Events – Kupona Foundation

June 28, 2017

Kupona Supporters Raise a record breaking $20,000 for Reproductive Health

On June 21st, Kupona Board Vice President James Mann opened his New York City home for his sixth Cocktail Reception in support of Kupona. Our guests and supporters broke a Kupona record, raising over $20,000 to improve access to quality reproductive healthcare for women and girls in Tanzania.

During the evening, long-time supporters and new friends mingled with staff and members of Kupona’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board, enjoying cocktails, canapes, and stunning views of Central Park.

L-R: Alexandra Cairns, James Mann, Abbey Kocan, Samantha Bossalini, Dr. Yoni Barnhard

James shared his reasons for supporting Kupona for so many years, emphasizing not only the high return on investment that comes from supporting reproductive and newborn healthcare interventions, but also the efficiency that comes from working with a lean, context-driven organization like Kupona.

Our Executive Director, Abbey, stressed what is at stake as healthcare teams work tirelessly to serve mothers and newborns in challenging environments. Missing something can be the difference between life and death. Yet, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, healthcare workers like Sister Intisar persist in the face of adversity in order to give families the quality of healthcare they deserve. Thanks to the support of Kupona’s donors and partners to date, we have seen a 40% decrease in maternal mortality and a 14% reduction in stillbirth rates in the Dar es Salaam region. These aren’t just numbers. They’re lives saved.

Sister Intisar (center) “Seriously, I want zero deaths.”

Abbey invited guests to take pride in the achievements in Dar to date, and to support urgently needed training on the ground. With a generous matching fund from James on the night, guests and supporters contributed $20,000 – enough to train 300 nurses, and embed trainers in medical teams to support long-term, on-the-job mentoring and support. This training will equip frontline clinical teams with the life-saving skills they need to provide expert, quality care to the women and girls they serve.

In Tanzania, one woman still loses her life every hour due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth. We’re making progress for these women and their families every day, but we won’t stop until our shared vision of high quality, respectful reproductive healthcare for all is realized. Thank you so much to James, and to every single donor, supporter and partner who is standing with us to save lives, and to improve the standard of reproductive healthcare for thousands of women and girls in Tanzania.

Did you miss the event? You can still donate today to empower healthcare teams with the skills and tools they need: $50 trains 1 nurse to deliver life saving care to an expectant mother and her newborn.

October 5, 2016

A Night (and Round) for Health & Hope

Kupona’s inaugural event in Saratoga Springs, NY raises over $50,000

Last Thursday, we were thrilled to host our first fundraising event in Kupona’s hometown of Saratoga Springs, at Saratoga National Golf Club.

Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

Golfers enjoyed a round on Saratoga National’s award-winning golf course before friends, family, and supporters arrived for A Night for Health & Hope, a cocktail reception to unlock the potential of Tanzanian women and children living in poverty.

A few of our golfers enjoying a cocktail after playing 18-holes. Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

Music from Just Nate and live painting from David Hill entertained guests as they sipped cocktails, indulged in passed appetizers and took in the magnificent Autumn views from the Ballroom patio.

Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

Items handmade by fistula survivors at The Mabinti Center were available for purchase and guests were invited to snap a photo in the photo booth donated by Johnson & Johnson’s Donate a Photo. There was fierce competition in our silent auction. The Kupona team was delighted to have such a great turnout and warm reception from the Saratoga community.

Kupona’s Sami Bossalini and Alexandra Cairns in the Donate a Photo booth. Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

In her remarks, our Executive Director, Abbey, thanked our guests and sponsors, including Polyset, Saratoga Hospital, and DRB Interiors. She then shared her own story of how her son’s life was saved during delivery in Saratoga Hospital because they had access to high quality healthcare. Had he been born in Tanzania, the outcome would have been very different.

Abbey sharing Kupona’s story with our guests. Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

Thanks to the generosity of our guests, we exceeded our fundraising target for the evening, raising over $50,000 to purchase two new anesthesia machines for CCBRT. With this support, CCBRT will be able to continue to provide safe, high quality surgical care for thousands of people every year. By providing access to high quality healthcare through CCBRT, we can ensure more mothers, like Abbey, can celebrate their babies’ happy, healthy beginnings.

Abbey and her son in the photo booth. Photo by Niki Rossi Photography

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors, golfers, guests, volunteers, and silent auction donors for their generosity and support. Thanks to Niki Rossi Photography for capturing the event, to artist David Hill and to musician Just Nate for contributing their time and talent to our event.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to our golf committee, Tom Longe and Steve Seaboyer and our evening event planning committee chaired by Kelly Trendell, and Kristi and Ryan from Saratoga National Golf Club for making the event possible.

Together, we made high quality healthcare more accessible for thousands of families in Tanzania.

Thank you.

June 20, 2016

Cocktail Reception Raises over $16,000 for Maternal and Newborn Healthcare

What it takes to change lives

On June 17^th, Kupona Director James Mann hosted his annual Cocktail Reception in New York City to support our work to improve maternal and newborn healthcare in Tanzania.

Alexandra Cairns (Kupona staff) greets Advisory Board member, Elena Rubinov

We were delighted to welcome such a diverse and distinguished group of guests, including long-time supporters and new friends, representatives of UNFPA, the Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America, and Safe Surgery 2020, as well as individuals who have been following our work for many years. We were also joined by members of Kupona’s Advisory Board, friends, family, and former colleagues from CCBRT.

A video message from CCBRT’s CEO, Erwin Telemans

Welcoming guests, James emphasized how cost effective investments in maternal and newborn healthcare can be. A video message from Erwin Telemans, CEO of CCBRT, gave guests a tour of the CCBRT Disability Hospital, setting the scene for the range of impairments that can be prevented and treated with access to high quality maternal and newborn healthcare. Kupona’s Executive Director, Abbey Kocan, reiterated the ‘ripple effect’ of an investment in our program – saving the life of a mother, the primary caregiver, means her entire family is likely to be healthier, better educated and more prosperous. She closed with a call to action, asking guests to join us. “We know the solutions; we just need to mobilize to implement them.”

$16,000 will fund 30 safe deliveries for expectant mothers and their newborns. On-the-job training for healthcare workers will simultaneously improve the existing medical infrastructure, embedding high quality care in the healthcare system for future generations.

James Mann (far left) welcomes guests.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our host, Mr. Mann for generously covering the event costs and matching donations made during the evening, and to all who showed their support before, during and after the event. Your contributions help us continue to strengthen the healthcare system and provide care to thousands of women and newborns every year. Thank you.

More photos from the event are now live on our Facebook page. You can also receive updates by signing up to receive our mailing list.

May 31, 2016

Drawing Out Obstetric Fistula

Kupona Foundation and Partners celebrate the opening of Drawing Out Obstetric Fistula

On Wednesday, May 25^th, Kupona welcomed partners and supporters to an intimate reception and private viewing of our Drawing Out Obstetric Fistula exhibition at the NYU Kimmel Center. We were joined by clinicians, philanthropists, advocates, lawyers, business leaders, artists and students, all united under one cause: a commitment to the empowerment of women and girls.

Kupona volunteers, staff, Advisory Board members and friends.

Artist Jac Saorsa speaking with guests.

Celebrating resilience, courage, and unadulterated beauty

The focus of the evening was a celebration of the resilience, courage and unadulterated beauty of the women who inspired Jac Saorsa’s collection of artwork. All treated at our sister organization in Tanzania, every woman featured has her own story of survival. On Wednesday evening, guests heard the story of Lidya. The trauma and grief that Lidya experienced during the delivery of her children is beyond what many of us can imagine. Despite losing her 2-day-old newborn, raising a child with a disability caused by birth complications, and developing a devastating fistula twice, Lidya refused to be broken by fistula. She says, “my experience of living with fistula has made me the successful businesswoman I am today.”

Joining together to end fistula within a generation

Addressing the room, Kupona’s Executive Director, Abbey Kocan, thanked sponsors Johnson & Johnson, Fistula Foundation, New York University’s Kimmel Center and College of Global Public Health, and the UNFPA-led Campaign to End Fistula. Dr. John Brothers, President of Kupona’s Board of Directors, highlighted the opportunity to empower entire communities by creating new beginnings for women living with and recovering from obstetric fistula. Following remarks from Darcy Allen, representing the UNFPA-led Campaign to End Fistula, and Kim Keller of Johnson & Johnson, attendees renewed their commitment to the UN Secretary General’s pledge to end fistula within a generation.

Abbey Kocan addresses guests.

Kupona was also delighted to welcome Katia Geurts, the Director of The Mabinti Center, CCBRT’s socio-economic empowerment program for women recovering from obstetric fistula. Items hand crafted by graduates from the training program were available for sale. Guests also showed their support through the purchase of artwork, exhibition catalogs, and donations.

Katia Geurts, Director of The Mabinti Centre offered items for sale made by women recovering from treatment to correct their obstetric fistulas.

This is just the beginning…

This reception was just the beginning of a celebration of women living with and recovering from obstetric fistula, and the programs and partnerships working to end this debilitating condition within a generation.

The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, until December 31st. Artwork and exhibition catalogs will be available for sale for the duration. If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact Alexandra Cairns.

Visit www.resilience.gallery for a preview.

October 6, 2015

Kupona’s Fifth Annual Golf Outing Raises Over $25,000 for mothers and newborns in Tanzania

We know we have the most dedicated team of supporters when not even an impending hurricane can keep them away.

A beautiful place to golf for good. North Hempstead Country Club

This past Thursday, October 1^st, as Hurricane Joaquin gathered strength off the East Coast, a determined group of supporters and volunteers joined us at the North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington, NY for our Fifth Annual Golf Outing. Despite drizzly weather, the players enjoyed 18 holes on a pristine golf course, expert one-on-one putting instruction by golf pro, Danie Steyn, and a relaxing evening of cocktails and dinner.

Kupona’s supporters take to the green to golf for good.

During the event, golfers heard an update from Dr. Sierra Washington, our Senior Technical Advisor in Maternal and Newborn Healthcare, who has been seconded to work at CCBRT in Tanzania. Proceeds from Thursday’s outing will support Dr. Washington as she provides safe C-Sections and obstetric care for women in Dar es Salaam, trains frontline healthcare workers to provide high quality care, and supports CCBRT as they plan to open the Maternity and Newborn Hospital in 2017. With the $25,000 raised last week, Dr. Washington can conduct 27 safe C-Sections, 72 safe deliveries, and train 9 healthcare workers, ensuring the skills and techniques needed to save lives are embedded in the Tanzanian healthcare system for generations.

Supporters donated time, energy, and gifts for our golfers

We would like to extend our gratitude to: our tee sponsors Allen & Overy, Mayer Brown, Cravath Swaine & Moore, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, donors of our Silent Auction prizes, Ruta Maya Coffee and Allagash Brewering Co. for their donations, and our golfers, dinner guests, volunteers, and donors. Thank you from the entire team at Kupona for making this another successful year!

March 3, 2015

Women Making it Happen: Patricia Potts

Compassion that knows no distance

This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating just a few of the women that inspire us every day. Meet Pat!

Pat Potts is no stranger to charitable giving. As a board officer for Journey’s End Refugee Services, Pat works to resettle refugees from around the world in her Buffalo, NY community. She is also a regular supporter of Smile Train, one of Kupona and CCBRT’s key partners. Her visit to Tanzania in 2013, however, motivated her to take her generosity one step further.

“I contribute my time and expertise, and find helping refugees a wonderful win-win for our community. But Tanzania was a different situation.”

Before arriving in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Pat did not imagine that an encounter with a mother and daughter would result in a long-term connection to a new cause. Pat visited Tanzania with her own daughter and team members from Smile Train. It was during a day trip to Tegeta, a poor area in Dar es Salaam, that Pat met Rebecca and “Mama Rebecca,” her mother.

“I met Rebecca because her mom allowed us into her humble home after Rebecca had received cleft surgery at CCBRT. She opened their home to us to see the good result for her daughter.”

Rebecca, 6 years old, received cleft surgery at CCBRT in 2013, funded by Smile Train.

And as Pat toured CCBRT’s Disability Hospital, the stories of thousands of other children like Rebecca, whose families struggle to afford high quality treatment, really resonated. As a mother, she felt compelled to do more.

“It was humbling, and I am so fortunate. If I could not assist these mothers who do so much for their children, how could I, as a mother, reconcile my good fortune of merely living in the U.S. and accept their hospitality?”

On her return to the U.S., Pat contacted Kupona Foundation, looking for a way to support the work she had witnessed firsthand. Kupona was delighted to provide Pat with a way to stay connected with CCBRT, and channel her support to the programs that had such an impact. For Pat, her contributions are a tribute not just to the women she met on her trip, but to the medical care that changed Rebecca’s life, and the services that change the lives of over a million people every year.

“Such safe surgeries make as big a difference to individuals in Tanzania as the work I’ve been doing with refugees in the States. My contributions are in honor of Rebecca’s mother, and in tribute to the hope and good work of CCBRT.”

Pat (second from right) meets Rebecca and her mother with our friends from Smile Train.

Kupona Foundation and CCBRT are immensely grateful for the support of Pat and others like her. We channel these contributions directly to CCBRT, empowering them to provide high quality, affordable treatment for vulnerable people as well as supporting their efforts to enact sustainable, system-wide change in Tanzania.

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February 26, 2015

Women Making it Happen: Esther

A story of endurance and recovery

One week from International Women’s Day on March 8th, we’re celebrating women who inspire us. Meet Esther!

Esther arrived at the health center in Tanga as a 24-year-old expectant mother and business woman, with a supportive family and a bright future. She returned home with a healthy baby, but also a devastating condition that threatened to diminish that future. Obstetric fistula.

Despite a traumatic 12-hour delivery, Esther’s baby survived. The baby was both too big and lying in a position that made the delivery very difficult. Staff at the Tanga health center were able to deliver the baby, but the damage to Esther’s body had already been done.

Five days after returning home, Esther noticed she was leaking urine.

Learning to Live with Fistula

“I did not know what fistula was before I developed it and I was not sure why I was leaking.”

“After I developed fistula, I stayed at home with my parents. I was very sad that I could not go to any celebrations or to see my neighbors because I would be ashamed for anyone to see my leaking.“

Isolation and marginalization walk hand-in-hand with fistula, as the pervasive smell of leaking urine and feces, and the lack of understanding surrounding the condition, often push friends and family to reject the woman living with the condition. Thankfully, Esther’s relatives were understanding and supportive, and refused to separate from her. She did, however, experience a different type of loss.

“Before I had fistula, I owned a cosmetic shop. After my baby was born, I could not go back to my cosmetic shop because I had spent the money that I would need to purchase more supplies for my business on my health and fistula expenses. I also had to spend more time washing my clothes because I was leaking in them a lot and I did not want to leak in front of my customers.”

Hope Delivered

Esther lived with fistula for seven months before she was offered any hope of a restored life. A doctor in Tanga told her about an organization called CCBRT in Dar es Salaam, and informed her that her condition was treatable. Esther traveled the 200 miles to CCBRT, and was admitted for fistula repair surgery. In a new city, preparing to undergo surgery, she naturally had concerns.

“Before surgery, I was worried that I would be in pain and that it would not be successful.”

Esther’s surgery was successful, and she is now recovering pain-free at CCBRT. She is happy to be completely dry, and to have her beautiful, healthy son. She will soon be able to return home to her family and community. When asked what message she would like to send to other women in Tanzania who are living with fistula, she replies:

“Fistula is treatable. When you have fistula, go to CCBRT for treatment.”

Kupona Foundation is proud to partner with CCBRT as they deliver hope and restore futures to thousands of women like Esther every year.

Next Sunday, March 8^th, we will celebrate International Women’s Day with one final story to conclude our Women Making it Happen blog series. Join us as we honor an American woman who went the extra mile to support women living thousands of miles away. These women demonstrate that change is not only possible, it is happening – building stronger communities and creating better futures for women and families in Tanzania.

February 22, 2015

Women Making it Happen: Mama Millinga

A beacon of hope and support for Tanzania’s most vulnerable women

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, we’re celebrating “Women Making it Happen.”
Meet Mama Millinga

For the past 15 years, Theodora Millinga, affectionately known to her patients and colleagues as Mama Millinga, has been the driving force behind CCBRT’s hugely successful rehabilitation program for fistula patients. Through years of dedication and compassionate care, Mama Millinga has successfully changed the lives of thousands of women when they were at their most vulnerable.

Initially trained as a nurse midwife, Mama Millinga’s compassionate nature made her the perfect candidate for her current role as counselor, health educator, and holistic care coordinator.

“Before I became a counselor I was treating patients in very difficult circumstances. I didn’t know where to start or the right thing to say. After I trained in counselling I had the skills required to sit with a patient and address difficult issues. Being a counselor made me a better nurse.”

A holistic approach to patient care

Mama Millinga is responsible for the full spectrum of rehabilitative care for obstetric fistula patients both before and after surgery at CCBRT. Utilizing various techniques, including physiotherapy, art, music, group and individual counselling Mama Millinga addresses not only the physical effects of fistula, but also the emotional and psychological impact of years of loss, rejection, and marginalization.

“When I see women who have been abandoned or beaten by their husbands, excluded by their families, it hurts me a lot.”

Unfailing dedication

Despite hearing heartbreaking stories on a daily basis, Mama Millinga’s bright smile emerges when speaking about her patients and their successful recoveries. Her devotion to each patient extends beyond their time at CCBRT, as she keeps in touch with women she has worked with, eager to hear about their progress.

“There have been many memorable patients, but Ashura sticks in my mind. She has a physical disability, and developed a fistula during childbirth. I feared that Ashura’s disability would make the healing process more difficult. It made the surgery and treatment more complicated. But her surgery was successful. She fell pregnant sometime after her surgery, and called me. She followed the instructions; she delivered by C-Section and had a healthy baby. She fell pregnant a second time, with twins! It was another safe delivery. Now she has three healthy children.”

With International Women’s Day just two weeks from today, we are thrilled to celebrate Mama Millinga’s incredible legacy of healing and hope.

Stay tuned over the next two weeks for more stories profiling the incredible women we have the honor of working with and meeting at Kupona Foundation. These women demonstrate that change is not only possible, it is happening – building stronger communities and creating better futures for women and families in Tanzania.

November 18, 2014

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Reflecting on 20 years and our vision for the future.

On October 24^th, I was honored to attend CCBRT’s 20^th anniversary celebrations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania alongside the team members, individual supporters, and partner organizations that have made CCBRT the organization that it is today. There are three sections in this blog post. Read the whole thing or scroll down to the update you’re most interested in reading!

20 Years of service to the Tanzanian community
Growth and Sustainability
Little Victories

20 Years of service to the Tanzanian community
For twenty years, CCBRT has provided life-changing surgeries and rehabilitative services to the most marginalized people in Tanzania. Celebrating this event on the construction site of the new Maternity and Newborn Hospital was fitting. (Take a virtual tour of the construction site). The Maternity and Newborn Hospital marks the future for CCBRT. Many of the disabilities that we treat can be prevented with access to quality maternal and newborn healthcare. By improving the quality of care in the region of Dar es Salaam, we will not only save the lives of mothers and babies, but also prevent the development of impairments like obstetric fistula and encourage the early identification and treatment of impairments like congenital cataract, cleft lip/palate and clubfoot.

CCBRT’s twenty year track record for high quality, affordable healthcare has been made possible by your support. The next 20 years will be focused on building upon this legacy in order to change even more lives and, in turn, change entire communities. The impact you have goes beyond the individual. The impact of saving a mother, restoring sight, mobility, or dignity has broader health, economic, and educational implications for the individual’s entire family and community.

CCBRT patient and her mother. Photo credit: Dieter Telemans

I came away from the 20^th Anniversary celebrations inspired by the dedication of CCBRT’s leadership, staff and partners. I also came away with a renewed determination that, with your support, Kupona Foundation would play a critical role in helping CCBRT achieve their vision and operate more sustainably in order to provide access to high-quality disability and maternal and newborn services for generations to come.

Smiles and laughs at the CCBRT 20th anniversary staff party

CCBRT and Kupona Staff at the 20th anniversary partner event

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African proverb

Growth and Sustainability
In the second week of my trip, I traveled with members of CCBRT’s leadership team to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a General Electric-sponsored Leadership, Innovation and Strategy training – GE’s first-ever LIS training in Africa, and an amazing opportunity for our team. This Harvard Business Review article elaborates on GE’s approach. Our team’s discussion focused on managing organizational growth and how CCBRT can evolve to operate as a social enterprise as opposed to a charity. As we continue to provide high quality medical and rehabilitative services to the poorest populations in Tanzania we will also seek to increase our sustainability. Our particular focus is generating more revenue through the CCBRT Private Clinic. CCBRT is growing at an incredible rate, with increasing demand for its services at the Disability Hospital, and a new 200-bed maternal healthcare facility due to open in 2016. Despite this growth, the patient will always remain at the center of everything that we do. CCBRT is working hard to find the vital balance between maintaining accessible and affordable services while managing an increase in operational costs. We are learning from experts and advisors who have faced similar challenges, and we are sharing lessons learned with other organizations that are also changing lives. On our final day in Ethiopia, we had the honor of visiting the Hamlin Fistula Hospital, which has been dedicated to women with obstetric fistula since 1974. These exchanges and learning opportunities are invaluable.

Do you or your organization have skills, resources or lessons learned to share with the team in Tanzania? Please get in touch, and help us on our journey towards sustainable, affordable healthcare.

GE LIS Training at the African Union (L-R: Pierre Callens, Abbey Kocan, Elly Festo, Rehema Ngamilo, Frans Vanmidde, Haika Mawalla, Erwin Telemans)

GE LIS Training at the African Union
(L-R: CCBRT Team: Pierre Callens, Abbey Kocan (Kupona), Elly Festo, Rehema Ngamilo, Frans Vanmidde, Haika Mawalla, Erwin Telemans)

CCBRT CEO Erwin Telemans shares his perspective at GE LIS in Ethiopia

CCBRT and Kupona visit Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa.
(L-R, CCBRT Technical Advisor Pierre Callens, CCBRT Disability Hospital Director Frans Vanmidde, Hamlin CEO Martin Andrews, CCBRT CEO Erwin Telemans, Kupona Director Abbey Kocan)

Little Victories
Over the next few weeks, we will publish a Year-End blog series called “Little Victories,” featuring success stories from Tanzania, developments in the U.S., a look behind the scenes at CCBRT, and a glimpse at our plans for 2015. Kupona will also participate in the national day of giving back, #GivingTuesday, on December 2^nd via our Make Motherhood Safe for Tanzanian Women fundraiser on GlobalGiving.

Mother and baby at CCBRT’s current fistula ward.Photo credit: Mark Tuschman

This is an exciting time to be part of Kupona and CCBRT. It is thanks to your support that CCBRT celebrated twenty years of service to the most vulnerable populations in Tanzania. Your donations are directly improving maternal healthcare and helping us build the Maternity and Newborn Hospital – a beacon of hope in a country known for staggering maternal and newborn mortality rates. With you as our allies, we are restoring hope to thousands of Tanzanians living with correctable impairments. You helped us build a firm foundation; we now ask that you stand with us as we close out the year and look forward to 2015.

With gratitude,
Abbey Kocan
Executive Director

Questions? Contact us at info@kuponafoundation.org.
To participate in #GivingTuesday, please visit our GlobalGiving project.
To follow our Year-End blog series, stay tuned here and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @KuponaFdn #littlevictories. We will post our first blog on November 30^th.
If you’ve supported us in the past, you’ll hear more from us during our Year End campaign. We are grateful for your consideration as you make your final tax deductible charitable contributions in 2014. You can also donate today!
If you’d like to sign up for our newsletter, please do so here.

September 25, 2014

Celebrating World Contraception Day…

…and the legacy of a man who was dedicated to the cause. Increasing access to family planning saves lives.

As our implementing partner, CCBRT, works in partnership with the Government of Tanzania to improve the quality of maternal and newborn healthcare in Tanzania we recognize the importance of integrating Family Planning (FP) into our services. Planned pregnancies are the best way to avoid unnecessary complications in childbirth, and access to family planning services, including contraception and impartial advice, is key to ensuring that families have the information they need to keep mom and baby safe.

Thanks to support from incredible partners including EngenderHealth, PSI, FHI360, Johns Hopkins, the Manchester Family, and generous donations by family and friends, we served 51 clients at Tim’s Corner, our new Family Planning kiosk and clinic, from June-August 2014. Providing affordable and discreet FP counseling, a full range of short-acting and long-acting and reversible contraception methods as well as free family planning information and educational materials, Tim’s Corner exists to provide staff, clients and visitors at CCBRT the opportunity to access the information they need to space or prevent pregnancy. The location of Tim’s Corner makes it even more special. Its location at the CCBRT Disability Hospital means that FP services are brought closer to an audience already facing many barriers in accessing FP services – including our clients who are physically, visually or hearing impaired, and women recovering from obstetric fistula.

Through Tim’s Corner, short and long acting contraceptive methods are now offered at CCBRT

Juliana offers mobile financial services and family planning materials

The celebration of World Contraception Day is a good opportunity to also celebrate the life of an incredible individual, without whom Tim’s Corner would not exist.

Tim Manchester dedicated much of his life to making reproductive health and family planning available to all, recognizing that addressing the huge unmet need for family planning services would have an enormous impact on the reduction of maternal and child mortality, impairments and disabilities such as obstetric fistula.

Tim’s family, friends and former colleagues raised over $50,000 in memory of Tim – an incredible tribute to a man who was and continues to be loved and deeply missed. Through Tim’s Corner, Tim Manchester will continue to touch the lives of thousands of Tanzanians for generations to come.

Tim’s Corner kiosk and clinic opened on April 2nd at CCBRT

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