http://www.malihealth.org Mali Health Organizing Project Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:13:46 CDT en-us http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2182 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2182 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:15:33 CDT The other evening I walked through the Sourakabougou market and soccer field towards the bright red cross on a bright pink clinic, the ASACOMSISOU. After years of shuffling paper, meeting with bureaucrats, getting architects' briefs, discussing the price of sand (this country is made of sand, it has a price?) it is easy to lose sight of the product of your endeavors. The clinic is a humble addition to the massive neighborhood, but it was spectacular to see its pink walls as the backdrop of... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2135 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2135 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:36:03 CDT If you are in the New York area, please join MHOP Director Anna Ninan and guest speakers at an evening celebration of MHOP on June 28th from 6-8pm. We'll provide updates on MHOP's latest initiatives and tasty food, complete with a fantastic view of the city! When: June 28, 2010, 6-8 pmnbsp;Where: Goodman Media International750 Seventh Avenue, 28th Floor (between 49th and 50th Streets) New York, NYRSVP: anna@malihealth.org,404 729 2502 by June 25... anna@malihealth.org (Anna Ninan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2070 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2070 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:08:30 CDT Written by Alex Harsha - Infotechnology Coordinator.The first few months of 2010 have been an exciting time for the Mali Health Organizing Project, and we are looking forward to a great year with a new clinic and community health worker pilot underway! We are thrilled to announce that the grand opening of the Centre de Sante Communautaire de Sikoro-Sourakabougou (CSCOMSISOU) took place on Saturday, April 10, 2010. The community clinic construction began in December 2008, and the doors... http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2067 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2067 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:47:40 CDT In Mali, radio is a communication technology to which more than 60% of both rural and urban populations have access (USAID Community Radio survey). Few people in our target audience of Sikoro have access to televisions and newspapers, and radio serves as a primary source of news and politics.93% of Mali's urban communities are classified as slums (UN Habitat). As marginalized neighborhoods, slums receive few government services and lack basic health infrastructure. The root cause of... http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2066 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2066 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:28:50 CDT By Caitlin Cohen, originally blogged at the Brown Social Innovation Initiative InfoHub. Link to original posting here.nbsp; I come from the People's Republic of Vermont where "branding" is a dirty word. I am a strange choice to be writing a blog on Social Entrepreneurship. My non-profit, the Mali Health Organizing Project, is focused on universal primary health care, not a traditionally "entrepreneurial" field. Universal primary care isn't sexy, simple, or scaleable. Yet it is... http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2039 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2039 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:37:52 CST As we begin a new, exciting and challenging year at MHOP with three (yes, three!!) program pilots planned, we are reflecting more and more often on our organization's commitment to remaining community-directed. To share her thoughts about this difficult task, Alex Harsha offered to cross-post a blog she wrote in November during one of the more trying periods of MHOP's development. For other posts by Alex, check out her blog, N be taa Mali la..., at akharsha.blogspot.com!... anna@malihealth.org (Anna Ninan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2032 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2032 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:20:13 CST Recently, two adventurous and philanthropic Norwegian medical students from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland embarked on a tremendous journey - a 9,000 km charity road race from Budapest, Hungary to Bamako Mali, all to benefit MHOP.nbsp; MHOP congratulates Sebastian Orskaug and Johan Hjort for successfully completing their ambitious goal and thanks them for the €2.000 worth of supplies and medication that they donated to our new clinic.nbsp; Best with your continued medical studies... http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2030 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/2030 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:55:36 CST In 2010, MHOP has welcomed several new members to our team. Two new Americans, Alex Harsha and Leona Rosenblum, have recently begun their year-long posts as Infotech and CHW Programs Coordinators. We have also welcomed two new Malian staff, Dramane Diarra (Community Coordinator) and Awa Outtarra (Programs Intern). MHOP welcomes our new members on board and looks forward to sending updates about their projects! http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1994 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1994 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:46:07 CST Looking for creative and simple gifts? Here are a few ways to shower friends and family with presents AND promote health change in Mali! On December 19th, award-winning artists Geddes Levenson and Annie Blazejack will be partnering to each create 12 pieces of art in 12 hours. Looking for a more creative gift? Sign up to pre-purchase a piece. The surprise drawing, painting, or collage can arrive in time for Christmas for those who celebrate it.... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1987 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1987 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:29:43 CST nbsp;That's right, we came in 1st Place!nbsp;At the final count, we had 343 unique donors, who donated a total of $38,151, which was matched with $13,572 from Global Giving, and won us a $10,000 bonus! That means that thanks to your help, Action for Health now has an additional $61,723 for 2010. That is a huge help, and we cannot thank you enough.nbsp; By helping to support Action for Health, you are working with us to reduce child mortality in a country where 1 in 5 children... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1954 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1954 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:07:36 CST Over the past six weeks, MHOP has welcomed several new members to our team. Two new Americans, Alex Harsha and Leona Rosenblum, have recently begun their year-long posts as Infotech and CHW Programs Coordinators. We have also welcomed two new Malian staff, Dramane Diarra (Community Coordinator) and Awa Outtarra (Programs Intern). We are excited to begin working with these enthusiastic and dedicated individuals, and would like to take the opportunity to introduce them and their... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1948 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1948 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:09:03 CST Thinking of making a gift to the Mali Health Organizing Project? November 10th marks the start of MHOP's 3-week matching campaign! When a donation is made to our new initiative, Action for Health, through GlobalGiving between November 10 and December 1, our partner Global Giving will match that donation at 30%, 40% or 50%.nbsp; Matching funds are limited, so act quickly. Action for Health allows slum residents to exchange community service work, or "Action Fees," for free health... anna@malihealth.org (Anna Ninan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1931 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1931 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:23:19 CST This month MHOP worked to provide clean water with our javelisation (bleaching) campaign.nbsp; For many years, it was the role of the mayor's office to bleach private and community wells each year in order to keep them free of parasites and other bad things.nbsp; However, this program has fallen by the wayside in recent years.nbsp; The CHAG (the community group that advises us) suggested that we do that as a service to the community, and we decided it seemed like a good idea.nbsp; So,... ajmruby@gmail.com (Alex Ruby) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1809 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1809 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:26:52 CDT It is my last three weeks in Bamako I am reveling in small pleasures: eating mangos the size of my head, taking bucket baths, and taking a backseat at our team meetings.nbsp; As many of you know I will be headed to medical school at Brown University on August 12, financed by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.nbsp;nbsp; I am passing MHOP's reins on to our Malian leaders and Anna Ninan. For me this leadership transition is like being a mother sending her child off to college on the first day of... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1630 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1630 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:40:40 CDT One of MHOP's strategies for growth is to develop partnerships with larger NGO and government programs who will be able to use their resources to implement exciting and innovative projects (developed by us!) across Mali and West Africa. Of course creating these relationships can be difficult, so it was very exciting when the National Department for Social Protection and Economic Solidarity (DNPSES) invited us to participate in a workshop on their new national insurance... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1627 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1627 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:24:34 CDT Hey! My name is ADAMA KOUYATE. I am studying English at the University of Bamako. I am in my fourth year; I have an internship with MHOP since June 2008. So I am the responsible for communication and coordinator for the radio project. These last four years have been really busy since I have been conducting many surveys in some respects. First; it was the survey in ten slums of BAMAKO. The survey consisted in doing focus groups with ten young persons and three old... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1624 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1624 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:55:50 CDT Les deux dernières semaines ont été très charge par des études sur terrain ;précisément la localité de MEKIN SIKORO. Cette étude est orientée spécialement sur les possibilité d'erdication des déchets plastiques par des recyclages .Actuellement les déchets plastiques sont entrains de faire des dégât énormes jusqu'à voir la mort des animaux domestiques et la degration du sol En fin d'atteindre les objectifs nos objectifs; j'ai effectue une étude de faisabilité de recyclage des déchets... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1614 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1614 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:34:49 CDT NB: Most microfinance programs loan to people with existing businesses. We loan also to women who wish to start new businesses. To help them create effective business plans, we conduct monthly trainings on business planning where prior borrowers and members of the microfinance committee train the new members using bambara and visual curriculum materials. - Caitlin Cohen From Modibo Niang, our Malian Director: We launched a large training program in our meeting room of our... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1613 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1613 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:24:42 CDT By Devon Golaszewski. Recently, I've been focusing on income-generation projects as part of our health-financing research . The idea is that by finding an alternate source of funding we can either reduce the cost for all patients, by reducing consultation fees or the cost of drugs at the pharmacy, or create a "solidarity fund" which will provide free care for certain services or certain patients, such as free malaria care for all children under-5. We would really like to create a... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1610 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1610 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:40:15 CST Niang, Sara and I met with the president of the Malian National Assembly's health committee today. There is no existing committee for primary health care. We proposed and she agreed to create a subcommittee expressly to advocate for universal primary care health coverage for indigent people. We are meeting with a group of senators in late may to put this committee and a yearly "attelier" (planning session) in place, and we will hopefully be working with the Department of Social... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1609 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1609 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:51:14 CST Written by Mariposa Garth-Pelly. Having lived in Bamako before I packed to return with the notion that if I'm comfortable wearing it it is OK to wear. That was until I arrived in Sikorro. Sikorro is a world apart from other Bamako neighborhoods. It is more village-like than other areas—we have electricity, but no pretense of running water, poor roads, and a moral conservatism that yesterday resulted in me being chastised for wearing knee length basketball shorts (too short!) that... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1600 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1600 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:20:43 CST Written by Julie Siwicki. The Brown MHOP student group has been collaborating with Providence, RI's own Metro Mart Convenience Store since mid-November. The cashiers have kept a donation jar on the counter for MHOP, and the owners have generously matched all funds in the jar. They helped us raise nearly $200! A special thank you to Pramesh and the cashiers for their enthusiastic support. We'll definitely be keeping in touch with them regularly... not only... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1595 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1595 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:57:49 CST Written by Sara Rosen Dugutigi is a Bambara word meaning chief of the village (dugu is village and tigi is chief). Dugutigi's all around Mali, and Africa, are quite important and quite powerful. If there are any problems in a village, or any projects started, he must be consulted. If a meeting happens that dugutigi isn't aware of it, problems normally ensue. Even though Sikoroni isn't a small village, dugutigi's still exist in each neighborhood in Bamako.... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1587 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1587 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:20:02 CST Helen Shariatmadari left London five weeks ago in a shiny-grey sticker-covered 1991 Volvo with about 105,000 miles named "Jesse". Despite the fact that Jesse is almost as old as some of our interns, the car runs marvelously and made it all the way to Bamako, where Helen and David kindly donated her to MHOP to be our first "health taxi". Jesse cannot be a regular ambulance because of her size and lack of room for equipment. That said, our clinic is located in a place where taxis do not... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1571 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1571 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:56:28 CST My name is Mariam A. Diallo; I am a resident in Vermont. I just arrived from Mali a few days ago. My trip back to the US was okay until when I arrived at JFK (New York). I waited for my luggage for two hours and came to find out that it was still in Mali. They had to leave some luggage there because the plane was full. It was just my luck. During my stay there I got the chance to work at MHOP. It was great experience for me. During my stay I have worked curriculums for... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1568 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1568 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:32:57 CST This week in Sikoroni (in commune 1 in Bamako) I held a series of focus groups with the community and health personnel about health financing. Over the course of the meetings, we learned much about the quality of life of the population of the neighborhood. More than 80% of people do not have access to health care, mostly because of a lack of financial means. The health personnel mentioned that many people work in town and thus seek care there, and also that they do... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1533 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1533 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:51:28 CST Translation: The residents of Sikoro/Sourakabougou came out in large numbers today for the laying of the first brick of their community health center. Valued at more than 22,000,000 FCFA, the center will permit the population to benefit from proximal care. In six months the residents of Sikoro/Sourakabougou will have their community health center. At the laying of the first brick a high time was had by the notables of the neighborhood, the authorities of... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1528 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1528 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:11:25 CST Mali is hot.nbsp; There is no mistaking it.nbsp; In my quest to get some green vegetables back into my diet I considered buying a refrigerator so I could go into town once a week to shop for veggies, and then store them in my home.nbsp; The problem is that my electricity is both expensive and unreliable.nbsp; The solution?nbsp;The $ 5 refrigerator!nbsp;Ingredients:nbsp;1)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Porous earthenware container (called a gi fiyen) ($2)2)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Plastic bucket ($1)3)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1527 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1527 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:03:45 CST What is the best way to make a fundraiser work well? nbsp;Make it fun! nbsp;For us to build a government-funded clinic in Mali, we need the community to fundraise at least 10% of the cost. nbsp;Our Community Health Action Group and our Peace Corps Volunteer headed up an initiative to combine a soccer match with free AIDS testing and a benefit raffle to help the community fundraise for the clinic.The morning was kicked off with AIDS education from our partner project, Djekafo. nbsp;They showed... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1334 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1334 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:30:30 CDT Hundreds flocked to Brown University on Friday night to hear Malian musician Vieux Farka Toure in support of MHOP. Vieux and his band played to an energetic crowd eliciting song, laughter, and lots of dancing. What's more, they helped to raise $2,000 for Sikoroni's new clinic,nbsp; which will begin construction in late November! Vieux and MHOP share a passionate aim to relieve malaria in Mali. Vieux has always worked to eradicate this disease in his home country, with 10% of his... christophm@gmail.com (Christopher Moynihan) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1327 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1327 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:31:02 CDT I just attended the Network: Towards Unity for Health conference in Bogota, Colombia. There are 340 participants from 45 different countries, all of whom are trying to tackle primary health care and health education.nbsp; Discussions include brain-drain, medical school educations, and how to promote pro-poor healthcare policies. I was invited to present a workshop entitled "Using Health to Build Power" about using community organizing strategies for health. The diversity of participants was... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1301 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1301 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:20:56 CDT Julie Siwicki and I visited the home of Brown University President Ruth Simmons' today to meet the President of Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.nbsp; It is quite a thing to be introduced to your biggest heroes by another idol! (And they actually look a little like each other, as well). After threats to her life, two long stays in exile, and being charged with treason, President Sirleaf became the first elected female head-of-state in Africa.nbsp; On top of that, she is now in... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1253 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1253 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:09:32 CDT I'm back home in MA after spending the summer in Bamako and still trying to adjust to the intense differences between Sikoroni and the states.nbsp; Hot running water and preserving produce in a refrigerator are welcome luxuries, albeit still somewhat perplexing knowing how expensive and even downright impossible such taken-for-granted amenities are in Bamako's slums.nbsp; Since my last blog update in July, the waste management program, specifically, has made exciting progress.nbsp; The CHAG... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1251 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1251 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:06:14 CDT Radio Sigida Joli (Building communities, beautiful communities)Imagine no newspapers. Imagine your daily TV broadcasts are all in German.nbsp; You've never used the internet, have no email account, and cannot afford phone credit.nbsp; One of the biggest challenges to grassroots action in Mali is simply communication!nbsp; This summer MHOP has started research for a program to bring the voices of slum neighborhood residents into the public arena by radio!nbsp; With funding from the Huntington... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1232 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1232 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:02:54 CDT After a brick laying community ceremony on November 25th, construction of a health center for 60,000 underserved slum residents will begin!nbsp; The clinic is scheduled to be completed by June 2009, so Ben and I have spent the last few weeks revising a list of the medial supplies needed to equip the clinic.nbsp; We met with Dr. Magdalene Togo, the ex-chief of medicine of the national hospital, at the Ministry of Health to better understand what clinic equipment we could expect to be "prise en... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1231 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1231 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:00:11 CDT nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Yesterday, Cari and I ventured across the Niger River to the otherhalf of Bamako. The occasion: La Journée Panafricaine des Femmes. Notknowing what to expect, we were surprised and delighted to enter alarge auditorium filled with women all wearing clothes of the samefabric!!! It was designed specifically for the occasion - the date andthe seal of the Panafrican Women's Organization appeared on the fabricdesign.nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;The day is an annual convention-of-sorts where... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1150 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1150 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:45:24 CDT I sit in the courtyard drafting this blog amidst a large group of energetic womennbsp; in a circle under the shade of the mango trees diligently chopping large piles of onions and garlic.nbsp; In the corner, a local Sikoronian, Ami, paints traditional Malian geometric designs of henna on Caitlin's feet and hands.nbsp; The festive air is contagiously exciting.nbsp; Better yet, it poured throughout the night leaving today's air cool.nbsp; With all the bustling, the break from the heat is... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1077 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1077 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:26:24 CDT Today was a glorious day. Glorious is really one of the only ways to describe it. It was a Saturday and the day was largely filled with fun, as Saturdays should be. I woke up early to help Niang set up our mosquito net impregnation stationnbsp; in one of the communities we work with. "Impregnation" is chemical treatment to kill mosquitoes, and it is responsible for about half of the preventative effect of a mosquito net. This was a great way to follow our recent survey, which found that... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1076 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/1076 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:14:53 CDT I think it's worth recording the many different kinds of interactions I have with people here.One big category: communicating with the host fam. I'm staying in a compound that houses about 35 people. Though I haven't yet figured out the exact relations between them all, I'm pretty certain that they're all related somehow. Only a very small percentage of them speak French - the dad (one of them) and two teenage girls. Everyone else speaks strictly Bambara. I'm taking a course in Bambara 3... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/986 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/986 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:45:22 CDT Aw ni sogomo!nbsp; Awn be Mali la.nbsp; (Good morning from Mali!)nbsp; We've been in Bamako for about a week now, and all of the volunteers have moved into Sikoroni.The first morning of our arrival we all received Malian names from one of the chatty market vendors.nbsp; I was pretty exhausted from the flight and didn't realize that our names would become such an important part of my summer here.nbsp; Since then, we've introduced ourselves at each store or house we've visited with our Bambara... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/706 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/706 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:58:15 CST A note from our director, Modibo Niang: Chaque trois mois toutes les ONGs et Associations de Developpement de Sikoroni se reunissent pour discuter des problemes et essayer ensemble de trouver des solutions ou propositions de resolutions. Ses propositions seront presentees a l'autorite competente pour une bonne execution. Sigida Keneyali a participe dans le CCLDS depuis le debut. On etait heureux de parler de nos programmes avec la communaute le 30 decembre. On a bien discute... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/695 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/695 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:24:13 CST We take for granted how much words matter | being able to write down a name next to a phone number, your grocery shopping lists, emails to friends, street signs... When you have spent most of your life as a student (as I have) words become the domain of library stacks and theory.nbsp; But words are a pragmatic necessity. Literacy is key to health, to keeping records, to getting directions, to taking notes, to running businesses, and to political empowerment.nbsp; nbsp;I am delighted to say... caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/629 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/629 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:15:43 CST Mali Health Organizing Project is pleased to present our new site, thanks to the hard work and kind donations of Orchid Suites Inc, Michael Stein, Nicole Veilleux, and Caroline Mailloux!nbsp; caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen) http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/491 http://www.malihealth.org/ht/d/ViewBloggerThread/i/491 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:42:17 CDT Welcome to the Mali Health Organizing Project Blog!This blog will be updated by our onsite volunteers and Malian director.nbsp; Check back for reports and ruminations from the field. caitlinleecohen@gmail.com (Caitlin Cohen)