MEDICAL-DENTAL: TEAM TO GUATEMALA

I can always be sure when returning from a Medical-Dental Team excursion, that I will be asked several times, “When is the next trip and where is it going?”. Because of the preparation time required, we are careful to leave sufficient time between travels to Central America. My answer in February, as we returned from El Salvador was, “Sometime later in the year”!

Dr. Tony Brown (Medical Advisor) and I had to make two major decisions. One, where do we go next, and two, when do we go? It did not take long to decide we should return to Guatemala. Why Guatemala?

The medical/dental needs in Central America are everywhere and unlimited opportunities to share our expertise are welcomed in several countries. Since 2007 we have taken teams to Honduras, Guatemala (2008), Nicaragua and El Salvador. In making the decision to return to Guatemala we talked to the people who partner with us in that country, reviewed recent events that have impacted the people there, including floods and earthquakes and looked carefully at the current political situation and safety factors. There was nothing to keep us from going to Guatemala and plans are under way for a team to be there November 6-14, 2010.

We are often asked if we have problems finding people for the team? No is the short answer. Since our first team to Honduras in 2007, our roster of medical professionals and other support staff has been growing. Our largest team, 30 strong, went to El Salvador in February 2010. This we have discovered, is a level at which we can operate efficiently.

Dr. Tony and I will be visiting Guatemala at the end of September to visit communities where the teams may visit and scout out suitable locations to run our clinics.

If you are a medical professional and would like to get involved please contact me at ken@ftccanada.ca. By the way, there's a good chance we may be in El Salvador, April, 2011.

Ken Dick, President

NORTHERN ONTARIO: NEWS FROM MISH ADVENTURES

Up to 50 children a day arrive at the Mish Adventures home base by bus each day! And they arrive to a host of great activities; from swimming to volleyball and of course, eating food!

The weather in the North has been ideal; never too hot and never too cold!

A youth camp has been added to provide the older youth with activities that don’t include running over or into the smaller children! About 10 to 15 youth have participated and we have enjoyed afternoon canoe trips to explore the islands and games like Capture The Flag!

Swimming lessons are offered and of course we have the lifeguards to run “free swims”. This ensures not only essential skill development but a safe and fun waterfront for the children.

Because swimming is our #1 fun activity we hosted a Beach Day at the community beach half way between our home base and the main reserve. Most of the day was spent in the water of course! We added some volleyball and naturally some food! Lots of hot dogs roasted on an open fire! Of course everyone wants to have another Beach Day!

The staff get their recreation in the evening and the soccer and baseball games inevitably draw in members of the community who want to “hang out” and enjoy some fun with us.

The staff work hard and they share their care and concern for the children freely. Children here notice unconditional love maybe more so than children in other parts of Ontario and it impacts attitudes and is demonstrated in improved behaviour.

This is our last week here and already we are starting to regret the time when we have to pack up and head back to Southern Ontario.

FTC Canada would still welcome your gifts to help support this program. Please click here to go to the First Nations page.

EL SALVADOR MEDICAL TEAM VIDEO

In February 2010 the largest Medical-Dental team yet (30) was assembled by FTC Canada for the journey to San Salvador, El Salvador, CA. This would mark the second such trip to El Salvador.

The team spent 5 days working in partnership with other medical professionals and support staff from Feed The Children Central America operating medical clinics and food distributions in the poorest of neighbourhoods around the busy city.

The video features music by singer-songwriter Ali Matthews (www.alimatthews.com).

KOM NETWORKS JUNK-A-JUKE PARTNERSHIP

In January 2010 we announced a partnership with KOM Networks (Ottawa, ON). The following video shows a shipment of recycled products being loaded at RDM Corporation in Kitchener, destined for a recycling plant in Brampton, ON.

KOM has chosen FTC Canada as its charity of choice directing funds derived from the recycling process to feeding hungry children in Canada and around the world.

GOOD NEWS ON FOOD DROP IN THUNDER BAY

Thunder Bay families that were in need of food support, received it on July 8, 2010 in the form of a Family Food Box from FTC Canada.

Details of the distribution were picked up by the local press who shone a spotlight on the good work of An Eagle's Cry Centre operated by Sky and Angie Hedricks. The Centre coordinated the event including distribution of coupons to families most desperately in need.

Please click on the following links to learn more about the local coverage:

Click here to read a report in the tbnewswatch.com

Click here to see Thunder Bay News coverage (video opens automatically)

FAMILY FOOD BOXES GO TO FAMILIES IN THUNDER BAY

An eager and terrific team of volunteers, some from An Eagle's Cry Centre (our host) and some from the FTC Canada Mish Adventure Camp Staff had the entire food box distribution ready to go a day before the actual event!

This included 350 family food boxes (approx. 22lbs each) and 350 hygiene boxes (personal essentials), food and cold drinks provided by the Centre, and games and crafts for the children. There turned out to be an added couple of bonuses for families picking up their boxes. Some families attending had no idea the Centre was open for them throughout the year. Families with small children were also able to help themselves to plenty of children's clothing.

Sky and Angie Hedricks, founders of the Centre were on hand to manage the intake process and to speak with families about the centre and its various programs. Each family had received a voucher which they exchanged for the boxes.

Families were genuinely appreciative of the support and excited to get this type of assistance when sometimes they were running short on food and supplies. Thunder Bay has an improving employment situation but many people are still living in low-income situations.

Our hope is that families in Thunder Bay will remember the generosity of An Eagles Cry Centre and turn to it whenever they find they are in need.

FAMILY FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION: THUNDER BAY

Thursday July 8, 2010

Eagles Cry Life Centre in Thunder Bay is distributing 350 food boxes and 350 hygiene boxes to needy families in partnership with FTC Canada.

The distribution will take place at An Eagles Cry Life Centre on 100 Simpson Street in Thunder Bay, ON today (centre founder Sky Hedricks in photo). Volunteers and staff from Eagles Cry will hand out the food boxes (approx. 22 pounds) along with boxes of personal hygiene products.

FTC Canada partners with organizations and companies throughout Canada to provide food and supplies to those in need. Recipients are identified by local social service organizations and receive a food voucher which they redeem at the event. FTC Canada First Nations Camp team will run a children’s program during the event. FTC Canada runs summer camps in Mishkeegogamang and King Fisher Reserves.

MISH ADVENTURES 2010: LEADERS

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There are a high percentage of First Nations children and youth in most of the communities in Northern Ontario. In Mishkeegogamang we have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with several of them over the over the course of three years.

Lauren has been attending Mish Adventures every year since it started in 2007. He is one of the children committed to coming as often as he could. There was always a smile on his face and a desire to help out where he could. “I’m going to make different choices than the some of the youth I know” was one of the first things he said to us. Every summer, Lauren returns to camp and seems to be on a path to making some good choices.

When asked why FTC Canada to such invests in a children’s program in a community that is so far away, the answer that has most been appropriate is, “If the relationships we build with the people in the community changes the direction of even one person’s life, it is a good thing.” If that person chooses hope instead of despair, it was worth it.

Lauren has agreed to be a Junior Leader at Mish Adventures this summer. Helping him find the skills and talents he was born with and developing his leadership potential is an exciting adventure. Our goals at camp are:

• To meet the needs of the children;
• Give children a place to forget their sadness;
• Develop long-term relationships.
  

We hope to inspire young people to become leaders, in the camp program and in their community. We are excited about our forth summer in Mish. Goals are being met and the journey many of these children are on may, change transform and entire community’s outlook on the future.

Learn more about supporting a child at Mish Adventures: Click Here!