Syrian Refugees Impacted by Your Generosity

// April 20th, 2012 // No Comments » // Disaster Relief, Syria

As the violence continues in their homeland, thousands of Syrians are fleeing south, to Jordan, seeking peace and safety. Bringing what few belongings they can carry, they are finding it difficult to survive in unfamiliar surroundings without work, without income, without resources. The winter has been cold with dustings of snow and overnight temperatures dipping down into the 30’s, making it difficult to find enough heat to stay alive. Displaced from their homes, unable to get to their places of employment, many are grieving family members and friends lost in the conflict, fearful of what the future holds. . .you can imagine their sadness and desperation.

Your Gifts Bring Real Help and Hope

Many of you have responded to the plight of these Syrian refugees through gifts and donations – thank you! One example is a congregation in a neighboring Arab country that donated 250 blankets specifically to help the refugees from Syria. The GHNI office in Amman was piled high with thick, new blankets, which were then loaded into vans and driven north to be delivered to refugee families now residing in border villages. We stopped in a number of places, visiting homes our local partners identified as refugee families in need.

This multi-generational group of Syrian women demonstrates the kinds of families we often meet – women struggling to provide for their children, having lost a father or husband, or having had to flee, leaving their men behind who are still involved in the conflict. Receiving bags of food, warm blankets or heaters provided because of donations from people like you, is an enormous encouragement to families facing an uncertain future. In a time when life has handed them many difficulties, we are glad to hand them gifts that bring comfort and help. You can see the shy smiles on their faces in response to our aide.

Thank you again for your kind and compassionate response to the lives of these refugees. Your gift is truly helping to clothe them with warmth, and provide immediate food aid and assistance.

The need is still great. If you would like to help a Syrian refugee family, you can make a donation here or click on the button below.

Cross Cultural Workshop Offered

// January 10th, 2012 // No Comments » // Disaster Relief, field work

Caring Across Cultures

Cross cultural sensitivity and self awareness in humanitarian work

On the 24th-25th of February, five mental health practitioners will be leading a workshop in collaboration with Global Hope Network International.

This workshop, which has limited space available, exists to serve those working in an aid or development capacity within a culture different from their own. It will cover areas such as cross cultural dimensions, the neurobiology of stress, and coping skills.

Date: Friday 24th February (17:00 – 20:00) & Saturday 25th February (9.30 – 17.30)
Location: Webster University, Route de Collex 15, CH 1293 Bellevue, Switzerland
Cost of the workshop is 275 CHF (includes coffee & lunch on the 25th)

To register for this workshop, or if you have any questions, please email Jessica.Marchand at ghni.org

Download the flyer here.

GHNI Relief to Turkey Earthquake Survivors

// October 27th, 2011 // No Comments » // Disaster Relief, Turkey

photo credit Baz Ratner/Reuters

On October 23, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the homes and lives of thousands throughout Eastern Turkey. Currently the death toll stands at 520, but hopes of finding more survivors fade and the nighttime temperatures fall towards freezing.

Having been to the region many times and having friends who live there, this earthquake echoes of the 1999 Izmit Earthquake that killed 25,000-75,000, (and led me to enter the world of Humanitarian Aid full-time). I know of three families in the region effected by the recent earthquake. All three of their homes have been destroyed. Together they have seven children and two families have already left the area. One family, like many of the survivors, is living in a tent and wanting to stay and help their fellow countrymen.

Together with some partner-volunteers, they have decided to start a small scale feeding program to help alleviate people’s suffering. Right now it’s too early to say how long the need will last, but they have committed to running this soup kitchen for at least one month. Through the generosity of friends, Global Hope Network International has already sent money to keep the kitchen running for one week. If funding becomes available we would like to help people with blankets, tarps, and baby formula. If you’d like to help, you can contribute here and type “Turkey Earthquake” in the special instructions under Other Projects. Thank you for your care for the people of Turkey and your partnership.

Jeff Latsa
Project Manager

P.S. On Sunday morning I left Armenia – just hours before the quake struck and less than 100 miles from the epicenter.

News Behind the News
October 2011

// October 17th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Adopt a Village, Afghanistan, China, Disaster Relief, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, tcd, TLD

Kids in Camba Berua, Indonesia

A summary of news and reports from the field staff and interns of GHNI, Geneva Switzerland.

HORN OF AFRICA FAMINE REPORT

We’ve just received a report from our field partners working in Somalia. First of all, thank you so much to all of you who donated to help with this relief! Because of your generosity we were able to distribute food in the northeastern part of Somalia in an Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp. There are approximately 700 families in the camp and we had enough funding to provide food to 250 of the most needy families.

GHNI is sponsoring aid for communities that are starving, but also ones we believe will be open to their own development through Transformational Community Development (TCD). TCD provides coaching and training in drip irrigation, sustainable agriculture and public health so that many families can have a future of less famine and more resilience. Donate to Food Relief.

AFGHANISTAN

The region where we work was recently turned over to the Afghan Army. Taliban signs have shown up and the area is becoming more dangerous. We are thankful one of our local staff was a former commander and has the respect and following of the local population. The situation for security in Kabul continues to worsen, but our director, Pat Lightbourne, continues on. The Adopt a Village Program is also continuing as a Swiss Company, Rimuss, has adopted a village of Pushtun people and we are getting regular reports of progress and change, one life at a time.

ARMENIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

GHNI staff, Jeff Latsa and Hal Jones, are currently on their way to Armenia where the rural poor are largely neglected. Armenia is one of the poorest countries in Central Asia and has had very little economical strength since the fall of communism. GHNI is having our first Transformational Community Development Conference for Central Asia and more than 20 delegates from several Central Asian countries are attending.

LIBYA

The National Transition Council is very close to being in control of the whole country. They come from many mixed backgrounds, but the majority have told us they want democracy in Libya. A recent powerful group of oil buyers was told they must wait until the legitimate government is in place before any contracts are made. This is a good sign. We have friends who have been involved in our work there now, working to help give leadership to the new country. We are seeking to send top consultants from free countries to advise many of these leaders.

JAPAN

Relief efforts continue to reveal the extent of the damage to both infrastructure and human lives. We are helping a counseling center and will then transition to help some of the poorest of the poor. We are very excited about the expertise of our partners.

NIGERIA

Northern Nigeria is one of the most neglected areas of the world. Almost no aid organizations provide this area with help for solving endemic poverty. A team lead by Hal and Lana Jones flies there this November with doctors and volunteers to help in several villages of the Dukawa people. We still need funding to drill a well and for medical supplies. Click here to help and type in “Nigeria” in the special instructions box.

SRI LANKA

In the wake of the end of the 26 year civil war, Sri Lanka is getting very little aid to help rebuild the country, especially for the rural areas. Our Director, Celeste, and his wife Jayrani have done a great job of getting Transformational Community Development going in some villages. Then Celeste was hit with a heart attack in India at a GHNI Conference just a few weeks ago. He is recovering and back home now. Thanks so much to those of you who contributed towards his medical bills!

MYANMAR

Recent events in Myanmar include over 200 political prisoners being released from prison. We are hoping more peace and opportunity will return to help the poorest of the poor. Orphan care programs abound now in the country as a result of Cyclone Nargis. GHNI is teaching many community-based orphan care programs how to become self-sustaining through agricultural programs.

INDONESIA

Technology and hope met in the community of Camba Berua as our team taught a lesson about self respect and believing in yourself. Two of our team-members, John and Julie, set up a Skype phone-call with one of their friends from the US. This friend of John and Julie’s is disabled with limited movement in her arms and upper-body.

The participants stared in amazement at the computer screen as John and Julie’s friend sat in her wheelchair smiling and talking to the participants. Julie translated for her friend, “Even though you may look at me and feel sorry for me, I believe (there) is so much to be thankful for. I am able to work, I’m able to attend college and one day I hope to get married to the man of my dreams.”

SYRIA REFUGEES

Thousands of families from Syria have fled to the relative peace of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. GHNI Jordan Director, Jamal Hashweh, has found many families in the northern desert of Jordan and is presently gathering a partnership of aid organizations to reach out with tents, food, clothing and medical help.

EGYPT

Ezbet El Nikhil is a slum inside the poorest part of Cairo’s suburbs. The majority of the people there collect and sort garbage for a living. They are so poor they often have their children work instead of going to school. With the insecurity in Cairo, many of the poor have been directly affected and often go without food. A short-term team of GHNI leaders went to help our partners with a food distribution. While there, the mostly illiterate women who stood in line for food said, “Please teach us how to read!” We are presently planning to teach community health to the families, as well as literacy.

IRAQ

As I write we have two leaders from GHNI helping the Ministry of Education in Irbil with a series of training programs called Transformational Leadership Development led by Mike Shea. Mike’s team is comprised of business men and women who teach and also spend time with the various leaders. The relationships that develop through the TLD programs are amazing! Contact Mike.Shea@ghni.org for more info.

INDIA

Transformational Community Development is exploding in India. Mike Parks and his team have trained leaders of a group of 700 village workers.  In the next 30 days we will launch in the first 17 villages across the country. Over the next few years the plan is to help up to 80,000 villages learn how to help themselves. We need partners to help us adopt village clusters. Please contact Dan.Emig@ghni.org if you’re interested.

JORDAN

Villages of ancient Moab will soon be helped by our Transformational Community Center in Ma’in, Jordan. The Center will benefit five villages in the area and partners are helping us renovate a building to provide training for poor women, youth, and host short term teams! If you would like to help click here.

CHINA

GHNI is partnering with a great group of partners in China, working from Cheng Du and the surrounding area. They will be training young business entrepreneurs in how to start a business that they can also use to train others in some of the poorest small towns in the rural areas, where much poverty still survives. The motivation and drive of these trainers is so exciting. The program we have engages top successful small business people from many countries to help them learn how to teach the poorest of the poor.

GENEVA INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC POLICY

Our next conference is scheduled for June 2012. The theme is Post Conflict Leadership and Public Policy and we are planning on bringing together leaders from the Arab world, Africa and Asia. The world is changing and we are so encouraged that emerging and existing leaders want to hear experts from all over the world to provide counsel and model legislation for building stronger countries. It cost us almost $3,000 to bring each law maker. If you would like to help one, contact Jessica.Marchand@ghni.org, Senior External Relations Officer.

Update on Horn of Africa Famine Relief

// September 30th, 2011 // No Comments » // Disaster Relief, Somalia

We’ve just received a report from our field partners working in Somalia. First of all, thank you so much to all of you who donated to help with this relief! Because of your generosity we were able to distribute food in the northeastern part of Somalia in an Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp. There are approximately 700 families in the camp and we had enough funding to provide food to 250 of the most needy families. As you can imagine, it was difficult to select the most vulnerable and needy as the situation is widespread. Each family of about six to eight people received rice and oil that will last them roughly one month. Ideally we would like to see every family in the camp receive food rations. If you would like to help feed the remaining 450 families, you can do so here. Thank you again! Here are a few pictures of the men, women and children your gift is helping to sustain.

URGENT Relief Needed for Horn of Africa

// August 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // Disaster Relief, Kenya, Somalia

Greetings,

photo by Mohamed Amin Jibril/IRIN

I just got off the phone with our partners and colleagues working in Somalia.  The news headlines and images of starving families in the Horn of Africa continue to grow.  But it is only the tip of the problem.  There are thousands of families that will never get help because few NGO’s go there.

These are the places where GHNI goes.

We have some food being shipped that will help but the URGENT ISSUE IS THEY NEED FOOD NOW.  So we are seeking to send funds there immediately to purchase food locally and deliver it without delay.  SHIPPIING TAKES 2 TO 3 MONTHS.  We can’t wait.  The starving can’t wait.  Our trusted partner team members are waiting there for us.

What is happening:  Eleven million people are at immediate risk of starvation in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti).  More than one half are children under the age of 15. The UN has declared this area a Phase 5 (highest level) catastrophe.  Malnutrition has now reached 37% in parts of Kenya and Somalia.  Refugee camp population in northern Kenya now exceeds ½ million, growing by 5,000 per week. The prolonged drought, together with the continued unrest and political instability, has contributed to the large number of people living as IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) in camps throughout the country with many seeking help in refugee camps inside Kenya.

GHNI’s trusted local partners have successfully been working in the area for a number of years and have experience in doing food distribution and other projects.  Their staff work together with local NGOs to coordinate the distribution of the aid.  GHNI receives reports with pictures after each project.

We would like to reach out to the most vulnerable and needy people in this region by supplying them with food and plastic sheeting for shelter.

The average family household would be between 4-8 people.  Each family would receive the following (the amount would vary depending on family size):

20KG Rice
20KG Flour/Corn/Beans
2 liters cooking oil
1 plastic sheeting for shelter

The above items would be purchased in country and then distributed.

A gift of $12,600 USD would feed 125 families for A MONTH. 

$1,260 FEEDS 125 FAMILIES FOR 3 DAYS

$415 FEEDS 125 FAMILIES FOR A DAY

$126 FEEDS ABOUT 40 FAMILIES FOR A DAY.

The families receiving the food will be the most vulnerable and needy Internally Displaced Persons, particularly women and the disabled in the northern part of Somalia (Puntland).  PUNTLAND HAS ALMOST NO AID WORKERS THERE.  THIS IS THE AREA WHERE SOMALI PIRATES LIVE AND HARBOR THEIR TEAMS.

Our field team members are there waiting to hear from us. 

LAUNCHING PAD FOR SELF SUSTAINABILITY

We have been working with our partners in Puntland for several years.  Once these victims survive the drought we hope we can engage more families in Transformational Community Development so they can learn drip irrigation, animal raising, and weather future droughts.

Thanks for whatever you can do to help.

Hal Jones, GHNI President

Disaster Redesign: from Victim to Relief Worker

// June 9th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Disaster Relief, Volunteers

I can just hear it, the cartoon medley of birds singing as a yawning sun rises over a quaint meadow. Butterflies and bunnies are frolicking to and fro and then BLAM….some crazy character comes crashing through and the whole scene flips up like a roll chart.

Perhaps it’s a bit simplified, but it’s my animated version of what happens when disaster strikes. No one ever thinks that their story will be disrupted by some outside force. Disasters happen to ‘other’ people ‘over there,’ wherever that is.

GHNI volunteer Liz Makarra

A GHNI volunteer, Liz Makarra, has a story that was interrupted by a really, really big outside force named Ivan – Hurricane Ivan. But in her case, she saw it as an opportunity that would ultimately bring her full circle to helping others affected by disasters.

Liz was living in the Caribbean when Hurricane Ivan slammed through the islands in 2004. She lost her house, her personal belongings, her vehicle, her work place. In a matter of a day, the hurricane took all she owned. With nothing holding her back, she saw her situation as a fresh start to go back to school to study what she really wanted to do – interior design.

Seven years later, Liz now lives in Hawaii working for The Honolulu Design Center and has traveled the world over. While she loves her job, there has been a nagging within her to do more.

When she came across a GHNI Disaster Relief Team Training (DRTT) link on a friend’s Facebook page, it struck a chord. Liz turned in her application and attended the GHNI three day training on Hawaii’s North Shore in September 2010.

GHNI establishes a pool of volunteers from the trainings to take part in disaster relief teams on short notice. For Liz though, it has become much more. She shares, “Working and communicating with GHNI and a diverse group of people coming from the military, medical field, and non-profit sector…really lit a fire inside of my heart to pursue more training. I definitely felt inspired to action.”

Since the training, Liz has been researching ways to become fully certified in a disaster relief program. Going through GHNI’s training helped pinpoint what her interests are, and what they’re not. “I would be more of a liability than a help in a first wave situation. I didn’t realize that before. I would much rather figure that out in training than on the field.” She hopes to become a liaison communicating between organizations, and work toward creating and implementing disaster relief plans.

Little did Liz know back in 2004 that her experiences of loss would lead her full circle to helping others in the midst of suffering and calamity.

“Hope needs to be served in a big way…people need hope planted in their hearts; that through any kind of obstacle there is opportunity.”

If you would like to attend one of GHNI’s Disaster Relief Team Trainings, you are invited to our next training July 29 – 31 in Maui, Hawaii. AND you do not have to withstand a hurricane to qualify! We need people with various backgrounds such as medical, security and logistics, as well as general assistants. Click here for more info, or contact Leslie Kahihikolo at leslie.kahihikolo@ghni.org

Disaster Relief Team Training – July 2011

// June 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // Disaster Relief

Do you ever watch the news when a disaster strikes and wish you could go and help? Now, you can.

You’re invited to attend Global Hope Network International’s Disaster Relief Team Training. Team members will be prepared to enter and operate in a crisis situation. The classroom training will cover individual preparedness, team development, worker sustainment and security. From this training session, we will establish a pool of volunteers we can call up on short notice to take part in disaster relief teams.

U.S. Training

Download our U.S. brochure with information for the Disaster Relief Team Training.

U.S. Online Registration:

Go to our American Donation’s page
Go to “Other Projects” and select “Disaster Relief”
Under “Special Instructions” include DRTT Maui, your name, phone number and email address.
Enter the registration cost and click “Donate” to pay via PayPal.

Need more information? Contact Leslie Kahihikolo at leslie.kahihikolo@ghni.org.

GHNI Medical Relief Team to Libya

// May 21st, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Disaster Relief, field work, Libya, Volunteers

We are now recruiting for a
GHNI Medical Relief Team to Libya

Travel Dates:

• Arrive Cairo, Egypt, June 22
• Depart Cairo for Benghazi, Libya on 23
• Depart Benghazi for Cairo, June 29
• Depart Cairo, June 30 (or stay on longer for personal visit)

Purpose: Medical relief and relationship building with local health officials

Desired Team Members: Surgeons, specialists and nurses

General Plan: After 1 day preparation in Cairo, take in and deliver meds and work with local health leaders

Costs:

1. Air fare to/from Cairo, Egypt
2. Daily hotel and ground transportation: $100 per day max
3. Ground transportation Egypt-Libya: plan on $200 round trip

Accommodations: Secure, 3 star hotel

Visa: Visa on arrival for Egypt $15, no visa needed for Libya

Passport: required, with expiration date not less than 6 months after expected departure

Team leader and contact: Peter McLewin: inglesideinternational@gmail.com

Required Forms:

1. Download Medical Questionnaire
2. Download GHNI Liability Release Form
3. Download Field Trip Security Agreement

Medical team heads into Libya

// April 28th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Disaster Relief, Libya

In our last blog post about Libya we wrote about GHNI’s assessment trip and the great need for medical personnel and medical supplies. Well, things are moving, and they’re moving quickly! Dr. Peter McLewin, external liaison for GHNI’s work in Libya reports that we have sent in a partner medical team and other representatives. GHNI is partnering with 20 non-profit organizations and work has accelerated after Hal Jones, GHNI President, Dr. McLewin and a few others did the first assessment trip two weeks ago.

Following up on the recommendations given to Hal by the National Transition Council, the team is taking in more medications and continuing a deeper assessment into the urgent medical needs of the Libyan population.

The team consisting of women and men traveled for a total of 18 hours to get to Benghazi, including a 6 hour transit across the Libyan desert. This is the first of what we hope will be many medical teams and other professionals headed to Libya.

If you or someone you know might fit the following qualifications, please send your resume to info.ch@ghni.org. We need volunteers as:

1. Surgeon specialists
2. Nurses, male and female
3. Consultants on Police Force Building
4. Consultants on creating a Disaster Response capacity in Benghazi

There is still a great need for funds to buy and ship medical supplies, especially those that treat burns. If you’d like to give, you can do so here:

Thank you so much!