Read More - Happy New Year! Update from Tommy Dollar, Fellow in Sierra Leone
Happy New Year!
I went home to the United States for Christmas and New Year's. Upon returning to Sierra Leone in January, I felt re-energized and excited to get back into my work at Africare. January is a busy month for us, as many of our deadlines for filing reports and proposals come at the end of this month. One of my biggest tasks at the moment is to help Africare complete the annual report for an HIV/AIDS education program that we are undertaking together with the Global Fund. This program takes place in the Kenema and Kailahun Districts, and trains young people about how HIV is transmitted and what measures they can take to protect themselves.
Read More - HTHH Meets with Music Industry: A Gathering
We had a fantastic event today at the house pulling together folks from all corners of the Music Industry here in Nashville: Music City, USA. We had some artists from Country Music and some from CCM, and lots of energy to move forward to change the world. Hope through Healing Hands motto is "using health as a currency for peace." It's a slogan I think we all can get behind: a better, safer world for us all.
Read More - Save the Children NEEDS YOU!
Save the Children posted a concept on the Change.org web site based on S25 called "Save the Lives of Children ~ Improve Global Child Health" and the idea qualified for the final round. Today a new round of voting begins, and goes through January 15th. If we're one of the top ideas, we'll be invited to a reception with the Case Foundation and Change.org will support a grassroots advocacy campaign around the idea.
Read More - Frist Honors Women at Grace Chapel for over 1000 caps donated for Knit One, Save One Campaign
We had a fantastic event on Saturday morning with the women of Grace Chapel Church here in Leipers Fork, TN. What an amazing bunch of women!

A few months ago, my good friend Reese Smith introduced the Knit One, Save One Campaign, a national grassroots effort launched by the global humanitarian organization Save the Children and the Warm Up America Foundation, to his wife, Emily, an avid knitter and member of the "Knitting with Grace" club at the church. The initiative aims to draw attention to the 4 million newborns that die each year in the first month of life in the developing world. Participants are asked to make a baby cap, and are also encouraged to write a personal note to President-elect Barack Obama urging him to lead the way to save millions of babies globally.
Read More - From Ashes, Amai Pakpak Medical Center rises anew with high hopes for region
WHO:

Staff and employees of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center; local citizens of the Marawi region; and several distinguished visitors, including Undersecretary of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement, Edilberto Adan; Lanao del Sur First Lady to the Governor, Raifa Adiong; Professor Paladan Badron, Marawi City Administrator (on behalf of Mayor Fahad Salic, al Hadj); Dr. Amer Saber, Chief of APMC; Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, AFP WESMINCOM Commander; Brig. Gen. Magalso, AFP 1st Infantry Division Deputy Commander; Col. Rey Ardo, AFP 103rd Brigade Commander; Colonel Bill Coultrup, Commander of the JSOTF-P; and Mr. Harold Wolf, President and CEO of ENDEC, Inc.

WHAT:

With the cut of a ceremonial ribbon, leaders from across the Mindanao region inaugurated the new Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC)-just 8 months from when the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines awarded a contract employing local workers to build the new Center. The U.S. provided $660,058 (US) to fill the void left by a 2006 fire that destroyed the former facility.
Read More - Letter from Princeton in Africa Fellow: Sierra Leone
Well, it's hard to believe that December is upon us, and that I've been here three months already. Africare--Sierra Leone recently welcomed Vicki Johnson to our office, who is joining us as our new Country Representative.
Read More - CCM's Sara Groves Invites Listeners to Buy a Newborn Care Kit This Holiday Season

CCM Artist Sara Groves invites listeners of Christian Radio this Holiday season to "Share the Joy" of giving by supporting new mothers in developing nations to have safe deliveries and healthy, warm newborns. A gift of $10 will help provide newborn care kits for mothers so the chances of their newborns surviving the risky first month of life are improved. The kit contains items to improve hygiene at delivery and promote proper care of newborns, and will be paired with health worker counseling to support new moms on issues like exclusive breastfeeding. The kit’s contents vary by country and may contain items such as soap for hand washing, a new blade for cutting the umbilical cord and a clean string for tying the cord. Each kit will be coupled with a hand-made cap, knitted or crocheted by a caring person who took part in Save the Children's Knit One, Save One campaign, and will keep the baby warm during the first critical hours and days after birth.

Sara's radio spot reads as follows:

Hope through Healing Hands-A Better Beginning for Babies this Christmas

(To hear the spot, please click HERE.)

World AIDS Day

Dec 01 2008

Read More - World AIDS Day
Today is a day to celebrate. Since the inception of PEPFAR, over 2 million people have been treated in Sub-Saharan Africa, and over ten million have received care. We are fighting the battle to stop the spread of AIDS across the globe.

Cross Cultural Solutions Fellow Blog

Bangkok, Thailand

Nov 29 2008

Read More - Cross Cultural Solutions Fellow Blog

by Kelly Madigan 

November 29, 2008

kelly madigan 2 kelly madigan 3

Although I have been back in the states from Bangkok for six months now, there is rarely a day that goes by without a reminder of my month spent there. Especially around the holidays, I am so grateful not only for my own family, but also for the opportunities I have had to make a difference in the lives of others. While teaching the alphabet, colors, and numbers to toddlers may seem inconsequential, the impact our presence had on the kids was clear. After missing just one day at Kudee Khaa Preschool to observe at a hospital, the students were overjoyed upon my return, exemplifying the influence I had on their daily lives. It is extremely difficult to return to our fortunately privileged lives and leave a Cross Cultural Solutions site behind, knowing some children were getting their only meal of the day at the school. However, it is empowering to know that the legacy of CCS will continue on with a constant flow of volunteers, enriching the lives of people worldwide.

Subscribe to our newsletter to recieve the latest updates.