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COHI and Coexistence in the Middle East
Many successes have been made this spring with increased contact between the two COHI coordinators. With once a week meetings and constant phone calls, much has been planned for these two groups, with the hopes that more joint meetings will continue in the future.
The primary goal of working with both Palestinian and Israeli midwives continues to provide challenges due to political reasons and the continuous humanitarian crisis in Palestine. Most recently selected midwives from each group met in the West Bank at a local birthing home. Please read more about this amazing meeting on the COHI website.
Gomer Ben Moshe, also an Israeli midwife, has been working diligently for COHI in Israel. Under her supervision, the Israeli group of midwives has done tremendous work for maternal health and midwifery in Israel.
Sudanese refugee at a Northern Israel shelter, participating in a medical consultation with a COHI volunteer, April 2009 (Photo: Jessica Alderman) |
The group is currently working with African refugees who now live in northern Israel in a shelter for women and children. COHI’s volunteer midwives conduct prenatal check-ups as well as group conversations on different topics such as safe motherhood and childcare. The Israeli midwives are also planning to establish a group of women who can accompany and assist these mothers who do not have their own support during birth.
Aisha Saifi, also a Palestinian midwife, has done tremendous work in very difficult circumstances for women’s health. A group of more than 10 midwives, nurses, and volunteers have been formed to promote women’s health and midwifery as a profession in Palestine. The group also recently met with Tanzanian midwives and exchanged ideas and thoughts on midwifery and maternal health.
Two open house events were held in July in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Ramallah, Palestine, where both Palestinian and Israeli Coordinators participated in each open house. The attendees expressed a keen interest in meeting again and helping COHI’s vision of bringing Israeli and Palestinian midwives to work together as one unit.
Both groups are confident that they have found a safe and neutral meeting place that allows all participants to come together, share ideas, and work together, and a trial of that meeting place will take place in Mid-August.
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Israel / Palestine Coexistence Project
Update from Aisha Saifi, Palestinian Project Coordinator
Aisha Saifi, Palestinian Coordinator of the COHI Coexistence project |
I have been volunteering and working with COHI for the past three years and the experience has completely changed me. As a Palestinian woman, a mother, and a midwife, not only has this organization allowed me to help the women and children of my country, but it has also enabled me to deliver my message of peace and harmony.
I am grateful to COHI because it has empowered me to make a difference in my community by giving quality health care to women and for trying to make their future better and brighter by attempting to bring the Palestinians and Israelis together to end the conflict.
Aisha Saifi
Palestinian coordinator, COHI |
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Israel / Palestine Coexistence Project
Update from Gomer Ben Moshe, Israeli Project Coordinator
Gomer Ben Moshe (left), Israeli Coordinator of the COHI Coexistence project |
When I first heard of COHI, I was a midwife struggling for women who were not heard or who believed that the only option for them was the medical model of giving birth. I wanted more for them and was unsettled with my inability to influence things. I was also always interested in partnerships between the people of this region – cultural, professional, educational, friendships, or anything that brought everyone together.
Joining COHI’s Middle East project, belonging to a group of midwives who are willing to volunteer, being part of a mutual dialogue with Palestinian midwives, fills me with energy and motivation. I believe women should take part in brokering peace and midwifery is an international language that can be spoken by all women in the world.
For me, the work at COHI is all about learning. I learn from the women I work with, I learn new tasks, and I learn about relationships.
I hope the work that we do in the region will spread like fire and will slowly create change.
Gomer Ben Moshe
Israeli Coordinator, COHI |
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Sudan Project
COHI Efforts to Suspend in Sudan
Sudanese girls |
We would like to announce the closure of the COHI Sudan project, due to the departure of the program manager, Erica Meadows. In her year in Sudan, Erica was able to work closely with a small local NGO, and establish links with women's health organizations based in Sudan. However, despite strong efforts COHI was unable to push through the NGO registration process – as the Sudanese government is in the process of closing many international NGOs in response to international pressure about Darfur, and the indictment of President Bashir by the International Criminal Court. Of course, we all hope that in the near future, that the political situation will improve and that COHI may be able to reestablish its presence in this country. |
Thank you all for your support, help, and above all, COHImittment to the women we serve,
Leilani Johnson
Circle of Health International
Executive Director
90 Coventry Wood Road
Bolton, MA 01740-1123, USA
leilani[at]cohintl.org
www.cohintl.org
512.517.3220
Skype: leilanijohnson
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