GlobalGiving UK Progress Reports

Help children in El Salvador overcome trauma: "GlobalGiving's Review of IBREA"

Alexis Nadin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:20:13 GMT

GlobalGiving recently received an email from a concerned donor regarding the International Brain Education Association (IBREA). At GlobalGiving, we are dedicated to ensuring a satisfactory giving experience for all of our donors. As a global community and network, we also know that any partner’s situation can affect the community as a whole. As a result, we chose to temporarily place IBREA’s projects under review while we investigated the concerns of this donor.

After conducting more in-depth research and speaking at length with the team at IBREA, we have verified that IBREA is a legitimate organization in good standing with the IRS, implementing projects with a social benefit. As a result, we have chosen to reactivate IBREA’s projects on GlobalGiving.

Any recurring donations that had temporarily moved to GlobalGiving’s General Fund while IBREA was under review have been moved back to their original IBREA projects. Any donations made to the General Fund during this time have also been reallocated to IBREA's projects. We apologize for this inconvenience.

If you have any additional questions about this review, please feel free to contact Alexis Nadin at GlobalGiving (anadin@globalgiving.org) or Isabel Guzman at IBREA (isabel@ibrea.org).

Ergonomic benches for Guatemalan backstrap weavers: "In their hands"

Karen Piegorsch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:20 GMT

Juana Ramos (R) with three weavers from San Pedro

Dear Donors,

In December our local Mayan collaborator Juana Ramos and I evaluated this project on-site in Guatemala. We focused in the Lake Atitlan region, with folks who are involved in the independent making, selling and promotion of the ergonomic weaving bench. Women received us in their homes. They showed us how they weave, and talked about what the bench means to them.

In San Pedro La Laguna we discovered three friends who share one bench. Doñas Manuela, Juana and María weave together every day, taking turns using the ergonomic bench. "No pain, less fatigue, focusing more on the quality of our work, and getting more done each day" – these are what they love about weaving with the ergonomic bench. Will it be even better once each woman has a bench of her own? Sure! But how great is it that they’ve designed a rotation that gives each of them a turn every third day! Juana Ramos spent a couple of hours with this group, helping each woman fine-tune the fit of the bench. Before we left, each woman wrote her name on the bench, next to the holes that correspond to the adjustment for her height. That will make it quick and easy for each woman to set-up the bench when it’s her turn to use it.

Juana and I are also in touch with the folks of the project in Cajola. They mentioned that eventually they’d like to be able to bring Juana back to help them promote the bench outside their local community. The men’s carpentry shop Arbol de Talento, that makes the benches in Cajola, is currently focusing on evolving the management of their business. The women’s cooperative, Maya Mam Weavers, works together every day, in a building that has separate rooms for backstrap weaving, floor loom weaving, and sewing. Their backstrap weaving room houses an ergonomic bench for each woman! Several of the women are also purchasing benches to use in their own homes because, “we just can't get used to using the bench at work and not having it at home.”

One of the most important observations to come out of our evaluation is that the time has come for the Mayan people themselves be the ones whose initiative carries this project forward and determines its future outcomes. Synergo Arts has been privileged to facilitate this project, and will continue to assist their efforts if requested and as resources will allow, from the sidelines. Juana Ramos is developing a plan for increasing her educational outreach at local and regional levels. I have felt honored and privileged to work so closely with members of the indigenous communities of Guatemala, on a project that is so significant to their culture.

THANK YOU for helping us help these artisans protect their health, increase their income potential and preserve their culture. Please feel free to remain in touch via email at: synergoarts@gmail.com .

Manuela, Juana & Maria take turns using the bench

names by holes for adjusting fit to each woman

Women Leaders Transforming Southern Africa: "Former Graca Machel Scholars Leading Change"

Emily Hayter — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:29:26 GMT

Dear friends,

We are delighted to welcome a new cohort of Graça Machel Scholars to Canon Collins!

Eleven inspirational women are starting their studies soon. Among them are:

Relebohile Hlabana (Lesotho): Honours in Chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Nosizwe Khayelihle (South Africa): Honours in Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch

Mannyalleng Relebohile Alice Makhetha (Lesotho): MSc in Renewable Energy, also at Stellenbosch

Masozi Victoria Nkunika (Zambia): MSc in Oncology Nursing and Palliative Care at Wits

Paula Monjane (Mozambique): PhD in Health Policy and Management at Erasmus University in Rotterdam

We are proud to be supporting these exceptional women in realizing their visions for their communities. We look forward to charting their progress!

At Canon Collins Trust we are passionate about scholarships because of their potential not only to transform the lives of the recipients, but also to impact their communities. Our scholarship recipients go on to lead change, whether as directors of civil society organizations, pioneering researchers, or innovative policymakers. Graça Machel Scholars are no exception, as the following recent updates illustrate...

Dinah Katonda (M.Ed at Chancellor College, Malawi in Education Policy, Planning and Leadership) is Senior Primary School Inspector and Advisor at the South East Education Division in Zomba, Malawi. She is also chairing the newly-launched Malawi Canon Collins Trust Alumni Association. She leads a committee of seven Canon Collins alumni, who in turn lead a fast-growing group of alumni from across the country, tasked with the mission of "developing, capacitating and empowering...alumni with the skills to change their communities for the better".

Grace Ntaote (PhD Education, Nelson Mandela University) is now lecturing at the Lesotho College of Education in Maseru. Her research explores ways of assisting Lesotho educators to offer care and support to vulnerable children orphaned by AIDS. In Lesotho, where HIV prevalence is the highest in the world, Grace's research is not only topical, but also of great value as the country's education system works on its response to the crisis.

Your donations enable us to continue supporting women like the individuals profiled above. We thank you most sincerely for your support.

Best wishes

Emily

PS- We have a new website! Check it out: www.canoncollins.org.uk

Sustainable housing for rural communities in Mali: "Super video about AVN in Mali; new AVN website"

Tony Kaye — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:34:09 GMT

A classroom in Kobe College, near Kati

Support from French foundations for our Program in Mali

I have a couple of bits of good news about our work in Mali: the Lemarchand Foundation and la Fondation pour la Nature et l’Homme, have agreed to support our pilot programs in the regions of Segou and Koutiala

Madame De Oliveira of the Fondation pour la Nature et l’Homme has made a superb video about AVN's work, which you can check out via the link below. The sound track of this video is in French, but it's worth watching just to get an idea of the people, the scenery, the context, and the Nubian vault buildings that are pictured.

Examples of NV buildings in Mali

I'm attaching to this report photos of two community buildings constructed by NV masons, two examples of partnerships which are creating opportunities and hope for children in local communities:

- a college in Kobé, financed by the Italian NGO Africabougou, and using the technique of combining NV vaults with reinforced concrete pillars and beams to make large internal spaces

- an orphanage in Gao, a joint project between a local builder with masons trained by AVN, the Swiss NGO Aide a Gao, and the Provictimis Foundation,

New AVN website

We have been working on a complete re-make of our website, and the English version is now ready to be launched. You can see it here: http://new.lavoutenubienne.org/en . It is much more comprehensive than the old version, has more photos, documents, and videos, and is much easier to find your way around...so, please pay us a visit! Note that the French, Spanish, and Arabic versions are still under development.

Best wishes from all of us at AVN for 2012, and, once again, thank you for your support

Tony Kaye

President, Association la Voutge Nubienne

Gao Orphanage

Links:

Build Sustainable Housing for Families in Africa: "Start of 2011/12 Season; New Website"

Tony Kaye — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:47:20 GMT

AVN-Mali's offices in Pelengana Cultural Centre

NV Masons' Congresses

The 2011/12 construction season kicked off in October with regional masons' congresses in Boromo, Burkina Faso, and in Segou, Mali, as well as a sub-regional seminar in Boromo . The local AVN-Burkina and AVN-Mali teams took part, as well as Thomas Granier, Bruno Jarno (AVN statistician) and representatives of our franchised partners from Benin and Senegal. Work on the first VN building sites started at the same time, but will intensify this month, when farming work tails off. However, this year, the rains have been less than usual, demonstrating yet again the fragility of the environment of the Sahel. This season’s harvest is likely to be reduced, which probably means that construction activity will also be affected.

AVN-Mali Office opens

The new AVN team in Mali has moved into its dedicated office space in the Cultural Centre in Pelengana, Segou.. The Cultural Centre was built by a team of VN masons last year, and is well situated close to the Mairie in Pelengana. The AVN team at present consists of Ismaila Diallo (Assistant Director), Souleymane Koné (Extension Agent), assisted by Francis Tiene, on secondment from the AVN team in Boromo, and Mathieu Hardy, architect and acting Director. A second extension agent will be recruited by the end of the year.

Senegal: Opening of a new AVN Program in the Podor Region

AVN has set up a partnership with the Association "le Partenariat St-Louis Région Nord - PSLR" , which coordinates links between the French Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, and the region of St-Louis in Senegal. Two PSLR members (Bachir Niang et Malyck Sy) went to Burkina Faso in October to take part in the opening congress of the 2011/12 construction season, and to complete their training as AVN extension agents. This new program, in the next few years, will pump-prime the market for NV housing in the Podor region - birthplace of the famous Senegalese musician, Baaba Maal.

New AVN Website

Please check out our stunning new website, at www.new.lavoutenubienne.org : the newly designed site contains more information, images, and videos, and is much easier to navigate than the old one. The English version is now complete, although the French, Spanish, and Arabic ones are still being finalized.

With best wishes to all our supporters for 2012

Tony Kaye

The AVN-Mali team

AVN seminar, Boromo

Masons' congress, Segou, Mali

Links:

AVN.s New Website

Snehalaya meaning the Home with love in Hindi: "Snehalaya is selected as project of the month..."

Dr. B.K. Sharma — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:11:06 GMT

Our Children received the award

"We are happy to know that our project "Snehalaya meaning the home with love in Hindi" has been selected as project of the month for Feb.2012 by GlobalGiving, U.S.A. This is an honour for us recognising these works by such an esteemed organisation. GlobalGiving has confirmed that as project of the month, we shall receive a grant of more than $3000 from them helping us to provide for the children in Snehalaya. Here is the link http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/snehalaya-meaning-the-home-with-love-in-hindi/

Any donations received during this month will increase the grant by GlobalGiving by same amount. Please do not miss this opportunity to contribute more helping to take these works further. I take this opportunity to remind all our supporters that we welcome volunteers from all walks of life including students and trainees to help us either from their own place and or on floor in Gwalior, India. Please help us by spreading the word too. Many thanks.

2. Children from our main stream school participated in dance competition held at trade fare in Gwalior on 16th Jan. and won the prize. Here is the photograph of them with their certificates along with our other children and staff.

3. 62nd Republic Day of India was celebrated in Snehalaya on 26th Jan.2012. Flag hoisting was done by two children with Dr. B.k. Sharma (Founder) and Brig. J. Matta (Director) in presence of many guests, staff members, children of Snehalaya and our main stream school. Various cultural programmes including patriotic songs, skits and dances were performed by our children. The programme ended with distribution of sweets to every one present.

4. Dr. B.K. Sharma, Founder of Gwalior Childrens Charity and Snehalaya is one among four persons selected and honoured from among all from whole of India by Divya Prem Seva Mission of Haridwar in India for their annual event. He received a plaque and shawl on 29th Jan.2012 at the hands of Shri Ashish Gautam (popularly known as Ashish Bhaiya, the founder of DPSM), Shri Pawaiya ji, Member of Parliament and Mr. Kaul (eminent International journalist from Delhi), recognising this work in Gwalior through Gwalior Childrens Charity and Snehalaya helping the poor, disabled and destitute esp. children, women and the aged of India.

We are pleased to have received these recognitions and awards for these works and are much obliged of all our donors, volunteers and supporters helping us in these endeavours, without which it was not possible for us to reach here. We are sure for same and more to continue for many years to come helping us to carry this work further. With regards,

BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma,
For Gwalior Childrens Charity (U.K.) and GHECT incl. Snehalaya (India),

26th Jan. celebrated in Snehalaya.

Republic Day of India celebrated in Snehalaya.

Links:

Early Intervention for Disabled Infants : "Awareness creation reulting in early intervention"

Pramila Balasundaram — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:08:11 GMT

As part of our community outreach programme we conduct health camps and puppet shows on disability. Over the years we have realized that puppet theatre is the most effective since it allows the audience to interact directly with the puppets who are manipulated by puppeteers from Rajasthan. The scripts we give to the puppeteers focus on the crucial need for early identification of disability and in particular intellectual disability. Many issues are addressed but we try to motivate families to seek services as early as possible and not on "miracle cures " or karma which prevents seeking of supportive services. .

In December 2011 , we were approached by a women who said she saw our puppet show and was curious to know whether what we said about early intervention was true. When she saw the small rehabilitation clinic that we run she was surprised that so many women actually do come every single day with their disabled offspring and that many of the mothers actually saw improvement in their children. We allowed her to stay on and talk to the other mothers and ask as many questions as she wanted.This is crucial to our service since it is only through mothers who are convinced that what we offer will help the child that we can progress.

The next day she brought her daughter Nancy ,who was one and a half years old. The pediatrician assessed her as a child with Cerebral palsey and severe intellectual disability and prone to epileptic fits. She was still unable to sit up and her cognitive skills as well as physical development were severely limited. The intervention strategies were begun immediately. Medication for her epileptics fits were provided and more importantly the mother was shown what to do at home when Nancy suffered a seizure .Nancy has now begun to reach out for objects and even has shown remarkable improvement .The mother is happy and she is now an advocate for our services.

Send Deserving Children to school in Rural Nepal: "NYF Scholarship Students Consistently Outperform!"

Teresa Parker — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:31:57 GMT

NYF Highschool Scholarship Student

Nepal Youth Foundation's January 2012 Bi-Annual Scholarship Report from Kathmandu includes this fabulous news:

NYF's Scholarship students consistently outperformed the national Pass Rate by leaps and bounds. For the "School Leaving Certificate" (the rough equivalent of our 10th Grade, and a notoriously difficult exam), the national pass rate average was 65%. Yet of NYF Scholarship Students, the average pass rate was 80%.

And, the difference increases from there:

For the 11th Grade test, the national rate is 39%, NYF Scholarship Students, 87%;

12th Grade national rate, 46%, NYF Scholarship Students, 80%;

Bachelor's 1st Year national rate, 23%, with NYF Scholarship Students passing at 67%.

And, remember, these Scholarship Students are not from the privileged classes and castes. The Nepal Youth Foundation and its donors support the welfare and education of the least fortunate children of Nepal's society, many of whom were destitute and without any family to support them. Of our Scholarship recipients, 49% are from the Janajati, an ethnic minority, and 18% are of the Dalit community, one of the historically "untouchable" sects. As with every one of our Scholarship recipients, the remaining 33% of our high-acheiving Students (children of other Nepali ethnicity) would not have the opportunity of an education without the help of NYF.

Help these children gain the education that will make them leaders in Nepal and, perhaps, in the World. For as little as $100 a year, NYF provides books, paper and pencils, school uniforms, and pays the school fee. Through these modest investments, NYF's donors are giving more than hope and education. They are providing the opportunity to change an entire culture, one deserving student at a time.

To read more about Nepal Youth Foundation's Village Scholarship Program and our other projects in Nepal, please visit our website, www.nepalyouthfoundation.org

Links:

www.nepalyouthfoundation.org

New hope for Zambia's poorest school children!: "Great Big Christmas Card Campaign!"

Helen Allen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:17 GMT

Happy New Year! And what a happy new year you have given to our community Schools in Zambia! I am absolutely delighted to report that thanks to your AMAZING generosity, our Great Big Christmas Card Campaign raised an unbelievable £14,000 which has paid for our Schools of Good Hope Project!!

Almost 300 people “signed” our Great Big Christmas Card and helped us win the Globalgiving UK fundraising competition our campaign was competing in. The race was on right up until 22^nd December to get as many names and donations as we could, to help train the untrained volunteer teachers in eight Zambian community schools.

This January, our Schools of Good Hope Co-ordinator and qualified teacher, Vincent Heselwood, took our great big Christmas Card with our long list of supporters to each of the community Schools. He asked the communities what they thought about the fact that so many people from around the world, knew about them and had personally put their hands in their pockets to see the lives of 23 teachers and over 1000 of Zambia’s poorest school children transformed.

“The world is not as it was twenty years ago. Fields and cattle are not enough and when people are counted it will be those with education that stand above the rest. By helping with our school you are investing in peoples’ lives and in their futures.”

Teacher in Charge at Kafefwe Community School.

“Even as you leave today I don’t think you truly appreciate what you have done for these schools. You have given us confidence and we believe that we can improve, because people believe in us”.

Headteacher, Matimba community School

So what exactly has your money paid for? Your generosity has meant that we now have the funds we need to deliver our Schools of Good Hope Project in full. Each month, over the course of a year, Vincent Heselwood is going to each community school and delivering a free course of teacher training to all the teachers and community members who want to help run the school. They close the school for the day to concentrate fully their training and then Vincent goes back later in the month to observe the teachers and mentor them in practice. Your money helps pay for all of this from the fuel Vincent uses to get out to the rural community schools to simple resources that will help transform life in the classroom. Things that we take for granted are helping revolutionise the learning environment!

Teacher toolkits

As well as a copy of the Zambian National Curriculum, our Teacher Toolkits include simple things like a hardback book, where teachers can keep a record of pupil attendance and grades as well as having something to write their lesson plans on. Prior to our Schools of Good Hope Project, teachers had nowhere to write such things.

Classroom starter packs

These contain lots of basic resources such as blue-tack, enabling them to stick things on walls; flipcharts and paper, so that they can create their own displays; learning aids such as 2 dice and a pack of cards that can be used for numeracy games, helping make lessons engaging, instead of the traditional “chalk and talk” approach.

Did We Say Thank You?

Due to an error on the global giving donation page, many of your kind donations came through to us as anonymous. If you ticked the box that said “share my details with the project I support”, it actually meant that your details weren’t shared with us! We know that many of you gave very generously, but because we were unable to see that it was you we couldn’t extend our personal thanks. For all those who didn’t get a personal PEPAIDS thank you at the time, please accept this MASSIVE retrospective THANKYOU! We are tremendously grateful to you!

Links:

Provide Lifesaving Relief to Drought Victims: ""The turning point in my life.""

Callie Spaide — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:28 GMT

Mohammed teaches community members at Kobe Camp.

When 20-year-old Mohammed first arrived in Ethiopia’s Kobe Refugee Camp 6 months ago, he had never been employed, never been able to earn a salary, and had never received any formal education. A refugee from Northern Somalia, he had walked 6 days to escape the massive drought that has caused widespread suffering throughout the region. Soon after came what Mohammed described as “the turning point in my life.”

International Medical Corps hired him as a Hygiene Promoter, a critical component to reducing the threat of communicable diseases in the crowded camps.

Hygiene Promoters are trained by International Medical Corps and then share their knowledge throughout their communities, teaching others about proper hand washing techniques, the importance of using latrines, and properly cleaning jelly cans used to carry drinking water.

Mohammed is one of many refugees in the Dolo Ado Camps we're training in hygiene promotion, as well as sanitation, nutrition and gender-based violence response, among other topics. The benefits are enduring: these trained Health Promoters multiply our efforts many times over, teaching others, providing sustainable health solutions within the camps. Plus, the program creates employment opportunities for families struggling to rebuild.

Famine was officially declared in East Africa 6 months ago, and today an estimated 13.3 million people throughout Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya urgently need humanitarian relief.

But these communities need more than a hand-out. They also need long-term solutions. By training and educating local men and women, we create a foundation to build a sustainable health care system for a healthier future.

Says Mohammed: "...with the power of knowledge I have received through trainings on hygiene promotion, I am now able to improve sanitation and hygiene practices in my community. I now know that diarrhea can be prevented by using a latrine and by washing hands with soap and water and am in a position to pass on the message of safe hygiene practices and behaviors to my fellow community members. I will thank International Medical Corps one day when I reach home!"

After a massive humanitarian response, the UN recently announced that famine conditions are no longer present in Somalia. However, 1.7 million people still desperately need humanitarian relief to survive. In addition, food stocks in Somalia are expected to run low by May, adding to fears that the country could quickly slip back into crisis.

Working in East Africa since 1991, International Medical Corps will continue its lifesaving relief and recovery efforts, helping these vulnerable communities rebuild through training and education.

East Africa Food Crisis: "A Dangerous Delay"

Save the Children and Oxfam — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:26:18 GMT

More than 13 million people are still affected by the crisis in the Horn of Africa. There were clear early warning signs many months in advance, yet there was insufficient response until it was far too late.

Governments, donors, the UN and NGOs need to change their approach to chronic drought situations by managing the risks, not the crisis.

This means acting on information from early warning systems and not waiting for certainty before responding, as well as tackling the root causes of vulnerability and actively seeking to reduce risk in all activities. To achieve this, we must overcome the humanitarian–development divide.

The emergency in the Horn of Africa in 2011 was no sudden-onset crisis. Thanks to sophisticated early warning systems (EWS), there were clear indications of the impending drought and its consequences.

Forecasts of the impending crisis started in August 2010, as changing weather conditions linked to the La Niña phenomenon were confirmed. These predictions became more strident in early November 2010, when the October to December short rains were forecast to be poor. This prediction was accurate, prompting the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group for East Africa (FSNWG) to set up a La Niña task force.

In December 2010, it stated that ‘pre-emptive action is needed to protect livelihoods and avoid later costly lifesaving emergency interventions’ and called on the humanitarian community (donors, UN, NGOs) ‘to be prepared now at country level.’

Early action is more costeffective. In the 2004–2005 Niger emergency, WFP's initial food deliveries in February 2005 cost $7 per beneficiary, but the response to the appeal was weak; by August the Niger situation had reached crisis,
money began to flow, but the cost per beneficiary had risen to $23.

Multi-agency scenario planning took place in February 2011. A Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) food security alert dated 15 March made it clear that the current situation was already alarming and would deteriorate further if the March to May rains were as poor as expected. It stated that even average rains would lead to a critical food security situation until May or June, and predicted ‘localized famine conditions [in southern Somalia], including significantly increased child mortality… if the worst case scenario assumptions are realized’.

The FSNWG also warned that ‘failure of the March to May rains is likely to result in a major crisis’. At this stage,
humanitarian actors were advised to begin large-scale contingency/respon planning immediately, and to implement expanded multi-sectoral programmming. Yet this call was not adequately heeded.

The national response
In Ethiopia and Kenya, major investment in national early warning systems over the past decade has improved the quality of information available. The governments in both countries play leading roles in identifying needs and coordinating the overall response. Arguably, the response was more efficient than the response to previous droughts, reflecting learning and investments made since the last drought, but challenges remain.

In Ethiopia, early action did take place across a number of sectors. For example, the government’s Agricultural Task Force, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), developed a road map for interventions in early 2011. However, government figures on the number of people needing assistance published in February 2011 were among the lowest in recent years (2.8 million). These figures were revised upwards in April, and again in July, to 4.5 million people. Donors have expressed concern that this underestimated the actual numbers of people in need, particularly in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) region, and that the
lack of timely, accurate information on the scale of need makes it more difficult to access resources from headquarters.

Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) used its 20 per cent contingency budget, and the Risk Financing Mechanism was also triggered in September 2011 to extend the food provision period for PSNP beneficiaries.

The NGO consortium Joint Emergency Operation Plan (JEOP) was scaled up and extended through 2011. This allowed for an increased number of beneficiaries (more than 300,000 ‘additional transitory’ beneficiaries) as well as
extended help to 6.5m existing PSNP beneficiaries.

Links:

Read the full report

Teach 30 Rwandan Women to Read, Write & Calculate: "The teaching program of new students 2012"

Innocent Baguma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:48:28 GMT

2011 Students and teachers in classroom

Dear Sir/Madam,

We would like to thank our donors for their appreciable contribution in the achievement of our activities. Nowadays, we are in registration process. This academic year we will teach 20 adult women. We will start on 1^st March, 2012 teaching four days per week.

Our project made a big social change especially to students who graduated from our program. Our fresh graduates have joined teams that help them to raise income. Ahobantegeye Jeanne, our former student, told us that she has sent her daughter to school. She is part of the Abanyamurava team that sells charcoal and this team is planning to buy a motorcycle by the end of this month as another income generating activity for their team. “Before I thought that I can’t join an association, because I thought it is for the literate people” Said Ahobantegeye Jeanne. She added: “to study how to calculate helped me in my small business, for I am able to change money”. All the 20 women who graduated last year have sent their daughters to school, and they have opened their own bank accounts. They know well how to read, write and calculate. They are even able to lead themselves by reading road sign posts. They vote themselves, and they attend local meetings.

To raise the monthly operating cost is still a problem for our team. The big challenges that our team is facing are that teachers are still not being paid, and to rent the classroom is also another challenge for our teaching program.

The dance troop that supports us in fundraising through its performances is progressing well. Recently, it was in a competition that was organized on the national level, and it won. The problem is that we still rent some costumes of the dancers.

Our plan is to start the teaching program in this March. We will teach these women how to read, write and calculate in a period of 12 months. We will also train them about their rights and business skills.

Don’t you think that the development of a family and a country in general starts from the women’s literacy?

Your donations make a big difference in our community.

once again, we thank you for your generosity and giving heart.

With gratitude,

Innocent Baguma

Ahobantegeye Jeanne

Our dance troop

Safe Drinking Water for 80,000 Children in Bolivia: "Opportunity now"

Matthias Saladin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:44:57 GMT

Safe drinking water - thanks to SODIS

Dear friends and supporters,

As a previous donor to projects of the SODIS Foundation, you may be interested in an exciting initiative we are involved: The Rockefeller Foundation, GlobalGiving and InnoCentive are continuing their Global Giveback Challenge to find solutions to water-related problems in developing countries. A project of the SODIS Foundation, related to the development of a low-cost radiation indicator ("SODIS indicator"), is one of only four projects which have been selected at global level, and we are truly excited about this opportunity.

Between now and February 29, all donations received through www.globalgiving.org/7089 to our project will be matched by 200%! That is, for each dollar donated, our sponsors will add two more, thus tripling the amount you donate. We think this is a great opportunity to achieve a great impact and support this important initiative further. Please be aware that matching funds are limited, so act quickly (availability of matching funds can be checked here).

Please share this information with friends and families who may be interested in making a donation or just in spreading the word.

Best regards,
Matthias Saladin

P.S: You can also support our projects by mobile phone (Only works for US mobile phones):

Text GIVE 7089 to 80088 to donate $10 to Develop an indicator for Solar Water Disinfection.

Text GIVE 1905 to 80088 to donate $10 to provide safe water for a child.

Message and data rates may apply. Full Terms: www.mGive.org/T

Early-stage prototype of a SODIS indicator

Links:

Empowering Poor, Rural Girls in Paraguay: "SHARE THE LOVE!"

Luis Fernando Sanabria — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:57:19 GMT

The Talented Micaela Mican

Micaela Macan is a spirited poet from a town about 5 hours away from the school. She writes poetry to process the world as she sees it and as an outlet for her feelings. She is from a single parent household, and her mother works long hours cleaning at a local company. She has an 11 year old brother, and suffered the tragic loss of a younger brother due to a venomous snake bite. Micaela is entering her junior year in the school. She remarks that the local school options from her town are limited, and she is grateful to pursue a high quality education. She hopes to go to university one day to study agronomy.

SHARE THE LOVE! You can help Micaela and others like her complete their high school education and pursue their dreams of going on to university. Please consider making a donation to the Mbaracayú Educational Center as a gift this Valentine’s Day through GlobalGiving. Enjoy a sample of Micaela’s poetry below. Happy Valentine's Day!

TE AMO I LOVE YOU

Si te amo no es If I love you it’s not

Porque te lo digo, Because I tell you,

Es porque It is because

Me lo dicen. They tell me.

Desde el primer instante From the first moment

En que te he visto That I saw you

Me enamore de ti. I fell in love with you

Para mi SOS You ARE

La primavera porque Spring because

Después que te encontré After meeting you

Mi vida floreció. My life blossomed.

Te amo y por I love you and

Siempre te amaré. I will always love you.

Alaide Micaela Macan Alaide Micaela Macan

Micaela's Work in Progress

Saving Lives of 1000 Malnourished Children in Chad: "Chad Project Update - February 2012"

Georine Homawoo — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:27:13 GMT

Country Context – January 2012

While the Eastern part of the country is somewhat stabilizing, Chad overall continues to face challenges related to protection and assistance for refugees, the repatriation and reintegration of migrants from Libya, and assistance to people affected by malnutrition, food insecurity, epidemics and natural disasters.

The Western and central areas of Chad continue experiencing large-scale severe malnutrition and food insecurity. The border areas in Southern and Eastern areas are also affected by high levels of insecurity, due to banditry and organised crime.

Thank you

Thanks to your commitment and contribution, ACF teams continue to support the people of Chad and all money raised in the purchase of Plumpy Nut continues to help in treating children affected by severe acute malnutrition.

Send Orphaned Teens from Kenya to High School: "Happy Valentine's Day"

Laura Salazar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:48:09 GMT

Toddlers enjoying a sunny day

Here are a couple of toddlers who live at the Good Samaritain Children's Home wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day. In the past 5 years the GSCH has accepted more young children in its ranks, with babies sometimes left on its door step. In prior years most of the children in the home were of school age. An elementary school is housed on the grounds of the home. High school age students study in local schools, technical schools, and boarding schools. We are very proud that these toddlers will receive a good education from this infancy through secondary school. High school students with high grades may qualify for a free university education.

Links:

FAF Winter Newsletter

Support Entrepreneurial Drive of Women in Ghana: "Why Education is Important to Me, By Margaret S."

Margaret Saanuo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:03:47 GMT

Margaret Saanuo

Why Education is Important to Me, by Margaret Saanuo, WomensTrust Scholarship Recipient

My parents are from the Dagaartis tribe, a marginalized group in regard to education and wealth in the Upper West Region of Ghana. However, they migrated to the Central Region of Ghana in search of “greener pastures.” Traditionally, female education is relegated to the background. It is considered a waste to invest in their education because they will marry and have children. Instead, parents send boys to schools because of the patrimonial system of inheritance. This culture of discrimination against female education has a negative impact on the socio-economic development of women, and the society as a whole. As a result, women remain economically disadvantaged and men capitalize on this to infringe on their fundamental human rights.

Despite the tradition, my father has decided to give an equal education to my three siblings and me. He believes that the only legacy you can leave behind for your children is quality education, not the amount of wealth you have acquired. He tells me, ”If you think education is expensive you should try ignorance.” Ignorance is like a disease in Ghana, and I have set forth to change the mentality of my community, proving that, “What a man can do a woman can do equally well.” Education can transform Ghana and it is time women are acknowledged in the society in which they have been despised.

I have a strong desire to help those in need, especially children who are less fortunate. There are many children in Ghana who need someone to love and care about them, someone to look up to, who will assist them when they are in trouble. One of the ways I would like to help the children and my country as a whole is by studying medicine. I want to be the first renowned female cardiologist because the few cardiologists I know are men. My dream of being a role model will be an example to women in Ghana. In short, my experiences in life, combined with a rigorous academic education, will enable me to pursue a successful career in future.

I am highly indebted to WomensTrust and appreciate all their effort and the impact they have on my life. I will continue to make you proud in many endeavors because saying THANK YOU cannot describe what you have done for my family and me.

Links:

Meet More of our Program Recipients

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

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

Clinica Verde waiting room.

Dear Awesome Supporters:

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

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

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

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

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

Saludos,

Susan

susan@clinicaverde.org

Links:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seems like a nice way to start 2012 activities.

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

Links:

Suma tu mirada

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

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

Thank you!

Hello everyone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

With much appreciation,

Sunita

Links:

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

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

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

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

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

Achievements of Project Mosquito Nets in 2011

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

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

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

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

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

Impact of the Distribution

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

Future Plans

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

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

Thanks

Links:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Help Farmers Rear Silk Moths to Restore Forests: "A lot of twist to shout about"

Catherine Craig — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:37:09 GMT

Roberta spinner that can REALLY twist

I know you would rather hear from Mamy and the team than CPALI US, but until our program is sustainable, we have to continue to work hard in support of SEPALI Madagascar developing new products, new approaches and ideas. The team has just returned from their annual holiday and are now in the field so I thought it might be good time to update you on our silk spinning activites.

CPALI/SEPALI Madagacar has purchased a spinning wheel and we are now SPINNING wild silk fibers. It is an electric wheel and so easy to use that even I can spin silk. It also allows one to easily add a lot of twist to the thread which is important when fibers are relativly short. So far I have produced beautiful yarns (well, the material is beautiful but the number slubs they contain indicate my beginner status as a spinner) from Ceranchia appolina, Argema mittrei and Antherina suraka. But just spinning the silk is not the starting place. The cocoons need to be "de-gummed" meaning the sericin that coats the threads needs to be removed before the silk fibers can be wrested free. Not surprisingly, some of the cocoons have more sericin than others - a reflection on the degree of protection they must provide? For example, to remove the sericin from A. suraka cocoons, the cocoon is "simmered" just below boiling point in a 1% solution of baking soda for an hour - minimum. What results is a beautiful, deep brown liquor (the sericin, that in itself, might be a useful product), and a cocoon whose fibers are slightly loosened. C. appolina, like A. suraka, produces a two layer cocoon but its components are much more differentiated than those of A. suraka cocoons. The inner cocoon is like paper and made up of extremely fine and very soft threads that are super gluey. The outer cocoon is a reticulated, very strong "cage" around the inner cocoon and is seperated from it by about 1.5 inches. Both inner and outer are silk and both are tough to "relax". Argema mittrei is the very easiest to work with. The fibers are very, very long, and silvery. In fact the silk can be spun directly from the cocoon after a little boiling. My colleagues tell me that it is possible to reel the silk which would give processing an industrial advantage but may not be as advantageous for our project. Spinning the silks takes some practice and different species produce cocoons with different types of fibers. Thank goodness for the Roberta spinner -- that helps a beginner achieve better results -- just like a good camera that adjusts the light to give better pictures.

Ok - enough about spinning and threads - check out the pictures and stay tuned for the next team update from the field in about two weeks.

All the best,

Cay

A. suraka, C. appolina, A. mitrei and silk

Links:

Give education opportunity to 200 Kenyan children: "Education Opportunity for 200 Needy Kenya children"

Esther Kamau — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:43:12 GMT

We are pleased to report that the New Beginning Academy (NBA) in Juja Farm, Kenya got off to a great start to the new school year on 3 January 2012. The children were very excited to return following the Christmas break.

We are very pleased with the report that we received from the District Education Department complimenting us on the excellent performance and achievements of the school children attending NBA.

The work on the extension for the additional classrooms to the school is going very well but we still need your valuable support to enable us to complete this work, which will enable some of the children to continue with their development and progress through the educational system.

Thank you for your continued support and as always we really do appreciate you helping us to spread the word to your family and friends.

Best wishes