Hundreds of Girls Escape Mutilation

Published on 22/12/2011

By Nick Oluoch and Patrick Muthuri

Over five hundred girls will be forced to spend their Christmas in rescue camps after being forced to hide, to avoid being forced to undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Iscah Aoro, the chairperson of Migori Community Negative Traditional Practices Mitigation Organization (MICONTRAP) said the girls, drawn from both Kuria East and West districts, were forced to escape to the camps in November.

"They are still unable to go home because the exercise is still ongoing," said Mrs Aoro, adding that, 290 girls are camping at St Mary Mabera Secondary School, 116 at Komotobo rescue centre, while another group of about 150 are at St Joseph School Ntimaru.

She called for joint effort by all those involved in the fight against the vice, saying some of the girls at the centre were still vulnerable to being forced to undergo FGM on leaving the camps.

Aoro was speaking during a workshop held in Migori town to look into reasons why the vice had not stopped, despite legislation having been passed to put a halt to it.

She cited Kenya Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2010, which was enacted into law recently by Parliament. The Act prescribes tough penalties of a jail term not exceeding seven years or a fine not exceeding Sh500, 000 or both for people found guilty of the offence.

The act also provides for life imprisonment for a person who causes death to another in the process of performing FGM.

Speaking at the same forum, Benta Adhiambo, the Coordinator of the Pan African Women Association (PAWA), an organisation based in Norway, said there is great need to conduct civic education and enlighten the locals about the dangers of FGM.

Elsewhere, residents of Tigania East, West and Igembe†in Meru County have been urged to be vigilant and report incidents of female circumcision.

The retrogressive exercise is still being practised in the area and is conducted in secret at night.

Speaking during a ceremony to mark the end of a week-long alternative rite of passage at St Cyprian Boys’ Secondary School, Community Initiative for Rural Development (CIFORD), Kenya Coordinator, Margaret Ikiara said over 300 girls have been rescued from FGM in Meru North.

"We have rescued over 300 girls from female genital mutilation in Igembe and Tigania where we have put them through the Alternative rite of passage. Due to increased campaign and FGM being outlawed, the circumcisers have gone underground and collude with parents to circumcise girls at night," Ms Ikiara said.

She noted that the forums have been emphasising on exposing the myths traditionally attached to female circumcision that have been used to lure some girls into undergoing the cut.

Ms Ikiara urged the community to concentrate on educating girls rather than taking them through rites that sabotage their future, adding that times have changed.

Ikiara said if girls are informed about the facts on the dangers of FGM they should be able to resist pressure from their parents to undergo the rite.

Ikiara said the organisation holds free Alternative rite of passage workshops during the holidays for girls aged between 12-15 because they are most vulnerable.

From Sweden to India with love.

Tack (thanks!) to the 29 students of Ostteg Elementary School,Umea, Sweden and their teacher Christer Rosenqvist for holding a successful flea market and bake sale which raised $1,000 for Buddha's Smile school. Thank you, students, for caring so much about the BSS children in Varanasi.

Brooklyn, NY artist Erica Harris and friends help middle school scholarships at BSS

We want to give a shout of thanks to Brooklyn, NY artist Erica Harris (now in India and soon to visit BSS) who created a small tsunami of energy around her city raising funds for scholarships for BSS graduates attending middle school. Erica and her fantastic friends raised nearly $8,000. Be sure to check out Erica's fascinating global art on her website. http://www.ericaharris.org/

A special thanks to the Brooklyn Commune cafe for holding a sale of Erica's prints raising $800, enough for one scholarship and a lot of fresh food for BSS kids. Check out their website http://www.brooklyncommune.com/ and enjoy dining on fresh regionally grown food when in Brooklyn. (That’s the Brooklyn Commune gang in the photo.)

Thanks to Erica, Shannon Holman and other Brooklyn friends, Paro, Vishal, Ravi, Khusboo, Rekha, Sunita, Brijesh, and Pooja now have scholarships to middle school. They were previously holding down full-time jobs, garbage collectors and recyclers on the streets of Varanasi. Now these kids are full time students in middle school and their heads are full of dreams. The cost of one year in middle school is $550. This includes tuition, books, uniforms, food, transportation and tutoring. A small investment for a big return!

Joseph Mbugua and G-BIACK

Pathfinder Academy gets books for new library

Tuxpan breakfast program

The New Tecolote Kitchen

Letter from Pathfinder Academy: Thanks to all who helped!

Common Ground Program

PO Box 2487

Kitale 30200

18^th June 2010

Dear Karen,

RE: COMPLETION OF THE GROUND FLOOR.

On behalf of Common Ground Program and Pathfinder Academy fraternity, may I sincerely thank you for the all effort that you have put in place to ensure that the infrastructure at Pathfinder Academy is improved. This demands denial and self sacrifice on your part.

The ground floor of the building is now complete- hosting a library and six seven classrooms, which are all in use. The library is easily accessed by all students and the staff.

We no longer have congestion in our classes since the new classrooms are specious enough with two students occupying a desk. It is very unusual in most Kenyan schools to have two students on a desk. At most, a desk is occupied by three to five students and even some sit on the floor for lack of desk. Thanks for such a wonderful gesture.

Due to your efforts, our school was selected by the Ministry of Education as Center of Excellent and E-Learning Center for Primary schools. This gives us an edge over other schools as news ideas/methods are first tested at our school before spreading to other primary schools in the district. This is greatly improving our academic standards and extra-curricular activities.

I am confident that the new classrooms and library at Pathfinder Academy will enable us remain among the top performing schools in our region in national examinations. Our only greatest challenge now is to find more books for the library.

It is the first time ever to have an official library time instituted in any Primary school. Pathfinder Academy is the first school in the region to have official library time approved by School Management Committee. Thanks for your efforts.

You have made the lives of many students in this school to change positively. They used to feel rejected but now the have fit in the society. Praise be unto God.

You deserve a credit for all that you have done for Pathfinder Academy and the community at large.

Once again, may I thank you and well-wishers for tirelessly denying yourself for the sake of our orphan and vulnerable students. You will ever remain in our minds and may the Almighty God shower his blessings upon you.

Your sincerely,

Joshua Amwai Machinga.

Valentines for Zimbabwe

On February 13 the Toledo First Seventh-day Adventist Church held its third annual benefit banquet, this time for Amistad’s Murwira Orphanage project in Zimbabwe. The featured speaker was Carl Wilkens, nephew of Murwira director Paula Leen. Wilkens was the only American relief worker who chose to stay in Rwanda during that country’s hundred day genocide in 1994.

Volunteer chef Ray Riley and his lovely wife Judy prepared a special meal for the 100+ guests in attendance, complete with red velvet lace-embossed cupcakes. In recent years the Toledo First Church has put service and issues of social justice at the forefront of its mission, reflected in events such as the annual Valentine’s banquet. Community guests came away deeply moved by the stories Wilkens told about Paula’s work in Zimbabwe and the plight her children face each day. Although figures are still being tallied, the church estimates that approximately $3500 was raised for Murwira Orphanage.

To give to Scott's team

To donate to Scott's team, please go to our PayPal donation page and click the yellow "donate" button.

Update from Scott Nelson, from his weblog

Friday, January 29, 2010

Port au Prince – The Initial Days

To see more images click here (some may be graphic)

Perhaps this disaster represents the greatest accumulation of orthopaedic injuries to ever occur in one place at one time. Here in Santo Domingo it felt just like another California earthquake, but soon word arrived that it was far worse. Having made 19 previous trips to operate in Haiti over recent years we were able to rapidly prepare our armamentarium and make plans to mobilize to Port au Prince, 160 miles to the west. By the time we departed on Thursday afternoon less than 48 hours after the earthquake, the chaos of early response teams was just beginning. We lifted off without knowing if we would be able to land in PAP or if there would be anyone to receive us. It was like going into a black hole as we had no information aside from what we were all seeing on CNN. We were prepared with food and water to survive for 2 days and no return ticket.

Team members were:

Steve Bostian – Executive Director CURE DR
Dielika Charlier MD – Pediatrician
Lucia Hernandez RN
Scott Nelson MD - Orthopaedic Surgery
Susan Beemer RN – anesthetist

Dielika grew up in PAP and was able to get a single text message through to Johnny Boulos a friend of her brother. After circling the airstrip 20 times we were able to get clearance to land the plane for 3 minutes. We made a steep descent and dumped our equipment onto the airfield and our pilot quickly returned to the air. Fortunately, Johnny had waited for us all afternoon and was there to greet us. To make a long story short we are indebted to the entire Boulos family for their hospitality and generosity in facilitating everything that we were able to accomplish during the last 2 weeks.

We initially made some brief visits to assess the operating facilities at approximately 6 different hospitals. 48-72 hours after the quake there was still not a single operation going on at any of the hospitals that we visited except for Hopital Adventiste d’Haiti where the innovative local medical director had created an operating room tent out of surgical drapes and was performing life saving amputations in front of the hospital. His nurse in the yellow short sleeve dress had just returned to work. She had been comforting her 10 year old son for who was trapped under a cement girder for 36 hours after the quake. A UN crane finally had come to free him and as the heavy cement girder was lifted it slipped from the grip of the crane… Another worker was at the hospital looking for 8 body bags for her family members. At every facility there were hundreds of languishing patients, most of whom were laying outside due to fear of aftershocks. Many of them were developing gangrene, some dying, and others already dead. It was utter chaos and no help was in sight. Where should we start…

With promises to return and help Dr. Archer, the medical director at Adventist Hospital, I returned to the Hopital de la Communaute Haitien where our team had already begun setting up. Here we had earlier discovered two operating rooms with electricity, running, water and even air conditioning a luxury in Haiti under normal circumstances. Due to our timely arrival and preparedness we were able to establish a leadership role at this facility and coordinate subsequent surgical teams who arrived to help. I began operating on Friday afternoon – 3 days had now passed since the quake. For the first several days operations consisted of life saving amputations and debridements. Injuries were far worse than they appeared due to the extensive soft tissue damage from crush injuries. This caused compartment syndromes (uncontrolled swelling which leads to vascular compromise) and then to gangrene. Patients were dehydrated, decompensated, and anemic. There was no mechanism or time to get labs, nor anything we could do differently had we been able to accurately assess their status. Patients were dying in the hallway outside the OR while waiting for surgery. Some who were operated died as well, as they were already too critical to save. This presented another difficulty in deciding whether to operate the most serious patients first or concentrate on slightly less critical patients who had a better chance of survival.



After 24 hours of operating, a team from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City arrived. They had flown down on the Synthes plane fully loaded with an extensive array of donated implants and materials. Their expertise and equipment combined with the momentum we had already established allowed us to continue operating in both rooms day and night for the next 3 days catching only a couple hours of sleep here and there. We are deeply indebted to the Synthes company and the timely arrival of this team which allowed us to salvage many severe injuries that would have otherwise been amputated. It was an operative marathon like none other and as the hours passed periods of daylight and nighttime melted into one long day. Emotions were high and fatigue was intense. I worked day and night for 6 days until I felt like I was starting to loose my focus and was able to escape the hospital and get a full 6 hours of sleep.

During the first few days the situation went from bad to worse. The many injured patients were developing infections and gangrenous limbs faster than we could operate. A couple days after we began operating the stench of death strengthened and permeated the hallways and courtyards of the hospital. Dead limbs still attached to patients, dead bodies, and amputated parts all contributed. Slowly we were able to overcome this and each day the hospital seemed to metamorphose. Patients were operated, volunteers showed up with bleach, halls were cleaned and chaos was organized little by little. An entire hospital infrastructure was to be created in the ensuing days. Masking tape was used on the foreheads of the victims to delineate OR 1 – emergent cases, or OR 2 – operative but less emergent cases. The first 4 days were spent operating only on OR 1’s which consisted of open fractures, compartment syndromes, and treating severe open wounds and infections.

Wednesday morning one week after the quake the 6.1 aftershock hit and all the patients rapidly cleared the hospital building. We took advantage of the situation by mopping the halls and slowly bringing all the patients back in to the building one by one in an organized fashion. Luckily we had arisen 15 minutes before the shock as part of the cement wall above our heads had collapsed where we had been lying.

Over a period of one week we were able to convert several adjacent rooms into operating rooms and the 2 room OR suite became a 6 room operating facility where we coordinated surgical volunteers from all over the US, Sweden, Jamaica, and Korea and other countries. The arrival of the Dallas team on a chartered 737 with several tons of equipment was a great boost our dwindling operating room supplies and fatigued OR crew. We had to stop surgery for several hours to organize, but in short order we were almost equipped like an American style operating room. During the subsequent 24 hours we treated more than a dozen femur fractures using the SIGN intramedulary nail system. The SIGN nail is a state of the art implant system design for use in resource challenged environments where intraoperative x-ray is not available. We were privileged to be operating with the founder and inventor of the system, Dr. Lew Zirkle who had previously treated a record number of 5 patients in a single day using the implant. In most cases these severely injured patients with femur fractures could immediately begin unrestricted ambulation.



We continue in collaboration with the Hopital Adventiste d’Haiti where the situation is very similar to the Hopital de la Communaute Haitien. The arrival of Dr. Brad Walters from Georgia and Andrew Haglund from Loma Linda University established coordination efforts at that facility. Initial plans are being made to create a large scale ongoing project to treat the generations of people that will be affected with orthopaedic needs for years to come at this facility.

It did become necessary to place armed security at the entrance of the hospital and other strategic locations to provide crowd control and resolve some looting that began to take place as food and supplies arrived on site. However, I personally never felt unsafe and would dare to say that with the additional military and NGO presence, most parts of Port au Prince may be more secure now than they have been in a long time. Of course many render my opinions on security as worthless as they consider me to have a lack of risk aversion.

It was a trip of physical endurance, emotional intensity, and spiritual contemplation. It brought my mind back to a scene several years ago of one of our Haitian patients who fell asleep with her Bible open to Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Ps 46:1-3

On January 25 I returned to Santo Domingo for several days to be with family and attend to my responsibilities. On Saturday January 30 Marni and I will be driving back to Port au Prince to continue the work and relieve those that are on the scene at the moment. We are living day by day and will focus our efforts where we are most needed during the ensuing months.

I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our team members not mentioned above who were also working day and night to support the efficiency of our operation both in Port au Prince and around the world. These in include my wife Marni in Santo Domingo, Robbie Jackson - Cure DR, Erin Card - Cure US, Jeff Douglas and Andrew Haglund in Port au Prince and the many other medical personnel who rapidly activated the delivery of their expertise and medical supplies.

To see more images click here (some may be graphic)

Posted by Scott Nelson at 1:12 PM
Labels: Haiti, scott nelson

More on Scott Nelson in Haiti

Doctor commits to crushing task
The work of Dr. Scott Nelson is crushing. It’s crushing in the numbers of people he’s treating in Haiti since the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country was leveled by a magnitude-7 earthquake on Jan. 12.
The wounds he’s seeing are crushing in nature, the horrific result of humans caught in flimsy construction when the quake hit.
And the scope of the tragedy is taking its own crushing, psychic toll on those who have gone to the island nation to help repair the torn and mashed bodies of men, women and children.
•••
Scott Nelson, the son of Peter and Suzanne Nelson, moved to San Luis Obispo in 1970 when he was a week old. In retrospect, it’s safe to say he had medical missionary blood running through his veins: His grandfather, Dr. Olavi Rouhe, served for more than 25 years at a mission in what was then the Belgian Congo. Nelson has said that after having visited his grandfather’s African hospital, church and compound when he was 8, he decided to go into medicine.
That decision, as well as an international outlook, was probably reinforced when he joined his father, a San Luis Obispo dentist, on travels to 25 countries around the world where Peter would work at dental clinics.
•••
Nelson, 39, is a devoted Christian who has followed a family tradition in attending the Seventh-day Adventist Loma Linda University in Southern California. Indeed, his great-grandfather was the president of the university at one time. Nelson graduated from Loma Linda in 1996 in orthopedic surgery with an emphasis on children. He thrives in what he does, says his father, and that enthusiasm has led him to be one of the top surgeons in his field.
As it turns out, Nelson’s Christian ethic and professional skills dovetailed nicely with a nonprofit organization called CURE International. It’s a nondenominational organization that specializes in childhood bone deformities in developing countries.
So he joined forces with CURE and packed up wife Marni and sons Chad and Alex five years ago and headed to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for a five-year medical and faith-based mission.
The work is a challenge on every level. The pay, for example, is $20,000 a year and requires that he return stateside to practice one week every three months at Riverside County Hospital to help make ends meet.
And there’s physical menace attached to his Dominican practice: Each of the 22 times he’s traveled to Haiti to perform surgery on that island nation’s club-footed children, he’s had to be on the lookout for kidnappers who have been known to return at least one abductee without an arm because he could only raise half his ransom.
But Scott Nelson loves what he does and whom he does it for. He takes deep satisfaction in being able to mend a child’s orthopedic deformity, which, really, is somewhat of a miracle that can make all the difference in how that child can make his or her way in life. It’s that fulfillment that his father says led him to say at one time: “The best payment I ever got was two mangoes and a hug.”
•••
When word came that parts of Haiti had been devastated on the other end of Hispaniola from Santo Domingo, Nelson quickly put together a team and chartered a plane for the 160-mile flight to Port-au-Prince.
As we now know, confusion, uncertainty and disorder was already reigning at the Port-au-Prince airport. Who was allowed to land was as much of a panicked mystery as to who was allowed to take off.
After circling for an hour, Nelson, according to the plane’s pilot, “sweet-talked” ground control into letting the plane land for three minutes.
“I got him on the ground,” the pilot later related, “but I don’t know what happened to him.” What happened was Scott Nelson and team immediately went to work.
•••
Peter Nelson has been in sporadic touch with his son; last week, Scott Nelson told his father in a phone call: “ ‘Dad, I get about two to three hours of sleep a night. I’ve had about 90 surgeries so far (as of Jan. 19), with another 20 patients lined up and another 100 left outside. I can’t go outside because they’ll mob me (for help).’ ”
“Are you doing lots of plates and rods?” the senior Nelson asked his son.
“ ‘No, because of the crush wounds, it’s not reconstructive surgery. I’ve literally been cleaning maggots out of wounds. There’s terrible infection and gangrene. Once we get them healing up, then I can go back and do the reconstructive work.’ ”
When Peter Nelson asked his son how he was holding up, he replied:
“ ‘I’m doing good right now, but two days ago I thought I was falling apart. But I’m doing better.’ ”
He told his father that the trauma surgeons who had come to Haiti to help him “ ‘just fell apart and started crying; they couldn’t do it anymore. They’ve left now; couldn’t take it. The psychological coping of the situation was overwhelming to them.’
“I know they’ve got a lot of physicians on the ground working, but they’re all going to leave in two weeks because of their practices,” Peter Nelson said. “There’s going to be a need for a lot of long-term care, and he’s committed himself to being there for the next six months. He’s going to need long-term support.”

“Thoughts and prayers in his behalf are just as important as money,” Peter Nelson said. “He’s our front man, but we’re all part of the team.”
Bill Morem can be reached at bmorem@thetribunenews.com or at 781-7852.

© 2010 San Luis Obispo Tribune and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com
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Haiti

Webpage of this email: http://amistadinternational1.blogspot.com/

January, 2010 An update from Karen on our Amistad project in Haiti: Scott Nelson has been working with Amistad for a number of years - since he was a little boy and came with his parents, Peter and Suzanne Nelson, on Amistad mission trips to do dental clinics. Now he's a surgeon and an Amistad partner, who spends a lot of time operating in the Dominican Republic. Here's an update I just received from Scott, who was working in Santo Domingo at the time of the quake: "I felt the quake fairly strong here in Santo Domingo. It did not hit with a hard jolt or shake windows as we have all felt in California. I just suddenly felt like I had vertigo and then noticed the furniture rocking back and forth and it went on for about 20-30 seconds. We are about 160 miles from Port au Prince. I have been there multiple times, but the city where I usually work is Cap Haitien about 80 miles to the north. "The lack of infrastructure and grinding poverty in Port au Prince under normal circumstances is appalling. It is difficult to imagine decimation, suffering, and chaos that is going on at the moment. By land Port au Prince is about a 5 hour drive. We are standing by to help and will likely mobilize as soon as it is possible to travel with the security and infrastructure of an organization. "Obviously they need our prayers and help. I am leaving the Dominican Republic for Haiti as soon as possible, with a small team." Karen adds: By now, Scott is on his way to Haiti, or en route. He wrote again to say that they are preparing their equipment for amputations (this is the most likely scenario - possibly even amputating people out of where they're trapped.) We are collecting money for his team right now. He will be coming back to gather a larger team, so at that time they'll need money for more medicines. (Fortunately, they just got a big donation of medicines yesterday from an agency, that they can take with them right now!) If you want to send a donation for Dr. Scott Nelson, we have a special Amistad fund set aside for his surgery team. The easiest way is to follow this link, and click on the yellow "Donate" button. Make sure you mark it for Haiti. Call me if you have questions! Gratefully,     ......................................................................................................................................................... Contact information: To telephone Amistad International: 650-328-1737 To send a check: Amistad International, PO Box 455, Palo Alto, CA 94302 To e-mail executive director Karen Kotoske: tomamistad@aol.com Our website: http://www.amistadinternational.org/ Our blog: http://amistadinternational1.blogspot.com/ Our Facebook page: Amistad International

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A note from Dr. Scott Nelson

I felt the quake fairly strong here in Santo Domingo. It did not hit with a
hard jolt or shake windows as we have all felt in California. I just
suddenly felt like I had vertigo and then noticed the furniture rocking back
and forth and it went on for about 20-30 seconds. We are about 160 mi from
Port au Prince, I have been there multiple times, but the city where I
usually work is Cap Haitian about 80 mi to the north.

The lack of infrastructure and grinding poverty in Port au Prince under
normal circumstances is appalling. It is difficult to imagine decimation,
suffering, and chaos that is going on at the moment. By land Port au Prince
is about a 5 hour drive. We are standing by to help and will likely
mobilize as soon as it is possible to travel with the security and
infrastructure of an organization.

Obviously they need our prayers and help.

Scott

Karen adds:

Dr Scott Nelson is leaving tomorrow for Haiti with a small surgery team (anesthetist and nurse) , preparing their equipment today for very probable amputations (the most likely scenario for them.) We don't have time to get funds to them for this first trip. But he'll be coming back and going again and taking a larger team, so at that time they'll need donations for medical aid. They just got a big donation of medicines today from an agency so they can take them along tomorrow!

If anyone wants to send a donation for Dr. Scott Nelson (who is an orthopedic surgeon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Amistad will hold them until Dr. Nelson goes on the next relief trip to Haiti.

A note Sweet Home Orphanage, one of our projects

Dear Friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your special interest in Sweet Home. God has been good to us and we have seen and experienced his wonderful love. We are very greatfull to you for all your support. We wish you God's manifold blessings.


With love from Sweet Home Family,
Lilly Kaligithi

Wishing you a Blessed Holiday Season

Webpage of this email: http://amistadinternational1.blogspot.com/

Christmas 2009 Dear Amistad friend, I didn't want to miss this opportunity to thank all of you for your generosity in 2009. Most of you are not only participants in Amistad's work, but dear personal friends who encourage us with notes and emails, positive thoughts, prayers and gifts. We want to make sure you know that we don't take any of these kindnesses for granted. I made a short list of some of the things you've accomplished this year through Amistad International. At Paula Leen's Murwira Orphans' Home (MOH) in Marenge, Zimbabwe you've provided a loving home and education for 40 children, not to mention food for over 2,000 in the community. In the past 12 months, you've helped us deliver over 50 tons of food for distribution to the ill, widows and elderly in the area around Marenge, and also at the hospital in Mutare, and at Des Paul's outreach to the poor in Harare. The orphanage is the only employer in the area, providing work for 80 persons. You've given over 3,000 meals per month for the 150 children who attend Amri School in Kenya. The students receive a hot nourishing meal each day which includes bread, beans, rice, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, fruit and milk. You've also provided salaries for 12 teachers, principal, cook and guard and rent of school house. In Mexico's Western Sierra Huichol you've supplied the following services: 24 emergency medical flights, 84,000 hot meals served to 210 Huichol Indian children at three schools: Tecolote, San Miguel and Tuxpan, 250 ill or injured were transported to hospitals and 12,360 lbs. of food and clothing distributed. Five dental teams served 220 patients, and two opthomology teams fitted 150 pairs of donated glasses. You've helped Pathfinder Academy in Kitale, Kenya, complete their dining hall/kitchen complex. Amistad donors are currently helping to build seven greatly needed classrooms which will be completed in 2010. The Worthington, Ohio, Adventist Church provided new chairs and tables for the dining hall. You've provided 24 scholarships so that Buddha's Smile School's 5th grade graduates could go on to middle school. Your gifts bought tuition, books, food, uniforms and afternoon tutoring at BSS, located in Varanasi, India. You've provided monthly overhead expenses (salaries, books, uniforms) for BSS. This year many of you dug deeper into your pockets, providing a prosthetic leg and medical expenses for Sukdev Saini, husband of school founder Rajan Kaur, after he suffered the loss of his leg following an accident in June. This has been one of the hardest economic years for many of us in our lifetimes. But still, our faithful partners came through to keep a great many of our Amistad projects going strong, and we thank you. I believe that kindnesses done for others don't just disappear: they return to us in blessings of many kinds. And so our holiday prayer for you is that this season, and this coming year, will be a year of many blessings. Gratefully, and with affection, PS: The year isn't quite over, and if you've been intending to give a tax-deductible gift to Amistad International, you can still do so. The easiest way is to give to Amistad via PayPal: the gift comes to us instantly, and you can use your credit card, too, in case you're building up travel points. Just follow this link, and click on the yellow "Donate" button. Photo above: Tom and Karen Kotoske, founders of Amistad International     ......................................................................................................................................................... Contact information: To telephone Amistad International: 650-328-1737 To send a check: Amistad International, PO Box 455, Palo Alto, CA 94302 To e-mail executive director Karen Kotoske: tomamistad@aol.com Our website: http://www.amistadinternational.org/ Our blog: http://amistadinternational1.blogspot.com/ Our Facebook page: Amistad International

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Praise for eNotas

I just read eNotas, and also went to your website. The website is gorgeous - it's so full of pictures and stories. So many different projects, all of them so touching. Your web designer is a genius. And eNotas, too, is such a wonderful report. Your graphics and design are outstanding. I loved the stories there, too.

Bravo, dear friend!

Love,

Sandra Margidian

_______________________________________

THANK YOU SO MUCH, KAREN!!

I've already been emailing this around to a few friends and will send to more. I LOVE these communications and am always filled with pride, awe, inspiration and joy at the amazing work that Amistad is doing, powered in large part by the management skills of YOU!!

Susie King

_______________________________________

Karen, I'm not internet connected - or savvy - to be able to see your web. I feel frustrated not being able to help these wonderful projects, but now I know what I'll do with the small gifts I got after Elwood went to his rest on Sept. 6.

Three weeks later I managed to trip on a friend's doorstep and break my left hip. Recovering okay.

We'll be in touch.

Esther McCluskey

_______________________________________

Hi Karen~I always enjoy reading your e.notas! Noticed Dale Twomley in it!! Inspiring stories as well! We're off to Michigan for Thanksgiving, short trip up and back. Hope all is well with you guys! just returned from a trip out west-southern california, very nice to enjoy the sun and watch the waves!

Diane McDermott

_______________________________________

Hi Karen - Your newsletter is awesome....so inspiring.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ann Down

_______________________________________

Dearest Karen:

Very well done!! A great web site with meaningful stories for each project. I hold you in my highest esteem for the amazing compassion and kindness you share with the poor and disenfranchised.

I keep praying for special blessings for each of your worthy projects.

I still remember the refreshing salt sea air we breathed in at Asilomar.

Countless blessings this thanksgiving. I am privileged to count you as a friend.

Love and hugs!!

Rainbow Iris (Landa)

_______________________________________

News from Amistad International

Webpage of this email: http://amistadinternational1.blogspot.com/

November 2009 Dear Friends of Amistad, With this issue of eNotas, we're proud to introduce to you a new Amistad International website. The website's new look is thanks to volunteers Lauren and Val Smith. The Smiths are owners of Lauren Smith Communications Design, a well-known Silicon Valley design firm that's earned numerous national and international awards. Lauren and Val, I'm pleased to say, are dear friends of Amistad International, and have helped us with many design projects through the years, including the beautiful year-end Notas newsletter that you've received in past years. They created our first website, and have now updated it with a new look and new content. If you like it, send Lauren and Val a thank you! As you take stock of your blessings this Thanksgiving season, please remember our Amistad projects, and all the people they benefit. With deep appreciation,     ......................................................................................................................................................... Johannesburg, South Africa: Lambano Sanctuary creates hospice for HIV+ babies:   One of our saddest, but most rewarding projects has been Lambano Sanctuary, a home in Johannesburg, South Africa for young children and babies with HIV+ status We have recently learned that Lambano has received funds from the Luxembourg Government for purchase and renovation of a home which is being made into a hospice for children in need of this special care. We mourn that there is need for a hospice for babies, yet we are grateful for the compassionate mothering staff of Lambano who cares so tenderly for these children. We thank Maree Noble and Elizabeth Stumpf Memorial Foundation, Diane and Bob OBrien, Alan and Tasha Latta, Karen Bezuidenhout and Sarah Reddy for their assistance to Lambano Sanctuary. Many Lambano children live full lives with the help of anti-retroviral drugs. Lambano staff writes about one 8-year-old HIV+ girl who arrived with bronchiectasis, an obstructive lung disease caused by starting anti-retroviral drugs too late. She was on full-time oxygen, and was the size of a 4-year-old when she arrived.   A private pulmunologist could do nothing for her, but the Lambano staff began a regime of physiotherapy three times a day day, including steroids, oxygen and antibiotics. Now they've been able to take her off her oxygen, to the amazement of the pulmunologist. With love, proper care and basic medicines, it is amazing what good things happen at Lambano Sanctuary.     ......................................................................................................................................................... Kenya: Meru tribe girls benefit from anti-circumcision program Amistad grants have educated 62 girls in the "Save a Girl Club" CIFORD, the Community Initiatives for Rural Development, is a wonderful grassroots community organization in Kenya which helps women learn to grow more food, teaches them how to avoid HIV/AIDS, and works to stop female genital mutilation as a rite of passage for young girls. CIFORD participants are members of the Meru tribe which lives on the north-eastern side of Mt. Kenya. Two years ago Amistad gave CIFORD a grant to help stop the illegal and barbaric rite of female genital mutilation of young Meru girls. Those who suffer this operation generally drop out of school and get married very young, with many health complications.   62 girls have gone through a new healthy alternative rite of passage, which includes a course in what womanhood, marriage and motherhood can mean to a young woman who completes her schooling, as well as HIV/AIDS awareness. The graduates have formed a group they call "Save A Girl Club."    Kalayu, a girl who took the CIFORD course, says, "CIFORD has made us see life in a different perspective, because we thought life was about being circumcised and getting married. For women to prosper we need to work hard in school. I want to be a child rights activist in the future."   Student Ann Nkatha, leader of the Save A Girl Club, says "This course is what has made me what I am now: a respected woman in the community. Next year I am starting university. Our people should appreciate that success does not come from circumcision." Writes Margaret Ikiara, founder/director CIFORD, "We thank Amistad for the part you have had in our development. It was the encouraging words, and financial/material support, which enabled us achieve all this. We say a big thank you! (Photo by Ryan Eggers)     ......................................................................................................................................................... Cap Haitien, Haiti: Amistad Doctor Scott Nelson and his Orthopaedic Team Scott writes about his 18th trip to Haiti "Chantale is a 6 year old girl was badly burned last year when she sat on a kerosene lantern. Our hearts were saddened when we saw her for the first time last February. Due to scarring she was unable to stand up, separate her legs or move her right shoulder and elbow. Her caring mother brought her again in June. I promised that I would do something when I returned in September, not knowing if I would have the help I needed to do the case. Fortunately we were joined by Dr. Duncan Miles, a plastic surgeon from Loma Linda University. After 5 hours of surgery we were able to excise the scars around the hip joints and rotate some normal tissue into place, allowing her once again the freedom to stand up.     "The following morning I asked her how she felt and from under her mosquito net she replied, 'Sa va bien, et toi monsieur?' 'It's going well sir, and you?'   "In one of our future trips we will plan to release her shoulder and elbow contractures, allowing her the use of her right hand.   "We were joined on this trip by Dr. Brian Yost. one of my orthopaedic surgery partners from Riverside County Regional Medical Center RCRMC). He also brought with him Louise O'Rourke, RN, director of operative services and Dr. Sagoo 2, one of our excellent ortho residents training at RCRMC. Their expertise, help and donations greatly added to our efficiency, quality of care, and international comraderie."   Go to http://curecaribe.blogspot.com/ to learn more about Dr. Nelson's project. Photo: Dr. Duncan Miles with Haitian burn patient Chantale     ......................................................................................................................................................... From Amistad director Karen Kotoske: Special Thanks to Our Friends! Thank you, Peter and Suzanne Nelson, Alan and Tasha Latta, Kay and Steve Prins, Lindy and Roland Thomason, Patricia Kovalski, Bobby and Bettye Roberts, and the Orvek Family for your tremendous help which keeps aloft the Wings of Love flying clinic for the Huichol Indians. Thanks, too, to Yvonne and Rich Macias and Chris and Bill McClure for their help with our Huichol project. We thank Murwira Orphanage super volunteers Diane and Bruce Hamberger and Jenna and Josh Schaa for their amazing variety of tasks them completed at Murwira orphanage.  We also thank  Greta Schuler (Washington DC), Magali Schroll, (Belgium - in photo), Cesar Plaza (Los Angeles)  and Kourtni Knobel (Colorado) who volunteered this year to work with Paula Leen.  We also thank Carol and Russ Johnson, (Haines, Oregon) who are now at Murwira Orphanage volunteering. Cesar was a huge help in getting orphanage vehicles back in service.  We also thank Carol and Russ Johnson of Haines, Oregon who are at Murwira Orphanage now helping Paula Leen. Thank you, Donna and Larry Peters, for donating the funds to purchase new uniforms and toys for the students at Buddha's Smile School for untouchable caste children in Varanasi, India. Thank you Shadhika foundation and founders Juthica and Peter Stangl for your grant to Buddha's Smile school for  scholarships which are enabling ten BSS graduates to attend middle school this year in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Huge thanks to Judith Steiner, Betsy and George Bechtel, Carol and Mahlon Hubenthal, Jacqui and Blair Stewart , Sharleen Fiddaman, Kathie and Jerry Underdal,  and Jack Harrison who put on a fundraiser in Palo Alto, CA, for Buddha's Smile School. This great group of boosters provided eight scholarships for BSS middle school students. We also thank newlyweds Lisa and Phillip Schneider (Sausalito, CA) who suggested to their September wedding that instead of gifts that they would prefer donations be made to Buddha's Smile School. Their generous spirit raised $4010 for crucial needs at BSS. Lisa and Phillip also had an inspirational visit to BSS on their honeymoon in India. Thank you Dale and Connie Twomley and Chris and Bill McClure for enabling us to help persons living with AIDS and HIV+ to start small businesses in Kenya.  Your gifts also is providing food, school fees and clothing for AIDS orphans among the Meru tribe.     ......................................................................................................................................................... Zimbabwe: Paula Leen continues to inspire We've told you about retired church secretary Paula Leen, who operates a private orphanage in the AIDS ravaged nation of Zimbabwe. Food shortages, political unrest and collapsing health and educational systems are part of every-day life. Yet Paula, in her mid-70s, rescues orphans and keeps nearly 2,000 people alive with food from her gardens and orchards, and help from donors worldwide. She works tirelessly despite government instability and surrounding violence. An impossible situation, but she keeps at it and, in the process, is saving thousands. "We pray for miracles," she says. Read her story, as written here by Merikay McCleod, and be inspired to take some helpful action of your own. Amistad wishes to extend deep gratitude to those who have so generously helped Paula Leen and those around her as they work tirelessly to help the people of Zimbabwe survive, heal, and live. In particular we want to thank volunteers Diana and Bruce Hamberger, Jenna and Joshua Schaa, Cesar Plaza, and Yvonne Wyer for their lengthy stays and contributions of strategic (even heroic) help. Paula welcomes mature, qualified volunteers. If you wish information about volunteering, contact Sandy Schultz, our volunteer coordinator, at rifenbark@aol.com.     ......................................................................................................................................................... Varanasi, India: Good news from Buddha's Smile School Donna Peters has donated 220 brand new dolls and stuffed animals to each of the children at Buddha's Smile School in Varanasi India.  Donna and her husband Larry, of Verona, Wisconsin, are long time strong boosters to BSS. This year they have also purchased a DVD recorder so that the teachers can play natural sciences and history DVDs to the students. The Peters also provided uniforms for the students this year. Thank you, Donna and Larry! We would also like to thank Dr. Reena Bhargava and her teenage children, Nikhil and Zoe, who have donated a new computer to Buddha's Smile School. They have also created a series of science and geography lessons which they deliver via SKYPE, linking from their home in Palo Alto, California to BSS in Varanasi, India. Even though it means they must do so typically at 4AM in order to coordinate with BSS, it is working well and the BSS kids are thrilled. Other good news is that the husband of BSS founder/director Rajan Kaur, Sukdev Saini, is doing well with his prosthetic leg. Sukdev was struck by a car in June and his right leg had to be amputated.  He is now back running his small Sarnath Cafe, which is adjacent to Buddha's Smile School.  We cheer Sukdev on!     ......................................................................................................................................................... Sierra Huichol, Mexico: Innocencia's new leg In June, a young Huichol woman was bit by a poisonous snake on her leg. Innocencia Lopez's wound became badly infected and part of her leg had to be amputated. In the ensuing weeks 26 year old  Innocencia became despondent about her handicap: a young woman living in the rough terrain of the mountains, where a wheelchair is almost useless. Sadly, Innocencia tried to take her own life. After her suicide attempt our Huichol outreach pilot/director,  Dagoberto Cirilo, flew Innocencia to Guadalajara for psychological counseling, which seemed to help a bit, though Innocencia was still   very sad. How could she move around the mountainous, uneven terrain of the Sierra Huichol? Dagoberto spoke to the owner of the small prosthetic business in Guadalajara, telling the man about Innocencia's plight. The business owner, Francisco Ortiz, told Dagoberto he'd be willing to help Innocencia. In fact he'd be willing to donate a prosthetic limb to her! A few weeks ago Innocencia was fitted with her new  prosthesis and she has returned to her life in the Sierras with a smile on her face.     ......................................................................................................................................................... Contact information: To telephone Amistad International: 650-328-1737 To send a check: Amistad International, PO Box 455, Palo Alto, CA 94302 To e-mail executive director Karen Kotoske: tomamistad@aol.com Our website: http://www.amistadinternational.org/ Our blog: http://amistadinternational1.blogspot.com/ Our Facebook page: Amistad International

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