Kenya Acceptance Package

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    CONGRATULATIONS!Jambo Friend,

    We are so glad you applied to become part of Me to Wes Volunteer and LeadershipKenya Trip. After reviewing your application we are pleased to announce that youare guaranteed a spot as a participant on the trip this summer. At Me to We Tripswe are con dent that you will have one of the most amazing experiences of your lifeand we are happy to have you as part of the team!

    Thank you for sending your deposit and completing the initial application, healthand registration forms. Between now and your trip, we will collect further informa- tion and documents from you to ensure your trip runs smoothly and successfully.This package serves as a step-by-step guide for your trip preparations and includessome fun reading materials to help you get to know Kenyathe cultural diversity, the challenges of poverty and inequality and especially the warm hospitality youwill encounter once you arrive. We will be sending important information about theprogram by e-mail, so please ensure that we have a correct e-mail address that youcheck regularly. If this is a problem, please let us know.

    We strongly encourage you to fundraise to help with the cost of your trip. For ideasand suggestions, we have included fundraising ideas at the end of this document to help you get on your way. The fundraising package is also available at www.me- towe.com/trips or please feel free to contact us and we will send you a copy.

    If we do not receive either the forms or payment on or before the deadlines noted onpage 13, you may lose your spot on the trip. Be sure to let us know if you are unable to meet these deadlines so alternative arrangements can be made. If you are un-sure of the balance owing for your trip or what forms you still need to send, pleasecontact us immediately and we will provide you with your current account status.

    Thanks again for your passion and commitment to this trip. We will be working with

    you closely as you prepare for the experience. Please contact us with your ques- tions and concerns. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

    Sincerely,

    2

    Kate LikelyDirector of International Trips233 Carlton St.Toronto, OntarioM5A 2L2

    e-mail: [email protected]: 416.964.8942

    COUNTDOWN TO KENCongratulations! 2Step 1: Apply for a Passport 3Step 2: Visit a Travel Doctor 4Step 3: Book Flights 6Step 4: Register Online 7Step 5: Send Documents 8Step 6: Gather Gear 9Photo and Gift Giving 12Trip Timeline 13Me to We 14Reading Suggestions 15-17

    TICO Registration # 50017614

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    Have a Passport?If you have travelled abroad before, you probably already have a passport. If so, now would be a good time to godig it out of the safe place you have been keeping it so you can verify a few things:

    The expiration date: your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date you plan to leave Kenya.

    The picture and details: your passport picture probably wont win you any beauty contests, but you should berecognizable in the photo. All information in your passport should be accurate and up to date.

    Two blank pages: your passport must two blank pages at the back in order to obtain your Kenyan visa.Now, put it back in that safe place. Dont lose it between now and the trip!

    Need a Passport?If you do not have a passport, it is best to apply for one as soon as possible. Processing passports can take up to two months and if you wait too long, you may have to pay extra to get yours done in time.

    Your passport will be issued by the government of your home country. Each country has different procedures forissuing them. The following websites have more information on how to obtain a passport:

    Canadian citizens: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx?lang=eU.S. citizens: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.htmlOthers: contact your department of foreign affairs or traveller services

    What about the Visa?You will need a travel visa to get into Kenya. The visa can be obtained on arrival in-country. Please ensure thatyou have $25 US that has been printed on or after the year 2001 to cover the cost of the visa. Me to We Trips willprovide you with further details about applying for your visa in your pre-departure package that will be emailedout to all participants in Spring 2010. Questions about visas and immigration can be directed to the embassy or consulate.

    STEP 1: APPLY FOR A PASSPORT

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    ImmunizationsYou must visit a travel doctor for his or her recommendations on immunizations a minimum of six weeksbefore departure. It helps to do your research beforehand, but only a travel doctor can give you professionalrecommendations on the vaccines and medications you will need to keep you healthy while abroad. Somevaccines are administered in series that take several weeks, so be sure to book your appointment soon.

    The Public Health Agency of Canada provides a list of all the travel clinics in Canada:http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/travel/clinic_e.html

    The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene also has a directory:http://www.astmh.org/scripts/clinindex.asp

    The International Society for Travel Medicine:http://www.istm.org/

    Center for Disease Control Travelers Health website:http://www.cdc.gov/travel/

    First AidYour facilitators will be carrying a rst aid kit with them throughout the trip. You may wish bring extra medicationswith you. Please do not take any such medication you have brought without rst consulting a Me to We Trips facilitator.

    Tips for Staying HealthyThe best way to stay healthy when travelling anywhere is to make sure you get lots of rest. The days in Kenya willbe demanding, both physically and emotionally, so it will be up to you to go to bed early, get plenty of sleep and take care of your body. Dehydration is the next most common problem, but it is easy to avoid if you are careful. Wewill have plenty of ltered or bottled drinking water available, so remember to drink enough water every day.

    Safe food and water are also very important. In Kenya, we have a great team that will be making delicious, healthy

    food, but if you buy fruit or anything fresh in a market, remember the old wisdom cook it, peel it, or forget it. Thatis to say, avoid eating raw (or undercooked) meat or seafood and avoid eating raw fruits or vegetables, unlessyou peel them. This means not eating raw, unpeeled vegetables like a salad or fruit which cannot be peeled, likestrawberries. Also, make sure to wash your hands often.

    STEP 2: VISIT A TRAVEL DOCTOR

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    MalariaYou should talk with your doctor about a malaria prevention strategy that will work for you. Be warned that somemedications may have negative reactions with other medications you might be taking and some malaria pills canworsen existing conditions like anxiety or depression. Please disclose all relevant information and medical history to your travel doctor so they can make the best recommendations.

    Any doctor will tell you that the best way to avoid malaria is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes while travelling.We try to make this as easy as we can. Still, you should make sure you have insect repellent with DEET, and long-sleeved sweatshirts and long pants to wear in the evening, when mosquitoes are most prevalent.

    STEP 2: VISIT A TRAVEL DOCTOR

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    STEP 3: BOOK CONNECTING FLIGHTSYour Volunteer & Leadership trip to Kenya begins and ends in Montreal, Quebec. It is your responsibility to makearrangements to get to Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport, and get back home from Montreal upon our return. If youneed to book connecting ights to and from Montreal, we ask that you leave at least four hours on both thedeparture and return trip. A detailed ight itinerary will be e-mailed to you when ights have been con rmed.

    Once you have booked your connecting ights, please ensure that your itinerary is sent to Me to We Trips and that your ight details are entered correctly in the online registration system (on page seven). If there are anychanges to your ight plans, please make sure to inform Me to We Trips staff and update the information in theonline registration so we can be sure to help you make any connecting ights on time.

    If you are getting dropped off at the airport, please plan on arriving no later than four hours before departure time.This is to ensure that we can check-in as a group.

    Participants that wish to make alternative arrangements to Montreal (bus, train or other) should contact theInternational Trips Department, to make sure Me to We Trips is fully informed of the arrangements.

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    STEP 4: ONLINE REGISTRATIONTo make communication easy, we collect information from all trip participants via a secure online registrationsystem. Thanks for taking the time to complete this online registration.

    Registering online is easy. Here is how it works:1. Go to www.metowe.com/trips/register2. Log in. Your login is the e-mail address you provided to Me to We Trips. Your temporary password is

    jambo (hello in Swahili!).

    3. Change your password. Make sure it is something you will remember in case you need to change anythinglater.

    4. Fill in information. Please ensure that all forms are lled out completely and accurately. This information isessential for your health and safety while you are abroad. The registration form will ask for the followinginformation:

    All online forms must be completed by April 30, 2010 (with the nal payment). If you dont have the answersready to these questions, please bookmark the site above and sign in again with your new password to enteror update information. All ve pages must be complete. E-mail [email protected] if you have questions.

    Payment ScheduleTotal Trip Cost: $4,995 US$750 US deposit (already received)$2122.50 US due Feb 1, 2010$2122.50 US due April 1, 2010

    If you have questions about your balance or payment schedule, please contact your trip coordinator.

    Contact information Emergency contact people Passport Medical history and insurance (see following page) Special dietary requirements Transportation plans (to and from the airport)

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    STEP 6: START GATHERING GEARYou will be sent a complete packing list a couple of months prior to departure, but it is a good idea to start thinkingabout your trip gear ahead of time. You may be able to borrow key pieces of equipment, see them on sale or addsome gear to your birthday or holiday wish lists. When choosing clothing, please make sure you dress modestlyand respectfully, and be ready for any kind of weather.

    BEFORE YOU LEAVE, DONT FORGET:

    American currency for spending money and souvenirs ($100-$200 US in small bills) Please make sure these bill are printed after the year 2001 and have no rips or other damage done to them Your food, water, transportation, and other basic costs are included in the cost of the program, but you will want to have

    some spending money on hand if you want to buy snacks along the way or go shopping during the market visit. You willbe able to exchange your money to Kenyan shillings when you get to Kenya

    Our Recommendation: bring $100 US in small bills (1s, 5s, and 10s).You can call or visit your bank in advance to ask them to order smaller bills for you. If you get good at bargaining, your money will go a long way in the market. $100-$200 US isusually enough, but if youre a big shopper or are planning on buying gifts for every one of your friends and family, youmay want to bring a little more.

    A Document holder It is essential that everyone has a money belt or document holder to carry all your important documents (passport, money,

    immunization record, etc), that should NEVER leave your person while in transit. Before departure, you will need to submitclear photocopies of your passport and medical insurance information. Your facilitators and the Me to We of ce willretain copies of this information should an emergency arise. We ask that you also leave a copy of this information withyour parents/guardians/partner/roommate in case it is lost.

    Keep your passport, money, plane tickets, and credit cards in a document holder UNDER YOUR CLOTHES while youre inairports or big cities.

    A Hiking Backpack Please DO NOT bring a suitcase all of your clothes/equipment should be packed in a hiking backpack. If you are

    planning on traveling again or do a lot of camping, you may choose to invest in a hiking pack from an outdoor store suchas Mountain Equipment Co-op or Coast Mountain Sports. These backpacks can get quite expensive, so if you are on abudget, do not plan on traveling a lot, or do not want to spend a lot of money, to buy an inexpensive hiking backpack fromZellers or Target. They are slightly smaller in size, but still do the trick! They cost about $20, as opposed to the minimumcost of $100-$300 for a high-quality hiking backpack.

    Pack any liquids or gels in your hiking backpack, which will be checked before your ight. Label all your luggage with your name, address, and full contact information Bring an extra duf e bag stuffed in your backpack if you want to take souvenirs home Leave photocopies of all important documents (passport, immunizations, prescriptions) with a trusted person

    at home. Pack Lightly! You will have to carry everything you bring.

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    CARRY-ONIn addition to your backpack, you should bring a small bag that stays with you on the plane. We recommendbringing a smaller school backpack, which will double as a daypack while youre in Kenya. Please do not bring apurse or a bag that is uncomfortable to carry. You will be carrying this carry-on pack for the entire trip. Becauseof baggage restricitions, liquid or gel medications and contact solution are not allowed in your carry-on, but doyour best to have everything you need. Total dimensions of your carry-on (length + width + height) cannot exceed114cm (45in.).

    Document holder Wallet

    Cash Important documents Passport Travel medical insurance

    Tickets Glasses or contacts Sturdy reusable water bottle Magazines/books Camera Sunglasses Journal and pens Just incase bag

    Checking luggage is not always reliable, so your carry on should contain everything you need for 1-2 days just in caseyour luggage gets to Kenya after you do. This should include: T-shirt 2 extra pairs of underwear Toothbrush and essential toiletries and medication

    BACKPACK Warm pajamas Undergarments for 10 days Socks for 7 days Toiletry kit: any bathroom essentials you may need Hat with a brim Toque Quick-dry towel and facecloth Sleeping bag Duf e bag

    We recommend that you bring an empty duf e bag compacted in the bottom of your hiking backpack or squished in yourcarry-on. You can then bring back souvenirs with you in this duf e bag.

    A few grocery-sized plastic bags theyre great for dirty clothes, and keep messy things like shampoo off your clothes

    Long rain coat Flashlight with extra batteries Extra batteries, lm, etc for camera Spare set of glasses/ contacts

    Important Documents

    Photocopy of passport

    Emergency contact info Record of immunizations $25 US for entrance VISA Spending money $50 US for the Flying Doctors

    Insurance

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    Laundry detergent Work gloves Safety goggles Watch/travel alarm clock Gatoradecan be nice on those hot days! Mini hand sanitizer/baby wipes A thin scarf-optional-but is great for covering your head and also serves as an awesome makeshift pillow for

    the lorry rides

    TOILETRY KIT

    Toothbrush Toothpaste Floss Shampoo Soap Hairbrush Glasses and contacts Important medications Deodorant Shaving stuff Moisturizer Hand wipes and sanitizer

    Sunscreen Insect repellant with deet Aloe vera Supply of feminine products

    CLOTHING

    Bottoms1 Light Pant

    2 Warm Pants2 Pairs of Shorts that go

    below the knee

    Tops5 Short Sleeve T-ShirtsLong-underwear top

    2-3 Long Sleeve Shirts

    Heavy/warm eece/sweater

    FootwearRunning/hiking shoes with good

    ankle supportSandals (for around lodgings and

    shower)

    NOTE: You will need an adapter for using power in Kenya! Kenya runs on the same power as the UK this is a handy thing to mention tostore clerks! WHAT NOT TO BRING Jewelry Knives or weapons of any kind (not even a Swiss Army knife. It will not be necessary) Your cell phone Bikinis, skimpy tank tops, or revealing clothes

    Important medications include:

    Aspirin Multivitamins Travelers diarrhea pills Oral re-hydration salts (Gastrolyte, Gatorade) Prescribed medication from travel doctor

    (i.e. malaria pills) Extra supplies of medication you may need

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    PHOTO AND GIFT GIVING POLICYAt Me to We Trips and Free The Children, we recognize and appreciate the generosity of the people who choose to comeon our International Volunteer and Leadership Trips. We also understand that when trip participants are faced with theprofound poverty in some of the communities in which we work, it is natural to want to take individual, immediate action to help to alleviate human suffering. Sometimes a trip participant will want to personally give gifts of money or goods toindividuals in the community, especially to people with whom the participant has formed a relationship.

    There are drawbacks to taking such action and it is important for trip participants to be aware of this before they join

    us for a trip. Most importantly, gift-giving to individuals is not fair to all members of a community and can cause hardfeelings. Not every community member has the equal opportunity to form a relationship with a trip participant and geta gift.

    Our partner organization Free The Children works very hard to maintain equality in its relationships with individuals in the communities, and with the communities as a whole in order to keep its status as an impartial helper. Further, FreeThe Children and each trip participant, as an agent of Free The Children, is already helping in the community according to a very well thought out model for community development and empowerment.

    The best way to honour the relationships that you build while on a trip is to give of yourselfyour friendship, yourunderstandingwhile you are in the community and then raise awareness and encourage others to help upon yourreturn. For these reasons, the giving of gifts by individual trip participants to individual community members is notallowed. We are proud to offer participants the chance to volunteer and gain leadership skills in communities all over the world, often in cultures very different from their own. Cultural differences can make trips especially thrilling, but theyalso entail the added responsibility of being culturally sensitive.

    An important way in which cultural sensitivity can be practiced is in how trip participants regulate themselves in takingphotographs. In some cases, local spiritual beliefs hold that when a persons photo is taken, their soul is captured.In other cases, cultural groups have been photographed and the photos have been sold yielding great pro ts to thephotographer, but to no bene t of the people who were photographed. This means that these groups do not like having their photographs taken because they suspect that they are being exploited in the process.

    Of course, when Me to We Trips trip participants take photos, we do not believe we are taking peoples souls, exploiting them or in any way harming them. However, even if no actual harm is being done to someone by taking their picture, wemust respect their feelings and their cultural beliefs. This also means that we must be careful even when we are not taking a photo of a person, but maybe a view of the landscape, a market, a house, etc., because there might be a personin the background who thinks that we are taking a photo of them.

    Something else to remember is that when you are on a trip with Me to We Trips, especially in a community whereFree The Children is also working, the community sees you as a friend and partner in development and not a tourist.Therefore, Me to We expects that participants on its trips respect that it might be inappropriate, as determined by their trips facilitators, to take photos on some occasions and must refrain from doing so.

    Rest assured, there will be time for pictures (just not all the time)!

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    MATERIALS AND TRIP TIMELINEThe Trip ProcessNow that you have been accepted to the trip, we would like to go over the trip process and materials that you will bereceiving along the way.

    1. Registration (already complete)If you have not already paid the $750 US deposit online, we require a $750 US deposit along with your tripapplication and health form.

    2. Acceptance (you have been accepted) An acceptance package and fundraising package is e-mailed to you Start your passport application now if you dont already have one that will be valid until six months after

    you leave Kenya. Begin to fundraise all or a portion of the trip cost. Me to We Trips offers fundraising ideas and support.

    3. Insurance (January 2010) Pre-departure packages are sent to participants by Me to We Trips via e-mail in the new year Begin to shop around for comprehensive travel medical insurance for your trip.

    4. Second Payment Due (February 1 2010)$2122.50 US

    5. 130 days before departure. Start getting immunizations

    6. Final payment Due (April 1 2010)$2122.50 USExchange any spending money that you are to bring to the correct currency. We recommend $200 US, plus $50US for ying doctors. To be accepted by locals, all bills must be printed after the year 2001.

    7. Departure: meet your facilitator at the airport and let the journey begin!

    8. During trip: while you are off having the time of your life, parents and families at home receive regular e-mailupdates from the Me to We Trips team in Toronto.

    9. Return: readjust to home, start taking action and planning follow-up activities

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    IDEAS FROM ME TO WEThe Me to We PhilosophyAt its heart, Me to We is a life philosophy. It offers us a way to live and its wisdom is the kind developed over the courseof a lifetime. At the most basic level, it embraces the idea that we can all build a better life and our ideal world throughreaching out to others. In practice, it involves focusing less on Me and more on Weour communities, our nationand our world as a whole. Today, Me to We is a worldwide movement of people nding purpose through living withcompassion, strengthening community and making a commitment to our shared humanity.

    Recommended ReadingCheck out Me to Wes latest book by Robin Wiszowaty, Kenya Program Director for Free The Children.

    My Maasai Life In her early twenties Robin Wiszowaty left the ordinary world behind to join a traditional Maasai family. In the sweepingvistas and dusty footpaths of rural Kenya, she embraced a way of life unlike shed ever known. With full-colourphotographs from her adventures, Robins heart-wrenching story will inspire you to question your own de nitions ofhome, happiness and family. To order books, visit www.metowe.com.

    Start Living with Me to We Daily ActionsTry these simple actions to bring Me to We into your life:

    A Secret SurpriseAction: Treat a friend to one of their favourite indulgences. A chocolate, a ower or even a little note is enough to make them feel special and to brighten their day.Inspiration: Taking time to recognize those we care about inspires them to be kind to those who are important to them.One person at a time, we can promote appreciation and love through sharing with others.

    Quench the ThirstAction: Treat the person in line behind you to a beverage, quench your thirst for sharing and pass on a smile.Inspiration: How would you feel if someone you always see, but never talk to, bought you a coffee or a bottle of water?You would feel great! Think of this as your rst step toward making new friends and putting a smile on the faces of thosearound you.

    Under the WeatherAction: Know someone who is feeling under the weather? Bring some sunshine to their rainy day by asking what youcan do to help.Inspiration: Some of the most helpful actions are the smallest ones. Finding little ways to help someone will foster asense of caring, sharing and community.

    Smile-A-Lot!Action: A smile is worth a thousand words. Help inspire others to share their joy by passing along as many sparklysmiles as you can.Inspiration: Consciously choosing to share a smile with the people you encounter helps warm their hearts and may eveninspire them to pass along the smile to someone else. One person at a time, kindness and warmth will slowly encompassour communities and, one day, our world.

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    PRE TRIP RESOURCES ANDREADING SUGGESTIONSBooks The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior: An Autobiography. Tepilit Ole Saitoti. 1988. I Dreamed of Africa. Kiku Gallman. The Shadow of Kilimanjaro: On Foot Across East Africa. Rick Ridgeway. 1998. Tanzania: The Lan and Its People. Ndembwike John. 2006. Kilimanjaro: The Great White Mountain of Africa. David Pluth. 2002.

    Movies I Dreamed of Africa. Directed by Hugh Hudson. 2000. Out of Africa. Directed by Sydney Pollack. 1985.

    StatisticsUnited Nations Development Program Of ce in Kenya:World Bank Statistics http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.html

    Links

    Global Voices http://www.thestar.com/news/globalvoicesDonors and International Institutions World Bank http://www.worldbank.org/ International Monetary Fund http://www.imf.org/external/country/

    The above resources are provided solely for participants who wish to do independent research prior to their trip. Me to We does notnecessarily endorse any of the organizations or content listed.

    Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/realmetoweFind us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/metoweYoutube us! http://www.youtube.com/metowe

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    GLOBAL VOICESGLOBAL VOICES, Toronto Star, August 10 2009

    Seeking net bene t of malaria educationCRAIG AND MARC KIELBURGER

    The tiny Motony community in Eastern Kenya knew their educational get-together on health would bepopular.

    They didnt expect 1,500 people popular.

    The crowd consisted of men, women and children. They moved among the make-shift educational stationsunder the acacia trees and among the savanna grass.

    As if voting with their feet, the malaria unit was packed.

    The terrain surrounding the group is long grass prime breeding-ground for mosquitoes. Its nearly impossible to avoid them here. No matter how much repellant we apply, we always return home covered in bites.

    At the station, Madam Josephine taught about bed nets and their critical nature for children and pregnantwomen. Another man demonstrated how to control long grass while a representative from the Ministry ofHealth treated nets with pesticide, free of charge.

    Malaria is a very real concern for 40 per cent of the worlds population - thats about 2.4 billion people. Every30 seconds, a child dies of this preventable and treatable disease.

    For Motony, protecting the local population means emphasizing education, bed-netting and communitymobilization.

    For other parts of Africa, the primary means of control is a notorious chemical long-banned in North America.Its called dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT. Its use has scientists, doctors and community memberswondering if this easy form of malaria control is really best.

    DDT was banned for agricultural use in the 1970s after nearly wiping out bald eagles, pelicans and other birdsin the United States. The ban exempted use for malaria control because its a fast, cheap and effective way tokill mosquitoes.

    In 2006, the World Health Organization and the Presidents Malaria Initiative endorsed DDTs use for reducingexposure to malaria. This included indoor residual spraying which the WHO said posed no health risk whenused properly.

    This year, Botswana resumed this spraying. In Uganda, Vice President Gilbert Bukenya responded to criticism

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    saying, You can start with my home. Those shouting against it are shouting ignorance.

    Responding to the DDT endorsement, a team of North American and African scientists and concerned citizensset about reviewing studies addressing the pesticides current and legacy implications.

    Jonathan Chevrier, a panel member and epidemiologist at the University of California, Berkeley, said theynoticed a surprising trend among the populations being studied.

    Almost all research had been done in developed countries in populations not being exposed to DDT, hesays. Right now, its exclusively being used in developing countries that tend to be more malnourished, muchpoorer or infected with other diseases like HIV/AIDS. That increases their susceptibility.

    This susceptibility increases the risk of problems with breast cancer, diabetes, fertility and neurodevelopmentassociated with exposure to DDT.

    Were not saying that DDT should never be used, says Chevrier. But, were concerned about its side effectsand we think these side effects need to be taken into account when a country makes the decision to spray.

    With over 10 per cent of the world experiencing new or recurrent bouts of malaria in a given year, DDT doesprevent deaths. But, this research makes the tradeoff questionable.

    Thats why Motony isnt taking any chances.

    The nets being re-sprayed have reduced mortality in children under ve by up to 25 per cent. Plus, one netwill keep a child safe for ve years. This practice combined with the educational tips, like the ones taught byMadam Josephine, reduced malaria cases by 63 per cent in communities in Latin America.

    These efforts require more coordination and resources than DDT. But, its worth the extra effort. By following theMotony example, we can prevent malaria infection without asking populations to compromise their health.

    The Motony community isnt just an example of a community that cares about their health its a community thats striving for the best solutions.

    GLOBAL VOICES