GGA now got to visit these residences and was very happy and pleased with what they saw. Both their local associations had nice accommodation, good and appropriate facilities that were clean, well maintained and in good condition. They had vegetable gardens, pig and chicken farms for self-sufficiency, and one of them even ran a pre-school for the children. Prisca, a girl they have been accompanying for several years, has a nice home for herself and her girls, which GGA rents for her. They encourage her to go to school now that restrictions are lifted and schools can reopen. She has only three years of primary education, she is now 22 years old, and GGA wishes to support her with more education and sees a great future potential in her in terms of our continued local activities.

What made this trip extra special was that for two days they held a couple of big HEALTH CAMPS, where they offered free maternal care to women in the slums. They rented a small, simple clinic, paid local staff a daily wage, bought medicines, maternity kits and paid for the necessary tests they felt some of them needed. GGA arranged and organised this in two different slum areas. It was very well received, well run and felt incredibly rewarding, both for those who visited GGA and of course for themselves as well. This is exactly how they want to work with mobile teams.

On the first day they examined 40 women, vaccinated children and adults against tetanus. On the second day, 123 women turned up, before they had to slow down the pace because they were working at capacity. The team included four volunteers, all of whom worked hands-on every day, alongside local staff. They made a few home visits, and then they spent two more days in the countryside doing the same but at a smaller scale. They visited about 20 women in each of these places.

So during this intensive week, they were able to offer 200 women free maternity care and provide them with medicines and hospital supplies (maternity kit) so that they would have a chance to give birth in hospital and thus survive the birth, both mother and baby!!

Doesn't that seem amazing?! We at By Rydens are of course proud and happy sponsors of this outstanding initiative. It's really true that together we can make a difference.
Recently, Monica Hellström has been nominated Smålänning of the Year! We sure hope that Monica and her association and dedication to the women of the world will be duly recognized.