To: alie.kabba@uniteafricans.org
Sent: Fri, February 19, 2010 1:36:54 AM
Subject: Thank you!
Dear Mr. Kabba:
On behalf of our staff and our volunteers, I want to thank the United African Organization for your generous donations in support of our earthquake relief efforts. Your contribution helps us get the much needed first aid items, personal hygiene products, dry foods and much needed medical care to the earthquake victims in Haiti.
We are continuing to work with MUDHA (mudha.org) to provide solidarity support to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Solidarity means developing relationships with communities, to identify their needs and provide direct assistance as they recover and rebuild.
Last Sunday, 5 of our 6 volunteers returned from Haiti after a two-week assignment. Two days later, we sent 5 more volunteers with 20 oversized bags of donations (over ½ a ton). They joined MUDHA’s volunteers in aid distribution efforts in Petit Goave and worked for 2 weeks in Leogane, where 77 children are living near the ruins of their orphanage.
Our volunteers helped to bring the local community together on February 12th (the one month after the earthquake), in an event to remember their loved ones, and celebrate the survivors.
During our first trip, we began a jewelry workshop for women, which is ongoing. With donated beading supplies, women are engaging in a therapeutic activity and creating beautiful jewelry for themselves. This can potentially grow into a micro-enterprise that can benefit the women and their families financially.
As school has not resumed in Haiti, our volunteers began to provide workshops for children in visual art, math, music and sports, and recruited local residents to continue to conduct some activities with the children.
Our volunteers brought a wheelchair for ten year old Rose, who had both legs amputated to treat earthquake injuries. A generous donor is working with HWHR to arrange her trip to the US for surgery, and prosthetics-fitting. We hope to are reaching out to Rose’s parents to work together with them, as we take the next steps in getting appropriate medical care. Our goal is to bring her to the Chicago area for this treatment during the month of March. If all goes well, I hope to meet some of your members.
Our next trip down to Haiti is scheduled for February 24, 2010. We have been able to respond to this crisis in a timely matter because of people like yourselves who truly understand and support our efforts. With your caring and your sharing, you help bridge the gap between what is provided and what is needed, and make this important work possible.
Respect,
ninaj