Dear all,
Here's a $100,000 question for you:
How do Canada's charities improve and the quality of life in Canada?
The Students (Verb) Charities contest offers a chance to support PIH Canada in a huge way, and the premise is simple. You create a public awareness campaign in any form – Video, a song, dance, painting, essay, sculpture, chant, etc…answering the question above. $50,000 will be awarded to the most original and compelling entry.
The purpose of this campaign is to engage students and raise awareness about the impact of the “bigger charitable sector picture” in Canada. More information about Students (Verb) Charities is included below, and can be found on their website at: www.studentsverbcharities.ca
Mark and Marika thought this could serve as an exciting opportunity for the fledgling Students for PIH Canada to work together and rally some huge attention around the student movement for health and social justice. As you think creatively about your answer to this question, join the discussion on Students for PIH Canada to get some ideas and strategy flowing.
Chime in by leaving a comment below.
Best,
Elise
Elise Garrity | Student Outreach Assistant | Partners In Health
We hope you'll start your own topic threads, in addition to these initial topics of conversation:
- B) What ideas for community-building and engagement do you think would work well in your community? Do you have examples from past experience organizing around global health issues?
Leave a comment below to keep the discussion going.
We hope you'll start your own topic threads, in addition to these initial topics of conversation:
- A) What challenges do students typically face as they try to make an impact on global health? What do you think are some of the best ways students can engage with global health issues?
Leave a comment below to keep the discussion going.
To each and every one of you, thank you for joining this community. We need you all (and your friends, and your families) in order to create an active movement for health and social justice.
Now that Mark has settled into the operations of PIH-Canada, our next step is equipping you all with the tools and vision for supporting the work of Partners In Health. We believe that building community among students across Canada can amplify the impact that each one of you has in this work. So let’s provide a bit of structure to get things going…
To kick things off, we’re hosting a conference call on Thursday, February 16th at 8pm EST to discuss these 3 main questions:
1. Why is movement-building important to PIH-Canada?
2. What can you do now to support PIH in Canada?
3. What tools will you need to organize and st ay organized?
We ask that you RSVP to the call for further details, and so we can learn about where you’re coming from. RSVP for details at: http://act.pih.org/page/s/students-for-pih-canada-mobilizing-call
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. And spread the word! Invite your classmates or encourage friends at other Canadian schools to join in by RSVPing here: http://act.pih.org/page/s/students-for-pih-canada-mobilizing-call
All are welcome.
Best wishes,
Elise
Today's the day -- Our Summer 2012 Internship application is now available at www.pih.org/pages/internship-and-fellowship-programs. Applications will be due by midnight on Friday February 17, 2012.
Please forward this on to friends, family, and any other potential interns. We can't wait to meet you.
Happy Holidays,
Elise
______________________________________________________________________________
From: Elise Garrity
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 11:04 AM
To: Students for PIH
Subject: [StudentsforPIH] 2012 Summer Internships
Dear Students for PIH,
Each summer Partners In Health hosts approx. 20 interns here in Boston where PIH's only administrative office is located. This internship program offers an inside look at what it takes to run an organization like PIH, while matching you up with a specific department team and a project they've created uniquely for you.
Applications for summer 2012 will become available next Wednesday, December 21st. I'll send another reminder announcement on the day-of, so forward this message to others who may be interested and invite them to join Students for PIH by registering at www.pih.org/students.
For more details on the internship and to meet some past interns, visit: www.pih.org/pages/internship-and-fellowship-programs.
And to any former PIH interns out there, chime in with your own perspective - What did you learn from spending the summer at PIH?
Best wishes during finals,
Elise
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant
Partners In Health
Dear Students for PIH,
Each summer Partners In Health hosts approx. 20 interns here in Boston where PIH's only administrative office is located. This internship program offers an inside look at what it takes to run an organization like PIH, while matching you up with a specific department team and a project they've created uniquely for you.
Applications for summer 2012 will become available next Wednesday, December 21st. I'll send another reminder announcement on the day-of, so forward this message to others who may be interested and invite them to join Students for PIH by registering at www.pih.org/students.
For more details on the internship and to meet some past interns, visit: www.pih.org/pages/internship-and-fellowship-programs.
And to any former PIH interns out there, chime in with your own perspective - What did you learn from spending the summer at PIH?
Best wishes during finals,
Elise
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant
Partners In Health
Make your mark on Students for PIH and help us connect students nationwide - Design a new Partners In Health sticker! Submit your design before September 25th at 11:59pm EDT.
The winning design will be decided by popular vote, then printed and distributed to you and students across the U.S. Sticker sales will support PIH education programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, Malawi, and Lesotho.
1. Size It Up - The winning design will be printed as a large round sticker (3-inch diameter) through Zazzle.com. "Sticker - Round Large" templates are available at www.zazzle.com/mk/custom/guidefiles
2. Get Crafty - Your design should mention "Partners In Health" and www.pih.org, but the rest is up to you!
3. Submit Soon! - Email me at egarrity@pih.org with the subject line "Back to School Sticker Entry" and don't forget to attach your design file. Or you can mail a paper copy (ask me for details). Submission deadline is Sunday, September 25th at 11:59pm EDT.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to submit a design, so forward this on to friends, teachers, art classes, and more! Voting details will be announced to Students for PIH and posted on our Back to School campaign page: http://act.pih.org/backtoschool
The team at PIH looks forward to seeing your designs!
Best wishes,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | Partners In Health
Sharpen your pencils - School's back in session!
This year Partners In Health wants YOU to design a sticker for our Back to School fundraising campaign. The winning design will be decided by popular vote and distributed across the country to help students support PIH education programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, Malawi, and Lesotho.
We are accepting sticker designs for the next two weeks, until Monday September 12th at 11:59 EDT. The only requirement is that your design mentions "Partners In Health" and www.pih.org. Submit your design as an attachment to egarrity@pih.org with the subject line "Back to School Sticker Entry".
Format Guidelines
We're using Zazzle.com to print the winning design on a large round sticker (3-inch diameter)
Sticker dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels. The higher the resolution, the better.
"Sticker - Round Large" templates can be found at Zazzle.com in PNG and other formats: www.zazzle.com/mk/custom/guidefiles
Stay tuned for the Back to School campaign launch...Can't wait to see your sticker entries!
In solidarity,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant, Partners In Health
Dear Class of 2011,
In a country where 47% of Haitians over age 15 are illiterate, Partners In Health believes that education is a critical tool for overcoming poverty. That’s why PIH teaches basic literacy education to thousands of Haitian children, teens, and adults – creating opportunities for better jobs and better advocacy for Haitians, by Haitians.
As you transition from student to graduate, celebrate this moment and promote literacy in Haiti. Sign the pledge, share it with your fellow graduates, and provide the “luxury” of literacy to Haitians who need it most.
Take the Grads for Literacy Pledge: http://act.pih.org/grads
Tell us why you're taking the Grads for Literacy pledge and you could be featured in the next PIH eBulletin! Write to egarrity@pih.org.
Wishing you the best in all that you do,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
888 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA
www.pih.org | act.pih.org/students
They can’t wait to meet you, your couch, your grandparents’ floor, or your friend’s former bunk bed…
The Ride Against AIDS is organized by FACE AIDS – a nonprofit organization that fights AIDS by building a global movement of youth dedicated to social justice and global health equity. The 2010 Ride Against AIDS raised over $50,000 for PIH programs in Rwanda.
Help out this year’s riders by offering a place to stay along the route, and forwarding this message to friends and family who are spending their summer in the following places. Your help is also welcome in setting up speaking engagements in any of these locations (See the full Ride timetable here):
JUNE – California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado
CA – Fairfield, Folsom, South Lake Tahoe
NV – Carson City, Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely, Baker
UT – Delta, Manti, Little Cedar Mountain, Thompson Springs
CO – Palisade
JULY – Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
CO – Vail, Bailey, Wiggins, Sterling
NE – Ogallala, North Platte, Lexington, Grand Island, Lincoln, Council Bluffs
IA – Casey, Newton, Iowa City, Davenport
IL – Peru, Batavia
IN – South Bend
OH – Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Youngstown
PA – Pittsburgh
AUG – Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut
PA – Connellsville
MD – Cumberland, Williamsport
DE – Wilmington
PA – Philadelphia
NJ – Princeton
NY – New York City
CT – Old Lyme
Requirements – Hosts are only required to provide a place for 6 people to sleep (includes couches and floor space). In addition, any of the following is greatly appreciated: 2 meals (dinner and breakfast), shower access, and washing machine access.
For housing offers, speaking event suggestions, and other questions, cont act Ride Against AIDS coordinator Austin Keeley (austin@faceaids.org)
To learn more about FACE AIDS, the Ride Against AIDS, and how to support the riders, please visit: www.faceaids.org/rideagainstaids.html
In solidarity,
Elise Garrity (egarrity@pih.org)
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
Yesterday, Partners In Health's Dr. Joia Mukherjee stressed the importance of a movement for Haiti with 3 aims - if you didn't get a chance to read her email, see below.
As Haiti passes through a week of one-year anniversary media and popular attention, your grassroots support is more vital than ever. So this year we're asking you to take action - as an individual and as part of a collective - by driving these advocacy efforts for Haiti.
The first step is to sign and collect signatures for our open letter, encouraging the international donor community to support a Haitian-led, coordinated reconstruction.
Sign on now: www.standwithhaiti.org/page/s/IRHC-action
For a sense of what's to come, see the advocacy section of PIH's one-year report on Haiti. Take note of two documents in particular that will anchor our advocacy efforts going forward:
- Human Rights Assessment in Parc Jean-Marie Vincent, Port-au-Prince, Haiti by Dr. Louise Ivers and Kimberly Cullen (Health and Human Rights Journal, 2010)
- 5 Lessons From Haiti's Disaster by Dr. Paul Farmer (Foreign Policy, December 2010)
For details on getting involved, contact me at egarrity@pih.org.
In solidarity,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
Dear Elise,
Today marks one year since the earthquake in Haiti. And today, we stand with our friends and colleagues from our Haitian sister organization, Zanmi Lasante, and with millions of Haitians in Haiti and abroad to remember that terrible day - to remember both those who died, and those who suffered and continue to face the painful reality of a Haiti post-January 12, 2010.
Let's not mince words. Conditions remain grim.
This is particularly true for over a million internally displaced people living in crowded Port-au-Prince camps. Yet while there should be righteous indignation about the conditions in the camps, we must continue to highlight the plight of the urban and rural poor throughout Haiti whose struggle against poverty and injustice pre-dated the earthquake and has been made immeasurably more difficult by the disaster. The cholera epidemic - due to lack of access to clean water and sanitation against a backdrop of malnutrition and inadequate health services in much of the country - is a graphic illustration of the ongoing need. It is easy to understand that optimism would be in short supply.
There are, however, glimmers of hope. With your help, Partners In Health and Zanmi Lasante (PIH/ZL) have shown that progress through collaboration is possible and effective.
See what PIH/ZL accomplished in 2010 and call on the international community to do more.
PIH/ZL are not alone in doing good work. The Haitian Ministry of Health and our many partner organizations are doing so as well; the most important and significant work has been building lasting infrastructure and improving the capacity of Haitians to meet the challenges they face.
For recovery to be effective and lasting, Haitians must be the main actors. They must have a voice in how aid money is spent in their country and be the principal agents of the work being done. Currently, the mechanism for that is the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) - a group dedicated to creating a plan to best make use of the current influx of aid. Rather than a collection of temporary solutions consisting of tarps and tents, the Commission will lay the building blocks for the future of Haiti: hospitals to heal the sick, roads to help farmers bring food to market, municipal water supplies to stop deaths from cholera, and schools, at all levels, to build Haitian capacity.
Join PIH/ZL in calling for the Haitians to be the main actors in Haiti's recovery and in the coordination of foreign aid.
Plans exist to make all of this happen. Yet Haiti desperately needs an international solidarity movement, not unlike the one that helped to end apartheid in South Africa, to assure that the funding and coordination needed to actualize a plan for Haitians rebuilding Haiti will be realized.
Such a movement would share the goals of supporting:
- The creation of Haitian jobs in the reconstruction,
- Haiti's ability to mandate that the 10,000 NGOs and foreign government-led projects adhere to a shared plan, and
- The development of large-scale public infrastructure including health, education, water, and sanitation that will reverse the impoverishment of the Haitian people.
Today, see what PIH/ZL have accomplished and join us in building a movement of solidarity for Haiti and her future by calling for the continued support of a Haitian-led solution to rebuild Haiti.
In solidarity and with renewed hope for peace and justice on Earth in the coming year,
Joia Mukherjee
Chief Medical Officer
Partners In Health
Next week marks the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated our beloved Haiti. As Partners In Health gathers to reflect on this past year and mobilize around all that is left to be done, join us from wherever you may be:
BOSTON
Reserve your ticket now for PIH's commemorative event: www.pih.org/jan14
Remember, Reflect, Respond: Haiti One Year Later
Friday January 14th, 2011
6:00 - 7:30pm
John Hancock Hall
Back Bay Events Center
180 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
BEYOND
- Watch the live webcast of PIH's event: www.pih.org/jan14
- See what events are happening near you and post your own: www.pih.org/events
- Send in reflections to the Kenbe Fem Project
The Kenbe Fem Project is a collective expression of mourning created and displayed for personal reflection, public education, and ongoing advocacy. Small pieces of fabric with words, images, or other expressions - called reflections - are hung on a sequence of strings forming threads of connected memories or prayers. You can host the project in your community, or send in reflections to be displayed at PIH's event in Boston: www.stillharbor.org/kenbefem
Please forward this message widely to your groups, listservs, and networks. Questions and feedback are more than welcome. As always, and more than ever, thank you for continuing to Stand With Haiti.
In solidarity,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
Dear Students for PIH,
For me, Partners In Health's report on food aid in Haiti underscores the importance of Zanmi Agrikol - PIH's agricultural arm in Haiti that treats malnourished children while supporting local Haitian farmers. That's why I'm delighted to announce your chance to support ZA in a huge way.
This month only, we're pairing you up with a matching grant for Zanmi Agrikol. The $25,000 grant originated in March and was pitched to a student group who've raised nearly $20,000 to date, mostly in coins. Now it's time to bring in reinforcements, with $5,000 left to raise before the match ends on December 31. So I hope you'll consider it a complement that Partners In Health is asking you to pitch in what you can. Each of you with even a modest gift, doubled by the match, can help us reach $50,000 for Zanmi Agrikol. You can donate and read about the program here.
In Haiti, 80% of the population lives on less than 2 dollars a day. If you're still not convinced that every dollar counts, consider that the annual cost of Partners In Health's comprehensive health care model - serving 2.5 million people across 12 countries - is just 27 dollars per capita.
Instead of thinking your contribution is modest, know that PIH relies on a broad base of support in order to provide our comprehensive services. Many of PIH's multilateral donors cover our large treatment programs for infectious diseases, but not necessarily the primary care and other wraparound services that make our programs successful. As individuals, you are the partners who help fill those gaps, enabling us to implement a truly comprehensive model of care.
Donate to Zanmi Agrikol before December 31
Let's see what Students for PIH can do.
Happy Holidays, all.
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
888 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA
www.pih.org | act.pih.org/students
Dear Students,
With 10 days down and 20 to go, PIH’s PACT project has moved up from #185 to #101 – Thanks to all you daily voters, and keep doing your thing at www.pih.org/refresh. This is huge progress, but we need more voters to win. We’re calling for a core group of champions to keep PACT on track by expanding our base of committed voters. In less than 5 minutes daily, your vote and simple outreach can make the difference for PACT. If we win, you get all the credit!
Become a core voter for PACT at www.pih.org/PACTCoreVoters. Join today and you’ll receive a message from PACT’s Executive Director, as a tool to forward on and gather support.
Finally, it’s time for a quick Q&A with yours truly about the adventures of daily voting. The following questions are completely made-up:
Dear Elise, I don’t want to create an online account with Pepsi, so how can I vote? No problem – You can vote by texting 104061 to 73774 daily. Or, vote through Facebook.
Dear Elise, My one vote won’t make a difference, so why bother? If you vote daily, that’s 30 votes in November. If 3 friends commit to voting with you, there’s 90 more – dramatically multiplying your voting power. More than any other community of PIH advocates, your dedication and energy is what can launch PACT into the top spot.
Dear Elise, I’m super busy and keep forgetting to vote. Can you send me a daily reminder? Excellent question. Simply join www.pih.org/PACTCoreVoters and you’ll receive daily instructions on how to be a champion for the final 20 days of November.
Thanks so much for leading this charge, and remember to be a leader by voicing your vote – Comment on facebook.com/partnersinhealth and twitter.com/pih to cheer PACT on!
In Solidarity,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
Thank you for supporting PIH's PACT project, and helping us get enough voters to win $250,000 by the end of November 2010.
Here's how you can get started:
- Vote daily at www.pih.org/refresh or by texting 104061 to 73774.
- Share PIH posts on facebook.com/partnersinhealth or twitter.com/pih with your networks.
- Adopt-a-signature on your emails, like this one: Help Partners In Health win $250,000 to support marginalized HIV/AIDS patients in the United States. VOTE DAILY for PACT in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge: pih.org/refresh
- Tell your friends and family about PACT and how they can provide a $250,000 donation at no cost by helping us win.
Remember - You can vote once a day, and so can your friends. They can set a daily reminder or join this group (www.pih.org/PACTCoreVoters) to receive one email each day in November.
For more information about PACT, visit www.pih.org/pages/USA
Dear Students,
Throughout November 2010, PIH's domestic health care program PACT is competing in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge. Here's your chance to cast a high-impact vote for health care delivery, and to raise awareness about what PACT is doing to serve marginalized patients in Boston's most impoverished neighborhoods.
Vote daily to help us win $250,000 to support HIV/AIDS patients around Boston: pih.org/refresh
More than a challenge, this is an opportunity to showcase the broad movement for health and social justice. It starts with your personal commitment to vote every day. Beyond that, a quick invitation or reminder to a friend is all it takes to produce a $250,000 donation that will impact patients' lives.
- Set daily reminders on your phone, or write a post-it for your laptop
- Echo PIH by sharing PACT posts on facebook.com/partnersinhealth and twitter.com/pih
- Adopt-a-signature on your emails, like this one: Help Partners In Health win $250,000 to support marginalized HIV/AIDS patients in the United States. VOTE DAILY for PACT in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge: pih.org/refresh
Your support for PACT is an act of solidarity with our domestic site - it's also a powerful act of accompaniment, helping Community Health Workers deliver care to the patients who need them most.
Vote now: pih.org/refresh
In Solidarity,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
Dear Students,
The Symposium video is up! Watch now at www.pih.org/symposium.
Thanks to all who joined us on September 25th in Boston, and online from Creighton, DeSales, Duke, Georgia Southern, University of Texas at San Antonio, Virginia Tech, and more...
This year's speakers left us all inspired and ready to act. So what's next? Here are three ways you can get involved with what's happening at PIH this fall:
- Vote for PACT (our domestic healthcare program) to help us win $250,000 in the Refresh Everything Challenge. From November 1st to November 30th, we need your help to vote PACT. 5 minutes of your time could be worth $250,000 for vulnerable HIV patients in the United States.
- Start Now: Mark your calendar for November 1st and read about PACT: www.pih.org/pages/usa
- Collect coins for Zanmi Agrikol (our agricultural project in Haiti), which treats child malnutrition by working with rural Haitian farmers to make Nourimanba. The one-month campaign starts in mid-October, and all donations to Zanmi Agrikol will be doubled by a matching grant, up to $50,000.
- Start Now: Email letschangehaiti@gmail.com for the coin collection guide. Get to know Nourimanba - it's made with vitamins!
- Screen the Symposium with your friends, student groups, and communities. Watch it whole, or pick a few speakers and discuss. Print out the program and follow along. You can also view the film "Haiti's Heroes" in full at www.abundancefound.org.
- Start Now: Read the Symposium program and preview the video: www.pih.org/symposium
Each of these opportunities is a chance for you - as an individual and as a member of your school community - to strengthen a synchronized movement for health and social justice. We at PIH are filled with deep gratitude and inspiration to have such strong partners in you all.
In Solidarity,
Elise Garrity
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
Dear Students,
School’s back in session, and it’s time to test what you know about PIH! Each of these 10 questions contain teasers to current and upcoming fall events, so pay close attention to both correct and incorrect answers…
You may begin.
1. Which of the following statements about PIH is FALSE?
b. Our model is based on solidarity, rather than charity alone.
2. Which of these is NOT a Millenium Development Goal?
3. Know your acronyms: Which of these is PIH’s domestic health care program?
a. PACT
b. DGHE
c. POSER
4. In which country has PIH most recently begun working?
a. Pakistan
b. Nepal
c. Kazakhstan
5. What is Zanmi Agrikol?
a. Haitian Creole for “Partners In Agriculture”, it’s the agricultural branch of Zanmi Lasante.
b. A project that accompanies rural farmers and combats deforestation in Haiti.
c. A project that produces Nourimanba to prevent and treat child malnutrition.
6. What is the most-watched video on our Health & Social Justice Network?
7. The 17th annual Thomas J. White Symposium on September 25th is called:
8. Who biked over 4,000 miles this summer to raise money for PIH with FACE AIDS?
9. Do you know anyone who’s turning 40 soon?
a. Yes
10. How do you plan to support PIH on your campus and in your community this year? (Open-ended…Bonus points for sending me your answer!)
In Solidarity,
Elise Garrity (students@pih.org)
Student Outreach Assistant | PIH
On March 4, 2010, Dr. Paul Farmer addressed students at the 4th annual GlobeMed Summit, sharing his "Reflections From Haiti" and articulating how students and universities can contribute to relief and rebuilding. Here are just a few compelling quotes, and audience reactions:
I. GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION
"There's no discipline of global health. It's a collection of problems that requires many disciplines."
Victor Roy from Cambridge University: So often, we try to make things into disciplines with 'rigid' tools and frameworks. But by thinking of global health in this way, we can share values and yet engage with a broad set of approaches and people, from a physician to an engineer to a political activist. Read More »
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