Rose NZ, Poonga and Christmas

Dear Fellow Rose Trustees

I want to tell you all about my visit last night to the big end-of-year event for the Poonga- Tamil Community Education Group which we have donated to over the last five years.

It really was a most sparkling and heart-warming event, with lots of children involved from pre-schoolers to tertiary students, all there in glittering costumes or beautifully presented saris, with parents and volunteer teachers. Obviously a huge amount of work goes into the children's performances, training that has gone on every Sunday when Poonga meets throughout the year.

 The stated philosophy is "to integrate with the mainstream" while also trying to keep the Tamil language and culture alive. For the first time the early childhood group, dressed in paper cutout "puipuis" , did a Maori action dance, as well as their own cultural dances.  It was a joy to see --- and the kids obviously loved some of the eye-rolling, tongue- poking moments. Anne , who has just finished her Early Childhood Diploma to add to her other professional qualifications in social work trained the kids for the Maori dance, as on the NZ curriculum, Te Whariki.

There is no doubt Poonga does a marvelous job of supporting the Tamil families it is involved with on five levels--- pre school (where 63 children are enrolled); Tamil language teaching; Bridging School, which links the children to the NZ curriculum ; examinations conducted in Tamil through Australia and internationally from Year 1 to 10;  and a parent group which offers first aid and health programs.

Best December wishes again---more coming!

Rose Australia 'trivia-night' fundraiser, big success...

Edwina Bower

Some  80 people came to enjoy Rose Charities Australia's 'trivia-night'  planned and organized by Edwina Bower, and Penny Kendall and assisted by family members Will and Philip, on Friday 7th October 2011.  Held at the Willoughby East Bowling Club in North Sydney, participants enjoyed a lavish barbecue, and home made cakes and treats prepared by Edwina and her family.   Edwina visisted Cambodia last year and with brother, Will helped Joanna Thomson's Rose Rehab project at Chea Chumneas hospital assisting with much valued administration.

Penny rolling comp in background

Apart from the meal, drinks and trivia quiz (around 50 questions), other competitive events were included, such as paper aeroplane distance flying, and penny rolling.   The evening was hugely enjoyable and raised several thousand dollars for Rose Rehab Cambodia

Penny Kendall

Paper aeroplane competition

Instruments needed for Zambian kids

27th September 2011.  Malambo Grassroots is collecting musical instruments for their kids music project in Zambia.  They will be shipped within the next month by container to Zambia

Malambo runs education, school(s), health, community income generation and other community projects in the Monze area.  Two thirds of Zambians live on under $1 per day.

If you have any musical instruments you could donate, please email:  contact@rosecharities.ca

New member for Rose Cambodia Rehabilitation Centre...

Introducing Leang Khy! Our new trainee physiotherapist, now working part-time with us and soaking up the skills and experience of Sokny. This is a new program we are implementing in an effort to further bridge the gap between NGO and Government health service provision and education. Leang Khy is a Cambodian trained physiotherapist (Diploma of Physiotherapy from the Technical School for Medical Care) employed by Chey Chumneas Referral Hospital, but like so many physiotherapists in this country, she was not actually working as one. Instead, she works in the pharmaceutical department distributing medicines. There has previously been no government physiotherapy service functioning in this hospital.

With the Hospital Director's support and permission, we are now supplementing Leang Khy's (small) monthly government salary, and providing her with training to work as a physiotherapist within the hospital. She is motivated, enthusiastic, and showing great promise. Her limited, but very much improving, English is adding to the speedy progression of the Khmer language skills of foreign staff!

Leang Khy has been a wonderful, vibrant addition to the work place since commencing with us in August.

Here she and Sokny are pictured working with a stoke patient, utilising our new blood pressure monitor, purchased with funds from CIDA.



Sokny is doing an amazing job taking Leang Khy under his wing, patiently teaching, listening, demonstrating and working collaboratively with her to improve rehabilitation services for patients at Chey Chumneas Referral Hospital.

At this stage, Leang Khy is part time and not working in the community with us, she is based in solely in the hospital. As the internship program evolves and our capacity develops, this may change.

Non infectious disease now the biggest problem ....

In the past, infectious diseases have been widespread in developing countries and chronic diseases were found primarily in high income countries. However, the global pattern of disease burden is shifting. While infectious disease still remains a major problem in many countries, chronic diseases, including such noncommunicable conditions as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory disease, are now the major cause of death and disability, not only in developed countries, but also worldwide.

The greatest total numbers of chronic disease deaths and illnesses now occur in developing countries.


Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, are now the major cause of death and disability worldwide. By 2020, NCDs are expected to account for 7 of every 10 deaths in the world, as they already do in some 'developed' countries. These projections suggest that NCDs and the death, illness, and disability they cause will soon dominate health care costs and are causing public health officials, governments and multinational institutions to rethink how we approach this growing global challenge.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases are responsible for 63% of deaths worldwide, double the number of deaths from infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria), maternal and perinatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies combined. The principal known causes of premature death from NCDs are tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol consumption.

Although NCDs make up a greater proportion of deaths and illnesses in developed countries, overall the greatest numbers of non-communicable disease deaths and illnesses occur in the developing world. Eighty percent of NCD-related deaths worldwide occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Apart from the tremendous adverse effects on the quality of life of individuals involved, these conditions place enormous strains on family and community budgets. The overall economy suffers from both the labor units lost due to death and illness as well as the high direct medical costs. This phenomenon, during which health infrastructures already weakened by continuing battles with infectious disease are increasingly being taxed by rapidly growing NCDs, is often referred to as the double disease burden.

Keep Zambian kids in school ! .. Jocelyn writes

LET'S KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL...   from Jocelyn (Malambograssroots)

In Praise of Education - we are drumming up funds to add to our scholarship program and I found this comment in the Zambian Economist which directly illustrates the positive impact of keeping kids in school.

"South Korea calculated that the economy grew by 6% for every year added
... to education. This means that if we (Zambia) educate every child through grade 12
instead of grade 7 we should add 30% to GDP. Some drastic improvement
in the quality of education would help as well, also in its diversity
(not every child is academically able some have more practical talents)

There would be an immediate increase in employment of teachers and builders and a later increase in colleges required.

Educated
people are more likely to challenge or question the nonsense that we
hear every day but not necessarily in a meaningful or productive way.
(Note how many people will complain about the ZESCO increase after the
next bill as opposed to the 46 who bothered to complain before the
increase when it could still have an effect!)

Another thing that
could be done in Zambia to boost the economy is to pay the retirees. We
have a very low retirement age (55) and if people get their benefits the
invest in business or agriculture or something productive. They are
often successful as they have years of experience behind them. The whole
economy would grow as a result. If all retirees had to be paid before
any MP I think it would get done."

BC Children's goodwill cards delivered to Shizukawa School, N.E. Japan:

Shizukawa Elemetary School Principle Mr Kai-ichi Kato and James Buttenheim - AMDA giving cards written by children of a school in B.C, Canada

 I hope this message finds you in good spirits and with weather much less humid than here in Japan. My name is James Buttenheim, and I am an American college student working as an intern for AMDA this summer. I had the honor and privilege to personally deliver the letters from Roy Stibbs elementary school to the principal of Shizukawa elementary school.

I want to thank you for this kind, simple gesture to the Minamisanriku community. Since the school has just recently begun operating normally again and is now trying to make up for lost time, the principal, staff, and students find themselves extremely busy each day. Therefore, we were not able to see the cards distributed to the students. However, the principal was pleased to accept them, and I know these letters will brighten the students’ day when they receive them.

Additionally, the sentiment will show the families of this community that the larger world community cares about and is with Japan during this trying time.

As you may or may not know, one of our upcoming events in August will be a week of soccer matches. Middle school soccer clubs from various towns in Tohoku will get the chance to meet their peers in Okayama and build new friendships. During this past week, among other things, we met with some of the middle school soccer clubs that will be joining us in Okayama.

After meeting Principal Kato, we traveled to Shizukawa middle school, and on Thursday we met the Otsuchi team. However, most of the week was dedicated to visiting various shelters and field hospitals and distributing medicine and new supplies.

On Tuesday, while we were in Minamisanriku, Ms. Tae Namba, Ms. Tomoko Ohmasa and I met with doctors at the Shizukawa hospital. On Wednesday, our team traveled to Daitokuin Temple and Otsuchi High School which are now doubling as shelters. At Otsuchi High School, we also met with a newly formed branch, AMDA’s Otsuchi club. High school students from this club will visit Okayama this month to meet AMDA’s Okayama club.

On Thursday morning, Ms. Ohmasa and I visited a nursing home in Otsuchi and several other shelters to deliver the remaining supplies.

Rose Charities Penang, Malaysia, upcoming events, programs and plans..

George Town, Penang, from Penang Hill

Grand Charity Concert:   On 12 sept.2011 , Rose will organise a grand charity concert under the theme " Mid Autumn Festival " celebrations at the State Auditorium. An organising committee chaired by Mr Lawrence Cheah (Hon Chair of Rose Charities Malaysia)  has been set up to plan and organise the big musical event. The Governor of Penang and his consort, the Chief minister of Penang and state VIPS will be among a capacity crowd of 1,200 invited guests at the 2 hour variety musical performance. The concert will feature cultural dances from various groups in penang, musical singing groups,ballet dances,a 120 strong chinese orchestra, etc...Proceeds from the concert will be donated to various needy organisations and the proposed setting up of an eye clinic under ROSE. The festival is organised by ROSE with the endorsement from the Penang state government , the penang arts council , and various cultural bodies in penang .

Rose Charities International Meeting: March 2012:   For the  2012 ROSE Conference here , an organising committee is being set up to plan and organise the 4-day international confeerence .from 15 to 18 March 2012 at the Paradise Sandy Resort Hotel . Proposed 4 day programme still on planning stage and will be submitted to the board for consideration and approval. .

Upcoming activities:  Among the up coming activities and projects will be..

•  3 day Bukit Mertajam Health EXPO from 22 to 24 July '; 
• one-day trip to Pulau Aman for ROSE members on 9th july' 
• 3 day trip to Orang Asli settlement in Cameron Highlands from 9 to 11 oct.2011...Participating groups from the lions clubs,health ministry ,family planning association, Senior citizens grouops and ROSE will  assist in organizing

Rose Charities Vietnam: Update: July 2011

A new home for a family with special needs

Rose Charities Vietnam: Update: July 2011  (from Ms Thuc - Rose Vietnam)

Rose Charities Vietnam: Update: July 2011 (from Ms Thuc - Rose Vietnam) 

Rose Vietnam is in the hands of a small team of extraordinarily dedicated volunteers, Mr. Nguyen Chi Phuoc and Ms. Hanh Thuc Thanh (Thuc). 

Currently Rose Vietnam is focusing efforts in Hue, where there is a great deal of poverty compounded by frequent typhoons and flooding. Projects in Hue include a school for blind adults, building ten houses for very poor blind people (4 completed to date, each house costs approximately $2000), education support and income-generating projects. 

Here is a summary of a case study recently completed in Vietnam 

“ Vietnam which has more than 3000 km of coastal line is received with many tropical storms from East Sea every year. Storms of destructive nature causing considerable damage, generally, strike the central part of Vietnam; namely three provinces, HaTinh, ThuaThienHue and QuangNam. Particularly, in Hue, since 1999, hundreds of people have lost their lives and the property damage comes amounts to thousands of billions Vietnam dong. 

Last month Thuc made a trip to Hue, with Mr. Phuc, and sent back the following report. We rely heavily on these reports from the field: this one is submitted (almost) verbatim to demonstrate the cultural challenges, difficult choices that have to be made when allocating scarce funds and the dedication of Mr. Phuc and Ms. Thuc. 

Day 1: Visited two finished houses. To date four houses have been built. 

Visited two families who may qualify for sponsorship from Rose Vietnam for a house for shelter. It was decided to accept one case and reject another one. Reason for rejection: The candidate is an old blind women who has 2 daughters. The younger daughter is mentally challenged and lives with the mother, the second daughter is married and lives in a house with her husband and in-laws. Her husband does not want the mother and younger daughter to live with them due to the daughter’s mental illness. The woman’s younger brother lives in the same neighbourhood in his own house. He doesn’t want his sister and his niece living with him because his house is a remembrance building for ancestors and women are not allow to sleep there. This nonsense tradition and the unequal treatment toward the old blind woman and her daughter with mental problem are the sources of the tragedy. We want to create pressure on the family and local society. Good traditions should be kept to inspire morality and ethics. Nonsense traditions should be eliminated. Thus, the family should make the arrangements for these two poor women and the local society should redefine the standard in evaluating children's duties and compliance toward previous generations. 

We visited one on-going building site: this house is being built with 20 million VND, which was donated by the Canadian Community in Ho Chi Minh City.   The house will provide a decent shelter for a very poor elderly lady and her daughter, who has a mental problem. The daughter collects plastic from trash everyday for a living. Their house is on the bank of a river. Since it is not permitted to have house in this area which is considered as high risk during the flooding period the local authority granted land for her. But she needs some money to build a house. A representative of a local government organization will give her an additional 10 million VND (Vietnam dong; about Cdn $468).

I have learnt that all the houses built by Rose Vietnam have received contributions not only from CanCham and PEB Steel but also from local authorities and neighbours. This is such a wonderful thing. Phong Dien Blind Associate have referred cases to us and we will select the most needy. Mr. Phuoc has done a great job in the effort of coordinating with Phong Dien Blind Associate. He has great understanding of the local mindset. My concern is that we normally give the money after the house is built; we do cash giving. I guess this is the best that we can do. 

Day 2: Thanh Tien village 

This is Mr. Phuoc’s hometown. Mr. Phuoc knows most everyone and has a deep connection with this place. This village is among the poorest villages in Hue. Thus, the villagers have a hard time maintaining a common place for ceremonies and public usage. Mr. Hoa (chief of the village) has sought help from Rose. So far, Rose Vietnam has supported repairs for the main house in the complex with a budget of 10 mil. VND. There are two rooms in the house. One is used to teach the villagers making paper flowers and another room is used as classroom. 

The key persons of the village would like Rose to consider 3 project proposals: 

1) Investing in a sewing programme to create jobs for young women in Thanh Tien. Many young people are leaving the village to move to the booming metropolis. Mr. Phuc feels the urge to build a strong economy in the village. He buys trash from clothing manufactures, which is separated into two groups, paper and small pieces of cloth. The paper is then sold to a recycling depot and the pieces of cloth are used to make rugs/bath mats. 

2) Supporting an encouraging education fund for the village. 

3) Supporting the effort to maintain a traditional art and income opportunity which is paper flower creation. Please visit this website to understand it: 

Mr. Hoa (the artist) is also the chief of Thanh Tien village. Although this art does get public interest it hasn't received sufficient financial support to survive. Each lotus flower is sold for 8,000 VND (37 cents). A tourist who wants to learn to make one is charged only 30,000 VND ($1.40). 

Recommendations: 

~While the recycling idea is a good one the sewing industry in Vietnam is very competitive. I told Mr. Hoa that I appreciate the thought of job creation for female villagers but I wish he would change his mind and focus in Thanh Tien’s competitive advantage. Working together in the paper flower business is an idea. Thanh Tien can become a tourist destination and promote traditional art. 

~Supporting an encouraging education fund: I think a sufficient fund for an excellent and strong minded student who comes from disadvantage family and tries hard to be the best at school is crucial. I recommend that four candidates submit papers including school record for a year and a certificate to prove that he/she belongs to a disadvantage family (Vietnamese government gives a certificate for disadvantage household so that they can collect social welfare; this amount is very little). A decision would be made based on these submissions. 

~Paper flower creation: I recommend Rose Vietnam grants Mr. Hoa 1.5 mil VND for the copyright registration fees. There is a need to furnish the making paper flower teaching room. Mr. Phuoc can advise us the cost. Something basic and organic feeling is a way to go; tourists come from the city and they love the simplicity of the countryside. I would like to see it turned to a real classroom and an exhibition place so that tourist can visit there. I asked Mr. Hoa about growing more plants and removing weeds to make it more attractive.

Brighter Smiles Africa team for 2011

The 2011 Brighter Smiles team arrives in Kampala in mid June for 4 weeks collaboration with students and faculty from Makerere University. Drea, Lawrance, Mo and Najia are Canadian medical and dental students from Vancouver and Prince George who will go the the community schools that are part of the Brighter Smiles program in Uganda, to deliver this year’s health promotion updates and conduct the annual examination and follow up of all the participating children.

AMDA Japan Tohoku Tsunami March 2011. Activity Report. 7 May 2011

(2011-05-06)

Overview:

Mar. 11: In response to the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck the northeast of Japan, AMDA decided to dispatch its first emergency relief team.

Mar. 12: AMDA team left for severely hit Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture and started to deliver medical assistance.

Mar. 15: While part of the team remained in Miyagi, the rest relocated to Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchicho in Iwate Pref. and initiated relief work.

Mar. 19: In response to the request from the worst hit Minamisanriki-cho (Miyagi), AMDA dispatched its relief team to provide medical relief.

Mar. 21: The work in Sendai (Miyagi) was completed (transferred to a local body.)

Mar. 31: The work in Kamaishi (Iwate) was completed (transferred to a local doctors¡Ç association.)

Apr. 20: The work in Minamisanriku-cho (Miyagi) and Ohtsuchicho (Iwate) were completed. While the activities were handed over to local bodies, services such as acupuncture therapy and health assistance have been continued.



Total number of AMDA's relief personnel (as of Apr. 26th): 148

51 doctors, 33 nurses, 4 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 49 coordinators, 2 careworkers, 2 acupuncture therapists



Besides direct medical assistance, AMDA responded to various local needs such as setting up a playroom for children in the evacuation shelters, holding recreational events and nutrition programs as well as providing meals.

In line with the dispatch of medical teams, AMDA sent aid supplies using the hearty funds from its donors all around the world. The relief goods were prepared in response to the request from the local teams and were delivered seven times in total using a chartered-truck. Commercial delivery services were also used after they resumed their regular operations in the devastated regions. The goods included medical supplies, medical devices (electrocardiogram and ultrasound machines), food supplies (rice, vegetables), daily life goods, bicycles, stationery and appliances (washing machines, computers, batter chargers etc.)



The daily operations at the activity sites:

While AMDA teams were stationed at evacuation centers, the teams delivered mobile clinic services to homes and smaller (remote) evacuation shelters in the respective regions. There were far more numbers of patients with stress- related ailments and chronic diseases than those that needed surgical treatments.



Due to the stagnant recovery of lifelines, sanitary conditions got worsened which later developed into the outbreak of norovirus. However, various counter measures such as isolation of infected individuals, thorough sanitization efforts and awareness promotion have succeeded in halting the spread of the disease.

In addition, AMDA sent psychiatrists to help the evacuees that were fatigued both physically and mentally from prolonged evacuation life, and extended a helping hand to those who had been suffering from mental illnesses.

Besides incorporating acupuncture therapy in its services, AMDA also distributed life goods upon mobile clinic services.

In securing the privacy among evacuees in the shelters, AMDA provided partitions for each household, and also sent a medical trailer equipped with individual compartments.



Further scope of assistance:

In line with the recovery of local healthcare systems, AMDA will extend its assistance in the rehabilitation phase. In addition to ongoing acupuncture treatments and health support measures, AMDA will contribute to the rebuilding of local hospitals/medical institutions and provide medical personnel if needed.

AMDA has also set up a three-year scholarship program, starting this year, to back up high school students in the regions (Kamaishi High School, Ohtsuchi High School, Shizugawa High School) who wish to work in the medical field in the future.

Furthermore, a plan is underway for this summer to hold a sport-exchange event, inviting junior high school students from disaster areas to Okayama (home to AMDA). The event hopes to promote mutual understanding and friendship between students from Okayama and those from disaster areas who persevered the hardship.

Volset Uganda: Memorial for Deen

Japan fundraiser Vancouver: April 28th ..

'Hands up for Africa' welcomed as new RC Canada member project

A big welcome to the wonderful 'Hands up for Africa Group' and their projects in Kenya. The projects are in a education, clean water, agriculture and orphanage in an impoverished  community S.W. of Nairobi. (Kadjiado) Hands up for Africa and Rose Charities are natural partners as both focus on ground level cost effective help to communities with zero administration costs.   Hands up for Africa, join an expanding Rose Charities African group of member projects, currently including sites in Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar, Zambia  and Kenya.

CanCham grants Rose Charities Vietnam $15,000 to continue work in Hue

CanCham - the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has generously granted Rose Charities Vietnam $15000 to continue its work in Hue.(images) . Rose Vietnam has established a school for blind adults in Hue with braille computers and a micro-enterprise (commercial laundry) to help fund it. Rose Vietnam also supports mobile cataract surgeries in rural areas,education, scholarships for poor students and food and other basic necessities to orphanage.
Rose Charities Vietnam is very grateful for the donation which will be utilizes, in the usual Rose way, without administration costs. 

Mannequins Haiti...

Kind words from Haiti... 

"  I just wanted to share a picture with you that I thought you may like.  I paid a short visit to Mme Nazaire last week to drop off some articles for her.  She was most delighted to show me the donations from Rose Charities that had arrived at the school and of which they were busily inventorying and unpacking.  She was so thrilled with the mannequins and in fact had already used some of them in her classes.  She went to one of the boxes and opened it up to show me one of them.  Attached is a picture of her showing "off" the mannequin.  I also saw a number of french text books in another box...what a boon that is to have them in French. I know Mme Nazaire gets offered a lot of nursing books but most of them are older versions and also in English.  Hopefully this little feedback will give you encouragement to keep up with your efforts.  Sometimes change takes a long time, but little by little it comes about.  Your contributions to the school will certainly help that change take place." 

Warm regards,

Director Haiti Operations

Village of Hope - Lazarus Project

www.villageofhopehaiti.org

Blog from Jess (Volunteer Rose Charities Feb 2011)

Cambodia

During a brief study abroad in 2005, I toured a clinic operated by RoseCharities in Phnom Penh and was impressed by the efficiency and dedication of the medical workers there. In fact, this was the clinic that first sparked my interest in becoming a doctor. It was one of the few NGOs my class visited that offered both immediate and long-term relief to people struggling through the effects of poverty: immediate relief through life-saving medical procedures that would have been otherwise impossible for the clinic's patients, and long-term benefits through community outreach programs and an emphasis on improving the quality of life in Cambodia.

Even in the few short weeks we spent in Cambodia studying aid organizations, it was easy to become discouraged by the waste, and sometimes obvious corruption, that plagued well-intentioned charities, but the Rose Clinic seemed to stretch every dollar it received. As I saw firsthand in 2005, a $20 donation to RoseCharities can restore a person's sight, and $50 can repair a cleft palate or give a child the ability to walk. For more information on how to donate to RoseCharities, please see http://www.rosecharities.info/donate.htm.

The organization's efficiency can be traced to its formation, as outlined on the RoseCharities homepage:

"Founded by aid workers who were disillusioned by the waste and bureaucracy often seen in international aid, we started in Cambodia in 1998. The aim was to deliver effective, sustainable programmes directly to those in need, with minimal bureaucracy, and with transparency at every stage....We are run by volunteers, so administration costs are kept to a bare minimum, with 98% of donations going directly to support our work."

- RoseCharities
http://www.rosecharities.info/

I contacted Rose last October and asked if they'd be willing to take us in for a few weeks as volunteers, and they graciously agreed. Since then, Bill and Jan Johnston have been bending over backwards to find opportunities to put our random interests and talents to work. We started last Wednesday with a short tour of the gynecology ward in the Chey Chumnas General Hospital in Takmao, the hospital where Rose Cambodia is based. That afternoon we helped enter patient files into the computer (data entry is a rare example of a skill that Danielle and I both possess).

Thursday we traveled to the countryside with Sokny, the physical therapist on staff at the Rose office, to work with a woman who had laid in bed for 30 years after a debilitating bout with encephalitis (for more info visit the Rose Rehab page: http://www.rosecambodia.org/?page_id=12). The physical therapists at Rose have been working with her to help her gain the strength to sit up, and in order to get her hands moving Danielle brought a bunch of art supplies. We made simple shapes for her to paint in, and Danielle taught her a few strokes. Danielle and I were so absorbed in watching her work that it took a while to notice the dozen or so kids from the village in a semicircle around her, jealously watching her paint. It was a great visit. As we left, Danielle hung some of her paintings next to her bed with ribbon.



On the way back to the office, we stopped to visit a woman who had been badly burned on her legs by gasoline, and the physical therapists changed a bandage for her. Apparently a skin graft had failed to take, so there was still a gaping wound behind her left knee months after the accident. While we were visiting her, her neighbors brought another potential patient to see the therapists and placed him on the bed next to her. The man had been in a motorcycle accident and could no longer move the left side of his arm. The physical therapists assessed him and made an appointment to see him later at the clinic.

As we were about to leave, the neighbors convinced the therapists to see a woman next door who was having trouble walking. While the physical therapists did their thing, Danielle and I hung back and smiled shyly at some very friendly older women, who seemed to be staring at us. One of them started talking, half at us and half at the women around her. She then started wiping at her nose, as if to inform me that I powdered sugar on the end of mine, so I self-consciously started doing the same but she just laughed. One of the therapists translated, "She wants your nose." This seemed hysterical at the time, so Danielle and I giggled about it for a while.

After the therapists had finished their work we got back in the tuk tuk, but before we could go there was some kind of commotion. The lady who couldn't stop looking at my nose jumped into the tuk tuk and handed us each a coconut and a straw. We very gratefully accepted and drove off.


We made one last stop to see a beautiful young girl who was working with the therapists to build the strength in her arms and legs, and then we took a holiday all weekend (2 working days is long enough...)

Today Bill gave us a tour of the Rose Eye Clinic just outside Phnom Penh in the morning, and Danielle and I returned in the afternoon to observe glaucoma surgeries. We watched for 2 and a half hours as nearly a dozen patients underwent the 20-30 minute procedure. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

I may move to Cambodia when I'm a doctor just so I can operate in flip flops

More to come on what we've been doing with our play time in this wonderful country.

Posted by Jess at 2/21/2011

Microcredit / Microfinance success stories Rose Charities Sri Lanka

The Success Stories of Micro Credit Members


Rose Charities Sri Lanka(click)

So far, since April
of 2007, the running of Micro Finance by RCSL made a significant change in
lives of many people from various villages in Ampara district. With about 14000
members in which more than 1200 members benefitted from 1^st, 2^nd
and 3^rd loans to improve their livelihoods. A few of their success
stories have been captured by the MF Field Staff during their field visits.
Following are selected extracts from their stories (in their own words) which
are worth mentioning.

Ø 
Ms. Arunthavarajan Thaveshwary (Membership #
734) who is a resident of Natpiddimunai 02 in her note to the CEO,

“Sir, I wish to express my sincere thanks to you for
considering and helping for the improvement of my livelihood. After I lost my
husband in 2007, with three of my kids, I have great difficulty in growing up
my children without any source of income. With the sum of Rs. 25,000 as my 1^st
loan, I started my small scale business of selling rice. This has been
supporting me to cover my children’s study as well as the smooth running of our
family. After I finished my loan in six months, I got my second loan worth of
Rs. 25,000 again which is going to help me to develop my business and life even
more. When my income goes high my kids and I can use that to cover my
additional expenses as the other regular families.”

Ø 
Mr. Baskaran Saroja (Membership # 467) of
Natpiddimunai writes,

“………….. From my younger age I have been a weaver. I started
my job as weaving for day salary in a weaving factory in Maruthamunai. With the
first loan from Rose Charities micro finance department, I purchased a thread
wheel and necessary threads to start my own business. With this I prepared
thread wheels and sold this to weaving companies. This gave me only a small
income. Then I purchased a weaving machine with the second loan borrowed from
Rose Charities and started my own weaving business at my home. The income from
this home based business is enough for the running of my family and to pay back
the loans. My children are getting a
good education which was possible because of the development in my income.”

Ø 
Ms. Punniyamoorthy Puspanjali (Membership # 67)
of Karaitivu who is a children club member says,

“Sir, I study in grade 10.

The details of my family is as follow;

Name	Relationship	Age	Education Qualification	Date of Birth	Occupation
P. Punniyamoorthy	Father	48	O/L	06.01.1962	Labourer
M. Nesamma	Mother	50	O/L	05.07.1960	Snacks Business
P. Kojina	Daughter	17	A/L	05.08.1993	Student
P. Puvithra	Daughter	15	Grade 10	20.05.1996	Student
P. Pushpanjali	Daughter	15	Grade 10	20.05.1996	Student

I received my membership book on 22.11.2010 after I joined
as a member in this organization in May, 2010. During this period, I saved some
money in the till box which was given to me by this organization and still
saving.

My situation before I joined at this organization

1.  
I
was at home without savings and membership.

2.  
No
connection or ability of reading.

3.  
No
interest in sports.

4.  
No
good friendships.

My Situation after I joined at this
organization

1.  
Got
membership in children club. I am interested in saving in the membership book
and till which was given by Rose charities

2.  
Joined
in our children club library and barrow books and expand my knowledge.

3.  
We
are given basketball training at six o’ clock in the morning on Saturdays and
Sundays I regularly attend at this training.

4.  
Now
I feel very happy as I have got friendships in other areas.

I expect Rose Charities to provide supports in the
following;

1.  
Supports
for educational activities.

2.  
Supports
for educational Materials.

3.  
Financial
assistance for studies.

4.  
Small
loans.

5.  

One
day trip.

6.  
Competitions
in educational and sports between clubs.

7.  
Evening
classes.

My mother has also joined as a member in this organization
and she was given Rs 15,000 as the first loan. She was unemployed before she
joined at this organization. At present, she does a small snack business
(mixture making) with the loan they gave. Through this income my elder sister
gets education in A/L Math stream and I studied in grade 10. This small income
is not only very helpful to the education of ours, but also settles the loan
without any difficulties.”

She finished her saying with an
end note,

“I hope it will be very supportive if you take steps to
issues the second loan please in order to improve our life and develop our
educational activities.”

Ø 
Ms.K. Thanaledchumi (Membership # 554) of
Kalmunai 01, in her story,

“…………….. I had two
sons and two daughters. My husband and two sons were kidnapped by unknown and
unidentified men in 1990. After this incident, my daughters and I struggled to
run our day to day living. With some home based businesses such as chicken
farming, tailoring and rental I managed to get a small income for the family.
When Tsunami came, we had lost our house, business and everything in our hold.
Later I slowly restarted my rental business with 25 plastic chairs with the
help of my daughters. After my daughter and I have joined in the women
committee of Rose Charities, we got a loan to develop our business. The number
of chairs was increased by 75. We have bought a sewing machine, 500 porcelain
plates, 100 drinking cups and 2 tents with the second loan from Rose micro
finance. The rental and tailoring business of ours have developed tremendously.
Not only the above mentioned but also we have bought chicken and rabbits for
our poultry business. Unfortunately we have lost our poultry farm with the
recent flooding and the business is also dull this month. But I have gained a
monthly income of Rs4840.00.”

Ø 
Ms. K. Chandramathy, (Membership # 722) of
Vammiyadi Road, Natpiddimunai 02 states,

“……… I have been a micro credit member since 16^th
may 2009. I have two sons and two daughters and my husband is a labourer. The
earning of my husband is not enough to cover the expenses of ours. So, I put
forward my difficulties to the committee of the organization. And then,
considering my difficulties I was given the 1^st loan worth of Rs.
25,000 in order to do some business such as selling rice. This was very helpful
to my family in many ways and then I got my second loan worth of Rs. 30,000,
now I can manage in running my family without any difficulties. So, I wish to
render my sincere thanks to Rose Charities-Sri lanka.”

Ø 
P. Pushparani, (Membership # 346) of
Natpiddimunai 03 writes in a letter of hers

“Dear Sir, I joined
as a member in Rose Charities, Kalmunai on 1.12.2008. My husband is a labourer.
I have 05 children (4 girls and 1 boy).I looked after my family including my
mother and sister. I had a poultry farm from which I had managed to run my
family and the family of my dependents.

In 2008, I took the first loan Rs. 20,000 with that I
bought chicken for my farm. This helped me to manage a monthly income.

After repaying the first loan and I have applied for second
loan. I received Rs. 30,000 as second loan on 25^th September, 2010
this helped me to repair and renovate the poultry hut (20’x10’). Then I bought
70 chickens and sold them fowls after three months and got a good income. I
have to thank our CEO of Rose Charities Mr. Anthony Richard for assisting for
my income generation through giving micro credit loans.

When the disaster struck in January 2011 in the form of
heavy rain and flood, the hut got damaged. My husband also lost his labourer
job due to heavy rain. Anyway, I am able to manage my family and look after my
children’s education with the help of my little saving from the income which
was made possible with the help of Rose micro credit. I hope I will be able to
rebuild my family income again and again with the help of rose Charities and
the guidance of our CEO Mr. Anthony Richard. Now I have the confident of
running my life in the event of any disaster situations.”

Ø 

Mr. S.T.Tharmaratnam (Membership # 290) who is a
resident of Pandiruppu, writes his success story as follows,

“I am 58 years old
with a family of my wife and three sons. My monthly income is around
Rs.6000.00. before I have received benefits from Rose Charities, I had a small
shop of provisions. This shop was broken in to and everything was stolen.
Because of this happening in April, 2004, I had struggled to get my family life
forward. I did not even know how I can get out of this situation. I borrowed
loans with higher interest rates from individuals to regain and restart my
business. When I heard about the services provided by Rose Charities to the
community in our area, I went to their office and got advice on savings and
micro credit programs to develop the business. I thought this would be a good
investment for my slowly developing business. The two loans I have received
from Rose Charities helped to enhance my business effectively with the help of
my wife and kids.”

In his finishing statement Mr. Tharmaratnam states,

“…….. I see this
organization as my guardian angel that came for my rescue and lifted the status
of my family to a better position. I am very proud to see the way the staff and
officers of Rose Charities felicitate their customers and the public. At
present I have more than 200 daily customers and more than 1000 occasional
customers with my store which increases my income.”

Mr. Tharmaratnam in his post script, proudly says,

“I sell provisions
for cheap and standard prices as a service which I have learned from Rose
Charities. Because of this my customers are not only from Pandiruppu but also
from other surrounding villages. The relief efforts of Rose Charities must be
praised by all of us where they have provided food and non food items worth of
Rs.2600.00”

Ø 
Ms. P. Thamilselvi, (Membership # 303) of
Natpiddimuai 03 tells us,

“…. I always remember Rose Charities Help and precious
advises and guidance of Mr.Anthony Richard.”

She continuous,

“…… I Thamilselvi from Natpiddimunai 03, I have started our
carpentry works with the first loan of Rs. 30,000 from Rose Charities, Sri
Lanka. Now I receive a monthly profit of Rs. 7,000 and paid Rs. 5,000 on
monthly installment for my loan. I settled my loan in 6months and I had a
little saving for my home expenses. Then I received a second loan of Rs. 40,000
and continue our carpentry works. With this, I had good income and savings.

Unexpectedly, my mother-in-law had diagnosed with Cancer.
We took her to Colombo Hospital and spent a lot of money. We spent more than
one hundred thousand. We found very difficult to settle the expenses for her
treatment. We were unable to restart our carpentry works due to money problems.
I explained all my difficulties to Mr. Anthony Richard CEO, Rose Charities Sri
Lanka and requested a help to restart our carpentry works. So, he gave us a
loan to restart our carpentry works.

This helped us to restart our carpentry works and able to
receive a good income within a short period of time. Now I have settled my
entire loan and looking after my children’s Education as advised by our CEO
Anthony Sir.”

Ø 

Ms. Anpumani Rajani, (Membership # 686) who
resides in Natpiddimunai 02 in her progress report she praises the activities
of RCSL,

“…………… I have 3 children, my husband is a labourer. All my
children are attending school. I am someone who is interested in Social
services myself. I joined Rose Charities, Sri Lanka on 15.03.2009 as a member
in the Micro Finance and doing social services with women committee since Rose
Charities is a non government Organization working for the development of
education and livelihood activities for vulnerable people in Ampara District.

I wish to mention
some of the activities of Rose Charities such as, Children Club, Vocational
trainings and Women club through which economic and social developments are
possible for our communities. Special care is taken for Tsunami affected and
war effected women. Recently Rose Charities did some relief activities victims
affected by flood.”

Then she tells us about her living,

“I took a loan from Rose Charities Micro Credit unit and
started poultry farming. I had good income and I saved little money. I helped
my husband from my savings for his self employment. I was also affected by
recent flood. But, I am able to manage my family with my savings. I have
settled my loan and with my husband, started a business of selling tea leaves.
With Rose Charities Education programs, the education of my children is
progressing. I am helping my sisters children‘s higher education to complete
A/L exam.”

As a closing note she says,

“……. The activities of Rose Charities Sri Lanka which help
the members to start self employment and income generation activities that
eradicate poverty in our women committee is worth mentioning. I will cooperate
with Rose Charities for the future social development activities.”

Ø 

Ms. Kannagi who is a member from Veeramunai
village (Memebrsip #1560) in her note says,

“I am a widow with four children ages from 15 to 3. My
husband had passed away of heart attack. My family at this time stays below
poverty line. I have come to know about the Rose Organization when I was
searching for help to improve the livelihood of my family. Rose micro credit
taught me how to save for the first time in my life. The turning point of my
life started with the 1^st loan from this organization, which helped
me to start a home based textile business. With the income from this only I was
able to send my kids to schools.”

Ø 
Ms. T. Tharshini (Membership # 344) of
Natpiddimunai 03, Kalmunai says;

“……………. I would like to mention that I, with the help of
the loans from Rose Micro Credit, I have developed my small business and earn
much to look after my children without any hardships even though I lost my
husband 2 years ago. I have been a member in this organization (Rose Charities
Srilanka) since 2008. I got Rs.20, 000 as my 1^st loan after three
months of saving. And then I was given Rs.30, 000 as my second loan in 2010.
go. Hence I wish to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Rose Charities
Sri lanka and its staff. And providing me a 3^rd loan please might
change my life even better.”