Friday, March 21, 2014

Meet Our New Patients

As we have said before on the blog, one of the most difficult things on a visit is to see the crowds of people who turn up, desperate for the chance to get on the program, knowing that it could be their only chance at life. There are never enough resources to give medicine to all those who need it.  How would you choose?  It is a joyous moment in our fundraising to realise that some of these patients will get treatment because YOU sowed seeds of service.  Awesome work SFS.  Lets meet the new patients.

G.R.
G.R started treatment at the Dongdaewon centre and we are waiting hopefully for a change in status to negative in the Spring Visit.  Please pray for him to have hope and courage as he continues his treatment.



G.C.
G.C. is also at the Dongdaewon centre.  He is anxiously awaiting the Spring visit to find out if he has converted to negative.  He misses his family.  Pray for his treatment to be successful.


K.G.
K.G. is happy to have started his treatment at Dongdaewon.  He is happy to have the opportunity to get well and return to his family.  Currently he is waiting to see if his treatment has helped him to convert to negative.  Please pray for his health.

C.Y.
C.Y. is grateful to have started his treatment at Dongdaewon and is waiting for his results.  He is hoping for a conversion to negative.  He thanks you for his medication.


K.Y.
K.Y. started treatment at Dongdaewon and misses her family.  She is so pleased to have the opportunity to get healthy and is hoping for a negative result in the upcoming Spring visit.

R.M
R.M. is the youngest of our new patients.  He is also being treated at Dongdaewon.  He is working hard to get well and is hoping for a conversion to negative when he gets his results in the Spring.


Sunday, March 16, 2014

MS Fundraiser: Mohawks for Medicine!


This year it was not one Mohawk, but TWO!

2, 006, 550 won was raised.  

That is nearly the entire treatment program for an MDR patient.  WOW!  Thanks Middle School.  The winning house was Yong Maeng (Bravery) House.  They also earnt 2 free dress days!  A huge thanks to the MS senators, who were crucial in collecting all the coins (and there were a LOT of coins)!

If you were ever wondering about the evolution of a Mohawk … check out the pics below …

The Evolution of A Mohawk

Step One

 plan carefully … VERY carefully!


Step Two

Rev the clippers up and go for it!


Step Three

Spray … LOTS of spray!


Step Four

Cover up the head and begin the colour!




Step Five

Reveal and take a moment to admire!

Mr Hill's stylists: were Connie, Paula and Christine

Mr Swanson's stylists: Hannah, Jae Hwa and Chloe

Thanks so much Mr Hill and Mr Swanson.  You are great sports!





Sunday, March 9, 2014

Clearing Up Some Misperceptions



It seems that we have several misperceptions in our community about Dongdaewon fundraising.  We wish to clarify these.  If you have any concerns, please talk or email any of the Dongdaewon committee reps and we would be happy to clarify with you further if needed.  You can contact us via this blog.

Misperception # 1:  The school keeps half of all money raised.
False.

All proceeds raised for Dongdaewon go to Eugene Bell to buy medicine for our DDW patients (with one exception that will be discussed below).  The only money kept back is money to pay for the cost of printing and purchasing tshirts to sell, and occasional expenses such as purchasing donuts or pizza to sell.  Most of our things we sell, and classes we offer, are generously donated in terms of time and materials, which is amazing, because then we have less expenses and make more profit, which means more medicine and more patients treated.  To be clear.  SFS does not keep any of the profits raised.

The one exception.  The Grade 5 team fundraiser for the Dongdaewon Fair.
At the fair, the only exception to all proceeds going towards Dongdaewon is the Fifth Grade Desk Sales.  Every student in fifth grade has the option of creating their own business.  The criteria for this, is they pay 10,000won for the rent of their desk, and they can sell anything they want from it, as long as it is not food related (unless it is part of their Genius Hour Project).  Half of the money made from their sales also goes towards Dongdaewon, the other half can be kept/donated or spent at the Fair.  It was great this year to see many students donate most or all of the money they made to Dongdaewon.  The 5th grade fundraiser is a very successful model.  That team alone often raises enough to cover almost the entire treatment for one MDR patient.

Misperception # 2:  We send money to North Korea
False.

Ms Horne & Ms Carpenter presenting Dr Linton and the
Eugene Bell Foundation with the Funds Raised By SFS
All funds raised (as stated above) go towards buying MDR medicine for MDR patients who are on the Eugene Bell MDR program in North Korea.  The medicine is purchased and then shipped to North Korea.  All of it is accounted for at both ends of travel.



Misperception #3:  Medicine sent to North Korea Does Not Get To Patients It Is Intended For
False.

Eugene Bell and Stephen Linton (founder and head of Eugene Bell) visit North Korea several times a year.  They monitor everything with a fine tooth comb.  They have a TB expert who travels in with them each time on the team.  Patients are photographed, records are kept and checked, all medicine is accounted for.  If patients start treatment and do not finish it, it's a huge concern because this is how we develop other forms of drug resistant TB.  When a strain of TB is passed on, it is whatever strain the carrier has.  The North Korean Ministry of Health are VERY concerned about MDR TB and work closely with the EB teams to ensure that visits go smoothly and patients get their meds.  The fact that patients are regularly graduating cured is testament to the effectiveness of the program that has been developed, and speaks to the fact that the patients are getting their medicine.  You can browse through this blog to check on our patients and get updates.



SFS sends a staff rep once a year on the EB team.  This year, we will be sending Ashley Simpson.  Our Dongdaewon Staff Reps can speak to the effectiveness of the monitoring and checking that goes on at each clinic.  If you would like to speak to any of our previous staff reps, you can speak to
  • Sarah Carpenter
  • Leslie Horne
  • Jenny James
  • Colleen Ireland
  • JoAnn Dunbar
If you click HERE  and scroll down a little, you can read some of the trip reports and stories that our staff members have brought back from North Korea.

Additionally, we have attempted to address other misperceptions in times gone by here.  Finally, if you have concerns and wish to speak to Eugene Bell, they are very transparent about the work they do and always happy to answer questions.  You can contact Ms Carpenter and she would be happy to put you in direct contact with an EB rep.

Interesting and Informative Links To Check Out


If you are new to Dongdaewon, or new to the blog, there is a lot of great information and pictures that you can check out.  Some good places to start are:

Fundraising Video from 2014 Hearts To Serve Assembly

Fundraising Video from 2013 Hearts to Serve Assembly



Video from 2012's Hearts to Serve and a message for you from one of our patients.


The story of H.S. - how one small seed sown has changed not one life, but is continuing to change multiple lives.



Thoughts and reflections from Ms James Trip to North Korea with Eugene Bell in April 2013.



A family tale.  Sadly, TB does not just impact on individuals.  Left untreated, it can affect entire families.  Read the story of one such family.




Pictures and impressions from Ms Horne's Trip in October 2012 





Pictures and impressions from NK on Ms Carpenter's first trip.






A visit to Dongdaewon ... what we have done with the $$$ (Pics and text)



How The Dongdaewon work has changed


Journal entry the day Ms Carpenter first met Dongdaewon patients 
(also pics)

Basic Facts About TB


A Day In the Life of A Visiting Team To A Center 
(LOTS of pics with a bit of explanation)

Common Questions and Concerns About Dongdaewon (eg. we don't want to support the North Korean government with money).

Finally … be sure to check back here often over the next few weeks, as we will be updating information regularly.  Look out for for coming events and more patient updates!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Checking In On Our Current Patients

All our current patients are doing well.  They send their thanks to you and want you to know that they appreciate their medication and the opportunity they have to have a chance at gaining health and life.

K.G.
K.G started treatment in the fall on 2012.  He is being treated at Dongdaewon centre.  He is responding well to treatment and misses his family.  He has many months of treatment ahead of him.  Pray that he maintains negative for MDR TB.


K.O
K.O. also started her treatment in the fall of 2012.  She is now testing negative for TB, starting to feel better and looking forward to being well.


K.G.
K.G. is another of our patients who started treatment in the fall of 2012.  He is also responding well to treatment, having converted to negative.  Pray for him to maintain his negative status and complete his treatment successfully.

L.Y.
L.Y was our final patient who started treatment in the fall of 2012.  He is doing well and has converted to negative.  Pray for him as he continues his treatment.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Creative Classes For You! Sign up NOW ...

We have some absolutely awesome classes coming up for YOU!  Everything from candy, card and candle making, to a tax return party, to learning new card and dice games, to recycling old t-shirts into FABULOUS fashions!

Click on the links below each class to check out all the information, and then sign up asap!

All classes must be paid for by March 21st (the close of our Dongdaewon fundraising period)

Candy Making:  Gifts for Special Days - A class for Kids - grade 4 - 8
Thursday March 13th - 3 - 5pm
MS Kitchen

Bunko Tournament (and snacks!!)
Friday March 14th - 7:00 - 10:00pm
P-6 (Engstrom House)


Reed Diffuser and Candle Making Class
Sorry, this one is SFS FACULTY only
Saturday March 15th - 10.00 - 11.30am
HS Room 205

US Tax Return Party (tax returns CAN be fun!)
Saturday March 15th - 10am - 11.30am
Sorry, this one is SFS FACULTY only
E11 (Jackson House)


T-Shirt Skirt Making
Saturday April 12th - 9am
ES Verandah - 4th Floor


Card Making
Saturday April 12th - 9am - 11am
ES Room 360 (Jo Bigwood's classroom)


Pinochle
Monday May 5th - 7:00 - 10:00pm
G-31 (Benger Apartment)

Sow a Seed … Change a Life! Meet H.S.

This year, as part of our campaign we have taken the idea of

"sow a seed … change a life".

What does this really look like?

I want to introduce you to H.S. (in white on the right).


Last April she graduated treatment at Dongdaewon.  Although she was not one of our patients, her story could be the story of any one of our patients.  A story of perseverance, despair, hope and change.

H.S contracted TB when she was 25 years old and has fought for her health for the last 7 years.  In her fight for life, she went through five rounds of TB treatment.  Because she has been sick for so long, she has no family except her parents (marriage is very important in North Korea). The experience she has had with TB and the love and care that she has received through her treatment with EB at Dongdaewon has been life changing.  

The thing we hear from patients the most is their desire to be reunited with their families.  Graduation is often a time of excitement, not only because patients have a new chance at life, but also, because they have been separated from family for a long time and eagerly anticipate rejoining them.  Upon graduation H.S. decided to train as nurse and dedicate her life to helping patients with MDR-TB.  When asked if her mother wanted her home, she replied, "my mother understands how parents worry for their sick children.  She told me to stay and help as many patients as possible".''When asked if she wanted to be married in the future, her reply was, "I am not ready to get married. I want to study and I want to help other patients.  I want to learn more.  Without knowing, you cannot move a step forward.  I want to learn a lot so I can help the patients".

Wow. I don't know about you, but after being treated for so long, I would want to put the whole experience behind me and get as far away from a TB centre as possible. H.S is an amazing example of how sowing a seed bears huge fruit. A small seed not only changed her life, but through her experience with love and compassion and generosity, she is now becoming a change agent in other people's lives. Who would think a little seed like buying a caramel apple at the DDW fair would grow into something beautiful and strong and bear such amazing fruit? You are life changers!




Wednesday, February 26, 2014

What's Coming Up In The Divisions?

We have a lot coming up in the next little while around the school … see below for what is happening in your division!

ALL Divisions

T-shirt and hoodie sales have got off to a great start and will continue this coming week. T-shirts - 15,000 won 
Hoodies   30,000 won 
BOTH for just 40,000 won!


For sales please see
BS - Janet Hahm
ES - Chris Bickel
MS - Jo Dunbar
HS - Chuck Krugler

Sham O' Grams: Students can send messages and a chocolate to their friends for just 2,000.00 Won. Available through your classroom/homeroom teacher and Mrs Koh.  For more details click HERE!
Don't forget the fabulous silent auction happening down in the coffee shop … get down there and bid!  Click HERE for more details 


British School

The BS will continue " Loose Loot for Lungs" this week. Students are encouraged to bring along any loose coins to add to their class collection. The year level with the most money raised will get to enjoy a free dress!



Elementary School

ES Dongdaewon Fair
Thursday 6th March - 12.45 - 2.45pm

Classes are well underway planning for the ES Dongdaewon fair.  Many children are working hard to earn their spending money … remember all profits buy medicine for our patients.  Work hard .. have fun and save a life!



Middle School

Mohawks for Medicine
This year … 
we bring you not one … 
but TWO fabulous chances to 
style a rockin' mohawk!



Houses are competing for the chance to provide the styling team and
TWO  FREE  DRESS days!
Get your money and your votes in!

Voting CLOSES March 11th.  

March 17th is styling day! 


Into The Woods - Concessions


If you are coming to the play Friday or Saturday … stock up on food at our concession store.  Friday night is pizza and donuts.

Saturday night will be soup, bread and desserts!
(Saturdays's goodies will be homemade by some pretty excellent cooks - DON'T miss out!!)