July 2016
Our team traveled to Tanzania to work on social change projects on July 2, 2016.
July 4 we found ourselves at the Keni medical dispensary. Many people are unable to travel or afford medical care at the hospital. In 2012 the dispensary was just a concrete slab. Today it services over 12,000 people from the surrounding area. This year donations from SALT world went towards building a laboratory. In the pictures below you can see that the laboratory is almost complete. The lab will help provide more medical testing opportunities to accurately and quickly diagnose. The school children also received brand new tennis shoes and soccer balls. Thank you to everyone that donated to this social change project. A special thank you to Moore Counseling and Meditation Services from Cleveland for their continued support, Fleet and Feet from Corpus Christi for the donation of the shoes, and Graham Montgomery from Arizona for the soccer balls.
On July 5 we spent time at St. Francis which is a school for children ages 5-12. Many of the children have visual and hearing impairments. The school also serves as a safe place for children who are Albino who previously have been targets of violent bodily crimes. The volunteers spent time hand washing clothes, fitting children for new shoes, and playing with the children. Last year SALT world donated money to help build a dinning hall so children do not need to eat off the ground. In the pictures below you can see the dining hall that is in progress from December. This year funds were also donated to help build the teacher quarters. Thank you to everyone that donated to this social change projects!Thank you to Fleet and Feet from Corpus Christi for donating shoes and to Graham Montgomery from Arizona for donating soccer balls.
On July 6 we spent time at the psychiatric unit at Mawenzi hospital. Recently the hospital lost a dear friend to us Dr. Ringo who ran the psychiatric unit. Dr. Ringo was an advocate for his patients and never treated someone as a diagnosis. Over the years SALT world has donated money to help provide medication for the patients for a year. It was Dr. Ringo’s vision to continue to provide excellent care to his patients. This year SALT world donated money to continue to purchase much needed medications and provide new bedding. A big thank you to Dr. Kelly Aissen from Florida that helped fundraise for this specific project! Thank you to everyone that has brought care and attention to those that are often forgotten.
On July 10 we visited the local university medical dispensary. This university dispensary that can treat over 15,000 people is unique in that the university decided to build it outside of the university so local people could have access to medical care as well. Thank you to everyone that supported this project. Because of your generosity a donation was made to purchase a much needed microscope to ensure accurate diagnosing and testing.
On July 12 we spent time playing, feeding, and bathing the children of Upendo Orphanage. A donation was made to help purchase much needed formula and medication for the children. Soccer balls and over 175 pairs of underwear and socks were donated. Upendo is home to 43 children ages birth to 5. Many of the children lost their mother during birth or have been abandoned. Upendo means love in Swahili. Thank you to everyone that has supported this project. Also thank you to Graham Montgomery from Arizona for donating soccer balls and to Dr. Kelly Aissen from Florida for collecting and purchasing the socks and underwear.