Wells Mountain Foundation

WELLS MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

To Our WMF Scholars

It is time to write to all of you and bring you up to speed on what is happening with WMF and in particular our WMF scholars.  Through the efforts of volunteer Julia Runcie I am pleased to have this letter interpreted into French for our French speaking Scholars.

Alumni.

WMF started our scholarship program in 2005.  Our first student was Victoria Galley studying in Cape Coast, Ghana.  Victoria will graduate this June. Five other students (ViJay, Gedzah, Yolanda, Maryse and Fatou) will also graduate after this semester.   Congratulations to all of you.  You will join six Scholars who are already Alumni, bringing the total Alumni to 12.  When our representative next travels to Ghana and Senegal we hope to include our Alumni in a special program for both current and alumni WMF Scholars.   One rumor that needs to be cleared up is that WMF Scholars will receive notebook computer from WMF after graduation.   This is not true.  The reason for this is not because we do not believe this would be a wonderful gesture  but because our resources are limited and must go to support scholarships for other students.

Current Scholars.

This year we have had 31 Scholars.  We had one graduation and one new student during the year, so we are still at 31.  With six graduates at the end of this semester the number will be down to twenty-five, as we look at new applications.  We would like to add new pictures of all WMF Scholars to the website.  Please e-mail a current picture to kerrywmf@yahoo.com.

Requirements for Current Scholars.

All current Scholars are required to submit a semester report as soon as possible after each semester of study.  Copies of the form of report are available at the website at  www.wellsmountainfoundation.org/scholarships.php.  Grades are also to be submitted as soon as possible after the end of each semester.   Generally, unless we receive both the report and grades  no payment can be made for the next semester.  The requirements are very important.  The report and grades are due to our office in Vermont USA and should be sent to kerrywmf@yahoo.org.

The WMF News Blog.

On our website, we have a blog where we post items and information of interest to and about our WMF scholars (“blog.wellsmountainfoundation.org”).  If you have something to submit send it to Director Katherine Cheng at katherineecheng@gmail.com.   We encourage you to submit to the blog information about your studies and or volunteer work or anything else you think would be interesting.  Also, by all means, comment on submissions by others.

New Scholarship Applications.

We collect applications all year long with a deadline of July 1.  In late July, our scholarship committee selects Scholars for the upcoming year from our returning students (no new application needed) and new applications.  We already have over twenty new applications for consideration this July.  With resources stretched we will likely only be able to add a few new scholars in the year ahead.  Scholarship applications are available at the website and should be completed carefully.

WMF Scholars’ Program Director

WMF has grown so much that we are now looking to hire a first employee, a WMF Scholars Program Director.  It is planned that this new Director will be traveling to meet many of our Scholars, hopefully this summer.  Board Directors Jordyn Wells and Katherine Cheng, who have been handling our communication with Scholars up until now, will turn over this responsibility to the new Director.

WMF in Haiti.

Except for WMF Scholar Gaspar Edmond, a native of Haiti now studying to be doctor in Santo Domingo, I am sure Haiti seems very far away for most of you.  For my thoughts on Haiti’s struggle take a look at the long article I wrote about Haiti recently that is posted on the Blog.  Haiti is very much in the news right now because of the devasting earthquake that hit Port Au Prince area on January 12^th.

WMF has been an active supporter of the YMCA d’Haiti for eight years.  We paid for a new branch of this Y in Kenscoff Haiti two years ago.  Right now we are working on major clothing drive in the United States that we believe will result in fifteen 40 foot cargo containers of clothes to be delivered to Haiti this Spring.  The collection of all these clothes and then their distribution is a major undertaking for us which involves, we believe clothing with a value of over a half million dollars.   The shipping and distribution costs will be in excess of $75,000 dollars and we are busy fundraising this cost as well.

The YMCA d’ Haiti lost its main branch located in Port Au Prince to the earthquake.  It was completely destroyed.   Together with the YMCA of Canada, the YMCA of the United States, and the International YMCA, we are working to help replace this facility and support the YMCA and all of the youth and families it serves during this difficult time.

Communication.

We love to hear from you.  While we look for our new WMF Scholars Program Director, who will become your primary contact, we don’t want you to stop sending emails.   Please continue to send blog material to Katherine, and grades and semester reports to our office in Vermont.  Anything else can be sent to me at twells@wellslaw.con until our new Director is hired and introduced to you.

Study Hard.

Education is the one certain key to solving so many of the world’s problems.  We are proud to assist you in your diligent efforts to further your education.  Your job is to take this opportunity and study hard.  When school is over, it is hoped you will make a real difference in your county.

Warm Regards,

Tom Wells

LA FONDATION WELLS MOUNTAIN

À nos savants WMF,

Il est l’heure de vous écrire afin de vous informer de tout ce qui se passe avec la Fondation WMF, et en particulier avec nos Savants WMF.  Je suis content de pouvoir vous adresser en français à travers les efforts de traduction de notre bénévole Julia Runcie.

Anciens élèves

La WMF a débuté notre programme de bourses scolaires en 2005.  Notre première étudiante était Victoria Galley, qui étudie à Cape Coast, Ghana.  Victoria va obtenir son diplôme dans le mois de juin.  Cinq autres étudiants (ViJay, Gedzah, Yolanda, Maryse et Fatou) vont terminer ses études après ce semestre.  On vous félicite tous!  Vous aller joindre les six autres Savants qui sont déjà diplômés, c’est-à-dire douze anciens élèves au total.  Quand notre représentant voyagera au Ghana et au Sénégal nous espérons de pouvoir réunir tous nos anciens élèves dans un programme spécial pour les Savants WMF actuels comme anciens.  Nous devrions quand même dissiper un malentendu: les Savants WMF ne vont pas recevoir un ordinateur portable après avoir reçu leur diplômes.  Nous pensons que ce serait un geste merveilleux, mais nous regrettons que nos moyens soient limités, et nous avons le devoir de les dédier à des bourses pour d’autres étudiants.

Savants actuels

Cette année nous avons 31 Savants.  Pendant l’année un d’entre eux a terminé ses études et un étudiant nouveau s’est inscrit, donc nous restons à 31 pour le moment.  Cependant, à cause des six qui vont recevoir leurs diplômes à la fin du semestre le total va diminuer jusqu’à 25, et de ce fait nous cherchons de nouvelles candidatures.  Nous aimerions mettre photos de tous nos Savants WMF sur le site Web, et nous vous invitons à envoyer une photo par email à kerrywmf@yahoo.com.

Obligations des Savants actuels

Tous les Savants actuels sont tenus de soumettre un compte-rendu semestriel le plus tôt possible après chaque semestre d’études.  Des copies du formulaire se trouvent sur le site Web à www.wellsmountainfoundation.org/scholarships.php.  Il faut aussi soumettre les notes dès que possible à la fin de chaque semestre.  En général, à moins que nous ne recevions le compte-rendu ainsi que les notes, nous ne pourrons pas vous accorder votre bourse pour le semestre prochain.  Ces obligations sont très importantes.  Il faut nous envoyer les documents par email à kerrywmf@yahoo.com.

Le blog WMF

Sur notre site Web, il y a un blog où nous annonçons des nouvelles et informations d’intérêt pour et au sujet de nos Savants WMF.  L’adresse du site est « blog.wellsmountainfoundation.org ».  Au cas où vous voulez annoncer quelque chose sur le blog, envoyez-le à Katherine Cheng, katherineecheng@gmail.com.  Nous vous encourageons à soumettre au blog toutes informations sur vos études, vos activités bénévoles, ou quoi que vous croyez serait d’intérêt.  En plus vous êtes invités à faire des commentaires sur les annonces des autres.

Candidatures nouvelles

Nous acceptons des candidatures pendant toute l’année, avec une échéance annuelle du premier juillet.  À la fin du mois de juillet, notre comité administratif sélectionne les Savants de l’année prochaine parmi les étudiants rentrants (qui ne doivent pas re-soumettre leur candidature), aussi bien que les candidatures nouvelles.  Nous avons déjà reçu plus de vingt candidatures nouvelles à examiner ce juillet.  En conséquence de nos moyens réduits, il est probable que nous pourrons ajouter seulement quelques uns des nouveaux candidats cette année.  Les formulaires de candidature se trouvent sur le site Web.  Il faut les remplir soigneusement.

Nouveau Directeur du programme des Savants WMF

La WMF s’est tellement augmentée que nous allons engager un premier salarié, un Directeur du programme des Savants WMF.  Ce nouveau Directeur va rendre visite à nos Savants, peut-être pendant l’été prochain.  Jordyn Wells et Katherine Cheng, deux des Directeurs du Conseil d’Administration qui ont servi comme nos liens aux Savants jusqu’ici, vont céder cette obligation au nouveau Directeur.

WMF en Haiti

À part le Savant WMF Gaspar Edmond, originaire de Haiti qui maintenant est inscrit à la faculté de médecine à Santo Domingo, je dirais que Haiti vous semble très lointain.  Si vous voulez savoir plus de mes réflexions sur les souffrances de Haiti vous pouvez jeter un coup d’œil à l’article sur ce pays que j’ai mis récemment sur le blog WMF.  Le Haiti est beaucoup dans les medias ces temps-ci à cause du ravageant tremblement de terre qui a frappé la région de Port au Prince le 12 janvier.

WMF a été un patron attentif du YMCA d’Haiti pendant huit années.  Il y a deux ans nous avons financé un nouveau bureau de ce YMCA à Kenscoff, Haiti.  Dans ce moment nous sommes en train d’organiser une grande campagne caritative pour les vêtements d’occasion.  Nous espérons que cette campagne va ramasser quinze conteneurs de fret, chacun de douze mètres au carré, qui seront livrés en Haiti au printemps.  La collecte de tous ces vêtements et leur distribution est une entreprise énorme ; nous croyons que la valeur des vêtements sera à peu près un demi million de dollars américains.  Les frais de transport et distribution dépasseront $75,000 et nous sommes en train de collecter ces fonds aussi.

Le YMCA d’Haiti a perdu son bureau principal, qui était situé à Port au Prince.  Il a été totalement détruit.  Avec le YMCA de Canada, le YMCA des Etats-Unis, et le YMCA International, nous allons travailler à remplacer ce complexe et fournir de l’appui au YMCA et à tous les jeunes et familles qu’il aide pendant ces moments difficiles.

Communication

Nous serions ravis de vous entendre.  Pendant que nous cherchons un nouveau Directeur du Programme des Savants WMF, qui serait votre contact principal, nous vous encourageons à nous envoyer des emails.  Nous souhaitons aussi que vous continuerez à envoyer vos soumissions pour le blog à Katherine, et vos notes et comptes-rendus semestriels à notre bureau en Vermont.  Vous pouvez envoyer toute autre chose à moi par email (twells@wellslaw.com) jusqu’à quand nous engageons un nouveau Directeur.

Étudiez sérieusement!

L’éducation est la clé de résoudre beaucoup des problèmes du monde.  Nous sommes très fiers de pouvoir vous aider avec vos efforts appliqués à faire avancer votre éducation.  C’est votre tâche de profiter de l’occasion et étudier sérieusement.  Quand vous aurez finis vos études, on espère que vous allez vraiment améliorer la vie en vos pays.

Cordialement,

Tom Wells

“I just want to take this opportunity to THANK ALL OF YOU for the faith you have in us to help us attain our desire goals in life. May God Richly extend His marvelous Blessing upon all of you and this noble Organization.

Thank you.”

Wonder M. Sevordzi

Ghana

Our Efforts In Haiti

What happened in Haiti is almost beyond words.   The combination of a devastating 7.1 earthquake and Haiti’s already deeply dysfunctional and incredibly challenged situation has left as many as 200,000 dead and as many as 1 million Haitians homeless.  My long piece written the week after the earthquake on the subject of Haiti gives perspective on how difficult rebuilding will be (see “blog.wellsmountainfoundation.org”).  However, difficult problems require redoubled efforts.

As the first response efforts to save lives, provide food and medical care continue, it is important that those who care deeply about Haiti also focus on the longer term needs of clothing, shelter, and family support.  WMF can do little about the first response needs and leaves this to others.  However, we think we can help in other areas.  Thus, we are deeply engaged working on two second response projects, a very big clothing drive and the rebuilding of the Port au Prince branch of the YMCA d’ Haiti.

The Clothing Drive

Together with partners, DO Something, Inc. located in New York City and the World Service Committee of the Ridgewood YMCA, we are gathering clothes — lots of clothes.  Collection boxes are now out or soon will be in schools, stores, and bank branches from Vermont to New Jersey.  The clothes are coming from everywhere.  Individuals and families are donating!  Several WMF Scholars at Bergen Community College have organized a tee shirt drive.  Astoundingly large numbers of jeans are coming in from the national Aeropostle Jeans for Teens program.  Paramus Building Supply at 50 West Century Road, Paramus, has volunteered its warehouse as our major collection point.

How Can You Help?

Want to collect clothes?  We can supply you with collection boxes and posters.  When you are finished, you will need to get the clothes to the Paramus warehouse.

Warehouse Help.  With so many clothes coming in, we need help stacking and unpacking boxes onto pallets.  Can you or your organization help?  Let us kno

Sorting and Packing.   By late February, we will be sorting and packing clothes at the Paramus warehouse.

Donate.   We presently estimate that we will have fifteen 40 foot cargo containers that will go to Haiti.  Yes, that is a lot of clothes!  Rough value of all these clothes —– more than a half million dollars.   We have some great shipping companies helping us working to get the clothes to Haiti at the lowest possible cost, but we believe it will still cost about $60,000 for all this shipping (Think very big containers and very big ships!).  If you can help on this cost, by all means please send us your check.  Many companies and individuals are already stepping up to this challenge, but we need every dollar.

Come to Haiti to help on distribution.  This is not for the faint-hearted. The YMCA d’Haiti is going to handle distribution of the clothes.  This will likely not be until the end of April.  This will be hard, dirty and possibly even dangerous work.  It should be deeply gratifying as well.  If you would like to be part of this group that will be going to Haiti to help in the effort let us know.

New YMCA

The YMCA d’Haiti needs a new home in Port au Prince.  The present building is in ruins.  We are presently looking for a location and then will need to build a facility.  We will start with a tent or other temporary structure.  This is another great cause to donate to, to be part of the longer term solution in Haiti.  Lots more news will be coming on this.

If you can help in any way, please contact Tom or Carol Wells at WMF at (802) 453-4065 or twells@wellslaw.com.  Checks can be sent to WMF at 25D Main Street, Bristol, Vermont 05443.  If you contribute, label your check either “clothing drive” or “New Y,” if you would like.

Thanks for caring.  Little steps, made with commitment, will eventually cover any distance!

WMF Scholar Jurugo Roberts Ali shared with us this story of his extraordinary experiences during the holiday break. Jurugo, thank you for sharing this with us. We are honored and so proud of you.

___________________

It was the beginning of December 2009 and it’s already holiday time. I packed my bags and headed to my country Sudan. The bus took 2days to reach my County Kajo-Keji in Southern Sudan.
The day I reached, immediately reported to the hospital. The aim was to volunteer. With my dreams of serving Humanity, I was determined to help in serving Humanity.

I needed supervision and thanks God, I still found the only Doctor in the Hospital. Dr. Ladu and the Hospital Administrator welcomed me and immediately introduced me to the Operating Theater (OT) and the Maternity Ward (MW) in Kajo-Keji Civil Hospital.

I decided to volunteer in a hospital NOT only to help me practically but because I was told previously that during the festive season, many of the foreign health practitioners do go to their countries for holidays leaving the hospital without qualified workers. Indeed that was true.
If I had not gone there, I do not know the fate of all the 79 babies who were born during my supervision.

In my University, I was not allowed to carry out Cesarean Sections alone, but due to lack of qualified man power, I was able to risk the life of many by operating on them. Through prayers, I was successful. I personally carried out three Cesarian Sections alone with the help of nurses when the Medical Director Dr. Ladu had gone to Juba for his holiday.

I really loved helping the mothers who are in pain. I liked seeing them returning home with health newborns.
As part of what I intend to do in future, I was careful in making sure that, there was no mother to Child transmission of HIV.

It wasn’t easy though! Seeing still births for the first time, that really scared me. I could escape to the rest room and cry and also pray to God. ‘God, why should you take the life of an innocent baby?’ Why don’t you, Lord allow them live, they could one day become doctors and save the world?’ ‘God keep them in eternal life Amen!’

There were a lot of challenges that I faced volunteering, some of which are challenges to patients, but I considered them to be mine. For example:
• You make a simple prescription to only find that there are no drugs in the Hospital Pharmacy department.
• During Christmas and Boxing Day, I worked both as a Nurse and a Resident Doctor. There were few nurses. I call this corruption because no one was warned after that
• No break fast, lunch, and supper for me. I had to go home every time I needed them
• I arrive at the Hospital every morning at 8:00 AM and leave at 10:00PM.
Despite all those challenges, I was able to help to volunteer and I do believe the patients and the few workers I got there do appreciate the services I offered.

I would like to thank the entire administration and all the departments in the Hospital more especially the following:
1. Dr. Ladu Wani Ismail, The Medical Director KAjo-Keji Civil Hopital
2. Janet Kiko Elisama, Midwife, Incharge- Maternity Ward
3. Okenyi Felix Tito, Administrator, Kajo-Keji Hospital, Kajo-keji County.
4. Wells Mountain Foundation, for giving me the opportunity to study and help people who are in need.
Thanks for reading.

Jurugo Roberts Ali
jra_roberts@yahoo.com

The WMF Scholars of Bergen Community College are organizing a clothing drive for the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.

Please donate your gently used clothes

Originally posted January 25, 2010. Revised February 2, 2010.

Perspective on Haiti—the bigger picture.

Last Tuesday’s earthquake bringing death and destruction to Haiti is just the latest of disasters to befall this nation. In just the eight years since I have been involved in and traveling to this nation, the country has also been twice devastated by hurricanes. This tiny nation finds itself in an unfortunate geographic spot, which is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Candidly, Haitians have made it worse. Deforested landscape tends to fare much worse in hurricanes. Buildings, often little more than shacks, built without regard to any building code, certainly not earthquake protection, do much worse in earthquakes. As bad as these natural disasters have been, and they have been very bad, Haiti’s real problem is poverty.

Since I have been involved in helping Haitians for eight years and have traveled to this nation seven times during these years, I thought I would share some insights with my friends, many of you having reached out to me at this time when the whole world is closely focused on this nation and asking questions on why things are so bad.

Haiti is where Columbus landed in the “new world” and while his discovery would bring good things to so many in the future, it was not a good thing for the natives of Hispaniola, the Taino people. Those who were not brutally massacred by the settling Europeans soon died of diseases brought by them. By some counts, more than one million Taino perished. After a colonial period which included French occupation long enough to leave behind the French language in its local Creole version, Haiti in 1804 became the second democracy in the Americas, following the United States by just 28 years. Since the native people were basically eliminated in the 1400-1500’s, the vast majority of Haitians trace their ancestry to Africa and the slave trade that used Haiti as a stopping ground on the way to the US southern states.

Haiti is a mess. Unfortunately, this is not just because of the earthquake. Haiti was a mess before the earth shook. Most everyone knows Haiti is, by every measure, our hemisphere’s poorest nation. At various times occupied by other countries including the US from 1915 to 1934, Haiti right now relies on a small UN security force for basic security. Haiti is like no other place I have visited in the Caribbean, or for that matter, Africa. Police and basic health care, simply don’t exist. Most buildings are ramshackle. I took a real-estate developer to Haiti with me some years ago, who pronounced after a long drive, “Everything should be torn down. There is nothing worth saving.”

It is hard to overstate just how dysfunctional Haiti is. Several years ago when I was in Port Au Prince, a city of some 2 million, there was reportedly one working traffic light. I know I only saw one working. There were just a few hotels that NGO types stayed in. Two of them, the Montana and the Villa Creole, where I stayed, are now completely rubble as a result of the earthquake. The Montana has been in the news because of the Teaneck woman and two companions’ remarkable escape after three days under the debris and the US college students staying there who are still missing.

My work in Haiti since 2001 has been with orphanages and the YMCA. The fact that orphanages are such a big factor in Haiti (Project Espwa in Les Cayes where I have assisted, has 680 boys) is itself a sad statement. Haitian families, unlike those in so many areas of the developing world, in Africa for example, often cannot watch out for their own. On the contrary, Haitian parents often are literally forced to sell their children into slavery, the boys for work, the girls as servants or worse.

I have heard TV commentators and a former president say, in the last couple days, that the Haitian people are resilient and optimistic. I am not sure this is accurate. They are resilient only in that they are long-suffering. Unfortunately, even in the suffering they have sometime tended to violence. Worse, after almost three hundred years of poverty, too often Haitians have become more resigned than resilient in my view. Many, if not most, have at some level, given up. Come to think of it, who wouldn’t? Please do not take this harsh view as an indictment of the Haitian people, just, a realistic take on how deep the problem is; generations deep, culturally deep. A problem that money alone, won’t begin to fix.

In my experience, every single international helping organization and church mission program already has some presence in Haiti, by one count a staggering 40,000 NGOs, the largest segment of the Haitian economy. If you are in the mission and helping business, Haiti is the front lines, and you had better be there.

With all this help, why are things such a mess and the problems so intractable? One easy answer seems to be the lack of basic security provided by a reasonably stable government. It is a truism that without basic security, there is no tourism, and as tourism is the basic cash generator in the Caribbean, without it a country will not have the cash or jobs to build a better society. So one answer is to fix the government, at least enough to get in place basic security and infrastructure so tourists and their dollars can come, and build from there. This solution has worked elsewhere. However, realistically Haiti is no “little scenic tropical island.” With 9 million people and a very dysfunctional and deep hole, this solution will take a long time.

Haiti’s political structure has been run for decades by a half dozen strong Haitian families, who in my view, likely really do not want change. These folks are doing well and live comfortably. Democracy, almost always a flawed system when serious essential needs are in play has really come off the rails in Haiti in terms of providing needed leadership. This said, it is important to note that there are many Haitians who care deeply and who want to change. A substantial number of these, however, are Haitians who have spent time out of the country, many times having to give up their Haitian citizenship and become part of the diaspora. The Haitian diaspora in Canada, the US and elsewhere sends contributions home that constitute the largest annual source of revenue to the country. Yet, in the world of Haitian politics, the diaspora is not permitted to own land in Haiti or to hold office on their return. These folks clearly need more political power and the ability both to vote, own land and to invest in Haiti. I say this because one thing I believe more than anything after 20 years of working on developing nations is that real solutions must come from within and not from well-meaning outsiders. I say this as a certified badge-carrying “well-meaning outsider.” Haitians must fix Haiti.

So what do we do right now. Absolutely, help if you can by giving support to NGOs that are trying to meet the basic human needs of suffering Haitians—-estimates run as high as 3 million of the 9 million population. I won’t make a recommendation since I had trouble figuring this out myself and felt, after the fact, that I may have bet wrong on the Red Cross with Katrina. Second, be proud, as I am, that our government is taking the lead through our armed services and seems to now have the ability to go in and mobilize and facilitate much of the critical first response and security needs, no easy task in Haiti.

My real message to those of you who read this is that when the dust clears and Haiti slips from the front pages again and the celebrities lose interest, try not to forget this place of great need. Support programs that are willing to invest one step at a time in building a better Haiti. Support especially Haitians that are at the front of this. How about WMF? What is the Wells Mountain Foundation doing in Haiti? In addition to our scholarships to Haitian students (Gaspar Edmond is safe and back in Santo Domingo and in his clinical year of medical school) and our work with Project Espwa, the orphanage in Les Cayes, WMF has been deeply involved in the YMCA d’ Haiti since 2002. The YMCA d’Haiti is about esteem-building and education, both WMF mainstays, and it is run by Haitians This YMCA, which started in 2000, now has three branches, one in Port Au Prince—destroyed in the earthquake, one in Camp Perin— happily fine, and one in Kenscoff, which was started just last year with the underwriting of WMF — also standing and right now sheltering earthquake victims. . All three YMCA’s feature libraries with large sections of books in English supplied by WMF. The Port Au Prince YMCA will now need rebuilding and contributions for same are welcome. Work with the YMCA is slow, but the drum beat of progress is steady and, as I have often said, if there is only one thing you can fix, go first for education.

Right now, not as “first response,” but for the all important second wave (even before we can build buildings), we are running a clothing drive seeking lightly used summer clothes and footwear. We will send a container as soon as we fill it up. Last week, the clothing company Aeropostle, popular with teens, donated 10,000 pairs of jeans through Do Something, Inc. to start this effort. We just learned that they will add to this as many as 200,000 more pairs to be donated by their costumers as part of their annual “Jeans for Teens’” program. Now all we need is the tee shirts! If you want to help on this, just gather clothes and then let us know where to pick them up. Posters for collection places are available. Through the YMCA, we will work to organize a team to go to Haiti, probably in April or later, when a safe visit is possible. This will be part of the second wave and will be for folks willing to help on the rebuilding effort.

Giving back from our blessings to those less fortunate, is to me, what life is all about. Despite my lawyer-like cold logic in what I have written here, I believe Haiti can prosper and that the Haitian people deserve our support. It will not be easy, but it can happen. The sun will shine again; in fact it may be shining now. Perhaps we just need to open our eyes to see its glory.

Tom Wells, January, 2010

Hi Everyone,

Here is an interview I conducted with Bergen College (New Jersey) student, WMF scholar, and all-around superstar Katerina Dimitrova.

Katarina

Katerina, please introduce yourself. Where are you from and what do you study?

My name is Katerina Dimitrova, I was born in 1984 in Macedonia. Pursuing my dream to become successful business woman I came in United States in June 2007 to study International Business. I have been a student in Bergen Community College for four semesters, majoring in International Trade. Besides spending time studying, I have participated in a variety of extracurricular activities. I was an active member of Student Activities Board, College Council and vice president of International Student Association.

Macedonia

New Jersey, USA

What are you really passionate about and what are your volunteering activities?

Currently I’m president of Alpha Epsilon Phi, Bergen Community College’s Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa is an International Honor’s Society of the two year colleges. Phi Theta Kappa’s mission is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming. Together with my fellow students I’ve participated in different kinds of volunteering activities, such as fundraisings for Relay for Life – American Cancer Society, Gilda’s Club events, Walks, beautification projects, serving lunch in Homeless Shelters or for senior citizens, etc.

What is the most challenging or exciting thing about being a student?

As part of these organizations, I have learned that by being fair, honest, and willing to help others when needed, you upgrade yourself personally and spiritually. This taught me to be stronger, fearless and full with enthusiasm to learn, to know and to succeed!

Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

My dear fellow WMF Scholars, remember this The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Education is the most important part in human’s life. Wells Mountain Foundation gave me hope and inspiration to continue my path towards success.

Thank you for helping me pursue my dream!

Hello Wells Mountain Foundation family!

It’s been a long time since we have been in touch, and I wanted to wish all of you, on behalf of the Wells Family Board of Directors, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The past year has been a wonderful whirlwind, featuring many new, exciting students and friends to WMF. We hope that this new year holds much of the same and more.

Warmest Regards,

WMF Directors

When Jordyn and I traveled to West Africa last winter, we were very excited to meet the WMF Scholars in Senegal and Ghana. It was a struggle not speaking French, and fortunately, we had the very generous and patient support, guidance, and translation skills of WMF Scholar Jean-François Touré. I recently caught up with him and asked him to tell the WMF community a little bit about himself:

Jean, where are you from and what did you study in school?
I am from Senegal and I have Bachelor In Business Administration. And I am recently graduated in Finance.

What kind of volunteer activity and community service do you enjoy?
I did a lot of volunteer activities and community services with the Senegal YMCA. I Have been volunteering through the Y for 7 years now. I participated up to 5 International camps of reconstruction and reforestation all over My Home country and Gambia. As a conscious youth, I have been involved in fighting against Infections and dizzies such as HIV, Malaria. I have also worked with kids for couple years trough the YMCA patronage program implemented in order to build strong Kids.

What was your most memorable experience in college?
My most memorable experience in College is my graduation day and International fair day at college. The main raison is, that day was a mix of happiness and a little sadness. I was so happy to be graduated but at the same time I was also sad of being conscious that it is a goodbye day with friends after 4 years of studying and interacting together. I was like am I going to see them again before my days ends? For some I we will see each other , but other, Never again until my life ends. Can you just imagine that confusing mixture of those opposite emotions?

What are you doing in the United States now?
I am doing a training program of 18 months at The YMCA of the Rockies. My training plan concerns Human resources Management. I have been here for 6 months now improving my English, getting new skills and I really realize that time is going so fast and am having a very good experience.

International Dinner at YMCA Rockies (Colorado, USA)

Independence Day (July 4th) Parade

Jean in his office

Jean with Senegalese flag

Juuko, a student of medicine at Kampala International University, passionately advocates for HIV/AIDS education. He wants to share this with the WMF Family:

This is JUUKO ABDU Ugandan by nationality a new scholar of wells mountain foundation, chanced and privileged to continue with my bachelors in medicine and surgery in UGANDA,at Kampala international university.

Let me extend my special thanks to wells mountain staff, Directors, Donors and all well wishers for work well done, I promised to provide health education to the family members, their communities and the entire world as per the chance got to under take medicine.

I would ask all my fellow colleagues of wells mountain foundation to read hard and use the chance given to us because its our obligation as students and mostly us members of wells family who hope to go back to our communities and volunteer in types of worked per skills attained.
So our first TOPIC will be about HIV/AIDS, do you 80% deaths in AFRICA die of AIDS because of ignorance about it.

Did you know that a couple can have one person infected and the other not for a long time ?

Did you know that an infected mother can give birth to a HIV negative baby?

Did you know an infected couple can survive for more than 30 years?

So colleagues in Haiti, Ghana, Senegal, Peru am here.

I and my colleagues in Uganda we want to open eyes of many people out there and the entire world.

MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS (MTCT) OR VERTICAL HIV TRANSMISSION

Vertical transmission means that HIV passes directly from the infected mother into the fetus or infant.

Stigma
Stigma is particularly strong surrounding mother-to-child transmission. The very phrase “mother-to-child” itself may be stigmatizing as it puts all the responsibility of transmission on the mother and none on the father of the child. Stigma stops women coming forward to get themselves tested. It reduces their choices when it comes to health care and family life once they are diagnosed as HIV positive and has a negative effect on their quality of life. Equally troubling is the lack of sympathy or respect given to pregnant women with HIV especially in the developing nations where they are open to blame, ridicule and rejection. For example, in rural Uganda (Rakai) a man stated, “If a pregnant woman is sick and has premature baby who die before 3 months, then we know she is affected (infected with HIV) and turn away from her. This is our (HIV) test!”

Timing at HIV transmission
Worldwide, over the past two years, about 1.6 million HIV-infected children were born. Over 95% of these children were born in underdeveloped countries.

The exact time of HIV transmission to the fetus during pregnancy is unknown. It has been shown to occur as early as the fifteenth week of gestation, at or near the time of delivery and through breast-feeding.

Breast-feeding by mothers with HIV infection established before pregnancy increases the risk of vertical transmission by 14%. When a mother develops primary HIV infection while breast-feeding, the risk of transmission rises to 29%. In general, it is believed that 50% of HIV-positive babies are infected during the last two months of pregnancy and about 50% are infected during the birthing process or through the early months of breast-feeding (Miotti et al; 1999).

A working definition of the timing of maternal HIV transmission has been established to differentiate infants in utero (in the uterus) from those infected near the time of or during delivery (perinatally). In utero infection occurs in approximately 20% of HIV-infected infants. Children who are infected in utero have a more rapid progression to AIDS and generally become symptomatic during the first year of life. Those infected perinatally have no detectable HIV at birth but demonstrate HIV in the blood by 4 to 6 months of age. These children constitute the majority of HIV-infected infants and have a slower progression to AIDS, about 8% per year (Diaz et al; 1996).

Breast-feeding: Global summary
• Where no drugs or other methods of prevention are administered and the baby is breast-fed by its HIV-positive mother, the risk of infection is about 30 – 35%.
• Where no drugs are administered and the baby is not breast-fed by its HIV-positive mother, the risk of infection is about 20%.
• Where a one-month course of A2T (Zidovudine) is administered and he baby is not breast-fed, the risk of infection is about 10%.
• Where a one-month course of A2T (Zidovudine) is administered and the baby is breast-fed by its HIV-positive mother for up to six months, the risk of infection is about 18% at that age.
• Where two antiretroviral, 22T and STC (Lamivudine) are administered at the time of labour, and to mother and baby for one week following delivery, the risk of infection at six weeks of life, with the breast feeding, is around 11%. If the drugs are given from the 36th week of pregnancy, continued in labour, and given for a week after delivery, the risk of infection at six weeks of life, when the baby is breast-fed is about 9% (background Brief UNAIDS, 1999).

Rate of transmission
The worldwide rate of HIV transmission from mother, without drug therapy, to child varies geographically. In Africa, maternal transmission is as high as 50%, producing about 1600 infected babies a day.
In Europe and United States, without he use of antiretroviral drugs the overall rate is 25% to 30% producing less than 500 infected babies a year. The U.S Public Health Service and 16 other National Health Organizations recommended that HIV testing be offered to all women at risk prior to or at the time of pregnancy. Through year 2002, only six states, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, New York and Tennessee require health care providers to HIV-test every pregnant woman as early as possible in her pregnancy unless she refuses. The rate of vertical HIV retransmission in New York State has decreased dramatically from 25% to 3.5% since the implementation of its 1996 law requiring:
(a) HIV counseling and offer of an HIV test to all pregnant women, and
(b) Infant HIV testing and maternal notification. Because of this law, over 99% of HIV-infected NewYork women and their children have been linked to counseling and medical care.

New born: HIV positive
Because newborns who test HIV positive may not be HIV-infected, infected mothers in developed nations are advised not to breast-feed their children. The reason a new born can test positive and not be infected is because the mother’s HIV antibodies can enter the fetus during pregnancy (gestation). Because of the presence of maternal HIV antibody, the new born may appear to be infected but is not. The HIV antibody will be lost with time and the child will revert to seronegativity (No HIV antibody in the serum). Mothers in underdeveloped nations have been advised to breast-feed because of the lack of available health care and nutrition. On average, an estimated 350,000 new borns worldwide become HIV-infected through breast-feeding each year between 1997 and the beginning of 2003.

Perinatal Transmission
Many factors that influence perinatal HIV transmission are not known; but, influencing factors do exist because one mother gave birth to an HIV-infected child followed by an infected child who was followed by an infected child (Dickson, 1988)!

There are multiple factors involved in HIV transmission risk, including maternal immunity and viral load, placental conditions, route of delivery, duration of membrane rupture, and fetal factors (birth order, gestational age). This knowledge has led to trials of various interventions, such as drug therapy to reduce viral load (the number of HIV RNA strands present in the mother’s blood at the time of birth) and cesarean section to reduce HIV exposure during delivery.

Viral RNA load Associated with Perinatal HIV transmission – Although the close association between stage of HIV infection in a pregnant woman and likelihood of perinatal transmission has been established, there are no precise numerical criteria for pregnancies at high and low risk of transmission.

Breast-feeding, drug therapy( treatment ) and HIV transmission
Without question, one of the most significant accomplishments of the HIV/AIDS era has been the dramatic reduction in transmission of HIV between mother and child. In America, from 1992 until the present time, perinatal transmission has declined over 80% and its now possible using combination anti-HIV drug therapy, to achieve transmission rates as low as 1% – 2%, compared to 25% – 30% two decades ago.

In 1999, two studies that were perhaps the first, demonstrated the relationship of viral load and mother-to-child breast-feeding HIV transmission. The higher the maternal viral load the greater the chance for HIV transmission via breast-feeding (Katzenstein et al; 1999, Plaegaer et al; 1999).

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Monotherapy that appears to Reduce HIV Transmission During Pregnancy (Zidovudine, Lamivudine)
In 1999, researchers at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore gave HIV-infected women a single dose of nevirapine (a non-nucleoside and another dose to their infants within 3 days of birth. The infection rate dropped from 25% to 13%. At a cost of $4, the nevirapine regimen is some 70 times cheaper than A2T given during the last month of pregnancy.

REMAINS JUUKO ABDU ( UGANDA )
juuko.abdu [at ] yahoo.com

THANKS WELLS MOUNTAIN FOR THIS CHANCE