In our last update, I lamented that our application to the Melinda French Gates Foundation for women's health funding didn't make the final cut. Following the advice of Ray Bradbury, I decided to jump off the cliff anyway & hope to grow wings on the way down. As usual, YOU became the wind beneath those emerging wings.
As of last week, 30 women had the repair surgery. Two are nurses, now part of the Harambee family, volunteering when we do medical service work in poverty-stricken communities. One, Sophia, is now a Grow A Doc sponsored student, studying pharmacy. She, too, will join our health care team.
(A big shoutout to Sheryl S. G. for organizing photos, stories, files, to keep track of all the women!)
This week brought another request. We're out of funds for more surgeries ($2,600 each), but this was a plea no one could possibly refuse, from a 14 year old child. I'd hock the family silver if necessary to help this girl. FOURTEEN. I've blurred her photo for her privacy.
My name is Marion K. I am 14 years old, in Grade 8, and I live in Lepolosi, Transmara West, Narok County. My father passed away a few years ago, and life has been very hard for us since then. After my father died, my mother, my younger brother and I were chased away from home after I became pregnant. We had nowhere to go and nobody to speak for us. We eventually came to Lepolosi, hoping that somehow life would become better. I became pregnant when I was only 13 years old, carrying twins. At 14, I gave birth after a very long and difficult labour. I suffered a deep tear, and since then, I have been unable to control my urine and stool. They leak without me knowing. I also suffer from repeated infections and a bad smell that has made me feel ashamed and afraid to be around other people. During this difficult time, my two babies also passed away. I tried to return to school because I wanted to continue learning and have a better future. But sitting in class became very difficult. I was afraid that other students would notice the smell or see the leakage. I felt embarrassed and sometimes wanted to hide from everyone. Eventually, my headteacher sent me home to seek treatment. Today, I am at home, unable to continue with my education. My mother is doing everything she can to take care of us. She works and sells drinks in the jua kali market, but the little profit she gets is only enough to help us get food and survive. I am 14 years old. I have already lost my father, my home, and my babies, and now I am afraid of losing my education and my future too. I am kindly asking for help so that I can receive the treatment I need. I want to be healthy again, return to school, sit with other children without fear, and have a chance to achieve my dreams. Please help me. Your support could give me back my health, my education, and hope for my future.
We think WE'VE got problems?! But today this child is home recuperating from the surgery that has restored her life. She'll soon be joining her classmates at school.This is what YOU have done.
As we still are supporting 26 students in university, secondary, & primary schools, we're always seeking more support. Know of any funding agencies where we can submit a proposal--government, church, foundation? Please do contact us.
GROW A DOC/NURSE
Who knew...16 years ago when we accepted our first candidates, if we'd be able to come up with sufficient funds to see them graduate? We'd asked St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in Kibera for a single referred student. They sent us 3. How could we say no to 2 of them? We didn't, & our good friends here rose to the occasion. And kept rising. This year has seen the graduation of our 41st supported student. Candidates have come from Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Sudan. The impossible has become possible. I am on my knees in gratitude for all who help us act as God's hands here on earth. The number of lives touched, healed, saved, by these ambitious graduates can only be known by God. They've overcome enormous odds in their desire for higher education, their desire to help others. Below is our latest grad. December will bring 3 more.
Neema Manitoba, Nursing
And, because most of us know little or nothing about education in other countries, here's a list of studies in the first semester of one of our medical students, currently in Uganda, preparing to transfer to Kenya. One semester!
Communication Skills
Computer Skills
Behavioral Science
Entrepreneurship
Principles of Ethics
Mathematics
Chemistry Physics
Biostatistics
Biology
Principles of Public Health & Epidemiology
Research Methodology
Our students & graduates--YOUR students & graduates--are in frequent communication with us. They're always aware of our care for them. Here's a typical note:
"Thank you so much for the love and for continuing to support me throughout this journey. Your generosity has made it possible for me to continue with my education and pursue my dream. I truly appreciate not only the financial support but also the love encouragement and belief you have shown me. I am very grateful to have you in my corner. May God richly bless you, reward you abundantly, and continue to give you good health and happiness for all the lives you touch."
And this from a young man elicited tears. It's lengthy, & so shortened by half:
"As I sit down to write, I am overwhelmed with emotions, not sure how to express my gratitude adequately. Your support has been a constant source of comfort & strength. My education has been a game changer.... I remember the countless times I felt lost & uncertain about my future & felt like giving up but your kindness & generosity gave me strength. You believed in me, and so I could believe in myself. I will never forget & always be grateful. Thank you for believing in me & investing in my future. I'm honored to have you in my life."
A GIANT STEP FORWARD
Dr. Calvince (now a Harambee Board Member & Director of Education) crafted a Memorandum of Understanding between Project Harambee & Mount Kenya University, signed on September 22 by Professor Deogratius Jaganyi, Vice Chancellor & others present, including nephew Rob & our partner Waithira Gitu. Cause for great celebration.
Most of our new students will be enrolled at MKU, The MOU comes with advantages for them: Our qualified candidates will get preferential admission & on-campus housing. This eliminates commuting costs & time & strengthens Harambee group solidarity.
Another important plus: because MKU is a private university, we won't have to deal with losses due to faculty strikes frequently seen at public schools--where we must pay fees for semesters that are repeated.
MKU will collaborate with us sponsoring our pop-up medical clinics.
This MOU is significant. We owe its achievement to Dr. Calvince--a stunning example of how our graduates "pay it forward."
IMPORTANT
NEXT STEP
We're continuing to streamline our PLANT A SEED, GROW A DOC/NURSE program to better serve our students & for maximum efficiency. The first step has been the MOU with Mount Kenya University. Next: We'll turn over management of this program to the SCHOOL OF HOPE FOUNDATION, supporter of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in Kibera. They sent us our first candidates & continue to refer graduates who are well grounded in good values & academic excellence--a major reason why we've been so successful. Now our budget is growing, is more complex, & we need to start an endowment fund so that the Grow A Doc/Nurse program will continue for a long, long time. School of Hope Foundation has the resources to manage our program skillfully & responsibly. At some point ahead, we'll ask all donations for Grow A Doc/Nurse be made directly to the School of Hope Foundation, designated for our program. We'll continue to help raise funds & offer alternative gift cards. You can learn more about St. Al's here
St. Al's in 2008, the science room. At least a start, but you literally had to hold your nose crossing a ditch to reach the school in Kibera.
St. Al's today, with construction completed on a campus building for three new STEM labs.
LOOKING AHEAD
One way we're able to accomplish a lot in Africa is with collaborations--often working with others when we can't be present. Coming up, we're joining with Mirror of Hope, a community-based nonprofit visiting a juvenile prison in Nairobi in November. Our contribution will be sending some of our Grow A Doc students along to help & donating a large amount of bar soap purchased from Kirii co-op whose projects we support. Many of you have bought delicious African honey we bring from Kirii co-op. I hope we'll soon have soap we can offer you, enhanced with honey & goat milk. Ain't it great how webs of connections grow to support many good people.
WORLD PEACE DAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Sponsored by the United Nations, it's ceremoniously celebrated at Daley Plaza in Chicago every year in September.
Again this year I was pleased to carry & present the Kenyan flag as we all fervently invoked peace in the coming year.
Our friend Rob has just come home from another visit to Kenya. He first travelled with Project Harambee 2 years ago & has returned on his own several times, finding new ways to help & bringing lots of toys & clothes donated by his co-workers & friends. AND... donations for many new dairy goats & chickens. Last trip, while out walking, he came upon St. Margaret's Day Care for disabled children, many immobilized due to cerebral palsy. He was sure if some of these little kids had braces they'd be able to walk, to have a better life. Rob doesn't let grass grow under his feet & he returned with 16 pairs of leg braces. Our Doc Calvince came to examine the children & engaged a physical therapist. An orthopedic surgeon will perform surgery to release one child's leg contractures, allowing him to walk. I hope Rob keeps taking random strolls. 'No telling what other good deeds will come of this!
Have you seen holiday decorations in the stores? Yikes, it's not too soon to be thinking ahead. Here's information about two sales where you can find our beautiful goods from Kenya. AND honey from our supported hives, always in demand. We hope to see you. Mark the calendar:
NOVEMBER 14, St. Pius Church, 4300 So. Oak Park Avenue, Stickney, IL
DECEMBER 5 & 6, St. Giles McDonough Hall, 1101 Columbian, Oak Park IL
We're featuring more soapstone items, like the exquisite chess set shown below. Unique--only 1!
And don't forget our alternative gift cards. Does Uncle George really need another set of foot warmers? Imagine his joy at getting a goat in Kenya named after him! Or a pig...or chickens. I'll be in Kenya in January & will personally hand out dairy goats & (reluctantly) chickens, to subsistence farmers who don't want a handout, but a hand UP. Come with me & join in the fun! Below a few cards are shown. We of course also offer GROW A DOC cards, beehive cards--your name goes on a beehive in Africa AND you get a jar of African honey. Solar lanterns, too. Yes, we still do it better than Heifer, because we have no overhead. You give $25, $25 goes to Africa. Tax-deductible.
We are revamping our website. After 20 years, it needs a facelift. So stay tuned for more, better, easier. Meanwhile, the current website is quite serviceable.
HELP PLEASE: ARE YOU UPGRADING YOUR LAPTOP, TABLET, PHONE? Our sponsored students each need a laptop & phone. We can take yours & refurbish it, erasing all data. Also needed are lab coats, dolls with brown skin, hot wheels, musical instruments for the blind school we visit. Barbie doll clothes?
AT LAST! The children's book I've been incubating is ready to be printed, in time for the holidays. Based on a real happening on an early Kenya service trip, it's about a boy, a challenge, & the role of chewing gum in fulfilling a dream.
Illustrated by Kenyan artist Joshua Mugha.
In closing, I hope to remind you of your power to change the world. Yup,there's nuthin' to it. I hear comments like "There's so much need, & anything I'd do is barely a drop in a very big bucket." My response: "One drop in the bucket is better than no drop in the bucket." Need more? Try this:
And if chocolate will get you moving, just give me a call!
