GlobalGiving Progress Reports

Education support for children in South Africa: "First Fundraising Target Reached! - Project Update"

Harrison Nash — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:17:58 GMT

First day back at school!

Thanks to all the support we received in the Gateway Challenge we were not just able to meet the necessary £2000 target to become a partner of GlobalGiving UK but surpassed £2500 and had our due diligence approved to feature on GlobalGiving.org - http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/maranathaeducation/ - opening up greater fundraising opportunities through support in the US as well!

Since the challenged has finished we have received additional donations above what was anticipated, which has taken our current total over £3700! Thanks to this on-going support, and in light of receiving extra support from the US, we have extended our fundraising aims with a new target of £6249 (or $10,000 USD) as we now feel this is a realistic aim. This will allow us to dramatically extend the educational support we are able to offer the children and young people at the Siyakatala Child & Youth Care Center, which is our primary aim at this stage.

As the Charity Director, I am currently based in South Africa and working directly with the center on a voluntary basis (I am also a qualified social worker), giving me a direct insight into the reach of this project. There are 30 children supported by the center currently who attend 11 schools throughout the city of Port Elizabeth. This includes schools that have been specifically identified to meet the assessed support needs of the children, as well as two pre-primary children who require specialist support. Through extending our fundraising target we hope to provide remedial support at the center to help the children and young people overcome their educational backlogs, as well as ensuring that all those we support can be fully assessed and have the opportunity to be placed in other specialist schools where required.

If you carry on to spread the word of this project we can really build up all the children at the center, opening doors for a brighter future, and helping the young people here to truly overcome the disadvantage they have experienced in their short lives so far! Thank you for all the support!

Support from pre-primary upwards!

Links:

Charity Site

Transform Lives of 70,000 Afghan Adolescent Girls: "Leadership Workshops Making Positive Changes"

Toc Dunlap — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:53:27 GMT

We are so pleased with the results and the transformation of young girl's minds when they attend the Leadership Workshops. A young villager girl, who was a participant in one of AIL’s Leadership Workshops in 2011 said the following:

“Before I participated in the leadership workshop, I was not interested in what was going on in my country. Since attending the workshop, I now listen to the news, not only about Afghanistan, but I also like to learn what is happening around the world. Now I think about things like the presidential election and I try to make other girls and women at my school think about political activities and ways to help our people. During the night, when I go to bed, I ask myself who I was before and how I have suddenly changed. I was the kind of person that lived under the restriction of my parents, but now, not only have I changed the minds of my parents, but also many other girls listen to me and I can lead them in any direction I want.”

Please keep in mind that Wednesday, March 14, 2012 is Bonus Day through GlobalGiving. Donations up to $1,000.00 will be provided with a 30% match. The bonus allotment is $50,000.00 and the period runs from 12:01 AM EST until the funds are exhausted. So, if you would like your donation to go a little further with the help of Global Giving, give early on March 14^th. Thank you!

Send refugee and poor children to school in Uganda: "CIYOTA student hostel project Update"

Daniel Muhwezi — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:53:41 GMT

Dear CIYOTA friends and supporters, Thank you for your generous donation to CIYOTA. With your help CIYOTA now has secured a permanent fundraising place at the GlobalGiving website and raised $6225. I cannot tell you how much your donation means to us, the two permanent hostel buildings will enable refugee and underprivileged Ugandan Children get access to better and functional education, practical social entrepreneurship and leadership skills. Today, CIYOTA students have started many social innovative ventures in their communities and positively impacted many lives. The first hostel opened in 2008 in Hoima, Uganda, a town 80 km from Kyangwali. It has 100 members, including Ugandans, and refugees from D.R. Congo, Rwanda and Sudan. Through a partnership with government-run schools, hostel members attend for free under a universal education initiative that did not previously accept refugees and has not reached rural communities. Our students excel academically and assume school and community leadership positions. They are planting trees to protect the environment, doing HIV/AIDS prevention, fighting malaria, and helping the needy. We will continue to develop the Hoima hostels by building two permanent structures and making them financially sustainable by starting income-generating projects that the hostel members help run. The primary need addressed by the hostel-lack of access to quality education-is prevalent. We envision one day spreading our hostel model to other communities throughout the world. For us to continue supporting youth, we need YOU, your friends, your family, your co-workers, church members, and neighbors to help us raise $100,000 by June 30th, 2012! This will not happen without you! Please tell your friends, family, co-workers, church members and neighbors. Ask them to invite 10 friends to give and tell them why you gave. Post the link on your facebook page, tweeting or emailing or anything else you can think of! Thank you again for allowing CIYOTA transform communities in Africa by preparing, developing, and empowering a unified group of young leaders to tackle the greatest challenges facing our communities. Sincerely, Daniel

Attachments:

project_update.pdf (PDF)

Give Light to 100 Cambodian Families: "February 2012- Selection of Entrepreneurs"

Daniel Pacheco — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:01:27 GMT

Thanks again for all your ongoing support and donations! Your ongoing support means we are going to e able to impact a lot more people than we originally thought we would!

On our last visit to the village we offered application forms for those interested in becoming entrepreneurs selling and servicing solar products. The turnout was overwhelming; especially considering that we were there on an important holiday, so we thought it would be difficult to gather people.

We installed a couple sample systems in the Live&Learn office so that people can come anytime to see the systems working and get a better understanding of how they work. We also did a few visits to local shop owners as well as many households to continue to understand their situation and present to the option of solar. We also went, to an area of the poorest families, were we intend to install the first 10 solar systems, before setting up the entrepreneurs.

The second day we had a workshop and invited anyone interested in becoming entrepreneurs. Our friends at Live&Learn have been promoting this weeks before our visit, so that people already knew what we were doing. We left them with application forms and a week later we had received 12 forms! The staff from L&L were very helpful in the selection process as they are the ones that really understand the dynamics of the village and have a relationship with the people already.

We have currently selected 2 entrepreneurs and are in the process of selecting the next two, by the end of the week. Our Staff will then go down to meet these 4 entrepreneurs, and set them up with donated systems for their shops/houses/boats, so they become familiar with the products and have a chance to use it before they sell it.

We are happy to announce that a GlobalGiving Representative will be joining us in our next visit early March to install the 10 systems in the 10 selected poor households as well as to do the initial training with the entrepreneurs. Enjoy some of the pictures from our last visit, and we will keep you posted after we visit the village again early next month!

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club of Pine Ridge: "SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club Update"

Allison Villasenor — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:34:41 GMT

Dear Donors,

It has been a busy few months at the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club. We are so grateful for all the support received from our donors. Not only has your support sustained the club for the last few months, but it has allowed us to increased attendance and help many in need over the holiday season.

During the holidays, all members of the club were given Christmas gifts; as well as much needed coats, hats and gloves.

Attendance at the club has increased by 155 members. Additionally, we have secured a partnership that will provide 20 selected members with laptops and math tutoring. The math program is web-based and will provide much needed support to the selected students.

Our basketball leagues will begin next week, the club will be running three leagues for local youth. The 'Spirit of SuAnne' award will be given out to a chosen player.

We are looking forward to great things continuing at the club as we gain more support. Hopefully, we will see the pool up and running in before the summer months.

Best wishes and a huge thank you from all in Pine Ridge, you are helping to make a big difference!

Albania: Preservation Skills Training for Locals : "Need for Preservation Skills Training Illustrated"

Judith Broeker — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:28:56 GMT

Koloi family home lost in 2010

Conservation efforts by Adventures in Preservation at the Skenduli house are part of a larger community program to save Gjirokastra, Albania’s remarkable history. This ongoing effort has given a new lease on life to some of the historic buildings that support this unique fabric of life, but sadly, in other instances help is not available. Every year sees the catastrophic collapse of another tower house.

An inspiring success story played out at the Bar Clavis, located in the center of the old town Pazar or Bazaar. Rustem Mikos invested his life savings after the fall of Communism to buy this building, and for almost twenty years operated a small hardware store. The building is as old as the pazar itself, and Rustem decided to restore and update the building for a new venture. During restoration, he removed a large wild tree from the foundation, and discovered to his surprise the original street level, paved in cobble stone. Rustem preserved his find under plexi-glass plates for you to see when you visit.

In 2008, AiP team members were invited into the Cene house for a tour by the elderly owners. The team was alarmed to see a major ceiling beam in the formal sitting room on the verge of failing. The owners stated that each night they went to bed fearing the beam would break and bring the house down on them. AiP brought this to the attention of city officials, and UNESCO made the house a priority, repairing the beam within the next few months.

But not all houses are saved in the knick of time. The Koloi house developed leaks in its roof, and resources were not available to repair the problem. Most of the roof collapsed within several years, and shortly after (in the winter of 2010), the house collapsed into the street. This has been the story for about one third of the tower houses in Gjirokastra. As family homes are lost, family members most often have to move to poorly built new apartments in the new section of town.

AiP is part of the team committed to conserving this amazing collection of architectural heritage. We invite individuals and corporate sponsors to join us in bringing this historic city back from the brink and again making it a lively, vital community.

Bar Clavis before restoration after roof collapse

Bar Clavis as opening day nears

Cene's at gate to their family home

Cene's fear this ceiling beam will fail

Links:

Join AiP during the next available dates, Sept. 2-15, 2012

Keep tsunami-stricken isatomae community alive: "Tent as a community center and shopping place"

Yoshitaka Okada, Ph.D. — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:48:22 GMT

The Isatomae tent shop in snow

Dear Kind-hearted Donors,

Thank you very much for many donations brought to Isatomae people in Minami-Sanriku Cho. They really appreciate your donations and were given big encouragement through human interactions in the tent-shop we constructed. They are encouraged to move forward.

A big change is taking place now with the tent, passing almost one year after the 3.11 Tohoku Tsunami. This area is quite cold, having temperature between -5 and -15 degrees in centigrade during winter time. Tent is too cold for customers to come and enjoy shopping. Although the Biomas Network Japan brought a big stove, it was not adequate enough. Besides, in the middle of December, the Government constructed temporary shop houses which can create a warm and nice shop environment with an electric air conditioner. No way a tent shop can compete. As
a matter of fact, cold temperature brought a couple of incidents of burst water pipes, causing several days without water. Since computers left in the tent broke down due to moisture and cold weather, a volunteer-operated computer
school decided to move out.

Despite such conditions, the tent shop is functioning to serve the needs of local people. Presently, four shops are still in operation (a lady’s hair salon, a wine shop, a coffee shop and convenience goods), and two NGOs have their places for community activities. Community events are taking place there, turning it more like a community center. Since the tent is operated with little charges, in terms of financial conditions it is more attractive to shop owners who have less favorable financial conditions. The government-provided temporary shop-houses require a little big amount for rent and a deposit for removing the housing which will take place three or four years later. Besides, the number of shop-houses constructed is very small relative to those constructed in the main town of Shizugawa. So, the tent shop still remains attractive to some people who are contemplating to open a shop. It offers a good ground for generating shop start-ups, which can move out of the tent once they start accumulating some fund and regular customers. Besides, once spring comes, it will bring back customers, and community center activities by NGOs and the computer school.

In a sense, the tent is now functioning as an incubation center for very small shops and a community center. It is still satisfying vital needs of Isatomae people, and will bring more activities once spring comes. Since it will take several years before Isatomae people will finally have a permanent location to live and have economic activities up in the mountain side, not next to the ocean, the tent will continuously serve the vital needs of Isatomae people, though its function transforms as the stage of recovery and redevelopment advances..

Heat-contained hair salon

Hair salon operation

A few other shops in operation

NGO meeting places

Provide Dental Care to Families in Gulu, N. Uganda: "Final report on Dental Clinic in Gulu"

Karen Sugar — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:22:35 GMT

In June of 2011, Women's Global Empowerment Fund hosted it's second dental clinic, providing women and families access to critical dental care. Joining forces with a local dentist, our visiting US dental team provided over 150 women and children with dental care.

The clinic also provided supplies to the local dentist who is lacking in equipment and supplies, created outreach and education to the community about the importance of dental care. WGEF hopes to be able to host another clinic in 2013.

This project is now closed, and we are appreciative of all who donated. Thank you.

Links:

visit our website

Cassava growing for food security in Kenya: "The mill has arrived!"

Michael Murigi — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:38:25 GMT

Building housing the mill

Murang'a County, Kenya

Dear Friends,

I am very excited to announce to you that we were able to purchase and install the mill to grind the cassava. The community is so happy! The building housing the mill was also renovated and electricity availed with the owner's assistance. The machine installation was completed on Friday, 17th February. The milling operation started immediately.

One of the great advantages of the mill is that the machines cannot only mill cassavas but also grains including corn. Another advantage is the reduced cost. We decided that the mill would be a social enterprise for the benefit of the community. Therefore the price charged for the milling service has been heavily subsidized. For 3kg of chopped cassavas or grains, we are charging Ksh. 10 (less than $0.10). The other millers charge Ksh. 30 for the 3kg of cassavas or grains. This is a great relief to a community wallowing in abject poverty. Plus, we are very sure that the income accruing is enough to sustain the mill and support other activities in the project.

Finally, another advantage is the reduced price for milling. Before the mill you helped us purchase was put in place, the community members would have to purchase the milling service 7 kilometres away at Sabasaba town. Now, the mill is so close! Women are particularly excited and relieved of the agony and time spent in walking the long distance. They can now attend to more chores. Beyond any shred of doubt, the mill has proved to be a great achievement in the fight for food security. We can’t thank you enough!

Please see attached the following photos.

Photo a : The building housing the mill. Remember, this is the building that appears on our GlobalGiving page. But this time, the front is painted blue.

Photo b : The 2 machines. On the right is the crusher that crushes chopped cassavas and grains. On the left, is the roller machine that finally grinds the crushed cassavas and grains into flour.

Photos c & d : The trained operator packing the flour into customers' bags.

On behalf of our community, I sincerely thank you for supporting us in acquiring a mill. Surely, this is a milestone towards achieving food security. You have surely changed many lives for the better while helping alleviate hunger!

Warm regards,

Michael Murigi.

The machines in the building

Operator packing flour into bags

Operating packing cassava flour for customer

Links:

Enriching Lives of Elders: "Cincinnati Opera Comes to Cedar Village"

Sally Korkin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:09:54 GMT

Cincinnati Opera

Cedar Village's goal is to always enrich lives of our elders, the residents living at Cedar Village through special programming to meet their needs. Last week, residents had the wonderful opportunity to be entertained by a the Cincinnati Opera with the redux performance of “Porgy & Bess.” As one resident stated, "I cannot believe how wonderful Cedar Village is to me by providing me the chance to still experience the arts!"

Additionally, our residents had the wonderful experience of seeing and hearing the voices of students from the University of Cincinnati’s CCM perform as “Alysha & Friends.” From classic show tunes to a few original works, residents had a taste of Broadway in the comfort of Cedar Village.

In April, we will host the Cincinnati Shakespeare Theater with the performance of “In Love with Shakespeare.” It’s through the generosity of donors that Cedar Village is able to bring the arts to our residents as well as provide opportunities to take the residents to the theater.

This summer, we will take both healthcare residents as well as those living independently to the 2012 World Choir Games. How would you like to be a part of the magic? Please consider Cedar Village in your philanthropic endeavors.

Alysha & Friends -- CCM

Links:

Life Begins at Cedar Village

Revolution to homelessness - provide mobile home: "Drinking water"

Vincent Paul — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:27:51 GMT

Hi supporter,

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

Now here it is look like summer season. It is too hot in day time and cold in the night.

The migrant people are suffering from getting water for drinking and cooking. Here water facilities are lacking due to heavy power supply problems and drying of underground water.

CHHASE is arranging to provide drinking water to these migrants. But providing water regularly needs investing of more funds. we are happy to have donors like you to support these migrants.

We on behalf of our staff and the migrant people thank you for your hard earned money to help.

We once more thank you and request you to kindly continue your support in our future projects.

Life Skills for Bantul Women of Earthquake Victims: "Assistance venture capital revolving"

Andi Asriadi — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:18:43 GMT

Assistance for Bantul Women

We have received a budget from GlobalGiving UK 1032 GBP and 106 USD from the GlobalGiving USD. This budget has been used to continue our program in Bantul Yogyakarta. One of the programs are implemented is giving of venture capital revolving.
Bu Sri said that venture capital revolving help us to improve our efforts in making clothes batik (Javanese traditional clothes) and a hat typical Java (blankon). Expected later this revolving venture capital in the period of 6 months will be moved to other participants who need financial aid this effort.
About 3 weeks from now (March 14, 2012) GlobalGiving Bonus Day, we look forward to the donors to participate in this Day Bonus program, so that we can continue this program in helping mothers and children victims of the earthquake in Bantul Yogyakarta Indonesia. We also hope you to tell your family, friends and colleagues to participate in this program.
We wish to thank the donors of GlobalGiving and for all the help so far, may God repay you.

Assistance for Bantul Women

Links:

PUSPEM Foundation Website

Trees Cultivation to lessen impact Global Warming: "Let's continue help reforestation in Indonesia"

Andi Asriadi — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:30:52 GMT

Reforestation indonesia

This tree planting program has lasted more than a year, although the results are less than the maximum of this program will continue.
This reforestation program is divided in three locations: West Java, Yogyakarta and Aceh.
fundamental cause of the lack of this program is the lack of the maximum budget we get from online fundraising.
About 3 weeks from now (March 14, 2012) GlobalGiving Bonus Day, we hope that you participate in this program so that this greening program can obtain a sufficient budget to continue this program.
We also look forward to the donors to tell your family, friends and colleagues for the success of this reforestation program.

Reforestation in Indonesia

Links:

PUSPEM Foundation Website

The Day at Technical Universities: For Girls Only!: "Meanwhile - waiting for 2012"

Monika Banach & Bianka Siwinska — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:22:39 GMT

Girls we meet at Congress

Thank you for your support and encouragement for young women to seize career options in Poland.

The second part of the year we have spend on prepearing the next edition on our action for Gilrs - in 2012.

Meanwhile we were active on the field of the know-how transfer.

On 17-18th September 2011 we took part in the 3rd Congress of Women which was held in Warsaw, Poland as an event of the Polish Presidency in the European Union.

The Congress of Women is both Poland’s largest non-political civic movement and an annual summit aiming at gender equality in private and public spheres. We had an opportunity to present our goals and discuss our challenges with great deal of active women who are politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, civil and culture activists. The leading topic of this year’s Congress was the situation in the post-crisis world and the diagnosis for the future.
Inequalities between women and men in technology, science, R&D and innovations impose a heavy toll on the economy and human capital. We recommend the change of young people’s way of thinking that can increase the number of women at technology and engineering study and improve gender balance in the fields of research and industry.

The Council of the Congress stated: “We are interested in the female point of view, the way women perceive the world, but also the challenges that women face. Women’s participation in the shaping of the world is something that is not only growing but also desired”.

The next Special Day at Technical Universities - For Girls Only is coming soon. See you there. :)

The wife of ex-president of Poland with our helmet

Action-team with the EU-Commissar at Congress

Links:

Rethinking Down Syndrome in Colombia: "OPENING DOORS TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION / ABRIENDO PUERTAS A LA EDUCACION INCLUSIVA"

Martha Robles — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:30:13 GMT

(VER VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL ABAJO)

HAND FRAME, "don´t leave them out" is the call of Fundown Caribe to invite all creatives of the Colombian Caribbean coast to produce videos and photos that will help raise awareness and encourage inclusive education of children and youngsters with Down syndrome as part of our Rethinking Down syndrome in Colombia Campaign.

College students, professionals and lovers of visual arts and graphics will use their talent to serve the community participating in this event that seeks to promote the fulfillment of the right to inclusive education, without discrimination on the basis of equal opportunity enshrined in Article 24 of the UN International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The best audiovisual productions and Photos will be exhibit during the The first United Nations observed World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) Celebration Day on March 2012 in Barranquilla city.

We have created a beautiful page to inform you more about this event http://www.fundowncaribe.org/encuadre/index.html

This time the main message is : They have rights "don´t leave them out"

ESPAÑOL:

ENCUADRE,” no los dejes por fuera”, es la convocatoria de Fundown Caribe para invitar a los creativos de la costa Caribe Colombiana a realizar producciones audiovisuales y fotografías que contribuyan para sensibilizar y motivar la educación inclusiva de los niños y jóvenes con síndrome de Down, como parte de su programa "Repensando el síndrome de Down en Colombia.

Estudiantes universitarios, profesionales y amantes de las artes audiovisuales y graficas podrán poner su talento al servicio de la comunidad participando en este certamen que busca incentivar al cumplimiento del derecho a la educación inclusiva, sin discriminación y sobre la base de igualdad de oportunidades, consagrado en el artículo 24 de la Convención Internacional de la ONU sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad.

Las mejores producciones Audiovisuales y fotografías seran exhibidas en el mes de Marzo durante el evento de celebración Idel Día Mundial Del Síndrome de Down por primera vez reconocido oficialmente por la ONU .

Hemos creado una hermosa página paraqeu conozcas mas acerca de este evento.

http://www.fundowncaribe.org/encuadre/index.html

En esta oportunidad nuestro mensaje es : Ellos tienen derechos " No los dejes por fuera"

Visiting Universities to socialize the campaign

Soon new strategist to involve young people

Links:

Visit The Event Page / Visita la pagina del evento

Support Education & Safety for Uganda Rural Girls: "Girls' Dorm - Project Update"

Thomas Lwebuga and Noela Nalujjuna — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:54:33 GMT

St. Andrews Teachers celebrate performance

Matale Girls’ Dormitory GlobalGiving Report

In the Spring of 2009, The Harambee Centre and Southridge High School in Beaverton Oregon brought four students, Robert Kasumba, Specioza Naligo, Rita Nabukenya, Denis Kagimu, and Father Joseph Kato on an intercultural exchange trip to the US, the first of Uganda its kind between Matale and their sister school Southridge. In November 2011, nationwide in the senior four (S.4) class sat for their O-Level Uganda Certificate of Education exams. One of the students on that trip, Robert Kasumba was the best in Rakai district, an accomplishment not seen before at Matale. Matale had its best year academically with 11 first grades and 27 second grades. This performance was not possible a few years ago. With the help of many of our supporters to fund a new science laboratory, Robert Kasumba and his classmates were enabled to perform well. Below is an email that Robert sent to the Harambee Centre after they received the results.

“Harambee,

Am so glad to thank you for the support you've given to our school in all aspects that has enabled the school to perform well in last year's UCE exams that have been recently released. The science Laboratory that you constructed and opened in 2008 for the school has enabled us so much to improve our performance in the Exams.

Secondly I would like to thank you for the project you've embarked on of establishing a girl's Dormitory. I know it will help the girl students to improve in their lives and give them a comfortable environment for their Education.

Best Regards,

Robert Kasumba.”

After reviewing the results, the fact still remains that the girls are not doing as well as the boys. They have the same potential as the boys, but the odds are against them. Our proposed girls’ dormitory is meant to address some of the challenges the girls of St. Andrews and the Matale community that cannot afford to go to the pricier, better equipped private school in Uganda face.

The science laboratory gave Matale one of the best facilities in the district, and two years after it was completed the results are speaking for themselves. It is with this same approach that we know the girls’ dormitory will create a safe place for the girls of Matale, enabling them to focus on their education.

Help us reach to this goal, and to give hope and opportunity for the girls of Matale. By investing in the girls, we invest in a better community for tomorrow.

Thank you.

A short newspaper article of Robert and his mother, Mary, after receiving news of Robert’s great performance. Feb. 2012. He just got admitted to Uganda Martyrs’ S.S.S. Namugongo, one of the top schools in Uganda for his A-Level (Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education). After two years of A-Level, he wants to study Software Engineering at University.

Attachments:

Matale_Girls_Dormitory_GlobalGiving_Report.docx (DOCX)

Improving Health Outcomes in Young Cancer Patients: "Re-Mission Game Distribution & Outreach Update"

Ellen LaPointe — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:54:33 GMT

play. fight. win.

Since the game's introduction in 2006, HopeLab has distributed approximately 185,000 free copies of Re-Mission in 81 countries. This success is due, in large part, to your support.

In 2011, HopeLab continued distribution of Re-Mission in the places where young people and their families turn for support and care, in particular by engaging with cancer camps and hospitals that provide pediatric oncology care, as well as with clinicians, non-profit organizations, and other professionals providing encouragement and support to young people with cancer and their families.

A major initiative undertaken in 2011 included expanded outreach targeting parents of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer. The strategy we developed included both short- and long-term promotional efforts. The short-term efforts involved advertising on health-related web sites that are frequently accessed by parents whose child might be in medical crisis, parent-specific sites, public service announcements, and social media (e.g., Facebook Flash Mob and YouTube Campaign). This outreach campaign will be fully implemented in the first quarter of 2012. Our longer-term efforts will include building and cultivating relationships with parents of AYAs via targeted outreach activities.

We continue to hear from providers that Re-Mission is a valuable resource for their young cancer patients. Some of the most recent feedback is highlighted below.

“Re-Mission is an amazing opportunity for young people to learn about leukemia and its treatment in a fun and engaging way. HopeLab has created a novel intervention tool that has become an integral component of health education in pediatric cancer centers around the world.”
– Ernest Katz, PhD, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

“Re-Mission allows teens fighting cancer an emotional outlet for their frustration and anger in the fight against cancer. We include a Re-Mission game in over 2,000 teen kits distributed to newly diagnosed teens throughout the country.”
– Liz Horvitz RN BSN, Alicia Rose Foundation

Giving Russian Orphans an Equal Start in Life: "You supported 127 Step Up students this year"

Anna Lukiyanova — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:11:20 GMT

History_of_Inventions

Dear friends,

Hope you are well. Thank you for your continuing support. We are very grateful to you donations and inputs.

I would like to share some facts from our half-yearly progress report of the program you are supporting - "Giving Russian Orphans an Equal Start in Life". We have 127 students this year. All these teenagers and young adults are trying to realize their dreams of quality education. In September-December, 2011 we had 2,851 classes taught, including 296 classes taught by volunteers. Volunteers mostly come to teach English.

In this report I would like to tell you about one of the most spectacular events of this half of the year. On December, 19 we held a project conference for our students which had as its theme the history of inventions. It took place in the main hall of the Pokrovskie Vorota Cultural Centre, which made things even more serious!

The preparations for this event were very lively — each of our teaching groups chose a subject they were interested in and then prepared a report and a presentation. Our students presented the history of clocks, candles, pens, bicycles, rucksacks, photography, the history of the building of the Coliseum and so on. In total there were presentations by nine groups.

The first presentation was by students from psycho-neurological orphanages, who recounted to us an animated history of clocks. Dima (on the photo) shared the experience of telling the time using his own shadow. He didn’t only tell us about different types of clocks, but also showed them!

Sasha and Lyuba gave an exciting presentation on the history of planes and bicycles. The audience greatly enjoyed these presentations as the students showed them the things they were talking about and gave them various conundrums to chew on, forcing them to actively participate in the show.

We learnt many new facts: a stone was used as a first candle, that the Coliseum's arena was once flooded for sea battles, that phantom metro stations still exist, that heavy items should be packed at the bottom of your rucksack, and many other things.

The most memorable presentation was the one about Archimedes' life. From the conference hall our young actors transported us to Ancient Greece where Archimedes himself told us about his great inventions.

I also attach a Step Up Newsletter for January 2012 for your kind attention.

Thank you very much for all your support.

With warm regards,

Anna

History_of_Inventions_2

Attachments:

Step Up Newsletter (PDF)

Chinseu CBO Orphan and Vulnerable Children Feeding: "CHINSEU CBO PROGRESS REPORT"

Noel Banda — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:42:54 GMT

Chief Matetule outside CBO office on GGF Launch

CHINSEU COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATION

NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER 2011 CONTRIBUTION ;

TOWARDS OVC FEEDING AND SECONDARY SCHOOL FEES.

It is welcome to note that the village heads were the group of people who contributed much than the other groups. With this the CBO is encouraging the other groups to take the same measures that the chiefs has shown on this Nov. –Dec. 2011 contributions.

Again the office is happy put the Nov.- Dec. contribution on the notice board so that people can clearly see as agreed before. Please if you found this statement different with what you did to it contact ;

The contribution were as follows;

Group VillageWoman Mdala = mk21,000 plus 40 kgs pigeon peas =mk13,600 Totals =mk34,600
Village Headman Chinseu dmbiri =mk6,000 plus 3 chickens = mk2,100, 2 Ducks =mk2,000 Totals=mk10,100
Village Headman Siyadima =mk3200 Totals= mk3,200
Village Headman Matetule = mk1,000 Totals= mk1,000
Village Headman Kalombola =mk4,000 plus 1 Goat =mk5,000 Totals =mk9,000
Village Headman Kamtumbiza = mk1,900 Totals =mk1,900
Village Headwoma Makonokaya = mk3,000 Totals =mk3,000
Village Headwoman Nanjiwa = mk700 plus 4 chickens= mk2,800 Totals=mk3,500
Village Headman Kafere mk8,000 plus firewood for two weeks=mk4,200 Totals=mk12,200
Village Headman Chinkanda mk500 Totals =mk500

SUB TOTALS MK79,000

CHINSEU CBO EXECUTIVE & THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONTRIBUTIONS;

Noel Banda =mk5,000

Ruth Mlangali = mk4,000

Salome Manjanja =mk4,000

William Watson =mk3,200

Brighton Mtambalika =mk3,000

Benard Nyambi =mk3,000

Efiter Jailos =mk3,000

Syrinia Chingwalu =mk3,000

Frank George =mk3,000

BOARD;

They pocket out mk40,000 from their basket as their contribution were kept by their Board treasure so that when the CBO Management organize an activity they send a budgeted activity for amendment

Sub Totals for Board and Executive =mk71,200 Totals = mk71,200

Chinseu CBO Community around Contributions ;

From Group Level Village Action Committee Responsible for community fundraisers =mk29,730

Sub Totals =mk29,730

Nov. –Dec.2011 Contribution grand totals ==mk179,930

The Executive Secretary, 0994383877. Or visit her at Chinseu CBO Office./ Executive Director , 0884041204.

Lets hold hands , together we are strong.

Your CBO Leader.

NOEL BANDA.

CHINSEU CBO BUDGET FOR JANUARY 2012

Although the demand was high on this month of January 2012. It was not encouraging to note that up to the sixth day of of January there was no contribution reported to the CBO Secretary`s Office.

33 Students visit the CBO`S Secretary`s Office asking for a help towards their selection to different Government Secondary Schools all these Student are Orphan 28 and 5 Vulnerables .
OVC Feeding is also needed at the same time.

On the second week of the January Chiefs agree to be contributing what they can give on daily basis and it proved everything goes and the Children were not returned back without food when there was small foodstuffs OVC were given Porridge I could remember there were three days in this month of January when the CBO give only Porridge.

COMMENT;

January 2012 was very hard to feed 60 Orphan and Vulnerable Children. Hence there is a very hard Hunger in the Villages.

The contribution that reaches the Scretary`s Office was from the CBO Board =MK40,000

At the end of this month the CBO is thanking mor people who helped feed the children on this month when the Hunger is at peak May the Almighty Lord Bless the hand that giveth.

Lets work together one can not manage!

Remember if you found something different as you know towards the contribution statements come / contact us on 09940383877/0884041204

Yours,

Salome Manjanja.

Secretary.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

The commercement of the GGF funding to the Chinseu CBO;

Orphan and Vulnerable persons feeding has improved the status of the CBO as stated below;

The coming of GGF funds has bought good changes that everybody can see without asked for example:

- Many communities are showing interests to support Orphan care activities and many people are supporting every charities activity at the CBO like at HBC, PLHIV support groups, children corner, behavior change among peers.

- To our donors chinseu CBO would not have manage the feeding program without you. Your support towards Chinseu CBO Orphan and vulnerable person feeding project 9277 has brought all the above stories. This is one of very good charity but do you think feeding a child without sending them to school, paying OVC secondary school will bring fruitful results at the end, this is another assignment for all of us to take action. So that our OVC’s are getting secondary school bursary.

- The cooperation between CBO Management and the Community in this month of February 2010 was very encouraging and well done.

- The community contributions towards daily Orphan and Vulnerable Persons feeding at the orphanage were done in two clauses.

Door to door fundraising by the Village Action Committee (VAC) supervised by the village Development Committee (VDC). After finishing fundraising these two committees brought the funds to the CBO finance officer.

Vegetables supplying to the orphanage every village is given their days for example:

Kamtumbiza Village supply vegetables to the orphanage on Mondays
Mdala Village supply vegetables on Tuesdays
Kafere and Chinkanda supply vegetables on Wednesdays
Chinseudzimbiri village supply vegetables on Thursdays
Makonokaya and Siyamdima villages supply vegetables on Fridays
Nanjiwa village supply vegetables on Saturday
Kalombola and Kaumbata villages supply vegetables on Sundays.

Mrs Zulu CBO Board Member , asking the community to continue contributing to the CBO`s activities when asked to contribute hence GGF is currently doing Feeding only and Chinseu also is taking the other part of the feeding but GG is taking a great part.

CHINSEU CBO ORPHAN AND VULNERABLE PERSON FEEDING PROJECT 9277

DETAILED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATEMENT FOR FEBRUARY 2012

FEB 2012

INCOME UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL GIVING

FUNDS FUNDS

Mk Mk

Grants ------- 603,644

Foreign Currency exchange gain ------- -------

Other (Community board of 62,300 -------

trustee contributions) -------- -------

Interest ------- -------

Membership fees 9,100 -------

Org. IGA 6,000 -------

77,400 603,644

EXPENDITURE

Bank Charges 1,000 -------

OVC Admin Stationary ------- 9,300

General Office Admin 8,000 -------

Behaviour Change awareness 15,000 -------

Travel (transports and subsistence) 4,000 2,000

Printing and Reporting 1,000 2,600

OVC Feeding 20,750 196,944

Material Transport 10,000 ------

58,750 210,844

After February 2012 expenditure 77,400 603,644

58,750 210,844

Balance brought down 18,650 392,800

Help Sustainable Farm Community for Malian Orphans: "Mid Year Report"

Kadiatou F. Sidibe — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:56:40 GMT

Children's meal

We completed the farming project with some troubles. There was a drought in Mali this year and just like all other farmers, our project suffered the effects of the drought. The harvest was not the greatest because of the drought, but we have made enough harvesting to help support the children feeding. This will free up scarce resources for other programs such as health care, education etc... In addition due to the drought, food prices have increased tremendously. Currently while we are gettting ready for the next rainy season, we are growing vegetables in our garden to feed the children.

ACFA children

Links:

Our website

Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital: "Beneath Fur and Feathers"

Yvonne — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:39:10 GMT

Lead shot ingested by Canada goose

When a wild creature comes into care at Fellow Mortals, we always perform an initial examination, including looking for possible fractures.

Sometimes injuries are obvious--a bone is protruding from the skin or a leg is not positioned properly, but other times fractures and other injuries are only indicated by the way an animal is acting. Perhaps the woodchuck is obviously uncomfortable lying on its side, or the goose's honk is unnaturally high-pitched.

Radiographs (x-rays) are extremely useful when diagnosing a wild patient's injuries. Since wild animals do not speak human language, we need to be especially observant of their behaviors, as well as use special diagnostic tools, like x-rays, when observations aren't enough.

We like to see an x-ray that shows strong uninjured bones, but sometimes we do find fractures or other injuries that can be difficult to diagnose with naked sight. X-rays make a crucial difference in patient care by showing us what lies within.

The Canada goose whose x-rays are shown below was not shot, but ate lead shot which was mistaken for harmless gravel eaten by birds to help digest their food. After treatment, this goose is doing great and will be released.

The woodchuck had several fractured ribs and a fractured radius and ulna (lower arm). He was released.

The great blue heron and red-tailed hawk whose x-rays are also shown below have already been released.

Thank you for your gifts, which help make it possible to use this important diagnostic tool for the sake of the wild ones brought to Fellow Mortals.

Close of up lead shot

Red-tailed Hawk

Woodchuck with fractured arm and ribs

Head and neck of Great Blue heron

Links:

Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital web site

Ansley (NE) Swimming Pool: "February 2012"

Janice Harrop — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:44:24 GMT

The Village of Ansley is working on a multiple point improvement project for our community swimming pool. The improvements will include, at the minimum, sandblasting and repainting the pool surface area, concrete work to re-anchor our low diving board, and develop a plan to become ADA compliant.

1) The Ansley Swimming Pool undergoes annual pre-opening maintenance which includes power washing and repainting the pool area. The power washing cleans the pool surface so the new paint can be applied; however, we have many layers of paint in some areas and in the power washing process have lost the pool tiles around the top ledge. Since the pool is over 35 years old it needs to be sandblasted to remove all the layers of old paint and then recoated with a primer followed by epoxy paint. The epoxy paint is more expensive but will last longer and we should have to repaint only every five or six years rather than annually. When the weather clears this spring and our pool is drained, we will have a contractor in to do the sandblasting work. Based on the square footage of our pool we are estimating this work can be accomplished for under $10,000. The primer and epoxy paint is estimated to cost $6,500.

2) The base of our low diving board is no longer secure in the concrete deck. This deck area will have to be removed, the diving board re-anchored, and new concrete poured. In the summer of 2011 it was necessary to close down the low diving board from use because of safety concerns. The local contractor is hesitant to give an estimate on this work because it is too difficult to determine how much concrete will have to be removed until they start the project. The Village has also discussed looking into the possibility of replacing the low diving board with a small pool slide. Cost versus funds raised would determine which direction the Board would move on the project.

3) The Village is in the process of a self-evaluation in order to develop a plan so our swimming pool will be ADA compliant. It appears that at a minimum, we will be required to purchase a portable chair lift. The cost estimate for this equipment is $5,500 plus shipping of at least $500 for a total estimated cost of $6,000.

Based on the figures we have received to date the Village could easily be looking at a $20,000 to $25,000 to make these improvements. These funds are simply not available within our annual budget and we will need outside assistance in paying for these maintenance and upgrade costs. These projects are necessary to maintain our pool in good operating condition and continue to provide this valuable service in our community.

SHOFCO: Clean Water & Sanitation for Kibera: "Shining Hope Clean Water Project: Feb. 2012"

Shining Hope for Communities — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:17:28 GMT

Clean Water Kiosk

Most homes in Kibera have no running water, forcing individuals to buy their water from private vendors who charge two to ten times what those living outside the slums pay for water. Often this water is not properly stored or treated, causing widespread water-borne disease.

In order to offer a safe, affordable, and convenient alternative, Shining Hope's new water point in Kibera is the slum’s largest single source of clean water. The Clean Water Project is substantially increasing our ability to provide the community water and is already bringing safe water to thousands of Kiberans everyday. Not only are we creating a more stable supply of water, but it is treated to prevent the waterborne illness we see every day at the Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic.

Shining Hope is selling the clean water below the current market price to ensure those who need the water most will have access. The profits from this project will sustain the water system itself, and help to offset the operational costs of the Kibera School for Girls. This project will then grow to scale over the next year to serve more as community distribution methods are implemented.

Shining Hope is also developing a comprehensive community health and hygiene education and training for the best possible health outcomes; and implement a monitoring & evaluation process to ensure integrity and quality control.

Thank you for your continued support of the Shining Hope Clean Water Project!

The Shining Hope water tower: 100,000L capacity!

Links:

Shining Hope Clean Water Project

East Africa Drought Crisis: "A woman with five goats and a mission"

Soren Bjerregaard — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:14:10 GMT

Mary Kalhelan

The rivers are flowing and the grass is finally green in Kongelei, the pastoralist community in North Western Kenya. Here, I mostly meet women and children, as many men have left the villages in search for green pasture.

After a long dry spell, it started raining in October and the families are starting to rebuild their day-to-day life as it used to be. Fifty of the families have received goats from ActionAid. Many of the goats are now in the hands of women trying to make ends meet.

Meeting some of the women was a reminder, that it is a tremendous task for farmers in Eastern Africa to adapt to climate change, in the aftermath of yet another failure in Durban for the worlds Governments to commit to serious reductions in the CO2 emissions

Women in Kongelai do not believe in binding agreements anyway. Many of their husbands have abandoned their families – whether because of ill fate or simply because they gave up providing for their families.

“I was married, but my husband got AIDS and died. Now our four children are my responsibility.”

35 year-old Mary Kalhelan told me when I visited the area to see, if the recent rains have made life easier for the families.

“The rain used to come regularly, but now it can stay away for many months, before we suddenly get too much. Nothing is certain anymore,” she elaborated.

In December, some areas in North Western Kenya suddenly received so much rain, that the newly planted seeds were flushed off the fields.

The cradle of humankind is said to be somewhere in Africa. People have lived here for thousands of generations. However, the biggest concerns for Mary are no more than one generation old; manmade climate change and HIV did not exist when she was born.

For Mary, providing for her family has been a day-to-day struggle in recent months. With the five goats she received from ActionAid, she feels that her immediate worries have disappeared.

I received five goats from ActionAid that I now keep on a small piece of land. With five goats, I can get enough milk for my children and I. However, the big change will happen when we succeed in breeding more goats. That will change our life status.

Mary, who also works at a market, explains.

Every morning, she walks a couple of hours to buy vegetables for 100 shillings (0.8 EUR) from small farmers along a river. When I met her in a stall in a small town, she had sold half of them for 110 shillings.

Mary has HIV but with four children, a market stall and five goats, that is not her biggest concern any more. When she realised she was HIV positive, she considered it a death sentence. Now it is just one of several concerns in the back of her head.

ActionAid has trained me in how to live a normal life with HIV. I and everybody else had many prejudices about HIV. Now I get my medicine every day and I feel much better

Overall, her life has improved vastly in recent months.

“When it was very dry, a lot of livestock died and there was not many crops on the farms. At that time, we were starving in our family and it was a good day if we got just one solid meal. These days it is a bad day, if we only get one solid meal. On top of that, the goat milk makes my children strong. Things have gotten way better,” she explains.

Five goats that made a difference

Relief for flood-displaced families in Pakistan: "Emergency WASH Supplies Have Huge Impact in Pakistan"

Carlene Deits — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:25:08 GMT

Pakistani Woman Receiving Clean Water

Mercy Corps, with help from donors like you, responded to the Pakistan floods by providing emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) supplies and temporary employment through cash-for-work programs, providing relief for flood-displaced families in Pakistan.

Mercy Corps’ flood response programs have assisted 218,083 conflict/flood-affected people in Swat and 337,810 flood-affected people in Sindh and Balochistan. In Sindh, WASH activities included provision of emergency WASH supplies, whereas in Swat, the WASH component of the program rehabilitated/reconstructed 156 water-systems in rural and urban areas.

The emergency WASH activities in Sindh/Balochistan included provision of water through water trucking, installation of hand pumps, small water storage tanks, construction of latrines, distribution of hygiene kits and conducting hygiene promotion sessions. Because of you, Mercy Corps' programs have played a significant role in improving access of target populations to water and sanitation facilities, revitalized village level small enterprises and restoring critical community infrastructure including link roads, pony tracks, foot-bridges and irrigation channels.

The significant achievements of Mercy Corps' program include provision of temporary employment through cash-for-work to 44,864 households, restoration of 2,588 small enterprises and provision of safe drinking water and sanitation services to some 339,213 people. According to the findings of program surveys, there has been a significant improvement in access to water and sanitation services, improved access to temporary labor work and income generating opportunities. In addition, the revival of village-level small enterprises has significantly improved the beneficiary household economy and contributed towards village level economic recovery and revitalization.

Mercy Corps continues to work with farmers to restore their lands and supplying them with the seeds, livestock, tools and other inputs necessary to resume their livelihoods and avoid a food crisis.

Thank you for your support!

Children in Pakistan

Links:

Keep up to date on Mercy Corps work in Pakistan

Forestry training & finance for 300 farms in Kenya: "DNRC February 2012 Report: Time To Scale Up"

Daniel Pike — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:57 GMT

Time for Chapatis

It's been three months since our last report, when the rainy season in Makueni District was just beginning. The most important news is that the rains this season have been very generous, which is wonderful for our project and for all families in the surrounding area.

While the rains have been falling, we've continued to strengthen bonds between the DNRC, participating farmers and the surrounding community, while improving our education programs and expanding our capacity to grow in 2012. We're set to double our client base this year, and hope to raise an additional $3,000 to build our first office.

In December, we held a Christmas Party for DNRC farmers and community members. About 170 people came, enjoying two goats, chapati and sodas. Afterwards, Nicholas led a training meeting and people toured the woodlot of Lucas Munyao. The party was a huge success in terms of bringing people closer together and demonstrating the growth of the project to all involved. Everyone's already looking forward to our next party in June. Please see the pictures from the party below.

We also hired our third fulltime paid employee, Triza Mbinya Mutua, who is studying for a degree in Community Development at Daystar University in Nairobi. She will be responsible for administration and accounting, supporting project coordinator Daniel Mwenda, Nursery Manager Lucas Munyao and CEO Nicholas Syano as they plant saplings, train farmers and build relationships with the surrounding community.

In January, Nicholas Syano took 3 weeks leave from his other job to focus on training our new employees, meeting new client farmers, and improving our education curriculum. He also established a site, design and budget for the DNRC's first office, which would provide us with storage for equipment, seeds and files, as well as a central hub for interaction with the community.

We now have in place the team and the plan we need to expand in 2012. We aim to add an additional 100-150 farmers this year, bringing our total client base to 250-300 farmers by year end. We already have five separate geographic farmer groups, who Daniel Mwenda trains separately once a month. We plan to deepen our reach, rather than expand it, recruiting as many additional farmers as possible from within these five geographies before moving on to new villages. This will help keep costs down, and has many spillover microclimate benefits.

We also aim to raise $2,500 in additional funds to build our first office. We're looking to you, our many supporters, to assist us in this effort. Of course, any donations would be much appreciated. But in addition to that, we want your ideas and your energy! Please spread the word about the project to friends, family and other potential donors. If you have fundraising ideas, suggestions for grants we should apply for, or would like to host a fundraising drive in your community, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you.

Agroforestry Training After Lunch!

Everyone Together

Teach Literacy through the Arts in DC, MD, and VA: "Great Things Happening Thanks to Your Help!!"

Arianna Ross — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:21:49 GMT

Your dollars in action!!

Through generous donations to our "Teach Arts through Literacy" campaign in DC, MD, and VA, we have completed artist-in-residency programs at Payne Elementary School in DC. We will be at Tyler Elementary School in DC and the National Children's Museum Launch Zone in the month of March, with more programs at Pathways School's Wheaton Campus and Jessup Elementary School to come!

Help us find more angels.

If you can please forward this project report to a friend with a personal note explaining why you think it is valuable to continue to fund this project. Ask them to maximize the impact of their dollars by donating on MARCH 14 - BONUS DAY. Starting at 12am EST on March 14th, online donations will be matched at 30% by Global Giving. There are limited funds available, so we ask that you give early to get the benefit of the match and stretch your gift an extra 30%! The donor who gives the most on bonus day wins a $50 gift card.

Payne Elementary is a world culture catalyst school in central DC. The teachers as well as the students learned new techniques for exploring Kenya and Language Arts. The students increased their understanding story sequencing. Furthermore, based on the needs of the community we focused on positive versus negative characteristics and the importance of being kind and helpful in life versus tricky and sneaky. Enjoy one of the stories written through this residency experience!

The Trickster and the Burning Hot Savannah of Kenya by Ms. Glover's 2^nd grade class

Germaine, the Zebra, was inside her hut in the Savannah of Kenya studying to become a doctor. Germaine while doing her homework said, “This is hard. I can’t do this.” After 20 hours of studying passed she said “Oh I got this.”

Meanwhile Nemi, the Crocodile, was swimming in her water hole. She decides she is going to trick Germaine into not studying. Nemi said, “I’m bored. I’m going to trick Germaine. I’m going to erase her homework and trap her.” The crocodile digs a hole in the ground with his tail. It took 20 hours to dig the hole.

Nemi crawls over to Germaine’s house. She calls her outside to play 1,2,3, hide and go seek. Nemi shouts, “Come let’s play hide and seek.” They played for 5 hours. It was crocodile’s turn to hide. She hides behind a rock and threw a rope out.

Germaine is looking for Nemi. She calls out “Where are you Nemi?” Suddenly, she trips and falls into the hole. She screams, “OH no, HELP me.”

Nemi shouts down “I got you.” Nemi goes into Germaine’s house and erases her homework. Nemi hides her books. Nemi eats all of Germaine’s Ugali, fish and coconut milk.

Then along came Malachi, the wise medium sized cheetah. Malachi found Germaine, the zebra, in the deep dirty hole because Germaine was shouting “HELP HELP.”

When Malachi, the cheetah, heard this he said “OH no. How did you get down there?”

Germaine tearfully said, “Nemi trapped me.” The cheetah helped Germaine the zebra out of the deep dirty hole by throwing a large grey rope down the hole and pulled up Germaine, the zebra.

Germaine said, “Thank you.” Germaine and Malachi, the wise cheetah went looking for Nemi, the sneaky crocodile. They found him, tricked him, and put him into the deep dirty hole until he decided to play nice.

In the end, Nemi said, “I’m sorry. I promise to not behave silly around other people. I promise to be kind and patient.”

The End

Upcoming programs you've helped make possible and could attend:

National Children's Museum: Launch Zone

112 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745

Saturday, March 17, 2012

AND

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Schedule for each day (Please call to register for a workshop as numbers are limited! Events are FREE!):

11 am: Performance
11:30 am: Interactive Workshop
1 pm: Performance
1:30 pm: Interactive Workshop
3 pm: Performance

The Fleet Parking Garage is located directly behind the Launch Zone. Tel (301) 686-0225

We would love to see you there!

If you would like to see a culmination performance of an artist-in-residency experience, contact us for details!

Links:

Children's Museum Launch Zone

Attachments:

Another Great 2nd Grade Story (DOC)

Adopt An Elephant Calf: "Rani Deepor - Progress Update February 2012"

Devna Arora — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:22:02 GMT

Rani at 6 months old

Rani Deepor was found stuck in a mud pit and all alone at the tender age of two months. Rani’s herd had come too close to a village and had been chased away by the villagers. The little calf was left behind as a result of this conflict. An attempt was made to reunite her with her herd, which was then moving between Rani Reserve Forest and Deepor Beel, Guwahati, and the calf was kept at Rani Reserve Forest for a couple of days in the hope that the herd might return for her. When all attempts at reuniting had failed, she was shifted to Guwahati Zoo for immediate care. A week later, on the 18^th of Sep 2011, the calf was shifted to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) for hand-raising and rehabilitation.

Admitted with only minor health problems, like an upset tummy due to drastic changes in food, she recovered in no time and adjusted well to the new feeding regime. Tenderly cared for by her keeper, Raju, it didn’t take her long to settle down and mingle with the other calves at the centre.

An ever inquisitive calf, Rani always has her ears splayed out in anticipation and watches all activities with her big bulging eyes. Also noticeable, is a teeny hole to the far end of the left ear. Rani is very communicative and especially vocal during her feeds. Absolutely impatient during feed times, she trumpets loudly if her bottle is delayed by even a few minutes.

Rani’s first friend and playmate at the centre was Philip Dev. Rani and Philip took to each other right from the start and have followed each other around like shadows ever since. Philip, being naughtier than her, often leads Rani to mischief. Much like Philip, Rani too doesn’t enjoy playing in the play pond yet. Although Philip always finds his way out, Rani just stays put, obediently waiting to hear, “Play time’s up!” so she can rush back to the enclosure.

We look forward to keeping you updated on Rani Deepor’s growth and progress!

Rani and Philip - playmates & partners in mischief

Rani being reassured by Junmoni

Rani in the play pond with the other calves

Rani scratching her back

Mossy Foot Project - Village Clinics: "Mossy Foot Clinic Work: Nov - Dec 2011"

Clyde Xi — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:25:35 GMT

Mossy Foot Project finances 15 clinics around Soddo, Ethiopia, including a leather shoe making shop. In month of November and Decembers, we continue making progress in treatment and prevention of mossy foot disease. Here are a few stats to share:

Patients examined and treated: 5767, including 344 new patients
Leather shoes made and distributed: 728
Socks distributed in the month: 100

The project also includes elements of vocational training so that patients are able to learn means of making a living. Only only many have had their feet treated, but also have left the love and hope they never had before. In included in the attachment the story of Genet Gaga.

Thank each of your for your partnership in this ministry for the poorest of the poor. They are unless likely to thank you in person, but for sure you have your reward in heaven.

"The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!
The LORD hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people. Psalm 69:32-33"

Attachments:

Patient Story - Genet Gaga (PDF)

MAMA+ Supports 100 HIV-Affected Babies In Russia: "Recent news about Sofia and Nadya"

Roman Yorick — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:33:48 GMT

Kolya and the MAMA+ specialist

Dear friends and supporters,

Thanks to your generous donations, in winter months of 2011-2012 we have been able to provide 26 HIV-positive mothers and their babies in St. Petersburg with milk formula, child care supplies, shelter and access to public services. We can already see positive changes in the lives of these women and their children! We would like to update you on the stories of two women and their children, which have become success stories since our last newsletter in December 2011 thanks to your invaluable support.

Sofia’s story

Sofia (The names of clients and their children have been changed for confidentiality reasons) is a native of Kushva, a small town in Sverdlovsk Region of Russia. Her parents had died leaving her with a house completely in shambles. At eighteen, she came to St. Petersburg looking for a job. Sofia lived with her drug-addicted partner who had repeatedly beaten her and eventually kicked her out when she was five months pregnant.

Sofia lost her job as soon as the boss learned about her pregnancy. She found herself with neither income nor housing. Another piece of bad news was that she had been diagnosed with HIV. After learning she was HIV-positive, Sofia’s older brother who lived in the suburbs of St. Petersburg turned his back on her.

When Sofia arrived to the MAMA+ Halfway House in March 2011, she had already been registered with the AIDS Center and was receiving prophylactic treatment to prevent HIV transmission to the baby. In August her son Kolya was born ten weeks early and placed into an ICU for a month. Upon discharge, the baby still required a lot of medical attention, but he is much better now. MAMA+ staff helped Sofia receive all the lacking documents for herself and for the child. MAMA+ supported Sofia in caring for Kolya, provided them with appropriate nutrition, medication, child care supplies and clothes. “MAMA+ instilled me with a hope for the better”, Sofia says.

MAMA+ psychologists helped Sofia improve her relationship with her brother. In January 2012, she moved out of the halfway house to live with her brother and his family. Now she also has a job at a local supermarket.

Sofia is still in contact with MAMA+ staff and her friends from the Halfway House, who have supported her all this time. These women have experienced similar problems and shared the support that enabled them and their babies to survive.

Nadya’s story

Nadya (The names of clients and their children have been changed for confidentiality reasons) is an orphan: the parents abandoned her at birth, and Nadya has grown up in an orphanage together with her eight brothers and sisters. Since then, she kept in contact only with one brother.

Upon coming of age, Nadya and her brother as orphans were provided by the government with a place in a communal apartment. As often happens with orphanage graduates, they fell victims of fraud and found themselves on the street. They became addicted to substances, and Nadya’s brother soon died, while she learned she was HIV-positive.

At 27, Nadya got pregnant. Her partner died before their son was born. She found herself on the street again, now with a newborn child. When Nadya enrolled into the MAMA+ Halfway house in September 2011, she did not have any documents either for herself or for her little son Yegor. MAMA+ staff helped her obtain the necessary documents and get access to healthcare and social services. Yegor received a comprehensive medical examination that showed developmental delays requiring physical therapy. MAMA+ provided Nadya and Yegor with the most necessary things, such as medications, milk formula, clothes, child care supplies, and others.

At the halfway house, Nadya also received the life skills that she was never able to learn at the orphanage. MAMA+ staff helped Nadya establish a good connection with her child, the kind she has never had with her own mother.

Nadya and Yegor are still residents of the MAMA+ halfway house, although Nadya already feels empowered to handle various issues on her own.

“MAMA+ provided me with both emotional and material assistance. They gave me hope that my son and I have a future”, says Nadya.

On behalf of our clients and their children, I thank you all for your generous support. Doctors to Children looks forward to sharing more successes from MAMA+ with the GlobalGiving community.

Roman Yorick, MD, MPH

Board Chairman

Nadya and Yegor

Links:

http://www.doctors2children.ru/projects/mama/

Holiday Gifts for Teens: "You made kids smile!"

Barbara Howell — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:39:11 GMT

Finding the right gift for teenagers is very difficult, and therefore, they are often overlooked during the holidays, in favor of the cute toys for the younger kids. But you didn't let that happen! Thanks to your generosity, BTAC was able to purchase skateboards and cosmetics to give to teenage boys and girls for Christmas gifts. Their parents were thrilled to see the wonderful gifts their kids would receive.

Overall, BTAC provided holiday gifts for more than 350 families, which translates to more than 1,000 kids (approximately 300 teens), who wouldn't have had gifts without your help.

Thank you for your help and support.

Links:

BTAC website

9th Ward Field of Dreams: "Construction Update"

Brian Bordainick — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:18:23 GMT

The campus on which the 9th Ward Field of Dreams project will be built has been undergoing a political shift. The school will be operated by a cater operator instead of the local community. While our project is out of the politics of this, we do have to wait for this to be sorted.

The Recovery School District estimates that we will be able to break ground in conjunction with the school this summer, but an actual date has not been provided. Since almost all of partners are local, we don't really run the risk of losing any of their support, and our money is firmly tucked away in our foundation.

We look forward to having this sorted out soon, and proceeding with our project which will be a huge help to the community.