4th annual mountain bike race
September 21, 2014
Summerland, BC
Register for the race
Beyond Belief 2014
Hope for Tomorrow 2014
The Sewing Team
3 women, colourful fabric, and eager students produced some new skirts and excited young people! Carmen, Wendy and Gail helped teach some basic sewing skills as the students learned how to make a simple “A line” skirt!
Our Favourite Memories
Official Opening Ceremony for the Gindo Education Center
Vern Hyde and his Magic Shows!
Giving a Gift to every child at each center
The Self Esteem Class
One of our team members taught a fun class about self esteem. The children and youth had the chance to hear a story that emphasized how everyone is unique and has something special about them. Then students had a chance to receive a journal to make goals on new skills things they would like to learn, and create a piece of artwork that represented themselves.
Drip Irrigation Team
To help family gardens and the market garden in Gindo, this group brought materials to construct this simple irrigation system. During the dry season, rivers and creeks dry up. Wells become the source of water for gardens and fields meaning children and women haul water for this as well as their personal needs.
Drip irrigation slowly waters individual plants all day long from a water source. Gravity feeds the water through the hoses to individual plants. The barrel holding the water needs only be filled once a day, and then waters each plant during the day.
The farmers, gardeners, and families who received these systems were thrilled with the prospect of reduced time, effort and water needed to help their gardens produce!
Drip irrigation slowly waters individual plants all day long from a water source. Gravity feeds the water through the hoses to individual plants. The barrel holding the water needs only be filled once a day, and then waters each plant during the day.
The farmers, gardeners, and families who received these systems were thrilled with the prospect of reduced time, effort and water needed to help their gardens produce!
The Health Class
Our two nurses taught the students about how germs and viruses are spread, and ways they can protect themselves from getting infected. They played a game that taught this concept – germs were picked up as you moved along the board when petting a goat, coughed, or shook hands.
But if you stopped in-between and washed your hands, then the germs pieces you had collected were all given away. The object of the game was to get to the end with NO germ pieces. The kids really enjoyed this!
But if you stopped in-between and washed your hands, then the germs pieces you had collected were all given away. The object of the game was to get to the end with NO germ pieces. The kids really enjoyed this!
The Film Crew
This group was honoured to have with us a filming crew to record some of our activities and document what Canadian Humanitarian does. It is our hope that the finished product will be on TV at some time in the spring in 2014. When we hear firm dates, we will be sure to let you know.
We so enjoyed having Rick and Kevin as part of our group. When they were not filming, they pitched in to help wherever they could!
We so enjoyed having Rick and Kevin as part of our group. When they were not filming, they pitched in to help wherever they could!
The Medical Team
October’s group had 5 doctors, 2 nurses, and 1 pharmacist in our midst. We completed medicals on the children at Gindo, on children of the Kirkos center, on children at the Kality Center, and on some of the children who needed follow up at the Guelele center.
We again went to the Kersa area, to do intake medicals on the youth and children in this new program, as well as medicals for the Foresight Fathers and their families.
Over all we managed to complete 386 medical examinations, many of which required prescribed medicines! Sometimes our surroundings were quite simple or primitive, but the care received was very appreciated!
We again went to the Kersa area, to do intake medicals on the youth and children in this new program, as well as medicals for the Foresight Fathers and their families.
Over all we managed to complete 386 medical examinations, many of which required prescribed medicines! Sometimes our surroundings were quite simple or primitive, but the care received was very appreciated!
The Fitness Team
Two of our team members brought a Fitness program, and relay race for the students to learn and participate in. This was modified depending on the age of the group. Kids and staff had a great time learning to do sit ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, mountain climbing, and others techniques using yoga balls and chairs.
The group left behind a set of yoga balls, exercise instructions, mats so that the youth and children could continue to practice.
The group left behind a set of yoga balls, exercise instructions, mats so that the youth and children could continue to practice.
Off we go again!
What do you get when you take 25 total strangers who are doctors, nurses, teachers, agronomists, economists or financial experts and put them together for 15 days? The October 2013 expedition to Ethiopia!
It is always amazing to watch strangers become friends, as they work together to serve others.
Check out our other blog posts to find out about all the wonderful work our expedition teams worked on:
The Sewing Team
The Drip Irrigation Team
The Medical Team
The Fitness Team
Self Esteem Class
The Health Class
Home Visits
Film Crew
Home Visits
Volunteers had the opportunity to visit some of the homes of the students of Gindo Town. Home visits honour the guardians of the children. The team was able to thank the guardians for all they do to support their child in school, and attending education sessions at the after school center. The students had the opportunity to host volunteers in their home. It was a memorable experience for everyone.
Beyond Belief 2013
This year our Dinner and Silent Auction will be held Nov 13, 2013, at Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat.
Tickets are $100 each, or $800 for a table.
ticket sales are now closed
Our keynote speaker for the evening is Frank O’Dea.
As a young man, Frank O’Dea was a homeless person, living on the streets, panhandling for nickels and dimes. Today, he is a celebrated business person. Best known as a founder of The Second Cup, he also was involved in founding a number of other successful international businesses and not-for-profits. These include Proshred Security, War Child Canada, Street Kids International and the Canadian Landmine Foundation. He has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and two Canadian universities have awarded him honorary degrees. This is an inspiring story of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity, which is also recounted in his best-selling book “When All You Have is Hope”. He is also the author of Do-the-Next-Right-Thing: Surving Life’s Crises. Mr. O’Dea’s most recent projects include developing sustainably affordable housing in Sao Paulo. To find out more about Frank O’Dea, you can visit his website www.frankodea.com
Tickets are $100 each, or $800 for a table.
ticket sales are now closed
Our keynote speaker for the evening is Frank O’Dea.
As a young man, Frank O’Dea was a homeless person, living on the streets, panhandling for nickels and dimes. Today, he is a celebrated business person. Best known as a founder of The Second Cup, he also was involved in founding a number of other successful international businesses and not-for-profits. These include Proshred Security, War Child Canada, Street Kids International and the Canadian Landmine Foundation. He has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and two Canadian universities have awarded him honorary degrees. This is an inspiring story of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity, which is also recounted in his best-selling book “When All You Have is Hope”. He is also the author of Do-the-Next-Right-Thing: Surving Life’s Crises. Mr. O’Dea’s most recent projects include developing sustainably affordable housing in Sao Paulo. To find out more about Frank O’Dea, you can visit his website www.frankodea.com
Hope for Tomorrow 2013
4th Annual Hope For Tomorrow: Dinner and Auction
with special guest Dr. James Orbinsk
Event Details:
The Westin Calgary
November 20, 2013
Reception: 5:30
Ethiopian Fusion Meal: 6:30
Dr. Orbinski: 8:00
Tickets: $200 each Table of 8 $1,300
ticket sales now closed
Hope For Tomorrow is an annual event bringing the best of Canada’s international development practitioners to Calgary to address its business community. In 2013 our event is focused on Canadian Humanitarian’s Kid’s Hope Kirkos Center in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Kid’s Hope Kirkos:
Canadian Humanitarian’s Kid’s Hope Center focuses on 50 orphaned and vulnerable children, their foster families in the neighbourhood of Kirkos. This programs is focused on orphaned and vulnerable children and assisting them in reaching their potential through education and acting as a launch pad for their education, social and physical development. Provision of tuition, school uniforms and materials, after school tutoring, student run clubs, a hot meal every day and access to health care all serve as catalysts to ensure the children succeed. Our Kid’s Hope Centers also serve as a meeting point for guardians to learn skills, and receive support and training. In Kid’s Hope programs children and families are receiving hope!
James Orbinski Bio:
DR. JAMES ORBINSKI – Humanitarian Advocate and Past President of Doctors Without Borders
Dr. Orbinski is a globally recognized humanitarian practitioner and advocate, as well as one of the world’s leading scholars and scientists in global health. He believes in humanitarianism, in citizenship and in actively engaging and shaping the world in which we live, so that it is more humane, fair and just.
After extensive field experience with Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Dr. Orbinski was elected MSF’s international president from 1998 to 2001. He launched its Access to Essential Medicines Campaign in 1999, and in that same year accepted the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to MSF for its pioneering approach to medical humanitarianism, and most especially for its approach to witnessing.
Dr. Orbinski worked as MSF’s Head of Mission in Goma, Zaire in 1996 -97 during the refugee crisis. He was MSF’s Head of Mission in Kigali during the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and MSF’s medical co-ordinator in Jalalabad, Afghanistan in the winter of 1994. He was MSF’s medical co-ordinator in Baidoa, Somalia during the civil war and famine of 1992-1993. Dr. Orbinski’s first MSF mission was in Peru in 1992.
For his leadership in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, Dr. Orbinski was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, Canada’s highest civilian award. This citation reads:
“Chief of Mission to Rwanda with Medecins sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders during the Civil War and genocide from April to July 1994, Dr. Orbinski provided an extraordinary service by delivering medical assistance and alleviating the suffering of victims, on both sides of the front line. Unwavering in his efforts, Dr. Orbinski opened the Agha Khan (King Fayed) Hospital in Kigali, in the middle of a contested area that often became the target of mortar and machine gun fire. Through example, he provided inspirational leadership to a multinational team of medical staff and managed to spur their flagging spirits through the bleakest days of the genocide.”As international president of MSF, Dr. Orbinski represented the organization in numerous humanitarian emergencies and on critical humanitarian issues in among others, the Sudan, Kosovo, Russia, Cambodia, South Africa, India and Thailand. He has also represented MSF at the UN Security Council, in many national parliaments, and to for example, the WHO, and the UNHCR.
Lynn’s Book Club
Lynn’s Book Club in BC raised over a thousand dollars towards buying books and supplies for the Gindo Library, and our other education center libraries.
Here she is giving the books for the Gindo Center- with some of the kids looking at them! That was a fun way to leave Gindo!
Here she is giving the books for the Gindo Center- with some of the kids looking at them! That was a fun way to leave Gindo!
Hugs to all!
The kids at Kality are range in age from 4 – 7 years old, and they are just aching for someone to hug and play with them. Dr. Northcott got his chance to play with the kids too— they lined up and were taking running leaps at him, he would catch them, hug them, and then put them down. They loved it! What a great way to end our trip!
ESL, Handpuppets and Construction
We did ESL and hand puppets with the kids, interviews with guardians and picked rocks left from the construction on the grounds of the center!
The Gindo Center
We spent two days working on clean up of construction residue at the Gindo Center!
Paint off windows, and door handles, extra grout off tile floors, paint from around the clean up area, and then cleaned up the whole central hall area.
We even washed down the tables and chairs from the kids’ dining hall. It looked BEAUTIFUL when we were done!
We even washed down the tables and chairs from the kids’ dining hall. It looked BEAUTIFUL when we were done! Eyerus and Senait
We had the honor of bringing two of our students who are studying medicine (one in nursing college, the other studying to be a health officer) to join us for these three days to learn alongside Dr. Northcott, and to work together as a practicum experience.
They did intake medicals, Susan taught them how to take blood pressure, and learned the technique of medical examination these past two days. As Eyerus said in our discussion at suppertime – “It was a perfect day”.
They did intake medicals, Susan taught them how to take blood pressure, and learned the technique of medical examination these past two days. As Eyerus said in our discussion at suppertime – “It was a perfect day”.
One of the neatest things about this trip is to be working alongside some of the kids we took into the program years ago, now working with us to provide services to the new kids. As we watch the first generation of graduates enter into the workforce and into professional schools, we feel that all the effort has been worth while. These children have permanently broken the cycle of poverty. I asked Eyrusalem, who is in Health Officer training, what would have happened to her if this program had not been there. Would she be in Health Officer training? “Oh no,” she said, “I would be working as a cleaner or a server.” Imagine the tragedy of having this bright mind working as a cleaner, never able to reach her potential! It is good to be here.
Dr. Northcott
The Tanners come to visit
Ron and Martha Tanner, who have volunteered on a long term basis at our Education Support Centers in the past, now live in Ethiopia, only 30 minutes away from where we were today in Sheshamene.
So they came and joined us for a time. It was great to see them!
Ron- as usual kept the crowds begging for more of his magic tricks. They absolutely love seeing him making a hankie disappear!
So they came and joined us for a time. It was great to see them!
Ron- as usual kept the crowds begging for more of his magic tricks. They absolutely love seeing him making a hankie disappear!
Traditional Cooking
While the team was building and installing the bio-sand filtration systems, the foresight father’s wives set up fires, and cooked fresh picked potatoes- to boil and serve as a treat for everyone. They used both a modern and traditional pots to cook these in!
With some spices and salt, these were wonderful to taste!
With some spices and salt, these were wonderful to taste!
The First Home
This was the view from the front gate of the first home to receive a water filtration system. You cannot believe the excitement and cheers that went up when the first water came through the filter pipe!!! What a great experience!
Installing the Bio Sand Filtration Systems
The Men and their wives were pretty excited to see the Bio Sand Filtration Units come together.
I think they finally started to understand how the filter would purify their water as it ran through these buckets.
Today two of these units were installed to two homes. This first home was a 22 year old man, one of the Foresight Fathers, who has 5 children and two wives (yes polygamy is still practiced in this part of Ethiopia)
This home was on a quiet street in the village with lots of trees, their own backyard garden, stock holding pen and everything!
Today two of these units were installed to two homes. This first home was a 22 year old man, one of the Foresight Fathers, who has 5 children and two wives (yes polygamy is still practiced in this part of Ethiopia)
This home was on a quiet street in the village with lots of trees, their own backyard garden, stock holding pen and everything!
Bio Sand Filtration
After a first day of hard work washing and sorting all the grades of sand and gravel, today the Foresight Fathers Group and the College students, constructed the bio sand filtration units.
The “Porch” Pharmacy
The community public health clinic has allowed us to also set up in their compound, and their front porch to do our pharmacy intake information and medical histories before they are seen in the Cool Examining Rooms.
The Medical Clinic
We have spent the last two days doing medical, English skill building, art, and bio sand filters in Turge and Kersa Ayele.
This has been Dr. Northcott’s medical clinic. it has two rooms, shade, and walls that are wooden slats so the breeze can blow through. Since it has been about 28 C each day and a bit humid.. this has been the best place to be to work!
This has been Dr. Northcott’s medical clinic. it has two rooms, shade, and walls that are wooden slats so the breeze can blow through. Since it has been about 28 C each day and a bit humid.. this has been the best place to be to work!
Down Pour!
The welcoming and introductory speeches were given to us by the fathers, and from us to them. We had to quickly finish and hurry back to the bus to avoid getting wet from the thunder storm that sprang up during out time in Turge. What a down pour!
A Special Treat
This specially decorated pot held on top (the caramel looking mound) a special treat for us! It is a local specialty made from butter and barley flour. This has the texture of fudge, but tasted like having a spoon full of peanut butter (but no peanuts!)
What a great celebration!
What a great celebration!
A Warm Welcome
We all gathered at one of the father’s homes close by for their welcoming ceremony to us. We will be working with them for the next 3 days.
This woman welcomed us to her home and fed us hot boiled potatoes with spices (peeled boiled potatoes prepared like this taste like candy – delicious!)
This woman welcomed us to her home and fed us hot boiled potatoes with spices (peeled boiled potatoes prepared like this taste like candy – delicious!)
Sing As You Work
We traveled to the small community of Turge, where we met up with their Foresight Fathers group, in potato fields working (and singing as they worked).
Visiting the Foresight Fathers Compound
We visited the Foresight Fathers compound in Kersa; to say hello to the program managers, and to see their new education center.
Adults were receiving a training session under the warka tree.
The youth group was busy making seedling plantings of coffee bushes… they hope to raise a crop of coffee this year and earn about $40,000 Birr profit in 2014 from their efforts.
Adults were receiving a training session under the warka tree.
The youth group was busy making seedling plantings of coffee bushes… they hope to raise a crop of coffee this year and earn about $40,000 Birr profit in 2014 from their efforts.
The Road to Sheshamene
Tuesday morning very early we hit the road to Sheshamene and to the two rural communities of Kersa and Turge.
Backpacks for Kirkos
The kids were really happy to get their backpacks, and we were really happy to give them.
Visiting Kirkos
We had a great day at the Kirkos Education Support Center! We played games with younger children outside, while inside older kids worked on their art pieces.
Getting Started!
The group arrived a little ahead, and had already spent some time getting supplies ready and organized. Monday when Deborah and Dr. Northcott arrived, some of the program had already begun!
Here they have packed up the beautiful backpacks given to Canadian Humanitarian to give to students.
They visited the Kirkos Education Support Center to complete the art program and give the students their own backpacks.
Here they have packed up the beautiful backpacks given to Canadian Humanitarian to give to students.
They visited the Kirkos Education Support Center to complete the art program and give the students their own backpacks.
Regina Nurses Fundraising Dinner
A group of nurses from Regina, SK are hosting a Fundraising Dinner, with Ethiopian Cuisine, a Silent Acution, 50/50 and raffles.
May 4, 2013
Dinner: 6:30-8:30
Entertainment: 8:00
Selam Ethiopian Restaurant
2115 S Broad Street, Regina
Tickets are available at the Selam Restaurant, at Regina General Hospital 3E, or email us to purchase your tickets.
ticket sales now closed
May 4, 2013
Dinner: 6:30-8:30
Entertainment: 8:00
Selam Ethiopian Restaurant
2115 S Broad Street, Regina
Tickets are available at the Selam Restaurant, at Regina General Hospital 3E, or email us to purchase your tickets.
ticket sales now closed
Lunch Time at Gindo
The Kid’s Hope Education Centers provide one hot meal a day for the children enrolled in the program.
We got these great pictures of the children at Gindo Center enjoying their lunch in the new building!
We got these great pictures of the children at Gindo Center enjoying their lunch in the new building!
Thank You Herschel!
Thanks to Herschel Company’s donation, we were able to give the children at a couple of our Education Centers brand new backpacks for school – including the kids at Gindo Center.
They were really happy to have them!
They were really happy to have them!
Heroes of Hope 2013
2nd annual dinner and fundraiser
March 9, 2013
with special guest W.Brett Wilson
Regina, SK
ticket sales now closed
March 9, 2013
with special guest W.Brett Wilson
Regina, SK
ticket sales now closed
