As my quest to become a midwife and eventually serve in Africa continues, and as we continue to remain stateside I have followed many blogs of women who are themselves midwives working in Africa. Below is from a blog written by Joanne Jorgensen. She is a midwife, I believe currently in Ghana, but who worked for many years in Malawi, one of Africa's poorest countries and one in which the infant/maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world. She has begun what is called the African Mothers Health Initiative.
To learn more about what she is doing and how you can become involved read the following interviews. Heart Song Studio will begin to support this cause this year. If you purchase a piece this year, you will help this organization and the women and children they serve.
Malawi: http://www.worldvisionreport.org/Stories/Week-of-March-14-2009/Midwife-in-Malawi
Their website if you are interested in donating is: www.africanmothers.org
Briefly, the African Mothers Health Initiative serves in the following capacities:
(1) Feeding Program - now we spend about $150/mo to feed 50 kids three times a week but we want to improve this project and increase meals (this is the bang for your buck program).
(2) Infant Home Visits - we follow up infants who have survived their mothers death and provide support (nursing care, education, formula, and other material items) to the family. (this project spends a lot more money per baby but my heart is really with this one because without our support these little ones often go home to die.)
(3) School Fees - we pay tuition for about 8 high school and college students who come from poor homes and who would not otherwise be able to continue their education.
If you are interested in a certain project we would also welcome a donation for a specific cause. Please contact me if you have any questions.
If you are interested in a certain project we would also welcome a donation for a specific cause. Please contact me if you have any questions.
