Dear Friends of Pathways to Children,
It has been an extremely challenging year for all of us – particularly difficult for children and families who live in extreme poverty. Fortunately, due to your generosity, Pathways has been able to continue funding teacher and staff salaries, provide food and medical essentials, implement online education and deliver learning materials to homes. A surprising result is that the mostly illiterate parents are becoming more engaged and are learning with their children.
It is with great pleasure I inform you Pathways established an endowment with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in honor of my late husband Ralph. Ralph received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota. Ralph was particularly interested in the collaboration Pathways established with the U of M School of Public Health. Through this collaboration, graduate students gain international public health experience and poverty-stricken communities gain improved public health. You can learn more about this endowment and read “The Education of a Public Health Worker” on Pathways website.
In January, volunteers traveled to Ethiopia to dedicate the school Pathways built in the village of Belessa. All were overwhelmingly welcomed and thanked by the entire village. The school is expected to slow the prevalence of teenage marriages because the girls are receiving an education. Pathways has been asked to fund classrooms for grades 4 to 6 so that the children in those grades won’t have to walk to the next village for school. Please read more about the dedication and school in an article written by volunteer Shelly Gill Murray, who traveled to Ethiopia for the dedication.
Twenty volunteers travelled with me to Kolkata this year. The volunteers included Dr. Beth Virnig (Pathways board member and Associate Dean of the School of Public Health), two professors of Pediatric Dentistry at the U of M, and three U of M School of Public Health graduate students. The dentists, together with some local dentists, were able to examine the teeth of over 225 children and instruct the parents on how to care for their children’s dental health.
Pathways welcomes Peter Laird and Sara Lederman as new members to Pathways Board of Directors. Sara is a third-year medical student with an interest in public health. Sara has traveled to Kolkata, India twice as a Pathways volunteer guiding implementation of innovative public health programs. Peter is an accomplished entrepreneurial leader with a focus on working with teams and individuals to achieve transformational results.
As you can see, we have much to be grateful for, having been able to make impactful differences in the lives of many during these challenging times.
With gratitude and love,
Grace Strangis, Founder and Executive Director of Pathways to Children, and the Board of Directors, Gopal Khanna, Peter Laird, Sara Lederman, Dr. Beth Virnig and Bob York