Are there good reasons to be sceptical about the Rhythm Method?
Meaningful Volunteer actively promotes a method called SDM (Standard Days Method), which is very similar to the rhythm method.
Might we be better off advocating for all forms of contraception in its programs in the Philippines, where abstinence and natural methods are preferred due to the religions norms?
This article featured on Slate advocates a sceptical approach to assessing the claims of the producers of the SDM method.
What do you think?
School for Andy Coffee Released
Meaningful Volunteer and the School for Andy movement is delighted to announce the release of School for Andy coffee.
All proceeds of this coffee help to sustain School for Andy, a solar powered school in Eastern Uganda that provides English lessons and vocational projects to members of the community.
The coffee is produced by Just Coffee - a 100% fair trade fair trade coffee cooperative. Just Coffee is based in Madison, Wisconsin.
School for Andy Coffee is the brainchild of Anne Eichmeyer and Melissa Wood. Anneis Meaningful Volunteer's marketing manager. Both Anne and Melissa spent one month of their summer volunteering in Uganda to help complete a solar powered school.
The solar school was made to honor Andy Manley who tragically died in a house explosion.
Contact us as coffee@meaningfulvolunteer.org to place an order.
Students Sponsored in Uganda
Three students in the small rural parish of Buyaya in Eastern Uganda thanks to a number of volunteers.
The volunteers (who wish to remain anonymous) sponsored Jane, and siblings Junior and Esther to go secondary school. All three students will be boarding at their respective schools.
Junior and Esther recently lost their father who worked as a policeman. Without the income from their father, Esther and Junior had to leave school due to the expensive school fees. Both Esther and Junior are bright, intelligent young people.
Jane was forced to leave school due to ill health. Getting back to school proved to be very difficult due to the fees.
Should you wish to sponsor a student, please email us at sponsor@meaningfulvolunteer.org
Follow Julien's Ugandan Blog as he takes on Malaria
Julien is a volunteer who is heading to Uganda to help tackle the epidemic of malaria in the small rural village of Buyaya.
Buyaya is especially plagued with malaria with 50% of the reported deaths attributed to malaria.
He is volunteering through Meaningful Volunteer's Malaria Operation project. He will be following a very detailed process to assure maximum effectiveness.
Julien is maintaining a blog about his time in Uganda. Be sure to subscribe to his blog and leave encouraging comments!
Julien is also collecting donations to buy additional nets. You can donate to Julien via this link.
International Souls Helping Ugandan Soles
Thanks to donations from many generous people, Meaningful Volunteer has successfully distributed more than 150 pairs of sandals to children in Buyaya, located in Eastern Uganda.
Prior to the distribution, very few children wore any sort of foot protection. Sandals are especially important in Buyaya as the Trombiculidae mite (aka "Chiggers") can cause infections in the children as the mite bury their larvae in the children's feet.
You can donate to this cause by following this link.
Human Rights Wall up in Uganda
Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights!
Bob Marley
You cannot stand up for your rights, if you do not know your rights.
With this is mind, Meaningful Volunteer in conjunction with the School for Andy movement create a Human Rights Wall on its recently completed solar powered school in rural Uganda.
The wall was completed over several days by local Ugandan students.
The original text for the human rights wall can be found here.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Come Meet the Mama Pamba Team
After an exhaustive process in Buyaya, we are finally ready to announce the Mama Pamba team:
They are: Rachel Buhule, Florence Madaya, Irene Nabukwasi, Norah Namangole, Edith Namataka, Sylvia Namataka, Rachel Nasige, and Ketty Neumbe.
Edith will be leading the team and has joined in as an official Meaningful Volunteer staff member.
The ladies will work from the Solar Powered School that Meaningful Volunteer recently completed.
Mama Pamba is a 100% fair trade fashion label. Sales from the items will directly benefit the ladies who make up the Mama Pamba team.
14 Sep 2011
Edible School Yard Underway
One the challenges in running a school - like Meaningful Volunteer's recently completed solar school - is feeding the students. You just can't learn on an empty stomach!
With this is mind, Meaningful Volunteer has created an "edible school yard". The land around the school (that was generously donated to us) has been planted with green banana trees (see here and here), beans, and a nursery bed for eggplants.
The crops from the edible school yard will be used to create nutritious lunches for the students.
12 Sep 2011
Solar Powered School Completed
Meaningful Volunteer and the School For Andy movement are pleased to announce the completion of out solar powered school in Buyaya - a small rural parish in eastern Uganda.
Many Ugandans, international volunteers and generous donors have made this school a reality.
The school features a solar system that powers a computer lab, a tailoring school complete with five pedal powered sewing machines, the Declaration of Human Rights written on one wall, an Earth Wall, and a thank you wall for all who helped.
Building the School
Take a tour
The school was built as a memorial to Andy Manley who died tragically in a house explosion.
While our school is finished, our work is still not done! We are still looking for international volunteers to help expand our school, and teach our students. Click here to learn more about volunteering.
Paypal Paypal account:
volunteer@meaningfulvolunteer.org
or:
Direct Credit into our Canadian bank account
Name: MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER SOCIETY
Account Number: 93240-004-09365240748
Bank: TD Canada Trust
Country: Canada
BIC/SWIFT code: TDOMCATTTOR
You may need the bank address for a bank transfer.
It is:
TD Canada Trust
1140 Johnson Street
Coquitlam
British Columbia V3B7G5
Canada (604)927-5700
Meaningful Volunteer Welcomes New Staff Members
Meaningful Volunteer is delighted to announce new staff members in its Ugandan operations.
First there is Esther Nabkonde who is the new District Manager for Ugandan and will have overall responsibility for the Meaningful Volunteer in Uganda.
Edith Namataka will be in charge of our Mama Pamba fair trade fashion label and William Gidudu will be the caretaker of our recently completed solar school.
Send them an email and make them feel welcome!
6 Sep 2011