AMDA-Canada / Rose Charities Canada report on disaster activities Oct-Nov 2009

In October and November 2009 multiple natural disasters struck in a number of part of the world. These included

1) Typhoon induced floods in the Philippines - extreme
2) Typhoon induced floods in the Hue area, Vietnam - severe
3) Typhoon induced floods in Cambodia - serious
4) Major earthquake in Sumatra
5) Tsunami in Samoa (and Tonga) - extreme

AMDA Canada is a relatively small Chapter of AMDA International.  Its role is to support AMDA HQ efforts in disaster relief and/or seek to help directly where possible with or without the assistance of other organizations.  AMDA Canada is the recipient of the local Vancouver Rose Charities resource raising efforts relating to international humanitarian disasters.

The organizers of AMDA Canada are aware that they are generally , on their own, not able to help with immediate relief to counties where there is no field involvement. However its linkage with other organizations often means that it has direct links to areas where the disaster may have stuck. In this there were connections to the Hue area in Vietnam (though the Rose Charities Sia Blind Center project), to Cambodia, (via AMDA Cambodia links ) and also through New Zealand (though AMDA and Rose Charities New Zealand) to Samoa.   It was thus considered that focus of assistance for AMDA Canada should be in these areas and to the other disasters  (Sumatra, Philippines) by giving support if possible to AMDA HQ efforts.  Emergency funds were duly forwarded and a specific concert fundraiser for Vietnam relief organized in Vancouver where there is a big expatriate Vietnamese community.

Very strong links with NZ (New Zealand), the main aid-activity country for Samoa coupled with considerable post tsunami experience of AMDA Canada gleaned following the 2004 Asia tsunami in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka and Acheh,  made our organization aware that while direct relief is initially needed, very soon after, there is a considerable need for both support materials (medications etc as local supplies tend to run out) and also for traumatic stress counseling.  AMDA Canada, AMDA NZ and Rose Charities both have small networks of counselors experienced in this area and it was ascertained that  Ms Liese Groot Alberts would be able to go.  Contact had been made with a local Samoan grassroots organization (Women for Business Development  - WIBDI) through the Christchurch Branch of Rose Charities NZ and Ms Adi their Director was from that moment on, hugely helpful in providing all information as to what was needed, where it was needed and in forwarding updates.   AMDA HQ provided its usual speedy and substantial response to the request to send medical materials.  Within hours two coordinators had been dispatched from Japan to liaise with AMDA NZ who started immediately looking into obtaining the required medications / drugs for transport to Apia, Samoa. It was noteworthy that AMDA NZ was able to obtain the drugs over the weekend when these events were happening.

The AMDA team consisting of  Ms Lisa Groot-Alberts, Mr Nithian and another AMDA HQ coordinator and many thousands of dollars worth of drugs and medications traveled from Auckland to Apia together.  On arrival they immediately went into action coordinated by Ms Adi of WBD.  Drugs and medications were distributed  and Ms Alberts both carried out  multiple workshops to train local relief workers in post traumatic stress management as well as directly assisting those who had borne significant loss. The team worked tirelessly and were able to achieve a huge amount in a relatively shot time.

The main coordinating relief agencies in Samoa were the NZ Govt Relief Agency and Oxfam NZ. It is notable that almost as soon as the need for post-traumatic counseling had been identified AMDA had flown in a highly experienced international expert (Ms Groot-Alberts) and this was commented on very favorably.  Oxfam NZ has since engaged Ms Groot-Alberts to return to Samoa to continue and expand her work.

Throughout all the disasters of October 2009, AMDA Canada was able to contribute to all in varying degrees either through supply of funds or coordinating other assistance.  This came about almost entirely from maintaining good networking links as well as enjoying (and appreciating) rapid and excellent communication response from AMDA HQ.   The organizers of AMDA Canada believe strongly in the AMDA philosophy of ‘open-door-cooperation’ with any and all groups who are working for the same goals of assistance within the coordinates of a purely humanitarian focus.   Responses to these recent disasters proved yet again that such an open policy of   ‘Sogo Fugo’ spirit  is able to achieve considerably more than that of maintaining closed ‘territorial’  organizational barriers.


Will Grut MD.  Vice Chairman AMDA Canada
Nov 2009

Rose Charities Malaysia 2009 end year report

Rose Charities Malaysia Annual Report 2009

1)  We carried out another Orang Asli ( natives ) community project involving over 350 families in Simpang Pulai ,Perak   recently . Rose distributed food,beverages etc to the families .Also ,our medical team screened the children for   de-worming and the adults on general health screening . This community based welfare project was jointly   co-ordinated by the lions clubs from perak,the district health office ,the health ministry ,the penang senior citizens    association members and Rose volunteers . It was a very meaningful and significant project in terms of combined   team spirits and efforts by various service groups participating in the event .

2) .Another health expo jointly with the state family planning ,women and development ministry  was carried out at the   Bukit Berapit community centre in Bukit Mertajam district across the mainland from penang . We screened over 1,000   people during the two day event showcasing various health screening tests for the public .

3).Over 1,000 women from all walks of life participated in the National Seniors Line Dance Carnival held at the Han   Chiang school hall , a joint project with the senior citizens and supported by Rose .   This programme is aimed at fostering and encouraging women 's involvment and participation in healthy lifestyle

exercises.

4) 29th Nov.2009 the Governor of Penang and his consort will lead over 600 participants from   all walks of life including the handicapped ,the blind ,the deaf ,people with special abilities and the orphans from  various charitable homes, on the CHARITY WALK WITH TYT ( TYT stands for His Excellency the Governor ) down  memory lane at the lower loop of the Botanic Garden in Penang .    The event, jointly organised  by Rose and the Senior Citizens with the support from the Penang State Government,    is to raise funds for the State Government's very poor programme under the "Partners Against Poverty "    Programme . ( Rose is a partner of the State Council on  Poverty  ) Participant taking part will pay $l0 malaysian towards the cost of pack snack food, a souvenir T shirt, a goodie bag (consisting various sample health and other products ) and morning breakfast cereal from Nestle . On top of that,each participant is entitled to a lucky draw...  comprising of 5 top prizes of complimentary air tickets  to medan,bali,phuket ,subang and acheh plus several other prizes.

On the Coming events for next year ....2010 .. we are going to kick start the new year with a big bang ....the launching  on oour new premises at the State Government's caring society complex in western road next to the Governor's    Residency .

   

On 12 and 13 Dec 2009 ,Rose is organising the biggest health Expo in Penang  at the International sports arena showcasing over 60 health care providers and their products together with free  health screening tests provided by Gribbles and the fedeal and state health departments involved in the two day  event .   The State Consumer minister Abdul Malik will launch the event  involving over 50,000 people during the two day health expo . This is the 3rd year we are involved in  the joint project with the state government and the private sector .