We go bearing gifts

We are headed soon to Niger with a full schedule and many suitcases full of materials to make all our programs happen.

Right now a program is taking place which is training 20 young nomads how to repair motorcycles–their camels, I guess, are too slow.  The motorcycles are very useful–last year one of our students carried 4 passengers on his motorcycle to school everyday–fortunately the passengers were small–the driver was in sixth grade.  I suppose this might be considered child endangerment here–but young nomads grow up fast and take on responsibility fast.  Now the new motorcycle owners will be able to repair their own and, with the tool kit and supplies they are provided, start a small business and help their friends. I can’t wait to find out how they did with the training.

When we arrive we will open the school for its 7th year.  Good friend Linda Lamb, a retired teacher here in California will help see that the kids get off to a good start.

Direct Relief International came through with a very generous donation of medicine which will be carried in the suitcases of our medical team.  Dr. Becky Jones and midwife Pat Manzon.

Thanks to Amani from Medicine Shoppe in Ojai who also donated important and much needed meds as she has for five years.

After checking on and resupplying the Tamesna clinic we will welcome the previously trained matrones (traditional birth attendants) to give them a refresher course.  With suitcases full of supplies–sterile blades and cords (Thank you Priscilla Brennan), blood pressure cuffs, iron supplements already packaged and labeled in monthly doses and other meds, (Thank you Dr. Becky and Pat) latex gloves, blood pressure cuffs, solar lights, scrub brushes etc. etc. And then we will head out to expand the program to a new area and train and supply a whole new group of 15.

 

 

 

Thanks to Eyes on Africa, we are taking 200 pairs of sunglasses and 134 corrector glasses.

Thanks to Pradeep Kapadia for donating 2 laptop computers

Thanks to Rotary Club of Ojai for funding the motorcycle repair training.

Thanks to Rotary Club of Westlake Village for funding the  project which will help 10 candidates start potato gardening.

Thanks to the Toolbox Initiative for donating jewelry tools and scales to distribute to the talented and isolated Tuareg jewelers.

And thanks to all of you for your donations which make these complex missions possible.