Monday, March 23, 2009
My African Family
I just learned that, while in Durban, I will be staying with family composed of the mother and three daughters, ages 15, 11, and 4. A house full of women!
Welcome and Thank you!
Welcome to my blog! I'm may be procrastinating packing for my departure in 3 days by getting this blog up and running. But, as this is a very important part of my trip, it was easily justified :)
I want to give the biggest THANK YOU to everyone who has made this trip possible for me. I have been awarded generous grants from the Jessica Jennifer Cohen Foundation (www.jjcf.org) and the Sara's Wish Foundation (www.saraswish.org). I encourage you to check out both of these foundations and learn more about the great work they are doing in the memory of two amazing young women. I've also been blessed with many generous donations through my firtgiving.com fundraising page and there are many more people who are supporting me through their time, guidance, and encouragement... the list is endless!
Below is my original fundraising page which will give you an overview of my trip:
Dear Friends and Family,
I am very excited to have been offered the opportunity to travel to Durban, South Africa in April 2009 as part of a service-learning program through Child Family Health International. While in South Africa, I will rotate through hospitals, public health clinics, and hospices in order to learn about the challenges faced by Durban's post-apartheid public healthcare system including HIV/AIDS, environmental health issues, and other underlying causes of poor health in the region.
Thank you so much in advance for visiting my page and reading about this program. I will be providing you all with updates on my fundraising efforts as well as more pictures and stories from my trip than you would ever want to see/hear.
Please consider making a donation, no matter how small. I, as well as the 33 million people living with HIV today, thank you! Also, please contact me with any questions you have as well as updates on your life. I love to hear from you!
julieanne_brooker@yahoo.com
WHY?
As many of you know, I am currently in the process of applying to Medical School. I have learned a lot in my pre-requisite courses but far more through the experiences I have had outside of school. As many of you also know, I have been involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment work for quite a while now and have been fortunate to work with needle exchange programs, domestic violence and HIV initiatives, as an HIV test counselor, and at an Immunology Lab where I support researchers working towards HIV vaccines and improved treatment options. In 2006, I raised over $2000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation thanks to a team of wonderful and generous volunteers who supported me as I trained to run the San Francisco AIDS Marathon in memory of Timothy Hardin, my friend John's brother, who died of AIDS in 1991.
There is so much being done to prevent the spread of HIV and improve treatment options for those already infected. However, we mustn't sugar-coat the issue. For the last 2 years, I have been volunteering as a Emotional and Practical Support Provider at Maitri, an AIDS Hospice here in San Francisco. The truth is, many people are still dying from AIDS -- many people just like you and I. The harsh reality of this disease and it's effects did not truly hit home for me until I was at the bedside of a patient I had grown to love as a friend -- after months of doctor's appointments, lunch dates, walks in the park, late night conversations -- when he passed away. This one patient soon became two then four, five, six... and this is only a microcosm of what's happening all over the world right now.
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. More than 6,800 people are newly infected every day, and over 33 million people are living with HIV today. Women and girls are the new face of AIDS, especially in the hardest hit regions, such as Africa. In Sub-Saharan Africa, young women (ages 15-24) are three times more likely to be infected than young men.
I plan to dedicate my medical career to working to fight the AIDS epidemic and I thank you all very much for helping make this possible -- for me and all those I hope to help.
WHERE?
Durban is the capital city of Kwa-Zulu Natal province, and is the second largest city in South Africa. It is located on the Indian Ocean and boasts mild weather, beautiful beaches, and diversity that represents South African society creating a unique fusion of cultures: it is home to the Zulu nation, descendants of indentured laborers from India and British settlers. Of course, you will also find people of Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sotho and Tswana heritage among many others in Durban. Durban has an important history in the political development of the country throughout the apartheid era, it being the site of the first African National Congress (ANC) national convention, and also where the young Mahatma Gandhi was inspired to lead movements based in nonviolent principles. Its political history combined with some of the most notable health challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa today makes Durban an ideal location to spend time attempting to understand common complexities of public health and primary care.
Thanks again!
I want to give the biggest THANK YOU to everyone who has made this trip possible for me. I have been awarded generous grants from the Jessica Jennifer Cohen Foundation (www.jjcf.org) and the Sara's Wish Foundation (www.saraswish.org). I encourage you to check out both of these foundations and learn more about the great work they are doing in the memory of two amazing young women. I've also been blessed with many generous donations through my firtgiving.com fundraising page and there are many more people who are supporting me through their time, guidance, and encouragement... the list is endless!
Below is my original fundraising page which will give you an overview of my trip:
Dear Friends and Family,
I am very excited to have been offered the opportunity to travel to Durban, South Africa in April 2009 as part of a service-learning program through Child Family Health International. While in South Africa, I will rotate through hospitals, public health clinics, and hospices in order to learn about the challenges faced by Durban's post-apartheid public healthcare system including HIV/AIDS, environmental health issues, and other underlying causes of poor health in the region.
Thank you so much in advance for visiting my page and reading about this program. I will be providing you all with updates on my fundraising efforts as well as more pictures and stories from my trip than you would ever want to see/hear.
Please consider making a donation, no matter how small. I, as well as the 33 million people living with HIV today, thank you! Also, please contact me with any questions you have as well as updates on your life. I love to hear from you!
julieanne_brooker@yahoo.com
WHY?
As many of you know, I am currently in the process of applying to Medical School. I have learned a lot in my pre-requisite courses but far more through the experiences I have had outside of school. As many of you also know, I have been involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment work for quite a while now and have been fortunate to work with needle exchange programs, domestic violence and HIV initiatives, as an HIV test counselor, and at an Immunology Lab where I support researchers working towards HIV vaccines and improved treatment options. In 2006, I raised over $2000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation thanks to a team of wonderful and generous volunteers who supported me as I trained to run the San Francisco AIDS Marathon in memory of Timothy Hardin, my friend John's brother, who died of AIDS in 1991.
There is so much being done to prevent the spread of HIV and improve treatment options for those already infected. However, we mustn't sugar-coat the issue. For the last 2 years, I have been volunteering as a Emotional and Practical Support Provider at Maitri, an AIDS Hospice here in San Francisco. The truth is, many people are still dying from AIDS -- many people just like you and I. The harsh reality of this disease and it's effects did not truly hit home for me until I was at the bedside of a patient I had grown to love as a friend -- after months of doctor's appointments, lunch dates, walks in the park, late night conversations -- when he passed away. This one patient soon became two then four, five, six... and this is only a microcosm of what's happening all over the world right now.
AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. More than 6,800 people are newly infected every day, and over 33 million people are living with HIV today. Women and girls are the new face of AIDS, especially in the hardest hit regions, such as Africa. In Sub-Saharan Africa, young women (ages 15-24) are three times more likely to be infected than young men.
I plan to dedicate my medical career to working to fight the AIDS epidemic and I thank you all very much for helping make this possible -- for me and all those I hope to help.
WHERE?
Durban is the capital city of Kwa-Zulu Natal province, and is the second largest city in South Africa. It is located on the Indian Ocean and boasts mild weather, beautiful beaches, and diversity that represents South African society creating a unique fusion of cultures: it is home to the Zulu nation, descendants of indentured laborers from India and British settlers. Of course, you will also find people of Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sotho and Tswana heritage among many others in Durban. Durban has an important history in the political development of the country throughout the apartheid era, it being the site of the first African National Congress (ANC) national convention, and also where the young Mahatma Gandhi was inspired to lead movements based in nonviolent principles. Its political history combined with some of the most notable health challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa today makes Durban an ideal location to spend time attempting to understand common complexities of public health and primary care.
Thanks again!
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