GlobalGiving.org: Health Education Among the Ultra-poor

A Year of Living Generously

Lee Weingrad — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:27:41 GMT

first use of new classroom

The 3 Modi Schools are located in the Yushu Prefecture, a 100% ethnic Khampa Tibetan region of China. This place is part of the ultra-poor region of China, where the farmers and nomads earn less than US14¢/day. We had thought about extending health education to the children of Modi, but when we first saw the condition of the schools, we realized that it was impossible to teach the children hygiene when there are mud floors and walls; when they sit on tree stumps instead of chairs; where windows have no glass.

As a result of the generosity of the patrons of Globalgiving, as well as the PTA Charity Bazaar of the Western Academy of Beijing, and Nike (China) in one year we were able to:

+put in wood floors, ceilings +add desks and chairs +add double-paned windows +contribute new down jackets +give pencils, notebooks, crayons +feed the 10 or so children who don't have enough to eat +tile the outside of the buildings +give each child toothpaste, and a toothbrush +add a new yak-dung burning stove

The result is that the children are proud and energetic learners. In fact the three schools have become the pride of their communities. In the future we plan on adding a shower and toilet as well as a football (soccer) pitches.

Thanks Globalgiving!

new classroom

what the school looked like before

Classroom before

brushing

more brushing!

new school exterior

Links:

"Children of Light" video is a report on the Modi Schools

Modi School Project

Lee Weingrad — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:43:56 GMT

inside of re-done classroom

With the help of donors from Globalgiving.org, we have made a giant step in our model project at the Modie Schools. These are the schools of: Modi, Tsokey, Dulong and Seche.

We have: --installed wooden flooring --put in walls and ceilings --put stoves in every room --replaced the tree stumps with chairs and desks --provided notebooks and pencils to every student --provided meals to 6 children who don't have enough food --provided clothing for the Tibetan winter --installed double-paned windows --painted the outside of the buildings

Surmang Foundation has also created a written curriculum and textbook for teaching hygiene and pubic health in the Modi schools. These will be taught by SF community health workers -- local women (and men) who act as an invaluable outreach arm of the clinic.

In addition Dr. Phuntsok Dongdrup, Clinic Director, makes regular visits to the schools to assist in health promotion and primary care.

new classroom -- before the new desks arrive

Links:

Public School Health Education

Lee Weingrad — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:22:45 GMT

modi school children

The assessment for the Public School Health Education Project was completed about a month ago --we decided that it was impossible to teach students to brush their teeth, wash their hands before eating, wear clean clothing, when they had no clean clothing, and they learned in a dirt-floored one-room classroom with tree stumps for chairs and windows that have no glass.

We also decided to create a football pitch and with the help of Nike, will provide them with soccer balls, shoes and uniforms.

It seems that we have to raise the whole sea to move this little boat. When we've done that, in July we can begin to train the Community Health Workers to teach health education. This whole project has definite parameters --unlike our other clinic projects-- and we should be able to see results this year.

Classroom at Modi School

children on tree stump