This year, for my birthday, I'd like for us to get my friends the equivalent of a very big chicken.
I have spent many birthdays in Ghana, "catching" babies in the maternity ward at the Huttel Health Clinic. One year friends in the village scraped together their money and bought me a chicken as a gift. They handed it to me after work, with joy on their faces. I was deeply grateful, but also scared and uncertain of how to handle a live chicken. I smiled at it, but kept my distance. Seriously, a tied up chicken staring you down with its beady eye is freaky. They laughed. Who is afraid of a chicken?
For my 30th birthday I'd like to get them a gift by asking you to donate to Foundation Human Nature in lieu of presents for me. A little money goes a long way there. Every year I see how the clinic benefits from the generosity of those abroad and I am in awe of how the invisible seams of our lives touch up against each other and dramatically change the shape of the future of others. This year would you like to help me give them a chicken, or something much more???
Currently the Huttel Health Clinic wants to build basic houses for the health clinic staff. Think rural Africa. Real small houses with pretty simple living conditions. It is not a difficult endeavor, we just need the money to start.
Right now a lot of the staff squeeze together in 1 bedroom rooms (lots of people in not a lot of space) or are renting far away from the clinic. These houses will allow the staff to have personal space and peace of mind. Included will be the building of a new volunteer house for people like me! This means I won't have to sleep on the floor of the birthing unit with little mice anymore!
$5,000 is needed to pay the builders, get the supplies, and make/furnish the houses. Even if you were only planning on getting me a birthday card... feel free to send a $3 donation! Seriously... it will go further there and do much more :)
Thanks friends. I am super happy to be spending my 30th with you!
And for the British pound to American dollar conversion: here ya go! 1 pound= $1.63
20 pounds= $32.00
xoKacie
