Support for Grace Community Birth Center (GCBC) blossoms as the year nears its end, thanks to Ninotte’s trip to the US and community connectivity in Grand Bassin.
US Trip:
Earlier this fall, Ninotte Lubin traveled to the US, making stops in New York and Michigan. She met with past GCBC supporters and introduced many to the project.
Left: Ninotte speaking at a SowHope event. Right: Ninotte and board members Tara and Kathi Mulder with Every Mother Count’s CEO and founder Christy Turlington Burns
In New York, Ninotte met with Every Mother Counts and engaged with many wonderful people, including students at Vassar College, where she gave a lecture.
In Michigan, Ninotte spoke at a SowHope dinner in Grand Rapids. She thanked SowHope for their support, “we really can be better together.”
Finally, Ninotte reflected on the Traverse City fundraiser, “it’s been a special thing every year to share the progress of the project with the Traverse City community.”
Fundraising:
The $16,000 raised this fall further proved people’s support for GCBC, these profits will sustain GCBC for another year.
But the fundraising isn’t over: SowHope pledged a matching grant of $20,000 that will be awarded by the end of January. GCBC hopes to raise the additional $20,000 by the end of 2018. This grant is the capital funding for building the birth center.
You can help GCBC meet their end of the $20,000 goal right now: Click this link to donate to GCBC.
Updates from Haiti:
In early November, Ninotte went to The Foundation for the Advancement of Haitian Midwives (FAHM) second annual Midwifery Conference, this was her second time attending. Ninotte was grateful for FAHM’s invitation to the conference and happy to connect once again.
The Grand Bassin community showed great support for GCBC while Ninotte was in the US: they intervened when road construction by the GCBC site threatened to destroy the property’s fence. Ninotte said, “they revealed to us how much they appreciate, care and want the project to survive and sustain… We have a long way to go together and there is hope.”
Ninotte continues to do prenatal and postnatal checkups, and registration for the next segment of sexual education classes/crafting workshops, are now open. The classes begin December 2nd.
A healthy postpartum mother and baby
Ninotte spoke again at Haitian schools to raise awareness of “violence in pregnancy and birth, consequences on the children brain development”. Ninotte looks forward to giving a large number of these presentations in the next six months.
Thanks to the myriad of supporters in the US and Haiti, Ninotte and GCBC have the means to thrive in the year to come.
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Ninotte offered a Days for Girls presentation to 14 sixth graders in Terrier Rouge. Here she is with the students and their kits
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How YOU can support and help GCBC:
Financially:
Become a monthly donor and support GCBC’s education classes. Or make a one time donation: https://gracebirthcenter.org/donate/
Check out Tara Bella Botanicals
25% of the profits from the sale of TBB products go to Grace Community Birth Center.
Make Connections:
If you know of organizations that can support GCBC, please set up a connection. To do so, please contact Kathi @ kathimulder@gmail.com
If you have ideas about ways to help financially sustain GCBC, please let us know.
Spread the Word:
Encourage people to check out the website, tell your friends, encourage them to tell theirs.
Follow GCBC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracebirthcenter/
Follow GCBC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceBirthHaiti
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Volunteer:
If you are interested in volunteering please send an email explaining your interest and skillset: gracebirthcenter@gmail.com
