Events – Page 2 – Kupona Foundation

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

August 12, 2014

4th Annual Kupona Golf Outing Aims High

A personal invitation from Kupona Foundation Board Treasurer Adrian Stewart

Adrian Stewart (2nd from left) at the 3rd Annual Kupona Foundations Golf Outing, 2013. Photo credit: Ken Goodman

I became a part of Kupona in its earliest days, joining the Board of Directors in 2010. Each year, it has been inspiring to see the life-changing impact our work is having in Tanzania, and equally encouraging to watch as the foundation continues to gain support from generous corporations and foundations, friends, and volunteers in the United States. Our combined efforts have truly yielded great results.

As a proud husband and father of two raising a family in the largest city in the United States, it’s hard to imagine that halfway around the globe, in Tanzania’s largest city, 10 babies die every day.

When my wife Tara was pregnant, I never doubted that she would have access to high quality emergency care if it was required. Your donations and sponsorship help other husbands, wives, and babies have that same access. This short video tells the story of our maternity and newborn healthcare program. The gift of life should not be a luxury. I encourage you to take 3 minutes to watch this video to learn about how your support is saving and changing lives.

On September 18th, we are thrilled to host the fourth annual Kupona Foundation Golf Outing at the North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington, NY.

This year’s event promises to be a good one. We are delighted to welcome back golf pro, Danie Steyn for his third consecutive year. For significant others and supporters who would like to join us only for the silent auction and dinner portion of the evening, we are providing shuttle transportation from Manhattan to North Hempstead Country Club. Silent auction items include:

A weekend getaway at a Southampton beach house,
Tee time at Shinnecock Hills, and
Two tickets to the Friar’s Foundation Gala for an evening honoring Robert DeNiro and Carlos Slim.

Most importantly, this year we’ve set a goal of raising $100,000 to help secure necessary funding to open the new Maternity and Newborn Hospital in Tanzania on schedule. Allow me to put that into perspective. $100,000 would enable us to purchase the essential equipment for one of the four operating theaters that will deliver over 15,000 babies every year in the 200 bed hospital. This is not “aid” in the traditional sense. You, our sponsors and supporters, have enabled us to accomplish so much in the past five years. Many of our corporate sponsors have been at every Kupona golf outing. Thank you. This Forbes article came out recently – it’s a great example of how our donors and partners enable us to try innovative approaches that are truly life-changing for women and children in Tanzania. We couldn’t do it without your support, and we would be honored to have you to join us on September 18^th for what promises to be an excellent event. We are still looking for sponsors, golfers (individuals, pairs, or foursomes), and would like to extend the invitation to spouses or significant others to join us for cocktails, the auction and dinner. For further information, please contact Samantha Bossalini at samantha@kuponafoundation.org. As always, thank you for your support.

With gratitude,

Adrian

May 21, 2014

‘Fistula Inatibika!’

‘Fistula is Treatable!’ This Friday, we’ll be spreading the word across all regions of Tanzania.

In advance of International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (this Friday, May 23rd) CCBRT and its partners Vodacom Tanzania Foundation and UNFPA trained 100 community ambassadors from all over Tanzania as part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness on fistula.

Fistula is a debilitating childbirth-related injury that causes chronic incontinence as a result of prolonged obstructed labor. In Tanzania, there is an estimated backlog of 28,000 women living with this condition, and there are up to 3,000 new cases of fistula every year. Fistula is completely preventable through improved maternal healthcare. (Read Spotlight on Obstetric Fistula: Giving Women Another Chance to learn more about our fistula program).

CCBRT’s network of over 500 ambassadors work in communities to identify women with obstetric fistula and refer them to health facilities for treatment. Using the CCBRT Fistula Hotline, free to all Vodacom users, ambassadors call CCBRT, notifying them that they have found a patient with fistula. After confirming the diagnosis, CCBRT transfers the necessary fare for the patient’s journey to the hospital using Vodacom M-PESA.

Since the program started in 2009, CCBRT’s ambassador network has grown to over 500 volunteers, referring nearly 2,000 women for treatment.

Hope in the Fistula Ward (photo credit: Mark Tuschman)

Hope in the CCBRT fistula ward (photo credit: Mark Tuschman)

Through this workshop, 100 of our most active ambassadors will now be empowered to host one of 100 community workshops across the country this Friday – the first time that CCBRT’s awareness-raising activities will happen in Tanzania’s 25 regions at once!

Given Tanzania’s recent devastating bouts of rains and flooding, we hope that many potential patients who have not been able to seek treatment will now be encouraged to seek treatment and have their dignity restored.

These community events are vital to ensure that health education is spread widely across the country, especially among poor and marginalized women. Feeling far away from the problem? Celebrate Int’l Day to End Obstetric Fistula by making a donation today, and you can be part of the solution.

August 1, 2013

“Right to Heal” Screening

Dr. Jaymie Ang Henry, director of “The Right to Heal” addresses the audience at a private screening of the film.

Last night, Kupona joined with Gradian Health Systems and the International Collaboration for Essential Surgery (ICES) to host a screening of the documentary film “The Right to Heal.” This film, directed by the newest member of Kupona Foundation’s Board of Directors, Jaymie Henry, M.D., makes the case for improving access to basic surgical procedures in the developing world. Back in April, we were extremely fortunate to have Jaymie and her crew visit CCBRT to film our work. We are extremely excited to be a part of this project.

“The Right to Heal” will continue to film in various locations over the course of the year, and Kupona hopes to host another screening of the final product at a later date. For now, you can check out the teaser clip below and get involved in the movement at http://therighttoheal.org/. Click “Sign the Petition” to bring essential surgery to the forefront of the global health conversation!

Check out additional posts about the screening from The Right to Heal and Gradian Health Systems

The Right to Heal teaser from Jaymie Henry on Vimeo.

June 7, 2013

Cocktail Reception Raises $10,000+ for Midwives!

On Thursday, June 6, Kupona Board Member James Mann hosted a cocktail reception at his home for supporters of Kupona. The goal: raise money to fund nurse midwives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – a critical need in a region facing significant human resource challenges in health care. The efforts that night raised enough to fund one full time nurse-midwife for a year!

Photo credit: Melanie Quinn Photography
Guests listen intently to a presentation by Kupona Foundation President Dr. Yoni Barnhard.

Many thanks to our host, James Mann, the supporters who attended the event, and Melanie Quinn Photography for capturing some great photos of the reception. You can check out a full album of images on our Facebook page.