Giving Girls Dignity Part 2

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These amazing ladies have been meeting weekly to make over 200 feminine hygiene kits, which will be taken to Kahama in the January 2018 Volunteer Trip. 

In a previous blog  I outlined the problems faced by thousands upon thousands of women around the world who are missing out on education and days at work because of the lack of feminine hygiene products. The girls and women are often isolated, sitting on cardboard until their period passes. This means that girls can miss up to three months of school a year. 

In 2016 we started to make sustainable, cloth feminine hygiene kits. We use bright colours to camouflage staining, and have a removable absorbent liner, which looks like a wash cloth so can be laid out on the grass to dry without causing embarrassment. (Following the Days for Girls pattern and guidelines.)   

Each drawstring bag contains sustainable sanitary napkins, underwear, wash cloths and soap. Many girls and women cannot afford to buy underwear.

Thank you to the Summerland Secondary School for providing the space and sewing machines for another group of volunteers.

Mama Nakri with some of the kits that were delivered to the Muvuma Orphanage on our 2017 volunteer trip.

Three of our 2016 volunteers, Margaret, Gloria and Jeannie, nurses from Redwater, Alberta, recently dropped-off 50 kits that they had put together!

Contact us if you are able to sew kits or you can donate on line www.theonepersonproject.org or at the Summerland Credit Union or mail to The One Person Project 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, V0H 1Z5 

Contact us if you wish to sponsor the orphanage and see your dollars at work! 

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

Five Indisputable Reasons to Attend our Annual Fundraiser

On Saturday November 4th 6:00pm to midnight 

at the Shatford Centre, Penticton. 

At just $50 a ticket ($40 early-bird before Oct. 15th) our annual fundraisers are amazing value. DJ Doug donates his time and plays all our dance favourites. Brenda creates a brief, but amazing video-summary of the progress we have made in the last year.  This serves two purposes, it keeps you the public updated, but the powerful reminder also gives the exhausted One Person Team a boost that carries us through for another year!

Our entertainment is amazing! Bobby and a small contingent of the Nankama Drummers & Dancers entertained us at our very first Annual Dinner Dance at the Summerland Golf & Country Club on September 27th 2008. The troupe have continued to support us over the years, and we greatly look forward to the energy they always give to the evening.

Your $50 ticket also includes dinner! Every year we have a growing team of volunteer youth who serve the 3-course meal (salad, entree and light desert.) This year we are serving a perogie-dinner, with a tasty vegan perogie option. Our silent-auction items include baskets, dolls and ornaments that we purchase on our volunteer trips, and prizes and services donated by the Okanagan community.

Five - you want to make a difference. We can make it happen. For tickets contact Denise info@theonepersonproject.org 
250-460-0565, Brenda 250-809-9639 or pick up from Tones Hair Design, Victoria Ave. North, Summerland. 

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who helped us to raise  raised $7085 for the Muvuma Orphanage! 

Ways to Make a One Person Difference

People often ask how they can help to transform lives 

this is what we tell them.

Like our facebook page, and like and share our posts to help raise awareness and publicize our fundraising events. 

If you live in the Okanagan you can also:

Or drop-off refundable containers at the designated spot on the corner of Victoria Road South and College Road,  Summerland. 

It's so easy to make a difference! 

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info@theonepersonproject.org 

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Brenda 250-809-9639

Denise 250-460-0565

Giving Girls Dignity

It's one of those things that you don't really think about; what do women living in poverty use for feminine hygiene?  The answer is 'nothing'. 

Even purchasing underwear is out of the reach of many, so girls and women often sit on rags or cardboard and wait it out. Others stuff scraps of fabric, leaves and even rocks into their underwear.

Take a little time to think about that. Your first thoughts will be followed by the implications of this 'waiting period' - thousands upon thousands of women around the world are missing out on education and days at work. Not to mention the isolation. Imagine coping with this alongside the widespread stigma that is still imposed around menstruation. 

An enterprising organization Days for Girls International created a solution, a washable feminine hygiene kit. 

This kit is more successful than versions that were tried out in the past as they are not bulky, wash well and the coloured fabric hides stains and can pass for wash-cloths when hung out to dry. 

We are using the template to take kits over to the girls in the Muvuma Orphanage. We have funded tailoring courses for two of the older girls and have donated sewing machines and fabric so that they can sew and sell the kits to the wider community. 

We have found that the solutions to the problems are often amazingly simple, it just needs people like you who are willing to volunteer a little time, a skill or donate funds to keep the wheels in motion. 

Contact us if you are able to sew kits or you can donate on line www.theonepersonproject.org or at the Summerland Credit Union or mail to The One Person Project 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, V0H 1Z5 

Contact us if you wish to sponsor the orphanage and see your dollars at work! 

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

Young People Today Just Want to Help

www.theonepersonproject.org

Young people throughout history have stepped forward to make a difference, but as a whole, the youth of today are certainly more globally aware, socially conscious, and environmentally friendly than any preceding generation!

Case in point, at 20 years old Chelsea H. has a summer-job and is studying to be a financial analyst; in the last few months she has started to make monthly payments to sponsor the Muvuma Orphanage. Not satisfied with that, she purchases Nesters Market shopping cards from us (Nesters donates 10% of the purchase price to One Person) and encourages her family to do the same.  On discovering the importance of sports in schools in Tanzania , Chelsea used facebook to ask friends and groups to donate soccer shirts, cleats and balls.

Thanks Chelsea!

As a youth Chelsea knows the value of recycling and was delighted to discover that we use bottle depot funds to feed children with HIV/Aids at the Kahama Hospital’s Care & Treatment Centre.  You guessed it – our recycle donations have gone up!

Kids these days -  hey?

Check out the previous youth blogs to read about the Okanagan children and youth who understand how interconnected we are with other cultures and are determined to make a difference. 

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

           

Asante Sana!

Thank you!

Like us on facebook to see all the latest pictures 

Susan and Morgan in Kahama, Tanzania

Susan George at the current Muvuma Orphanage
www.theonepersonproject.org 

We regularly take teams of volunteers to Kahama but Susan and her granddaughter Morgan couldn't wait for the next planned trip, so travelled to East Africa on their own to visit our friends in Rwanda and Tanzania. 

Susan has had a long-term plan to help out in an orphanage so was delighted to be able to spend time with the Muvuma children and the dedicated local women who donate their time to supporting them. The current small building houses 20 children and youth, click the Muvuma link on the right to learn more about the children and the new building, which will be home to 50 at-risk orphans. 

Muvuma shelters street-kids and children with albinism. We will be shipping a forty-foot sea container to Kahama at the end of the year, which amongst other essential supplies, is crammed full of educational resources, medical equipment and items to help furnish and finish the new building.

Morgan enjoying a few minutes of downtime

Soccer balls are always greatly appreciated!

Susan and Morgan visited with a number of families and assisted in our other programs too! We greatly appreciate all our volunteers; whether you help in BC or on the ground in E.Africa you are truly making a difference in the lives of vulnerable women and children.

Contact us if you would like to:
Donate towards finishing the orphanage.
Sponsor the orphanage or an orphan.
Volunteer in Kahama, or in the Okanagan, B.C.
You can also make a donation towards any of our programs by mailing a cheque to The One person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, British Columbia, V0H 1Z5, Canada. Donating on-line or making a donation at the Summerland & District Credit Union.

Muvuma - Help us Raise the Roof!

Almost there! The 20 children in the existing tiny orphanage building (which is only available until November) will soon have a new home. And 30 more vulnerable children including those surviving on the streets will soon find a safe-haven. We have recently sent a further $500 towards purchasing materials for the roof and are holding fundraisers to complete the building. Check out the other Muvuma posts to find out about the importance of a safe place for the children.

For more information or to make a donation contact me, mail a cheque to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5 or donate on-line   

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Muvuma Orphanage Construction Progress!

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Exisiting Muvuma Orphanage in Kahama Tanzania

Founded in 2002 by a volunteer committee of women

See the previous Muvuma posts (scroll down or click on the labels on the right) to find out more about the orphanage.

In 2011 Kahama District donated land for a new building

It took two years and a lot of work to get to just six-bricks deep. The white band at the top indicates the 4,000 bricks that were added within a month when one of our February Trip volunteers, Nancy Comeau  donated US $1,000. 

For more information or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5 or donate on-line   

Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community.

Kahama, Tanzania

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 Tanzania: Central, East Africa

The Township and District of Kahama in Northwestern Tanzania

The Kahama District has a population of around one million people; split between the township and 240 scattered villages. We chose to work in the Kahama district because it is remote and has little outside help. 

Tanzania's poverty is widespread and acute. Around 85% of the population live in rural areas such as the Kahama region. The arid conditions mean that many of the people are nutritionally deficient and are sustenance farmers only.

HIV / AIDS

According to UNAIDS, about 1.4 million people are living with HIV in Tanzania. Of those 160,000 are children under the age of 15: this in a population of just over 46 million. The HIV rates are higher than the national average in the Kahama region.

We engage in capacity-building programs, which means that we are building a long-term, reciprocal relationship with the community, rather than just transferring resources. 

Kahama Town

 The town has a long, busy Main Street with side roads bustling with bicycles and motorbikes. There are some modern hotels and a large supermarket, which cater to the more affluent gold miners who spend their days-off in Kahama. But the townsfolk who can afford to make purchases shop in the small stores and markets. 

                

Scavenging Marabou storks at the rubbish dump.

Kahama lanes

The Kahama District Hospital is the only hospital for the whole district - a population of around a million people! There are also satellite clinics. We have targeted a couple of the clinics with one-off donations and hope that our support filters out to the others in the future.

Villages in Kahama

A typical village school will have few or no resources. 

We send school supplies in our shipping containers and Brenda (One Person President and co-founder) and volunteers take resources in their suitcases on each trip.

Mabula receives a precious soccer ball on one of our annual visits.

Poverty is extreme in the outlying villages

 A typical gas station...the container on the table....

There is much beauty in Tanzania, the countryside can be amazing but the devastating effects of poverty are everywhere. Thank you for helping us to make a difference. 

For more information or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5 or donate on-line   

Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community.

Sponsoring Further Education in Kahama

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When One Person first started in 2006, co-founder and President, Brenda Lowe asked family and friends to sponsor World Vision children in the Kahama District. In the end we found sponsors for over 50 children in the area, plus more in Muhanga, Rwanda. W.V. is due to leave the Kahama region in the next few years so some families are continuing to sponsor through One Person - a great decision as we will visit the children on our trips and will deliver and bring back photos, reports and personal messages!

Brenda is also providing funding for a young man's education. His name is Joseph and I met him on my trip in 2012. He is an amazing young man who has been acting as an unpaid guide and interpreter whenever we visit Kahama.

Joseph translating and passing on information about the photos from Summerland B.C.
to the children of the Faraja orphanage on our 2012 trip.

This is an excerpt from Brenda's Planet Ranger entry earlier this year.

"I met with my friend Joseph for a trip to the bank to deposit $900 I’d saved for him. I first met Joseph on my trip in 2009. He’s waiter at the Pineridge and has been our salvation on these trips. Joseph is one of the most resourceful, thoughtful, caring, generous people I’ve ever met. He helps us with everything we need and would never ask for anything in return.

 I made a decision on my last trip here that I would like to help Joseph get a better education so he can find decent employment. Joseph works long hours as a waiter and makes less than $100 per month. He supports his family with anything he has left over after he pays his living expenses and will never be able to change his situation without some help. He’ll need two years of upgrading and then will be allowed to attend a vocational school for training to work at the mine.

When we visited Joseph’s parents yesterday, they thanked me for helping him saying that they never had enough to pay for him to get an education and are so grateful for him to have this chance. They said that the whole family depends on Joseph and when he has a good job, he’ll be able to help them."

Brenda with Joseph's parents Grace and Sampson in their village hut.

Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community

Contact me today if you are interested in supporting a child or young adult's education.

To make a general donation send a cheque to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5, donate on-line or email me. 

Follow your passion and make a difference

www.theonepersonproject.org

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

Invaluable incubator in the Muhanga Hospital, Rwanda 
Oxygen saturation machine donated by Kamloops Hospital B.C

Most of us want to make a difference in the world but with so many great causes, knowing how much to give and what charitable vehicles to use can be daunting.  First - work out what drives your giving-engine.

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT EMPOWERING WOMEN & CHILDREN?

The One Person Project supports two orphanages in Kahama, Tanzania. The Faraja Orphanage, which is sponsored by the Summerland Montessori School (B.C. Canada) and the Muvuma orphanage, which is in the process of expanding from 18 to50    orphans. We need funding to finish and furnish the new building and welcome volunteers to visit in the future.

We also provide you with the opportunity to feed children who attend an HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Clinic; their life-saving drugs cause devastating side-effects if taken on an empty stomach.

We are fundraising to finish building and equipping a poultry cooperative for women-headed households in Kahama.

DO YOU WANT TO BATTLE INJUSTICE?

Read about the brutal treatment of children and adults with albinism in Tanzania. One Person is helping to provide safe shelter and school education for orphaned children with albinism. The Tanzanian Government and local organizations are working on eliminating the traditional belief that the severed limbs of people with albinism contain magical properties.

IS EDUCATION YOUR THING?

We ship classroom and teacher resources and have held Train-the-Teacher workshops in Kahama – more workshops are planned for the future.  

SPORTS DO IT FOR YOU?

We believe in the concept of sport for development – that sport is not just an end in itself, but also an effective tool to help improve the lives of children, families and communities.

Participating in sports allows young men to have a sense of pride and something to strive towards and allows girls to have status and opportunities they do not usually receive. We collect and ship matching team shirts (from soccer, baseball etc.) and soccer balls and cleats as well as other sporting equipment.

DOES MEDICAL CARE CONCERN YOU MOST?

As the Kahama District Medical Officer Dr. Andrew has heavy administrative and public health responsibilities, leaving little time for direct patient care. (Update 2014 Dr Membe is now the DMO.) The hospital is staffed by too few doctors, nurses and Assistant Medical Officers. They are forced to care for two or three patients per bed and lack basic equipment. We are making strides in this area, as hospitals and organizations in B.C have donated supplies and equipment, but we intend to offer long-term support and help Dr. Andrew create a fully functioning hospital for the district. On each One Person trip we recruit professional and non-professional volunteers to ensure that we are on track, to identify needs, distribute items and meet with families and organizations.

WHATEVER YOUR PASSIONS AND INTERESTS ARE we welcome your involvement. Everyone has something to give, be it a donation of time, skills, items or funds. Whatever your contribution is, you can be sure that you are impacting the lives of women and children in Kahama and Muhanga. Thank you!

Learn more

Volunteer

Donate

Strenghten your own community: Children & Youth

www.theonepersonproject.org

Some people and businesses tell us that they prefer to support organizations that affect their own community – which we love to hear because One Person provides life-changing opportunities for communities in the Okanagan and in the whole of B.C. (And beyond!)

Since our inception in 2006 our President Brenda Lowe has held presentations in schools, church halls, healthcare facilities, in offices, in community centres and in her own home.  Brownies, Guides, Scouts, school children, school teachers, medical professionals, families, service groups, store/office staff and clergy and congregations have seen our presentations and took part in our Q & A’s.

Local children and youth especially are benefiting from the role that One Person plays. We provide an avenue to help children to become socially aware and to be able to give to a community. Parents understand that it is not just the designated charity that is benefitting from a family’s involvement; children are also learning to be empathetic, compassionate and caring.

Lemonade Stand: Caitlin, Krista, Gabrielle&  Katelyn.  Devyn in the front

A 2013 study by the United Nations found that 88 percent of  (American) children donate to charities – that’s 7 out of 8 children aged 8 to 19!  Interestingly the study showed that role-modelling alone does not affect children’s giving-behaviour.

“Parents’ giving to charity is not enough to teach children to be charitable,” the report states, “Focused, intentional teaching by talking to children about charity is what works. This is true for children in families at all income levels and across gender, race, and age.” 

Children of all ages have talked with us and contributed to our programs in Kahama, Tanzania and Muhanga, Rwanda. Children and youth donate school and soccer resources, they help to collect, sort and pack donated items into our shipping containers – they even help paint our shipping containers and then they help raise funds to ship the containers! From donating birthday money, to recycling bottles, from holding lemonade stands, bake sales and book drop-off points to helping at our fundraising events. 

The children and youth in this community get to see photographs and hear stories of the children and youth they are helping to become self-sufficient in our sponsor-communities in East Africa. The children here learn new skills, feel empowered and know that the actions of one person can make a difference in the life of a child, a family, a community – whether it be on their own doorstep or on another continent.


Go to www.theonepersonproject.org  for more information and to volunteer/donate