Inside ARC - 1.24.13

Hi jay, Here’s an update on what’s been happening around the American Refugee Committee. Let us know if you have any questions. -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  *Congo Update* ARC’s emergency response team has been on the ground in DR Congo since November of last year. Right now we’re operating two critical programs: 1) cholera prevention; and 2) protection and support for survivors of sexual violence. In response to a worrying increase in cholera cases, we launched a hygiene promotion program. We’ve trained a team of 20 community health volunteers in Mugunga Camp who are reaching out to people in the camp to talk about handwashing and other methods that help prevent the spread of infections like cholera. We’re also working with our partner Heal Africa to support survivors of sexual violence and abuse. A woman can come to our ‘listening post’ and speak with a counselor who – in addition to just hearing her story – will guide her towards additional health and legal support. Below is a photo of the listening post and our team at Mugunga III Camp. *I AM A STAR Featured by IdEA*   Through our I AM A STAR program, we have partnered extensively with International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), a public-private partnership which was launched by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011.  IdEA recently posted a comprehensive piece highlighting ARC’s work with the global Somali diaspora.  It describes the philosophy behind I AM A STAR, its origin and guiding principles, diaspora engagement methods, and opportunities for sustainability and replication with other diaspora groups.  The piece introduced I AM A STAR:  “ARC’s model is based on a simple premise:  ‘A country’s global diaspora is not a lost resource but, rather, the greatest asset available in building a humanitarian response in that country.’”  You can read the piece here:  http://diasporaalliance.org/diaspora-and-ngo-partner-to-help-somali/. *A Legacy for Refugees* In November, ARC received an extremely generous gift from the estate of C. Robert Binger in the amount of $450,000. “Bob had a deep respect for your mission and your programs,” said his nephew. “As a result, Bob wished to leave a legacy for your organization.” Mr. Binger had been a supporter of ARC’s programs for years in addition to his own humanitarian efforts, including the aid he organized for Sudanese families during the famine in that country some 15 years ago. Mr. Binger’s kindness extended far beyond humanitarian relief as a benefactor of public television, conservation efforts and many other important causes. The American Refugee Committee is extremely grateful for his generous support. *Giving*    At the request of readers, I always include these links so they’re easy to find when you need them. Thanks so much. Become a Monthly Donor: http://www.ARCrelief.org/givemonthly Donate Online: http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate Give Us a Call: (800) 875-7060 Send in a gift: American Refugee Committee Donor Service Center P.O. Box 1002 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1002 USA *Engage*  We're sharing photos, video and stories all the time on social media. Join the conversation. Friend us! --- http://www.Facebook.com/arcrelief Follow us! --- http://www.twitter.com/arcrelief Subscribe! --- http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc Check us out! --- http://www.instagram.com/arcrelief

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Inside ARC - 1.9.13

Hi jay, Here's my first update for 2013 on what’s been happening around the American Refugee Committee. I recently traveled to Darfur, Sudan with a group of incredible people to see our programs there firsthand. We were so impressed by the work of the 350+ person Sudan team! They work in camps and villages throughout South Darfur providing people clean water and critical health care. Checkout photos from my trip below. -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  *VIDEO from Congo* ARC continues to respond to the humanitarian crisis in DR Congo, where rebels have called a temporary ceasefire ahead of peace talks. Conditions are dire in Eastern Congo. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and are living in camps – many of which are informal and don’t have clean water or proper sanitation. This video – shot by ARC’s Graham Eastmond – gives a brief glimpse of one of these informal camps: http://youtu.be/zTh5O3K02NM . *Sudan Envoys*   At the end of December, ARC President Daniel Wordsworth led an international delegation from ARC to Sudan. The team met with government representatives, humanitarian officials and ARC’s Sudan staff. The second portion of the trip was spent visiting ARC’s programs in Nyala and Gereida in the Darfur region. In Nyala, they visited Kalma Camp where ARC provides services like health care and clean water. More than 100,000 displaced people live at Kalma. They also visited our health care teams in Gereida – 7 healthy babies were delivered that week at ARC’s reproductive health clinic. ARC’s staff in Sudan are some of the most dedicated and hardworking people you’ll find anywhere. Thanks to their efforts, there are now two trained midwives in every village we work in in South Darfur. Eight years ago there were only a handful in the entire region. The exceptional relationship they have built with Sudan’s Ministry of Health has resulted in considerable improvement of the health care system, saving thousands of lives in the process. Hats off to the Sudan team! See photos from the visit on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151241006762462.459058.18213037461&type=1 *Soccer for Stronger Relationships* ARC’s Rwanda team is building stronger working relationships with local government through recreation and leisure activities. Country Director Frederic Auger says cooperation and collaboration come more easily when a friendly mutual relationship is established between partners.  “Knowing your counterparts helps you to develop the capacity to share ideas on how to work, thereby enabling one to achieve the set targets,” Auger told The New Times in an interview.  Last week, Auger and his team took on the Mayor of Karongi District and his staff (Karongi is home to Kiziba refugee camp, where ARC works) in a soccer match that was immediately followed by meetings between the two groups. No word on which team was victorious… *Giving*    At the request of readers, I always include these links so they’re easy to find when you need them. Thanks so much. Become a Monthly Donor: http://www.ARCrelief.org/givemonthly Donate Online: http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate Give Us a Call: (800) 875-7060 Send in a gift: American Refugee Committee Donor Service Center P.O. Box 1002 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1002 USA

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