Learning from the Swazi People 2

Living in America I never truly appreciated the sanitation criteria establishments are required to meet. Living in a place where you don’t have to question how your meat was prepared, where the water in your cup came from, or if the dishes you are using are really clean it can become easy to forget that in some places these issues exist. Typically I am not a person who is concerned with germs…I often use the 5 seconds rule if I drop a piece of food on the floor. However, I have new found appreciation for the regulations we have set up.

I have recently returned from a trip to Swaziland. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned the water was safe to drink. Also, there was always a nearby KFC to grab a bite to eat. However, out of these city comforts and into the more rural areas where many of Give Hope, Fight Poverty’s orphans live these delights are no longer available.  

I realized the seriousness of sanitation as I helped some of the ladies prepare a meal for about 60 people. We chopped vegetables that we had washed in the same bucket of water-it was black with dirt when we were done. We cooked chicken underneath the hot sun in huge black cauldrons on open fires. While the vegetables waited to be placed in an available cauldron they sat in bowls under the shade of a tree for over an hour. The young boys kept us supplied with water as they wheel barrowed water to us in the field- I hoped that the water was from a pipe source that had been through the proper sanitation.

Soap is a scarcity but the ladies took every precaution available. We made sure all visible dirt was off the vegetables, we rinsed out the bowls before putting food in them, the young boys brought us water, and we scrubbed the table and scraped off the dried paper from the surface.

In the end we all ate the food and nobody became ill. In fact, the food was delicious and after all the preparation I took seconds! But I am thankful that we have the Sanitarians from the Health Department to make sure that we have rules in place for those who handle our food to follow. The last thing anyone would want to have to worry about would be wondering if the food and water they were eating was going to make them ill. I'm sure glad I don't have this worry. In fact, next week at EAA I can eat the pulled pork sandwhich with ease knowing our sanitatarians inspect the outdooor festivals in the area.

Learning from the Swazi People

I have recently returned from Swaziland where I worked with a very small but wonderful non profit:Give Hope, Fight Poverty . The mission statement of GHFP is to educate, empower and lift orphaned and vulnerable children out of poverty. In order to accomplish this goal Give Hope Fight Poverty currently sponsors 19 orphans to attend school, provides funds/supplies for a computer lab and library at a primary school, funds methods to obtain food security, and is currently building a primary school in a rural area where the closest school is 12 km away. 

During my trip I was able to spend a lot of time with some of the children that are sponsored by GHFP. We would go to their homes to play different games with the hope of making these children feel loved and special especially since they are all orphans. One way GHFP is obtaining food security is by having the children garden at home and at school. This was really awesome to see because one of my major projects with re:TH!NK has been school gardens. I never would have thought to look and see school gardens half way across the world as well. 

Both the Oshkosh school gardens and the pLangeni school gardens grow cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, and carrots! In addition, the gardens in Swaziland have fruit trees. The kids in pLangeni work very hard on their gardens because for many in is the main source of food. Throughout my trip I was continuously surprised when the kids would eat beets, cabbage, spinach etc. with excitement. It struck me that if the kids in the US were exposed to these types of foods at an earlier age they may show some of the same excitement. I cannot wait to see how the kids in Winnebago County react to the different FUN FOOD OF THE MONTH this year!

                  This is one of the fruit trees at the school garden in pLangeni.

 

         These pictures are from Malindza when we cooked the children lunch!

 

Hey Parents: Summer's Here

School’s out for summer! We know the kids are stoked!  Summer means graduation parties, hanging out with friends, and a whole lot of free time.

As parents, we worry about what our teens are doing, kids being kids or high risk dangerous behavior like jumping into the pool from the roof  (teens perspective: awesome; might be on TOSH.0). For some, the teenage years, especially during the summer months, is the time for experimentation with drugs and alcohol. 

Adults know the consequences (risky sexual behavior, car accidents, fights and higher risk for suicide) and it seems like the dangers are more severe today than 20-30 years ago.  

The truth is the dangers are real and more severe. Heroin is available in the Fox Cities, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, moving north from Milwaukee and Chicago. It is here and it is cheap. In Winnebago County, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in overdose deaths in the last 2 years related to prescription drugs and heroin. While law enforcement is doing everything they can about heroin use, education and prevention are the primary tools to effectively avoid addiction.

Prescription drug abuse is not only a national epidemic, but also a local problem with serious consequences. Often when teens use prescription drugs to get high they also combine it with other substances like alcohol. These combinations can be fatal. Additionally, experts in the field of substance abuse are finding that teens who try prescription drugs such as Oxycodone will be more apt to try heroin. Both are highly addictive opiates.

Marijuana is stronger today than it was in the 1970-1980s. Parents, be careful if you think it is not addictive or less dangerous than other drugs. It is a psychotropic drug that can permanently alter a teenage brain. A lot of kids don’t think marijuana is harmful, and many parents think it is not as harmful as other drugs out there. Educate yourself with the latest research and check your assumptions.

Alcohol remains highly available and more attractive than ever. Brands like Four Loko, Joose, and Blast are sweetened alcoholic beverages tailored to sweeter palettes of youth. These drinks have approximately 4 servings of alcohol in one 24 ounce can. They come in fruity flavors such as watermelon, kiwi strawberry and fruit punch. Teens are able to drink this like its juice or Kool-Aid, and can consume several cans before the effects of intoxication set in. Two 24 oz cans can be the equivalent of having 8 shots of alcohol!

As summer begins, consider strategies to prevent your kids from drinking or using drugs.

·         Toss out left over liquor bottles. Teens know what you use and what’s sitting around. They are much more likely to experiment with the liquor you are least likely to notice.

·         Use the DrugDrop boxes in Winnebago County to dispose of unused prescription medications to keep them out of the hands of your kids. DrugDrop Boxes are located at Police Departments in Oshkosh, Neenah, and the Town of Menasha.

·         A summer job is NOT a barrier to experimentation; in fact, it can be a gateway to risky behaviors when summer employment results in relationships between your teen and older, legal drinking-age co-workers. Talk to your teen about work relationships, new friends and your expectations of them while working this summer, including curfews and work hours.

·         Do not serve alcohol to your teenager or their friends. The idea that it is safer to have them drink at home is a myth. No amount of alcohol is safe for the developing teenage brain. Hosting a party where kids turn in their keys so they don’t drive is sending mixed messages that it is ok to drink as long as they don’t drive. It is illegal to serve alcohol to minors; adults know this and so do teens.

·         Transitions are difficult times. If your son/daughter is heading to college in the fall, talk to them about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. Many schools are trying to curb underage drinking, including strict consequences if a student is caught. Student aid could be eliminated if caught for underage drinking. Additionally, extracurricular activities usually have guidelines restricting underage drinking and drug testing.

·         Parents: Talk to your kids openly and honestly about the dangers of drinking and trying drugs. Educate yourself about drugs and alcohol including prescription drugs, and marijuana. Even if you used drugs and alcohol during your teen years don’t let that stop you from talking to your kids. Be honest and let them know how risky it was.  It is good parenting to talk to your kids about the dangers about underage drinking and drugs.

Resources

·         National Institute on Drug Abuse: (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana)

·         SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration):  http://samhsa.gov/underagedrinking/

·          re:TH!NK Winnebago’s Healthy Living Partnership: http://www.rethinkwinnebago.org/Resources/for-parents.html

·         Partnership for Drugfree Americahttp://teenbrain.drugfree.org/science/index.html

Court Tower Apartments go Smoke-free!

The Court Tower apartments in Oshkosh are officially smoke-free and now have a month of clear air under their belt! Congrats Court Tower!

Many property management companies across the state are implementing smoke-free policies in their multi-family buildings. A smoke-free policy makes good business sense as it saves money on cleaning costs, reduces the risk of fires and provides a desired amenity to keep new and current tenants happy. These policies not only save money but help to ensure a safe, healthy environment for all residents by eliminating secondhand smoke. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and within multi-unit dwellings up to 60% of air is exchanged between units.

Smoke-free housing is about saving property managers money and hassle. It's about giving residents healthier, safer places to live. Seventy-two percent of Wisconsin residents who keep their units smoke-free (but live in buildings that allow smoking) would prefer a smoke-free building.

Clear Gains is Wisconsin’s smoke-free housing initiative and we're looking to help property owners voluntarily initiate smoke-free policies in their properties.

Are you an owner or resident of an apartment building and looking to make the switch? Learn more about the benefits of going smoke-free at http://wismokefreehousing.com for resources. If you need any information or if you have questions send them to acarpenter@co.winnebago.wi.us. 

A Valueable Experience

My internship with re:TH!NK has been educational, fun, and an overall rewarding experience.  Starting in January, I took on the role as the Active Schools Coordinator.  Through trying new things and having guidance from Emily and the Active Schools workgroup, I successfully planned and implemented the Active Recess, Active Classrooms, and Active Release projects.

The Active Recess project provided students with the opportunity to participate in activities led by community volunteers who have a passion for physical activity.  Connections and partnerships were made and our dedicated volunteers have been awesome!  It was rewarding to see the impact we can have on the children in our community.
The Active Classrooms project involved creating and distributing toolkits and binders for teachers to include in their class plans.  The binders contain “brain breaks” and activities for kids to participate in during class.  This increase in physical activity helps to improve memory and learning in kids and I was glad to help expand the project this spring.The Active Release program was a new recreational use agreement I helped to create with Emily, the YMCA, and Recreation Department.  We piloted the project at Tipler Middle School on their early release days.  We had a great turn out and will hopefully continue the project into the future!

I am glad I was part of the re:TH!NK team this semester.  The skills and professional development I have gained from it are irreplaceable.  As you all may or may not know I am finishing my “capstone” internship  near San Diego at EZIA Human Performance this  summer.  I am thankful for the opportunity I was provided here and will be using the things I have learned here in my future endeavors.  Thank you all for the help you have provided.  It has been fun and an awesome learning experience!