DR. NINA FAY CALHOUN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AWARD WINNERS AT 2009 DISTRICT TWELVE CONFERENCE

District Twelve 2008-2009 International Relations Project

PENNIES FOR PROGRESS RETURNS

  Supporting Fistula Hospitals in Northern Africa

Celebrating International Women’s Day

What is the project? The Fistula Hospital Foundation supports women with obstetric fistula by funding treatment, facilities, and prevention programs throughout Ethiopia.

An obstetric fistula is a common problem in Ethiopia and in other developing countries. It occurs in young mothers because of poor nutrition and lack of bone development. It is a hole between a woman’s birth passage and one or more of her internal organs. This hole results in permanent incontinence of urine and/or feces. A majority of women who develop fistulas are ostracized by their husbands and communities because of their inability to have children and their foul smell.

If a skilled surgeon performs surgery, a fistula patient has a good chance of returning to normal life. The Fistula Hospitals have a 93% success/cure rate.  It costs US$450 to provide one woman with a fistula repair operation, high-quality postoperative care, a new dress, and bus fare home. Donations go to construction and furnishing of new hospitals throughout Ethiopia, medical supplies, nurses’ quarters, advanced medical training for surgeons, vehicles, and incinerators. For more information go to the website:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/hamlin.html

We are continuing with this District project for several reasons.  This was the only organization from which we received letters of thanks for our past donations, with an explanation of use of funds for the project.  Last year we received a very appreciative letter of thanks and have received other periodic reports as well.  This project seemed to be the one of most interest in the district as it received the most financial support from district club donations last year.  By focusing on one project, Altrusans in District Twelve can make a larger donation and more of an impact on this project.   

We encourage your club to join in this district campaign.  Here are the guidelines:

1.   The campaign will officially start on International Women’s Day – March 8.

2.  The PENNIES FOR PROGRESS label for a donation jar has been e-mailed to your club president.  You can copy as many as you need on a page of address labels.  Attach the label to your jar(s).  I have some labels left from last year and if you email me, I will mail what you require to you.  First come, first served.

3.   Collect your pennies (or coins or even bills) in your PENNIES FOR PROGRESS jar or jars, which you can set in prominent places such as:

a.   Your club meetings

b.   At home

c.   At work

d.   With other safe, interested businesses who might wish to participate.

4.   As you collect, wrap pennies and deposit in your personal account or your club’s bank account.  Seniors homes and schools will often help with this wrapping and you can get good promotion photos for your local newspapers.

5.  OR, create your own special fund-raiser to support this project.

6.   Keep a record of your savings and take a personal cheque or a club cheque to conference. Make cheques out to Altrusa International of Olympia Foundation (some donations may be tax deductible in the United States)

      Give your form and your cheques to Arlene Blundell when you arrive at Conference.  The project will end at the end of Conference and all donations will be sent to the Fistula Foundation.  Post Conference results in the DSB will inform everyone of the total amount collected.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email  agblund@shaw.ca or phone  250-758-5107.

Good luck and many thanks for your support.  To them, every penny counts!