Oct 21, 2021 | Trip to Africa
Swing Low Sweet Chariot In many places, like Kenya, when a destitute older person without kin or anyone to care for them dies, especially in a rural area, they are often just left. Whatever belongings they had are taken and the body is often found later, sometimes...
Oct 17, 2021 | Trip to Africa
Sponsor A Grandparent Kenya I arrived at the airport in Kisumu, Western Kenya, greeted by Sister Paul, Sister Damaris, and Charles who drove me to their convent in the town of Ahero, which means “I love” in the Luo language. The Franciscan sisters, along with many...
Oct 14, 2021 | Trip to Africa
We Raised the Roof in Kenya! Today I had the great privilege to participate in the build of a new home for a Gran in Ahero, Kenya, Lewinta Yogo, an 83-year-old woman who lost all ten of her children. Our Raise the Roof program allowed us to build several houses,...
Oct 7, 2021 | Trip to Africa
Life at the Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp The Nguenyyiel Refugee camp shelters 97,949 refugees, the largest of the seven camps in Gambella. The focus of the HelpAge intervention funded by Global Affairs Canada, includes Protection and Inclusion, Health and Nutrition, and...
Oct 5, 2021 | Trip to Africa
Exploring Gambella, Ethiopia Gambella is a region in southeastern Ethiopia that bridges the Baro River and borders South Sudan. It is one of the most marginalized areas of Ethiopia and home to approximately 380,000 refugees from South Sudan sheltered across seven...
Oct 5, 2021 | Trip to Africa
Visiting the Jewi and Tierkidi Refugee Camps The Jewi and Tierkidi Refugee Camps shelter 61,164 and 68,001 refugees from South Sudan. Both camps focused on providing protection and inclusion, and health and nutrition to older people and people with special needs. We...
Oct 5, 2021 | Trip to Africa
Sponsor A Grandparent Program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Today I had the opportunity to visit two of the communities where HelpAge International operates its Sponsor A Grandparent Program. This program allows sponsors to support destitute older people through a variety...
Oct 1, 2021 | Trip to Africa
International Day of Older Persons in Gambella This morning the HelpAge Senior Director of Operations, Kinfe, and I flew to Gambella, in the South Western part of the country bordering South Sudan. We drove directly to the Jewi Refugee Camp hosting roughly 60,000...
Sep 25, 2021 | Trip to Africa
The Big Day Today, I embark on a monitoring trip to Africa, visiting Ethiopia and Kenya for 5 weeks. In Ethiopia I will be visiting our HelpAge International and Global Affairs Canada project serving over 52,000 older persons and people with disabilities in seven...
