Help Iesha Go to West Africa!

Iesha Saunders is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Greetings All!

I am Iesha Saunders, a 25 yearold Afro-Xaymacan wombman, and I have been accepted into the "Sustainable Neighbors Network and the Ecovillage Movement in Senegal" Winter Program. I need your help, community!

I am currently in my last year of University at The City Colleg of New York. I will be obtaining a bachelors in Anthropology with a Medical Concentration and minor in Black Studies in May 2017.

My focus is on the integration of Traditional Healing into the Western Medical System and Development (Health and Agriculture) in Semi Periphery and Periphery regions. I have faciliated workshops on Herbalism, Health Disparities, Mental Health and Food Justice. As the Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women and a Peer Health Educator, I have made relevant health information more accessible to young folks in underprivileged school districts.

As a Full Spectrum Doula, or individual that gives physical and emotional support to women in the prenatal, labor or postpartum stage, I make sure to serve those who would not be able to afford it. Less stress equals better birth outcomes and I am commited to lowering the Infant Mortality and Maternal Morbidity rate.

I am also in the midst of starting a Cooperative Green Business that will benefit from this hands on experience coming my way.

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During my free time, I am attending relevant workshops, cooking, listening to Sade, talking to plants, dancing to Phil Collins and Vybz Kartel, making tea, howling at the moon and healing with my family (blood/celestial).

In and outside of my institutional studies, I am dedicated to uplifting underserved communities and helping individuals find the tools to empower themselves via health and education.

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*I have earned the opportunity to study in Senegal in a service learning program. This program will take me to a rural ecocommune to study in association with THE GLOBAL ECOVILLAGE NETWORK OF AFRICA. I will be studying alongside Senegalese students from Cheikh Anta Diop University and learning from local farmers.*

*My focus will be service learning, action research and sustainable development which will engage me in understanding an ancient wisdom tradition, for resolving community conflict, and in protecting the ecological, social and mental health of traditional African villages. Our work will support the international British Aid Agency, DFID and the leadership training agency, CIFAL, in their 3 year international development project in the Eco-commune of Guede Chantier and three of its affiliated villages. This project applies a variety of service learning called “project based learning,” to the adaptation and installation of modern, solar, other energy, water supply, crop protection and product packaging alternatives, as well as cultural preservation and improvement of basic services. We will be testing the best modern solutions while reforesting landscapes stripped of trees for firewood, stabilizing water retention systems, protecting crops with organic pesticides, removing plastic bags that litter the landscape and working on climate change adaptation.*

*I have also landed the opporutunity to be present at Senegal's capital, Dakar's, Health Center to assist with Infant and Maternal Health.*

I will be leaving on January 3rd, 2017 and returning on January 26th, 2017 for my last semester of undergrad.

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"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

I am reaching out to you, community! to help me manifest this. Any donation counts, whether it's in monetary funds or a simple intention for me to find my way. Going to Senegal is in alignment with the work I am already doing and will make me a stronger, more adaptable and disciplined woman with solid preserverance. My expectations are to heal and find new effective ways to navigate in a group, as well as extend my knowledge on herb cultivation and harvest - and sustainable practices! I intend to make the most of it! Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

The breakdown of costs for this trip goes as followed:

Program Cost - 2000$
CUNY tuition for 4 credits - 1100$
Airfare - 1055$
Medical expenses (Homeopathic Tropical Disease Prevention - Alternative for Yellow fever vacinnation and Malaria pills, Physical) - 90$
Cell phone bill - 120$
Emergency cash - 500$

4900$ is the total but some of my expenses are already covered! Raising up to (2222$) would ensure a smooth sailing trip for me.

I am leaving on January 3rd, 2017. I have (two weeks) to raise this money and I am hopeful!

I also encourage you all to visit the sites below to get an elaborate description on what my trip entails. Please become familiar with what your funds are advocating. Your money is supporting a great cause via organizations/institutions that are transparent and embody integrity.

https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/studyabroad/winter-program-dakar-senegal

http://africa.ecovillage.org/
http://www.sustainable-neighbors.net/winter-program.html

https://www.facebook.com/TheCityCollegeofNewYork/?hc_ref=SEARCH
https://www.facebook.com/genafricanetwork/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/REDESoutreach/?fref=ts

Gratitude. I look forward to extending my services to all those who have donated with that intention. I also appreciate all who donated, just to support me in experiencing new territory that will further my development for my calling/career.