Raising awareness for Kenya

Posted by admin on Apr 14, 2010 in News | 0 comments

Hands-On Development Initiatives International (HODI) is excited to announce their launch party and fundraiser, happening on Friday, April 16th at 7 p.m. at Murrayville Hall in Langley.

HODI is a non-profit organization that emerged partly from TWU’s Kenya travel study program, run by communications professor Ruth Anaya, her husband Petra Anaya, and UFV professor Cherie Enns. Since 2004, these three directors have initiated research and a partnership with Petra’s home community of Muhanda in Western Kenya.

“On April 16th, HODI will be celebrating big successes in small places,” said Anaya. “Ordinary people can do extra-ordinary things in this Kenyan village.”

Through HODI’s partnerships, they have transformed Muhanda with a diversity of projects, including: a large infrastructural piped water system serving 5,000 people; a health center that is now being upgraded into a maternity facility; a student sponsorship program; and most recently, the construction of a community center focused on providing care services for vulnerable children.

HODI’s African-themed launch party will include the African music group Shirika, African food, and African auction items, and will double as a fundraiser for a maternity facility in Muhanda – a need in this densely populated rural village where there is a high mortality rate.
“We have a phenomenal opportunity to be involved with the building and equipping of a maternal health and birthing facility,” said Anaya. “What could be more exciting than breathing life into an impoverished community?”