CSDi students face critical danger in the communities where they work

Suleiman Barau Kadana works for People Oriented Development of ECWA as a facilitator and training officer in northern Nigeria.

He is working with 257 men, women and children, in the village of Gidan Gyarai, near Kadana, Nigeria who are suffering from deficient food security and low crop yields caused by a scarcity of rain, poor agricultural water management, climate change related reduction in surface water, increase in temperature, and a sudden change in weather conditions.
They are also suffering from the effects of deforestation caused by indiscriminate tree logging, land clearing and improper farm encroachment. These challenges lead to increased poverty, increased water and wind erosion, a decrease in soil fertility, increased fertilizer use, destruction of ecosystems, and decreased unity in the community.
 

Sule has developed a project designed to address these challenges that includes a family garden and nutrition program, a climate smart agricultural program, and a forest management program—download an outline of his report.
Sule is just finishing his second course at CSDi—he has one more assignment to turn in and he has just written:
“Regarding my week six assignment: due to tension we are experiencing in Northern Nigeria that is the main reason why I am unable to get it done, for some days we have had to stay away from our houses for safety, please pray for Christians in Northern Nigeria. Finally, will you be willing to extend some time for me to get the assignment to you?”
Kadana, in Northern Nigeria, was the location of the bombings of Christian churches by the Boko Haram on Sunday the 17th of June where 50 people died at three different churches. The group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” has referred to itself as the “Nigerian Taliban.” It seeks to overthrow the government.
Other students have faced similar challenges in Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Darfur. Because of extreme security measures, students working in these countries frequently have difficulty getting to their communities—and are not allowed to take or send photographs of their projects.
 
Students working on humanitarian projects also face grave danger in the face of hurricanes and floods—notably in Pakistan and Bangladesh. 220 million people were put at great risk in 2010 during floods in Pakistan; floods returned again in 2011 leaving 200,000 homeless.

I’m impressed that professional field staff working under these conditions and taking our courses continue to develop their projects, send in reports, assignments and sign up for new courses. I stand in awe of their bravery and perseverance. Thank you for including us in your lives.
 

Would you like to learn how to develop Community Based Adaptation Projects?

What’s happening in the region where you live?
Please write us with your stories, thoughts and comments through Online.Learning@csd-i.org
 
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Tim Magee, Executive Director
 
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The Center for Sustainable Development specializes in providing sound, evidence-based information, tools and training for humanitarian development professionals worldwide. CSDi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
 
 

Project of the Month: Martha Njoroge develops a home garden program for HIV+ children in Kenya

Martha Njoroge has been one of CSDi’s best students over the past year.

Martha works with the Wamumbi Orphan Care as a Project Manager organizing events for the orphaned children they  support. Martha has partnered with Kathy Tate-Bradish (US) and Genevieve Lamond (UK). Follow the link to see field reports and photos.Martha, Kathy and Genevieve have developed a project which includes these programs:
  • HIV/AIDS an Sexual Health Education Program
  • Advocacy Program with Guardians and Health Care Providers
  • Family Garden and Nutrition Program
  • Farmer Soil and Water Conservation and Management Program
 

Let me tell you a little bit about Martha. Martha lives in Kangema, Kenya, a small rural town of 4,000 about 70 miles north of Nairobi. Over the past nine or 10 months Martha has partnered with Kathy Tate-Bradish (Illinois in the US—but with a working relationship in Kenya) and Genevieve Lamond (University of Bangor UK but also with a working relationship in Kenya)
They have developed a project with a group of HIV-positive orphans and vulnerable children and their guardians. Last fall, we learned that one of the children died. Martha works with the Wamumbi Orphan Care (community based organization) as a Project Manager organizing events for the orphaned children they  support.
 
Martha, Kathy and Genevieve have developed a project which includes these programs in support of their community:
-HIV/AIDS an Sexual Health Education Program
-Advocacy Program with Guardians and Health Care Providers
-Family Garden and Nutrition Program
-Farmer Soil and Water Conservation and Management Program (addressing climate change challenges)
 
To see the quality of Martha’s work and why I’m launching this appeal, view Martha’s recent field reports complete with lots of excellent photos of her community members and project activities. Get a real vantage of her field project:
A1 341: Participatory needs assessment.
A3 303: Nutrition survey and nutritious meal.
A8 303: Garden bed planting.
A1 304: Garden progress/growth of produce.
A4 304: Demonstration Gardens.
A4 343: Assessing Community Vulnerability.
A5 343: Results of assessment.
 

Would you like to learn how to develop Community Based Adaptation Projects?

What’s happening in the region where you live?
Please write us with your stories, thoughts and comments through Online.Learning@csd-i.org
 
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Tim Magee, Executive Director
 
Would you like to subscribe to this newsletter?
 
The Center for Sustainable Development specializes in providing sound, evidence-based information, tools and training for humanitarian development professionals worldwide. CSDi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
 
 

Help a Kenyan baby suffering complications from pneumonia. Quickly Please!

Martha Njoroge has been one of CSDi’s best students over the past year. I learned yesterday that her one-year-old baby Brian is seriously ill.

He just spent two weeks in the hospital with pneumonia—and although at first he appeared to be responding well to medications he has recently developed complications: very high fever, chest congestion, is coughing terribly and vomiting and experiencing diarrhea. Martha is being referred to a specialist tomorrow—but is having trouble covering medical expenses.
Donate to Martha and Brian: http://www.csd-i.org/donate/.
 

Let me tell you a little bit about Martha. Martha lives in Kangema, Kenya, a small rural town of 4,000 about 70 miles north of Nairobi. Over the past 9 or 10 months Martha has partnered with Kathy Tate-Bradish (Illinois in the US—but with a working relationship in Kenya) and Genevieve Lamond (University of Bangor UK but also with a working relationship in Kenya).
They have developed a project with a group of HIV-positive orphans and their guardians. Last fall, we learned that one of the children died. Martha works with the Wamumbi Orphan Care (community based organization) as a Project Manager organizing events for the orphaned children they  support.
Martha, Kathy and Genevieve have developed a project which includes these programs in support of their community:
-HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health Education Program
-Advocacy Program with Guardians and Health Care Providers
-Family Garden and Nutrition Program
-Farmer Soil and Water Conservation and Management Program (addressing climate change challenges)

Theirs is a real project and you can read about them in several of my blog posts:
http://www.csd-i.org/csdi-blog/2011/10/25/population-bomb-how-do-we-get-more-development-practitioners.html
http://www.csd-i.org/csdi-blog/2011/10/31/development-in-real-time-3-disease-related-deaths-in-2-weeks.html
http://www.csd-i.org/csdi-blog/2011/11/2/last-call-fall-academy-tragedies-hivaids-malaria-family-plan.html
http://www.csd-i.org/csdi-blog/2012/4/13/family-gardens-for-food-security-and-nutrition.html

 

Can you please help?

Because of her baby’s increasing health challenges, Martha needs ready cash now to pay for doctor bills and for medications. Any amount that you can donate will help. Even $10 will help. Martha will receive 100% of your donation–CSDi is simply acting as a conduit for funds. Please help—and help quickly.

Donate to Martha and Brian: http://www.csd-i.org/donate/

To see the quality of Martha’s work and why I’m launching this appeal, view Martha’s recent field reports complete with lots of excellent photos of her community members and project activities. Get a real vantage of her field project:
A1 341: Participatory needs assessment.
A3 303: Nutrition survey and nutritious meal.
A8 303: Garden bed planting.
A1 304: Garden progress/growth of produce.
A4 304: Demonstration Gardens.
A4 343: Assessing Community Vulnerability.
A5 343: Results of assessment.

Thank you in advance for whatever you can donate.

Sincerely,

Tim Magee
Executive Director

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The Center for Sustainable Development specializes in providing sound, evidence-based information, tools and training for humanitarian development professionals worldwide. CSDi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.