GlobalGiving Progress Reports

The Blossom Bus: Help Rural Girls Get To School!: "The Movers and Shakers of Mewat"

Glenn Fawcett — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:15:03 GMT

Afsana is a role model for girls in her village

Since we visited the charismatic Afsana in 2012, she has been busy inspiring other girls in her village to join the Blossom Bus and attend school, and the ripple effect of her efforts is highly evident. There are now six girls from this tiny, middle-of-nowhere village picturesquely sandwiched between ponds filled by underground aquifers and quarry stone for road and wall building.

All of the one- and two-room homes and in this otherwise minimalist setting feature exquisite hues of ochre and mottled green-grey sandstone and slate. I’m sure for the locals these materials are not at all inspiring, as they see their homes as simply an extension of the barren landscape. But for a visitor with an eye for aesthetics and enviro-friendly development, a settlement of single story dwellings blended into the landscape -- with not a single sign board or plastic wrapper in sight -- is the stuff of ecotopias.

We planned to visit some of the girls we had brought back to school through the Blossom Bus and as it turned out, we were delighted to know Afsana was ‘in town’ and we could meet her as well.

Our first stop was to the single room home of year 8 girl Sarita, 16 years-old from Hutchpuri Village where we also met her mother, older brother and his son. Her mother Jumna doesn’t know her age but her oldest son tells us the oldest daughter is 30, so we guess Jumna is around 45. Jumna tells us, “I’ve never been to school, not even for one day. We are poor and became even poorer when we had to sell our buffaloes to marry our daughter and lost the income from selling the milk. We have no land and I now fully understand the importance of education. Girls learn how to speak out and can also get a job and provide a decent income for the family.”

Sarita has three older sisters; one completed grade 5, another grade 6 and the third never went to school at all. Her father does not work and her older brother is married and provides $25 a month so the family has food to eat. Sarita was forced to drop out of school after finishing grade 7 a year ago and tells us, “my family is very poor and they asked me to drop out of school and stay at home. I was very sad and disappointed but could not argue with my parents at the time. During the past year however I’ve been inspired by Afsana. She is now in grade 10, the first from our village, and is very popular and inspiring. She seems very educated to us and speaks well. All the girls look up to her. Afsana lobbied for us to join the Blossom Bus too. I asked my family many times and they finally agreed to meet the driver and they were convinced it was important and that they should let me go back to school. Now I am very happy!”

She further tells us, “the primary school in my village is not good and teachers are not teaching well. I am now attending class 8 at Chaisa village high school some 5 kms away. We leave at 7.30 am and start back at 2.30 pm. It only takes 20 minutes or so for the journey. I really enjoy studying, English and Hindi are my favorite subjects.” When asked about her future dreams she tells us with a faraway look in her eyes, “I want to go to college and study science.”

As we heard Sarita’s report about Afsana being much looked up to and an inspiration to the girls of Hutchpuri, I was delighted that we would be able to meet and catch up with her during our visit.

We gave our regards to an ornery camel as we entered pathways taking us further inside the village to where Afsana was waiting with her mother, her older sister and the sister’s daughter. We all lit up with delight at seeing each other but were surprised they were living in a lean-to and not in their pucca brick dwelling. It turns out the oldest boy has married and now dominates the main house with his wife and growing family while the rest of the ‘girls’ make do under a thatch roof with no walls. It’s kind of shocking to me but Suraj and Shyam Vir, our local staff, feel the location is good and cool during the summer months.

We launched in to our interview with Afsana and asked how she was progressing and what’s been happening with other girls in her community. She tells us she convinced four new girls to join the Blossom Bus and she herself has just completed her year 10 board exams and expects to progress to year 11 in this academic year. The results are not yet out but she tells us, “I expect to get a 1st division pass. I am top scorer of 16 girls and somewhere around the middle if you include the 64 boys at our class level.”

We look around their simple dwelling and note there is a light and ask if that assists Afsana in studying at night to which her mum replies, “ We don’t ask her to do any work, we’re supporting her in her studies and we put up a light and connected electricity to this dwelling so she can read at night.”

When asked about the future, Afsana tells us soberly, “I want to study at college but its 25 kms from here. We will just take it one step at a time. First I have to clear year 12.” We can’t help feeling there is a bright future ahead and feel compelled to help this inspiring young woman as much as possible.

Sarita

Afsana's humble dwelling

The author gets a bite from a local camel

Links:

Educate a Guatemalan Orphan: "Laidy Vanessa Villalobos"

Jose Arevalo — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:43:41 GMT

Doña Olga comes originally from Escuintla, has lived a life without any kind of education and a lot of hard work. From a very early age, she got together with Don Miguel and as a fruit of that commitment they had a son named Miguel Angel.

Things weren’t going well between Don Miguel and Doña Olga and they have a lot of problems this lead the relationship into a break up. Doña Olga decided then to start a new relationship with a Don Ezequiel who gave her three more children after moving out with hom. Thinking everything was going to be a little easier, Doña Olga had no idea he was going to make things even worse.

Laidy is the only daughter in this little family. Growing up among boys and an alcoholic father who used to mistreat her was not easy at all. His dad used to mistreat her mom as well by insulting and hitting her while children could watch.

After arguing a lot, Doña Olga got tired of being mistreated so she decided to abandon her home, and they started living in the street. Since they didn´t have a permanent place to spend the nights they approached our help through “Albergue Santa Madre”, one of the programs from Asociación Nuestros Ahijados where a temporary shelter is provided every night to homeless people. After several nights, the project could realize about the children’s situation and decided to help them by making them become part of the Dreamer Center so that they could study.

After a little while, The project decides to provide this family with a home where they all currently live. Miguel goes to the Scheel Center and the rest of the children including Laidy go to the Dreamer Center.

Laidy is currently in fourth grade. She is a very cooperative child with a bunch of dreams, goals and desires. She always goes to school and constantly show her gratitude to the project as well as her siblings. They are aware this place gave them the opportunity to become somebody in life.

Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund: "Your donations are helping in Moore, Oklahoma"

Britt Lake — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:52:30 GMT

It has been with great sadness that all of us here at GlobalGiving have been following the news of the 1.3-mile wide tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma on May 20, which damaged hundreds of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals and killed dozens with wind speeds up to 210 mph. Within several hours, GlobalGiving partner organizations were already on the ground working to help communities affected. Your donations to the Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund are supporting these organizations in this important work:

Save the Children is creating Child Friendly Spaces in shelters, creating safe play areas where kids can be kids again. They also will be deploying infant and toddler hygiene materials to support young children's well-being while they are displaced from their homes.
Do Your Part is supporting local organizations through information gathering and coordinating donations of clean water, food, medical supplies, hygiene products, and shelter to those that need it most.
Architecture for Humanity will work with local professionals and universities to rebuild community buildings, such as youth centers, public sports facilities and centers for the elderly.
Pitch in for Baseball is working with the Youth Baseball association in Moore, Oklahoma, which serves 1,400 kids, to provide new and gently used youth baseball uniforms and equipment to those kids and communities devastated by the tornado.
Kids in Distressed Situations (KIDS) is delivering brand-new clothing, undergarments, shoes, blankets, sheets and towels, baby items, and furnishings to help the hardest hit families in Moore.

GlobalGiving In-the-Field team member Jenn Eason, a proud Moore, Oklahoma native, wanted us to pass along this personal note:

“I am so thankful for the money you have donated going towards the relief of my friends and family back home... and THEY are so thankful. I am amazed that after four days, GlobalGiving’s original goal was exceeded! It brings tears to my eyes!”

Thank you again for all of the support that you have already provided to these organizations. We will continue to update you in the coming weeks and months on how your donations are put to work to rebuild these communities.

ORBIS to Provide Training on Personal Hygiene: "Teaching Personal Hygiene to Combat Disease"

James Harold — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:57:19 GMT

Health Extension Worker Kayaola Gelismo

Late last year we visited Konso, southern Ethiopia, and met with Kayaola Gelismo. Kayaola is an ORBIS-trained Health Extension Worker. Working door to door in this densely populated region, she is charged with informing the local community about the importance of good personal hygiene in the battle against the blinding eye disease, trachoma.

Each year, Kayaola attends a day ORBIS training programme. This initiative focuses on highlighting the importance of facial cleanliness. In this way, we can slow down the spread of bacteria which causes trachoma infection. Kayaola engages with the local community through demonstrating hand and face washing techniques. Her work centres on women and children to ensure that the next generation are the first to grow up free from the threat of avoidable blindness.

Kayaola told us that slowly but surely people are realising the lasting effects her work has. Through simple yet effective personal hygiene education, ORBIS is ensuring that local people have the awareness they need to eradicate trachoma from their community forever. Without your support, this would not be possible and for this we thank you.

Links:

Visit our Website!

Supporting Girls Education in Rural Kenya: "Lucy Visits New York!"

Elizabeth Droggitis — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:28:02 GMT

Lucy Mulenkei, director of our Kenyan sister organization the Indigenous Information Network, was in New York this week for the twelfth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). The UNPFII is a yearly session hosted at the United Nations that gives Indigenous Peoples from around the world the chance to discuss the issues and challenges they are facing as well as to share recommendations for how to address them. At the UNPFII, Lucy moderated a MADRE panel that hosted Indigenous women from around the world to discuss and share strategies for combating violence against Indigenous women.

With Lucy in town, MADRE took the opportunity to put together a shipment of Helping Hands donations for the shelter schools for young girls that MADRE and Lucy operate together in Kenya. The Nanyori Shelter Network educates and shelters young girls who are escaping female genital mutilation and forced marriage. With your support, we are able to provide Lucy with the supplies she needs to keep the shelter schools up and running. Lucy will return to Kenya with school supplies including notebooks, pens, paper and crayons. We were also able to donate toiletries, soap, toothpaste, vitamins and over-the-counter medicines for the shelters.

Thank you for your support!

Improve learning for 100,000 kids in rural India!: "Setting the ground !"

K A Sheela — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:47:43 GMT

TTF plans to run its 6 month Darpana programme with 5 days of workshops and 3 rounds of school based support for fresh teachers. For teachers who have undergone the programme in the past, 3 days of customized training and 2 rounds of support will be given. In addition, Heads of the primary schools will also be trained through our Samartha programme with 8 days of workshops over 6 months.

We initially planned to train 250 teachers and 50 heads of schools during 2013-14 with support from Global Giving. Till date we have received funds to train only 50 teachers. TTF will commence the training programme in the month of June – July 2013. The team is working towards gaining permission from the Government Department to work with teachers and heads, selecting the clusters and teachers/heads for the programme. We have conducted 4 days of Train the Trainer Programme for our internal facilitators.

We will draw a training calender for training very soon and the same will be communicated with the Department officials and there-after with the schools.

Community-led Reforestation in Totonicapan Forest: "Planting trees and building stoves"

Rebecca Oliver — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:38:38 GMT

Showcasing reforestation techniques

In Totonicapan, EcoLogic is harnessing the strong sense of community that exists in the beautiful northern Guatemala by coordinating with nearby schools and water committees to forest to keep the momentum moving forward on reforestation efforts. Recently nearly 80,000 plants have been reforested over 71 hectares of forest. EcoLogic has also helped to installed 40 fuel-efficient stoves in Totonicapan to alleviate pressure on the forest for fuel-wood. The news stoves require less wood than traditionally used open-pit fires. The forest is managed by the 48 Cantons, a generations-old and well-respected authority in the community. EcoLogic works with the 48 Cantons to put on educational workshops for youth and reforestation trainings for community volunteers. In recent years, EcoLogic has help build 8 greenhouses in the forest that can hold up to 17,000 saplings each of native tree species. During the rainy season in late summer, EcoLogic, 48 Cantons, and the community come together to transplant the trees to the forest - and conserve the land for future generations.

ORBIS to Build and Repair Latrines for Communities: "Building Latrines in Konso"

James Harold — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:20:29 GMT

Building Latrines in Konso

ORBIS has been working in Konso, southern Ethiopia, for over five years now. On a recent visit to the region, we had a fantastic opportunity to witness the building of a new community latrine.

Located just off the town's market square, this facility will benefit an estimated 1,000 people per week and serve as a key element of our strategy to improve sanitation facilities in order to combat avoidable blindness in the region. Before ORBIS began construction, open defecation was a common practice in this area. Through building community latrines, ORBIS is inhibiting the spread of the bacteria which causes the blinding eye disease trachoma.

Providing access to basic sanitation is a priority in our work. We have witnessed the local population's continued willingness to learn about the benefits of good hygiene. In turn, public attitudes towards sanitation are improving; this is key to the success of our work in Ethiopia.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can continue to build and maintain latrines in Konso and beyond. On behalf of all those who directly benefit from your support - Thank You! Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about our work.

Links:

Visit our website!

Help Irish Cancer Soc. Services for 25,000 peop: "May 2013 Project Update"

Anna McNally — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:27:27 GMT

Daffodil Day 2013

Thank you for choosing to support the Irish Cancer Society.

At the Irish Cancer Society our vision and our ambition is nothing less than a future without cancer. The Irish Cancer Society was established in 1963 and this year our 26^th Daffodil Day took place on March 22^nd.

Unfortunately Daffodil Day 2013 was severely affected by the bad weather conditions we experienced across Ireland. Although Daffodil Day was badly affected we were heartened by the support we received from volunteers who braved the weather to sell our Daffodil pins to the public; it was a wet and windy Daffodil Day but our streets were still filled with smiling volunteers. Our Ordinary Heroes, took to the streets despite the elements and raised vital funds enabling us to continue to offer our free cancer services some of which are outlined below.

The Irish Cancer Society helps people affected by cancer to ensure no one has to face cancer alone. All our services are FREE to patients and their families. There are more than 90,000 people living with cancer in Ireland and 1 in 3 people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime so funding to provide our vital services is more needed than ever and will allow us to achieve our mission; to eliminate cancer.

We have had many notable achievements in 2012;

We now have 7 Daffodil Centres around Ireland which have received over 11,000 visitors in 2012.
In 2012, we received over 22,000 calls to the National Cancer Helpline ( Freefone 1800 200 700)
We have 220 nurses working for the Irish Cancer Society with 23 nurses working in home all around the country on any given night.
In 2012 1,756 financial aid grants have been provided to cancer patients who are struggling financially.

95% of the Irish Cancer Society's income comes from public donations and fundraising. The funds we receive through Global Giving are essential to ensuring that we can continue to provide our services free of charge to those who need most, and ensure that no one has to face cancer alone.

From all the staff at the Irish Cancer Society and everyone who uses our services – THANK YOU for your support! Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy 2013.

Provide nutrition for 500 families in South Africa: "Report on Missionvale Nutrition Programme May 2013"

Linda van Oudheusden — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:39:05 GMT

Children in Missionvale township

Dear friends

Another three months have passed and your generous contributions have ensured that our Nutrition and Wellness Unit could continue providing essential food items to families desperately in need.

It never ceases to amaze us how much impact the nutrition makes on the community. In many instances the food becomes a great incentive for attending skills development / educational programmes! This has a tremendous positive effect on the community as they are learning skills that will empower them going into the future, and many of our HIV patients that used to be very weak, are starting to gain strength! This is so important as the effects of HIV have hit our area harshly. There is a definite increase in the number of child headed households and granny headed households in Missionvale. As a result, the children are not in school and so the cycle of poverty continues.

We are so grateful to you for contributing towards providing nutrition for these families and giving them a chance in life! Once you meet a person at the point of their need, you can grow the star in each one. Because of YOUR help, we have many stars shining in Missonvale!

With gratitude and love from Sister Ethel and all of us in Missionvale

Our lovely ladies in the kitchen, Julia & Jossita

Transform a Girl's Life Through Soccer: "Ladies' Turn Kicks Off 2013 Season!"

Beth Packer — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:13:19 GMT

Lala and the Saint Louis girls

A few days ago I received a phone call from Lala, a former 2009 and 2011 Ladies Turn participant and coach of a beginner’s team in Saint Louis, Senegal. I could actually feel the excitement in her voice resonate through the telephone as she exclaimed: “we just had our first practice, we have twenty girls and the parents came out to support us. Pray for us, we’re ready!”

Ladies Turn 2013 kicked off in the regions of Thiès, Saint-Louis, Kaolack and Kounguel regions of Senegal this past weekend (18^th-19^th of May)! Tournament games will be played every Wednesday and Saturday through the 5^th of June in local neighborhoods. Lala and her team hope to make it to the play-offs, which will be held on the 12^th and 15^th of June, and the GRAND FINAL in Saint Louis the 22^nd of June! You can follow the action through live updates, learn more about the teams, players and the regions where the tournament takes place by liking us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/LadiesTurnSoccer?fref=ts Or follow us on twitter @LadiesTurn

This year, Ladies Turn decided to do things a bit differently. In order to better accomplish our goal of increasing the visibility of women’s soccer throughout the country, we decided to decentralize our tournament, this means playing in regions where girls playing soccer is less common than in the capital city of Dakar. After a strategic assessment of various locations, taking into account the enthusiasm of local girls and feasibility of location, we chose the urban regions of Thiès and Saint-Louis and the rural regions of Kaolack and Kounguel.

Unlike past tournaments, this year Ladies Turn is entirely reserved for beginner level girl’s. We wrestled long and hard with this decision, but in the end chose to include only beginner girls in hopes of starting from the ground up to build support for the growing women’s soccer movement in Senegal. We want former players like Lala to engage and take ownership in this movement, looking beyond the tournament, to the future of women’s soccer in Senegal.

Like Lala shared with me, “I’m doing this because, well, I’m getting older, I’m not going to be playing much longer, the future of women’s soccer in Senegal, it lies in the hands of these girls, it will just go away if we don’t do something about it”. Through passionate women like Lala, girls are learning to stand out in spaces where people don’t think they belong. With each step on the soccer pitch, their voices grow a little bit louder. Ladies Turn is about much more than gaining soccer skills, it is empowerment in action.

Together with the girls, we thank you for being a part of our Ladies' Turn team,

Nio Far ( we are in it together)

Beth, Jennifer and all of us at Ladies Turn

Girls in Thies fight for ball

a tigresse takes U.S.T in Thies

A crowd gathers to support girls in Thies

Map of the tournament

Links:

Like us on Facebook to follow the action LIVE

Health, Sanitation and Food Security Project: "Vegetable Gardening in Compostela Valley"

Cora Sayre — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:07:25 GMT

Training and distribution of vegetable seeds

Starting this month (May) is considered very critical in terms of the survival and food security of Typhoon Pablo survivors because by this time food aid is far and in between and the support of international aid is dwindling and limited only to maintenance of water and sanitation and some food supplies. This situation is unlike during the first weeks when Pablo struck and food aid was plentiful. This time the survivors especially those living in scattered communities or those who have returned to what is left of their homes are left largely to fend for themselves and raising food via agriculture is still at the starting stage since their priority is to secure their housing. During our visit to Monkayo in Compostela Valley we found out that all trees, bananas and vegetation were devoid of leaves and most are uprooted a testament to the fury of the typhoon’s heavy wind that lashed the area for 5 hours, according to local residents. This type of activity (vegetable gardening support) we have done with excellent results among survivors of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan and Iligan City in 2011.

This time we were able to distribute 300 sets of basic gardening kits comprising small garden tools, vegetable seeds, organic fertilizer and simple gardening guide/manual (in Cebuano). The manual detail basic skills in organic home-gardening and using local resources available in the households. For example, sacks and plastic bags or bottles can be used for organic gardening and organic fertilizer is available from biodegradable household waste such as those from the kitchen. We trained the 300 beneficiaries how to do this.

Bricks to Books: "Literacy classes for migrant laborers children"

Usha Bhaskar — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:02:54 GMT

Activities Taken-up in the last quarter:

Suriya and Madhan are two brothers; they discontinued their studies due to split family parenting and forced to work in a mechanic shop. Though Suriya and Madhan are bright and very promising students the circumstances pushed them to discontinue their studies and work. When the representatives of Learning Links Foundation came to know about this, they joined Suriya and Madhan in the literacy batches and started teaching them literacy skills asked to continue their education. These students were taken to the nearby Govt School for knowing the possibility to get admission. These students are likely to rejoin in formal schooling by coming academic year.

Special trainings for migrant laborer’s children:

In order to make effective utilization of summer vacation special literacy batches are organized for the children of migrant laborers. Good response is observed from these children due to summer vacation and a large group of children are joining in these batches. Special training is given to the children to fill the gaps in Math, Science and English to enable them to rejoin the regular stream of education.

Apart of literacy skills these children are also trained on basics of digital literacy to motivate them to learn more in the field of computers.

Eye check up for 1870 children

An eye check up campaign was organized for the students of Govt schools at Gurgaon – India. A preliminary level eye screening test was conducted for 1 870 students from 3 different schools. This initiation motivated the students to focus on health concerns. A database was prepared to identify the children with visionary problems and advised for further level of check-up and treatments.

Support the special children in their studies:

Visually challenged students of Queen Mary’s College Chennai - India wrote their semester exams with the help of the volunteers mobilized by Learning Links Foundation. The involvement of the participants in helping these students depicted their interest towards the community. This initiative paved a way to help these disabled students.

Attachments:

Literacy_Classes_for_migrant_laborers_children.pdf (PDF)

RideLondon-Surrey 100 for Action for Children: "Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 is coming!"

Shurron Phull — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:02:40 GMT

Celebrating the legacy for cycling created by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 is a 100-mile cycling event described as the 'London Marathon on Wheels'.

Taking place on Sunday, August 4, the event will start in the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follow a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside. With leg-testing climbs and a route recently made famous by the world’s best cyclists, it will be a truly spectacular event for all involved.

But the distance is not the only challenge. All those taking part must complete the course in nine hours as the elite race, including many of the Olympic greats, will be hot on your wheels.

The line-up includes ex-Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith; double Olympic rowing gold medallist James Cracknell; Olympic gold medal hurdler Sally Gunnell, OBE and Grand National-winning jockey Marcus Armytage.

So far we have nine Dell colleagues who are taking part and raising money for Action for Children, and we wish you all the best of luck!

Carolyn Bell
Chris Saunders
Chris Johnson
Colin Campbell
Gordon Bowes
Greg Nottage
Jamie McRobb
Mark Andrews
Paul Elcock

We have a few places left in our RideLondon-Surrey 100 team, so make sure you get in touh today if you would like to join our team. All you have to do is email: challenge@actionforchildren.org.uk and ask to be part of this amazing event.

Links:

For more information on how to enter the event visit our website

Read&Connect:Georgia Joins the Global Conversation: "Radarami Update - May 2013"

Mitch Belkin — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:43:47 GMT

Radarami at Tbilisi Book Festival

Dear Radarami Sponsors,

As you well know, Radarami was founded because there is a cadre of isolated and intellectually hungry Georgians eager for information about the world beyond Georgia’s borders—a world that's only available to speakers of major languages. Because publishers simply aren't interested in this small, poor market, Georgians find themselves in the dark when it comes to major global issues. It is with your help that we are pulling them out of the dark and connecting Georgians with new ideas.

We’ve been hard at work the past three months, here’s what we’ve been up to:

In April, we published Michael Lewis’s book “Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World” which we launched in the small town of Akhaltsikhe located in Southwestern Georgia. "Boomerang" is a fascinating exploration of the Eurozone crisis; he takes the reader to Greece, Iceland, Germany, Ireland and the US to explain the danger of debt. In a lower-middle income country such as Georgia, it is essential that citizens understand the potential consequences of government mishandling of cheap credit. We are very pleased with the book’s warm reception in Georgia.

At the Akhaltsikhe event, over 35 dedicated young people came to listen to information about our mission, the book "Boomerang" and our previous books. We have provided you with a few photographs of the event and the Boomerang book (the orange one).

In addition to our monthly book launches, our volunteers have been spending time giving radio and TV interviews, manning our stall at the Tbilisi Book Fair, and doing our best to get the word out to more and more Georgians about this exciting project. Your continued support allows us to host more events and to help transport rural readers to these discussions. Beyond the monthly costs of translation, editing, and printing, we are also hoping to develop new software to upgrade our current SMS texting program to allow readers to text other readers in their area and organize events independently.

Next week, we are launching “How soccer explains the world” by Franklin Foer, which deals with the topic of globalization by examining soccer’s reach and role in the world. The book launch is set for the small town of Zestafoni, picked specifically because it is home to the much-adored Zestafoni club team, some of whom will attend the presentation. By exploring issues such as team rivalries, local traditions, world trade and the exportation of Western culture in the context of a compelling narrative, Foer delves into the very essence of globalization.

After that, a book about education called “Work Hard. Be Nice.” by Jay Mathews is up next.

Finally, some of you may have seen Georgia in the news lately. On May 17^th, 20,000 counter-demonstrators led by Orthodox priests attacked a group of LGBT-rights supporters who were gathered to mark International Day Against Homophobia. Fortunately, all of our volunteers are safe and unharmed. However, approximately two-dozen people were injured and some even hospitalized, including a number of activists, police officers and a journalist.

This violence against a minority group has reminded us of the importance of our project which brings outside information to Georgians. In this time of transition—Georgia is still in its first decade of democratic rule, there are many social issues that this country must address and overcome. Truly knowledge is power, and we want to thank you for helping us bring some of the world's great pool of knowledge to Georgia.

If you have any other questions or comments, please email mitch@radarami.org.

Warm wishes from Tbilisi,

The Radarami Team

the ORANGE is "Boomerang" by Michael Lewis

"Boomerang" Presentation in Akhaltsikhe

60 Dignified Days for a Woman: "Not Just a Piece of Cloth"

Anshu Gupta — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:38:01 GMT

Awareness exhibition during Nirmal Bharat Yatra

Not Just A Piece Of Cloth

Women are the most marginalized in the 72% of India’s population living in rural areas. Given the poor economic status of a vast mass, a sanitary napkin for the essential biological process of menses is the last thing on the mind of most. They end up using all kinds of rags leading to widespread unhealthy practices during menses. This forms a strong connect with the prevalence of RTI and other pelvic diseases in India. The shame & silence associated with the issue makes it the most taboo subject even among women, as a vast majority face great hardships & indignity, besides health risks due to this problem.

Goonj is using old cloth lying useless in the cities as a resource to address this important yet taboo basic need of the village & slum women and in doing so focusing on a critical gap in women’s health. The clean cloth napkins are an entry point to generate more awareness on the related health and hygiene issues. In the cities for the first time we are initiating discussion on this issue by directly involving the urban women, drawing on their instinctive empathy. The use of cloth; a material most village women are comfortable and familiar with, coupled with the reuse possibilities makes it a viable option.

Recent media coverage

1. Asian Tribune wrote “Movie with four friends or dignity for four women in ‘those days’ www.asiantribune.com/node/61865 All it takes is US $ 24 or Indian Rupees 1,000 to bring dignity to how a women deals with this monthly basic need. The choice is yours…

2. A Podcast with Anshu Gupta, Ashoka Fellow and Schwab Fellow, the man behind Goonj’s pioneering work on the ignored and taboo basic need of a woman in rural India. Highlights the thought process and philosophy of Goonj – ‘Creating Paradigms: Where Trash is Currency’ - www.khemkafoundation.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=242&Itemid=259

3. Session at NASA: Using urban waste streams as a powerful development resource in rural India, Goonj is dedicated to saving lives, empowering people, and ensuring dignity for the underserved poor in rural India. Through its activities, Goonj helps to create a parallel economy that is not ‘cash based’, but ‘trash based’ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daZP09zGHLA&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1

4. David Bornstein of The New York Times wrote about the journey of Goonj to create shelter for people in rural areas using the so called urban discard. “Bridging the Clothing Divide” http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/clothing-the-poorest-for-survival/

Awareness Exhibition

Goonj understanding menstrual problems of women

Interacting with community

Interaction with community

Links:

Renovate for 2300 underprivileged Lithuanian kids: "Accomplishments for period January-April 2013"

Regina Sevelkaitiene — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:10:55 GMT

“Hello, visible and invisible in our lives comrades. God bless the fruits of your labor. Thank you, as I thank God. Everything will be fine. I hope that the children will understand that we have to be thankful for everything, and learn to share. After all, we each are pieces of puzzle in everyone’s life. ” – Kristina (single mother with 4 children, after she received anonymous food support before Easter).

In 2012 The Centre for Information and Support for Large Families helped 540 large families with 3 and more children. This number is permanently growing…

In period January – April 2013 organization collected 3000 kg clothes, toys, footwears, dishes from local community members and divided everything for people in need (for 71 poor large families and 49 other people in need). Food support (758 packages ) was organized for 153 large families growing up 538 children.

It was organized additional cultural, non-formal educational, leisure and other services for large families, especially for kids and youth.

Some services for families are delivered via two innovative projects:
1) “Financial education for poor and unemployed ”, launched in 2012. This project provides targeted non-formal education and individual consultations of professional specialists for large families, facing unemployment and poverty.

2) “Development of Large Families capability of internal and external communication” (educational “Family breakfasts” once pre month on Saturdays, for 25-30 families, cultural education via visits to theatre (263 members of target families, regular providing 150 families of topical information via electronic messages what connects clients to important for them events and services, provides links to useful laws, articles, specialists, institutions, etc.

17 representatives from target families were trained in Lithuania and abroad as youth leaders, as volunteer teachers for “parents for parents” programs, as active volunteers for community activities.

Director of organization Regina Sevelkaitiene become a finalist in elections “Women of the year in Klaipeda -2013” because of work for large families, youth and children:

http://klaipeda.diena.lt/metu-klaipediete/2013/regina-sevelkaitiene/

http://klaipeda.diena.lt/naujienos/miestas/r-sevelkaitiene-daugiavaike-eima-ikvepe-namui-ir-veiklai-metu-klaipedietes-rinkimai-477339

“Metu klaipediete 2013 ” http://www.ve.lt/video/balticum-zinios/balticum-tv-zinios-2013-03-11/

http://klaipeda.diena.lt/vaizdai/albumai/miesto-kronikos/metu-klaipediete-dalia-kancleryte-15576

To learn more about The Centre for Information and Support for Large Families other projects and accomplishments in 2012, please see our 2012 Annual report: http://www.seimubendruomene.lt/

Thank you all for all that you do for kids from large families in Lithuania.

Organization The Centre for Information and Support for Large Families have no another possibility to retain and improve services without your support .

Sincerely,

The Centre for Information and Support for Large Families

Donate Now: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/renovate-for-2300-underprivileged-lithuanian-kids/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seimubendruomene

The Centre for Information and Support for Large Families, Debreceno 3, Klaipeda, LT-94175, Lithuania

Links:

Organization's Facebook

Non-formal school for the flood hit children: "April 2013 Update"

Ali Agha — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:57:53 GMT

title Image

The floods of 2011 and 2012 were one of the worst ever experienced in Pakistan since its independence in 1947. It resulted in extensive damage to crops, livestock, infrastructure and human settlements which nearly crippled the country’s economy. In this tragedy nearly 4,000 schools were either destroyed completely or had become dysfunctional for teaching. [i]

After a preliminary damage assessment by a team from the Fatima Memorial Hospital (NUR-FMH) of the worst hit areas such as Dera Ghazi Khan in Southern Punjab, 400 families in flood hit areas were resettled by the NUR-FMH team. The team also provided medical relief, food, shelter and clothing to the flood affected people

Fatima Memorial Hospital than opened a formal school in Habit Mastui – DG Khan in Southern Punjab to address the severe need of an educational structure in in the flood affected areas. Today 200 students attend our school for free from Nursery to Grade 5. Five teachers qualified in the area of primary education have been inducted to provide quality education with instructional standards based on the latest national curriculum.

Teacher’s workshops are conducted 3 times a year for quality control in competencies such as communication skills, conflict management and curriculum planning.

Progress Indicators

The following charts detail project progression statistics such as teacher qualifications, textbook distribution, and
stationary supplies provided so far by NCOP as shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 below as well as pictorial collage of our projects in figure 2:

Our Mission Continues

The children being educated at Habit Mastui are extremely thankful to their donors who made schooling in a devastated area possible again. We need your help to carry this mission forward and request that you come forward and become a part of this initiative through your donations to educate, empower and to create a better future.

It is our aim that one day these children will stand shoulder to shoulder with children from developed areas and feel
empowered by the quality of education provided to them through our humble endeavors.

Table 1

Table 2

table 3

Table 3

Gift of Education for students of Pakistan: "March 2013 - Update"

Ali Agha — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:48:31 GMT

Title Image

Education plays a vital role in human capital formation. It raises an individual’s productivity and efficiency, consequently producing skilled manpower that is capable of leading the path to sustainable economic development. Currently Pakistan’s literacy rate is ranked at 113^th among 120 nations[i] which has hampered growth in all sectors of society.

Several factors have been identified as responsible for the education problems plaguing Pakistan. These include insufficient funding, lack of adequate implementation programs and teaching methods. This has in turn led to Pakistan showing one of the lowest literacy rates in the world.

Education is a fundamental human right and through the support of our donors in this quarter Fatima Memorial Hospital continues to spread this light amongst those who were deprived of this in the peri-urban areas of Lahore.

Recent glimpses of non-formal educational activities are available with this report

The support of our patrons has made it possible for us to educate over 18,000 children in Pakistan. Today, we request that you come forward and become a part of this initiative through your donations to educate, empower and to create a better future.

References:

[i] Business Recorder,
Global Literacy rate, Posted by Imaduddin on Wednesday, 24 October, 2012,
http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/1-front-top-news/87662-global-literacy-rate-pakistan-ranks-113th-among-120-nations-.html, Accessed on March, 2013.

Glimpses

Help DARE Network staff travel safely: "Getting into those camps is a challenge"

Pam Rogers — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:56:22 GMT

Dashing through the Mud

Dear Friends

Thank you for donating to our Microproject on Global Giving. Your kind donations will go toward the purchase of safety equipment for our truck that takes all the supplies and support to our 60 workers and hundreds of refugee clients and volunteers in the 5 camps on the Thai Burma Border. The rainy season is upon us and the mountain roads are slick with mud. We are driving very carefully indeed and sometime taking boats up the Salaween River to reach the camps.

We still need a little more support for this project but soon we will be able to add the equipment to our vehicle.

from all us at DARE Network

Thai/Burma Border

Links:

DARE Network Website

Team Shirts for DARE Teens for Kids Program: "New Shirts for the Teens"

Pam Rogers — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:35:04 GMT

Working with the kids

Dear Friends,

Thank you for donating to our Microproject on GlobalGiving. Our Teens for Kids program is one of the most effective ways in which we prevent drug and alcohol abuse in the refugee camps. Giving young people as sense of belonging and purpose under such oppressive circumstances helps keep them away from the hopelessness that leads to addiction. The TShirts you have helped provide gives identity and pride for the many teens who volunteer for DARE. We hope you can continue to support our Burmese Refugee Teens Prevent Addiction and Violence, in the future.

from all of us at DARE

Thailand/Burma Border

Links:

DARE Network's Website

Provide a floor-Burma Refugee Camp Recovery Centre: "The Floor is Nearly Complete"

Pam Rogers — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:29:18 GMT

Got the supplies

Dear Friends,

Thank you for donating to our Microproject on GlobalGiving. The roof in Mae La Camp DARE Centre, one of the 5 refugee camps we work in on the Thai Burma Border is nearly complete, thanks to your very kind assistance. The rainy season has begun so every has worked very hard to get it finished.

Right now it is very difficult as supplies to the refugees have been cut by big government donors, as they rush into Burma. The refugees are suffering and it is up to us and people like you to fill the gap. You have done just that.

From all of us at DARE Network

Thailand/Burma Border

Links:

DARE Network Website

Too Many Holes in our Recovery Centre Floor: "Got the Bamboo for the Floor"

Pam Rogers — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:21:48 GMT

Got the Bamboo

Dear Friends,

Thank you for donating to our Microproject on GlobalGiving. The floor in Mae La Camp DARE Centre, one of the 5 refugee camps we work in on the Thai Burma Border is nearly complete, thanks to your very kind assistance. The rainy season has begun so every has worked very hard to get it finished, but we still need some additional help.

From all of us at DARE Network

Thailand/Burma Border

Links:

DARE Network Website

Provide a roof-Burma Refugee Camp Recovery Centre: "The Roof is nearly done."

Pam Rogers — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:08:25 GMT

Building the roof

Dear Friends,

From all of us at DARE Network

Thailand/Burma Border

Links:

DARE Network Website

Feed 80 Homeless People in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia: "Feed 80 Homeless People in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia"

HIllary Frame — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:49:29 GMT

Most kind donors to the Soup Kitchen feeding the Homeless in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia.

Today's report has been prepared by an American student from SIT (School for International Training) who has been volunteering at the Lamp of the Path for the last two weeks.

I am a volunteer for the Lamp of the Path, and have been able to see many of the positive changes that are occurring because of this organization’s place within the community.

The day at the Lamp of the Path starts with English lessons for children from the community. These lessons, for children whose parents cannot afford to pay for classes, teach children basic English vocabulary and grammar. Every class builds a bit upon the last one, so that the children may come out with a greater understanding of English. These classes are a part of the Children’s Development Project which brings classes and activities to local kids. In addition, the teacher for these classes also visits a close by children’s home where she works with kids who can no longer live with their families. In the afternoons, high schoolers come in for review English classes, taught by a native English speaker, these classes offer these older kids an opportunity to try out their skills and expand their vocabulary.

Between these lessons, the soup kitchen opens to the community. The kitchen serves many local homeless and community members who have fallen under hard times, serving as a large source of nourishment. Men, women, and children all come in when the doors open at two o’clock for some soup and a large piece of bread, some milk tea finishes the meal. This meal also serves to foster a sense of community among the people to which it is served. After the patrons have finished eating, they are free to visit the free clinic. Staffed by an amazing doctor, she quickly aids the patrons, sending them on their way in better health than before. Having healthcare and nourishment will hopefully help to empower the patrons, and help to give them a sense of agency.

In the future, the Lamp of the Path hopes to also build a battered women’s shelter somewhere in Ulaanbaatar. Along with their other services this would further increase the amount of empowerment the nuns and staff of the NGO are trying to return to the community. The work done here, from an outsider’s perspective, is amazing and should be continued on into the future.

Help Children with Cancer Access Treatment: "We are selected Project of the Month!"

Vlad Litvinov — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:39:12 GMT

Amir

Dear friends, thank you for your continuous support!

We are proud to announce that Help Children with Cancer Access Treatment was selected as Project of the Month by GlobalGiving! It will be hosted on the GlobalGiving’s homepage for one month and we hope that it will raise additional attention to the needs of children that we are serving.

We have previously written about Elyor, 1 year old boy from Uzbekistan. Thanks to your support, Elyor has finished radiation therapy in Germany in the beginning of May, but will need to travel back for checkups every 4-6 weeks. Last year, the total cost of treatment and travel easily exceeded family’s entire earnings. Your support will alleviate the family’s financial burden and help ensure that Elyor gets uninterrupted treatment.

Amir, a 4-year-old from Russia, is another patient with the similar diagnosis. In 2011, he had retinoblastoma surgery at the same clinic in Essen. Unfortunately, his right eye was removed but doctors were able to save Amir’s left eye. His mom works as a system administrator at education center for disabled children and makes about $250 a month, whereas each trip to Germany costs them up to 3,500 Euro. They need to frequently travel to Germany to make sure the disease is not progressing.

We hope that you continue supporting children like Elyor and Amir. Unfortunately, there is no adequate medical infrastructure to treat them at home. Our project aims to fill this gap and we are truly grateful for your ongoing support!

$6 Eyeglasses for the Poor: "First Quarter Update"

Liz Smith — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:12:39 GMT

happy customer in El Salvador

VisionSpring enjoyed a strong First Quarter 2013. Among the highlights:

In a momentous first for our global operations, VisionSpring El Salvador’s businesses achieved and maintained operational profitability.
VisionSpring and BRAC are nearing conclusion on the renewal of our successful five-year partnership in Bangladesh, anticipating sales of 1.7 million pairs of glasses over 60 months.
VisionSpring India tripled its number of optical shops in major surgery centers as we adapt our hub-and-spoke model, developed in El Salvador, for replication in India.

El Salvador

VisionSpring El Salvador’s new country director, Tony Trabanino, established strict cost controls and launched a team of 10 vision entrepreneurs working exclusively on commission in rural regions. Through his efforts, in January El Salvador became our first channel to break even, and operational profitability has been maintained since. We expect to expand in El Salvador, and scale in Central America with both philanthropic and impact investment in 2014. We also introduced customer-satisfaction surveys at our optical shops and at vision campaigns via a mobile application. More than 3,500 completed surveys were directly uploaded to our cloud-based Salesforce CRM system; early analysis bodes well for robust customer data. (VisionSpring India is also introducing surveys and testing the mobile application for eventual integration into our Salesforce system.)

Bangladesh, in Partnership with BRAC

VisionSpring Bangladesh and BRAC are executing a renewal of our five-year plan that will lower costs for our end consumers; train an additional 25,000 community health workers; and expand the program into 24 additional districts. While the strikes in Bangladesh have reduced the number of vision campaigns the women are able to conduct, we expect any loss in sales to be offset by the fact that in July BRAC will begin training additional health workers to sell glasses.

India

Based on the success of our retail optical shop at our partner hospital in the city of Karnal, we have opened two more shops in surgery centers in Paniput and Pratapapgarh. Each shop functions as a “hub” with spoke-like outreach to surrounding locales at least 22 days per month via a van outfitted as a mobile optical-shop unit. By December we expect to have five such units in operation, each selling 750 pairs of glasses per month, with operations breaking even within four months.

Partnerships

VisionSpring’s Global Partnerships channel continues to pursue large-scale opportunities through relationships with NGOs and for-profit businesses (especially those with multiple product lines and solid distribution networks) that both want to incorporate eyeglass sales into their work and can serve our base-of-the-pyramid consumers. In addition, during Q1, the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative began selling VisionSpring eyeglasses in Peru, and our Mexico-based partnerships associate continued to identify prospective regional partners.

Other ways to help:

VisionSpring has recently partnered with Charity Miles, a GPS-enabled application for your phone that tracks the number of miles you bike, walk, or run. For every mile clocked for VisionSpring, Charity Miles donates 25 cents to us. Hit the streets for VisionSpring today! Download Charity Miles here: http://www.charitymiles.org/

Protect children in Africa from deadly meningitis: "Everyday hope: Safely expanding MenAfriVac"

Laura Anderson — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:34:38 GMT

MenAfriVac brings hope to millions of Africans.

Outbreaks of deadly and debilitating meningococcal A meningitis once stopped many African communities in their tracks. Now, however, more than 103 million people carry a new hope—protection gained from the MenAfriVac® vaccine. Immunity with just one dose is expected to be long lasting, and as of this update, there has not been a single reported case in a person who has been vaccinated.

With help from you and other partners, the Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP)—a collaboration between PATH and the World Health Organization—is reaching more people each year. Mass immunization campaigns will introduce MenAfriVac® in Ethiopia and The Gambia in 2013. These efforts—combined with the ongoing rollout of the vaccine in Nigeria and Sudan—could protect 50 million more people in the current age group (1 to 29 years) by the end of the year.

At the same time, we’re thinking even bigger (and smaller): What if infants received this lifesaving protection as part of routine immunizations? Primary results from infant clinical trials are very promising, and we hope to introduce the MenAfriVac® vaccine in routine immunization programs in a couple of years’ time.

Your support is helping MVP bring lifesaving MenAfriVac® to more communities and building a foundation to sustain this crucial protection for years to come. Thank you!

MenAfriVac®, a registered trademark of Serum Institute of India Ltd., was developed by PATH and the World Health Organization, working with two dozen global collaborators.

Photo: PATH/Gabe Bienczycki.

Links:

Provide Care for a Differently Able Child's Pony: "What is happening around Personal Ponies"

Denise Chasin — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:21:32 GMT

Hello Friends of Personal Ponies,

Thank you again for your support and for helping us to spread a little pony magic around the country. This spring we have used some of our donations to help move ponies to new volunteers. There are several ponies in North Dakota that have needed to move because one of our families experienced many hardships and could no longer care for them. The funds you provided were very needed and appreciated.

We have other ponies in South Dakota that will also need to be moved as soon as possible and your donations will help with that as well. Otherwise, we have used your funds to help us with buying hay for those in need and gelding a pony or two!

We are also in the process of saving money where we can to help support some of our volunteers that need money to come to our National Conference in October in New York. This conference happens once every two to three years and is the only time our volunteers can sit down face to face and share stories, learn from each other and make plans for their programs. It is truly a valuable experience and so needed since we are all spread from one end of the country to another.

As always, I encouarge each of you to please share our program with those you know and let them know that you supported us and hopefully they will too.

All the best and with gratitude,

Denise Chasin

Safecast - Japan Radiation Monitoring: "Drones"

Sean Bonner — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:34 GMT

We're just back from our 2nd hackathon of the year. We're trying to do each hackathon in a different city so that it's accessible to different people each time. In January we met in Tokyo, and last month we met in Boston (Cambridge actually, with the support of MIT). In January we spent a week working on anything and everything and while we got a lot done, admittedly it was a bit chaotic. For this event we wanted to focus the efforts a little more while still addressing a number of issues.

We decided to begin work on the "Safecast Air Force" or drone program as the focal point for this.

Drones are interesting for a number of obvious reasons, but for our purposes if we have a device that we can send out with any number of sensors onboard that can scan an area that is unsafe or unnavigable - that's huge. So that's what we focused on for the week. In doing so, it allowed us to think about how to made our sensors a bit more modular (swap out radiation for air quality, etc), how best to transfer data (keep onboard, or broadcast - using SMS or wifi, etc) and how to display data taking at altitude in relation to data taking at ground level.

All serious issues outside of the context of a drone, but within it that much more interesting. Which can be important with a volunteer team. :)

We started the week with nothing and by the end of the week had a drone with a bGeigie attached logging data as it flew. We tried a number of different off the shelf drone platforms and made quite some progress in deciding which direction we'd continue to work. There are a number of videos of our test flights that you can watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/levisimons

All in all it was a very productive hackathon. As always, stay tuned to our blog and mailing lists for more regular updates as they happen. Thanks!

Provide Critical Dental Services to Oregon's Youth: "One Step Closer"

Olivia MacKenzie — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:57:21 GMT

In 2011 we announced plans to add a new dental clinic to expand access for our patients. Each of our four primary care sites includes an onsite or nearby dental clinic-- except one. Our patients that are seen for primary care in Beaverton, must travel to other sites for dental services, which is an added barrier to our patients who already experience challenges in their health care needs.

We believe that oral health care is an important component of a patient's overall wellness, so we are excited to move forward with this project. Below are some of the key updates on the progress of this clinic which is slated to open in Fall 2013:

We have been successful in raising the funds necessary to move the project forward and we have raised almost $300,000 in capital funds from a diversified group of partners.
We have identified an ideal location for the new clinic and we are in the final negotiations with the owner for the lease terms and property improvements. The space will provide our patients with access to the clinic on public transportation. Further, the property owner has offered generous tenant improvements to prepare the space and save Virginia Garcia start-up costs.
We have secured a corporate partner, DCI International, who has committed to the donation of the dental chairs and equipment needed to outfit three dental operatories.
In winter 2012, we received a multi-year technical assistance grant from DentaQuest, which provided us with an in-depth analysis and overview of our dental operations. The consultants noted that a start-up clinic with our planned staffing ratios should have at least six chairs to operate most efficiently and effectively. As a result of this recommendation, we’ve increased the scope of the project from three chairs to six chairs. (As stated above, we have secured the initial three chairs and we’ve been invited us to submit a request for the donation of an additional three.)
Our dental supply vendor partnered with us on development of the plan for the dental clinic and they’re working closely with a contractor to come up with a detailed plan for doing all that would be needed to convert the space for a dental clinic, including plumbing, trenching, electrical systems, etc.
Not only does the new site have the necessary space for six dental operatories, it has additional square footage that will provide much-needed group visit and meeting space for dental programs such as Baby Days, and it can also be used by nearby Virginia Garcia Beaverton Primary Care clinic.

Educate Thousands of Children in Rural Cambodia: "Airport Awareness and Training Campaign"

Sheena Thiruselvan — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:41:14 GMT

Training airport staff

Recently, the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) teamed up with the Kouprey Express Mobile Environmental Education Unit to provide training to staff employed at the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports. The purpose of this training was to improve the awareness of airport staff on the proper identification of wildlife as well as to help identify trafficking methods used by traders that transport wildlife through airfreight.

Wildlife trafficking through airports is part of much more organized and sophisticated networks of the trade. The supply chain for wildlife trafficking often begins with farmers and locals who supplement their low incomes with poaching. Some of the wildlife is then passed to middlemen who transport the animals to other middlemen with connections to major traffickers. It is then exported to these high level traders through airports and harbors. These smugglers go to great lengths to conceal the animals in ways that are often inhumane and detrimental to their health. Young leopards and bears have been found drugged and stuffed into canisters, snakes and other reptiles have been found packed into bags and socks. This multibillion dollar trade continues to thrive globally due to high profits at the top of the supply chain and minimal punishment against offenders.

The specialized training that WRRT can provide is essential, as trans-national wildlife trafficking is decimating wildlife populations throughout the world. Another harmful effect of this trade is the spread of diseases and introduction of invasive species, which could potentially devastate ecosystems and native populations.

By improving airport security and detection capabilities, Wildlife Alliance can prevent precious wildlife from leaving Cambodia, as well as continue to collect information on traffickers connected to international networks. This program is part of Kouprey Express’s airport awareness campaign, which also installed major billboard signage promoting an anti-wildlife trafficking message. Cambodia was the 2012 Chair of ASEAN-WEN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Wildlife Enforcement Network), and implementing this awareness program at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports shows the nations of Southeast Asia and the rest of the world that Cambodia is a leader in stopping the illegal wildlife trade.

Help Cambodian Communities End Hunger and Poverty: "From Destroyer to Protector"

Sheena Thiruselvan — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:33:05 GMT

Meas Samon with his wife and daughter

Meas Samon lives a quiet and determined life as a farmer at Sovanna Baitong. He not only works hard on his land, but is a leading advocate for environmental protection in his community. This was not always the case for Meas Samon. Before coming to Sovanna Baitong, he worked as a logger in Preak Thanong, cutting down trees for a Thai company from 1995-1997. With few other opportunities available, the money was too enticing to turn down. One cubic meter of log was priced at 100 Baht ($3.44), and Meas Samon would easily bring in as much as 20,000 Baht ($688) during the dry season. He was among over a thousand workers hired by the company, plodding along, logging for survival and unaware of the damage being done to the ecosystem. There was no prohibition back then, he said, and many poor migrants came to work.

When the logging concession was terminated by the government in 1997, Meas Samon was out of a job. With no other options, he cleared land in Preak Thanong and began cultivating rice, sugarcane and other crops. To supplement his slash-and-burn farming practices, he also poached wildlife. Barely getting by, Meas Samon continued this precarious lifestyle until Wildlife Alliance staff offered him an alternative livelihood in Sovanna Baitong. He and his wife accepted this opportunity to begin a new life doing permanent agriculture, and moved their family to the village in 2004. They were one of 187 families that decided to do the same.

Working with Wildlife Alliance’s Community Agriculture Development Project (CADP), Meas Samon found leadership opportunities that would never have been available to him otherwise. He took full advantage of the training and capacity-building interventions offered by the project team of agronomists and community developers. He learned various agricultural skills and techniques, such as growing vegetables and fruit trees using a low intake water drip irrigation system, proper land preparation, composting, and improving the soil. He combined these new skills with hard work, always making his field an excellent example of sustainable agricultural production in the community. His hard work paid off when he was recognized as a model community member and elected chief of the village by the families of Sovanna Baitong. He holds this position with great regard, and dutifully attends all commune and district meetings, ensuring that his village is justly administered and their environment protected.

Meas Samon’s transformation at Sovanna Baitong has been remarkable. He believes it was through Wildlife Alliance’s intervention that he came to truly understand the impact of deforestation on biodiversity, and has now resolved to protect Cambodia’s remaining forest. He regrets his share of destruction in the past, and disclosed to us a few lines of verse that he often shares with his friends and fellow villagers.

“I speak what people truly do.
They don’t give a thought or care.
The darkness of their ignorance covers their own motherland.
They clear the forest, destroy elephants and tigers’ home, birds are without nests.
Hunters search with dogs, put traps, make wildlife shiver and bolt to another country for escape.
They shoot, stab, and kill without mercy or trace.
Future generations will know animals in the wild only by name”

Cancer treatment for 20 children and 30 women: "Navigating Cancer and Rare Disease Patients to Life-Saving Treatment"

Albert Santoli — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:54:04 GMT

AAI delivers PCS a GlobalGiving donation

The production of many cancer medicines, especially those which can most readily save the lives of children, are in short supply worldwide these days. Thanks to GlobalGiving donors, your modest heartfelt donations to Asia America Initiative [AAI] and with our partners in the pharmaceutical industry, we have made a major contribution to saving the lives of over 100 cancer and rare disease patients in the Philippines and joy to their grateful families. Today more thqan 100 new and ongoing patients are receiving treatment under the program. We started our partnership with GlobalGiving in 2011with a finite but challenging goal of saving 20 children and 30 women. However, as a result of AAI's Art of Hope and Healing program, backed by the National Cancer Coalition, KrebsAllianz and other American and European humanitarian medical organizations and medical companies, our Philippine Cancer Society partner in Manila has created a nationwide Cancer Patient Navigation program that is bringing healing care to hundreds of men, women and children stricken with all forms of the life threatening disease. In April and May 2013 AAI is contributing Temodar chemotherapy medicine for at least 12 children with brain cancer, Bicalutamide medicine for 100 men suffering from prostate cancer, funding for at least 6 women overcoming breast cancer to receive mandatory medical check-ups and support for their immune systems, and Cerezyme medicine to keep alive at least four children suffering from Gaucher disease, a rare, and eventually fatal inherited genetic disorder that causes enlarged livers and spleens, anemia and bone deterioration. Cerezyme is administered intravenously, is the only way by which medical doctors can save their lives. However, the regimen required would cost more than $200,000 per year, which is unthinkable for most families in the United States and around the world. In the Philippines, patients in the programs have family incomes of less than $100 dollars per month.

AAI President and Arts of Hope and Healing Coordinator, Albert Santoli, is a liver cancer survivor that resulted from complications in the battlefield intravenous blood transfusion he received as a young soldier. His commitment to never give up on life or the Art of Hope and Healing Program, despite shortages of medicines and cash resources, has a soldier's dedication to saving the lives of those in the greatest need. Even when medicines are hard to find, there still is so very much to be done in providing blood chemistry tests, nutritional support and assisting the coordination of transporting and distributing these increasingly rare life saving medicines. Mr. Santoli's counterpart at Philippine Cancer Society, Mr. Romy Mercaido is Patient Navigation Coordinator at the Philippine Cancer Society. His message to our wonderful friends and donors at Global Giving is, "We could not do this with out you. Maraming Salamat, Po. [Filipino language meaning, "Thank you so very much to everyone.]"

Together the kind-hearted pharmaceutical companies' executives, Asia America Initiative, National Cancer Coalition, KrebsAllianz, Philippine Cancer Society and our oncology doctors and nurses who provide the specialized care have their commitment fortified by treatment are continuing to build the capacity to expand our healing outreach. Thanks to all of you!

Cancer Patient Support Group in Manila

AAI-PCS Chemo-therapy patient in Manila

Cancer patient screening by Phil Cancer Society

cancer patient screening & mutual support

Pauline, age 7, alive thanks to our donors

Links:

Asia America Initiative web site

A World of Reading for Maya Children in Guatemala: "Celebrating Book!"

Johanna Umana — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:32:15 GMT

Last month we celebrated International Book Day with students at the Chukmuk Elementary School. The celebration aims to instill reading habits in people around the world and we did just that in our school library!

We designed an activity that got students’ creative gears moving: each teacher read “The Legend of St. George and the Dragon” to their classroom and students were to create their own illustration inspired by what they heard.

Lidia, our school librarian, continues to lead and develop daily literacy activities, which encourages the celebration of books year round!

The library has also welcomed new members to the team:

Jo Umana a trained librarian that arrived in February, is here to help with the organization of the Chukmuk Library. She collaborated on the development of the electronic book database, and has also assisted Lidia with cataloguing and literacy activities. Another focus of her works has been developing programming that invites the community of Chukmuk to the school library through parent and child events.

Tomas Pacay Mendoza joined the Pathways to Literacy team in April and is working on a pedagogical support project. He works with the Chukmuk teachers on the methods and techniques for teaching constructively and meaningfully. He is locating materials in the library that teachers can use in their lesson plans and has designed “literary corners” in the classrooms that allow students to learn in fun and innovative ways.

Parent University: "Parent University Graduation"

Lisa Levasseur — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:24:49 GMT

44 parents graduate! Luther Burbank High School's Parent University just finished another successful year of teaching and working with parents towards the common goal of academic and social success for their students. 44 men and women completed nine sessions and took various college fieldtrips in order to walk the stage for graduation. The graduation had two parent speakers who shared with the audience how home visits and Parent University has helped them to be better parents. One parent shared about her experience in education and how these classes have encouraged her to go back to school and set an example for her children. Burbank partners with the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project to invite families to attend the classes and UC Davis helps to engage parents on various topics ranging from college requirements to healthy eating habits. The most popular session continues to be the student panel; where students share honest and heartfelt testimony about their experience as a high school student and how parents can help them along their journey through education and into adulthood. The program has been running for six years and is in demand to be brought back again next year. As always, thanks for your support and generous donations!

Links:

Come see the amazing work Burbank is up to

Open Green Map to Support the Greening of China: "New Chinese Guide to Green Mapmaking"

Wendy Brawer — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:46:21 GMT

Green Map's new Guide in Chinese

Thanks to you, donors, we are happy to announce that an important Guide to Making Green Maps has been translated into simplified Chinese!

Created in Europe by the 4BsHive, this colorful guide highlights 4 different ways to create Green Maps. With the help of wonderful mapmakers at the China Mangrove Conservation Network and our staff members Hui Zhou and Aaron Reiss, this fantastic resource is now available to our growing community of local Green Mapmakers in China, and to the public.

You are welcome to download in Chinese as a compressed 2MB PDF or as a full scale, zipped 19MB PDF.

This guide has an interesting story. The original 4BsHive project started early in 2009, with European Union funding. It’s a collaborative project between four cities: Bistrita (Romania), Bristol (United Kingdom), Berlin (Germany), and Budapest (Hungary) - hence the "4 Bs".

After two years of adult learning exchanges and mobilities and Green Mapmaking workshops, the 4BsHive project culminated in July 2011 with a wonderful guide that explored 4 ways to create a Green Map. Find more, including the original English 4BsHive Guide to Green Mapping and an excellent video (see both on blog linked below).

That the 4BsHive Guide is now available in Chinese means that our burgeoning network of locally-led projects in China will have a much stronger foundation on which to start their own projects. We would like to thank everyone involved, including you! Your contributions at Global Giving mean that we can do more to support local leadership for sustainable, healthy communities throughout China!

You'll hear from us again as GlobalGiving's June 12 Match Day approaches. We wish you all the best in the weeks until then. Thank you! !

Introducing 4 ways to create Green Maps

Making Open Green Maps is included in the Guide

Links:

At-Risk Youth personal strength building trips: "Toby's Experience Was Priceless..."

Alana Butler — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:33:44 GMT

Toby’s experience at Amnicon was priceless….

Dear Friend of Camp Amnicon:

When Toby came to Camp, he was cold and detached. He stood with his arms folded and his mouth closed during the opening campfire, refusing to participate.

His guide knew that something was wrong. During the star-lit walk back to camp, the guide hung back to ask: what’s wrong?

This young teenager was haunted by personal tragedy. He had witnessed death and conflict in his family… carried anger towards absent parents… and felt very alone in the world. He had few friends and no outlets for his grief, fear, and loneliness.

Frankly, he was ready to give up on life. This was a child on the margins.

But he insisted that he wanted to participate in this experience. Already he trusted his guides to help and care for him during his week at camp.

Toby thrived. As the group paddled from site to site on the Namekagon River, he began to connect. His guides watched with proud pleasure as Toby talked and laughed with his peers.

Toby was a large guy; during swim-time the younger kids would throng around to play with him. He was respected. He had something to offer. He was not an outsider here.

A week at Camp Amnicon did not change the circumstances of Toby’s life. He still went home to absent parents and a life of difficulty. He still struggles with pain and sadness.

The miracle of Toby’s camp experience was that, for one week he cast off the label of ‘troubled kid’ to laugh, learn, and experience the healing power of Christ in community.

That’s what he took home – the awareness that the Lord is always with him and that there are people who care about him and value him.

Yes, Toby’s experience was priceless… but it wasn’t cheap.

It cost about $700 for us to share this miracle with Toby. That’s the full cost of one week of camp for every child who attends. Some of the young people are able to pay the fee of $400. Others can pay only a portion of that fee. And youth like Toby cannot afford to pay anything.

That’s why your help is so vitally important. Fees charged do not cover the whole cost of camp.

For summer 2013, Camp Amnicon has pledged to bring 87 kids like Toby, and some of their families as well, to the shore of Lake Superior to experience the gifts God has for them in Christ.

And there will be another 331 kids who will not need full camperships but do rely on gifts to keep the fee within their reach.

Will you consider sharing a special gift today to help Toby and other young people experience the love of Christ at Camp Amnicon this summer?

Your gift of $700 will provide the entire cost of one child for one week… $400 will supply the fee of one child… and $300 will supply the difference between fee and cost for one child.

Be assured that whatever size gift you give – $25, $50, $100 or $1000 or more – your generosity will help each and every child who comes to camp.

In your giving you will find a priceless sense of satisfaction knowing you are bringing the love of God in Christ to children. Thank you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Alana Butler

Executive Director

Links:

Help At-Risk Girls Graduate High School: "Spring Has Sprung at BSA!"

Jeremy — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:43:51 GMT

Basketball Awards - Student Athlete Award

It’s springtime here in New York City and you know what that means…we have a ton of things going on as we get ready to finish our second year at BSA! First and foremost we are ramping up our academic instructional time with extended school days and Saturday School sessions. Our students have an extended academic instructional period each Wednesday through the beginning of June to recap important content, dig deeper into new materials, and get ready for those upcoming finals and New York State Regents exams. Students are also attending Saturday School sessions for exam practice, one-on-one and small group review sessions, and even some pizza for lunch. Our teachers are pulling out all the stops to make spending more time at school fun for our students and develop a culture of hard work and dedication to academics. We look forward to sharing our students’ successes at the end of the school year with all of you.

Our students also had a chance to learn and grow outside of the classroom. The female students traveled out of the city and upstate for a day-long field trip at the Ramapo Camp, where they got to take on physical and emotional challenges. The girls participated in a high-ropes course, working in teams of two to navigate across the ropes with strategy and balance. Their peers looked on from below and shouted out encouragement and advice to help them along the way. The rest of the day was spent in workshops devoted to teamwork, leadership, and enjoying the great outdoors!

Our Lady Warriors completed their first basketball season with a classy awards ceremony. This was the first year BSA offered a competitive female sports program, and we couldn’t be more proud of our team! The girls really came together to improve their skills both on the court and in the classroom. We’re sad the season is over, but we can’t wait for next year!

BSA recently held its Lottery Admissions event, where students were chosen from the well over 200 applications to join our school in the fall. We are working hard to prepare for next year as the student body will grow by over 100 students and expand to include a new grade level. Over 300 students will be enrolled in the 9^th through 11^th grades and we’ll be offering more classes than ever before. With students moving closer towards graduation, we’ll begin offering additional college prep and workforce development opportunities through our on-site partner, The Door. (www.door.org)

We want to extend a big thank you to everyone who has supported us. If you want to learn more about our school, please feel free to visit our website and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all things BSA!

Basketball Awards - Fierce Award

Ramapo Ropes Course - Supporters

Ramapo Ropes Course - Navigators

Study Sessions

Feed a Child - Reduce Malnutrition in Guatemala: "Reducing Malnutrition by 50%"

Peter Rohloff — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:45 GMT

Dear Friends,

I've spent the last few weeks in front of a computer looking at child growth data. It may sound boring, but actually it has been pretty exciting to have the time to do these interim analyses of our community nutrition programs.

These programs, as many of you who have supported our work over the years know, are comprehensive. They provide medical checkups to young children, in addition to regular treatment for parasites and anemia and the provision of nutritional supplements. Recently, in the last year or so, we've also been working hard to improve our educational support of parents as they learn how best to support their children in the first few critical years of life.

Our primary endpoint is trying to reduce rates of stunting, or chronic malnutrition, in young children. This is the primary form of malnutrition in rural Guatemala, which leads to lifelong disability through short stature and impaired intellectual development.

And the good news is that our programs are working. For example, in one set of community data that I was analyzing last week, the rates of severe stunting have decreased more than 50%. At the same time, the rates of children who are underweight have decreased more than 60%. These sorts of demonstrable improvements in child health give us hope for the future!

Links:

Mama Africa-Send an orphaned child to school $25.: "Some love this school holiday- Birthday gift- May 2013"

Catherine — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:23:11 GMT

Farida and her Birthday gift from her sponsor

Show them some love this School holy Day!

It’s already May 20 13 and the kids at the MAU) Mama Africa Uganda orphanage have had a great start and end of the 1^st term this year. They all did great in their recent progress exams and they’re planning field trips for the next term.

Their success and bright outlook for the future is all down to your generosity. Without you, they would be spending their days worrying about where their next meal would be coming from instead of playing with their gifts or presents! That you send them monthly.

This 2^nd term, we hope you’ll keep the kids in mind by making a donation in honor of your Birthday. When you make a donation, your birthday will be given, recognized will receive a beautiful card which makes a lovely, meaningful Birth Day gift.

To buy a gift card for your or your spouse’s Birthday card choose what type of card you’d like to send, and you’ll have an instant Birth day gift that adds a little more love to the world!

Thanks so much for all you’ve already given, and we wish you a very happy Birth Day! this Months of May 2013

Thanks for giving her a Birth day letter a gift!

children visit by Ms Lisa

letter from his sponsor

Allen and her letter from her sponsor

Julie and her birthday gift

Patricia and her gift from her sponsor

Links:

Love is the only thing we need by kwera children's voice choir

Empower 50,000 youth to fight HIV/AIDS in Cameroon: "(CBCHS-YONEFOH) Activity Report: February to May"

Abanda Alphonse — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:34:14 GMT

Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services-Youth Network for Health (CBCHS-YONEFOH) Activity Report (February 2013 to April 2013)

Thanks to your donation to us through GlobalGiving, YONEFOH field staff have been able to reach an increasing number of youth in remote underserved communities with primary HIV prevention education. We were able to carry out/strengthen the following areas of our community work using the dollars you generously donated to us:

Education and sensitization

By the end of January, 2013 YONEFOH activity report showed that in total 6,101 number of youth were reached with HIV and STI education. Since then, more efforts have been made to reach more, especially in remote areas. The 8,820 students reached this quarter, brings the total number of youth reached with global giving donation stands at 14,921. New health topics were also emphasized. These include smoking, drug abuse, alcohol, dating, relationships, rape, values self-esteem and abstinence. Despite progress made in this area, more work is still needed to meet the set target of 50,000 youth by the end of 2013.

Attachments:

YONEFOH Activity report for February to May 2013 (DOCX)

HIV/AIDS avoidance in 150 Village young people: "People Living With HIV/AIDS"

Damascene Uwizeyimana — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:07 GMT

Target group after cultivating

On May 18,2013 the project volunteers in collaboration with UBUZIMA Program ,were able to visit the People Living With HIV/AIDS.The volunteers asked people present where they were cultivating as Cooperative of People Living With HIV/AIDS , to combat the discrimination against HIV positive persons.The volunteers said that their ambition is to develop our nation. But this cannot be achieved if we have many people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Based on statistics of 1994 when HIV AIDS prevalence rate was at 24 percent, of the population and now at 3.1 percent; Rwanda shows remarkable progress which is worthy to be noted.By working with the local leaders of Southern Province of Rwanda,this project will raise funds from Worldwide and help these people for improving their income generating activities.

10 Fish Nets Give Self-Employment: "Thank you for giving fish nets"

vincent paul — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:33:02 GMT

Hi supporter,

On behalf of the CHHASE and staff, thank you for your hard-earned sacrifice with your donation.

Your donation helped us to buy fishing nets for tribal people.

After receiving the fishing net, one of our tribal beneficiary said that “ I am going fish in the ponds and lakes. This net is net only going to help me but it will help my neighbors when ever I am not going for fishing. After fishing, if I get more fish I will sell it in the market. If I get small quantity, I can use it for my family.The income out of fishing will help me to send my children to school without any difficulties, This is a great help we received form globalgiving”

CHHASE staff and tribal beneficiaries once again thank for your donation and expect you to continue your generous donations in our ongoing projects.

Thank you

Tribal child need eye treatment,specs & education: "Meena got vision"

vincent paul — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:49 GMT

Hi supporter,

On behalf of the CHHASE and staff, thank you for your hard-earned sacrifice with your donation.

Your donation helped MEENA for eye treatment and buying of specs. Now she has become our after school teacher for her community (Tribal) and teaching for 21 children in her hamlet.We are paying her remuneration for this act.

She is going to continue her 12^th grade this year ( from june,2013)and her school fees and school kit cost will be met by us. Also she will continue her after school teaching in the evenings (one hour) and will get salary, which will be sufficient for her nedds and can able to save small amount for her future requirement.

Now you have give her vision and better future. With out your help we are unable to succeed this difficult situation.

We once again thank for your donation and expect you to continue your greatfulness in our ongoing projects.

Thank you

6 street masala(spice) vendor to earn income: "Thank you suppoerters/Donors"

vincent paul — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:13:53 GMT

Hi supporter,

On behalf of the CHHASE and staff, thank you for your hard-earned sacrifice with your donation.

The women who are selected and trained to start street masala (spice}vending business are provided with spices. They have been asked to dry the spices in sun and took them to masala grinding mill and fixed low price for grinding. We requested the mill owners to grind the spices in low price since they are very poor and starting business newly. The mill owners also happy that some new customers they got and they feel that if the business of this women will develop, they will get more business from them.

our beneficiaries are thanking you for your donation

In the coming months, CHHASE hopes to be able to extend the opportunity to many more young women in need.

To help CHHASE to continue this important program and encourage these young women to succeed in their businesses and achieve self-sufficiency, please consider making a donation.

Thanking you,

Onetime grant to start 50 vegetable & fruit vendor: "Thank you for helping to start business"

vincent paul — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:02:24 GMT

Hi supporter,

On behalf of the CHHASE and staff, thank you for your hard-earned sacrifice with your donation.

The women who are selected and trained to start street vending business are provided with baskets, vegetables & Fruits and tarpaulin to spread on the ground. They have been taken to koyambedu main market and shown how to buy quality fruits and vegetables.

our beneficiaries are thanking you for your donation and they say that they will pray for you and for your family well being.

"Sita", one of our beneficiary said“I never dreamed that some one especially who has not seen me before will help me to start a business. My fear about the future has gone. Now I can able to sell and develop my business and look after my children and my family without difficulty.”

In the coming months, CHHASE hopes to be able to extend the opportunity to many more young women in need.

To help CHHASE to continue this important program and encourage these young women to succeed in their businesses and achieve self-sufficiency, please consider making a donation.

Thanking you,

Sewing machine to earn income: "Thank you supporters/Donors"

vincent paul — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:35:02 GMT

The women who are trained in sewing, we have selected most needy women, who are unable to start their own sewing at their homes are receiving sewing machines, scissors and different color threads for their small business.

After being trained in the vocational skill of their choice, the young women eager to start Sewing business. While many of them were successful in small ways, they faced many obstacles in starting a business with their little capital and many familial responsibilities. CHHASE staff informed the beneficiaries that GlobalGiving with their gracious donations, made their dreams come true. Now CHHASE is going to provide them the sewing machines, scissors and different color threads to start their own business.On hearing the news from our staff, the beneficiaries were happy and eager to receive sewing machines.

One of our beneficiary said“Before, I would save some money and then it would all disappear when critical condition arise,” said Annamma, one of the CHHASE trainee, “now I can start sewing business and many people will come to me for sewing cloths, and I will be able to save enough money to send my children to school or to pay for their medicines if they are sick. I don’t have to worry like I did before.” Now sewing machines are ready to be distribuition.

With more young women entering the training in the coming months, CHHASE hopes to be able to extend the opportunity to many more young women in need.

To help CHHASE to continue this important program and encourage these young women to succeed in their businesses and achieve self-sufficiency, please consider making a donation.

Thanking you,

Philippines Disaster Response Fund: "Our past response in the Philippines - Typhoon Bopha - January, 2013"

Mariko Poorman — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:02:26 GMT

Providing relief to most needed...

The following is our response report from Typhoon Bopha in December 2013. Thanks to the support of GlobalGiving and donors like you, were were able to assist 500 families on the Philippine island of Mindinao.

It's been six months, but communities are still struggling from this disaster. We will continue monitoring the situation and provide support to those who need the most.

Your contribution to the Philippines Disaster Response Fund will enable us to respond quickly to new disasters, and address unmet needs as we evaluate the progress of recovery.

Mari Poorman- Peace Winds America

********

Dear Globalgiving supporters:

THANK YOU!! We have completed our Typhoon Bopha emergency response. Your contribution helped us to support 500 families with emergency packages and provide disaster preparedness training to 100 children.

Peace Winds America, together with our local partner, Citizen’s Disaster Response Center (CDRC), a Disaster Relief NGO based in the Philippines, and its regional center in the affected regions conducted relief supply distribution operations in Typhoon Pablo-affected communities in Bukidnon Province on Mindanao Island. The planned response goal was to help affected families cope with the immediate negative impacts of the disaster with the ultimate goal that the assistance would prevent further deterioration of their lives as they struggle to recover.

Community-wide effort to help five Communities:

Many relief organizations focused their relief operations in and around the Compostela Valley region. Our local partner, CDRC, initially concentrated their relief efforts in the Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental region. However, CDRC and its counterpart organization Panday Bulig (PB) soon recognized five communities which received very little assistance in the province of Bukidnon, and identified 500 families in two cities needing immediate attention. Peace Winds America decided to help CDRC’s relief effort in this area to help its underprivileged population. PB led the coordination and preparation of the relief delivery operations. Community members as well as volunteers from Health Bukidnon and KASAMA, a farmer’s organization joined PB and helped with packaging and distribution of relief goods! Your donations and volunteer action supported people in Cabangahan, Bangcud, Campuhan, Batangan and Poblacion.

Reaching out to over 100 children with psychosocial support!!

During relief package distribution, CDRC took the opportunity to provide psychosocial support for children staying at the evacuation shelter. These children witnessed their houses being swept away by the flood and have no idea where they might be relocated. By sharing and expressing their experiences through talking as well as drawing pictures among peers, children could better understand their current situation. Most of the children shared their experiences of the flood and strong winds that happened in their area.

What’s inside the relief package?

The PWA supported relief package contained basic foods items which could sustain an average family for one week. It also included basic items to help improve the quality of life for the family at the evacuation centers. The package included:

Rice: 10kg
Mongo Beans: 500g
Dried Fish: 500g
Sardines: Four cans
Cooking oil: 250ml
One laundry soap bar
One blanket
One mattress.

For the first three weeks after disaster struck the area, evacuees from these five communities received only 3 kilos of rice and noodles, and 3 cans of sardines from the government and other groups. “Christmas was so lonely, we just slept the night away,” said one of the beneficiaries. The mattress and blanket we provided were much appreciated, as most of the beneficiaries were forced to sleep on the cold cement floor or on the benches of the gym.

The serious situation continues:

Many families who lost houses lived by the river. They cannot go return to their home, because erosion from the flood took away their property. “We cannot go back to the area because our community is still submerged in the water,” one of the beneficiaries said. “We badly need shelter and food,” another one added.

Although Peace Winds America is concluding emergency relief operations for Typhoon Bopha at this time, we will continue monitoring the situation in the typhoon-affected areas with our local partners.

PWA would like to send most sincere appreciation to your generosity. With your help, we were able to provide critical supplies to 500 families.

CDRC distributing relief packages

Disaster Preparedness education is important!

Thank You!

Links:

PWA Bopha/Pablo Response Link

Philippines Disaster Response Fund: "Our past response in the Philippines - Typhoon Saola, Sept. 2012"

Mariko Poorman — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:43:15 GMT

A recipient of our relief package

Dear Peace Winds America supporters,

We wanted to share our past reponse response reports on this site, so that you will have better idea about how we respond in the Philippines. Our response is simple: work directly with the trusted local partner on the field. This allows PWA to maximize your donation, and enables us to help more people.

Your contribution to the Philippines Disaster Response Fund will enable us to respond quickly to new disasters, and address unmet needs as we evaluate the progress of recovery.

Thank you,

Mari Poorman

******

September, 2012

Thank you very much for your generous support for our effort to help flood affected communities due to series of typoons passed through the Philippines.

With your donation, PWA worked very closely with our local partner, the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC), and together we were able todistribute emergency relief packages to 350 families in the communities of Barangay, San Roque, San Pedro and Laguna in early September, 2012.

The heavy rain mainly by Typhoon Saola had caused massive flooding in the area, with thousands of people evacuating. Almost one month after the typhoon struck the area, many families were still remaining in evacuation centers, waiting for the floodwaters to recede. For most of the beneficiaries, this emergency package was the first relief support received.

One lady at the evacuation center said, “At first, the water came to the first floor of my house, so we all moved everything to the second floor. But the water kept rising so quickly and we had to leave the house because it was unsafe.” She continued, “We could not bring much from our house and we did not have much food.. but we all share what we had. With the help from PWA, I will be able to cook something good tonight for my family. Thank you.”

The funding from this project enabled PWA to help over 2000 children, adults and elderly persons in flood affected areas.

PWA appreciates partnering with CDRC who directly assisted the people most in need. Timely aid delivered through a capable local partner remains the best way of reducing the devastating impacts of natural disasters.

We appreciate your support!

Flood affected community

Relief package distribution site

Thank you for helping us!

Links:

Restore the Rhythm of Life for 500 Rwandan Youth: "The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Update May 2013"

Barrett Frankel — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:35:28 GMT

Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village is a residential community in rural Rwanda. Our 144-acre campus includes a state of the art school, residential facilities, a health clinic, a farm, athletic fields, and an auditorium. ASYV opened in December 2008 to our first class of 118 young adults. We have since reached our full capacity of 500 students, with our first class having just recently graduated in December 2012. The graduation ceremony featured a commencement address by one of ASYV’s staunchest supporters, Rwandan president Paul Kagame.

Within AYSV’s supportive and structured community, the rhythm of life is being restored to each of our residents, with the ultimate goal of equipping young people who have lived through great trauma to become healthy, self-sufficient, and engaged in rebuilding their nation. Thanks to our donors, ASYV is able to meet the needs of its residents through the delivery of several integrated programs one of which is the Informal Education program (IE). In IE we focus on Tikkun Halev – repairing the heart, and Tikkun Olam – repairing the world.

The Tikkun Halev programs focus on creating a home, giving the children life skills and building self-confidence.

Home Life – on arrival in the Village each child is assigned to a family of 16 children. They live in the same home for their four years at ASYV and are supervised by a family mother who fosters close, familial relationships with each of her charges, creating an environment of security and acceptance.

Enrichment activities are offered daily, and include a range of choices in sports, art music and science. In addition, students join clubs which focus on different areas of village life including religion, art, culture, journalism, agriculture, and the environment. Environmental issues are of particular concern in Rwanda where natural rain forests and wildlife tourism are the largest source of foreign exchange. Our student run nature park focuses on identifying, understanding, and preserving native plant species, as well as appreciating the fragility of and protecting the environment. Over 150 types of birds have been identified as making their home at ASYV.

Our Tikkun Olam program is one of the most transformative programs we have at ASYV. Our students go into the neighboring communities and ensure basic human rights for the community members. They build homes, help harvest crops, teach life skills, as well as English-language and computer skills to the local population and perhaps most importantly they have become a voice for the powerless, advocating for the rights of widows and orphans. Our graduates emerge from Agahozo-Shalom as balanced young adults who are not only able to care for themselves and their families, but who are committed to making their community, their country, and their world, a better place.

On behalf of the 500 students, and 130 faculty and staff members (both in Rwanda and NYC), murakoze cyane (thank you very much) for supporting the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village! Without you, the transformational and inspirational work being done each and every day would not be possible.

Links:

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village blog

Hope for begging talibe children, St-Louis Senegal: "Connecting Talibe Children with Canadian Students"

Sonia LeRoy — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:26:25 GMT

Talibe Kalidou in conversation with Nick in Ottawa

In November, 2012 a student from Ashbury College in Ottawa, Canada was instrumental in initiating a communication program between Canadian students and talibé street children at Maison de la Gare. 14 year old Rowan Hughes established email accounts for about a dozen talibés who had achieved a basic level of French literacy, and she connected these "email talibés" with students at her school in Canada. These students responded in kind with emails to their new talibé pen-pals. The students in both Canada and Senegal are studying French as a second language and are similarly challenged reading and writing French. Yet they persevere, undaunted. The new email connections were cemented by one-on-one Facebook video chats.

More recently, Rowan organized the delivery of packages of notebooks and pens from each of the Canadian students for their Senegalese email pen-pal. The notebooks include a personal, hand written letter of greeting and encouragement, as well as the email contact information for each pair of correspondents. These notebooks are one of the few possessions the email talibés have, and they will be used to practice and prepare email messages with the help of their Maison de la Gare teacher for on-going communications with their Canadian friends.

As the email talibés log in to their gmail accounts after a long day working and begging on the streets of Saint Louis, their attention begins to shift. They re-focus on another, broader world beyond their difficult daily lives, a world of possibilities for a different way of life where education and not forced begging is the norm, and where friends on the other side of the ocean are genuinely interested in who they are and who they want to be.

If the talibé children can articulate their goals and dreams to a friend, one who would not think to question the possibility of such ambitions, perhaps the futures the talibés hope for may seem more possible to them. The email link to Canada has certainly captured the interest of the talibés children and has enhanced the education programs of Maison de la Gare. More importantly, the online relationships have expanded the worlds of both groups of students, Canadian and talibé alike, enriching the lives of all involved.

Talibes reading their notebooks and logging in

Ablae watchs Kalidou chat with his Canadian friend

Talibe Amadou Diao reading his email from Canada

Talibe Arouna Kande writing to Canadian friend