Introducing The Ihangane Project
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Ihangane Project
Sep 4, 2011, 10:50:45 PM9/4/11
to Local Solutions Forum
Hello Everyone!
Thank you for allowing us to share the Ihangane Project’s work with
you. I apologize in advance if this sounds a little stuffy. I have
been writing grant proposals all weekend, and I seem to have fallen
into ‘grant speak’!
The Ihangane Project was founded in 2008, although we began working
with the Ruli community in Rwanda in 2006. Our mission is to empower
Rwandan communities to develop integrated approaches to the complex
challenges of HIV by supporting community-driven projects that
increase access to health care, improve health care quality, and
foster long term success through economic development. Our model
guides the community through a process of infrastructure analysis &
program development in a way that fosters empowerment and provides
needed technical support. We strive to build systems of meaningful
monitoring and evaluation into each intervention. We feel that data
review, if used to strengthen programs, can be an objective way to
inspire quality by highlighting successes and addressing unexpected
areas of program gaps.
Our largest initiative yet, Improving Clinical Outcomes Through
Integration (ICOTI), began as a clinical intervention to prevent
malnutrition amongst HIV-exposed infants that fosters breastfeeding
through nutritional support to mothers, provides appropriate fortified
complementary food (Sosoma) to infants until 24 months of age,
promotes gold standard PMTCT protocols and utilizes a Quality
Improvement approach to clinical activities. To address long term food
security of these families after graduation from the program, we are
working with Ruli District Hospital to strengthen the existing
Community Based Nutrition Program that supports home-based nutrition
education and food security. This will benefit the community as a
whole in addition to the HIV-affected families who participate in the
clinical program.
We recently conducted community-based demographic surveys of over 150
families in the Ruli District Hospital catchment area. The data from
these surveys show that over 2/3 of Community-Based Nutrition Program
participants reported estimated incomes of less than $17 USD per
month. Although 85% reported that they are farmers, over 60% reported
that they had inadequate land access, and the same number reported
that they work alone. A network of farming cooperatives would provide
access to common land, diversified crops, and income generation. To
improve food security and increase capacity for local production of
fortified SoSoMa, TIP will provide the start-up costs for farming
cooperatives. These cooperatives will donate to the hospital a portion
of the soya, sorghum and maize cultivated to ensure a consistent
supply of grains. Once sufficient component grains are available
within the community, TIP will support business development for the
local production of fortified sosoma. These small businesses will
provide consistent access to fortified sosoma for the hospital needs,
and also provide affordable access to the overall community. In
addition to providing improved food security, the combined activities
within this initiative will decrease the cost per participant in the
clinical program by over 90% in five years.
Because our area of expertise lies with our medical knowledge and our
ability to build relationships within communities, The Ihangane
Project forms strategic alliances with organizations that provide
technical expertise for the non-medical aspects of the programs. Our
most important partnerships lie within the communities served by Ruli
District Hospital. We collaborate with community leaders in health,
business, and agriculture, in addition to recipients of medical care.
TIP has recently partnered with Rwanda Economic Development Initiative
on several of our programs. This organization, led by Christine Condo,
has expertise in cooperative management, good governance, and women-
led business development. In addition, we work within the Rwanda
Ministry of Health guidelines for HIV and Nutrition, and partner with
the Ministry of Health to strengthen rural communities' ability to
implement these protocols. Once we have developed a scalable solution,
we offer our experience to other rural communities. We hope to offer
our Pregnant Women & Children Pocket Guide for Medical Providers to
the Ministry of Health once it has been more thoroughly field tested.
Our partnerships with the University of Michigan, Ross School of
Business & the William Davidson Institute (WDI) Global Impact
Fellowship program have vastly broadened our understanding of the
complexities of emerging markets. This collaboration has guided our
thinking in terms of business models, consumer satisfaction, system
efficiencies, communication, & other essential aspects in the
sustainable development and support of health systems.
Our first major project involved the procurement and installation of
solar electricity at 5 rural health facilities in the catchment area
of Ruli District Hospital. Many people asked us why we would begin
with such a non-medical project! The simple answer is that this was
the greatest need identified by the nursing staff members who manage
these sites. The more complex answer is that these sites had been
provided with new equipment for HIV testing and management, as well as
new buildings to house the new equipment, by a large international
organization. Unfortunately, this organization forgot to include
electricity! Instead of providing the intended assistance, this
created a sense of frustration towards HIV care. The nurses already
felt overwhelmed, and now they were be asked to do more with even
less. By providing electricity, they can now perform all of their
tasks, including HIV care, more easily.
The Ihangane Project also works with two women’s artisan associations
to strengthen their business practices and increase their access to a
variety of markets. Many of these women are HIV+ or at high risk due
to extreme poverty. These groups have extended invitations to the
women in the Infant Nutrition Program to join their cooperative. Women
who are interested are trained at no cost. Once their skills meet the
expectations of the group, they share all of the profits with the
other women in the association. This allows HIV+ mothers to have
access to income and social support that can decrease their families’
risk of malnutrition once they exit the nutrition program. We are
also working with these groups to diversify their businesses by adding
livestock. This will provide ongoing income to the cooperatives when
handicraft orders are low.
Our work is based on the premise that Global Health advances are most
useful when they can be meaningfully implemented within the context of
resource-limited settings in a way that strengthens the existing
fragile infrastructure. We hope that our approach fosters long term
success through integrated approaches that engage community
stakeholders, minimize program silos, improve system efficiencies and
address socioeconomic challenges to long term success.
So…..that’s what we do! :-) Please let me know if anyone has any
questions! Thank you for inviting me to participate.
Amahoro~
Wendy
we...@theihanganeproject.com
http://www.theihanganeproject.com
____________________________
Thank you for allowing us to share the Ihangane Project’s work with
you. I apologize in advance if this sounds a little stuffy. I have
been writing grant proposals all weekend, and I seem to have fallen
into ‘grant speak’!
The Ihangane Project was founded in 2008, although we began working
with the Ruli community in Rwanda in 2006. Our mission is to empower
Rwandan communities to develop integrated approaches to the complex
challenges of HIV by supporting community-driven projects that
increase access to health care, improve health care quality, and
foster long term success through economic development. Our model
guides the community through a process of infrastructure analysis &
program development in a way that fosters empowerment and provides
needed technical support. We strive to build systems of meaningful
monitoring and evaluation into each intervention. We feel that data
review, if used to strengthen programs, can be an objective way to
inspire quality by highlighting successes and addressing unexpected
areas of program gaps.
Our largest initiative yet, Improving Clinical Outcomes Through
Integration (ICOTI), began as a clinical intervention to prevent
malnutrition amongst HIV-exposed infants that fosters breastfeeding
through nutritional support to mothers, provides appropriate fortified
complementary food (Sosoma) to infants until 24 months of age,
promotes gold standard PMTCT protocols and utilizes a Quality
Improvement approach to clinical activities. To address long term food
security of these families after graduation from the program, we are
working with Ruli District Hospital to strengthen the existing
Community Based Nutrition Program that supports home-based nutrition
education and food security. This will benefit the community as a
whole in addition to the HIV-affected families who participate in the
clinical program.
We recently conducted community-based demographic surveys of over 150
families in the Ruli District Hospital catchment area. The data from
these surveys show that over 2/3 of Community-Based Nutrition Program
participants reported estimated incomes of less than $17 USD per
month. Although 85% reported that they are farmers, over 60% reported
that they had inadequate land access, and the same number reported
that they work alone. A network of farming cooperatives would provide
access to common land, diversified crops, and income generation. To
improve food security and increase capacity for local production of
fortified SoSoMa, TIP will provide the start-up costs for farming
cooperatives. These cooperatives will donate to the hospital a portion
of the soya, sorghum and maize cultivated to ensure a consistent
supply of grains. Once sufficient component grains are available
within the community, TIP will support business development for the
local production of fortified sosoma. These small businesses will
provide consistent access to fortified sosoma for the hospital needs,
and also provide affordable access to the overall community. In
addition to providing improved food security, the combined activities
within this initiative will decrease the cost per participant in the
clinical program by over 90% in five years.
Because our area of expertise lies with our medical knowledge and our
ability to build relationships within communities, The Ihangane
Project forms strategic alliances with organizations that provide
technical expertise for the non-medical aspects of the programs. Our
most important partnerships lie within the communities served by Ruli
District Hospital. We collaborate with community leaders in health,
business, and agriculture, in addition to recipients of medical care.
TIP has recently partnered with Rwanda Economic Development Initiative
on several of our programs. This organization, led by Christine Condo,
has expertise in cooperative management, good governance, and women-
led business development. In addition, we work within the Rwanda
Ministry of Health guidelines for HIV and Nutrition, and partner with
the Ministry of Health to strengthen rural communities' ability to
implement these protocols. Once we have developed a scalable solution,
we offer our experience to other rural communities. We hope to offer
our Pregnant Women & Children Pocket Guide for Medical Providers to
the Ministry of Health once it has been more thoroughly field tested.
Our partnerships with the University of Michigan, Ross School of
Business & the William Davidson Institute (WDI) Global Impact
Fellowship program have vastly broadened our understanding of the
complexities of emerging markets. This collaboration has guided our
thinking in terms of business models, consumer satisfaction, system
efficiencies, communication, & other essential aspects in the
sustainable development and support of health systems.
Our first major project involved the procurement and installation of
solar electricity at 5 rural health facilities in the catchment area
of Ruli District Hospital. Many people asked us why we would begin
with such a non-medical project! The simple answer is that this was
the greatest need identified by the nursing staff members who manage
these sites. The more complex answer is that these sites had been
provided with new equipment for HIV testing and management, as well as
new buildings to house the new equipment, by a large international
organization. Unfortunately, this organization forgot to include
electricity! Instead of providing the intended assistance, this
created a sense of frustration towards HIV care. The nurses already
felt overwhelmed, and now they were be asked to do more with even
less. By providing electricity, they can now perform all of their
tasks, including HIV care, more easily.
The Ihangane Project also works with two women’s artisan associations
to strengthen their business practices and increase their access to a
variety of markets. Many of these women are HIV+ or at high risk due
to extreme poverty. These groups have extended invitations to the
women in the Infant Nutrition Program to join their cooperative. Women
who are interested are trained at no cost. Once their skills meet the
expectations of the group, they share all of the profits with the
other women in the association. This allows HIV+ mothers to have
access to income and social support that can decrease their families’
risk of malnutrition once they exit the nutrition program. We are
also working with these groups to diversify their businesses by adding
livestock. This will provide ongoing income to the cooperatives when
handicraft orders are low.
Our work is based on the premise that Global Health advances are most
useful when they can be meaningfully implemented within the context of
resource-limited settings in a way that strengthens the existing
fragile infrastructure. We hope that our approach fosters long term
success through integrated approaches that engage community
stakeholders, minimize program silos, improve system efficiencies and
address socioeconomic challenges to long term success.
So…..that’s what we do! :-) Please let me know if anyone has any
questions! Thank you for inviting me to participate.
Amahoro~
Wendy
we...@theihanganeproject.com
http://www.theihanganeproject.com
____________________________
Sherry Manning
Sep 9, 2011, 9:28:33 PM9/9/11
to local-solu...@googlegroups.com
Hi Amaharo and all-
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed description of the important work that The Ihangene Project is engaged in. I have a close friend that is currently serving in the Peace Corps in Rwanda and I sent her the information about your organization. I was Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines from 2006-2008 and have continued my work there (I will be writing more about that in October for the LSF community) but I always found that connecting with existing organizations that are doing such important and positive work was helpful. Not sure if you work at all with Peace Corps Volunteers in Rwanda but this might be a good connection.
Also Development in Gardening is a wonderful organization working in the region to support and build community gardens in communities effected by HIV/AIDS. They might be worth checking out: http://www.reaplifedig.org/Reap_Life/DIG.html
Keep up the good work and look forward to sharing more about our organic farming education work in the Philippines next month with the group.
All the best,
Sherry
Sherry Manning
Co-Founder/Director of International Fundraising
Friends of ENCA Farm
ENCA Eco-Toursim Organic Farm
> Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 19:50:45 -0700
> Subject: [LSF] Introducing The Ihangane Project
> From: in...@theihanganeproject.com
> To: local-solu...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [LSF] Introducing The Ihangane Project
> From: in...@theihanganeproject.com
> To: local-solu...@googlegroups.com
in...@theihanganeproject.com
Sep 10, 2011, 12:25:03 PM9/10/11
to local-solu...@googlegroups.com
Dear Sherry~
Thank you very much for your email! We would love to be able to work
with the Peace Corps. I've been trying to figure out how to connect
with Peace Corps in Rwanda, so your email is greatly appreciated!
I had not heard of DIG, and they look like an incredible resource.
Also, Gardens for Health is a great resource in Rwanda. Julie Carney
(hi Julie!) is a member of this forum, and has been working with two
health centers in Gasabo District.
I am really looking forward to learning more about what you are doing
in the Phillipines. This forum has been such a great way to learn
about what others are doing on the ground around the world. What a
wonderful network of people doing amazing things!
Peace~
Wendy
Quoting Sherry Manning <sherryk...@hotmail.com>:
--
Wendy Leonard, MD, AAHIVS
The Ihangane Project
we...@theihanganeproject.com
(831) 688-2030
ihangane40 (Skype)
http://www.theihanganeproject.com
Sherry Manning
Sep 10, 2011, 2:10:28 PM9/10/11
to local-solu...@googlegroups.com
Wendy-
Megan Foster is my friend in the Peace Corps there in Rwanda. Send her and e-mail and I am sure she can connect you with Peace Corps Rwanda main staff in Kigali.
I agree it is very inspiring and great to have this list serve and hear about all the wonderful projects and work being done around the world!
All the best,
Sherry
Sherry Manning
Co-Founder/Director of International Fundraising
Friends of ENCA Farm
ENCA Eco-Toursim Organic Farm
> Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:25:03 -0700
> From: in...@theihanganeproject.com
> To: local-solu...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: RE: [LSF] Introducing The Ihangane Project
> From: in...@theihanganeproject.com
> To: local-solu...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: RE: [LSF] Introducing The Ihangane Project
kamanzi moses
Sep 13, 2011, 3:48:12 AM9/13/11
to local-solu...@googlegroups.com
Hello,
I liked to here about Ihangane Project mostly about nutrition.
I work in the that domain in my organization, were we
work with Chronically Malnourished families in Gasabo
District. Our approach is Sustainable Food self-sufficiency by Families and
Health education, we work with 3 Health Centers, we meet Mothers
when they come for RUTF and Sosoma, we do home visits and provide
home package especially seeds and agricultural assistance. So
i will make more contacts with you. So that we can share ideas and learn from
your Approaches.
I liked to here about Ihangane Project mostly about nutrition.
I work in the that domain in my organization, were we
work with Chronically Malnourished families in Gasabo
District. Our approach is Sustainable Food self-sufficiency by Families and
Health education, we work with 3 Health Centers, we meet Mothers
when they come for RUTF and Sosoma, we do home visits and provide
home package especially seeds and agricultural assistance. So
i will make more contacts with you. So that we can share ideas and learn from
your Approaches.
On 9/10/11, Sherry Manning <sherryk...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Wendy-
> Megan Foster is my friend in the Peace Corps there in Rwanda. Send her and
> e-mail and I am sure she can connect you with Peace Corps Rwanda main staff
> in Kigali.
> meghf...@gmail.com
> I agree it is very inspiring and great to have this list serve and hear
> about all the wonderful projects and work being done around the world!
>
> All the best,
>
>
> Sherry
>
> Sherry Manning
>
> Co-Founder/Director of International Fundraising
> Friends of ENCA Farm
> ENCA Eco-Toursim Organic Farm
> www.encaorganicfarm.com
--
Kamanzi moses
Cell phone:(+250)783012811
Gardens for Health International
E-mails:kamanz...@yahoo.com
kamanzi...@gmail.com
mo...@gardensforhealth.org
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