Stand Up for Women in Uganda

SAFE stands with Health GAP (Global Access Project) in encouraging the Ugandan government to take action against maternal mortality and morbidity in Uganda by increasing the number of health care workers.

Later this week, a Ugandan court will hear the case of 2 women who died in childbirth, which argues that by failing to provide appropriate health services, the government is violating the Ugandan constitution. Every day, 16 women in Uganda die in childbirth, while 6 times as many are injured in incapacitating ways. SAFE affirms that these deaths and injuries are unacceptable--and that action must be taken to help Ugandan women realize their rights! For more information, please check out the following link: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5712/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=665

Congrats to Partner WE CARE Solar!

SAFE has been working with an organization called WE CARE Solar on a project to install WE CARE Solar Suitcases in several rural health centers in Iganga and neighboring Namutumba District, and the Jinja National Referral Hospital Maternity Ward and Operating Theater. We are thrilled to give them a shout out for being named a laureate in The Tech Awards!! For more information, check out: http://thetechawards.thetech.org/media_room/international-laureates-be-honored-tech-awards

Woot woot WE CARE Solar!!

Ashoka Changemakers: Making More Health Competition

SAFE has just entered a competition called Making More Health, put on by Ashoka Changemakers. We would love it if you visited our page and "liked us" or commented about our entry!! Please visit: http://www.changemakers.com/morehealth/entries/sustainably-improving-maternal-health

Thanks, in advance!
- The SAFE Team

Women: Inspiration & Enterprise Symposium!

A big congrats to Board Member Jamie Rosen, who has been selected as a "young champion for women" and invited to attend and speak about SAFE at the Women: Inspiration & Enterprise Symposium. Hosted by Sarah Brown, Arianna Huffington, and Donna Karan on September 19 in New York City, the WIE Symposium will feature over 100 speakers exploring the theme "What it means to be a woman now." We are stoked that Jamie gets to take SAFE to such an awesome conference--and can't wait to hear about all the super cool people she will get to meet. Congratulations Jamie! We will be rooting for you!

For more information, please see: http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/WIE/inspiration2011.cfm

Attention Anyone Wanting Experience: Join SAFE!

Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is growing, and we've reached a point that we now need more people to join our team! We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

• Director of Research and Development: Researches the best practices in the field for each of SAFE's projects and influences programming decisions based on that research. Also seeks to present SAFE's experiences and lessons learned to shape other organization's understanding of best practices.
• Donor Relations Chair: Responsible for grant reporting and keeping in touch with SAFE’s donors. This includes follow-up after grant or donation dispersal as well as keeping an ongoing database of donors current.
• Communications Manager: Responsible for generating content for the Safe Mothers, Safe Babies website, social media, blog, newsletter and annual report.
• Media Relations Manager: Will develop and implement a strategic media relations plan.  This will include sending press releases and pitch letters to members of the media in both the United States and Uganda around key SAFE initiatives and events to generate positive coverage of SAFE’s work and promote maternal and newborn health initiatives more broadly.
• Fundraising Team Members: Will plan and execute domestic fundraisers and education campaigns.

The requirements for volunteering: dedication to maternal and child health, appreciation of the participatory development approach (working WITH people instead of for them), ability to work well both independently and as part of a team, and a minimum of at least 2-4 hours per week (depending on position).

For more information on any of these positions, or information on volunteering with SAFE in Uganda, please email safemothers.safebabies@gmail.com, or visit www.safemotherssafebabies.org and click on "contact us." 

Thank you!!

- The SAFE Team

Announcing Light the Night with Humless, Inc.

We are pleased to announce our partnership with Humless, Inc. on "Light the Night"--a project that will bring solar electricity to two rural health centers and the Iganga District Hospital Maternity Ward and Operating Theater. Humless, Inc. is a Utah-based solar company that developed highly efficient, lithium solar units. Bringing these units to Uganda will allow medical providers the light they need to provide adequate care; it will also help to increase the demand for services by strengthening public perception of the health centers. Finally, it will reduce deadly delays in cesarean sections (currently, they are sometimes done by flashlight or kerosene lantern). After a matching $5,000 grant from an anonymous donor, Humless is helping SAFE to fundraise the remaining money for the project. Please see video below to learn more about what we're doing!

Do Something Seed Grant Implementation!

Kalalu Women's Voice (women's group) welcoming SAFE with a song.

Women in Kalalu Women's Voice now incorporate nutrition education in their safe motherhood activities (especially a brand new safe motherhood home-to-home visitation program).

For the first time ever, the men of Kalalu--specifically of Bugya Bukye and KAMEDE men's group--attended a safe motherhood training. Traditionally, local cultural views birth and child-rearing as a female responsibility; by participating in this training, these men are showing their commitment to safe motherhood--and we couldn't be happier!

A men demonstrating "kangaroo care" as part of safe motherhood training.

One of the women's groups fields, which will be used for planting the organic sweet potatoes and passion fruit seeds that were purchased by the Do Something Seed Grant, after the groups received organic farming training.

Webale inho (Thank you so much) Do Something!!!!