World Malaria Day April 25, 2012



April 25, 2012 Foundations Church Middle School

Think Humanity's, Beth Heckel spoke on Wednesday April 25, 2012 to the youth at Foundations Church. Some volunteers held up the bed net while a child laid inside to demonstrate how to be protected from mosquitoes. A child under the age of 5 years will die every 30 seconds from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, but malaria is preventable and treatable.
A $10 insecticide-treated long-lasting bed net can help saves lives.

To learn more about Think Humanity and how to help fight malaria visit this link. Think Humanity.

WHAT IS MALARIA?

Malaria is a disease of the blood that is transmitted to people by an infected female mosquito. Malaria infects and destroys red blood cells (anemia) and clogs the capillaries that carry blood to the brain (cerebral malaria) or to the vital organs.

World Malaria Day April 25 2012

MaNdate 12 Bed Net Distribution in Uganda

My bona fide life: Feed Just One

My bona fide life: Feed Just One

FEED JUST ONE - by purchasing socially responsible clothing

From FEED JUST ONE:

 

Exciting news! As of March 1st we have adopted the food program at a girl's hostel in Hoima, Uganda! There are 30 young girls that live there and attend school. Their diet currently consists of posho - a paste made of maize flour.

 

We will be upgrading their meals to include fruits, veggies, eggs, and dairy. Every shirt we sell provides 30 meals so every time you buy a shirt it will allow all 30 girls to sit down to a nice balanced meal. If we can sell just 90 shirts a month this will mean 3 decent meals every day and no more posho!

 

Over the next month you will meet all 30 girls.

 

Here is a picture of the posho - can't wait to show you the new and improved meals in April!

 

FEED JUST ONE - join on Facebook and provide one meal.



Photo from the Think Humanity Girls' Hostel in Hoima Uganda. Posho is a pasty-like food made from maize flour and water. The girls need to add fruits, vegetables and other products to their diet. When you purchase a product from Feed Just One, you have provided 30 nutritional meals to our children.



http://feedjustone.storenvy.com/ to buy a t-shirt.

 

Feed Just One was born out of the desire of one person who wanted desperately to stop world hunger but felt that just one person couldn’t possibly make a difference. That is, until its founder came across a simple yet profound quote from Mother Theresa that said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” It was at that moment that he decided that even if he couldn’t solve the entire problem he had absolutely no excuse for doing nothing at all. He would “Feed Just One”. And thus the socially responsible clothing organization was started, with the goal of helping others to Feed Just One person – today and every day.

"Being a Leader is Great - I love my job."

Christine's intro by Charity Watson, TH Board Member in Uganda.


Madame Christine is our hostel matron. Her strength and ability to influence these girls inspires me daily. The girls listen to her, respect her, love her, and fear her. She truly is such a big part of this project and I am happy to call her my sister. These are her words….

Since I become a leader, it changed my life and my behavior. I love my job which is being a matron to keep young girls at Think Humanity Girls’ Hostel in Hoima. I love staying with young girls because I can teach them many things like how a girl child must behave, because teaching a girl child is to promote the nation.

I love Think Humanity girls because they listen to me joke, love my advice, play with me netball every weekend at Kitara Secondary School in Hoima and they like it so much because am a mother to them since they left their parents at home to come to school. I become a mother but I also have to play with them and that’s assign of love becouse I love them so much.

Some people say that girls are bad because they steal their husbands. But I say no because once they are taught how to behave, then they become good leaders of tomorrow. Look at Uganda today: women are so important because they are being elected to be representatives in communities, councils, and parliament.

Staying with young girls changed my life. I respect my life such that I can be an example to the rest. When you find same one in need you can help because you will get blessing from our lord and you can have the ever-lasting life upon that. Therefore, members lets join hands and support young girls.

My mother used to stop me from having groups but I could tell that mummy this is my time but then which time is that? Because I could see other girls going to public places I had to sit down and ask my uncle’s wife, but Abwooli does my mother love me? She said yes and that is why she is stopping you from having groups they are bad and it will not help you any more. After getting that from her I told her that am not going to ashame you. I have to be a leader anywhere so long as I lead young girls such that they can get a bright future.

Share what you have: Command them to do good, good needs, and to generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for them selves as a firm foundation for the coming age. So that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

ADVICE: I do advise my girls about many things in this world as a girl child:
■The way they should behave in the community.

■Acquire a positive, prosperity mindset.

■Work harder, wisely and smartly more especially in education.

■Set and work on spiritual, social and career goals.

■Maintain your integrity, virginity in all you do people will continue respecting you.

■Look after your self and families as well e.g. by helping your mother cooking digging and other work were necessary. Soon than later, you will be a prosperous girl/woman.

COURAGE: The other ingredient of prosperity is courage. In life, one is often confronted with a situation where one is to take a risk. Here I mean that going out for discos, videos, night cinemas as a young girl. To take risks and unknown is by going out with bad groups.

PROSPERITY: Since whatever is inside a person’s life, behavior, and achievements of anyone are determined by the inside self, someone with prosperity will become prosperous.

GOALS: The first and the most important step for any successful life are to set goals. With goals, a person looks for what he or she knows and moves towards a known destination. You know what you are looking for you are likely to find it.

MEANWHILE: Before you achieve your goals to live in abundance, learn from your teachers what they teach you. They are very important lessons.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, I know what it is to be in need, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether we are fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in wants. “I can do every thing through him who gives me strength’’ yes do every thing through him and the rest will follow and that is our Lord.

Written by Nyandera Christine (ateenyi)
Please feel free to contact Christine with any questions regarding one of the girls that you have sponsored.
Email:Christine.nyandera@yahoo.com
Facebook:Christine.nyandera@yahoo.com
Tel: 0788833681

http://thgirlshostel.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/being-a-leader-is-great-i-love-my-job/


Christine, TH matron at the THGH



Christine and Jonas with the girl hostel leaders

Girls are studying on the floor (we need tables and chairs) as Christine irons in the corner

LET THERE BE LIGHT!...and there is light!

Solar panel update!

It was said today, "I will not complain about not having light again."

The wires are connected, the panels are in place and we should have pictures by Monday! Thank you to all that donated towards this back-up light source for my birthday. 

We are still working on getting the solar fridge, which is very important (and we are getting closer), BUT one step at a time, because NOW there will be light, LET THERE BE LIGHT!...at the TH Health Centre in Hoima, Uganda.

Many, many thanks to Amy Evancheck who helped us to raise a large part of the initial funds -she got us off to a running start. I will say it over and over again "She gave birth to this great achievement and SO, THIS IS HER BABY!

Special thanks to Jennifer Campbell and Heather Kholif who held a fund-raiser at Applebee's to also make this possible, to all of the volunteers that day and all of the people who came out to support TH.

Thanks to all of you -- nurses will no longer be treating our patients in the dark.

Individuals to thank that donated through Amy Evancheck (nurse who came with us to Uganda), who saw a problem and pushed us to the solution -
Bridgett Perez, Len Wheeler, Kimberly Holty, Rosemary Novak, Marilyn Naper, Phyllis Gilbertson, Judi Hoback, Paul Krueger, Charlotte Havey, Mrs. John Krueger, Karyn Holz, Lauren Kraus, Michelle Stone Kaus, Susan Ryan, Ellen Evancheck, Patricia Coe-Withington, Rebecca J. Beshore, Barbara Masoner and Mary Ann Evancheck...and of course Amy, who not only fund-raised, but she donated as well.

You can easily see the results of your donations through TH, no matter how big or how small.

Mungu iko!

You Saved a Baby!

Decent Heather Tusabege

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the miscarriage rate for pregnant women with malaria may be as high as 60%.

Link on mailchimp and  join our newsletter

There I stood in the pitch black African night, holding a flashlight while a young mother fought for the life of herself and her tiny baby, in utero. Amid my tears, I had a strange feeling -- an intuition.
The baby would be OK. Somehow. And we would never be able to forget her.
Sometimes, in the line of humanitarian work, things happen that don't have logical, left-brained explanations. These are the things that keep us pushing forward when the work gets grueling. These are the miracles.
***
In May 2011, we opened a health care center in Uganda: the Think Humanity Community Health Centre.
The THCHC is where the most disadvantaged (refugees and underdeveloped rural communities) can receive good, quality health care for free. We treat malaria, typhoid and many other diseases/illnesses common in this part of East Africa. These people would otherwise have nowhere to go. Many of them would die, forgotten.

I was in Uganda two months after we opened the clinic's doors. In the middle of one night, we received an emergency call, and I decided to go along with the doctor to the THCHC. What I would witness shook my heart to pieces.

A young pregnant woman was suffering terribly with malaria. She had an excruciatingly high fever and was crying out for her baby to live. The doctor tried to assure her, but the woman knew that all too many times, malaria during pregnancy leads to miscarriage.
It was pitch dark. No power. The only light was a tiny flashlight I clutched with my shaking hands. The doctor squinted into the thin beam as he inserted an IV into the back of this young woman's hand.
I looked around the room and felt tears rush to my eyes. First, out of gratitude; I felt thankful that this woman had somewhere to go, that we opened the clinic just months before. This was a place for help, a place where hope lives. But I also felt tears of fear, for this woman and her baby's life. I hoped that we were not too late, and that somehow this one doctor with a small needle and me and my flashlight would be enough. It had to be. I could not accept any other outcome -- but life.
The woman's name was Jane.
***
Six months passed, and I returned to Uganda for more work. Several days into the trip, I saw Jane. She was round and joyful with pregnancy, and she introduced me to her husband Stuart. She patted her stomach and told me this was their firstborn.

"When is the baby due?" I asked.
She told me mid-February, and I laughed. Half joking, I said the baby would be born on my birthday, February 19th.
***
Uganda is 10 hours ahead of Colorado. It was late on the night of February 18 that I received a message from Stuart.
"Hi Mum & Dad! Today the 19th Feb 2012, God has made Stuart & Jane parents of Decent Heather Tusabege. Thanks for your prayer & everything. Happy BD to my daughter Decent & Mum. You are wonderful fore-teller!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I do believe that things happen for a reason. To share a birthday with this baby girl would never allow me to forget that scary night in the clinic -- and how I witnessed our doctor save this child's life. Now on my birthday, I celebrate my life along with Baby Heather's new life, and I am reminded to never give up. Baby Heather is a reminder that we must continue with our mission to save lives and provide hope, because without that hope -- even as small as a shaking beam of light in the darkness -- she would not be here today.
I find myself in tears again, this time out of celebration. I want to shout across the world: We have made a difference. We have saved a precious life. And it brings me to my knees to know that more lives will be saved in the future.

Beauty lies in the strength, courage, joy and hope of every day,

even when faced with the fear of hopelessness and sadness.

There is an indescribable joy.

There is always hope.

"To help save lives and provide hope for refugees and underdeveloped communities in Africa by improving provisions for healthcare, clean water, education and socio-economic development."

http://www.thinkhumanity.org/donate.html

*Editing credits to Aimee Heckel Markwardt who brought the story to life.

 "My worst experience for 2011 was that night when I saw Jane swallowing drips (IV) in tears but willingly in the name of saving my daughters life. Today I stand head up with my Daughter Heather. Thank you Think Humanity." Stuart Tusabege

A basic purpose -- the gift of power!

My wish is to celebrate my birthday with a purpose. A basic purpose -- the gift of power to Think Humanity!

For the past three years in February, I have asked for your help to raise money for Think Humanity for my birthday. This year is especially important to me.

In May 2011 we opened a health care center in Uganda; the Think Humanity Community Health Centre.


It is registered with the Ministry of Health -- a wonderful place where the most disadvantaged (refugees and underdeveloped rural communities) can receive good, quality health care for free.
In July 2011 while in Uganda I experienced something heartbreaking. While we have a wonderful 24 hour service, the power in this area goes out for days at a time. There was a call late at night so I decided to go along with the doctor to the THCHC.

A young pregnant woman was suffering terribly with malaria. She had a high fever and was crying for her baby to live. She was afraid that she would have a miscarriage. It was pitch dark - no power, only the flashlight that I carried. I had to hold the flashlight for the doctor as he put an IV into the back of this young woman's hand.

While holding the flashlight I was looking around the room with tears in my eyes. First, I will say that I was grateful that we could even have this service to save lives, but secondly I feared for this woman and her baby. Life's challenges are enough in East Africa, but to also deal without power was another unthinkable challenge. I became very frustrated that we did not have a backup power source.

That is why I am fund-raising for my birthday to raise money for a solar panel that will provide electricity to the clinic, but also will keep reagents (chemicals for lab testing) from spoiling in the lab fridge. If we can have a reliable source of power, we can keep immunizations in the lab fridge and help more children.

This week we have had reagents spoil due to a power outage - we have lost enough reagents that could have helped 30 people!

I could tell you more reasons why this alternate power source is necessary, but I believe it stands on its own.

Won't you please donate towards a solar panel for our clinic in Uganda in honor of my birthday?
My wish is to celebrate my birthday with a purpose. A basic purpose -- the gift of power!
"To help save lives and provide hope for refugees and underdeveloped communities in Africa by improving provisions for healthcare, clean water, education and socio-economic development."


Beth Heckel, Think Humanity Director/Founder

To give to or share Beth Bevard Heckel's Birthday Wish, follow the link below:

http://wishes.causes.com/wishes/439790?bws=email_to_friends&m=1ac83f93

or visit the Think Humanity website http://www.thinkhumanity.org/donate.html

You Clothed Me

Provide a uniform to a girl and get a free necklace made in Uganda.

Free necklace with free shipping to the first 30 that donate $15 to provide a girl with a school uniform.

The Think Humanity Hostel 2012; where we offer educational opportunities to 30 female students from underdeveloped and refugee camp communities in Uganda.

You will receive one 60-66" multicolored necklace made from recycled paper.

Each necklace comes with the following:

• Think Humanity brochure,
• Fair-trade media,
• 2012 small calendar; and a
• small card describing this "socio-economic" partnership with the Acholi women from the Quarter Camp in Uganda.

Donate here: Uniform and Free Offer

or donate at Razoo: Get Girls Into School

Please specify by typing in "uniform" and leave your name and address for shipping.

(Your address will not be used for a mailing list)

Pictured below are 30 necklaces.

Once the necklaces are gone, the girls will have their uniforms.
Hurry, we are leaving for Uganda soon.

(any late orders will be filled after we return)
"To help save lives and provide hope for refugees and underdeveloped communities in Africa by improving provisions for healthcare, clean water, education and socio-economic development."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Beth Heckel, Executive Director

Please visit the archive newsletters (July - December 2011)

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