Village Health Talks

Over the nearly three hours of talking women and children would come and go according to their needs. This group stayed for the full length of the program while we talked about reproduction, pregnancy, hygiene products, specific children's illnesses and diabetes. The older women in the middle was the spokesperson, being the eldest, so I will have to be more creative in involving the others in questions and comments next time. It is not the custom here to be outspoken when an older woman is present.

Permission given by people involved for photographs to go online.


Who could not enjoy working with such wonderful families?.This happy mother was awaiting our arrival to discuss her babies scalp problem.
The teddy was given at the end of the session during which time it had been used squashed up in the foetal position to demonstrate how a baby travels through the birth canal prior to birth. Even those who already had children were fascinated as they had not had access to this information prior to the birth of their children.

Village Talks

Health Promotion - childbirth

Tennai, Health Promotion Assistant and local Elder in the maneaba following our first village woman's health talk. The teddy was used squashed up in the fetal position to demonstrate childbirth.


All people shown in the following pictures have given their permission for photos to be displayed.

First Week

Well I've managed to enjoy the first week here and settling in to a routine now. I've been made welcome by so many new people it's amazing; very humbling. I still miss home though but now having a phone that works at last means I am able to contact home and I feel more secure knowing all is well there also.
My work is in the RAK building opposite my accommodation where the women do craft work, learn new skills and outreach programs are run from. Following a visit to a monthly Women's Fellowship meeting where I stayed overnight to address the women about the work I will be doing, our small team has request to visit three villages the first one we commence tomorrow.
I have been appointed a young women to learn my skills in health promotion, which I am really excited about, she will be helping with translation as we discuss the five topics chosen by this village. The topics will reproduction, menstrual cycles and problems, childhood illness and diabetes. As these topics are so large I can only skim over the surface but hopefully it will lead to individual questions and answers.
The female reproduction apron will be given it's debut tomorrow along with Sian's felt diagram of the menstrual cycle. Thanks again for everyone's support and prayers.

Beautiful Kiribati

The following photos have been contributed by Leslene for inclusion in this album. Leslene is currently working as a volunteer librarian at The Theological College, Tarawa.



Sunset




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Parliament House, Tarawa.

Village scene viewed from  an outrigger.

Kiribati Dance.

The Promise.

Poem by Leslene Woodward

The following poem by Leslene, was written at the request of a primary school teacher for her class, and it had to have specific markers--rhyme, metre, simile, alliteration, etc. It was designed to help 10 year olds learn about poetry.

This lovely poem is a wonderful introduction to the superb photos Leslene has contributed to this site; that will be posted next.

The reader needs to understands on one side is the wide Pacific Ocean, with its breakers crashing endlessly on the coral reef, while on the other side, in the curve of the islands, is the shallow, quiet, almost wave-less lagoon.

Wendy

   SISTER AND BROTHER 

                               
(the lagoon and ocean on either side of Tarawa.)
The lagoon is a lovely lady,
Dressed in a sparkling gown,
The ocean is hungry and hurtful,
Where the waves come crashing down.
The lagoon catches moonlight and  sunlight,
Spreading a path of dreams,
The ocean roars out its anger,
Shattering moonlight’s beams.
The lagoon is a lovely lady,
The ocean is hungry and wild,
The lagoon is a delicate lady,
The ocean is anger’s child.
Lagoon, lagoon, you catch sunlight,
And starlight and moonlight’s fall,
Ocean, ocean, you challenge us,
And echo the wild wind’s call.

Leslene is currently serving as a volunteer worker in the Theological College in Kiribati as part of the UnitingWorld Program. She continues to give much encouragement and information as I prepare for placement in June.

Support Group

The second support group meeting was held at Andrea's place with a lovely dinner provided. Apologies from Anne den Houting, Sian Trudinger and Peter Flahive. Some of the contributions are depicted here including an apron to be used to teach about reproduction in the school or community groups, trauma teddies and the colourful bags made by Andrea. Thank you everyone for your ongoing support and prayers.

Red Cross Trauma Teddies

I

Thanks to the Lindenow Red Cross for making very small lighweight Trauma Teddies  for sick or disabled children in Kiribati. Teddies similare to these (only larger) are given by Red Cross to families with children throughout the world to help them deal with disaster, stress and poverty. We are currently waiting for Red Cross representatives in Kiribati to accept the teddies when they arrive

Pictured are representatives from Red Cross Ann MaCarthur and Angela Bird who have been members of the local branch of Red Cross for many years. Angela has kindly offered to be the representative on my support group.