Seen Around Town
by Lynda Millner
International Women’s Day
Co-chairs of the DR Women’s Day event Kelly Walker and Kristin McWilliams Keynote speakers at Direct Relief Dr. Elizabeth Toro and Founder of Africa Schools of Kenya Teri Gabrielsen
D
Volunteers packing 2,000 hygiene kits at DR
irect Relief (DR) was a bustling place for International Women’s Day. Over one hundred folks gathered to learn and to help pack 2,000 hygiene kits for women. To begin the morning there was a baker’s delight of sweets and fruits of many kinds along with a variety of coffees all organized by Kelly Walker and Kristin McWilliams. The Direct Relief color is orange which I usually like only on pumpkins, but I’ll add Direct Relief to that list. Kelly
and Kristin combined it with hot pink in the floral arrangements. So pretty! I’m sure those bright orange boxes are a welcome sight when they arrive around the world following a disaster or to treat a health need. This group of supporters is called Direct Relief Women (DRW). We heard from two ladies who are working together to empower, educate, and preserve the human rights of young girls in Africa. Teri Gabrielsen, founder of Africa Schools of Kenya
Ms Millner is the author of The Magic Makeover, Tricks for Looking Thinner, Younger and More Confident – Instantly. If you have an event that belongs in this column, you are invited to call Lynda at 969-6164.
(ASK), and Dr. Elizabeth Toro, Santa Barbara based OB/GYN and director of health for Africa Schools of Kenya discussed delivery of healthcare in Kenya and community-driven efforts to end the practice of female circumcision or genital mutilation. After one of the “cutters” learned better she announced, “You girls are as important as boys. I will cut no more.” ASK is a nonprofit organization devoted to educating the residents of a rural region of Amboseli, Kenya. The group built Esiteti Primary School which is a fully accredited government school that now serves 580 students in grades K-8. Gabrielsen and Toro designed the curriculum for reproductive health for students and helped in the creation of the Alternative Rite of Passage program. This has helped end the harmful and long held practice of female genital mutilation in several Maasai communities. DRW co-chair Carolyn Chandler told us, “Each year more than 290,000 women die from preventable compli-
The overall co-chairs of all the Direct Relief Women events Carolyn Chandler and Beth Green
cations that occur during pregnancy and childbirth. Access to things like prenatal vitamins and a trained midwife with essential supplies can significantly reduce these numbers and keeps moms and babies safe.” Each midwife kit provided by DR supports about 50 safe births. These were designed by expert midwives themselves. A DR employee Samir Rai explained how DR partners with many businesses. Pharmaceuticals alone have given $1.3 billion to DR. For example FedEx donates the cost of all shipping needs
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The DR warehouse with flags from all the countries they have helped
14 MONTECITO JOURNAL
“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive.” – Hafez
26 March – 2 April 2020
