The Girls Achievement Program (GAP) for 5th-7th grade girls meets weekly at our community schools in Zambia, facilitated by the Kafwa volunteer health workers. Topics range from personal hygiene and development milestones, character building, nutrition, life skills, and more, with fun as a team! And all focused on empowering girls! 

Angela, Kafwa leader at Zamtan, sent us this recent message about learning a new skill! 

"The pictures below are for the Gap learning how to sew door mats. we are appreciating for the support, and the Gap team are very happy for what you are doing. please continue with the same spirit. Twatotela, Angela"

This is a skill that allows use of crafty creativity, and could be used for income generating. Go team!  

We have a great big reason to SMILE today! We've received $1,538 from AmazonSmile to-date, which means your generosity has provided 10,253 lunches to orphans and vulnerable children for "free" at our schools! Thank you for including HealthEd Connect as a beneficiary as you shop! What a gift! 🥳

Speaking of Gifts...If our mission to empower women and children through health and education inspires you, please consider asking your family and friends about donating to HealthEd Connect in lieu of physical items for the holidays this year. We would be honored to be a part of your annual gifting tradition!

Pre-COVID, this group of girls in Biratnagar, Nepal, participated in education about menstruation, hygiene, and how to make sanitary pads. Volunteer community health workers, Yanso (right) and Sangeeta (left; also trained as a professional nurse) facilitated open and safe conversation about this topic and how to feel empowered and in control of their health and development.

In parts of Nepal, and other countries, women are forced to stay in outdoor sheds or huts during their menstruation. While many governments, including Nepal, have implemented legislation to ban the practice, the old tradition continues in many regions. This practice is not only punitive, but also dangerous, as there have been many reported cases of women who have died from snake bites or smoke inhalation while trying to keep warm outdoors.

Community health workers like Sangeeta and Yanso combat the stigma and empower women and girls with education and skills they need in development of healthy minds and bodies. 

This strong girl is clutching tightly to her family's bar of soap that is nearly her size! From the generosity of HealthEd Connect donors, funds were raised this spring to purchase soap for all of the communities where our health workers serve to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Ireen Matete, Kafwa volunteer leader for Kasompe, Zambia, recently shared this photo and an update on the soap they purchased for their community health clients, giving them one bar of soap per month to make it last. Thanks to the health workers, life-saving prevention education and resources have made it the hands of families and children.

Let's applaud two Wazaidizi volunteer health workers from D.R. of Congo who completed vaccine administration training this year! Through a leadership development grant awarded by HealthEd Connect, Rose Chola and Nathalie Lenge learned how to give immunizations to children from birth to five years and pregnant women. They are now equipped, recognized, and authorized by the government to administer vaccines. Continuing to show their deep desire to educate and encourage healthy children, mothers, and communities, Rose and Nathalie will play a vital role in protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Did you know that all three HealthEd Connect schools in Zambia contain the word PEACE? Kasompe Community School of Peace, Mapalo Young Peacemakers School, and Zamtan Community School of Peace - the three "Sister Schools" as we fondly call them. "Peace" is an important part of the philosophy and educational environment at our schools.

September 21st is recognized as International Day of Peace by the United Nations General Assembly, devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. As stated by the UN, "This year, it has been clearer than ever that we are not each other’s enemies. Rather, our common enemy is a tireless virus that threatens our health, security and very way of life. COVID-19 has thrown our world into turmoil and forcibly reminded us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere." The 2020 theme for International Day of Peace is “Shaping Peace Together.” We are all invited to celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. Stand together with the UN against discrimination or hatred. We can all shape healthy and peaceful communities.

Construction of the second community center in Malawi has begun! The foundation is ready and you can begin to see the building taking shape. Like the first community center built near Mzimba, land was donated by village chiefs in Mazembe to the Sinkhani volunteer health works for the purpose of constructing a community center. We visited here two years ago as the Sinkhani facilitated a health education program and weighing day with over 150 mothers and children in attendance outside sitting on the ground. What a difference it will make to have a solid shelter - especially during the rainy season - and a place for the Sinkhani to store supplies and facilitate programs for mothers and children. It's an exciting development for the community!

On their own initiative, COVID-19 training sessions have been organized for the Sinkhani volunteer health workers and community volunteers at three separate locations in Malawi. Gathering volunteers from nearby geographic areas, each day-long training included instruction about COVID-19 prevention by local government health workers, two nursing students (recipients of a nursing scholarship from HealthEd Connect), and the Sinkhani health workers themselves. Each volunteer was also equipped with supplies for their communities, including buckets with taps for hand washing, soap, and face masks. The Sinkhani made 1,000 masks in preparation for these trainings, using the new sewing machines provided by HealthEd Connect.

The Sinkhani often use songs to educate mothers and community members about nutrition, sanitation, family planning, etc. They created a special song which they learned at this training. The words (roughly translated) mean: "We won't have COVID-19 anymore after this year. Sinkhani health workers have taught us how we can intervene the spread of corona pandemic disease."