Slum Doctor Programme

It breaks my heart to read this. It my village!
Nwoya- With the Universal Primary Education in place, one would imagine that all Ugandan children of school-going age are in school.
But in Nwoya District, parents still prefer getting ‘quick’ dowry from their daughters through early marriage and concealing information about rape cases from the authorities.
Children, especially girls, are also pointing fingers at their parents who have failed to follow up on defilement cases perpetuated against them within the community.
Most of the victims are those between primary five and seven.
Susan Aremo (not real names), 15, a pupil of Ongai Primary School in Alero Sub-county, says their communities do not enough to stop forced marriages and defilement in school.
No community support
“Fellow girls want to make it in education, just like their male counter parts, but there is no support in the communities,” Aremo says.
She blames men in her community for sanctioning early marriages.
“As girls, we want to see ourselves in better positions in this country but men, instead of supporting us, actually mislead us that there is nothing good in girl-child education”.

After becoming Board of Directors with Slum Doctor Programme, WWU grads Jenna Hackman and Jamie Martin set out last fall for Mbale, Uganda. They were met by organizers from the nearby community of Namatala who sought to solve their pressing health, social, and economic issues. Jenna and Jamie responded by forming the HIV/AIDS Support Networking of Namatala (HASNN) in November 2012. Initially HASSN trained twenty residents as counselors and outreach workers. They soon expanded to provide free testing, support groups for those living positively, and demonstration gardens to grow and sell local fruit. HASNN is now partnered with the Busoga Shining Light Association, which provides community based leadership, organizational, and business training. Hackman and Martin plan to return to Uganda this fall to continue developing HASNN and building partnerships with other Slum Doctor programs. We are excited to hear what new projects they have planned and will provide updates soon.

The smart, courageous, and enthusiastic Shilla Adyero has just joined our team.  A human rights activist from Gulu Uganda recently made the transition from Uganda to Bellingham to study while partnering with the Slum Doctor Programme. Shilla holds a Bachelor Degree from Makerere University, and  Non-degree  from Western Washington University. While at Fairhaven College, She pursued a non- degree course in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. Her vast experience working with women and children living with HIV/ AIDS and mental health issues in post- conflict Northern Uganda are the primary motivations to have have on the SlumDoctor team in USA.

Since 2006 the annual HIV infection rate has risen to over 130,000 adults and 20,000 children. Despite this, since 2000 the life expectancy has risen from 46 to 55.  That gain is the direct result of increased awareness and prevention through education and medicine. This positive trend has had an unlikely effect; greater access to life saving drugs has caused an increase in risky behavior and a decline in testing. The result has been an increased number of infections to 5.4% in women and 2.4% in men. This disparity highlights the need for youth sex education and HIV services that teach more than just abstinence as women typically marry and become sexually active at a younger age.      

ArtFeeds Organizers, Sheana Sisselman and Marie Biondolillo

ArtFeeds 2009 benefitting the Slum Doctor Programme was a huge success!  The art gallery/auction/music event held at the Eagle’s Hall raised money for our great causes in Kenya and Uganda and brought the art and non-profit communities together.  Thank you to everyone involved!

On Wednesday, August 5th, Slum Doctor Programme will partner with the Bellingham Downtown Partnership to present one installment in the Downtown Sounds Summer Concert Series.

Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, and Monday Night Project will be performing.

5-9pm @ the corner of Bay St. and E. Holly

There will be food, music and community, all for free!  Come down and bring a friend.

Art Feeds – A Concert/Gallery Event/Auction
Saturday, July 11th, 7:00 PM
Eagles Hall
1125 N. Forest St. (catty-corner to the Co-Op)
$3.00 suggested donation
21+

Art Feeds is a charity benefit for the Slum Doctor Programme, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by HIV/AIDS by providing education, food, healthcare, and hope. Arts Feeds’ mission is to forge connections between Bellingham NGOs and local youth, artists, and businesses in order to make a space for art that creates social change.

On July 11th, Art Feeds will present an arts exhibition on the theme of hunger at the Eagles Hall. Bands Biagio featuring Anna Arvan & Kat Bula, carcrashlander, Go Slowpoke, Karl Blau, and Wooden Wings will play. Local and amazing artists Luke Anthropy, Brittany Beug, Marie Biondolillo, Shelly Browder, Charissa Engstrom, Genevieve Gonska, Corey Greenwald, Melanie Hindman, Katy Houseman, Nora Hughes, Amanda Kalkwarf, Brad Lockhart, Nico Lund, Jonathan McIntyre, Willow Misterly, Matt Rathkamp, Katie Rickard, Michelle Schutte, Corey Urlacher, Mellissa Watt, and Scott Winters will be featured.

We also will have an auction/raffle featuring donations from our lovely community. Current sponsors include: Bellingham Fiddle, Blessings Salon Spa, Corridor Records, Eva Salon, Everyday Music, Fair Trade Haven, Four Starrs Boutique, Fresh Start Espresso, Georgie Girl, Hi-Jinx Audio Recording Studio, Hooligan’s Tattoo & Barber Salon, Ideal, Idiom Theatre, Innate Snow & Skate, Katie’s Cupcakes, Little Cheerful Cafe, Mallard Ice Cream & Cafe, Merch-Bot, Old Fairhaven Wines, Paper Dreams, Pepper Sisters, Pink Nail & Skincare Studio, Poetry Night, Seattle Mariners, Sojourn Jewelry & Clothing, SWELL, Tart Beauty, The Big Fat Fish Company, The Copperhog Gastropub, The Hempest, The Inkwell, The Winter Commission, and Village Books.

Adult beverages will be served. Proceeds of the night’s festivities will go to Slum Doctor Programme. Hope to see you there!

The annual Slum Doctor Programme Ethiopian benefit dinner, catered by the fabulous Mulu Belay, was the best it’s ever been, raising over $20,000 for people affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya and Uganda!  Juba Marimba enchanted us with their upbeat rhythmic delights and guests enjoyed beer by Chuckanut Brewery.  Thank you to all of our corporate sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who attended.  Good company, delicious eats, great cause!

Slum Doctor Programme’s annual A Place at the Table Ethiopian Benefit Dinner is Sunday, June 7^th from 6 – 8 pm at the Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave.

You will enjoy authentic Ethiopian cuisine, local beer and wine, and a wonderful community of friends and family acting globally.  Tickets are $35 and available at the Community Co-Op, Village books and online at http://www.slumdoctor.org

Hope to see you there!

This year’s EndFair was bigger and better than ever.  The annual music festival took place in the Fairhaven Dorms Main Lounge and Courtyard May 15-17, and included 17 musical acts, a bouncy fun house, dunk tank and cotton candy.  Lizzie Lamb and Jen Moore, coordinators of the free event, brought the amazing musical entertainment of No Fi-Soul Rebellion, The Senate, Madrid, Common Market and many more.  All donations, and a portion of shirt sales, benefitted Slum Doctor Programme.  Thank you to Jen and Lizzie for all their hard work and dedication!