S- (name withheld for privacy), a young woman in her mid-20s, is married with one child and now expecting her second. S-’s husband is a self-employed man doing largely unskilled work when and where he can find it. 

S- and her family live on about 2 U.S. dollars a day in one of the large unofficial residential areas of Kisumu, Kenya.   The house has no running water and no electricity, S- will be giving birth within the week,  and she has just been given a positive HIV result… 

S- underwent an HIV test before the birth of her first child, at that time she was negative. 

“Must have found the virus between then and now”, she says. 

When pressed, she actually did had a previous reactive HIV test – at her single prenatal visit, but did not really believe the result and lost the card that would communicate the finding at delivery. 

“I will not be delivering in the hospital – anyhow”, she explains  - “To travel and deliver in the hospital is just too expensive”. 

S- , and the majority of Kenyan women in similar economic position, plans to use a nyamrerwa or traditional birth attendants.  At a cost of 500 Kenyan Shilling (6.50 USD) it is affordable and, as most nyamrerwa lack modern medical training, HIV/AIDS is not generally a topic of discussion or concern.  Stigma may be reduced but neither S- nor her infant will get the medication and care that can help prevent HIV transmission to the infant and begin S- in a system of treatment that can ultimately keep both children from becoming orphans. 

HEAL became involved with S- when, in the counseling following her HIV result, she expressed understanding for the need of a medical/clinical birthing experience and the willingness to do this if the economic and logistic issues could be arranged.  HEAL’s Kenya based  representative was contacted and when S- went in to labor 48 hours later – arrangements were made to provide transport to and from the hospital, meet the medical costs, purchase medications, and arrange for some follow-up referral to help ensure that S- and her new baby get the care they need.

There are times when the smallest bit of effort can indeed go a very long way.  Thanks to all for their donations – Keep them comming!

The following was published by the Standard Newpaper on May7th, 2009 – text by Harold Ayodo and photos by James Keyi.  We post this story as an example of what the resourceful members of KIPE (Kisumu Initiative of Positive Empowerment), a frequent host of HEAL projects, are doing.

—————

You have heard the tongue twister about one who sells seashells at the seashore, but not about two young men in Kisumu who are turning eggshells into art form.

Mr Willis Otieno ruffles through garbage searching for eggshells, which he uses to make artistic portraits. He has hired youths to rummage through garbage near eateries collecting shells. He pays them Sh20 (about .25 USD) per bucket. Vendors of mayai boilo (boiled eggs) at the lakeside town also make extra coins by collecting their waste and selling to Otieno.

“People thought I was mad when I started collecting the shells last September,” Otieno says.

Otieno, 32, and his colleague Mr David Marenya, 40, created a large portrait of US President Barack Obama using egg waste and people started taking note of their unique work.

“People who had laughed as we collected opokla tong’ (egg shells) now sought to buy our artwork,” Otieno says.

The artists are today making a living selling portraits made from eggshells.

“We have commissioned youths at Kibuye Market to collect the waste daily,” Otieno says.

The artists say they will start looking for egg waste even outside Kisumu as demand grows.

They crush the shells and use wood glue to stick patterns on black cloth. They then draw sketches of portraits on the cloth to give an outline.

One of their outstanding creations on high demand are portraits of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“Many people are asking for them and we can’t meet the demand,” says Otieno.

They display their works at the Art House in Mosque Estate, Kisumu. It takes about six hours to complete a portrait.

“I came up with the idea last year before Marenya joined me,” Otieno says.

Art House founder Eunice Ogot says the portraits sell like hot cakes.

“People adore the works due to the creativity of the artists,” Ms Ogot says.

Local and foreign tourists scramble for the portraits that sell at between Sh500 and Sh5,000, depending on size and type.

“We have sold more than 300 portraits since late last year and our fear is that we may run out of raw materials (shells),” Marenya says.

Marenya is currently working on a portrait of the family of President Obama clad in Luo traditional regalia.

“We want to maintain our roots and culture using art. Our aim is to identify with our traditions even as we target the overseas markets,’ Marenya says.

The artists are happy hawkers sell boiled eggs in Kisumu, but concur that they would be excited if residents ate more of the delicacy.

Marenya says: “I sit at kiosks in Kibuye market on several occasions waiting for clients to have breakfast and then I collect the shells.”

Mr. Otieno with Eggshell Examples

Otieno, who attended Burumba Primary School in Busia, developed an interest in drawing in nursery school.

“I perfected my art at Got Agulu Secondary School in Nyanza where I drew portraits of my classmates,’ Otieno says.

He started earning pocket money from art in Form Two by making runner stamps and drawing portraits of musicians for sale.

“I was an expert in drawing Kanda Bongoman and the late Reggae stalwarts Bob Marley and Peter Tosh,” Otieno recalls.

Marenya started doing artwork by accident two years ago during post-election violence in Mombasa.

“I had a friend who kept his artwork in my house and I resolved to start drawing at home during the skirmishes,” Marenya says.

Otieno also draws decors for schools and colleges drama and music festivals.

Most schools from Nyanza that commissioned his services won the best costume and dÈcor category in the national drama and music festivals.

“I perfected my talent after I joined Mwangaza College of Arts in Kisumu in 1997 and graduated with a Diploma three years later,” he says.

People took note of him after he drew a portrait of Raila in 2003. Liberal Democratic Party officials in Kisumu took the portrait and promised to pay him Sh10,000 (about 130.00 USD) after handing it to Raila, but he is yet to receive the money.

Otieno, who trains other artists, wants the Government to help them market their work.

“It is difficult to live as an artist in Kenya, especially in areas where people do not appreciate intellectual property,” Otieno says.

Hello all:

Because of the generosity of our donors, the new 14 seat (27′ by 10′) latrine is nearing completion. I hope to have pictures to share soon.  The school now has a water spigot so the children can now get fresh water while at school. This academic year in addition to sponsoring Thomas Malinga, who is in his final year of high school (and hopes to attend university in the fall), we found generous donors who are paying the tuition and secondary school expenses for three Kibaoni graduates who without your help, would not be in school today.  The three:  Wilfred Steven, Magreth Andrea and Pascalina Tiehema are doing well. I have received emails from each of them – expressing their love to those who have chosen to give them a chance to succeed in life.  They are touching.

Andrea Wim on ladder of Jungle Gym

I know that the economic conditions here in the states is not good, but I have a favor to ask. Madam Anna Mzava, the headmistress of the Kibaoni School, has asked if we could possibly help another of their graduates.  The young woman’s name is Shangwe Steven.  She was one of the early graduates of the school and recently completed her high school education.  She is applying for admission to university starting in September – but without our help, she will not be able to afford to go. She is a perfect example of what we as a group are trying to do … give young Tanzanians a chance to dream.

Below you will find an email I received from Shangwe this morning. She states her case better than I ever could. It is my hope to find enough co-sponsors who would be willing to commit to paying a part of her tuition (approximately $3,000 per year for 3 years).  I realize it is a lot of money, but without our assistance, Shanwge’s dreams of a college education will die.  I would appreciate any help you can offer.  Believe me it is an excellent investment. I know Shangwe will make you proud.  Note:  Items in bold I added to Shangwe’s email.

Habari nzuri tu baba  [How are things my good father].  I am very happy to receive an email from you, baba [father] even I can’t explain how happy I am. 

Oh very sorry, I didn’t know if you are staying with your mjukuu [grandson] EVAN while his parents are away.  I understand how children need to be cared,worr(ied) out about being busy….

Am happy also to hear that Madam Anna [Principal at Kibaoni School] has spoke alot about me to you and she’s very proud of me.

I also want to say sorry to you about the on-going economic crisis in US. I have heard about it in radio stations and many people are speaking of it here in our country. So, I understand how the situation is.

But am happy also to hear that you will hardly find other people to help me out – am glad because you care about me baba. I pray to God so that you can easly find those people.

Am with you in prayers, baba try your level best

About cost/year (kiasi kwa mwaka) payment is done after six months and costs US $1500.  Per year it will cost US $3000 (milioni 1 na nusu kwa miezi6 na kwa mwaka ni milioni tatu).

The first payment will be on 01.09.2009 (Sept 1, 2009) immeadiately after reporting.

About the University am going to attend, I am waiting for the response to my applications as in our system we have to apply first. So, I have sent applications to UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM, UNIVERSITY OF DODOMA, MZUMBE UNIVERSITY, and MAKERERE UNIVERSITY. These are all owned by the government, there is no application costs as in the private owned universities. 

I prefer to take the degree of  ”BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS”; I like this faculty because I want to become an ambassador and I want to be ambasador of Tanzania in US so that I can strengthen the relationship between my country and yours.

That is my dream since I was little kid (mtoto).

You also wanted to know more about me, but I promise to send you the informations about me in the next email, which I’ll send to you tomorrow.  I fail to send now because the time which they give me to write this email is over in this internet cafe till tomorow.

Hi to all

- Shangwe Steven

If you can help, donate on-line (there is a link on the right of this page) or drop a check made-out to: “H.E.A.L. – Kibaoni Primary School” and mail it to P.O. Box 13046, Chicago, IL 60613.  Do make certain to note your contrabution as Kibaoni Primary School or to Shangwe specifically.  I will be happy to group any contributions to help Shangwe meet her goals.

All my very best,

Jim Furner

From the School of Public Health at the Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago Newsroom:

In the Lakeview area of Chicago known as Boys Town, over 100 showed up on Friday, April 17 to raise awareness for people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. The event was hosted by Health and Empowerment for African Lives, a non-profit association started by a group of faculty and students from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health.

HEAL began in 2007 as a way to address the need for financial support, improved health care and education for the people of Kisumu, Kenya. Today, the organization is helping orphans, widows and hundreds of impoverished people in the region. HEAL has also been training doctors and nurses to understand the sensitive needs of HIV-positive patients in Kenya, especially those who are homosexual, which is illegal there.

The group’s second annual fundraiser drew a crowd passionate-about this cause.

Chicagoan Ms. Shakira Fiel said she came with a friend because she felt it was important for people to understand the problems of poverty and HIV infection in the region. “Most people don’t really know that you can live for a dollar in Africa,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have an event for this. It’s really valuable.”

Mr. Craig Hyland, assistant director of development and alumni relations for UIC School of Public Health, said the AIDS epidemic in Africa is spreading fast, yet the mentality surrounding the disease and homosexuality is behind the times.

“For many younger members of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community, HIV/AIDS is something we read or hear about, and rarely see. I’ve only come across a few people infected by the disease,” he said. “So, to hear of a place like Kenya, with an AIDS epidemic similar to what we saw in the US in the 1980’s, but with ideas of homosexuals that are like the 1940’s, it’s crazy. This is why an awareness raising event like this is so important.”

Dr. Robert Bailey, a professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health and one of the founders of HEAL, said HIV in Kisumu is more than just a growing epidemic. In a region where 30 percent of adult women and 20 percent of adult men are infected with HIV, everyone has a relative with HIV, he said. “So almost everyone is infected or affected by it.”

For nearly seven years, Dr. Bailey has been visiting Africa with his wife, Dr. Nadine Peacock, an associate professor of community health sciences at the UIC School of Public Health. While conducting male circumcision research there, they discovered that many of the men volunteering for the study were testing positive for HIV.

“We realized we had to have something in place for these young men,” Dr. Peacock said. “We couldn’t just turn them away. We figured if we had an organization like this, we could do a lot more good.”

Amidst the music and high energy that filled the Sidetrack Bar during the event, images of African children and adults were interspersed throughout. A personal wine tasting was donated by Lush Wine and Spirits for the raffle and silent auction items included hand-crafted wooden eating utensils, crushed eggshell wall hangings and paper-beaded jewelry made by people living in Africa with HIV.

“The silent auction was a favorite for many of the attendees, which was evident by a flurry of activity during the last few minutes of the auction,” Mr. Hyland said. “For many of the artisans, these crafts are their only source of income, so we were happy to purchase them for our silent auction, and even more pleased by peoples’ response.”

Mr. Hyland said the money raised exceeded the group’s expectations, and will be used to benefit HEAL projects in Kenya.

On April 17, 2009 HEAL will host its second annual fund-raiser in Chicago, Illinois. The event will be held at Sidetrack bar in the Lakeview neighborhood and will feature music, a silent auction and delicious snacks for our lively, multicultural guests. Members of the Boystown community, UIC faculty and alumni, students from the allied health schools, and HEAL friends and family will all be attending.  We are looking forward to having a good time for a great cause. All the details are below.  To download a PDF of this poster – click here – Perfect for printing and posting all about town!

HEAL Fundraiser 2009

Katharine P. Bailey, born February 22, 1944, died February 14, 2009 at her home in Millerton, New York, U.S.A. of ovarian cancer.  Katharine had an extraordinary life.  She grew up in Tuxedo, NY, a suburb of New York City, went to high school in Connecticut, and attended a college for one year in Massachusetts.  She briefly worked as a secretary in New York, but soon became restless and began a series of travels that took her to most corners of the globe.  One memorable “trip” was a three week vacation to Florence, Italy that turned into a three year epic.  She worked on a kibutz in Israel, traveled to Egypt, took a boat up the Nile, went overland to Somalia, sailed on a dhow down the coast of East Africa to Mombasa, Kenya, worked for a year in Nairobi, taking safaris all over East Africa, hitched her way to South Africa, rode a steamer across the Atlantic to Buenos Aires, hitched on boats and trucks through Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile, south to Tierra del Fuego, back up to northern Chile to Bolivia, took a small boat 1000 miles down the Rio Maldonado to Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, and she ended up living and working as a tour guide for an animal dealer hotel owner in Leticia, Amazonas, Columbia.  After about five months in Leticia, she was flown back to New York with hepatitis in a cargo plane with 1200 monkeys and 1000 parakeets.

There were other trips that took her to India and Nepal, where she lived for some time at an ashram, and other corners of the globe.  Eventually, she settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, earned a Bachelors degree in nursing and a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing.  She joined the faculty of Nursing at Yale University and enjoyed several years of scholarship and teaching, before moving to the northwest corner of Connecticut, where she met the love of her life, Albert Francke.  She and Albert had only four years together, before cancer took Katharine from her multitude of friends and her family.

Katharine was an inspiration to so many.  She had the courage to break out and follow the road less travelled.  As she accumulated new friends around the world, she kept in touch with her old friends.  All her experiences never changed her essential character as a person intensely interested in others, someone who reached out, determined to understand and to assist others to achieve their very best.    

It is appropriate in many ways that a special fund be created as part of HEAL in Katharine’s memory.  HEAL is all about helping and caring about others, and HEAL’s  activities are targeted to helping people in Kenya, where Katharine worked, lived and visited.  Katharine the nurse, the teacher, the global traveler, the lover of East Africa, the woman known and loved by so many honors HEAL with her trust in what we are trying to accomplish.  We aim to return that trust with countless good deeds in her memory.

Dear Contributors and Friends of Kibaoni Primary School,

I am pleased to share with you the news that after collecting funds for just over four and one-half months, we are seeing real results at the Kibaoni School. In December, we sent funds ($2,500) to start work on the girl’s latrine. We have the balance of the funds need for that project in the bank. The work on this project has begun in Tanzania.

In late December, we were informed that a number of Kibaoni students had passed their national tests and had qualified to attend Secondary School (O-Level). This is a four year program, but is not free. The students families must pay between $500 and $700 per year to attend. With the average family income in Tanzania being somewhere between $750 and $1,000, few Kibaoni graduates can afford to continue their education – regardless of their potential to succeed at the next level. I am pleased to inform you that with the aid of two individuals families/groups and your generous contributions, our group will be sponsoring a total of four Kibaoni graduates when classes start on January 19th.  In addition to Thomas Malinga, who we met last February at Kibaoni; we are paying the tuition costs, etc. for three Secondary School students: Magreth Andrea (a 13 year old girl); Wilfred Steven (a 14 year old boy) and Pascalina Tiehema (a 14 year old girl). There are many more students who need assistance, but this is a great start.

We thank each of you for your support.  If you know of others who might wish to help other students, we hope  to be able to cover more school fees next term – allowing each new student to reach their full potential. Let me know if you or friends of yours might be interested in sponsoring one of these scholars.  Additionally, there is a young woman, Shangwe Steven, who graduated a several years ago from Kibaoni who has been accepted at University, but cannot go on without our help. The university level education in Tanzania at a public university costs approximately $3,000 per year and would require a three to four year committment.

Following the break is an email from Kibaoni’s Headmistress Anna Mzava. In it she talks about last Sunday’s visit at Kibaoni by one of our founders, David Clapp, and a group he was leading through Tanzania. Thought you would appreciate her feelings about our relationship with the children of Kibaoni. All the best to you and yours. We are making a real difference. Thank you.  

Jim

Dear Jim, 
 
It’s my kind regard that your fine and your procede well with your work, for my side I am well too. Thank you for your all emails that you have sent to me, they real(ly) encourage me and make realise that you real(ly) care about us. I real(ly) thank you very much for what you have been doing to us, may God bless you all. 
 
I would like to inform you that our guest, whom we were expect(ing) , arrived safely and they were very excited about our school. Thomas and I were there for them. The work on the latrine has already started as, Thomas informed you.
 
I still thank you very much, you and your friends, for showing such concerned about development of the school and future of the students. On behalf of them all – I say thanks very much.

I also send thanks for the decision that you have made in helping the students of Kibaoni Primary School each year to reach secondary school and, further, those who  go on with their study up to university. 

As far as I remember on your last email you asked for information about WILFRED and PASCALINA. In case of Pascalina, she is the girl of fourteen years old and she is living with her mother. Her father died four years ago after suffering from abdomen disease. In their family there are four and Pascalina is the second born. They all depend on their mother’s wealth. 

Wilfred is a boy the same age as Pascalina. He completed his primary at Kibaoni with Pascalina. He also lives with his mother only as his father abandon the family  since he was a little boy.

I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN YOUR WORKS. 

Its your lovely friend

ANNA MZAVA

This fall, HEAL had the great opportunity to participate in the annual AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, which is hosted by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. HEAL members including Dr. Robert Bailey, Erin Starzyk, Justin Starzyk, Albert Plenty, Silas Ellison, and Elena Navez set up a booth to help spread the word about HEAL’s mission and work.

In order to raise money for HEAL’s current projects in Kenya, we sold Obama bracelets.  These little bits of Obama-mania were a fantastic hit with people absolutely RAVING about them.  All bracelets are handmade in Obama’s father’s hometown in Kenya, and we sold over 250 dollars worth of them at the walk. With the success of the bracelets, HEAL has continued to market through various venues, and to date has netted a profit of over 1,100 dollars.  This will, as we all know, go a long way in Kenya.  As always, all profits go directly towards HEAL’s projects which can be seen on this blog or at official HEAL website.

If you would like to purchase an Obama bracelet of your very own (and we know you do) as he is – you may have heard -
the current President Elect of the United States – contact Martha Schnell at mschnell@uic.edu.

Hello, hope you are well.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I wanted to take a minute and ask for your help. Early in 2008, Sylvia and I traveled with a group to Tanzania. While there we visited the Kibaoni Primary School near Karatu. Imagine a school with no electricity, no running water and only the boys have a latrine! With over 750 students and only 6 classrooms, classes are held in shifts. Not enough desks, not enough chairs, not enough books, not enough pencils, but plenty of need.

Now you know why I am asking for your assistance. Yes, economic conditions here are, indeed, very tough. But the children of Kibaoni Primary School really know what tough times are. Even if they are lucky enough to graduate and pass the national test, most of their families cannot afford to send their children to Secondary School – much less dream of attending University.

These are the reasons we partnered with H.E.A.L. (Health Empowerment for African Lives) to collect tax deductible funds for the Kibaoni School. We still plan to form our own 501(c)(3), which should be up and running in early 2009.

To date, we have collected $2,595 for the school. All funds will be distributed for specific projects at the school. Our first project is to build a latrine for the girls. We are over half way to our goal of $ 5,000 for the 15 seat facility. Other projects include getting electricity to the grounds; desks and chairs; water reserve tanks; books and sports equipment.

While at the school, I met a young man, Thomas Andrea Malinga. Thomas speaks very good English and served as our translator. As we were leaving Thomas pleaded for

help. He had passes all the needed tests, but as an orphan could not afford the tuition at the nearest public school (approximately $1,000 per year). When I mentioned Thomas’ plight to one of our fellow travelers, Darrell Lund, decided to step-up and pay Thomas’ school expenses as long as Thomas does well in school. Six months into the year, Thomas is blooming. He loves school and wants to be an accountant. He now considers Darrell and I his American fathers. He is able to email us regularly. His letters are amazing insightful.

No contribution is too small. Together we can do so much good.

-James Furner

Remember the fund raiser HEAL held a couple of months ago? Well, the funds raised have been dispersed to help fund the KIPE Chicken Project – and now (FINALLY) after a month of hard work in planning and preparation – WE HAVE CHICKENS!! (about 200 of them)

KIPE developed the Chicken Project as one part of their Model Farm Initiative through which the land surrounding their office is used to train members in agricultural techniques and nutrition. Products produced are sold with all profits, at least initially, used to support and encourage both this and other KIPE projects. Involved KIPE members gain agricultural expertise and non-marketed food-stuffs are shared for consumption.

The HEAL Board reviewed details of the Chicken Project and the decision was reached to provide startup funds for capital investment and materials for the first chicken cycle (approximately 6 weeks). Additionally, HEAL members in Kisumu assisted in project coordination and management through defining the initial project team, development and maintenance of the budget, development of educational materials and sessions, and final capital construction and procurement of materials.

The HOUSE:

When HEAL began involvement the chicken house had been framed and enclosed with corrugated metal. Discussions with KenChic LTD, who provide the chicks, and HEAL funds lead to some initial structural modification and the application of wooden trim. Final structure size is 9 x 26 feet allowing for the safe housing of 250 birds.

The TEAM:

The Chicken Project Team is comprised of 15 KIPE members Team members who meet weekly to discuss project issues and provide all daily chicken care. Education is provided by local experts regarding chicken care, bird and worker health, and basic business management and record keeping. The team leader has chicken farming experience and both coordinates efforts and provides onsite guidance.

The CHICKS:

After all the team development, multiple budget revisions, construction, informal local marketing studies, education, and chicken house decoration (disinfection, separation of brooding area, warming light instillation, and saw dust application) 200 chicks were safely delivered and moved into their new home. Since then, the team has dealt with a series of especially cool nights (by African standards) combined with a general electrical failure and the adjustment of becoming the primary care providers for 200 constantly hungry and surprisingly fragile chicks. I am very happy to report that all, team members and chicks alike, have done remarkably well.

Check out the project budget for an idea what is involved in small scale chicken farming. Watch for updates as the project progresses.

-Matthew