nair — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:44 GMT

Interacting with the girls at the centre

Diegueno Daughters

Maya and Devan, both students of the Diegueno Country School, California, visited the IIMPACT learning center in Mewat which is sponsored by their school. They were accompanied both by their parents Lokesh and Kirsten and by their grandparents. This U.S. based school has been supporting IIMPACT for the last 3 years. They have named this center the ‘Diegueno Daughters’! Students from this school and girls from the center regularly exchange letters, photographs and cards with one another. Maya and Devan, on a recent family trip to India were extremely keen to personally meet their young friends and to finally put to a face to each of the 30 names they keep hearing and reading about.

All these girls now share a very special bond with each other.

Maya wrote a personal account about her recent experience:

“Today, I found myself stepping into a world of hope as I approached a typical Indian village in the foggy countryside of Gurgaon. My eager family and I were greeted by a curious crowd of villagers who left their household chores and followed us down to the school room for the young girls of the village. When we entered the school room, we were given a cheerful, traditional Indian welcome from the students. Eagerly, the girls set to work reciting poetry, singing beautiful songs, and demonstrating their skills in arithmetic. I was very surprised to learn that these girls had learned how to read, write, speak a little English, and do both basic and advanced arithmetic in a short period of only one or two years. Before my visit, The Diegueno Daughters had only been a name to me, but now I think of it as a school enlightening both the future of the village and the future of India. My inspiring experience has reminded me of the hope that children bring and of how important and life-changing an education can be. I can’t wait until next year when I get to see both the girls and their village again! “

-Maya Tantuwaya 11 years old 6^th grade Diegueno Country School, USA

Blankets were distributed for all the young girls

Links:

learn all about IIMPACT

Provide housing for 298 flood victims in India: "Report to provide Housing for 298 flood victims in India"

J Ranga Rao — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:52:28 GMT

Housing

This project "To Provide Housing for 298 Flood Victims in India" has been successfully implementing in the Avanigadda and Nagayalanka Mandals of Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh, India. Since the villagers of these two mandals are severely affected during the floods, ASSIST staff are motivating to the flood victims and bringing them into normal life. ASSIST has taken the initiative to build new houses for the flood victims and construction of new houses to these flood victims is underway with the support of generous donors through GlobalGiving.

The following information shows the status of the Construction of 298 Houses to the Flood Victims in Avanigadda and Nagayalanka Mandals in India.

Houses fully completed with sanitary latrine – 12
Houses completed but not the latrine – 14
Houses completed but flooring yet to be done – 53
Houses with roof slab completed – 55
Houses come up to roof level – 10
Houses come up to lintel level – 6
Houses come up to window sill level – 6
Houses come up to Basement level – 7
Houses not started yet -137

We look forward to the continued support from the generous donors in order to complete the rest of the houses.

Thank you for you kind support as your support gives the new hope to the flood victims.

Yours sincerely,

J Ranga Rao
Project Leader

House completed upto slab level

Distributing Antibiotics to Prevent Blindness: "Kalle Kampa Receives Antibiotics to Fight Trachoma"

Orla Breen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:16:54 GMT

Kalle Kampa

Kalle Kampa is an elderly woman of 70 from the Dokuto region in Konso. She had been had been suffering from the excruciating pain of trachoma and had been getting increasingly frail for a number of years. Her overall health and eyesight were deteriorating rapidly. Women like Kalle, are reluctant to seek treatment for trachoma because they are busy in the house with cooking, cleaning, taking care of the children and helping out with farming.

Thanks to the information supplied by an ORBIS eye care worker and the effectiveness of an eye care worker who informed her that she was suffering from trichiasis she knew she needed to seek assistance for her problem. She says: “I know trachoma. I knew what it can do so I went to the Health Worker.”

The HEW referred her for the next IECW outreach surgery session to take place at the Dokotu Health Post and was identified as needing trichiasis surgery. She was treated successfully for this disease, and will continue to take Zithromax -an antibiotic kindly donated by Pfizer, to prevent a recurrence of trachoma. She is now able to get about more freely and her sight is clear. She says that she is glad the HEW solves their problems and she knew it would be ok because she trusted the IECW fully.

Kalle says:”Our lives are hard. We must protect our sight. We know to wash our face and hands and if we have a problem we go to the health worker.”

To reduce the episodes of trachoma, ORBIS are desperately trying to transform this region. ORBIS aims to eliminate trachoma from this region by performing corrective surgery where necessary and by distributing the antibiotic Zithromax.These measures are part of The World Health Organisation’s SAFE strategy to reduce the prevalence of this disease in Ethiopia which includes performing Surgery, where necessary, distributing antibiotics to treat the infection, raising awareness of facial cleanliness and improving access to clean water and sanitation. The SAFE strategy helps to promote a level of hygiene and sanitation that will ensure that Kalle’s family will not contract this painful disease.

Zithromax

Rescue Junction supports street children in India: "VISITORS OF ALL KINDS"

Sunita Kumari — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:34:15 GMT

Thank you!

Hello everyone.

I hope this update from People First finds you well and that the New Year has got off to a promising start for you and your family.

We have had even by our standards an exceptionally busy start to the New Year, as followers of our Facebook page ( the link is below) will already know we were honoured by a visit from the Bihar Minister of State for Labour, following increasing cooperation with Labour Department in tackling child labour and trafficking. You may also be aware Bodhgaya is the centre of the Buddhist World and organised child begging is an ever present menace. We appeal to all those who visit Bodhgaya (only 13km away from Rescue Junction) please if you want to give- donate to a recognised and reputable organisation rather than individual children. Please help spread the word.

A one day old child, a little Baby Boy was recently found abandoned in a potato field and we were able to place this boy with a caring family awaiting adoption.

He would not have survived the night if he had not been brought to us.

We are currently working with the relevant authorities trying to get trafficked children back home from as afar a field as Delhi and the Himalayas.

I just wanted to say how much we appreciate your continuing support and please look out for the next update keeping you in touch with our work.

With much appreciation,

Sunita

Links:

Help Build a Home for 50 Underprivileged Children: "Spread Words"

Beatrice Vanaja — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:57:14 GMT

The hall under construction

Dear Donors,

Thank you for supporting our project to build a home for the children. So far we can mobilize $660 out of the estimated $44340. With this amount and the local donations mobilized we can build up to the roof. Now we are waiting for more benevolent donors like you to complete the plastering of the floor and walls. Once it is done the children will have the new big space to study and sleep.

We request you dear donors to continue supporting us by spreading words to your friends and relatives. The children are eagerly waiting to use the hall.

We thank you once again for the support.

Links:

A visitor's blog

Libraries Across Africa: "First Quarter 2012"

David Dewane — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:20:43 GMT

The most significant advancement in LAA over the last quarter of 2011 was traveling to Accra and confirming that it is indeed the ideal launch location. After a rigorous vetting process, Ghana emerged as the market to launch (surpassing Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya). Two LAA representatives visited Accra on a fact-finding mission and met with wide range of contacts in business, government, library science, and education. The feedback from trip was overwhelmingly positive. Observations of local building methods allowed the design team to revisit the LAA design, leading to simplification and significant cost reduction of the prototype. The critical task for the first quarter of 2012 is securing the funds to proceed with fabrication and leverage that progress to raise the remaining funds for the pilot phase.

PROGRESS MADE IN FOURTH QUARTER 2011

• Travelled to Accra, Ghana to build African network, interview candidate partners, and examine potential sites

• Formalized relationship with Librarians Without Borders to help establish training platform for local librarians

• Formalized relationship with Son & Sons / Portfolio Center to aid in brand management and market positioning

• LAA pitched with greater regularity, including an ICT conference at Rice University and to Governor Fashola of Lagos State at University of Oxford

• Campo identified as fabricator for prototype construction

OBJECTIVES FOR FIRST QUARTER 2012

• Complete 501c3 filing

• Secure funding for fabrication of LAAb prototype (~50k)

• Proceed with prototype fabrication

• Proceed with development of LAA software portal

• Secure agreement form Houston Museum of Natural History to host library during testing

• Leverage construction progress to raise funds for transporting LAAb to Ghana in mid 2012

Project Mosquito Nets: "An Update on Project Mosquito Nets"

Alka Subramanian — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:59:28 GMT

An Update on Project Mosquito Nets - Nets Distribution in Zambia in 2011

Power of Love Foundation’s (POL) Project Mosquito Nets (PMN) program provides long lasting insecticide treated bed nets to women and children vulnerable to Malaria in Zambia. Power of Love’s PMN was launched in Zambia in April 2010. To date more than 3800 long lasting mosquito nets have been distributed in one urban are and one rural area in Zambia. We would like to sincerely thank donors who continue to support this program. It is with your support that we were able to provide 1500 insecticide treated nets to women and children vulnerable to Malaria in Zambia in 2011.

For more information please visit http://poweroflove.org/project-mosquito-nets-launched-zambia

Achievements of Project Mosquito Nets in 2011

We were able to provide 1500 insecticide treated nets to women and children vulnerable to Malaria in Zambia in 2011.

1. In January 2011, we provided 500 long lasting insecticide treated nets in Lusaka, Zambia.

2. In October 2011 we provided 1000 long lasting insecticide treated nets to people vulnerable to Malaria in Kapiri-Mposhi, a rural area in Zambia.

3. Education on prevention of malaria, proper treatment and maintenance of nets was provided to recipients of nets.

Attached is a picture of a volunteer noting the weight of the child and asking his mom about the health of her child at the nets distribution event in October 2011.

Impact of the Distribution

Provision of bed nets and education on malaria prevention and proper use and maintenance of nets will go a long way in eradicating malaria from the community. We expect to see a marked reduction in the incidence of malaria due to: (i) lower infection rates will lead to higher school attendance, and (ii) health of people living with HIV/AIDS will improve as their immune system is not further compromised due to malaria.

Future Plans

1. The next distribution of a 1000 nets is planned for September 2012 before the malaria season in Zambia.

2. At this time we are raising funds to provide an additional 1000 long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN’s) in one rural areas in Zambia in 2012. Your support to this program will go a long way in preventing malaria and keeping the children healthy and in school.

Thanks

Links:

RenewableEnergy: Empowering 4,000 FilipinoFamilies: "Developing Kimbutan's Microhydro Power Enterprise"

Florinda Concepcion — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:50:22 GMT

Nanay Martina Wadingan, one of the Kimbutan elders

As one of SIBAT's thrust in community-based renewable energy development, a project team was organized to develop Kimbutan's microhydro power enterprise project. As an introduction, let me first provide a brief background of the indigenous people in Kimbutan and their community as well as the status of their microhydro project in partnership with SIBAT.

Brgy. Kimbutan is one of the mountainous agricultural barangays of Dupax del Sur town in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, located 27 kilometers from Malasin, the nearest town center. The project site can be reached via a three-hour ride from Bambang through a combination of an all-weather type and dirt road. During rainy season when the muddy road from Brgy. Belance is not passable by car, one had to trek for almost three hours to reach the Sitio Kimbutan Proper which is the center of Brgy. Kimbutan and where the project is located.

Population: Sitio Kimbutan Proper is composed of 30 households with a total of 1,444 individuals. Majority are men (56%) than women (44%). The residents of Kimbutan belong to numerous ethnic groups that include the Bugkalots, Kan-kanaeys, Ibalois, Kalanguyas, and Ilocanos. The sitio is predominantly inhabited by Roman Catholics (57%) followed by Lutheran Church (19%) and UCCP (14%) believers.

Number of barangays: The sitio is under the jurisdiction of only one barangay, the Brgy. Kimbutan. It is also the economic center of Brgy. Kimbutan where the barangay hall, barangay clinic, day care center and elementary school, and different churches are located.

Major economic activities: Main cash crops are vegetable and herbs and spices production in upland areas. Vegetable varieties include cauli flower, cabbage, eggplant, Baguio beans, sweet peas, carrots, squash, yakon (local rootcrops), among others. Herbs and spices varieties include ginger, bell pepper, celery, tomato, lasona (sibuyas Ilocano), among others. In the production of these, the farmers utilize the following tools; diesel-powered (motorized) grass cutter for clearing the land, usually through kaingin; then use grab-hoe, bolo, and spade for planting activities; then nurture the crop by using chemical sprayer and rainburst/shower hose using water from the watershed through gravity flow; and finally use scythe for harvesting and manually transport the produce to the household areas for post-harvest activities. Rice and corn are being cultivated mostly for household consumption. Rice is the main staple for the community while corn is usually used as animal feeds. For these crops, the farmers utilize the following tools from preparation to planting and harvesting: kuliglig or diesel-powered agri-tractor (only some uses this), carabao and araro, scythe and diesel-powered thresher (for rice only). Only one thresher is available in the whole barangay and is privately owned. A diesel-powered rice mill also operates in the sitio and is privately owned too. All households are into vegetable and herbs and spices production with varied degree of agricultural output depending on the size of lands that each is cultivating and the capacity to produce capital for farming inputs.

Poor water quality. Almost all of the households in the sitio have access to water, although the problem is its quality (not potable and the residents still needs to boil so that it could be used as drinking water) and weak supply during summer or El Nino season, where the supply is reduced to 12 hours. The community organization plans to revive the source of water spring that was installed in the 80s and is now in dire condition.

Education – literacy rate, out-of-school youth population. Since it is in Sitio Kimbutan Proper where a day care center and an elementary school are located, almost all of the children have access to formal education. But in general, most of the residents have only reached secondary level since colleges and universities are too far from the barangay, not to mention the relatively high cost of college education that the locals cannot afford.

Governance/Community Empowerment. The participation of the community organization, Brgy. Kimbutan Farmers’ Development Organization (BKFDO), in the barangay affairs is somehow embedded in the PO plans. Although this participation is indirect, because some of the PO officers and members are concurrently elected barangay officials such as the Barangay Chairman and one Kagawad. It is interesting to note that the lively dynamics of BKFDO somehow emanates from the fact that its leaders and officers had served or presently serves as barangays officials. This gives the organization the necessary capacity (learned from managing the barangay) to manage the PO operations even though the PO officers have no formal trainings in leadership and organizational management. Another interesting thing is that the BKFDO members and leaders are very conscious and practices the delineation of being a PO officer and being an elected official: if a PO officer is already elected as a barangay official, he/she needs to let go of the former position to give way for other leaders to assume the vacant position. Still, in general, a clear plan for engagement with the barangay structure is still in the stage of infancy and needs to be developed so that the community plans could be formally adopted by the Barangay Council in their annual investment and development plans. But the essence of community empowerment, through the auspices of BKFDO, is very evident in its active implementation of plans and projects particularly the Microhydro power (MHP) plant that provides electricity to Sitio Kimbutan Proper households and several community infrastructures.

Environment. The water being utilized to power up the MHP system comes from the Dangui creek and five other smaller creeks, the source of which is a 35-hectare watershed under the care of the local Roman Catholic Church. But in the whole barangay, only several watershed areas are remaining and the rest are either deforested or used as farmlots by the farmers through kaingin. In general, the ecological problems in the barangay is considered critical: soil erosion due to kaingin system, and deforested hills causing landslides and muddy roads during rainy season that makes the road leading to the community in the degree from difficult to trek to non-passable, and the soil is non-productive during dry season because of the lack of proper irrigation. During strong typhoons, the ensuing landslides put heavy damage to the crops as what had happened during the onslaught of recent Typhoons Pedring and Quiel last 2011. Thus, there is a big necessity to include in the community plan the development of watershed management to protect the source of the water for the MHP and save the crops from the devastation.

At present, Kimbutan is considered unelectrified by the local electric cooperative, along with the two other nearby upland barangays. According to the Nueva Vizcaya Electric Cooperative (Nuvelco), of the three unelectrified barangays, Brgy. Kimbutan is the priority to be connected into the local grid due to its strategic location and its thriving vegetable production. As assessed by the local government, the barangay has the potential to be the center of agricultural production in the upland areas, thus, the need for it to be electrified. With this in mind, Nuvelco had already submitted a grid extension plan to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for funding. But currently, there is still no response from these national agencies regarding the plan and funding.

Status of Microhydro Project. As early as 1998, the concept of Community-Based Renewable Energy Systems (CBRES) was introduced in the barangay. CBRES are small, decentralized energy systems that tap local energy sources (hydro, solar, and wind) and are established through community efforts. Microhydro (MHP) is a tested viable CBRES for sites with adequate water source such as Brgy. Kimbutan. The Kimbutan MHP project is owned, operated, managed and sustained by the local community organization (BKFDO) in partnership with support institutions (SIBAT, Brgy. Kimbutan Council, and assistance from DOE).

A MHP is designed to generate affordable and adequate energy for households and community, based on the assessment of present and future energy needs (e.g., for household and community lighting, agro-processing, livelihood activities, potable water and irrigation systems, and battery charging stations). In this way, benefits derived from energy provision by CBRES directly serve or impact on communities. The community sets the household tariff based on capacity to pay, and other tariffs to meet the cost-covering tariff.

The 7-kilowatt (KW) MHP system in Kimbutan was installed in 2003, originally serving 11 households. At present, it provides electricity for 24 households and the community clinic, day care center, and the barangay hall. Due to the damage in one of its electro-mechanical components (the generator), the system’s full potential is not being utilized. Only 30% of the 7KW is currently in use within the 12-hour (6pm to 6am) a day operation that limits the use of each household in lighting of only three CFL bulbs; no other small appliances, such as TV, are being used, except to some of those who has it. The limited potential of the MHP is also attributed to the absence of the electronic load controller (ELC) component that automatically regulates the electricity supply so that a stable supply would be ensured and the loads (lights, small and big appliances, and small motorized equipments) will not be damaged due to electric surge.

The MHP’s civil structures are also in bad condition mostly due to the landslides caused by the Pedring and Quiel typhoons last year. These are the intake (that catches the water source), forebay (that stores the required water volume then supply it to the turbine through the penstock), and the powerhouse (where the turbine and generator are located).

Also, the present MHP’s transmission and distribution lines is made out of undersized copper that does not comply with the standards; further, the electric posts are still made of local wood that are prone to typhoon damage. Lastly, the MHP has currently only two operators.

SIBAT in partnership with BKDFO will now go into upgrading and improving the microhydro project into a power enterprise which I will be providing further details in my next report.

Rudy Lasoy, Chairman of Kimbutan Farmers' Org

SIBAT's project team visit to Kimbutan

Kimbutan elders during project meeting

Medical Supplies to Hospitals in Chile: "January 2012 Report"

Adam See — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:07:03 GMT

VIDA is shipping one container carrying over $500,000 in aid in February 2012 to our partner is Chile, Fundacion FEDES (Fundacion Educativa de Desarrollo Económico y Social). FEDES will be distributing the supplies to the most impoverished areas of the cities of Santiago, Valparaiso, Talca and Curico (also badly affected by the latest earthquake). VIDA has arranged the shipping of 6 containers to Chile in 2012 as part of the long-term support of the poor in Chile that were impacted by the earthquake.

All donations will cover the cost of shipping the supplies to Chile.

Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley Disaster Relief: "January 2012 Report"

Adam See — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:56:34 GMT

In 2011, VIDA distributed over $15 million in aid to Peru in to support our 200 plus healthcare partners. VIDA is shipping out two containers in February 2012 and our partners Americares and Direct Relief each sent one container in January 2012 to support our partners including our work with the earthquake impacted area. . With these shipments, VIDA Peru will also be resupplying our new program, Project Pamplona, which provides critical medical and nutrition services and education to shantytowns in the barren mountains surrounding Lima. VIDA has installed five pre-fab medical dispensaries that serve a population of up to 10,000 people.

VIDA is now supporting a new clinic in Cuzco called Policlinico Belen, operated my nuns who are working who are caring for single mothers and orphans. VIDA will equip the clinic with 10 hospital beds, 4 exam tables and other needed equipment and supplies. VIDA will resupply the clinic twice a year.

All donations will go to covering the cost of shipments.

Baby formula for HIV+ teen mothers in Lima, Peru: "January 2012 Report"

Adam See — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:48:58 GMT

In 2011, VIDA distributed over $15 million in aid to Peru in to support our 200 plus healthcare partners. VIDA is shipping out two containers in February 2012 and our partners Americares and Direct Relief each sent one container in January 2012 to support our partners including those serving HIV patients. With these shipments, VIDA Peru will also be resupplying our new program, Project Pamplona, which provides critical medical and nutrition services and education to shantytowns in the barren mountains surrounding Lima. VIDA has installed five pre-fab medical dispensaries that serve a population of up to 10,000 people.

All donations will go to covering the cost of shipments.

Medical Supplies for Hospitals in Haiti: "January 2012 Report"

Adam See — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:42:31 GMT

VIDA is continuing to support grassroots efforts to bring medical care to the poorest areas of Haiti.

VIDA supported supported the third trip of a medical team headed by Haitian born physician, Alix J.Magloire who is the Chief of Medicine at the Oakland Veterans Administration Clinic. Dr. Magloire, and two other Haitian born physicians are working at a healthcare center in Cayes Jacmal. The doctor's were able to ship an ultrasound and anesthesia machines on their most recent visit along with general medical supplies.

VIDA also support a local church group which travel to Haiti in December. They brought 24 suitcases of medical supplies to benefit an orphanage in Port au Prince.

Free Mental Health Support for Foster Kids: "Adding 12 new Local Chapters in 2012"

Jonas Heineman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:59:06 GMT

2012 Professional Meeting

In addition to the 250+ new therapists who volunteered to see a current or former foster youth in 2011, we also recruited 12 new Clinical Directors to start Local Chapters in these communities:

Charlotte, NC - Fairfield Co., CT - Long Beach, CA - Milwaukee, WI - Napa, CA - Oshkosh, WI - Princeton, NJ - Santa Clara Co, CA - Solano County, CA - Sonoma Co., CA - Tuscon, AZ - Washington, DC

These new Clinical Directors have just returned home after beginning their three-year Clinical Director Fellowships at our Annual Professional Meeting in San Francisco. During this yearly event, they learned about the national organization and how to run a chapter, and networked with more experienced Clinical Directors in their second and third years of managing Local Chapters.

With 12 new chapters established in 2012, A Home Within is now operating 55 Local Chapters in 22 states. Your contributions through Global Giving provided the resources we need to keep recruiting therapists, expanding to serve new areas, and improving on the services we provide. Thanks to donors like you, we're building on the success of our best year to date in 2011 and confident we'll report another record year at the end of 2012.

P.S. - Want to get updates directly from us? Email 'newsletter@ahomewithin.org' to subscribe.
You can also Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news and updates.

Links:

Help 100 Underprivileged Kids in Zimbabwe: "Youth Cares program Update"

Thelma Sithole — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:34:21 GMT

Scout Camp

While education is at the heart of The Tekeshe Foundation we are also committed to the social development of young people. We believe that young people need more than academics, they also need to be taught life's lessons which are not taught at a desk in the classroom. Young people need to be taught to have good moral values, they should be taught to be honest, kind, to respect their elders and to work hard. Yet due to the deaths of many adults young people in these rural areas have no parental guidance and there is no one to teach them good moral values. Through our Youth Cares program we teach the youth life skills and offer them opportunities for leadership and development. We envision this initiative producing well-balanced young people who are empowered to utilize their acquired skills to transform their communities and resolve global issues.

Through our Youth Cares program we work in collaboration with other youth programs ranging from Scouting progam and Youth Ventures to church youth programs to educate and actively engage the youth in a variety of activities that develop the life skills necessary to promote a strong sense of leadership and community awareness.

The Tekeshe Foundation offers a Scouting program. To date there are over 60 youth participating in the program. The Tekeshe Foundation provides the scouts with the uniforms and the funds to go on camping trips and to host camping events. In addition, The Tekeshe Foundation sponsors the scouts to attend an annual Jamboree held in the city of Bulawayo.

Last year, the Tekeshe Foundation scouts organized a Scout camping event . They hosted 30 scouts from Mutare, a town 3 hours from the village. The theme for the camping event was Commemoration of the Day of the African Child. The activities included lessons about History of Scouting,Explanation of the scout Law and Promise,Scout Signs,Behaviour Change,Environmental Sustainability, Games in which the scouts had time for competitions.

This event really meant a lot to the Tekeshe Foundation scouts. During my visit to Zimbabwe this December, I had a chance to talk to Xhitani Mutseyami, one of the scout leaders. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the donors for making this event possible. He explained to me what an impact the Scouting program is having on the youth in this village.

Once again thank you so much for making this event possible. Without your support we couldnt have held this event.

Best Regards,

Thelma

Scout Camp

Safe Drinking Water For 200 People in India: "Safe Drinking Water for 200 People in India Update"

Jackie Goneconti — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:56:01 GMT

Thank you again for helping Blue Planet Network fund our NGO member Project Well to construct 5 more modern bore-dugwells in the district of Nadia in West Bengal, India, as well as to routinely visit villages for educational meetings. The planned locations for the wells are in 3 schools and 1 health clinic and will provide approximately 200 people with arsenic free drinking water.

Construction of these wells will begin when we have the complete funding of $7,500. We are just $1535.00 shy of that, so please help spread to the word to bump us over! The wells will take approximately 1 year to build, start to finish, allowing for logistical problems the site, weather, or community, etc. might present. Consumer demographic data will be gathered on the well's impact approximately 6 months later.

The improvements to design through village meetings and increased community education are of great importance. For example, village meetings identify any changing conditions, such as the non-availability of water-bearing sand layers, or local disputes. Project Well held over 45 health awareness meetings from January - July 2011 for this project as well as many others. They addressed community misconceptions about the new methods of accessing water versus traditional methods. This is designed to inspire project confidence.

This past year in Nadia, meetings were held in the villages of Dumuriya, Rosullopur and Gopalpur. The topic discussed during these health meetings were on health effects of arsenic, why chlorine is used to treat the dugwell water (as is done in the metropolitan water supply), despite the chlorine odor and taste and how to remove bad odor by using cheap earthen filters. Without these repeat visits soliciting feedback, villagers would continue to be duped into drinking arsenic tainted water because it appears crystal clear and odor free. Proper sanitation and personal hygiene are also discussed at these meetings. In addition, there is a sustainability plan for these wells that requires the users to purchase Theoline, the chlorine disinfectant, and also repair minor wear-and-tear. Field workers will visit the wells every month for one year to get technical and utility reports, after which they will inspect the wells once or twice a year.

Your generous support is invaluable. Thank you again, from all of us at Blue Planet Network!

Attachments:

Photography of West Bengal's drinking water crisis (PDF)

Literacy for a billion with Bollywood songs: "PlanetRead in Top 100 NGOs of Global Journal # 27"

Parthibhan Amudhan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:27:22 GMT

Dear Friends,

PlanetRead has been championing Same Language Subtitling (SLS) nationally in close collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad for over a decade now. SLS is simply the idea of subtitling the lyrics of song programming on TV, in the ‘same’ language as the audio.

The lyrics of Hindi songs are subtitled in Hindi, Tamil songs in Tamil, and so on, in every Indian language. If SLS is implemented on every song, in every language, it can deliver regular reading practice to the already 650 million TV viewers in India, as part of their daily staple of entertainment. First conceived at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1996, SLS has since been thoroughly researched, piloted in 10 languages on Doordarshan (DD), and proven to cause inescapable reading among hundreds of millions of viewers. Significantly, SLS is a concept that contributes, both to mass reading skill improvement and the ratings of the TV programmes. Education wins. Broadcaster wins. SLS is cost-effective. On a Hindi program: One US dollar gives weekly 30 minutes of reading practice to 5,000 people for one year!

Today, we're happy to share that PlanetRead has made it to to the Top 100 NGOs of Global Journal. See links below. Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information on our progress.Thank you for supporting our Same Language Subtitling (SLS) work for mass literacy in the past.

Links:

PlanetRead on The Global Journal

Provide respite and end-of-life care to children: "Ryan House Shining Star"

Nancy Flores — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:29:26 GMT

Ryan Photo

Ryan House Shining Star: Ryan

Jonathan and Holly Cottor learned their youngest son, Ryan, was not just a “late bloomer,” but was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. There is no treatment or cure for SMA and they were told that 80% of children diagnosed before their first birthday would likely not survive to their second birthday. “We were told to take Ryan home and enjoy the time we had with him,” said Jonathan. “We felt devastated, shocked, and anxious about what the days or months ahead would bring.”

“We felt as though we’d hit a wall both physically and emotionally,” Holly said. “Ryan House is not only a dream come true for our family, but for the over 4,000 children diagnosed with life-threatening conditions in Maricopa County, Arizona. Ryan is not only the Ryan of Ryan House, but a frequent visitor who looks forward to his next stay so he can play games with friends, and be spoiled by every member of the Ryan House team!”

Links:

Disaster Relief Supplies Drive: "Disaster Relief Supplies Drive 3"

Sachiko Takagi — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:07:12 GMT

Ready to deliver daily supplies at Yamamoto-cho

The requested items are slowing down after 6 months from earthquake and tsunami. We are now in the next stage to think how we can recover our economics in affected areas. Sometimes sending relief items that can be purchased locally will affect business over there, but still there are a lot of people who cannot afford to buy necessities, especially the elderly who have no income. When we send donated items from individuals and corporations, we always ask our local partners to find out if there is need and whether or not it will affect their business. The honest advise from local partners are valuable information for us.

Since last report, we sent out items 7 times:

Oct. 26 Yamamoto-cho (local NGO) 33 boxes of daily supplies

Oct. 26 Ogatsu (local NGO) boxes of daily supplies

Nov. 16 Ishinomaki NGO 4 boxes of toothbrush and toothpaste

Nov. 26 Ogatsu NGO 100 packages of daily supplies including food

Dec. 10 Ogatsu NGO 35 sets of non-prescription drug/OTC

Dec. 20 Iwanuma NGO Candy's and Chocolate for Xmas event

Dec. 26 Ogatsu NGO 15 displays

Jan. 14 Ogatsu NGO Daily supplies

Free Market at Ogatsu

Links: