Zebiba
Zebiba is an amazing example of perseverence, commitment, selfless giving and powerful intention that makes a true difference.
Zebiba was a refugee out of Eritrea and, at the age of 9, escaped horrors, like we heard about Darfur, in her own village. She endured walking for thousands of miles, starvation, harsh elements, the jungle's wild animals and the desert's lack of water till finally she arrived at the refugee camp in Eastern Sudan. She was one of what the UN calls "The Forgotten Refugees".
There are almost 400,000 of them now, all in Eastern Sudan - mostly from Eritrea and Ethiopia, due to the wars that have raged there, and subsequent dictatorships, for over 40 years. 80 percent of them are women and children.
This refugee camp is barely supported, 30% don't even get the one meal a day that the UN provides, the water is poisoned and contaminated and the elements are unbearable there. The government uses it for their own purposes so that even when there are attempts to help the camp, it is usually diverted into the hands of those that in official positions rather than directly to the people.
Zebiba was one of the lucky ones who got out (after being there for 5 years). At age 14, a distant uncle had her flown out of the camp and sent to America where she was able to get an education.
She studied hard and as an adult, eventually created a very successful business in wholistic health.
She then sold EVERYTHING and committed herself to give back to her people.
She went to India to study with Mohammad Unus' team (he's the one who created micro-lending and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts) so that she could learn what works and what doesn't and what the best way to give back could be.
Zebiba then founded Healing Bridges and was able to provide medical aid and some education to her people in Eritrea - so many who were still suffering.
The goverment there, however, threatened her and eventually banned her from the country and any of her efforts to help (as the dictatorship wants to keep the people down, that's how they hold onto their power).
So Zebiba decided to focus on the seemingly impossible task of helping the refugees in Sudan - that very area where she had been one of them for 5 years so long ago.
She planned for months, perhaps years, even, in preparation and making connections so that she could have safe passage there and also be able to access those in need directly and not get caught up in governmental or official red tape.
You have no idea the number of fundraisers she did, the tireless calls to donors, the tireless pursuit of connections in Sudan and working with various governmental officials to be able to organize this.
I was one of those who helped her and, when the time came, to go with her and about 8 others, to Sudan and work directly with "The Forgotten Refugees" so I saw firsthand what she had to go through and what she had to stand for in order for this to work.
Without going into details (I can at another time if you wish), we had to do quite the dance with the government and with the UN once in Sudan - and travelled across that country through countless armed checkpoints, escorted by a government official in order to get passage through. ONce near the camps, we spent days dealing with the 'governor' of that area in order to get clearance to get to the camps - and finally once we had that, we spent hours driving through desolate, barren land in search of these camps.
When we finally found them, it was overwhelming to see what they were going through - AND, overwhelming to see and experience their love and appreciation.
We gave directly at that point, but most importantly, we researched what was specifically needed and made solid connections for how to get that carried out once we were to leave back to the US.
Zebiba stayed longer than we did and did outrageous actions in order to achieve the powerful results I'm about to share with you - one including having waited on the steps of the governor's home for literally two weeks until he finally met with her. The story of how she was able to get through to him and to persuade him to allow us to build a school for girls, is beyond inspiring (and can be shared later).
WHen she came back to the US, she almost died from Pneumonia and an infection in her lungs (caused by the stress of going back to the camps and the endless pace and what she endured in that long period of time there). She survived but is still struggling with her lungs and, in fact, is having a lung transplant this year for hopes of a better recovery.
Now, after all this - end result, and after much research to get the materials, the land, the proper facillitation of it all, you name it - two years later, Zebiba, and those of us working with her, have built a middle school for girls (houses 200 of them) - also providing 3 water tanks so that they can be at school and not have to be fetching water - AND also have healthy clean water.
This is just a beginning but it has made tremendous impact on the Refugee community. They were so used to seeing people come to the camp, promise them change or help and then nothing happen. NOW, progress is truly being made. And it is all owed to Zebiba's commitment and heart.
I think about these girls there - having met so many of them personally and seeing their wise, open, enthusiastic faces - and I wonder how many thousands of Zebiba's are roaming these camps? How many potential doctors, or musicians or teachers or brilliant minds are there, if only given a chance?
Thanks to Zebiba, at least 200 of them right now have some chance. And if there's ever a woman to honor, it is Zebiba!
A video of a montage of pics/video of camps & the new school (MUST SEE):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q5hIVF-FVI
Zebiba's organization's link: www.healingbridges.org
THank you,
Lynn Rose
www.lynnrose.com
Zebiba was a refugee out of Eritrea and, at the age of 9, escaped horrors, like we heard about Darfur, in her own village. She endured walking for thousands of miles, starvation, harsh elements, the jungle's wild animals and the desert's lack of water till finally she arrived at the refugee camp in Eastern Sudan. She was one of what the UN calls "The Forgotten Refugees".
There are almost 400,000 of them now, all in Eastern Sudan - mostly from Eritrea and Ethiopia, due to the wars that have raged there, and subsequent dictatorships, for over 40 years. 80 percent of them are women and children.
This refugee camp is barely supported, 30% don't even get the one meal a day that the UN provides, the water is poisoned and contaminated and the elements are unbearable there. The government uses it for their own purposes so that even when there are attempts to help the camp, it is usually diverted into the hands of those that in official positions rather than directly to the people.
Zebiba was one of the lucky ones who got out (after being there for 5 years). At age 14, a distant uncle had her flown out of the camp and sent to America where she was able to get an education.
She studied hard and as an adult, eventually created a very successful business in wholistic health.
She then sold EVERYTHING and committed herself to give back to her people.
She went to India to study with Mohammad Unus' team (he's the one who created micro-lending and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts) so that she could learn what works and what doesn't and what the best way to give back could be.
Zebiba then founded Healing Bridges and was able to provide medical aid and some education to her people in Eritrea - so many who were still suffering.
The goverment there, however, threatened her and eventually banned her from the country and any of her efforts to help (as the dictatorship wants to keep the people down, that's how they hold onto their power).
So Zebiba decided to focus on the seemingly impossible task of helping the refugees in Sudan - that very area where she had been one of them for 5 years so long ago.
She planned for months, perhaps years, even, in preparation and making connections so that she could have safe passage there and also be able to access those in need directly and not get caught up in governmental or official red tape.
You have no idea the number of fundraisers she did, the tireless calls to donors, the tireless pursuit of connections in Sudan and working with various governmental officials to be able to organize this.
I was one of those who helped her and, when the time came, to go with her and about 8 others, to Sudan and work directly with "The Forgotten Refugees" so I saw firsthand what she had to go through and what she had to stand for in order for this to work.
Without going into details (I can at another time if you wish), we had to do quite the dance with the government and with the UN once in Sudan - and travelled across that country through countless armed checkpoints, escorted by a government official in order to get passage through. ONce near the camps, we spent days dealing with the 'governor' of that area in order to get clearance to get to the camps - and finally once we had that, we spent hours driving through desolate, barren land in search of these camps.
When we finally found them, it was overwhelming to see what they were going through - AND, overwhelming to see and experience their love and appreciation.
We gave directly at that point, but most importantly, we researched what was specifically needed and made solid connections for how to get that carried out once we were to leave back to the US.
Zebiba stayed longer than we did and did outrageous actions in order to achieve the powerful results I'm about to share with you - one including having waited on the steps of the governor's home for literally two weeks until he finally met with her. The story of how she was able to get through to him and to persuade him to allow us to build a school for girls, is beyond inspiring (and can be shared later).
WHen she came back to the US, she almost died from Pneumonia and an infection in her lungs (caused by the stress of going back to the camps and the endless pace and what she endured in that long period of time there). She survived but is still struggling with her lungs and, in fact, is having a lung transplant this year for hopes of a better recovery.
Now, after all this - end result, and after much research to get the materials, the land, the proper facillitation of it all, you name it - two years later, Zebiba, and those of us working with her, have built a middle school for girls (houses 200 of them) - also providing 3 water tanks so that they can be at school and not have to be fetching water - AND also have healthy clean water.
This is just a beginning but it has made tremendous impact on the Refugee community. They were so used to seeing people come to the camp, promise them change or help and then nothing happen. NOW, progress is truly being made. And it is all owed to Zebiba's commitment and heart.
I think about these girls there - having met so many of them personally and seeing their wise, open, enthusiastic faces - and I wonder how many thousands of Zebiba's are roaming these camps? How many potential doctors, or musicians or teachers or brilliant minds are there, if only given a chance?
Thanks to Zebiba, at least 200 of them right now have some chance. And if there's ever a woman to honor, it is Zebiba!
A video of a montage of pics/video of camps & the new school (MUST SEE):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q5hIVF-FVI
Zebiba's organization's link: www.healingbridges.org
THank you,
Lynn Rose
www.lynnrose.com
