GRACE Raises Funds for our Côte d’Ivoire Program
Inspired by Stephen Lewis' Grandmothers to Grandmothers project, GRACE (Grandmothers for Race and Class Equality) is a group of Seattle-based women who are committed to connecting with projects that benefit grandmothers, other women and children in Africa. Their core members are Bobby Righi, Valerie Bystrom, Jonis Davis, Sharon Felton, Wadiya Nelson, Marcella Pendergass, Mary Anne Soule and Helen Taylor. Since 2008, they have been committed supporters of the HAI Côte d'Ivoire program and have worked in solidarity with our efforts to strengthen the CI Ministry of Health (MOH) health system.
In 2008, GRACE's first project involved raising funds for uniforms for sixty midwives in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire. The project was a tremendous success and they have since been motivated to take on a new challenge. Their latest effort is focused on raising money for an incinerator to dispose of medical waste. The MOH in the Bouaké area chose an incinerator project as a focus for fundraising as the region currently lacks safe, effective ways of disposing of medical waste. Particularly in Bouaké, a densely populated city, medical waste can create safety and health risks if it is not disposed of in a timely fashion. GRACE's goal is to raise enough money to build an incinerator in a centrally located, highly utilized health facility.
Thanks to the amazing efforts of GRACE, a large group of Seattle residents attended a fundraiser on April 8, 2010. The lovely evening consisted of a silent auction (full of locally donated artwork, gift certificates, and other goodies), yummy hors d'oeuvres, and chatting about HAI's program in Côte d'Ivoire. This was followed by presentation by Steve Gloyd, Ahoua Koné (who is currently in CI and connected by the magic of Skype) and myself. We were ably assisted and supported by Lucie Kroschel and Susan Thompson, who also lent their evening and vast talents to help support this effort.
I am pleased to report that the event was a great success, and GRACE is well on the road to meeting their goal! The completion of this project will help to ensure that a public health facility has access to safe, effective disposal of medical waste. Words cannot express the gratitude that HAI-CI and our MOH partners have for this group of incredible women.
If you are interested in making a contribution to HAI please visit our donate page or to contribute specifically to the GRACE project, mail a check made out to HAI to the Health Alliance International Headquarters office with "incinerator" in the memo line.
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