On May 5, 2011, caring moms came to TheMotherhood to talk about mothers and children in developing countries and the ways in which we can help improve their health and lives.
As mothersacting up noted, “If we can empower mothers here in the U.S. to be partners with mothers around the world, our children will inherit a much better planet.”
The conversation was both powerful and emotional, and it laid out a number of simple ideas for making a difference in the lives of women half a world away. Read on for the highlights, or click here to read the whole discussion!
What is the ONE Campaign?
ONE is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African activists and policy makers.
“ONE and Every Mother Counts are all about raising your voice as a way to speak for those who aren’t heard,” said Lauren Balog. “And who better to do that than moms? All moms can make a difference: First Ladys and supermodels on down!”
Former First Lady Laura Bush worked with ONE to create a special message for Mother’s Day, promoting the well-being of mothers and children around the world.
Visit ONE.org to learn more.
What is Every Woman Counts?
Begun by supermodel Christy Turlington, Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal and child health.
According to Erin Thornton, executive director of Every Mother Counts, “We’re trying to bring awareness (primarily to the mom community of the U.S.) about the issue of maternal health, but then give them tools to learn more AND opportunities to get directly involved. We have a bunch of efforts launched right now where you as an individual can bring whatever tool you have to bear – whether that be your voice, your time or your money. It’s really about becoming aware and feeling empowered and equipped to get involved.”
Every Mother Counts just launched this public service announcement as part of a campaign focused solely on maternal health “to give people ways to learn more, get involved and make a real difference,” said Erin Thornton.
Visit everymothercounts.org to learn more.
No Woman, No Cry
Christy Turlington’s film, “No Woman, No Cry,” airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) May 7 at 9:30pm ET/PT, and again on May 8 at 1pm ET/PT.
“It is exquisitely done. You will love it, everyone. And it will change you,” said Chrysula.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to be pregnant where there’s a lack of medical care,” said Connie Roberts, Brain Foggles. “So scary for Mom and baby.”
“We’re also encouraging folks to host watch parties this weekend – and have a kit of discussions points, etc, available if you do,” said Erin Thornton. “It’s the sort of topic it’s better to discuss with friends and family than to watch and then click it off.”
If you’d like to host a watch party, find more information here: http://everymothercounts.org/host-watch-party
U.S. moms and global issues
Do moms in America make an effort to get involved in global issues? Yes.
“Especially with Millennial moms,” said Elisa. “Very passionate about the WORLD. However,” she acknowledged, “put a baby in our arms and we tend to look down more than out.”
“It’s been an incredible reaction – people want to learn more, want to do something,” said Erin Thornton. But “polls right now say that of all the development goals, Americans rate maternal health as ‘least’ important. So we’re out to prove that wrong!”
Erin added, “We can’t let this be a ‘woman’s’ issue – it’s a family issue. The interview that STILL makes me tear up in the film (even after watching 80 times) is an interview with a father who lost his wife in childbirth. The men are SO impacted by these issues – we have to mainstream it and give them ways to engage too.”
Children’s health
Watch Joyce Kamwana tell her story here.
“Upon learning that she was HIV positive, Joyce went onto become an activist, informing her community about HIV and how to protect yourself and specifically about how women could take steps to ensure that their babies were born HIV free,” said Margaret McDonnell, partnerships manager for the ONE Campaign.
Read Joyce’s story here: http://www.one.org/blog/2010/11/30/hiv-positive-grandmother-credits-her-life-to-global-fund/
Margaret added, “Sadly, 1,000 babies are born HIV positive every day, but with medicine the risk of HIV-positive mothers passing the disease onto their babies lowers to less than 2%!” said Margaret McDonnell.
“Mothers play an important role,” added gottalovemom. “I know it from dealing with the poor families in the Philippines. If Mothers are involved, the kids can have a chance!”
Maternal health
“There is so much more we need to be doing to serve pregnant mothers, mothers who are delivering or have just delivered, and moms in the early years of parenting,” said Katherine Stone. “People don’t realize how much a mother’s health can affect the long-term health of her child(ren). When we take care of moms we are taking care of families too. It’s such a good investment.”
“Maternal health is not an ‘over there’ problem,” agreed Erin Thornton. “It affects all of us. Even here in the US – we rank 50th in the world in terms of maternal care.”
Find “The Best and Worst Places to be a Mother” here: http://one.org/blog/?p=29984
Learn about Maternal & Child Health from ONE.org: http://www.one.org/c/us/issue/15/
What you can do to help through The ONE Campaign
“There are so many ways to help out and so easy too!” said Renee Ross, Cutie Booty Cakes.
“Moms have the power to also engage their kids,” said Rachel. “My kids participate in every ONE event I host in my community. They know the facts as well and share it with their friends who share with their parents. Moms can multiply their voice!”
“Here’s one simple thing you can do to help – click here and sign the petition to help ONE get funding for vaccines to help stop diarrhea and pneumonia … two of the biggest killers of children in poor countries,” said Erin O. “It’s in the yellow box on the right side of the page.”
Sign the petition: http://bit.ly/jRCoEw
Watch the ONE vaccine video here.
“I LOVE knowing that a group of women putting their name to a petition can actually make things happen – live vaccinations for millions of kids who wouldn’t get them otherwise,” said Emily McKhann, TheMotherhood.
“Taking your child to get vaccinated is NOT a fun experience – quite traumatizing actually to hear their first real cry of pain,” acknowledged Margaret McDonnell. “That being said, I’m very appreciative that I’m able to offer my son protection of fatal childhood diseases, like polio, rotavirus, and measles. Women in rural Kenya have to walk miles to the nearest hospital to get their babies the vaccines and healthcare they need.”
“I remember crying when my first one got vaccinated, but also thinking that if that’s going to prevent him from dealing with far worse, so be it,” said rockandrollmama.
Efforts through Every Mother Counts
5-day push through tonic.com to fund a 40-foot container of unused medical equipment and supplies to send to Sudan: http://www.tonic.com/deed/please-commit-10-to-get-life-saving-medical-supplies-to-the-sudan/
Hope Phones to collect your old used cell phones, which can then be recycled and used to equip health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo with phones to connect them to clinics: http://www.everymothercounts.org/partners/hope-phones
Go to Starbucks and purchase a CD that benefits EMC and CARE. It is guaranteed in stores through Monday, May 9.
Watch this video from the Jubilee Project. For every view, 1 cent is donated to EMC.
Check out Every Mother Counts’ partnership with Amnesty International to write letters to our Congressmen about the Maternal Health Accountability Act, requiring states to at least report on the causes of maternal deaths here in the U.S.: http://www.everymothercounts.org/partners/amnesty-international
Find other ways to take action here: www.everymothercounts.org/take-action
Other efforts
“My company, Birungi Ives Global Media Enterprises supports a Global Movement where we can exercise the power behind our spending to make a beneficial Global Impact with the investment in products and services that do the same,” said Birungi Ives. “In relation to this movement, we have started #thepowerofone campaign. #thepowerofone campaign is a TWITTER campaign that supports people around the world lifting themselves and their communities out of poverty! So please also tweet #thepowerofone.”
Learn more about Birungi and her company here: http://www.geof.us/index.php?id=47
“Moms are a gift from God to be treasured within our hearts. Their unending love embraces our every moment of life. I love you Mom!” concluded Barbara Olivo.
Resources
On Twitter:
Be sure to follow ONE at @ONECampaign
Follow Christy Turlington, Erin Thornton and Every Mother Counts at @CTurlington @ETThornton and @everymomcounts
Watch for updates on the ONE Circle on TheMotherhood: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/circle/show/id/62200
Living Proof on ONE.org: http://one.org/livingproof/en/story/kangaroo-mother-care/
“Another great documentary to check out is Mother: Caring Our Way Out of the Population development,” suggested mothersacting up. Here is a link: http://www.motherthefilm.com/trailer
On ONE.org, “Africa’s Future is Female”: http://one.org/international/reports/africasfuture/index.html
Cooper Munroe of TheMotherhood wrote a guest post for ONE.org. Read it here: http://one.org/blog/2011/05/05/maria-mchele-mwasonge-mother-and-tree-of-life/
Happy Mother’s Day – and remember to make EVERY day Mother’s Day!
See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62196
