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The Ihangane Project Returns to Rwanda!
Madeliene Dusabyemaliya with TIP board members Anita Wray and Wendy Leonard
Looking for Volunteer Opportunities? Send us an email at info@theihanganeproject.com
Current Volunteer Needs:
*Photographer for Online Store Products
*Ideas to address Shipping Needs
*Fundraisers!
*Bookkeeping Services
Coming Soon~Project Committees!
If you have a particular interest in one of our projects, please let us know. We will be sure to include you in our new project committes starting in 2010. |
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| Holiday News |
December 2009 |
This Holiday Season, The Ihangane Project has much to be thankful for. The last few months have propelled our organization and our projects well beyond where we imagined we could be! We want to thank all of you for your support. Without you, none of this would be possible.
As we move forward, we continue to be keenly aware of the importance of sustainability in every project we work on. Our goal is to feel confident that each project could eventually stand on it's own without significant outside funding. To this end, we are always looking for new ideas of how to design sustainable programs. If you have ideas, or want to be involved in brainstorming, please contact us!
Enjoy our newsletter, and stay tuned for more progress reports!
~Amahoro (Peace)~
The Board of The Ihangane Project
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Holiday Gift Ideas
December 3-5, 2009:
8am - 4 pm Intercontinental Hotel, San Francisco
Medical Management of HIV/AIDS
Sponsored by the Division of AIDS -
University of California, San Francisco,
School of Medicine
December 13, 2009:
12pm - 4pm
Center for Conscious Living
World Gift Market
1818 Felt Street, Santa Cruz
(831) 477-7882
Shop Online:
Handmade Crafts
Give the Gift of Solar
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Our Collaborators, Supporters, Friends & Inspirations |
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Solar Power at Rural Health Centers
Sustainable Green Solutions in Rural Rwanda
We have light! Thanks to the generosity of We Care Solar, Catapult Design and The Ihangane Project were able to install a small solar electrical system at Minazi Health Post. The health care workers now have light to work by in the evenings and the ability to charge their cell phones so that they can contact the district hospital for emergencies.
In August of this year, Wendy Leonard of The Ihangane Project and Heather Fleming of Catapult Design traveled to Nyange Health Center to perform a first hand assessment of their electrical needs.We worked with the nursing staff to prioritize needs, and assessed the existing equipment. We had the opportunity to interview local Rwandan vendors to better understand the available resources.
We are also in the process of adding Solar Electric Light Fund to our team of experts! SELF will provide the health center with on the ground monitoring and assessment training that will allow the health center to adjust their energy use and improve the longevity of their solar electrical system.
During our recent visit to Rwanda, Anita Wray of The Ihangane Project and Wendy also performed a site assessment of Coko Health Center. Once we have completed our Nyange project, we will continue our efforts in Coko.
Check out our video to learn more!
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 Women's Association & Reinvestment Fund
HIV Prevention through Economic Stability
The Ihangane Project is working with two women's associations in Ruli, Rwanda. Each group has their unique strengths, as well as unique products. While in Rwanda, Anita and Wendy met with the craftswomen to discuss further details of their business plan and to learn how we can better help support their sustainability. As a team, we developed a system of communication to improve our ability to order products and guarentee consistency.
While we were in Rwanda, we learned about a valued cultural norm that symbolizes collaboration. According to Pascasie of the Covaru Association, Rwandans believe that they truly are working together when they eat and dance together. In this vain, the Covaru women organized an amazing evening of dancing and feasting in honor of our growing relationship. Please visit the link to see us in action: Celebrating with Covaru
We have been working hard to find new markets to expand the beautiful crafts that are made by Ihangane and Covaru Women's Associations. Our website store is up and running, so please consider shopping today!
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 Providing Safe Nutrition to Children at Risk
The Ihangane Project is working with Dr. Ngirabega and the HIV team at Ruli Health Center to provide HIV-exposed infants and children with safe alternatives to breastmilk. This includes safe formula alternatives at 6 months of age, and the gradual introduction of age-appropriate solid foods over time. The model of Positive Deviance will be utilized as a means of improving the nutritional status of children despite the severe poverty that exists in this area.
Malnutrition has the greatest impact on a child between 6 and 24 months of age. This is also the age at which HIV-exposed infants are most vulnerable because they have been weaned from breast milk but families often have no access to alternative food sources. While in Rwanda, TIP performed interviews with seven HIV+ mothers to better understand their needs and the barriers they face. We have initiated a pilot project that includes these 7 women. They have begun to receive baby formula and fortified sosoma, and will be provided with extensive support to ensure success. To learn more about our project, please visit our Ashoka Changemakers contest submission:
To address sustainability of this project, Ruli Health Center and The Ihangane Project are developing a proposal to produce fortified sosoma in their community. Amy Lockwood of Project Healthy Children and Dr. Paul Clyde of Ross School of Business at University of Michigan are providing essential technical support to this project. We are so grateful to Cynthia Koenig of HippoRoller, one of our Opportunity Collaborationers, for facilitating our connection with Dr. Clyde. |
 Opportunity Collaboration
The Ihangane Project had the privilege of being a delegate at the first annual Opportunity Collaboration. This is a unique event that brings together social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, philanthropists and grant-makers to address the issues of global poverty. Unlike typical conferences that include plenary sessions and lectures, this was designed to encourage an interactive exchange of ideas. Through this experience, The Ihangane Project has created new alliances that will continue well into the future.
Our Colloquium for Common Good Team:
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Follow Us on These Social Media Sites:
 
The Ihangane Project Channel on YouTube |
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