It is probably past time for a little overview of the work of ASRI which is the name of the organization under which the work that is happening here is being conducted. ASRI has two basic "arms"...conservation of the rain forest and the clinic. The clinic is seen in some ways as the "hook" for people from the villages to in addition to receiving really good medical care, receive environmental education and an incentive to stop logging. We have heard that there are statistics still waiting to be crunched to show the environmental effects but so far what we have been told is that there is a decrease in logging and with reforestation efforts a decrease in malaria rates. The funding is via grants from a wide variety of organizations and Health in Harmony is a US based board which has the responsibility of doing the fund raising, although many of the grants originate here. (We still have learning in this area).
So in addition to the clinic (and people come from all over - hours away - because of the quality of care, and the reforestation efforts, one of the staff (who we are crowing "the Queen of Helpfulness - Etty) goes into the schools and provides education regarding care of the forest, recycling, composting and takes packets of trees to be planted at the school and in the children's homes. Also there is a goats for widows program and there has been a malaria bednet distribution. Don't know if any more of these are planned, but we've been told that the malaria rates dropped in those villages.
Last Thursday I was invited to visit a couple of the widows who have received goats. In fact, we visited the owner of the goats that our grandchildren gave as a gift at Christmas. I traveled with "the Goat Lady" Satia Wati on the back of her motorcycle which was great fun i itself. Off we went, neither of us speaking the other's language. It was a ride through a very intresting area. On one side was the mountains of the park, rice fields in the lowlands and we could see people spreading rice to dry as we passed. We passed a "shop" where cement blocks were being made (will need to revist) lovely, blooming bushes and almost reached the ocean. The first woman we visited has 10 goats and is a very accomplished with them. We've been told that the entire business side is very hard for many of these women, but she does well. Any recipient is required to give 2 goats back to
ASRI to be redistributed. The pen was above ground with space between the boards for cleaning aswell as collecting the manure which is used to teach organic gardening. The second widow we visited had 5 goats including a Billy goat who were all rummaging around in the garbage but she had the most interesting attire.
Will will send more pictures in a different format. The internet connection is so slow I'm reluctant to continue attempting to imbed. It was a great experience and Satia Watia said that she would take me again!
Another great experience...another e-mail! Sending this on Sunday AM ..after major rain all night long. Great sounds bouncing off our metal roof!
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