Our Projects
Suriname Project
Pictures from the Suriname Project
Suriname Project Overview: Giving interior people access to science and a public voice.
Dan Peplow and Sarah Augustine have been working with the interior people of Suriname for over 5 years through their non-profit organization, Suriname Indigenous Health Fund (SIHF). They started working with the Maroon communities when Dan (an embassy eco-toxicology consultant) was told by government officials that the interior people had been tested for mercury poisoning related to gold mining, but they could not receive those test results. In response to this human rights injustice, Dan and Sarah rented a mercury analyzer, allowed community members to operate it and own the test results. Eventually, Dan and Sarah?s efforts raised enough money ($30,000+) to buy an analyzer for the interior people to use. They expanded their work to include the indigenous Amerindian communities as well. SIHF is welcomed by the under-served interior communities, but the organization is meeting resistance from the government in the forms of veiled threats to Suriname nationals that will no longer collaborate in SIHF?s efforts. Dan and Sarah continue to work with the interior communities through SIHF, and act in response to their requests?publishing articles on their behalf, finding access to cleaner water supplies, and monitoring mercury levels in community members and their food sources.
Working with SIHF, Jerry and Machelle Hartman are making a documentary that features the stories of the Maroon and Amerindian people. The tribes want the world to know about their existence and the threats (polluted water & food, land access & rights) they face in an era of global economic development.
January 2008 Mercury Analyzer Update
Dan and Sarah worked with Dr. M--- in the past, and had agreed to work with him in the future. They spent the last 2 years fundraising $30,000+ dollars to bring a mercury analyzer back to Suriname. The tentative plan was to place the analyzer in a lab that Dr. M--- used in Paramaribo. He could use it for his research, rent it out to interested parties, as long as he would provide free access to mercury analysis for all interior people (Maroons and Amerindians). It was an exciting opportunity?especially since there is no other permanent mercury analyzer in the entire country of Suriname. In December 2007, Dan tried to meet with Dr. M--- and his partner several times, but the researchers continued to postpone or cancel meetings. Finally, Dan met with the researchers and he was told that they could not work with either Dan or Sarah. The ?Minister? (of Health or Environment, Industry & Labor, they can?t definitively figure out which one) told Dr. M--- and his partner that they needed to be ?careful?, and that they should not work with Dan or Sarah.
Currently, the analyzer is back in the states, at a local college near Yakima, WA (home of Dan and Sarah) until a more permanent plan in Suriname can be finalized. The interior people of Suriname will still have access to the analyzer and any results via mail-in testing. Hartman is also continuing work on the documentary?most urgently funding is needed for translation of the footage.
What is Mercury Poisoning?
Mercury poisoning is an illusive, but documented disease in many countries, and people in Suriname suffer from its effects. The disease includes a multitude of symptoms with varying severity, including major birth defects, autism, pain, nervous system failure, and decreased mental capacity. Many of the people don?t know why they are sick, while others do understand that they are being poisoned by the mining. Until more information can be documented regarding mercury levels in the water, animals and people of Suriname, the problem will continue to grow. There have only been two peer-reviewed articles connecting gold mining, mercury and negative health/environmental impacts in Suriname. One article was researched and written by Dr. Mohan, a local physician. The second was researched and written by Dan Peplow and Sarah Augustine. These three individuals (as well as others, we are sure) want to make this problem public knowledge, but are meeting resistance from the Suriname government and international development organizations.
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Foreign Education Fund
Pictures of the De Los Santos Family
Philippine Education Fund Project Overview: Supporting families to keep kids in school.
As Peace Corps Volunteers, Jerry and Machelle Hartman lived in a community of fishermen and rice farmers. Though many of the people enjoyed their work, they realized that their children wanted more career opportunities, and that the community could not support any more subsistence-living in an already over-planted and over-fished region. The Hartmans began supporting Rudy and Lyn De Los Santoss family, whose children asked to attend a local 2-year college. The financial support that this family needed was multi-facetedmoney for tuition, fees, supplies, basic medical care, transportation, stable housing, etc. The families in this community, and so many others in the Philippines, have no savings or access to extra income, so when a crisis hits, any money they have or can get (through extremely high interest loans) goes towards the emergency, and education is no longer an option. SNWM has begun supporting this family through donations each semester that will ensure the kids will stay in school and graduate from college with their 2-year degrees and find employment.
As more money is raised for this fund, additional families will be able to give their children access to college educations. As of 2008, it costs about $3,000 (in tuition and fees alone) for one student to complete his/her 2 year degree. Additional expenses depend on the familys living circumstances.
January 2008 Update:
Rollen graduated in March of 2007 with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He worked in a local restaurant for several months and saved some money towards further training, which he completed in the fall of 2007. Through the generous donations of SNWM members, he is currently continuing his training in Manila to work on the ferries that transport products and people between the many islands in the Philippines.
Jen will graduate with a 2-year degree in March of 2008. Rey will finish 6th grade in elementary school this March, and start 7th grade at Ivisan National High School next June. He will be ready for college in 2012.
A recent text message from the De Los Santos Family:
Maayong adlaw. Mam,Sir madamo gid nga salamat sa inyo kag sa pamilya sa pagbulig ninyo piermi sa amon kag sa mga bata.
Good morning. Maam, Sir, many thanks to you and your family for always helping us and our children.
From their Christmas letter:
Mam, Sir, kag Aidan,
Kamusta kamo? Kung kami maayo lang. Ari ang amon nga kodak. Mam, sir madamu gid nga salamat sa inyo pag-supporta sa amon.
'Palangga man namon kamo,
-Lyn, Rudy, Rollen, Genny, kag Rey
How are you? We are fine. Here are photos of us. Many thanks to you for your support.
We love you,
-Lyn, Rudy, Rollen, Genny kag Rey
March Update:
Gen is graduating from a 2 year college program this March. Rey is graduating from 6th grade and will start high school in June. Thank you for all your help! The De Los Santos family members send their thanks: Salamat sa inyo nga tanan.
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Kiva
Kiva is an organization that puts people with needs together with people
with resources. You've heard the saying, "Give a man a fish and you feed
him for a day, but teach him how to fish and you feed him for a
lifetime." Kiva allows us to help people for a lifetime, not just a day.
Giving to Kiva is not a handout. It does not destroy local economies by
bringing in stuff for free, making it impractical for local businesses
to thrive. Kiva makes loans and not handouts.
Basically the Kiva organization is a coalition of banks in all parts of
the world. They help the bank raise money to loan to entrepreneurs that
need to raise capital to begin or expand their business. This is where
you come in. When you donate to Kiva you are allowing banks to make
loans to these entrepreneurs. The people pay back the loans, the bank
keeps the interest, but we get our principle back, so that we can help
other entrepreneurs in remote parts of the world. Already we have helped
about 20 people buy everything from a cow to a motorcycle, to grains and
beyond. These loans have helped raise the standard of living of these
individuals, while allowing them the satisfaction of not accepting
charity, but rather through their honest endeavors and hard work.
Check out the people that we have already helped! You can even read the story behind each individual's needs! 100% of the donations
made to us marked for Kiva projects goes to help make loans to people
through the Kiva organization. Your dollars, however big or small they
may be, can make a big difference for somebody in the world. If you would like donate money towards this cause, you can do so right now via our online giving!
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