Family and Friends,
As many of you know, I have been in Malawi for some months now working with an organization called Project Peanut Butter (PPB). PPB is a non-profit organization that works with malnourished children, feeding the children as well as conducting various studies on the effectiveness of the Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) that is given out. The RUTF we have been giving out is mass produced at a local factory in Blantyre, Malawi, maintaining PPB’s emphasis on employing locals to assist with the Project.
My fellow volunteers and I attend clinic daily, facilitating the research study, screening children to gauge their level of malnourishment, distribute RUTF, and of course, play with all of the adorable babies!
Patricia has become an integral part of our success working with this Project. She performs all of the tasks we do, in addition to managing translation, directing moms at clinic, problem solving when the need arises, and overall allowing clinic to run smoothly and successfully; all of this without any traditional training or higher education.
Growing up in one of the rural villages surrounding Blantyre, her goal since completing secondary school almost 14 years ago has been to become a nurse—a well-respected and better paying position than most in the area. Unfortunately, finances have never allowed her the opportunity to pursue this goal. Patricia is the sole provider for her family, which includes her husband and three young children. After connecting with and getting to know this incredible woman and her family, we feel as if her future is worth investing in.
Instead of simply giving her money to improve her day-to-day struggles, we would prefer to give her the opportunity to gain a life skill that will provide for a comfortable future for her and her family, allowing them to stay in their home country of Malawi. Instead of putting our donations directly to the Project at this point in time, we are hoping to ensure the future success of the Project by providing an employable nurse that is passionate and dedicated to helping children in her native country, while also drastically improving a deserving family's quality of life.
Here’s where we need your love and support! We are aiming to provide:
· 3 years of a combined Nursing and Midwife Education at a local nursing school (accommodations and food included)
· The cost of nursery school for her two youngest children (ages 4 and 2) for the entirety of Patricia’s time in school (they currently stay home alone while Patricia is away at clinic).
· The weekly stipend Patricia will not be receiving from working for PPB while in school so she can continue to support her family in her time away from work.
· Miscellaneous costs to make home life a bit more comfortable
*We are hoping to raise ~$700 before June 1, for Patricia to grab a last minute spot in this year's class at the Mulanje Mission Hospital Nursing School and start right away. I have faith we can pull it off!! The TOTAL cost of education, supplies, etc. is ~$7000, but we are splitting up the fundraising efforts. Anything I raise on top of my personal $2400 goal will be split between the other volunteers, as we are all working towards the same goal!*
To give you an idea of what your donation can actually do to help:
$10 = 1 month nursery school for the children (including a backpack and necessary supplies)
$25 = school books and miscellaneous fees
$30 = 1 mattress (all 5 family members currently sleep on the dirt floor)
$50 = A desk for Patricia
$60 = 1 month stipend
$120 = 1 month of nursing school
$350 = 1/4 of one year of nursing school
Thank you for considering this cause and supporting something that is near and dear to my heart!
Sending love from the Warm Heart of Africa,
Erin
To follow my African journey, click here!
https://projectpostgrad.com
For those interested in further logistics:
Since we are not going to be in Malawi past this summer, we have chosen to appoint a respected employee of PPB to be in charge of holding the large sum of money that will hopefully come from donations, and distributing it as needed. Patricia will only have direct access to the monthly stipend, which will be deposited into her bank account. School fees will be paid directly to the organization. We felt that having a person in Malawi would ease the transfer of money, and ensure that everyone is being held accountable. A contract has been written up and signed by all of us involved, including Patricia, that states the amount each of us is hoping to fundraise, and confirming Patricia’s commitment to hold up her end of the bargain (study hard, get through nursing school!). If for whatever reason Patricia does not complete her education, the remaining donations will be given to PPB, so that they can continue to feed malnourished children.
As many of you know, I have been in Malawi for some months now working with an organization called Project Peanut Butter (PPB). PPB is a non-profit organization that works with malnourished children, feeding the children as well as conducting various studies on the effectiveness of the Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) that is given out. The RUTF we have been giving out is mass produced at a local factory in Blantyre, Malawi, maintaining PPB’s emphasis on employing locals to assist with the Project.
My fellow volunteers and I attend clinic daily, facilitating the research study, screening children to gauge their level of malnourishment, distribute RUTF, and of course, play with all of the adorable babies!
Patricia has become an integral part of our success working with this Project. She performs all of the tasks we do, in addition to managing translation, directing moms at clinic, problem solving when the need arises, and overall allowing clinic to run smoothly and successfully; all of this without any traditional training or higher education.
Growing up in one of the rural villages surrounding Blantyre, her goal since completing secondary school almost 14 years ago has been to become a nurse—a well-respected and better paying position than most in the area. Unfortunately, finances have never allowed her the opportunity to pursue this goal. Patricia is the sole provider for her family, which includes her husband and three young children. After connecting with and getting to know this incredible woman and her family, we feel as if her future is worth investing in.
Instead of simply giving her money to improve her day-to-day struggles, we would prefer to give her the opportunity to gain a life skill that will provide for a comfortable future for her and her family, allowing them to stay in their home country of Malawi. Instead of putting our donations directly to the Project at this point in time, we are hoping to ensure the future success of the Project by providing an employable nurse that is passionate and dedicated to helping children in her native country, while also drastically improving a deserving family's quality of life.
Here’s where we need your love and support! We are aiming to provide:
· 3 years of a combined Nursing and Midwife Education at a local nursing school (accommodations and food included)
· The cost of nursery school for her two youngest children (ages 4 and 2) for the entirety of Patricia’s time in school (they currently stay home alone while Patricia is away at clinic).
· The weekly stipend Patricia will not be receiving from working for PPB while in school so she can continue to support her family in her time away from work.
· Miscellaneous costs to make home life a bit more comfortable
*We are hoping to raise ~$700 before June 1, for Patricia to grab a last minute spot in this year's class at the Mulanje Mission Hospital Nursing School and start right away. I have faith we can pull it off!! The TOTAL cost of education, supplies, etc. is ~$7000, but we are splitting up the fundraising efforts. Anything I raise on top of my personal $2400 goal will be split between the other volunteers, as we are all working towards the same goal!*
To give you an idea of what your donation can actually do to help:
$10 = 1 month nursery school for the children (including a backpack and necessary supplies)
$25 = school books and miscellaneous fees
$30 = 1 mattress (all 5 family members currently sleep on the dirt floor)
$50 = A desk for Patricia
$60 = 1 month stipend
$120 = 1 month of nursing school
$350 = 1/4 of one year of nursing school
Thank you for considering this cause and supporting something that is near and dear to my heart!
Sending love from the Warm Heart of Africa,
Erin
To follow my African journey, click here!
https://projectpostgrad.com
For those interested in further logistics:
Since we are not going to be in Malawi past this summer, we have chosen to appoint a respected employee of PPB to be in charge of holding the large sum of money that will hopefully come from donations, and distributing it as needed. Patricia will only have direct access to the monthly stipend, which will be deposited into her bank account. School fees will be paid directly to the organization. We felt that having a person in Malawi would ease the transfer of money, and ensure that everyone is being held accountable. A contract has been written up and signed by all of us involved, including Patricia, that states the amount each of us is hoping to fundraise, and confirming Patricia’s commitment to hold up her end of the bargain (study hard, get through nursing school!). If for whatever reason Patricia does not complete her education, the remaining donations will be given to PPB, so that they can continue to feed malnourished children.