Hello folks!
Just a quick update - we’re currently in northern Namibia, right outside of Etosha National Park. We drove one of the teachers from the school up so she could visit her parents, and we’re all staying at a lodge for a few days. It’s really beautiful here. There are currently 10 or so Springbok sleeping right outside our room. We’ve gone on a few hikes, and Linda and Genny went on a game drive yesterday. There were countless giraffes and zebras, a few lions, and two elephants! As well as a ton of amazing birds and other smaller animals. We watched a lion eat about half of a zebra. We’re all enjoying our little vacation, but also looking forward to getting back into the city to help out at the school next week. Though it’s nice at the lodge, we aren’t really relishing the feeling of being tourists, after seeing the poverty that paints rural Namibia. But it’s only for a few days, and we all needed the break. Our excitement to get back and help at the school again is also overshadowed by the fact that our departure is a week away.
We are planning one last shopping trip before we go, and will help to stock up the school on basic supplies. The pencils the kids use are tiny nubs and lack erasers. They get so excited when they have new markers and new coloring books. We’re also hoping to buy uniforms for some of the kids as well. Many of them have uniforms that are torn or mismatched, or no uniform at all. One of the teachers explained to me that the kids get a sense of pride when they have a uniform, not to mention that it is required for school attendance (though the teachers look the other way if a student shows up without one). She said she has actually been able to track the improvement in a student’s work when they get a uniform. They are so proud to have a uniform that fits and is clean, that they try harder at their schoolwork.
I apologize for the lack of pictures. I managed to get a few up before we ran out of minutes on our internet. Now, we’re up north and have plenty of minutes, but incredibly spotty and unreliable internet service. I can’t manage to hold a connection long enough to upload the pictures. But I promise, I will get them up as soon as I’m able. I’ve tried many times, so it’s not for lack of effort!
Have a great weekend everyone!
~Annie, Linda, Mary, and Genny
Our Mission
African Community Health Inititiave (ACHI)
Provide basic health care services to those lacking access to such care in both rural Nigeria and urban Namibia.
These services include:
*Overall Physicals (including Fasting Glucose levels, Vitals, HIV/AIDS testing etc..)
*Medication Management and Maintenance programs *Disease Management
*Health Education that addresses disease prevention, hygiene and nutrition
*Consultations and referrals
Mount Sinai
A program started by Katutura State Hospital Nurse Christa Biart-Vega, who works in the ARV (antiretroviral) pediatric clinic, Mount Sinai provides HIV counseling, health education, well baby checks, formula, water and sippy cups for 105 babies and their HIV+ mothers. If the child is tested HIV- after 6 weeks of being breastfed, the hospital or clinic refers them to Christa. At this point it is important to discontinue breastfeeding: replacing breast milk with formula means that the baby will remain HIV-. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds Christa has to limit the number of mothers and babies in her program because it is a commitment to feed each child for six months. Christa did receive land in Katutura for the clinic, but lacks the funds to begin building. Not only will this building be used to continue the program that Christa has started, she also envisions it as a safe place for moms and their children, as well as a hospice for children with AIDS to peacefully die in instead of out on the streets. Your donations will go towards formula, sippy cups, water and overall costs. More money means more women can enroll in the program and with your help Nurse Christa will finally be able to have a building to go along with her amazing, life saving program!
Family Hope Sanctuary
FHS is a community based program run by Abigail Maposa located in the extremely poor settlements of Hakahana. FHS’s program helps in two ways: first, to empower women, most of whom are HIV+, TB, single mothers who are raising orphans; and second, through its school readiness program. This program reaches children who are not in the school system and provides them with an education and a safe place to stay. More importantly, the heart of FHS is its kitchen: it feeds hundreds of children each day, which for most is the only meal they will get that day. Lacking the most basic necessities of life, all of these kids are grateful for such a meal, and are in dire need of a formal education before it is too late. Your donations will go towards education, food, clothes, shoes, water and other necessities. Amazingly, $20 sends a child to school for a whole year (books and uniforms included)!
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