It was filmed by humanitarian staff and freelance filmmakers from around the globe (over 50 contributors in total) with all time donated.

www.worldhumanitarianday.info

See you all again in August 2011!

Shona Witch Doctor in Zimbabwe

Once you have made sure you have all desired and required vaccinations for your upcoming trip, it is time to start packing your travel medicine kit. Below are three handy lists that I hope will help you complete your next packing endeavor.

Whether for SG Guatemala July 2010 or SG Ethiopia November 2010, this list applies to any trip to the developing world and remote places on our small planet.  Always visit the Centers for Disease Control website and enter your destination.  In addition, the CDC website has a search option to find a travel clinic near you.

‘The Traveler’s Medicine Cabinet’ by Dr. Richard Wenzel
Items that should be in every tourists first aid kit from Budget Travel Magazine
1. Antacid (Pepto Bismol, Pepcid Complete)
2. Bandages and First Aid Antibiotic Ointment  (Band-Aids, Nexcare, Neosporin, Polysporin, or Bacitracin)
3. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
4. Insect repellent with over 30% deet  (Ultrathon 34%, Ben’s 30% Deet)
5. Motion Sickness Remedy (Dramamine, Marezine, Hyland’s Motion Sickness-Homeopathic, Pepogest-natural, )
6. Anti-Diarrheal (Imodium, Pepto Bismol,
7.  Antihistamines or Allergy Medicine (Benadryl)
8. Sunscreen
9. Antibiotic (Zithromax, Cipro)
10. Anti-Inflamatory Cream (Cortaid, 1% Hydrocortisone Cream)

Some alternatives to the above list can be found at the terrific Vagabondish Travelzine.
‘The Traveller’s Medicine Cabinet’ by Robert Evans
1. Kratom- “an anti-depressant, analgesic, or a stimulant. It has immuno-stimulant properties and can also be used to treat diarrhea.”
2. Kava Kava- Acts as a numbing agent, also can treat social anxiety and stress.
3. Oil of Oregano- Combats intestinal parasites, fights the flu and colds, and relieves cramps.
4. Ginger Root- Treats nausea, diarrhea, and seasickness
5. Kanna- Robert Evans says Kanna is a “mood elevator and an anti-anxiety medication. It also works as an appetite suppressant, and can lead to tiredness and vivid dreaming. In other words, Kanna is the perfect pre-flight medication.”

And finally, here is what I carry in my kit:
-Psi Bands for motion sickness (I wear them on buses to prevent motion sickness), I also carry a small travel vial of Dramamine and Hyland’s Homeopathic Motion Sickness tabs.
-Ginger chews by either The Ginger People or Reed’s.  You can tell I am prone to motion sickness.
-Off-label versions of Advil (muscle soreness), aspirin (good for sunburns), and Aleve (headaches)
-Valerian Root tincture for adjusting to jet lag and time zone differences
-Band-aids in different sizes, a few alcohol swabs, Neosporin
-Benadryl
-Ben’s 30 Deet insect repellent
-Sunscreen for face, for lips, and another for body.  30-50 SPF, and always a sunhat and good sunglasses.
-Digestive enzymes
-Pepto Bismol travel size.  Not only for upset stomach but also to take before eating or drinking suspect food.  It can coat the stomach before a street food adventure and protect from mild bacteria invasions.
-Rehydration salts, and/or Gatorade and EmergenC packets
-Mini deodorent, toothpaste, dental floss, Q-tips, 2-in-1 mini shampoo
-Clean Well hand sanitizer it’s natural, and Wet Ones singles
-Travel pack tissues, I stash packs of tissues in every bag.
-Mini nail file, pack of matches, mini nail clippers and tweezers, collapsible hair brush
-Cipro
-Earplugs
-Red bull in the 3oz size for after a long haul flight

This year I am taking Robert Evans’ advice and bringing Kanna.  I took Klonopin on my long last flight which was to India and it made for very comfortable flying.  Kanna sounds fun and is natural! A great online store for all things mini and travel size is Minimus.biz.  If everything is mini in your pack you reduce baggage weight then you have left more room in your pack for gifts and mementos.

Please comment, add to this list your tried and true travel medicine kit items! Happy Packing!

Making Injera in San Francisco

Making Injera in Gondar, Ethiopia

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One of the fastest ways to feel like a local when traveling is to eat like a local.  And, sometimes you need to prepare to eat like a local.  In less than 5 months we are embarking on an important trip to Ethiopia.  We still have a few spots left, so its not too late to join us in working towards eradicating obstetric fistula and it’s causes by making media that matters.

One of the most exciting things about Ethiopian culture is the cuisine.  In Ethiopia, there are a few things to learn before sitting down to eat.  Traditional Ethiopian cuisine is eaten with your hand, your right hand, and you shouldn’t get food on your fingers above the knuckles, bad table manners.  Visit eHow’s How To Eat Ethiopian Food for a step by step set of instructions.  Then, go eat with your fingers at the Ethiopian Restaurant near you.  Listed below are Ethiopian restaurants in many of the American cities the current SalaamGarage Ethiopian Team members reside in, including Omaha, Nebraska where there is a much loved Ethiopian market and restaurant!

Common Vegetarian dishes

Where to go for Ethiopian Food…

New York, NY
Zoma
2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd (Harlem near Morningside Park)
Awash
947 Amsterdam Ave (Upper Westside)
Ghenet Brooklyn
348 Douglass St (Park Slope, Gowanus, Brooklyn)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Seattle, WA
Tagla
4423 Rainier Ave. (Columbia City)
Hidmo Eritrean Cuisine
2000 S Jackson St (Central)
Saba
110 12th Ave (Central/Capital Hill)
Assimba
2722 E Cherry St (Central District)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Bete-Lukas in Portland

Portland, OR…
Bete-Lukas Ethiopian Restaurant
2504 SE 50th Ave Ste D (Clinton, Southeast)
E’Njoni
910 N Killingsworth St (North Portland)
Queen of Sheba
2413 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (Northeast)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…
Fasika
510 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul (Hamline – Midway)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

San Francisco, CA
Assab Eritrean Restaurant
2845 Geary Blvd (NOPA)

Axum
698 Haight St (Lower Haight)

New Eritrea Restaurant
907 Irving St. (Inner Sunset)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Omaha, NE…
Ethiopian Restaurant
2555 Leavenworth St. (between 25th and 26th)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Los Angeles, CA…
Awash
5990 1/2 W Pico Blvd (West Los Angeles)

Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant & Market
1036 1/2 S Fairfax Ave (Carthay Sq)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

And finally, the best places in the United States for Ethiopian cuisine is Washington, DC, where the largest population of Ethiopians live outside Ethiopia…

Dukem
1114-1118 U Street NW
(U Street corridor)

Dukem in Baltimore, MD
1100 Maryland Ave.
(Near Mount Royal Station)

Meskerem
2434 18th St NW (Adams Morgan)

Lalibela
1415 14th St NW (Logan Circle)

Etete
1942 9th St NW (U Street corridor)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

a parting shot by Gary Edenfield while he was in Tigray, Ethiopia to drill a well with Charity Water…

Thanks Yelpers!  For more Ethiopian in the United States and Canada visit YELP! Please comment by including your favorite Ethiopian Bars and Restaurants anywhere!

Addis

“At age 11, Addis’ childhood was over. Her education was the first casualty.”

Kidan

“She has plans. But there are other plans. How do you choose between your child’s education and your family’s survival?”

The Girl Effect

“The Girl Effect, n.: The powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.”

Below is a slideshow that was produced for NPR in 2007 that explains obstetric fistula and explores some of the causes.  At the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital lives and livelihoods are saved every day.  Every woman who comes to them with child birth injuries is treated completely free.

Hospital Gives Ethiopian Women a Chance at Care
by Brenda Wilson

Required viewing for all participants: The NOVA Documentary A Walk to Beautiful: “The award winning feature-length documentary A Walk to Beautiful tells the stories of five Ethiopian women who suffer from devastating childbirth injuries and embark on a journey to reclaim their lost dignity. Rejected by their husbands and ostracized by their communities, these women are left to spend the rest of their lives in loneliness and shame. They make the choice to take the long and arduous journey to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in search of a cure and a new life.” (available at Netflix instantly & by mail)

Click here for more from Brenda Wilson for NPR’s All Things Considered

Selam. Peace. Salaam. Shalom.

photo by Rolf Cosar

Yesterday the Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala erupted. Popular TV journalist Anibal Achila was killed by volcanic rocks, about 1,700 people have been displaced, and 3 children are missing.

In less than two months, a SalaamGarage team made up of a select group of citizen journalists (professional and amateur photographers, videographers, bloggers, etc) embark on an exclusive trip to the remote Ixil Triangle in Guatemala.  We are collaborating with NGO Agros International.  Agros provides economic stability and empowerment for farmers and families through land ownership.  The SalaamGarage team will have exclusive access to remote villages where we will create independent projects about the stories unfolding within. Those stories will raise awareness and increase support for Agros’ efforts throughout Central America.

There is 1 spot available for a media maker with the calling to make a big difference for oft neglected and under-served communities of Mayans and other indigenous people in rural Guatemala.  Although the deposit deadline has passed, it is not too late to get onboard. You must email megan@salaamgarage.com asap if you are interested.

Guatemalans always seem to be rebuilding. They have emerged from a 36 year civil war, recovered from landslides, and volcanic eruptions from one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Our stories will help with whatever the aftermath of yesterday’s eruption will be on the already struggling population.

Shot in Guatemala this last July, Noemi and her Mother explain why land ownership has changed their lives in this video: http://www.agros.org/video_gallery.cfm#agrosvideo-4

In addition to visiting villages, we will be exploring the churches and ruins of Antigua, climbing volcano Pacaya if it is safe, observing ancient Mayan rituals in practice at the Chichicastenango market, and staying in “Guatemala’s most magical hotel” on Lake Atitlan.  This is going to be a life changing trip and project.  SalaamGarage founder and internationally renowned documentary photographer Amanda Koster is leading this trip.

SalaamGarage will award the $300 Engage!Refund to 2 Guatemala trip participants who create and follow through on a plan of action utilizing their media production skills to support Agros villages.

All SalaamGarage participants get:
-A SalaamGarage “stories” site.  Stories.SalaamGarage.com is a media share site for those looking to organize and share media gathered during their trip. It works just like a wordpress blog but you get the broader audience.  An example is here: http://stories.salaamgarage.com/michael/
-Refer-a-friend $200 discount on your next trip.
-All past travelers automatically receive a $200 discount
-Free Blurb book, click here for more BLURB partnership info
-Special fund raising support and opportunities exclusive to SalaamGarage participants

Pacaya Volcano on a gentler day

Join us in creating media projects and raising awareness about Agros International’s unique land-lending model that is empowering rural families to pull themselves out of poverty.

This is a great week. Blurb and SalaamGarage began an official partnership. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Blurb, the company has revolutionized the way people can self-publish books of their work be it photographs, illustrations, words, etc.

Let me back up. Our India09 travelers self published a book “India as witnessed by 10 citizen journalists” using Blurb.  They rounded up photos and some very powerful personal stories, got it together and published a book!  Proceeds from the book will support the work of Vatsalya, the SalaamGarage NGO partner in India.

From there, we realized Blurb would make a great partner. Our participants always produce amazing content, and the content is ultimately for the greater good: inspiring stories of social entrepreneurs around the world. Each story is more compelling than the next.

What company doesn’t want to be associated with powerful content and inspiring stories? None.

So, through a few contacts and a Facebook call-out borne was an e-intro between myself and Blurb. From there, Blurb and I talked about what made sense for both of our organizations and a partnership was born.  And this is a really sweet relationship, here is the gist of it:

All SalaamGarage travelers will receive a coupon for a free book of their own content created on their SalaamGarage trip. The coupon is roughly the cost of a standard landscape hardcover book with up to 120 pages. In addition, Blurb will provide another coupon code for 20% off future books. Each participant can use the coupon up to five times!

In addition, for each trip, Blurb will sponsor and contract a Blurb+SalaamGarage specific designer for the creation of a book, combining all participants work. The book will be available through the Blurb bookstore and all proceeds go to the non-profit.

And if that doesn’t excite you enough, Blurb will feature the SalaamGarage project books in their bookstore, and will feature books created by the individual journalists!

And the cherry on top, Blurb will also feature any SalaamGarage book projects on their Facebook and Twitter feeds, and take copies of the books with us when we attend events where it’s appropriate. (They said their CEO was at a TED conference in February, and definitely would have taken one if they’d had it!)

And last, Blurb will also feature the project books and interviews with myself and people who attended the SalaamGarage trips on their blog:http://blog.blurb.com/.

This is awesome to say the least and we are all very excited and grateful.  All of this is included when you travel with SalaamGarage. Seriously, now is the time to jump on. Trips are filling, more partnerships are on the horizon and more press is underway. Shabam.

This new partnership begins with our upcoming Guatemala trip, and we have 2 spots left. Want to get published, work with amazing photographers, have your work featured in the Blurb worldwide ecosystem? I’ve been working as a photographer for 15 years and never found an opportunity like this when building my career and self: rare access to social entrepreneurship, innovative, native projects, amazing fellow travelers, solid mentorship on how to let your work out here, and now, guaranteed way to be published and publicized.

2 spots left for Guatemala, and Ethiopia trip now booking. Are you ready to take the leap and truly make a difference? Join us.

Cheers, Amanda

Buy the BOOK and help Vatsalya:

OMG, this is so exciting – our trip to the Ixil Triangle in Guatemala is just around the corner.  So far, we have an amazingly talented and diverse team of 4 citizen journalists that will be joining SG founder & internationally known photographer Amanda Koster this July!  For Jody, Great Phebe, Sam, and Mira – and anyone else interested in filling our final 2 spots – here is some prep advice as we get closer to our date of departure.

Guatemala: Getting Ready

FAST FACTS

Population 13.1 million

Area 108,890 sq km (smaller than the US state of Louisiana, a bit bigger than England)

Capital Guatemala City

Head of state President Álvaro Colom

Time: Local time is GMT -6.

Language: The official language is Spanish but English is understood in hotels and tourist destinations. Many indigenous languages are also spoken.

TRAVELING TO GUATEMALA

Visa:  North American citizens need only a valid passport

Vaccinations: You are responsible for vaccinations being up to date.
Please read this Guatemala destination page at the United States Centers for Disease Control

Money: Guatemala’s currency, the quetzal (ket-sahl, abbreviated to Q), is fairly stable at around Q7.5 = US$1. The quetzal is divided into 100 centavos.  Print off this handy USD-Quetzal conversion pocket guide

Getting Cash – You’ll find ATMs (cash machines, cajeros automáticos) for Visa/Plus System cards and MasterCard/Cirrus in all but the smallest towns.  Bring Amex US-dollar traveler’s checks (order online) or limited amounts of US cash as a backup.  Some towns suffer from change shortages: always try to carry a stash of small bills.

Tipping: Generally a 10% tip is recommended for good service by waiters, hotel staff and tour guides in Guatemala.

Local Customs: Guatemalans wave goodbye in a unique manner, which looks similar to someone fanning themselves. The hand is raised, palm facing the body and fingers are waved back and forth, together as if in a mitten. Ask permission before taking photographs of strangers, particularly of children.

Communications: The international access code for Guatemala is +502. There are generally surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is cheaper to use calling cards. Rates are generally less expensive after 7pm. Mobile phones work in the major towns and cities on a GSM network, but check that your network operator has a roaming agreement covering Guatemala. Internet cafes are available in the main tourist areas.

Electricity: Electrical current is 115-125 volts, 60Hz. A variety of plugs are used including the flat two-pin, flat three-pin & the UK-style three-pin.  If you have a laptop, camera or video camera that does not accept this current and plug style, you will need a voltage converter & adapter.  REI sells eagle creek’s kit

Preparations & Precautions:
I scan my passport, drivers license, and credit cards. Then, print it all out to carry in a different bag than the originals. I also advise emailing those scans to yourself in case everything is lost you can access those documents from almost anywhere with an internet cafe.

Tips on Safe Eating/Drinking:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating.  If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol).
• Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles.  Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Do not eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Make sure food is fully cooked.
• Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
• Only eat fruits when peeled and veggies when cooked

Traveler’s Stomach or “Icky PooPoos” as Mom Calls It:
Be prepared for travelers stomach; diarrhea and/or vomiting caused by bacteria in food. Antibiotics should generally only be taken in severe cases. Ciprofloxacin, also known as Cipro, and Norfloxacin are the two most common antibiotics for this. It is safe to discontinue taking these antibiotic as soon as symptoms cease unlike with other antibiotics. You may want to ask your doctor to prescribe antibiotics to take along just in case. I always pack Immodium anti-diarrhea pills and a laxative like Dulcolax. (traveling causes digestive upset in both directions sometimes!)

Weather:
Because of its consistently temperate climate, Guatemala has been called the “Land of Eternal Spring.” Expect temperatures in the 60s-70s with occasional rain during the day and clear skies at night.  Rainy season invites lots of bugs – so come prepared with light weight long-sleeved shirts and pants and plenty of insect repellant.

With several successful trips under out belt, lots of content created, travelers repeatedly saying ‘this was the trip of a lifetime,’ we seriously want to vamp up sharing your experiences and the stories you create. Why? Because we know for sure it changes peoples lives.

We envision SalaamGarage participants deeply engaging their communities with their projects and experiences from their trip.  Because we truly believe in the intrinsic value of ‘show and tell,’ we challenge the SalaamGarage travelers. This is an opportunity. We so want to see the amazing content created by SalaamGarage travelers reach far and wide that we rolled out the Engage! Refund. (for you!)

In a nutshell, if you can come up with a plan to get your projects out in a way that will engage your community and have a powerful impact, we will refund your trip $300.

Need some examples of a plan? Write a series of articles for your local newspaper. Give a presentation at (ex.) an Ignite or Slideluck Potshow event or other conference/non-conferences. Present your photos and project from you trip your church or you child’s school, invite their parents, invite the press (they’ll come)! Create a campaign by engaging your local community to support the efforts of the NGOs we visit. A campaign can be to send 50 children from the NGO you visit with us to school for a year through your (ex.) book club or your church- even better, make it an annual goal. Create an online fundraiser to support the construction of a health clinic for the NGO, get credit at your university, work it into your major… there are unlimited possibilities. It’s all possible!

Get out of your comfort zone, reach out, speak up, engage, inspire, cause change and have an impact. Make the most of your SalaamGarage experience by sharing with and engaging your community. It’s all about what you can do, and you can do a lot!

Here are the details:

SalaamGarage accepts 20 applications on a first-come-first-serve basis and awards 7 solid projects per-trip.

Please contact hello@salaamgarage.com to request an application.

Steps:
1) Pay your $500 deposit (via paypal).
2) Choose your project from the website.
3) Email us your request for an application at hello@salaamgarage.com.
4) Receive approval.
4) Book and pay for the trip (go anyway!).
5) Complete your project, reach your goal within your deadline and SalaamGarage will refund you $300.

Projects:
Your project should have realistic goals as to how you plan to make the most powerful impact in your community. Posting a blog entry isn’t enough, Facebook links and photo albums aren’t enough, a few tweets aren’t enough. You will need a solid plan for your project with a timeline, goals, deadlines, collaborates, desired outcome, etc. (and remember: KISS)