Learn about the impact of AIDS in Africa when the Sallal Grange hosts the Imani Project Presentations, 7 p.m. Monday, March 18 at the Grange Hall, 12912 43nd Ave. S.E., North Bend.

North Bend residents Phillip and Diane Garding will talk about their trip to Kenya, to provide medical clinics and classes in Kenyan villages, and to visit with children orphaned by AIDS. The presentation will follow a potluck meal which runs from 6 to 7 p.m. All are invited.

The Gardings traveled to Kenya in September, 2012 with the Imani Project, a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Ore. The purpose of the trip was to run medical clinics and teach classes on HIV/AIDS, diarrheal disease, and tuberculosis prevention in coastal villages. This is their second trip to Kenya, as they also travelled with the Imani Project in 2010.

For their most recent two-week stay, the Gardings collected, packaged and transported 900 pounds of health kits and medical supplies for the project. They were part of Imani Project clinics held at four locations, and attracting people from 18 villages.

The Imani Project also coordinated sponsors for more than 90 village children orphaned by AIDS. Every year, the Imani Project provides each sponsor with a report about each orphan and his or her caregiver and family. The Gardings spent two days of their trip meeting, interviewing and photographing the orphans to collect information for the reports.

For more information about the Imani Project and their ongoing mission in Kenya, visit www.imaniproject.org. For more information about the Sallal Grange, visit www.sallalgrange.org.

 

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