Trying to reduce kids' deaths from disease in Sub-Saharan Africa

 In some regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, as high as 10% of children die before the age of 5 years old, mostly due to diseases like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, which in wealthier countries can be treated by antibiotics. The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted studies to determine the most effective ways of treating children as a function of age. Let's hope we have the means of providing the medication in amounts large enough to make this difference, and in the process saving the lives of millions of children with the antibiotics we take for granted in the West. 

                                                 BioMed Central

A summary of US aid and initiatives in Malawi

 Here is a report summarizing what aid and initiatives will be supported by the United States in Malawi. These initiatives were announced through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and were part of a list for countries that are experiencing democratic openings. It outlines tens of millions of dollars coming from philanthropic groups and other private sector expenditures. As a new drought and widening regions of hunger are landing on the people of Malawi and Sub-Saharan Africa, it is interesting to see how the rest of the world acknowledges the problems being faced and how they are reacting and assisting. 

Southern Africa, including Malawi, face extended drought and increased hunger

 The combination of El Nino and climate change continues to hit some of the poorest countries in the world, with widespread drought and increased levels of hunger in southern Africa. This includes our friends in Malawi. For the fourth consecutive year, the Malawian President has had to call for a state of disaster due to climate issues; this includes Malawi and some of the schools we help being hit by Cyclone Freddy last year. The drought is the worst that has been experienced in the last 50 to 100 years, depending where one is.

This further encourages us to continue to help support our Malawi friends into the future. They need additional funding to maintain crops, drill wells, and create irrigation systems to continue to survive through the extreme weather they experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

New funds wired to Malawi

 We are wiring an additional $310 to our friends and schools in Malawi, Africa, to continue to support our EMPATHY Project. This is equivalent to 520,000 kwacha, their currency, which will continue to help about 24 schools plant and maintain crops and harvests that will feed on order of 10,000 children throughout their school year. We will continue to raise funds before summer break. Contact Doc V if you have any wishes to help out with this effort! 

A consequence of Climate Change - reduced food worker productivity

 As global temperatures rise, a new study suggests there could be significant reductions in the productivity of farmers and other food workers. The physical capacity to work in warming and hot environments may have a direct impact on the food supplies around the world, which is something most have never considered. 

What will the impact be on a country like Malawi? One of the poorest countries in the world, climate change will impact it in multiple ways, and this aspect of the problem must be considered. Consider that the study suggests physical activity could be reduced by some 30% compared to today's productivity - this would be potentially devastating to those who work the crops in the villages we work with, and every other community that has their own farms. It is something that must go into longer term planning for food supplies. 

Looking to start 2024 on the right foot!

 Last year, our Malawi friends were hit with Cyclone Freddie, and some schools had damage to their crops and the final harvest. But we will continue to move forward and raise funding so new crops can be planted. Fertilizer has become more expensive in that part of the world, so some new crops will be planted, including soy beans, sweet potatoes, ground nuts, and some other vegetables. 

Looking forward to this year, and as of today a high conversion rate of 1 USD = 1680 Malawian kwacha! This is what it is all about in the end...

Thanks for the coverage of EMPATHY Project in The Evanstonian paper

 One of our students at Evanston Township High School, Emir Bombaci, was kind enough to write about EMPATHY in our student newspaper. We certainly appreciate the positive coverage, and are in the process of raising some more funds to help some of the new schools get started with this process!