Current Projects

Costa Rica    See Program Director David Sleppy’s Current Blog on this program
Carbon 1 is a small village two miles inland from Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
It has about 300 inhabitants spread on a large area of about 1 square mile. The current primary school receives partial aid from the Government and, mainly, from the willingness of the principal/teacher as well as some of the parents of the kids.

During the 2009 school year, there are currently 20 children registered at the school between the ages of 7 – 13. The present infrastructure includes a building with two classes and a separate, smaller building, where kids have their meals. The building was built in 1983.

The principal, who is also the teacher of the school, is Maritza Gaitan and is a 40 year- old woman from Limon. Along with her husband, she moved on the school grounds five years ago. She spends six days a week in Carbon and travels to the city of Limon every weekend to visit her daughter, now in college.

Current Needs:
School supplies and books – $40.00 per child per year
High school scholarships for one year for those who graduate from primary school – $200 per student
New bathroom and maintenance of electricity

India
Ramana’s Garden: Dr. Prabhavati Dwabha formed Ramana’s Garden Home for destitute children in Rishikesh, India approximately 10 years ago as a result of her spiritual practice on the banks of the River Ganga. After meeting the numerous homeless, destitute, and abused children, she decided to make them her life’s work. She has provided a growing number of children with education, nourishment, and a future where they had little or no hope. Prabhavati has also instituted programs to educate local villages in practices of proper sanitation, safe drinking water, and general health care.

Current needs:
Wood desk for three students: $50 each
Annual funding for one child: $365.00 (a dollar a day)

Kenya
The N.A. Noel preschool came to life in 2001 when Nancy Noel, internationally-known artist, was walking through an impoverished fishing community on Rusinga Island, which sits in the Kenya part of Lake Victoria. She was looking for children to paint and came upon a small hut, 12′ x 12′. Inside this small area were sixty children and a teacher. She was taken with the enthusiasm of the students, many of which had been orphaned by AIDS. Nancy spent some time photographing these children, before the school’s teacher, Mrs. Tom, declared “We would like to name our school after you because you are our first visitor.”

Nancy has since been the sole supporter of this school, now named in her honor. The N.A. Noel preschool now has 239 students, several teachers, three classrooms and access to supplies and medical treatment. This area is disease stricken with a dense concentration of AIDS; conditions are harsh but Nancy has always found that, “despite how much they lacked, they were still vibrant with laughter and kindness.”

Nancy is thrilled that the N.A. Noel Preschool is the founding chapter of the Women Like Us Foundation. Throughout the years, the main building at the school has deteriorated and a new facility for classrooms is desperately needed, this is the present goal. Consider this very worthy project; it is a huge benefit to the children and the community.

Current needs:
Annual school tuition: $50.00 per child
Building supplies for new preschool building

Serbia
Despite that Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princesses Katherine of Serbia lived for many years in exile, Princess Katherine always had her country in her heart. During the difficult years through her hard work and she provided a very large amount of humanitarian aid which was distributed throughout the former Yugoslavia regardless of religion or ethnic origin. Her Royal Highness believes that there are no borders in suffering.

The Princess’s immense care for people in need, children, senior citizens, refugees and institutions was the reason why the former Federal Ministry of Health and Serbian Ministry of Health appointed Her Royal Highness as the coordinator for humanitarian help.

Since Their Royal Highnesses returned to live in The Royal Palace in Belgrade in July 2001 it was natural for the scope of humanitarian activities to expand. At the beginning of August 2001, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine Humanitarian Foundation was established in Belgrade with the task to continue and increase humanitarian activities. In the United States of America the Foundation is a 501(C) (3) and registered as Lifeline Humanitarian Organization, donations are tax deductible according to the extent of the law.
From statistics, Serbia has the highest breast cancer mortality rate in Europe. Serbia still needs 40 mammography machines to implement a screening program. At the moment they have approximately 4 digital breast cancer machines in Serbia.

Current needs:
Share of mammogram machine: $100.00

South Africa
Linawo Children’s Home is situated in Cape Town, South Africa. South Africa has an Apartheid history characterized by racial discrimination, prejudice and the violation of human rights. In 1994 they had their first democratic election, thus marking the end of Apartheid. Unfortunately they still live with some of the many effects of their past together with the current challenges of poverty, crime and HIV/AIDS.

Linawo Children’s Home is a residential home that cares for abandoned, neglected and orphaned children as a result of substance abuse, poverty and/or HIV/AIDS. Included in this group are children with disabilities and HIV. Linawo Children’s Home is currently situated in Khayelitsha, Cape Town although they are trying to purchase property so at to provide the children a stable and secure home.

Current needs:
School books for a year: $40 per child

Uganda
The Shanti Uganda Society improves the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of communities impacted by war, poverty and HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Natalie Angell, co-founder and Executive Director, is following her path towards holistic midwifery and shares her time between Canada and Uganda. Natalie has a deep respect for grassroots women’s movements and their ability to both heal and empower communities throughout the world.

WLU is involved in supporting the following project:
Birthing Center

This community project will be made with natural building materials and will provide a safe place for women to receive care and birth their babies in an empowering, home-like environment where they receive nutritious food from the garden and continual support. It will also provide space to hold workshops with local midwives and Traditional Birth Attendants and give the women in the income-generating group a place to meet and work.

Currently the women in the community have no health center or access to medical support when complications arise during the birth process. By the time they make their way on the back of a bumpy motorcycle ride to the closest clinic, it is often too late. Our goal is to lower maternal and infant mortality rates, reduce HIV/AIDS transmission rates from mother to child, and improve birth outcomes. We will strive to give educational access to Traditional Birth Attendants and provide a safe and empowering place for women to welcome their babies into the world. In addition, it will provide employment opportunities for the local community.

Birth Kits
The Uganda birth kits decrease the risk of infection and bleeding for both mother and baby. They are filled with the basic supplies a woman needs to have her baby with safety and health in mind and are used by the birthing women at Bishop Asili Clinic in Kasana. They include a reusable menstrual pad from Lunapads and can be purchased with a donation of $15 each.

Each birth kit will contain:

• 1 pair of sterile exam gloves
• 1 umbilical cord tie
• 1 sterile disposable scalpel (for cutting cord)
• 2 blue chux pads
• 2 disposable towels
• 2 packages of sterile gauze pads
• 1 sterile bulb syringe
• 1 plastic bag for placenta
• 1 waterproof sheet
• 2 packages of lubricant gel
• 4 alcohol prep pads
• 1 reusable pad and liner

Natalie Angell – Cofounder & Executive Director

Natalie Angell is passionate about peace, healing and the power of conscious change. She is committed to supporting communities to find inner peace and live from a place of compassion. A yoga teacher and doula, Natalie cofounded Heart Centre Yoga, has released a guided meditation CD and leads yoga birth workshops for couples. Natalie has a BA in International Development Studies from York University and has worked with non profit organizations both in Canada and in the Global South. She is currently following her path towards holistic midwifery and shares her time between Canada and Uganda. Natalie has a deep respect for grassroots women’s movements and their ability to both heal and empower communities throughout the world.