December 2011 Clinic

Our Keur Massar medical clinic, held December 9th and 10th, was a great success!  In this village, just outside of Dakar, we were able to treat 1,160 patients. Miracle Ifeanyichukwu, Senegalese director of Friends In Africa, reported that the clinic and feeding program went very well. 

Feeding

With proceeds from the 3rd annual Run For Africa, we were able to hold a feeding program.  This was the 2nd feeding program of the year.  Our feeding programs provide nourishing food for clinic patients as well as for all of the hungry children in the area.

Amazing success at this year’s Run For Africa!

PHOTO: Greenwich Time Press Coverage

This year’s Run For Africa was a HUGE success.  We made the front page of Greenwich Time newspaper!

I was incredibly touched to see repeat runners from the community out to support us a third time along with a good number of first time registrants. We had record participation numbers across the board.

Of course there are those rock solid runners, walkers and volunteers that made the whole thing possible. Matthew Tolentino sported a supportive hair style for the second year in a row (as you can see on the front page of Greenwich Time, left), Mickey Yardis of Threads and Treads did a great job at our finish line, and Buddy Barrel ran the 3.3k with the kids.

We also had some great new vendors along with vendors who have participated at our past events.  Ken Arenz and Tony Trujillo provided sports massage services, Carmine Caserella offered green smoothies and herbal teas, Strooples donated bottled water, and Darren Ornitz sold his beautiful photographs of Africa.  

Darren’s photographs are still available.  If you tell him that you learned about him through the Run For Africa 50% of your purchase will be donated to Friends in Africa and My Father’s House Children’s Home.

With funds from the run we will be able to pay for a feeding program at our next clinic in December and cover the cost of treatment for THOUSANDS of patients, certainly saving HUNDREDS of lives!  A HUGE thank you to everyone for supporting the run and donating your time and money to the cause!

Be sure to check out the race results.

--Karen Root

(Chairperson, FIA)

Our very first clinic: 2003

This is the trip that started is all!  Over 50 volunteers, at that time called “Friends TO Africa” hosted 3 clinics in villages outside of Dakar, Senegal.  

When the team saw the unbelievable medical hardships faced by the Senegalese people they resolved to come back.

And they did.  They worked with doctors and volunteers in Senegal to perform the quarterly two-day clinics we still have today.  They also established a children’s home in Dakar called My Father’s House to offer hope to widows no longer able to care for their children and save boys from begging on the streets for clerics and young girls from forced marriage, sometimes as second or third wives.

We renamed our charity Friends in Africa, since a local director and local doctors and volunteers promised to staff the clinics.  And they have!  Thanks to them we’ve treated thousands of patients since then.

(Right, top) U.S. Volunteers learn some new moves from the locals.

(Right, third photo)  Steve Gamble gives a pep talk to U.S. and local volunteers.

(Right, bottom)  Right away it became clear that the clinics would draw a crowd of curious children.  We saw the need for children’s programs and here is one of our first.

February 2007 Clinic

At this clinic we faced innumerable difficulties.  After all was said and done, though, we felt we were able to overcome them.  Despite delays due to red tape with permits from the town, we were able to host the clinic for the full two days.

Mbao, the town we held the clinic in was desperate for medical attention.  We saw very serious cases and were reminded again Friends in Africa is needed.  

This is the clinic that birthed our feeding programs; after being followed for two days by malnourished and starving children the team, including board members, decided that healthy food needed to be a priority also.

(Left, middle) Our photographer goofs around with curious kids near the clinic.  These little friends always become the constant companions of Friends in Africa team members.  Many children are beggars, far from their home and family. 

(Bottom) Ambulance driver Flori is always popular when he hands out dental supplies.