helen weld public health: May 2013

‘Post grad’. . .

Last November when I departed from Gardens for Health International (GHI) after my third stint, I was surprised and touched by the staff having a graduation ceremony (quasi roast) in my honor. I laughed and cried throughout the whole event. In keeping with the GHI graduation tradition, there was a skit, a graduation certificate and the gift of two chickens (which have since been enjoyed by staff for dinner).

Now I have returned for a “post grad” stint and it is heartening to witness the positive changes and progress on the farm over the past five months. Although I am just here for a few weeks this time, I look forward to collaborating with my amazing colleagues on strategic planning for the expansion to a new district with the addition of four new health centers (beginning in September); finessing training materials, and helping with a series of real GHI graduations for mothers who have completed the most recent cycle of trainings.

It’s wonderful to be ‘home’ in this part of the world. Despite jetlag I walked to the office at dawn. How I love the early light filtering through the clouds across the verdant hills, hearing a woman singing as she showers at the back of her home, sharing lunch at the farm table and watching a mini murmuration of gold finches over the gardens. Getting many ‘welcome back’ hugs from staff was especially revitalizing. As always, I am grateful and honored to be part of this special community again.

Helen

Claire as Helen in the skit

Graduation skit for Helen

GHI children doing the skit

Bravo wearing testimonial statements

Helen with Cedric and chickens

Helen's graduation 2012

Cedric responding to:
'SMILE FOR THE CAMERA!'

First lunch back at the farm table

May Day sunset

The full week in Makassar. . .

The week spent in Makassar flew by fast. The pace quickened considerably after the first weekend as we undertook a long list of activities. The team’s preliminary groundwork prior to this trip has been extensive and has streamlined the scheduling of a plethora of meetings in the midst of trainings. (Note that nothing is actually “streamlined” here when challenges abound such as working around the prayers and the traffic!) This means that gears were continuously changing. For example, one day we were in the slums speaking to a woman who lives in a space literally the size of a closet and a few hours later we were being offered tea on the 15^th floor of the snazzy Fajar News office building with 360 degree views of the city prior to TV and newspaper interviews. It was a surreal juxtaposition.

The public relations work is a vital component of any successful program and thanks to Dr. Abidin the team got excellent coverage, providing opportunities to promote the importance of advocacy and health education for the vulnerable populations. Fajar News, Sulawesi’s primary media center, conducted a TV interview as well having two news articles published about the team’s work on successive days. A local radio station, KEZ-FM also did an extensive evening interview with the team.

Health trainings for women community leaders from the slums have been gratifying. They all seem eager for knowledge and have an innate motivation to help others. They only have basic knowledge, but ask good questions and are open to discussing some of their challenges. Very basic ‘take home’ messages were reinforced: hand washing, coughing into one’s elbow, not touching blood from open wounds. All women were given bars of soap, a kilo of rice and a certificate of participation. Like any mothers or grandmothers, they want their children and grandchildren to be healthy. Empowerment for women, especially in this culture, is provided through education, expressions of hope and compassion. Pure and simple. . .

Jane Goodall, one of the most admired women, says it best:

“And if we dare to look into those eyes, then we shall feel their suffering in our hearts. More and more people have seen that appeal and felt it in their hearts. All around the world there is an awakening of understanding and compassion, and understanding that reaches out to help the suffering animals in their vanishing homelands. That embraces hungry, sick, and desperate human beings, people who are starving while the fortunate among us have so much more than we need. And if, one by one, we help them, the hurting animals, the desperate humans, then together we shall alleviate so much of the hunger, fear, and pain in the world. Together we can bring change to the world, gradually replacing fear and hatred with compassion and love. Love for all living beings.”

Helen