2005 Newsletter Articles

Rx:ABC intern Lisa Rogal plays a princess to show that “Reading to your Children Makes Fairy Tales Come True.”

Lisa Rogal, a junior at Northwestern University, spent the summer of 2005 as HH’s first Prescribe- a- Book project intern. She shares her reflections below.

I didn’t know what to expect walking into the West Town Health Clinic in downtown Chicago on my first day as Health for Humanity’s Prescribe-a-Book intern. The waiting area was a chaotic blend of children and parents, most with the bored and weary looks on their faces that accompany most waiting rooms. Those faces made me nervous. My job was to approach these people, convince their children that they wanted to read a book with a total stranger, and give a speech to the parents about the importance of reading to their kids. It seemed like no one there wanted to look at me, let alone sit down and chat or read a story.

I was planning my approach strategy as I walked over to the library reading area but as I got closer, I noticed a little girl in a blue denim dress, no older than two, peering behind the divider into the library room. When she saw me standing over her, she didn’t run away or shyly slink over to her mother. Instead, her eyes filled with excitement and as I cleared the entry way, she rushed by me into the reading room and began pulling on the doors of the locked book closet as hard as she could. “Just a minute” I said, laughing a little at her excitement. Before I even had the doors all the way open, she had picked out a number of books for us to read.

To read more: PDF Version of Article

Dr. Iraj Mottahedeh and HH Members Dr. Flor Geola, Dr. Gity Etemad, and Dr. Bijan Etemad share these photos from their recent visit to Mongolia to explore a possible International Physician Exchange Partnership with the Mongolian Ministry of Health.

Dr. Iraj Mottahedeh (far right) and Dr. Flor Geola (front row, third from right) are shown here with about 60 young women who attended their talks. The meeting was arranged by a UNESCO project for women who have left behind a nomadic lifestyle to live in the city, called "Together with You Migrants."

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Little Tahirih became fast friends with Rose Jennings when she visited Ecuador. Five years later Tahirih befriended Laura Williams during an HH visit to explore a long-term partnership with the clinic in Tosagua.

Rose Jennings, who joined HH as Office Assistant in June, and Fritze Roberts, who joined HH as Development Officer in May, share the series of connections and relationships which brought them to service with HH.

The journey that has led me to Health for Humanity ironically began at the forefront of a Health for Humanity project. I was on my year of service in a small town called Tosagua in Ecuador, when a group of eager medical volunteers arrived and set up a free clinic in what was then just the foundation of a Bahá’í Center. I remember being thrilled at being asked to help translate and getting to travel with them to a few of the surrounding towns where they gave lectures and spoke to community leaders. I was astonished by the serious and yet apparently common health issues that repeatedly surfaced from the people who came to the clinic over the course of a few days. New questions in my mind began to emerge and I started to make connections between the diet and lifestyles I had observed in this coastal Ecuadorian town and the health issues the visiting doctors were dealing with. It was through my participation in this clinic and my observations that I began to first develop an interest in community health, especially in the area of nutrition. Although I knew very little about Health for Humanity at the time, the work the doctors did at the clinic left a strong impression on my growing understanding of the world.

To read more: PDF Version of Article

HH member Saba Medhane shares these reflections on her recent trip to China with other HH members.

HH Member Saba Medhane presents on HIV prevention in Chengdu, China, in June, 2005.

When I decided to attend the Health for Humanity annual conference in Chicago from May 19-22 of this year, I had no idea that only three weeks later I would be standing in the airport in Beijing, waiting to meet my fellow HH members for the start of our trip to promote HIV prevention and control in China.

An internal medicine physician by training, I had just completed my Masters in Public Health and was looking for a public health related trip to give me the practical experience that you cannot gain in the classroom. I was fortunate to meet Alfred Neumann who graciously extended an invitation to join him on his upcoming trip to China. A quick rearrangement of vacation plans with my husband enabled me do just that.

After meeting Alfred and Sandra Bean--who kindly welcomed me as her travel companion--at the Beijing airport, we flew to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. There we were met with flowers and bright smiles by a group of university students accompanying Kandice Christian, who had put in a lot of effort in arranging meetings with various professors and officials to discuss existing plans and potential projects.

To read more: PDF Version of Article

The Full-Circle Learning program at Rancho Sespe infuses character education, conflict resolution and community service into academics and arts enrichment. Each week students studied a habit-of-heart which served as the theme for instruction in reading, math, or social studies, writing, art, music and conflict resolution skills, received guest speakers from the community and completed local and global service projects. They took turns serving each other by making lunch for each other and making gifts for their guests. Here are a selection of reflections and poems by the students on their experiences:

Habit 1: Appreciation of Differences
I learned that even if you are different you have to share and care. Lavrage

Habit 2: Patience
Patience helps us prepare for lives that carve a better community. We need patience to become a teacher. We also need patience to become a doctor, or a midwife. We need patience to become a judge. Hugo

Habit 3: Cooperation
I would like to live in a world full of unity and cooperation. The world would be a lot better. To create a world like that (full of unity and cooperation) because you would not be worried about people stealing your cars and breaking into your house, that would be a better place to live. Hugo

Habit 4: Acting on Convictions
The world is full of everything – gangs that need to be broken out, graffiti that needs to stop ruining our walls, drugs that need to stop killing people or addicting them. And another one is jobs and poverty. There are too many people who don’t even have a couch to sit on. We need to stop this and cooperate.

I will try to help out in community service and also not to litter, by picking up trash, organizing fun stuff and helping out old people, but especially by showing other people that the world is beautiful and we should live in peace.

We will work out as a group and cooperate on getting people away from drugs and finding better things for them, like getting them jobs they will enjoy or schools so they could learn. Instead of tagging on the walls they could use their talents on painting or something else. Mariana

Fall 2005: Service in another Lane
HH’s Bowling Breakfast Photo Essay

Phoenicia and Santera Jones, daughters of longtime kitchen chef David Jones, help out in the kitchen at the 2005 HH Bowling Breakfast Fundraiser this August. The abundant food is a delicious draw to the many who attended the annual event.

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The Health for Humanity office is offering a Trainer Certification Course in University Nur’s Moral Leadership Training Program with Mr. John Kepner from Bolivia. The Moral Leadership framework emerged out of decades of experience and learning in social and economic development in Latin America, with the collaboration of educators and development practitioners from around the world researching the concept of moral capabilities. Nur’s approach to moral leadership gives participants the opportunity to discover that they have the option and obligation to search for, adopt, live by and structure their lives and institutions in accordance with ethical principles.

Training Dates:
Session I (basic training): November 17-21, 2005 (Thursday-Monday)
Session II (advanced training): March 23-27, 2006 (Thursday-Monday)

Both sessions will be held in Chicago. Participation is limited to 20 per session. Participants coming from outside the Chicago area may be able to find accommodation with HH members in the area. The registration fee of $200 per person per session covers materials and supplies. Limited scholarships are available through the HH office.

To read more: PDF Version of Article

Bowlers supporting HH this summer - join in the fun!

Whatever the identity, the background, the motive, or the method, individual supporters have donated over $5,000,000 worth of goods and services to Health for Humanity in the last twelve years, benefiting hundreds of thousands of people in over 45 countries. Please join us in the advancement of world health.

More information here: http://www.healthforhumanity.org/involvement

Corporate Sponsorship

Organizational Support

Office Support

Training/Promotional Materials

A gathering of participants at the 2005 HH Conference.

The 2005 Health for Humanity Conference, Health Development for the 21st Century: Going Beyond Technical Knowledge to Learn the Skills and Foundations for Effective Development Projects, May 19-22, was a great success, marking HH’s “coming of age” as a professional organization.

“The conference this year was wonderful. I particularly liked the three keynote speakers, all very different subjects and all encouraging and motivational. The hotel and food were also excellent,” remarked one enthusiastic participant. Another long-time HH supporter noted, “The meeting was very well planned, organized and well done…. Our recent annual meeting compares favorably with some of the best professional meetings I have attended, including the Global Health Council meetings.” Another commented, “This was incredibly professional and… there were concrete examples of how projects are working.” One participant especially appreciated the openness to diverse points of view, “Great presentations. Wonderful networking. The open dialogue on difficult issues will help propel HH to greater heights of service and growth.”

To read more: PDF version of article

Save the Date! The HH 2006 Conference will be February 17-19, in Tucson, Arizona - watch the website for more details.

Health for Humanity has been undergoing an exciting period of growth. This has resulted in a more well-defined process of project development, which was described in the last Health for Humanity Newsletter. Part of this process involves the enhanced role of Taskforces in supporting project development. Health for Humanity Taskforces are advisory panels of HH members with expertise in one of HH’s project areas (Blindness Prevention, Maternal/Child Health, HIV/AIDS Prevention and International Exchange). A Taskforce’s primary responsibility is to review new project proposals and the status of ongoing projects to ensure that the methods of implementation are consistent with accepted science-based strategies as well as HH’s mission, vision, and principles.

As part of HH’s commitment to developing organizational professionalism and assisting members to advance their own learning about health development, Taskforces are currently consulting about adopting new standards for member participation in order to enhance the effectiveness of each Taskforce.

To read more: PDF version of article

Dr. Liu Fang, from HH’s partner hospital in Yueyang, China, shares appreciation from her hospital at the 2005 HH Conference.

Editors Note: Below is a speech given by Dr. Liu Fang, an HH Partner Physician from the Orthopedics Department in the Second Municipal Hospital in Yueyang, China, at the 2005 HH Conference.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

My name is Liu Fang. I am the Director of the Orthopedics Department in the Second Municipal Hospital in Yueyang, China. Yueyang is a middle-sized city serving 6 million people. It is because of HH that I am standing before you today. First of all, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak in this meeting. I would like to represent our hospital to express our sincere appreciation for everything done by Dr. Samimi and the Health for Humanity organization.

To read more: PDF version of article

HH says goodbye to Pete Lyon and thanks him for his assistance in the office, especially with the Opera Gala and HH Conference.

Rose Jennings comes to the HH office straight from receiving her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas. She will serve as Office Assistant for a year while learning about public health in preparation for graduate school.

Fritze Roberts joins the HH team as Development Officer, working to increase grant funding, corporate sponsorship, and general fundraising to support the growth and development of HH.

Two HH Members, Nikoo Javanmardi and Kereshmeh Henderson, who were reunited at an HH Conference 25 years after leaving Iran.

HH members Kereshmeh Henderson, of Charlotte, NC, and Nikoo Javanmardi, of San Francisco CA, grew up together in Ahlvaz, a town in southwestern Iran, before their families were forced to leave that country in the wake of the 1979 revolution. Both settled in the US, although they had lost contact.

Years later, at the Health for Humanity mini-conference at the Bahá’í Social and Economic Development conference in Orlando in December 2004, each spied a familiar face. Recounting the experience of spotting Nikoo again, Kereshmeh noted that “My head turned and I am not sure if she saw me until it was my turn to introduce myself when our eyes met and I remember the excitement of finding an old friend or family.” The two childhood friends were reunited, with much excitement and emotion.

The two have since rekindled their old friendship and attended the HH Annual Conference in Northbrook, IL May 19-22, 2005.

Health for Humanity is pleased to announce publication of the first edition of the Health Development Workbook. We hope the workbook will become an essential tool for enhancing members’ understanding of health development as practiced by HH. We envision using the workbook in small groups such as networks as an opportunity to learn and share that learning with others committed to advancing global health through service, scientific strategies, and universally accepted ethical principles. The impetus for the workbook comes from HH’s vision and principles, which focus on personal and community development.

Through the workbook we hope to offer a foundation for conversation and consultation that will aid in HH’s commitment to continual learning and the search for truth – fundamental guides for HH’s organizational development.

To read more: PDF version of article

Children in Cameroon greeting visiting HH members.

This February was an exciting month of travel and consultation with HH partners! I had the opportunity to spend the entire month in Cameroon visiting with three NGOs with whom HH has established relationships. I was fortunate to be traveling with three HH members, Nasim Sabery, Atoosa Kourosh, and Michael Goldberg, who were essential contributors to the consultations and excellent travel companions. The stories below are some of the highlights from our time in Cameroon.

The advancement of women We began the trip in Bamenda, the capital city of the Northwest Province of Cameroon. Here, Nasim and I consulted with Integrated Development Foundations (IDF), an NGO that shares similar founding principles as HH (i.e. the equality of men and women, the nobility of humankind, the use of consultation for decision-making) and which takes a comprehensive approach to community development. They have activities in education, engineering, finance, and health, including HIV/AIDS prevention and youth wellness. Specifically, IDF runs a vocational training program for single adolescent mothers, most of whom have struggled with poverty, abuse, and ostracism, to help them gain job skills, build self-esteem, and develop the life skills needed to live a fulfilling and healthy life.

To read more: PDF version of article

This attractive poster is designed for the professional office and shares the mission and vision of HH to encourage supporters to get involved through financial donations.

An eye-catching 18 x 24 inch poster is available for your office or home to share your commitment to HH with friends, colleagues, clients, or patients. The poster features photos from HH projects, and can be personalized with pictures from your own participation in HH projects for an additional fee. The poster tells HH’s story with a description of our work and photos surrounded by the quote: “It takes a global village to unite around a global vision.” Cost for the general poster is $50, personalized poster $75. The general poster is available year-round. Personalized poster orders will be submitted to the graphic designer quarterly. The next deadline for personalized poster orders will be September 1, 2005.

In addition, all new and renewing members will receive an attractive HH lapel pin, perfect for the collars of lab coats or other professional attire. This pin, which features HH’s signature lotus flower design, creates an excellent opportunity to share your participation in HH with others and to encourage them to get involved as members or supporters. Additional pins can be ordered from the HH office for $3 each, 2 for $5, or 5 for $10, to cover production, shipping and handling.

Finally, HH produces an annual T-shirt, a “Shirt of Honor,” of top quality material and artwork, which lists the names of friends, families, or mentors as requested by donors. The T-shirt is available for purchase year-round for $15, while sponsorship of names for $50 each or three for $100 is available every summer for launch of the new t-shirt in August. Corporate sponsorships are also available for the back and sleeves of the shirt. Each time a name is sponsored, a t-shirt is sent to the honoree, as specified by the individual or corporate donor.

To order any of these items, please complete the order form that can be downloaded here: HH Materials Order Form 2005

The "two Lauras," Administrative Coordinator Laura Youngberg and Programs Officer Laura Williams, working hard at the HH office.

Health for Humanity is about to celebrate its thirteenth birthday. This period of time has seen many victories, changes, and challenges. That same inspiring vision that led to the establishment of HH has also fueled the implementation of bold projects with victorious outcomes as well as provided the strength to weather the many challenges. Many times when resources were scarce, the momentum and spirit of the work in the field would somehow attract what was needed at the last opportunity. Sometimes, when the challenges seemed overwhelming, we wondered, “Would HH survive?” The good news is, HH has not only survived but prospered and become stronger with a honed mission and tested vision. To read more, click here: Trends and Developments in HH

The Program Officer enjoys a moment of rest at the airport on her way to Mongolia.

This past September, I had the privilege of traveling to Mongolia with several other Health for Humanity members. We made this trip to support the initiative of Dr. Kong Oh to introduce an advanced technique for cataract removal to Mongolia. We arrived in Mongolia after spending a week in Dubai at a conference of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). My background is in maternal and child health so the IAPB meeting provided an excellent forum to learn about blindness prevention from the top experts in the world. The transition from Dubai to Mongolia was a sharp one, not in culture as there are many similarities between the Arab and Mongolian cultures, but rather in temperature. We departed in the intense heat of the desert and landed in snow. To read more, click HH Program Officer Notes from the Field

Physical therapists Mr. Wang and (HH member) Ms. Jocelyn Goodall with a child who has just received a new cast at HH’s partner Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic in Chengdu, China, October 2004.

Editor’s note: HH received this letter from the Integrated Development Foundation (IDF), which works for promotion of youth wellness and prevention of HIV in Bamenda, Cameroon. We were touched by their feeling of connection with HH and our mission, and wanted to share an excerpt with HH members and supporters.

“We have consulted the HH website and are delighted by the immense work being carried all over the world by HH. Its international and domestic goals are laudable, realistic and practical. As far as the International goal is concerned, we are glad to know that the most crucial problem faced by the third world countries is one of your focus [areas]… It means that HH does not want to do their job in their place but to support them to properly do such a job. This is a wonderful approach. To read more, click here: HH Transcends Boundaries through the Web

Health for Humanity offers several summer and school-year internship opportunities for college and graduate level students interested in public health and health development. Unless indicated otherwise, these positions are unpaid and interns would be required to find funding for travel to/from Chicago, to/from project site, and food/lodging in Chicago and project site. Candidates for all HH internships should be at least 20 years old, have completed at least sophomore year of college, be able to follow directions, be self-directed, live in the Chicago area, and have their own transportation. To apply for an internship, please email the office at information@healthforhumanity.org or submit the online form on the “volunteer” page of the HH website. To read more, click here: http://development.healthforhumanity.org/content.php?Topic=10824187795040000&Story=10863831751560000

Health Development for the 21st Century:
Going Beyond Technical Knowledge to Learn the Skills and Foundations for Effective Development Projects

May 19-22, 2005: Northbrook/Chicago, Illinois

To learn more and get registration form, click here: http://development.healthforhumanity.org/content.php?Topic=10862124565000000&Story=10863216155440000

HH Board Member and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Samimi, discusses a case with fellow orthopedists in Yueyang, China, September 2004.

HH is seeking donations of the following items and services to support its mission. If a project you are involved with has additional specific needs for support, please contact the HH office for inclusion in the next newsletter. Contact the HH office for more details: information@healthforhumanity.org. To learn more, click here: Supporting HH Today

Many concerned HH members and supporters have called the HH office to inquire about how they might assist the victims of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. HH is deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale of the destruction and heart-rending suffering this calamity has unleashed. Indeed, with the availability of instant communication and global travel, we were all affected deeply by the far-reaching scale and ripple effects of this tragedy.

In the past, HH has been approached many times to assist with disaster relief. While we recognize the importance of this work and the urgent need for it, HH is not in a position to provide disaster relief. HH works primarily to develop the health infrastructure in a community to achieve self-sufficiency for the long-term.

Since the need for assistance with this disaster is apparent and urgent, we have been referring inquirers to a like-minded sister organization, Project Concern International (PCI). PCI has been active in health development and disaster relief in Southeast Asia for several decades. PCI embraces the same fundamental principles as HH, has active projects in the region, and is in a position to respond quickly and effectively. For further information about PCI, see www.projectconcern.org.

Some participants at the HH Mini-Conference in Orlando, December 2004.

Recently the question, “Who founded Health for Humanity?” has re-emerged. We have always responded to this question with, “A group of physicians in the Chicago area.” The truth is a bit more complicated. I believe it is important to document the origins of Health for Humanity, acknowledging that there were multiple forces at work and many people who played a role. In the late 1980’s, there were a series of 3 or 4 meetings of like-minded Chicago area physicians who gathered to consult about forming a medical organization inspired by the vision of the oneness of humankind and dedicated to offering service in different parts of the world. To read more, click here: Who Founded Health for Humanity?