When I traveled to Ethiopia in 2010, I had the opportunity to visit a rural health clinic. The compound had numerous buildings but all were sparsely furnished and it was clear they were seriously lacking the supplies they needed to serve the community. People walked for hours to arrive at the clinic, where they waited in long lines. When they finally did see trained medical personnel, there was no guarantee that the equipment to diagnose and treat them, let alone to keep them comfortable, would be available.
After visiting the clinic, I began to notice other buildings that appeared to be brand new, yet abandoned. I wondered if those were all medical centers built with the best intentions, but without a not-for-profit or government agency to follow-up and provide all the equipment, supplies and staff necessary to actually operate the facilities. This problem left a lasting impression on me.
Last fall, when I learned about Clinic At A Time and the sewing/Etsy initative underway to support the not-for-profit I hesitated to get involved. While I love to sew, I lack confidence in my skills. But the idea behind the initiative – women from around the USA upcycling
coffee bean sacks - was inspiring.
The need for medical supplies weighed on my mind. Clinic At A Time fills a specific need that I saw with my own eyes.
I began to follow the work the other, more experienced artists/sewers were producing. Their creations were amazing. But instead of feeling intimidated, I saw the support they were giving each other and wanted to be a part of it. I decided to put my fear behind me and jump in.
By the time the shop opened in the early fall, approximately 100 items had been created. In addition to the items that were sewn, people donated their time to take amazing pictures, write enticing descriptions, and ship each purchase out carefully wrapped including information about Clinic At A Time and a sweet, chocolate treat. In other words, this was a collaborative effort with first class attention to detail. It seems to me, those same words also describe the work that Clinic At A Time does.
In the end, I was thrilled to be involved. I am truly grateful that I got to play a small part in raising $3,550 to help lay the groundwork for a robust maternal health center in Gojjam, Ethiopia.
After visiting the clinic, I began to notice other buildings that appeared to be brand new, yet abandoned. I wondered if those were all medical centers built with the best intentions, but without a not-for-profit or government agency to follow-up and provide all the equipment, supplies and staff necessary to actually operate the facilities. This problem left a lasting impression on me.
Last fall, when I learned about Clinic At A Time and the sewing/Etsy initative underway to support the not-for-profit I hesitated to get involved. While I love to sew, I lack confidence in my skills. But the idea behind the initiative – women from around the USA upcycling
coffee bean sacks - was inspiring.
The need for medical supplies weighed on my mind. Clinic At A Time fills a specific need that I saw with my own eyes.
I began to follow the work the other, more experienced artists/sewers were producing. Their creations were amazing. But instead of feeling intimidated, I saw the support they were giving each other and wanted to be a part of it. I decided to put my fear behind me and jump in.
By the time the shop opened in the early fall, approximately 100 items had been created. In addition to the items that were sewn, people donated their time to take amazing pictures, write enticing descriptions, and ship each purchase out carefully wrapped including information about Clinic At A Time and a sweet, chocolate treat. In other words, this was a collaborative effort with first class attention to detail. It seems to me, those same words also describe the work that Clinic At A Time does.
In the end, I was thrilled to be involved. I am truly grateful that I got to play a small part in raising $3,550 to help lay the groundwork for a robust maternal health center in Gojjam, Ethiopia.
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