Humble Structure/Big Hearts

Randie Marsh,

Director

Dear ,

The month of January invites us to reflect on the past year, to consider what we've accomplished and what we need to improve. The stories in this edition of our e-newsletter allow us to do just that by focusing on one small building, the SOTENI Village of Hope-Mbakalo Dispensary. The dispensary is a humble structure, but it houses stories of tremendous generosity, of practical goals met and of big plans for the future.

In 2004, the people of Mbakalo said they wanted a health facility, but we were hesitant because of the enormity and responsibility of a project like a health facility. SVH-Mbakalo took the lead and started providing health services. SOTENI has been able to offer basic health care services much closer for the people of Mbakalo, and health in the village has improved. It has not all been smooth sailing, but encountering some bumpy seas is simply part of working in a developing country. After you read this month's stories, I hope you agree that the bumps are more than made up for by what we have been able to offer the people in Mbakalo.

Read our stories, but also scroll through for important information about SOTENI International and two big events coming up this spring.

Now let me introduce to you Isaac Nalungu, the laboratory technologist for the SVH-Mbakalo Dispensary.

Asante sana (thank you very much),

Meet Isaac

When Isaac Nalungu was a boy, he was determined to be a good example in his family of 30 people. He went to school in Naitiri Village, close to Mbakalo. Isaac was a student leader in the labor-atory department at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. In 2007, he graduated as a lab technol-ogist. Even though he faced financial struggles throughout schooling, he promised his father that he would make the most of his education. Isaac is an ambitious young man, and his... (read more)

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YOUR FINANCIAL DONATIONS

CAN DO ALOT

Charges for top 4 tests -

malaria $ .75

typhoid $1.25

brucella $1.25

urinary infection $. 75

Average monthly salary for dispensary staff

$120.

A Humble Structure

In December Vic Wulsin and I were privileged and proud to take part in dedicating the new dispensary building. Less than 2 years ago SOTENI was told that it must leave the building we had been using for our health centre. There was no time to raise the funds to build a facility of the size and quality that we hope to have some day. We had to move quickly so that services would not be interrupted. The Local Management Committee oversaw the construction of this humble... (read more)

The community celebrating & dancing.

(Click on arrow to

watch video.)

Big Hearts!

When we give thanks, we think of you. Soon SOTENI Inter-national will be wrapping up our 2012 Annual Campaign. Our supporters, once again, have been generous with their gifts. We say asante sana for those big hearts! Funds from the Annual Campaign supplement the dispensary with its operational costs, including staffing and medicines. I hope our stories about Isaac and the dispensary dedication service give you a feel for the impact SOTENI is making on the community of Mbakalo and the area around it.

If you have not had a chance to donate to the Annual Campaign, please do so now. Every dollar helps to keep the operations in all of our four Villages of Hope going. If you have already given, please consider an additional gift, or a recurring (monthly) donation.

March 10, 2012 -- 7-10 PM -- Peterloon Estate

Visit our EVENT PAGE for all the details of this fun(d)raising evening!

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

SOTENI is once again a Partner Charity

Activities & Events May 4, 5 & 6

e-mail soteni@soteni.org for a discount code whether you are

walking or running, -- 5K, 10K, half or full marathon

Learn More About SOTENI International!

Visit us at www.soteni.org