Big Changes.

I've just returned from Cape Town, South Africa after an amazing time spent with African Leadership friends. We traipsed around the Western Cape on the Garden Route where I visited caves in the mountains near the earth's first humans, I rode ostriches (the most hilarious expereience!), paraglided along the coastline of Brighten Bay (a new lifetime hobby) and generally enjoyed the summer sun and everything that comes with it.

I just arrived back to Mozambique yesterday and am looking upon big changes to take place this month and the next. Among these changes means me leaving the church I have been working with. We have decided that the intentions for Project Rx and the church itself are not really aligned. We have come to the conclusion that it is best if we work Project Rx through another ministry or another church, where the full potential of the project can be met.

The church is in the midst of organizing several hundred students in the area with the focus of bringing up future leaders in the church. The church feels that it cannot give full independence to the accomplishing of the goals as Project Rx intended them to be implemented because their goals lie in such different areas. In short, the implementation of Project Rx in this area cannot be carried out as orignially planned due to a misinterpretation of the goals of both the church and Project Rx.

After meeting with the head of African Leadership in SA, we concluded that I would pursue a job opportunity offered to me outside of Project Rx. The pastor of the church and I have yet to discuss how to continue/wrap up what has already been accomplished. I have the full intention of doing what is needed to see that the garden is utilized to its fullest potential.

I have been given the names of two other local churches established in the rural areas that would be willing to have Project Rx enter their church ministry. I am looking forward to making these relationships and am going forth with great optimism for what we can accomplish.

Amidst these unforeseen changes I am looking with such great hope for Project Rx and what is to come. Although the project is not going as orginially planned, there is still so much potential for the project and where it can continue to work here in Mozambique.

I will be updating everyone more regularly about what changes are taking place. If you have any direct questions, please feel free to email me about specifics.

aromero@projectrx.org, +258-847-139-075

PS sorry there are no pictures and the updates have been so sparse! Since I arrived here, the logic board on my macbook has been corrupted and is finally/still being repaired in Cape Town :(

O jardim progride! (The garden proceeds!)

Has it been two weeks since my last post!? Sorry guys. Really though, sorry. I hope this is a grand indication that I've been sooo busy. Busy with work, busy making friends, busy seeking out a life. I mean, I've got to get it all in, seeing is I'll be here for a while.

So here are a few of the goods:

1) The garden is growing like madness. We've had so many visitors to the farm seeing how and what it is we've done. I've got a list of people that can't wait to learn about our organic farming practices come January and I'm so excited to see what we can do!

2) The kids have been working so hard to prepare for the Christmas festivities. They have painted elephants, lions, tree scapes, created angel halos and have been dancing up a storm learning Noite Feliz (Silent Night), O Pequeno Tambor (The Little Drummer Boy), and Fa La La (Deck the Halls). We've made up dances to each of the songs and we get silly with it. They love to dance and sing, (and so do I!).

3) We've been planning for my return come January when we can start more of our outreach. :) We've been planning our strategy for teaching people in the community and how that will look. We're working on timeframe, types of classes, teaching materials and other factors that will allow us to be completely prepared for when we have our first health classes.

4) I'm off to Cape Town tomorrow for some summer fun in the sun! I'm spending my summer/winter holiday with African Leadership friends and some new ones from here in Mozambique! :) Sooo excited!

Pictures to come! Internet's bein a bum... :I

Political apathy contributes to six million child deaths each year

A failure of political will worldwide is contributing to the unnecessary deaths of more than six million children a year, according to a new report by World Vision.

Nearly nine million children die each year before their fifth birthday in the developing world; the overwhelming majority from preventable conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and neonatal complications.

At least two-thirds of these children could be saved, if governments make child health a priority and refocus health spending on prevention in the community and not just cures at the clinic, says World Vision.

Nearly nine million under-fives die each year in developing countries

"Child rights violation"

In a week that marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the aid agency condemns preventable child deaths as “the biggest child rights violation of our time”.

In order to save lives, World Vision calls for more intelligent health spending, and points to a complete mismatch between where the need lies and where funding is directed.

“Over a quarter of a billion children live in a healthcare desert, miles from the nearest clinic or hospital,“ says World Vision UK Chief Executive Justin Byworth.

“These unreachable children need simple life-savers in their homes and villages, such as mosquito nets, nutritional supplements and safe, clean drinking water, if we are going to prevent children dying from conditions such as diarrhoea and malaria.”

Child Health Now campaign

The report is published to mark the launch of Child Health Now, a global five-year campaign to hold governments to account on their pledge to cut under-five deaths by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. World Vision argues there is still time to achieve this target, but drastic action is required.

Further highlighting the inequity between health spending and the need, the report shows:

* More than 80% of child deaths occur in just 30 countries but these countries receive less than 50% of health-focussed aid.
* More than one-third of child deaths are a result of malnutrition but only 1.5% of aid for health is directed towards nutrition.

World Vision calls on the UK government to prioritise spending on preventive measures in the worst-affected countries and publish action plans, setting out how the £6 billion they have allocated to health over the next seven years will be spent to ensure it gets to the children who need it most.

“Success is possible,” Justin Byworth said.

“Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world but has halved child deaths since 1990 by investing in simple preventive measures within communities, by distributing mosquito nets and increasing the number of skilled birth attendants.

“In contrast, Kenya, the richest country in East Africa, has seen child mortality increase since 1990.

“Saving six million children each year is achievable, but not without the political will to make it happen.”

16 November 2009

It's Thanksgiving Week!! OMGoodness

Thanksgiving totally snuck up on me. But what a fabulous time to give a shout of great thanks for an awesome month!

This month we have completed our garden and have already begun to see our seedlings sprout! It’s quite a spectacular site, seeing the garden, literally, come to fruition. After tireless days in the unforeseen pressure of the sun or the heavy rain, we are now done!

Now, we are preparing to select 25 different families to participate in our organic farming experiment, where we prepare the land and manage it differently than how they have in the past. We are hoping to start a microfinance enterprise out of it, where we can mobilize seeds and fertilizer to their homes at a small price, that participants can pay back once there crop comes in and they sell the items grown.

Health classes have started! We have tried our first run-through, teaching the kids about physical education. Mostly, we wanted to see how many kids would participate and over 200 showed up! The kids are on their holidays and we cannot yet manage that many all at once as we get into the more in-depth chapters. It’s a good thing we started with games of “Red Rover”, (I switched up the rhyme a bit so the kids could understand the game in Portuguese), and we were able to learn one another’s names.

It was quite a difficult task to control so many students at once, so we hope to break them up by training teachers primarily for the lessons and then implementing them. Although Pastor Joao, would have liked us to hold classes first and demonstrate to the teachers by example, we are still working out how to do all of that and have quality in the classrooms and see that they're learning the material, too. After the first try we're learning how we want to see the future of the program proceed.

Christmas is in the air—and recycled art, too! The kids are turning trash to treasure at lightning speed. It’s so great to see them fight over the trash that litters most of the community. I’m hoping to create more of these “sustainable art projects” in the future so the kids can continue to make great toys and games with the things they can create! We have already created enough decorations for our upcoming Christmas play!

I have to say, it really doesn’t feel like November at all. This will be the first Thanksgiving I spend away from home. I’m truly feeling the heartstrings tear as the days come closer. I will be spending the holiday in South Africa with familiar friends. I’ll also be there to get my computer repaired and to see what goods I can collect for the kids that I can’t get here.

We made little halos for the kids to take home to wear and for our upcoming Christmas play.

From litter to treasure. We turned a common nuisance into a new toy!

I will be moving out of the house the Korean missionary family and I have lived in since I began here. I’m so grateful for their help in getting me on my feet and offering me their home. I’m now ready to take on the city on my own and couldn’t be happier.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’d like to ask for some prayers of thanksgiving:

- For a truly incredible start to Project Rx. I am floored with how much we have accomplished.

- For the Jeong Family and their incredible generosity for letting me live with them for this time.

- For the amazing provisions that we have added to the program, including but not limited to new chalkboards, all of the garden tools and supplies, oral rehydration kits, games for kids and all of my office-like materials (printer, paper, tape, etc).

- For all of the challenges, struggles, triumphs and breakthroughs.

Thank you so much for following this and for all your continued support. It would not be anything without you. [Round of applause!!]

Interesting info about African internet

The African continent is rapidly changing. In the next two years 2 billion dollars will bring 12 terabits of connectivity to the continent. Will africa become the world’s newest outsourcing hub? Will it foster it’s own tech and startup culture? The image above explores the ‘infostate’ of Africa in 2009.

My Days in Pictures

i love these kids.

Check out her mango helicopter!! by far the most clever toy I've seen thusfar. :)

The kids get to play pool. Their own personal billard--when it's not raining.

More updates on the garden to come!!

The Game Plan*

Now that we have the few months ahead of us with no interruptions, we are full-force in planning out the rest of my time here.

Our garden is at the top of our list of things to do. Below is the plan that we have come up with about how the garden will grow and look on the property, overall. :)

Above is the map of the property.

This is the farm portion. If flipped clockwise, this is what we're filling into the bright green area on the map.

The garden is the first task we're really trying to tackle based on the time-sensitivity of the Spring season. We’re trying to capitalize on the warm weather that we get here year-round. Hopefully we can have 4-seasons of crop production. We should have at least three rounds of good vegetables produced.

Our second most important task is our upcoming holiday programs. There is currently no real coordinator of the children’s programs, (even though there are 300+ children who attend every Sunday for songs, a story and biscuits). Project Rx gets to be inventive about all of the wonderful things we can do for the holidays.

I have since been in charge of Holiday festivities, which I don’t mind one bit. I’ve arranged a game of “Feliz Natal Bingo” for over 500 kids, some great holiday print outs for them to color. More importantly, we can give kids at home kits for their ailments, such rehydration mixes for common diarrhea, band-aids for cuts, and soap for everyday washing. Though these may seem very small, most children do not come into contact with any of these items regularly.

Each of the items will be paired visual aides and a small lesson on how to use each item. One thing that has become very clear, is that the level in which we have to describe most things has to boil down, often to nothing more than a picture or a short statement. Anything more than that and we may run into situations of illiteracy, the difficulty of understanding complex language, or confusion about what the main purpose of the item is. The level in which we have to speak to the community speaks to our capacity to be able to reach people at all levels.

This brings me to my third task at hand, which is designing the health curriculum for children ages 3-7. I have been designing a health curriculum to allow teachers to simply aide young children how to live healthier lives, tailored to the community’s environment, resources and lifestyle.

I am clearly no expert in Shangaan culture, however the lesson plans are there to allow teachers to learn their students and teach a lifestyle of healthier living, starting with children of a young age. This will be later adapted for older students and finally adults. I’ve completed two of seven units in our health curriculum. I can complete the lessons on a rolling basis as we evaluate how well the first few lessons will go.

The teachers, (who have also vowed to be servants of the church), are eager to learn new things and have a better idea of what they can teach to students. Because there is little direction at this point, they are very excited to have more direction and a more focused task. They have been extremely helpful and supportive of the work that I’ve been preparing. They keep asking for more and want to know how they can help.

Although they have full schedules each day, starting with their early morning prayers at 5am, they are very excited to participate in something new!

So, it’s yet another exciting time for all of the potential we have in the coming months.

The obstacles we face are mostly in the form of communication. This is a true test of whether or not we can apply all of our knowledge from all sides of the world. To me, it’s not worth a Stanford education if we cannot communicate with our friends in Machava, Mozambique. It will be a great time to reflect on what we can accomplish and what we will fail at, indefinitely.

To recap (+ add a bit):

- Seeds are purchased and we’re on the brink of planting our garden! The land has transformed so drastically in the past months due to all of the hard work of Papá Sebastião, myself, and Eric, (my Korean bro).

- We’re looking forward to the holiday’s to start the children up with an intro to health practices and lots of fun times for the holidays.

- I’m going to Cape Town for Christmas! I’ll be working with African Leadership partners to present what has been done here and see how we can start looking at implementing the health curriculum into the South African preschool program.

- Teacher training is our next task followed by preparing all materials for our first few health lessons. This should be ready by December with all of our Christmas festivities!

*sorry for the weird formatting. I cut and pasted from my word doc. :-/

Quite an in-depth look at malaria.

If you have the time to check it out, please do.

Korea Meets Mozambique = Incredibly entertaining cultural experience = SUCCESS!

When our Korean visitors first got off of the bus, I could tell the pairing of the two cultures was going to be interesting. At first, the visitors seemed a bit uneasy. I assume anyone would be if this was the first time in rural Africa. They were greeted by dancing and singing. The community was pouring their heart out as they danced to entertain their guests. After an hour of singing, dancing and drumming, even the visitors were dancing their hearts out.

This weekend was a huge success. We fed over 1,500 children, gave them each a gift (notebook, pencil, eraser, sharpener and balloon), handed out over 500 loaves of bread, watched dancing and singing for over 14 hours and had a great time in the process.


Koreans in Mozambique; no comedian, writer or animator could have come up with a more random scene. The fun of the process made me laugh at times, looking at my own culture, wishing I had someone else to empathize with on the random happenstances of it all. God's some funny dude at times. hhaha. I'm grateful to have had such a random experience, just to make sure that if I'm ever trapped in a broken elevator with a Korean and Mozambican, I can assure them we'll all be fine. hahhaha.

Project Rx Garden Begins!

We are so floored to have started to break ground on our community garden! We have two permanent farmers, hired to oversee the mini-farm we are cultivating. They have been busy working in between construction of a new church building and preparing the land by hand--literally.

The farmers hack at the ground using hand-hoe/hand-axe like tool. It makes for back breaking work. They are very accustomed to these short-handle tools. We went to purchase new tools from the ones below, which were necessary to replace the overly used tools that made for a lot of effort with little result. Unfortunately, our lead farmer disliked the long-handle hoe, because he said he "didn't get enough power out of it". He was used to his bent-over posture, hacking at the ground. I was in no way going to change his opinion on the matter.

We, I should say "Americans", are so accustomed to our long-handle tools, it seems crazy that we would bend over and bend our backs to swing a pick. I have even begun to read articles of the adversity Western organizations have faced for trying to introduce our Western tools.



Staying on the vein of introducing new things, I got the group together to explain our plans for on-site composting. We have gotten our large family and the community members that live on the church property to begin collecting all of their compostable waste and taking it to our compost pile. We will be using locally purchased chicken manure (strume, in Portuguese, one of the words that has taken me a century to remember) and the excess grasses and leaves to start it out. It's so great to use small ideas to produce delicious and nutritious veggies.

So far, we plan on growing cabbage, corn, beans, cucumber, onion and pumpkin. The community members decided collectively what they would like to have. We are still brainstorming what will be done with this food once it's full grown.

We're thinking we can start a small microcredit program, allowing community members to sell the veggies in the market. We're also thinking that we could use some of the food for expecting mothers lacking proper nutrition, for the orphans adopted by the church or for the children's new health education program.

So many ideas!! I'll let you know what turns out!

THIS IS ALL HAPPENING BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT!

How my 30min oil change turned into a 5-hour lesson in African negotiation

I've just arrived back home after what was considered a fantastical method of learning the African language of negotiation.

This morning Eric, (the other American missionary), and I woke up knowing we would have to get the oil changed on my new/used Nissan. The first place said it would take two hours to see the car, so our escort thought it might be a good idea to go to another
place that he knew well; a place Pastor João had used on previous occasions.

When we arrived, the mechanic, a boy name Manuelito, no older than 17, got

to it. He began pulling out my air filters and dumped out my oil--right on the dirt below us.

Manuelito said, "Trinta minutos", meaning we would only need 30mins until the oil change was done. Eric and I went to window shop at the grocery store across the street. When we returned, the oil was completely gone out of my car and the removed parts, already sliding around in a greasy bag.

Manuelito let me know we would have to walk to the store to buy the new parts we needed so he could complete the oil change.

We walk through the dirt, grime and trash. The outdoor mechanic shop is no place for flip-flops. My first recognizable mistake.

We arrive to the "store" which is a small shack filled with car parts of all shapes and sizes. They begin measuring my oil filters and run from shop to shop to locate what it is I need.

An hour passes.

Finally, when all of the parts arrive, we add up the tab and he tells me it's going to be 3950 Meticais, (the Mozambican currency). I began reaching for my wallet, counting out the money, when the conversion hits me like a 10K bag of rice.

They want to charge me $133 for the supplies for an oil change.

This can't be right. I continually do the math in my head and tell them that this price is ridiculous. Never in my life have I paid over $40 for an oil change, (and $40 was a rip-off, really). They proceed to drop the price until I finally get my wits about me and call Eric, to call Pastor João and ask him how much a friggin' oil change costs here.

We wait and wait. Pastor João's recommendation is to 'take all of the parts back, don't buy anything, what the are we doing at that place(!?), get in the car and drive away!'

We now have no oil.

So, this other shop owner tells me, "don't worry, I can give you what you want to pay. Only 1500 MTN, ($50), for everything."

DEAL! Please just get me out of this so we can get out of here and ensure that we get all of the right things we need.

Manuelito had already put the old filters back on. He then proceeded to remove them, yet again, so we could measure each of the filters, yet again.

It takes another hour+ to locate all of the parts at the new car parts shop. I realize he purchased the air filter from the store that just tried to dupe me.

His new price, 1800 MTN, ($60).

WHAT!?!?!?!

Pastor João is already on his way to rescue us.

DANGIT, I didn't want to worry him.

He arrives. Still no oil change. No new parts. No new oil.


We go into the "real store" (a corporate gas station), to buy oil that we "can trust".

Seven quarts of oil, one filter and $80 later, we have oil and one of the filters we need.

Eric and I sipped on our Coca-Cola after the longest 5-hour negotiating period and concluded, with a, "what could we have done? We didn't know any better". An entire day lost and my oil still hasn't gotten much cleaner.

Oh, but did I learn. Of course I did.

Each of the photos are of the area that we decided to get our oil changed; the shops, the area, and the people we talked to.

This includes Uche, a native-Nigerian who studied PoliSci for 2-years and now works selling car parts so he can make enough money to go back to school. He wants to use his intellectual capacity to contribute to society. He's extremely articulate and has an acute knowledge for African politics. I hope he continues to follow his dreams. He wants to one day travel to America to follow so he can have the means to give back to society, while his goal is to help Africa politically.

The red car is actually the mechanic's tool shop. As an added bonus, it offers free loud music (BYOCoca-Cola).

What looks to be my day-to-day

I have undergone a drastic lifestyle change since my move over to Mozambique. After moving in with my adorable nuclear Korean family (husband, wife, two children), plus Eric, Korean born, California raised kid, I now have a daily schedule.

I don't think I've had a "daily schedule" for like at least five years.

Morning:

• 6:30a - Wake up
• 6:40a - Family prayer
• 6:45a - Eat breakfast
• 7:05a - Prayer for children who go to school
• 7:10a - Daily preparation, devotion
  
• 8:00a - Complete work, tasks
• 1:00p - Eat lunch together
• 1:45 - Complete more work
• (3:00 - Children arrive home from school)
• 5/6:00 - Try to get in a workout
  
• 7:00 - Eat dinner while watching the Korean soap opera, Jolly Widows
• 7:45 - Chill
• 8:30/9p - Family reflection time, prayer
• 10:00 - Down time, work, whatev
• 1am - get to sleep
  

Jolly Widows ad. I'm actually so addicted already. I already feel how sick it is to say that...

Yeah, so I know, practically without any opposition to my thought process, that this lifestyle cannot be kept up. As you can easily calculate, the time I go to bed and the time I get up cannot be sustained.

I've ended up sleeping sometimes after I have breakfast, which is the worst waste of my daily instant coffee.

However, in the process of managing this schedule, I've been able to get my visa situation sorted out, buy a new-used car, visit several farms in the area, attend several local church events, learn essential words in Shangan, (the local language; i.e. kanimambo = thank you), read through Hornby's novel How to be Good, and create a Korean soap opera addiction.

All this in just over a week!

This is a glorified version of my car in somewhere like Sedona, AZ. My car has a lot more dust and fog lights, to start.

Needless to say, time is going by fast; ridiculously fast.

I'm learning and growing so much.

Sigh.

My next post will be all about our plan of execution. For now, I go to sleep knowing I have an extra two hours to sleep! Finally, 6.5 hours!

Note to self: Fix schedule.

Picturing my first few days in Maputo

View from my bedroom window.

Saying goodbye to Pastor Ohm

Children playing at Sunday School

Aranha (spider) found on our property.

See me hiding back there? hahaha.

I'VE ARRIVED.

Playing with the Everite kids in the Brackenfell projects.

Nosipho and I pose on a Khayelitsha roadside.

Oh boy, I've arrived, alright.

Where do I begin? Well, to start: I'm home. Here, I'm home.

I finally feel whole again. All I've really wanted to do is get to work, and get to work I will. I have met incredible people throughout the week who have expressed great faith in the project and what we will do, step by step.

What I've done this past week:

- Moved a year's worth of my possessions (and Project Rx supplies) to Cape Town, then to Maputo

- Met with members of African Leadership board of directors to fully describe our intentions in Mozambique and received their blessing.

- Reconnected with the Khayelitsha African Leadership leadership staff of the Educare Children's Churches and Preschools.

- Secured a yearlong budget for Project Rx and my own living expenses.

- Moved into my (possibly temporary) Indian Ocean view apartment, equipped with a beautiful Korean missionary family, added missionary and me. And, it happens to be the tallest building in Maputo. :)

We received the letter below from the Director of the Ministry of Health of Mozambique. It essentially endorses what we're going to be attempting, therefore providing us a GREAT safety net for our work. AMAZING!

I have to kindly thank the Santa Fe Council on International Relations, especially Jeff Case and Carol Robertson-Lopez for all of their help making this connection.

Yebo!!


Possibly my favorite domestic encounters thus far: The South African version of the Snuggie--IT'S THE SNUGGET!


Our climb involved climbing heavy chains with no safety nets on Lion's Head. :)

Climbing up a foggy Lion's Head

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

I never thought the time would come to write my last blog post before I leave the country. This summer has been an incredible whirlwind adventure. The countless people I've talked to, the places I've been, the incredible individuals I've grown to love; it's a beautiful life. Thank you, God. Thank you, everyone.

We have raised just under $8,000 this summer for Project Rx and have been graced with a donor that is willing to match all donations and follow the project throughout the year, helping where help is needed. In the past week, we have raised $3,500 alone.

Wow...

The Highway Community was a tremendous source of support, in prayer and finances. I love you guys! I can't wait to see what comes of all of these new relationships!

(I'll post pictures of the adventures we had last weekend in California soon. I'm on rural New Mexico internet, which is slower than molasses in January... Stay tuned for the pics.)

I can't even begin to describe to you what a blessed experience fundraising...sorry, FRIEND-RAISING is. After being such a daunting task to begin with, I cannot tell you how lucky I am to have talked to all of the people I did, and asked for their blessing on the project.

Who knew the task at hand meant leaving no stone unturned to provide for better health on the other side of the world.

All of the help was right in my backyard, and everyone that I have talked to Project Rx will be in my thoughts, in my prayers, right there with me in Mozambique. I'm taking all of the gorgeous memories with me. :)

Well, it's autumn and I'm leaving for springtime in Mozambique. Yessss! If you're interested in beating the upcoming winter, I'll be basking in the sunshine and beach breeze. Even Bob Dylan knew what he was missing in Mozambique. ;)

I'll miss you all dearly and can't wait for you to come and visit!

I like to spend some time in Mozambique
The sunny sky is aqua blue
And all the couples dancing cheek to cheek.
It's very nice to stay a week or two.

There's lots of pretty girls in Mozambique
And plenty time for good romance
And everybody likes to stop and speak
To give the special one you seek a chance
Or maybe say hello with just a glance.

Lying next to her by the ocean
Reaching out and touching her hand,
Whispering your secret emotion
Magic in a magical land.

And when it's time for leaving Mozambique,
To say goodbye to sand and sea,
You turn around to take a final peek
And you see why it's so unique to be
Among the lovely people living free
Upon the beach of sunny Mozambique

Mozambique 101 & 102

Seven days to go!!

With one week before takeoff to Mozambique, Project Rx is seeking a final push of donations reaching $9,000.

If you feel compelled to donate we are now rolling out "MZ 101" or "Mozambique 101" where we are asking $101 to combat some of the most prevalent causes of death throughout the nation.

If you are considering making a donation or pledging a certain amount, you can make checks payable to and send funds directly to Project Rx at PO Box 5544 Santa Fe, NM 87502. (If you need tax deductible information please contact me directly at 505.470.6684). Or, you can donate online through Facebook at our Project Rx cause page.

MZ 101 - Mozambique 101

Project Rx seeks to combat the top 5 leading causes of death with the $101 Mozambican Medical Kit. With this medical kit, Project Rx has the potential to outreach to countless families and individuals to combat the deadliest, although preventable, causes of death.

Nearly 3 of 5 Mozambicans die from five preventable causes: HIV/AIDS, malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections including bronchitis and pneumonia, and perinatal conditions. As a result, the average Mozambican lives to just 41 years old (the average American will live for 78 years).

#1 - HIV/AIDS

Only 33% of males and 24% of females ages 15-24 have comprehensive correct understanding of prevention and transmission of HIV/AIDS. Project Rx will help give them the tools and knowledge to protect themselves from the deadliest agent within Mozambique.

#2 - Malaria

Malaria is the leading cause of death among children in Mozambique, (where one in four children does not live to see his or her fifth birthday). Malaria kills more than 3,000 people each day in sub-Saharan Africa. In Mozambique, 1 in 5 deaths can be prevented with bed nets.

#3 - Diarrhea

Diarrheal disease can come about in a number of different ways, including but not limited to contaminated water, malnutrition, lack of vaccination, and improper perinatal care. It is the within the top 3 causes of death for children under five and is completely preventable with proper education and intervention with those with diarrhea.

#4 - Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases include bronchitis or pneumonia. Because there are few antibiotics that exist in rural Mozambican areas, home remedies remain the best option.

#5 - To Combat Poor Perinatal Conditions

Perinatal conditions are considered the five months before birth and one month after birth. This is the most important health developmental period for a young child and can be the defining factor of death before five years of age. Proper care of children in the perinatal condition includes proper education in breastfeeding and early childhood development.

$101 Mozambican Medical Kit Includes:

#1 - HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS education	Free[i]
#2 - Malaria
Bed net	$10
#3 - Diarrhea
Oral Rehydration Therapy[ii]	$1
Breastfeeding education	Free
Vaccination education	Free
Children’s multivitamins	$2
Micronutrient and food supplements	See community garden info
All-purpose water filters[iii]	$20
#4 - Respiratory diseases
Saltwater gargle[iv]	$1
Ibuprofen[v]	$20
#5 - Poor perinatal conditions
Prenatal health education	Free
Prenatal vitamins[vi]	$16
General health
Solar-powered thermometer[vii]	$11
First aid kit[viii]	$20
First aid education	Free
	Total: $101

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[i] Andrea’s Living Expenses = $520/mo. Rent = $280/mo + Food = $150/mo (food is, sadly, very expensive in Mz)+ Misc Needs (toiletries, emergency spending, health needs, etc.) = $70/mo

[ii] ORT is a liquid solution, (compared to something like Pedialyte), that is used to combat dehydration that causes diarrheal disease, the second largest killer of children under five years of age and the number three killer of Mozambicans, overall.

[iii] Water filters can benefit 58% of Mozambicans who still do not have access to a clean water source. A $20 filter will provide 425 gallons of clean drinking water, enough for a family for three months.

[iv] $1 will provide 100 gallons of saltwater gargle

[v] $20 will provide 1000 (200 mg) ibuprofen tablets

[vi] $16 will provide 250 capsules, including vitamins A, B12, C, D, and E, folic acid, calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxinem niacinimide, zinc, and iron.

[vii] One simple thermometer per family can alert parents of potential health threats. For example, each of the top five causes of death is associated with fever, which can be easily detected with a thermometer. This simple tool can prevent confusion or uncertainty of preliminary warnings of a potentially dire health situation.

[viii] The first aid kit includes absorbent compresses, adhesive bandages, adhesive cloth tape, triple antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, space blanket, a breathing barrier, and an instant cold compress.

GS 102 – Gardening Supplies 102

What $102 will get you in the Machava Village Community Garden.

With all health supplies that we seek to provide, a health and sustainable food source needs to follow suit. Listed at the bottom of the top 10 causes of death is malnutrition, which is often associated with all causes of death because of the difficulty of recovery from certain illnesses without proper nutrition.

The community garden is one sustainable way we can gather community participants to create their own future of sustainable food, where the local people are supported by the work they put in.

Hoe = $10

Compost Station = $10

Soil = $15/100 lb. bag

Shovel = $25

Seeds = $42/ variety of local seeds for a sustainable crop

Labor = Free; with community participation

All health data was derived from World Health Organization reports from 2002-2009. All expenses reported for each individual good was derived from the cheapest price cataloged through extensive searches throughout the web.