Caregiver Kit Initiative - Community Pages
WELCOME KIT BUILDERS!
Do you love this site? Copy the URL and send it to your friends via email and invite them to join!!
Doing an event? Check out the official caregiver kit site too: www.worldvision.org/caregiverkits
Looking For Fast Facts About AIDS?
New To The Program? Watch The Caregiver Video
New to Social Networks? Click here to read a detailed explanation of how this site works.
Visit MPPC Lusaka 2009
Videos
-
-
-
-
DNC EVENT 2008
Added by Jason Miles
-
-
-
-
-
Church Of The Chimes 2008
Added by Cinnamon Miles
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
AIDS: Doomsday virus in India
Added by Jason Miles
-
The Kautz Family In Zambia
Unusually Large Poinsettias
Firsts - in my lifetime; only here in Zambia
Clearly, I was willing to aid and abet the corruption. Who knows what will be next in my life of crime! It's a slippery, downhill slope...I need help!
Imagine this - three people to a team, all riding on horses turning on a dime and galloping at full speed - holding a lacrosse stick (slightly rounder shape from what we're used to) trying to throw a rubber bouncy ball in between the goal posts.
The guy on the left has the ball and he's looking to pass it to his #1 player. Only the #1 player can shoot the ball into the goal - the rest of the guys are trying to keep the #1 player from getting the ball.
The guy in the front is the #1 player so he's trying to get to the goal ahead of the others -- because he has to bounce the ball on a line about 20 feet from the goal, catch it, then throw it into goal.
How to Make a Plastic Bag Soccer Ball
Then you take take parts of a mealie meal bag (woven out of plastic strands) and braid them (see Mutale and Peter above) - these will be used to wrap around the wad of plastics...
Mutale, the expert tier, puts the finishing touches to keep the ball intact.
Ta dah! The finished product!
Sophie in "Annie!"
Sophie (3rd from right) played one of the orphans in Annie this spring. It's the first time she's been in a play - and it was fun for her to try her hand at acting (she had five lines! The longest one was, "Gee, Annie on the radio, she's famous coast to coast!") and singing... Not sure about the Mexican-serape outfits...
Here are the orphans in their "beds" waiting for Annie to start singing "Maybe..."
Sophie Cuts Her Hair Again...
Sophie decided to take the scissors to her bangs...and this is the result- although most days she puts her hair in a pony tail with some bobby pins on top of her head to hold her bangs back...so not sure why she cut them in the first place... :-)
Our Great African Road Trip
This SMALL ferry shuttled us from Zambia to Botswana. The ferry only held one semi truck and our car for the 5 minute crossing. The river was so high that they had to bring in dirt at the landing site which closed the ferry for two days causing a back up of 100 trucks waiting on the Botswana side to take the ferry over to Zambia!
In Chobe game park (Botswana), we watched these two elephants playing.
Baboons galore settling in the nice warm sand...in the middle of the road. They really gave us the stink-eye when we drove by since they were forced to move.
An elephant's foot print compared to Peter's foot!
My pet project was to take a photo every hour of our trip...many of the photos looked like this, so I won't bore you with more of the same... Ok, just ONE more...because I love exclamation marks!
Climbing to the top of one of the dunes at Sossusvlei, Namibia...stunning! Peter was the first one to the top... John and I pulled up the rear panting and gasping for air! It's hard walking uphill in sand!
The best part of climbing up - is running down!!
We did a short hike in this canyon but had to stop because of all the water pooled at the bottom. We opted not to walk through the water for fear of getting bilharzia, a waterborne disease.
Next, we drove north up to Etosha National park. This was a wonderful watering hole where we saw zebras, giraffes, wildebeasts and antelope. We visited at the tail end of the rainy season, so the animals weren't as plentiful as usual, but it was awesome for us!
Gotta love the ingenuity...no front legs to the chair, not a problem, just find a tire! We were waiting for our car to get washed - 3 guys, 3 rags, a bucket and a hose...all for $1.50.
On our way home, an hour and a half south of Lusaka, on Easter Sunday, our car broke down (the water pump went bad) and we had several guadian angels who helped us out. A man driving the exact same car passed us and then turned around and offered to tow us into town. One of my co-workers who has family in the town was able to find a mechanic (see the "garage" above - they basically work in a dirt alley) - AND we found an open parts store that carried the exact water pump we needed (again, this is all on Easter Sunday)! The clincher was that we didn't have any Zambian money (kwacha) and neither our ATM card or credit card were working and all we had left was a $100 bill. Thankfully, my co-worker had money that he loaned us (we needed about $150 which most people, including me, don't carry around). Truly, all these saints were Easter miracles and gifts from God.
We loved the adventure and can hardly wait for our next African experience!
Limited Opportunities
I met this young woman who is 32 years old. She learned she was HIV positive when she went to the hospital to deliver her now three month old son, Joshua (all pregnant women are now tested before they deliver). Joshua went on ARVs before she did - but both are thriving.
She is married and currently lives with her mother in her village about 4 hours from where her husband lives. When she got sick and was unable to care for herself and her son, she moved back to the village with her mother. Her unemployed husband continues to seek out work.
Her one plea was for milk. She knows she shouldn't breastfeed her child since she's HIV positive - but milk is expensive - especially when you have no money. What would you do in that situation - you're too weak to work but your baby needs to be fed...Tough decisions and not a lot of options.
This widow lives with her three children - aged 13, 11 and 7. She is standing in front of her house (which is about 14' x 14'). When asked what she had eaten that day - she said nothing...when asked what she ate the day before, she said "nothing." When I asked her how she generates income, she said that about twice a month, she will weed someone else's land. She get's paid 20 cents for a 1 meter wide by 50 meter long strip (think Olympic sized swimming pool). She generally does 5 rows a day - giving her a total of $1.00 a day. She only can do this about twice a month - which means her total monthly income is $2.00.She is in a very difficult situation with little opportunity to break out of her poverty. This is the hard reality for so many people around the world. Her Caregiver, Mary, acknowledged that this situation is worse than many of her clients. Whenever she has extra food, Mary will give from what little she has to help out this family. Compassion in action.
An amazing kid
Traveling by bike with Caregivers
The Caregivers - Mary and Richard (left) are caring for Midia (center) who is HIV positive along with her three-month old son, Joshua - both are on anti-retroviral meds. Maxeem (right) was the Caregiver for Richard - who is also HIV positive. Richard decided to become a Caregiver after being cared for by Maxeem - and realizing he wanted to help others in the same situation he's in. This is truley Zambians caring for Zambians.
This is the rainy season (although you wouldn't know it from this photo) - but this normally dry river bed was flush with water (it had rained the night before) - and our car got stuck! It took about 3 hours to get it out. Two weeks earlier, in another part of the World Vision ADP, a WV car was crossing something similiar when a torrent of water came down and pushed the WV vehicle over six times! Thankfully, the three staff in the vehicle left with only minor bruises and cuts.
Our New Vocabulary
We have a whole new vocabulary/words that have been integrated into our talk (when we don't use the "right" word, we aren't understood!):
Opening of a Coordinated Response Center
World Vision opened a Coordinated Response Center (CRC) for gender based violence in Mazabuka - a highway town about 1 1/2 hours south of Lusaka.
Gender based violence (GBV) is a big problem here in Zambia - and this center would allow people (mostly women) to access legal, medical, police and counseling services all in one location instead of having to travel to different parts of town to talk with the right person, waiting, then going to the next service provider.
The local district hospital offered up a block of three rooms which were cleaned, painted, furnished and are now ready to serve those who have suffered from violence.
I was talking with a woman who illustrated how GBV became part of her personal story - and how even her educated parents can justify violence.
This woman was beaten by her husband early on in her marriage and told her parents about it - they immediately called them to the house to talk about what happened and asked the husband how/why he beat their daughter.
It turns out that the husband beat her because she was unwilling to "meet his needs" when he wanted it. When the parents heard this - the tables were immediately turned. They were no longer angry with the husband, now they were angry with their daughter for not submitting to her husband's wishes!
This is a very male dominated society and despite the fact that women run this country--they are the backbone of the family and community structures--they are still considered second class citizens.
Update: since the CRC center opened, I heard they've been flooded with clients who never knew their rights or how to access these services! Encouraging news!
Photos
Blog Posts
Christians Mobilize to End Poverty
Posted by Cassie Covelli on May 8, 2009 at 9:00am
'Heroes is an understatement' - Meeting Caregivers in Zambia for the First Time
"Blanketed with Blessings"
Written by Cassie Smithco (Caregiver Kit Program Manager) with help from Scott Corchero
Being with World Vision for about 8 years now, I've always heard about how incredible our work in the field is, and yet never experienced it first-hand un… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on April 7, 2009 at 12:18pm
'It's not about us' Tinley students assemble 'caregiver kits' for those with AIDS and HIV
'It's not about us' Tinley students assemble 'caregiver kits' for those with AIDS and HIV
March 26, 2009
BY JASON FREEMAN Staff Writer
The Sperling Brothers Foundation and 20 eighth-grade students from Southwest Chicago Christian School in Tinley Park partnered Saturday a… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on April 2, 2009 at 1:30pm
The Lifesaving Treatment of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) will be added to Caregiver Kits
Available in May, 10 packets of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) will be added to the list of contents in Caregiver Kits. These life-saving packets will offer a new dimension of care that the Caregivers will be able to provide their patients.
Dehydration caused by dia… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on March 11, 2009 at 1:00pm
Quaker Valley students ship 100 kits to caregivers
Thursday, January 15, 2009
By Sandy Trozzo
The students moved quickly, working their way along the table, placing cotton balls, soap and other items in 100 orange carrying cases. The last item in each case -- a carefully worded note of encouragement in French -- was placed on top.
The kits are destined for three French-speaking countries to help people who care for those living with AIDS and HIV.
For students in the French Club at Quaker Va… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on January 20, 2009 at 11:11am
Caregivers in Zambia: A Family's Blog
A great blog about the beloved Caregivers in Zambia: http://kautzfamily.blogspot.com/
Posted by Debbie Durham on December 11, 2008 at 10:15am
A Vision of Caring in Africa - 3,000 kits assembled at Boston AIDS Africa event
It began a simple sightseeing vacation, but when Boston businesswoman Geri Rhoades saw the toll AIDS had taken on countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe on a trip there last April, she said she found a new purpose.
Touched by the juxtaposition of Africa’s boundless natural beauty with the ravages of AIDS, Rhoades said she returned home committed to finding a means of helping people struggling with AIDS.
The following mon… Continue
Posted by Cassie Covelli on December 4, 2008 at 3:00pm
ZAMBIANS THANK CAREGIVERS IN NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION
Ceremonies are held in Lusaka and across the nation before World AIDS Day (Dec. 1st).
Lusaka, Zambia, Nov. 25, 2008—Thousands of Zambians are being honored this week across the country in “thanksgiving” celebrations for their role in addressing the twin epidemics of HIV and malaria in this African nation, and helping their neighbors in need lead healthier, fuller lives.
The first-ever “Zambian Caregivers Day”… Continue
Posted by Cassie Covelli on November 25, 2008 at 7:22am
Boston AIDS Africa announces their November 22nd kit build on local program
mms://streaming.vmsnews.com/media/INSIGHT/20081026-608537-AC17D79E… Continue
Posted by Cassie Covelli on October 29, 2008 at 11:30am
Advocate For Our Leaders to Put Children First
Advocate for our leaders to put children first. World Vision works with Congress to ensure that funding for AIDS programs are protected, and advocates for 10 percent of this funding to be set aside for the care of AIDS-affected children. Join us in speaking out on behalf of vulnerabl… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on October 24, 2008 at 10:30am
Marlborough Students Hope to aid African AIDS Fight One Penny At a Time
MARLBOROUGH —
Pennies really do add up.
Students at the grades 4-7 school are using coins to raise hundreds of dollars for AIDS care kits that will go to Africa.
In the "Penny War" fundraiser, students bring in pennies for their team's jar and dump all other currency in opposing teams' j… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on October 22, 2008 at 12:50pm
Latest Facts About HIV and AIDS
World Vision: HIV and AIDS Fact Sheet
An estimated 33 million people were living with HIV in 2007.
Source: UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2008
Every day nearly 7,400 people become infected with HIV and more than 5,400 people die from
AIDS.
Source: UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on October 2, 2008 at 12:11pm
The Lazarus Effect - story by James Addis
World Vision Autumn 2008
(Story by James Addis, posted Zambia photos by John Warren)
Sitting outside her one-room home, Agnes Njobvu,
42, tells a story that sounds faintly reminiscent of the biblical
book of Job. But it’s difficult to hear her at first. She
has to spe… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on September 23, 2008 at 12:52pm
First Lady Laura Bush, Cindy McCain, and others join us at the RNC Kit build!!
This successful event comes on the heels of another Caregiver Kit build last week at the Democratic National Convention that saw 1500 kits built.
VIPs in Attendance at the Event:
First Lady Laura Bush, Cindy McCain and Senator Bill Frist all joined ONE CEO David Lane and Princess Zulu on stage.
John Mc… Continue
Posted by Cassie Covelli on September 4, 2008 at 10:30am
Quote from Senator Tom Daschle who assembled a kit...
We are all in this together. Ending extreme poverty and preventable global disease requires all of us to come together and do what we can to change the world. That can mean uniting our our voices as one to call for change, or rolling up our sleeves as one to help those in need. Indeed, I can think of no better example than the World Vision and ONE volunteers working together here today. This afternoon, their unity and their efforts will save lives.
Make sure you check out all the new ph… Continue
Posted by Cassie Covelli on August 28, 2008 at 10:23am
Sign up to assemble Caregiver Kits at the Democratic or Republican Convention!
The following email went out to 90,000 World Vision advocates!
To register for the event, go to https://www.travizonmcc.com/Public/ap.aspx?EID=ACTI16E
Dear Friend,
You are invited to join World Vision and the ONE Campaign at the Democratic and Republican National Con… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on August 13, 2008 at 1:00pm
It's Not Left or Right, but Doing What's RIGHT!
Change for a Penny is headed to the National Conventions!
Both!
Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
In conjunction with World Vision and the ONE Campaign, our "Got Cents?" campaign will display pennies at the National Conventions as a representation of how many people have died of AIDS in Africa.
Why?
Because doing what is right, is not a matter of Left or Right or any other political or cultural color, but rather is a matter where we can… Continue
Posted by Todd on August 1, 2008 at 6:30pm
AIDS caregiver supplies dangerously low!
The following email went out to 180,000 World Vision sponsors last month. This was an urgent plea to mobilize churches to… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on July 2, 2008 at 4:00pm
AIDS Classified as a Global Disaster
The annual report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on world disasters typically focuses on natural disasters such as earthquakes. This year, the IFRC’s world disasters report is departing from the norm to focus on what it says is one of… Continue
Posted by Debbie Durham on June 27, 2008 at 10:33am
Forum
How to we ship 3 kits?
Started by Chrissy Garrison Jun 29.
Share advice or ask questions about hosting a kit build! 7 Replies
Started by Debbie Durham. Last reply by Karen Schoenherr Apr 25.
Latest Activity
About
Upcoming Events:
Dallas, TX – 115 Kits
June TBD, Faith Church –
Martinsville, IN – Kits TBD
June TBD, FedEx –
San Antonio, TX – 500 Kits
June TBD – Wantagh Baptist Church –
Farmingdale, NY – 20 Kits
July TBD, Mukilteo Presbyterian Church –
Mukilteo, WA – 200 Kits
July 11, Women of Vision Snoqualmie –
North Bend, WA – 150 Kits
July 12, Trinity United Presbyterian Church –
Santa Ana, CA – 30 Kits
July 19, First Baptist Church –
Temple City, CA – 100 Kits
Aug 2, Indiana University –
IN – Kits TBD
Aug 15, Kingdom Builders International –
Long Beach, CA – 100 Kits
Aug 22, Sun River Church –
Rancho Cordova, CA – 1,000 Kits
Aug TBD, RSM Gladrey Inc. –
Seattle, WA – 100 Kits
Aug TBD, Abundant Life Christian Fellowship –
Mountain View, CA – 1,000 Kits
Aug TBD, Harbor Light and City Serve Ministries –
Fremont, CA – 1,000 Kits
Aug TBD, Church of the Champions –
Houston, TX – 50 Kits
Latest World Vision Headlines
Sponsorship brings birthday parties, education, and childhood enjoyment to children in Bangladesh
Thanks to the support of her sponsors, Lamia was able to celebrate her birthday and has been given a reason to look forward to the years to come.Rwandan Genocide 15 years later: Alice forgives
She survived the unthinkable, forgave her attackers, and now works with World Vision to bring peace and reconciliation to her country.Malaria threatens the lives of a young mother and her unborn child
In sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria kills as many as 10,000 pregnant women and 200,000 unborn children each year, World Vision is working to raise awareness and combat the spread of this preventable disease.Latest World Vision Radio Stories
Rickshaw Ambivalence
For the past three years, reporter Peter Aronson has lived in India, where rickshaws are a common sight. He says he recoiled at the idea of using another human being to get around. But after speaking with some drivers, he has a different perspective.Muzzling Journalists
Journalist Roxana Saberi was released from an Iranian prison a couple of weeks ago. Her case highlights the dangers journalists face in many parts of the world: censorship, beatings, imprisonment, even death. The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that some 125 journalists are in jail around the world at any given time. Most of them are local reporters without the clout to secure a quick release. Leda Hartman spoke with Robert Mahoney, deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and asked him to explain how the safety of journalists was a human rights issue.Modest Needs
Many people these days are finding they just don't have enough money to pay the bills. Sometimes a medical emergency or car trouble can use up the money meant for the rent. Keith Taylor faced exactly this problem when he was in graduate school. His car had broken down, and after he repaired it, there was nothing left in the bank. But a friend helped him out. Taylor was so touched, he wanted to find a way to keep helping others. So he set up a Web site for people who just need a few hundred dollars worth of help. The first day the Web site was up, he got 1,700 emails -- 80% of them from people wanting to contribute to the fund. The fund has grown dramatically since then. Keith Taylor talks with host Peggy Wehmeyer about his website, called Modest Needs.Domestic Worker Abuse
There are about 50,000 foreign domestic workers in Beirut, Lebanon. Most come from Ethiopia, in search of a better life and a well-paying job. But some of these women end up in a nightmare of abuse. Will Everett has this report.© 2009 Created by Jason Miles on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
