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Dear Friends,
Thank you for subscribing to our BWWB newsletter and for your supportive comments and enthusiasm. As we move towards the fall equinox I'm sure your year thus far has been wonderful and I wish you a most peaceful and abundant remainder of 2008.
It is with much gratitude and great pleasure that I share the latest developments of Bodyworkers Without Borders. Our vision has grown with experiences soundly affirming that holistic interventions of all kinds are the long-term solution to the major health concerns facing the global community. Your continued participation is a driving force behind the realization of this vision.
Bodyworkers Without Borders is immensely grateful to you. Special mention of thanks also to the Yoga Studios who supported us (Sun Dog Yoga in Doylestown, PA, Easton Yoga in Easton PA, and Lehigh Valley Yoga in Allentown PA) and to Micki Carey in Michigan for their fund raising efforts last year which supported my activities in Sri Lanka this year. Together, along with some donations from friends and family, we raised $2250. Real Medicine Foundation also contributed an additional $1000 to the Sri Lankan initiative and collectively the trip was made possible. Oakworks Massage Tables of New Freedom, PA generously provided two new massage tables for donations to the NavajeevanaRehabilitation Center.
Certain unforeseeable circumstances caused a shift in some of our plans and a revision of focus this year. The intentions and the outcomes are presented below. You'll agree it has been an eventful year of much progress! As always, please contact me with your thoughts, questions, comments and suggestions regarding the progress and the direction of Bodyworkers Without Borders.
The Map - The Intent/Vision for 2007/2008
Many established organizations need "proof of efficacy" before engaging new programs and investing their resources. This of course requires time, success stories, follow up, and invitations to return.
- Provide multiple examples of how alternative therapies can impact treatments of various kinds (acute psychophysical trauma, abuse trauma, neuromuscular applications, etc) and become a viable options to the health care provided through NGO/Non-profit relief initiatives
- Establish a logistical network in other countries and concise method of involvement for other therapists to participate, in particular in Sri Lanka where a logistical team exists as well as an established relationship with Navajeevana Rehabilitation Center.
The Territory - What happened
Within the first week of 2008 what had been prepared for in 2007 evaporated.
- The Peru initiative was postponed because the new RMF staff required time to establish the management protocols for the new clinic
- The Pakistan Spinal Chord Program was postponed due to the assassination of Madame Benazir Bhutto. Our safety could not be assured by our ground staff.
- Mozambique land mine program was cancelled due to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands due to flooding from the torrential rains.
- Kenya was postponed as a result of the political/civil unrest present at the time.
Click here for an update on the Acupuncture program in Kenya that was recently completed.
What remained on our list was the Sri Lanka Physical Therapy Enhancement Program. In February, just prior to departing to Asia, I agreed to audit Real Medicine Foundation's other initiatives in Sri Lanka.
Click here for updates pertaining to these initiatives.
Both Real Medicine Foundation and Bodyworkers Without Borders are proceeding with our applications to have formal, recognized status in Sri Lanka. Our official status within the country is being facilitated through the much-appreciated efforts of Sri Lanka's newly-appointed Ambassador to the United States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. Ambassador Wickramasuriya has requested that we assist him with Sri Lanka's National Cancer Institute which has been inundated with new cases each year.
Myself (left) and Navajeevana founder Madame Kumarini Wickramasuriya (pictured above) with one of the two new massage tables donated by Oakworks. Our previous activities were mentioned in their 2007 annual report and they were pleased to have been mentioned in the AMTA Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2007 Quarterly.
Sri Lanka's National Cancer Institute has been working desperately to expand its operating facilities. We are pleased to assist this largest government hospital in Sri Lanka, one which deals directly with public health education policy related to Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes - 'Western Diseases', if you will.
Since our return to the United States, we have been working full-time preparing proposals to secure funding for a number of short and long term goals. We have established dialogue with leaders in the fields of Living Food Nutrition, Disease Prevention, Sustainable Agriculture and Biodynamic Farming.
Here is our present Mission Statement:
Real Medicine Foundation seeks to provide multi-faceted health care enhancement through prevention of disease, public empowerment and agricultural sustainability.
These measures include:
- Providing immediate support in the form of capital equipment for new operating theaters to increase surgical/curative measures
- Collaborating with leading experts in the field of nutrition and integrative health care for treatment of cancer among other diseases and to provide long term educational support for the hospital staff and leading medical colleges in preventive, nutritionally based approaches
- Creating an alliance with The Ministry of Health and Department of Sustainable Agriculture to develop programs for public wellness education and to raise awareness of preserving agricultural integrity and its relationship to the health of present and future generations.
Project Objectives/Goals
Through a flexible approach, sensitivity to cultural conventions and a collaborative effort between aligned organizations and individuals, our intent is to implement:
- Cost efficient, highly effective integrative, nutritionally-based health care models for cancer prevention and treatment from leading institutes such as Hippocrates Health Institute, Urban Zen/Beth Israel Hospital, Thomas Jefferson UniversityHospital
- Programs to restore appreciation for indigenous lifestyle and agricultural practices that promote sustainability, health and well-being. Educating the public in preventive strategies such as better health practices and avoidance of western dietary and agricultural practices to reduce long-term health care costs associated with curative treatment
- Provide educational and training support to establish a national team of educators that is self-perpetuating.
Our vision is to create and implement an effective model of intervention that addresses health, well-being, and sustainability for generations to come. By assembling experts from progressive healing institutions who are achieving excellent results, collaborating with government organizations, and partnering with aligned philanthropic groups, we can see this dream become a reality.
Our intent is to leverage the global presence of Real Medicine Foundation and work to implement this program in all 12 countries. The successful development of such a model cannot be understated. By educating the people of today, we will ensure the empowerment of children in the future.
In closing..
Given that diet, nutritional health, food shortages and the like are major problems related to world health, we must address them and Bodyworkers Without Borders does.
While including nutrition-based healing protocols for disease, somatic treatment protocols remain an essential part of this new more comprehensive model. Touch is most definitely one of the most nourishing of all "foods," and it is lacking in the "diets" of many developing countries.
For those of you impassioned to pursue sharing your gifts of healing with the global community by all means do so. You do not have to be part of our particular efforts to contribute to the world at large, although you are most welcome. There is so much healing that needs to take place on so many levels, in every part of the globe. Just walk across the street and knock on your neighbor's door and there is an opportunity to offer peace and, more than likely, a much needed taste of well-being. Appreciate the significance of your contribution to world peace and global health wherever you may be operating and in whatever capacity that may be. Even a smile, hug or a gesture of kindness has a "butterfly effect."
Thank you again for your interest and support of the BWWB concept. Please contact me with any questions - I'll be happy to hear from you.
I wish you much success.
Keep in touch.
Metta,
Michael
PS. Our website will be updated shortly as well as our store. Visit our website in the coming weeks. Thanks in advance for your patience.
PPS. Donations are still necessary to advance these efforts and are tax deductible when made to Real Medicine Foundation for PT Enhancement Programs. When making a donation please specify your country of interest. Click here to make your contribution. Thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Please feel free to share this email with friends to help spread the word.
Michael Lear CTP, 500hr. RYT
Director Program Development
Bodyworkers Without Borders
Country Director, Sri Lanka
Team Whole Health
Real Medicine Foundation
484.542.0249 - mobile
484.335.4446 - fax
michael@bodyworkerswithoutborders.org
michael@realmedicinefoundation.org
www.bodyworkerswithoutborders.org
www.realmedicinefoundation.org