Bexley Methodist Church of Columbus, Ohio has donated a scholarship for a girl to go to high school in the capital of Bamako. These scholarships are awarded to the top girl and boy in their class in 4 schools. One of scholarship winners in 2010-11  

Bexley Methodist Church of Columbus, Ohio has donated a scholarship for a girl to go to high school in the capital of Bamako. These scholarships are awarded to the top girl and boy in their class in 4 schools. [caption id="attachment_737" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="A scholarship winner from 2010-2011."]  

Altrusa of Columbu has generously donated a 2nd grant to MFM for teacher training and tutoring for the 2011-12 school year in 4 schools with a total enrollment of 2.000 students.  

Altrusa of Columbu [caption id="attachment_745" align="alignright" width="150" caption=" top test taker"]  has generously donated a 2nd grant to MFM for teacher training and tutoring for the 2011-12 school year in 4 schools with a total enrollment of 2.000 students.  

Ian Bravendar and friends, high schoolers in Columbus, OH, held a garage sale to benefit MFM. They earned enough to help 3 Malian students go to high school in the capital city Bamako. What a great job! 

Ian Bravendar and friends, high schoolers in Columbus, OH, held a garage sale to benefit MFM. They earned enough to help 3 Malian students go to high school in the capital city Bamako. What a great job! 

Laura Delaney, PA-C, M.P.A.S., physician assistant program, has received Des Moines University Faculty  Organization service award in June, 2011.

Laura Delaney, PA-C, M.P.A.S., physician assistant program, has received Des Moines University Faculty  Organization service award in June, 2011.

Timber Ridge beef jerky goes to Mali Local Iowa retailer Timber Ridge donates beef jerky sticks to MFM med team. Dr. Laura reports that the team used the beef jerky to keep themselves going during long days in the clinic. Timber Ridge beef jerky fuels med team.

Timber Ridge beef jerky goes to Mali

Local Iowa retailer Timber Ridge donates beef jerky sticks to MFM med team. Dr. Laura reports that the team used the beef jerky to keep themselves going during long days in the clinic. [caption id="attachment_673" align="alignright" width="106" caption="Dr Laura treats child with leg wound"][/caption]

We all had a fun time in Columbus, OH as friends, neighbors, and family gathered to listed to Jill discuss this years public health and education efforts in Mali. Thanks mom! And, thanks to everyone who attended!

We all had a fun time in Columbus, OH as friends, neighbors, and family gathered to listed to Jill discuss this years public health and education efforts in Mali. Thanks mom! And, thanks to everyone who attended!

  Altrusa of Columbus, OH, has given MFM a grant to help promote all students, especially girls, continuing their education.  This service organization is supporting our tutoring program where students, with emphasis on girls, get extra classes during the week. MFM has also begun a teacher training program where district officials observe and give practical [...]

  Altrusa of Columbus, OH, has given MFM a grant to help promote all students, especially girls, continuing their education.  This service organization is supporting our tutoring program where students, with emphasis on girls, get extra classes during the week. MFM has also begun a teacher training program where district officials observe and give practical solutions to common teaching problems. As a first step this year, the management committees and parent committees were trained in their roles and responsibilities. The people attending told of their learning with great enthusiasm and gratitude. They had not know what their tasks were. What  a difference this training will make.   Thank you, Altrusa of Columbus for helping to make this happen.  

The MFM 2011 trip  was a great trip. We got many very worthwhile projects done. the med clinic saw 2000 patients. 500 micro loans were given out, mainly to women. Installation was complete on 3 new clean water systems. Public Health projects are moving ahead with great vigor, including the first written village health records, villages [...]

The MFM 2011 trip  was a great trip. We got many very worthwhile projects done. the med clinic saw 2000 patients. 500 micro loans were given out, mainly to women. Installation was complete on 3 new clean water systems. Public Health projects are moving ahead with great vigor, including the first written village health records, villages using the information in the Vital Stats books to determine and find solutions to their particular health problems, and increased training for the village matrons who assist in births.

The MFM teams had many new faces this year.  The groups really worked well together from the beginning. It was soon nearly impossible to tell the new people from the more experienced MFM volunteers. This was great.

 

In 2010, one village had 7 deaths of children under 4 years old due to malaria. This information is in the Vital Stats notebooks that the MFM village volunteers are keeping. MFM will have a training to help the village and volunteers work together to use this information to highlight problems and then find solutions. [...]

In 2010, one village had 7 deaths of children under 4 years old due to malaria. This information is in the Vital Stats notebooks that the MFM village volunteers are keeping. MFM will have a training to help the village and volunteers work together to use this information to highlight problems and then find solutions.  In MFM trainings, our volunteers are taught methods to fight malaria; for example, use more bednets and get rid of mosquito breeding grounds. In the following year, the village can use the Vital Stats books to see if fewer children died,if their solutions worked or determine what else needs to be done. This is the beginnings of democratic governance.

Virginia Gildersleeves International Fund (VGIF) has given MFM a grant for a midwife to go out to our 8 villages to supervise our matrons (woman in the village who assists women with births.) This is a follow up grant to the first VGIF grant which allowed us to train the matrons in safe delivery practices. [...]

Virginia Gildersleeves International Fund (VGIF) has given MFM a grant for a midwife to go out to our 8 villages to supervise our matrons (woman in the village who assists women with births.) This is a follow up grant to the first VGIF grant which allowed us to train the matrons in safe delivery practices. Now these brave women will have a midwife to monitor their work and assist them in honing their skills to a new level. The matrons were so grateful for the first training. Several told me "Now I understand the birth process." This grant will give them the opportunity to discuss with and learn from midwife. Thank you VGIF!