Mama To Mama

in Haiti

news from Haiti and Konbit Sante:

In the Portland Press Herald

in Haiti

{reposted from SouleMama}

{Photo by Steve}

My heart is heavy with thoughts of Haiti. I'm sure you're feeling the same thing. Holding your own babies, partners and loved ones just a little bit closer, perhaps. And wondering - as I go about my normal day of playing, eating, sleeping, and knitting in comfort - what the day is like for those affected by this tragedy. The sadness and grief and confusion felt by so many families right now.

I'm sure, if you are inclined to do so, you may have already found the channels by which you can 'help.'  Of course, prayer and positive thought and good energy and light is powerful - and we are doing much of that here, in our individual ways.

For tangible immediate assistance, I recommend contributing as you can to the following organizations:

Doctors Without Borders
International Red Cross

Many of you know that last year, through Mama to Mama, we held a craftivism project centered around Haiti. The project was coordinated with Konbit Sante. The work they do - and the end location of all those beautiful caps - is in Cap Haitien, in the Northern part of Haiti. I have been in contact with the US directors of the project who are getting early word from the hospital there. They say, that while that area was slightly less affected by the earthquake, there is now concern of flooding. They are hoping they will be able to provide assistance and relief to those  in more affected areas. (Konbit Sante is keeping people updated via their Facebook page, if you are interested in following that stream.)

I encourage you to assist in the ways that feel best for you in the short term, and I hope to provide - in the long term - a way in which to assist as well. I have for some time hoped to begin another chapter of Mama to Mama, but quite frankly felt as though my plate was just too full to do so in 2009. With a little bit of help, however, I'm hoping we may begin work on the next step in the safe birthing kits very soon. I will, of course, keep you posted, and let you know as soon as we figure out the ways in which Mama to Mama could be most helpful to them, particularly given this latest tragedy.

In the meantime...sending out wishes of peace and love to those in need of both,
Amanda

notes from Haiti

from Eva Lathrop, MD, MPH:

Dear all of you,

It is hard to describe what a joy it has been to see the love through work of women around the world, in the name of helping women in Haiti and their children survive.  It is such a thrill to watch the faces of traditional birth attendants and laboring women when they see the beautiful gift of a hat for their new baby – they know it will help their baby survive, they know it was made with love, and they know that perhaps, this is the only gift their baby will receive.  It is the generosity of spirit and the kinship of women that is making this project succeed.  Neonatal mortality in Haiti remains high, and one of the causes is newborn hypothermia.  Prevention is often set at a low priority, given the overwhelming burden of other complications and diseases, and through this program primary prevention of neonatal hypothermia can be prioritized and emphasized among women and attendants.  Lives will be saved through your love and kindness, and mothers in Cap Haitien know it…Please continue to stay involved in the lives of the women and children of Cap Haitien by continuing this beautiful work, joining our email blast, or contributing directly to Konbit Sante!

and from Dr. Telemaque in Cap Haitien, Haiti:
 
In the name of all of  the expectant mothers I want to say THANK YOU to the donors of the caps for the babies. They received them like an early Christmas gift. They will never understand how great is that generous gesture. I am deeply touched to know  somewhere in the world, someone is thinking of those poor babies. Thank you, Dr. Telemaque

Konbit Sante - Cap Haitien Health Partnership

checking in

I know many of you are anxious to hear what the next project will be for Mama to Mama!

I'm on the search for just the right project for us. If you think you have something that may be right for a future project, please email me with your idea or project. (I apologize in advance that I may not be able to respond to all emails.)

I hope to be in touch in a few weeks with some information on our second project for Mama to Mama! In the meantime, if your fingers are itching for some craftivism, check out the links on the right sidebar.

more soon...

-amanda

arrived

Babies & caps...in Haiti.

Thank you once again for your beautiful efforts in this project!

the final count

The blankets and caps are all in, counted, packed up and headed to Konbit Sante, where they will begin the next leg of their journey. Soon they will be right where they belong, and where the makers of each hat intended - in the hands of the healthcare workers, and on the heads of the newborn babies in Haiti.

I'll update here as your handmade efforts make it to their final destination. And in the coming weeks, I'll share more about what's next for Mama to Mama. But in the meantime...you're probably looking for a final count!

There are 388 hats in this photograph. These are the final caps to come in the past week. Adding that to the already received hats,  we have a grand total of....

5523

That's right. Five thousand, five hundred and twenty three. In addition, we collected 169 blankets to send to Konbit Sante.

In a short two months, we've opened hundreds of packages from nearly every state in the US, and over 13 countries around the world. They've come in batches of one at a time, and a hundred at a time. They've come from mamas, papas, children, grandparents, girl scout troops, schools, churches and craft groups. They've come from the most experienced of sewers, and they've come from many who used a sewing machine for the very first time to make these hats. Every single one of them is appreciated and will find their way to a baby's head who needs it.

I've been so moved by the notes that came along with some of these packages - stories of how this project briefly touched your lives, or sparked some hope for you, or prompted conversation with your children. The stories of how the hats were made - with a little one of your own on your lap; with a classroom full of children; with the grandmother who taught you to sew. And on and on. And I've wondered about the stories that weren't written down. The making, in some ways, feels just as important as the final hats themselves. I do believe that the energy and spirit in which the caps were made and sent are carried with them - a little blessing, of sorts, for the baby who will wear it. If you have a moment, I'd be grateful if you shared in the comments here a bit about what this project meant for you - big or small. (If you blogged about it, please leave us a link in the comments!) I'd love for others to hear these stories, too.

I've been so honored to receive the work of your hands and your hearts in this project. It is with great hope for the safe and healthy lives of children in Haiti that I pass your work on. And it is with deep gratitude that I thank you!

~amanda

coming soon....

I know some of you are waiting anxiously for the final tally of caps. We're still excitedly counting! Expect a wrap-up here next week.

Thank you so much for your support of Mama to Mama, and Happy New Year to you!

the deadline

It's time to wrap it up! The deadline for the first Mama to Mama project has come and gone (December 10th), and it's time to get these hats and blankets where they belong - with the mamas and babies of Haiti. I'll still be adding to the total in the coming days, so if your package is already in transit, no worries! Otherwise, please hold onto all that crafting energy and passion - there will be plenty more Mama to Mama projects to come very soon in 2009!

If you wanted to do something with this specific project but never got a cap or blanket out, I know that financial contributions to Konbit Sante are always welcome and needed. They've set up some wonderful options for holiday "gifts" as well. See their website for more information.

In the meantime...we're busy counting caps and blankets over here! All I should say right now is - my goodness! Check back here later in the week for a grand total and some news on the project.

I know I've said this before, but the response to this project has been amazing - you are all amazing! Thank you!

approaching the deadline

The packages are pouring in - and with them - so very many hats and blankets for the Caps to Cap-Haitien Project! I'm quite behind on the 'Cap Counter" but will be catching up shortly.

I'm getting lots of email asking about how strict the deadline is. I'll happily take packages a bit past the 10th deadline. So if you haven't mailed your donation yet, but would still like to - please do! I would like to get it all wrapped up in the coming weeks, though...so get sewing and mailing!

I'll share an update when I have some numbers!

Thanks once again for your generosity with this project - I continue to be blown away with each arrival from the Post Office. Thank you!

the PDF download

Hello!

I've heard from a small handful of you having trouble opening the PDF for the Cap pattern. You do need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the file, which can be downloaded for free here.

If you have Reader, and are still having trouble downloading the file, please email me so I can send it along that way. [email protected]

Everything looks fine on this end, so I'm not sure what other advice to offer! Thanks for your patience!