Year End Message

The year of 2007 presented itself as a challenge to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Sao Tome and Principe. After a 2 year successful malaria fight program, where ADRA was able to raise awareness for the use of mosquito nets to over 90% of the population and through social marketing strategies bring mosquito nets into 52% of the households, our malaria fight objectives had been reached and even if we would continue to support to the national malaria strategy, our attention had to be refocused on other priorities.
Facing change and building on our strengths: community development, maternal and child health care and strong communication strategies, was the motto for the New Year.
Our local partners and our donors, such as the ADRA network, the American and Finish Governments, Chevron, individuals, were included in this strategic change of our operations, and we received the confirmation of their trust and nearly doubled the funding received in the previous year, and reaching the historical mark of half a million dollars for our development objectives. The agency was able to invest in training for national health personnel, NGOs and communities; provide clean water and basic sanitation for many; partner with women giving them a chance to start prosperous businesses; provide access to new and better equipped health facilities to isolated communities; strengthen local small organizations and reinforce partnerships; and for the first time in Sao Tome having a purely HIV/AIDS project in the country, in an area we believe will bring added value to the national strategy.
We are now looking ahead to next year’s challenges, knowing that even greater change is to come, but also knowing that those will bring greater opportunities to serve.

Thank you for your interest and support,







Emanuel G. da Costa
Country Director
ADRA Sao Tome and Principe

Health Care for All in Caué

The last day of October was a day filled with hope for a third of the population of the most isolated district of the island of Sao Tome, Caue. Out of the 3 administrative health areas of the district, only the population of the region of Ribeira Peixe didn’t have access to permanent health services, having to travel for long distances or wait several days for treatment. Through the contribution of the AWARE project (http://www.aware-rh.org/) in Sao Tome and Principe, funded by USAID and implemented by ADRA, it was possible to inaugurate the Health Post of Ribeira Peixe.
The opening of the Health Post was anticipated with excitement by the population, health authorities and the central government, all of whom were represented at the ceremony at the highest levels.
The district health delegate’s excitement for the quality of work accomplished was visible in his words, “… I hope that in the near future, the central hospital in Angolares will shine as brightly as this health center. Entering the facility, one would think that he is in a first world country …”
The donor was represented by a local US Embassy representative, the USAID West Africa regional office, and a regional AWARE representative. Dr. Fatimata Diabate, representing the AWARE/USAID delegation, manifested her satisfaction for the outcomes achieved by the project in Sao Tome and Principe and the excellent collaboration between the project and the national and district health authorities.
After thanking USAID, AWARE and ADRA, the minister of Health, Dr. Arlindo Carvalho, closed the ceremony by appealing to the good relations and strong collaboration between the health personnel and the community.
This ADRA project’s ongoing activities include renovating 1 Hospital, 2 Health Centers, and 8 Community Health Posts; training and equipment will be provided to health personnel and communities in a combined strategy to increase the access and quality of Health services in Caue and the Island of Principe.

ADRA STP Page Ranking

According to Techweb.com page ranking defines as "...the priority given to the placement of a link on the results page of a Web search." ADRA STP is proud to present a site report given by Netcraft.com the page rank of 6,147,835. We are hoping to increase the web popularity in order to promote awareness to fight poverty and promote development in Sao Tome and Principe.

AWARE Reinforces Local NGO's

Reinforcing the capacity of local NGO's was built into the scope of the AWARE Project, which is funded by USAID and implemented by ADRA-STP. "While there is a considerable number of NGO’s (81) registered in the National Federation of NGO’s (FONG), one of the major setbacks in the fight against poverty and promotion of development in São Tomé and Príncipe is the reduced number of NGO’s with capacity to implement effective programs, especially in the health sector," writes Emanuel G. Costa, Country Director for ADRA-STP and one of the primary authors of the AWARE Project. To address this, the AWARE project organized three training sessions for local NGO's in August: one in Project Proposal, one in Monitoring and Evaluation, and one in Financial Management. More than 25 local NGO's sent representatives to the training sessions. AWARE contracted several professional consulting agencies to conduct the trainings, which were attended by over 30 people on most days.

But reinforcement of capacity doesn't stop with trainings. "I am very happy to announce that we will be entering into partnership with four local NGO's as a result of these trainings," writes Dr. Adam D. Kiš, AWARE Project Director. "We have set aside funds within our budget to be awarded as subgrants to local NGO's, who will use the funds to help achieve specific AWARE Project objectives, such as constructing community health posts. Now, because of the training sessions provided by AWARE, these NGO's have been empowered to write good proposals and will have practical opportunities to practice good financial management and monitoring and evalution through implementing their subgrant activities."

At the end of the final training session, a certification ceremony was held to acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of all involved. The ceremony was covered in the news by the national television company, and this news coverage can be viewed in the video clip at the top of this blog entry. If the embedded video is not working, you can click here to view it in a separate browser window.

NOTICE: This video clip was purchased by ADRA-STP (the Adventist Development and Relief Agency – São Tomé e Príncipe) with USAID/AWARE funds (the United States Agency for International Development/Action for West Africa Region Project) from TVS (Televisão Sãotomense), the national television company of São Tomé e Príncipe. ADRA-STP wishes to give full credit to TVS for filming all parts of the video clip, and for cropping, deleting, editing, narrating, and otherwise formatting the final content of this video clip.

AWARE Project Receives Donation

ADRA STP's AWARE-RH Project (Action for West Africa Region - Reproductive Health) recently received a large donation of medical equipment (valued at nearly $25,000) from the AWARE-RH headquarters. Funded by USAID (US Agency for International Development) and implemented through AWARE-RH and EngenderHealth, ADRA STP's AWARE-RH Project aims to rehabilitate sagging health clinics, construct new clinics in areas without one, and boost the quality of healthcare received through providing health skills refresher training and sustainable employment to health clinic workers.

This shipment is the final piece of the puzzle that enables the AWARE-RH Project to inaugurate and open the Ribeira Peixe Health Post, which was built many years ago, but languished without the finishing touches necessary to operate. Part of this shipment will also go to bolster the functionality of Hospital Dr. Manuel Quaresma Dias da Graça, the only hospital on Príncipe island. "We are deeply grateful for this generous donation," writes the AWARE-RH Project Director for ADRA STP, Dr. Adam D. Kiš. "This equipment is very badly needed in our intervention areas, and we would have had to pay exorbitantly for what we received as a free gift instead."

10,004 Website Visits

ADRA STP website started around November 8, 2006 with an "Under Construction" sign. As the months progressed, we kept track of who placed a mark on our map. Each time a new dot was placed on the map overwhelmed us with happiness.

As of today, July 3, 2007, ADRA STP website is proud to announce 10,004 visitors and would like to thank all those who have made this happen. In commemoration of this event, we have created a new look to make your next visit more memorable.

The image that is placed with this article, is the official print screen image of our valued 10,004 visitors to our website. Again, we thank you for making this happen. We hope to see you with us soon and we appreciate your comments/suggestions. You can comment by either commenting on our articles or signing our guestbook.

STP welcomes new project director

ADRA STP announces the arrival of the Project Director for the AWARE project, part of a regional USAID/AWARE program. “We are delighted to welcome Adam, his wife Kristi and their son Zachary into the ADRA STP family. Adam has the skills to successfully lead our main project and contribute greatly to the overall mission of our office.” says Emanuel Costa, country director for ADRA Sao Tome and Principe.

Adam and his family - first day in Sao Tome

Adam Daniel Kiš, the new Project Director for the USAID/AWARE health project in São Tomé and Príncipe, has previously worked in Benin with Adventist Frontier Missions (student missionary), Malawi with the University of Florida (Master’s research on AIDS), and Guinea (Conakry) with ADRA (Deputy Country Director and HIV/AIDS Technical Assistant) and the University of Florida (doctoral dissertation research on AIDS). Adam received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Florida in May 2007. Adam has also taught anthropology courses as a contract teacher at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. His wife, Kristi, grew up in Malawi for 13 years as a missionary kid; their 21-month-old son, Zachary, will be the fourth generation family member to grow up overseas while his parents work for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We are excited to be here in São Tomé and Príncipe and are eager to work for ADRA,” Adam writes. “We look forward to collaborating with local officials to achieve the goals of the AWARE project and to increasing the capacity of people living and working in Caué and Príncipe to serve their communities better.”

Promoting Beans

As a response to ADRA's rural Magazine, “Actividade Rural”, three communities started a pilot experience with beans production.

Small farmer signing a contract and taking ownership over the intervention

“Actividade Rural” is a quarterly, high quality, glossy magazine, published since June 2004, with its main objective the promotion of the exchange of information between small farmers in the rural communities of Sao Tome and Principe. This intervention is completed by a National Radio program and provides field technical support to small farmers. This intervention is financed by ADRA Canada (http://www.adra.ca/).

The interest created in several small farmers, as a response to articles published in magazine Number 7, led ADRA to choose 3 neighbor communities to be supported (Plancas Primeira, Plancas Segunda and Santa Luzia) with around 25 Kg of been seeds. This will cover a total cultivated area of 4 hectares with a potential production of 1.5 Tones of beans. The actual price of beans is around USD 1.9 per kilogram, having an attractive potential income for the farmers involved. If this experience is well succeeded it will be enlarged in amount of support and in number of communities involved.

The most recent magazine, covering the months of April to June 2007, promotes and teaches techniques to improve the cultures of avocado and peanut; equally are promoted the use of vitamin A, the protection of the environment and apiculture. In the first quarter of 2007, 94 workshops were held and 24 communities benefited from technical expertise, over 1800 persons participated in the ADRA program during that quarter.

Worker's Day at ADRA

May 1st, the International Worker’s Day or Day of the International Solidarity of Workers, was marked by a tea party, promoted by the Event Committee of ADRA STP.

As the representative of the Event Committee, Conceição Agatti, explained in the opening speech, “… the objectives of this tea party are to promote the unity between coworkers so we can be not only colleagues but an ADRA family.”

ADRA STP Event Committee

The event was held in a brand new ADRA compound space, an open hall with multipurpose objectives such as recreation, workshops and meetings.

ADRA STP coumpound - the red circle identifies the new multipurpose space

President of ADRA Int.Testifies Before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee

On March 21, 2007, Charles Sandefur, president of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, testified before the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Sandefur’s testimony highlighted the need for continued U.S. funding of food security programs around the world.
Sandefur appeared before the Senate committee as chair of the Alliance for Food Aid. Founded in 2006, the Alliance is a group of U.S.-based private voluntary organizations and cooperatives (PVOs) actively involved in food security initiatives in 120 countries. The Alliance’s fourteen members include ADRA, Africare, American Red Cross, Food for the Hungry International, International Relief & Development, Project Concern International, and World Vision.

For more information you may read the full article at: http://www.adra.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr005=06c80lhea2.app14b&page=NewsArticle&id=7597&news_iv_ctrl=1141

Water for Novo Destino

The World Water Day, celebrated on the 22nd March had as the theme for this year “Coping with Water Scarcity”.
Even if there are sufficient physical water resources in Sao Tome and Principe, the population face water scarcity as access to water is difficult and requires a great deal of effort in most of the country.

ADRA STP funded by Chevron Texaco JDZ, partnered with the community of Novo Destino, and through a massive participation of the community that leaded all components of the project, was able to bring clean water to the community through 2500 meters of pipes and two water tanks that collect water from a mountain set in the Rain Forest that surrounds the community.
The official opening of the water system was schedule for the World Water Day, and the occasion, which had large coverage from the media, was used to draw attention to the water problems felt in the country.
At the ceremony the leader of the community, Sr. Domingos, mentioned how crucial the long term partnership with ADRA has been and how important the involvement of the community as a leading part of the planning, management and implementation of the project was to the successful achievement of the objectives.
The ADRA country director, Emanuel Costa, mentioned the important role of the community and the very constructive partnership with the corporation ChevronTexaco JDZ, that maid possible the project. At the same occasion Emanuel Costa, announced the launching of two other components of the project in Novo Destino – Sanitation and the Health Post establishment. Those two new components were possible due to the involvement and committed work of the community.
Before inaugurating the Water system, Chevron Texaco director, Timothy Parsons, mentioned the importance of this water system in this community and the need the system has for maintenance so it may continue to serve the more than 250 persons living in this community.

To conclude the ceremony the community offered to all present a wonderful meal of cooked bananas and dry fish.
Other than the presence of all the members of the community at the inauguration, to highlight the participation of the Mayor of the District, the Water National Director, and national and international media (with coverage from TVS and RTP Africa).
The Integrated Project is also being implemented in the larger community of Monte Café and has several components: water, sanitation, health, education, roads, electricity, and agriculture and income generation. Each component is depending on the success of the previous and on the involvement of the community members.

Ending impunity for violence against women

The International Women’s Day, March 8th, was celebrated in a very particular way in Sao Tome and Principe. To express their concern to the issues raised and support to the United Nations theme for this year “Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls”, many women and men participated in several marches, that ocurred in every distrit of São Tome and Principe.
ADRA STP, an active member of the National Committee for the 8th March 2007 to 8th March 2008 activities, coordinated by the Minister of Labour Solidarity Woman and Family, participated in the coordination of the events, supported its logistics and produced/financed the printing of 10.000 leaflets with information advocating for the end of impunity for violence against women and girls
The women and girls of the Project Developping Women’s Competencies, decided to state their position for this commemoration and more than 100 participate in the march of the district of Cantagalo. Their organized presence was noted and made a difference, as the Cantagalo Mayor, Mr. Jorge Dias Correia” stated: “ADRA is a close partner of our District. We thank the good work ADRA is doing in our communities”.

The Project Developping women’s and girls competencies is implemented in two Districts, Cantagalo and Caué, where we work with more than 500 women and girls, divided in 14 Associations. They are trained in more than 15 Health Themes, learn about women’s rights and participation in a democratic society, gain small businesses management skills; and each association is supported with an Income Generating Activity. The project is financed by the Government of Finland and the Finish ADRA office

Official Closing of successful Malaria Project

On Friday 23, ADRA STP held the official closing ceremony of the Project: “Social Marketing of ITN’s for Sao Tome and Principe”.
This ceremony was officially opened by R. Barrie Walkley, Ambassador of the United Stated of America to Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe, and closed by the Minister of Health, Arlindo Carvalho. Both interventions focused on the crucial role the use of mosquito nets have in the fight against Malaria and the importance this intervention had in the reduction of Malaria cases in the country.
The main project activities was the subsidized distribution of 22500 Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets and 31000 impregnation kits for the existing non insecticide treated nets, this distribution was made trough a commercial network of over 40 outlets covering the all country, and in 6 of the Public Health network 7 districts.
The project also educated on the higher risk groups and protective behaviors against malaria. Some of the methods used were: dramatized presentations in over 72 communities, community workshops in over 120 communities, and workshops for specific professional groups every two months for over 2 years, the production of thousands of informative posters, leaflets, booklets, bumper stickers, and mass media campaigns in the radio and TV.
The more striking results of the final evaluation survey, showed that beside the significant increase in knowledge on the importance of using Insecticidal nets and of the higher risk groups concerning malaria, the program was able to put mosquito nets in 52% of the households in the country and making 92% of the population informed on the importance of the use of Mosquito Nets and informed of the certified Long Lasting Mosquito net used by the program.
During this program ADRA STP was the local implementing organization partnered with PSI (http://www.psi.org/) and worked in close collaboration with the CNE (Ministry of Health Malaria Program). This project was funded by the United States Department of State through its Embassy in Libreville.

For more pictures of this project go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/adrast/SocialMarketingLongLastingInsecticidalNetsFightingMalaria

ADRA STP member of the ALC

ADRA Sao Tome and Principe Country Director, Emanuel Costa, returned Sunday 17th February from Kigali, Rwanda, where he attended the first ADRA Leadership Council (ALC).
Upon his return, Emanuel Costa, mentioned the importance of the opportunity given to ADRA STP to participate in this crucial event, which will contribute, to define the future of the international network up to 2012. ADRA will reinforce its positions as a high performance organization recognized for its high standard Community Development practices and its capacity to continue providing a rapid response in emergency situations.

For more information read the article “Rwanda President Attends Inaugural Session of ADRA Leadership Council” in www.adra.org:

http://www.adra.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr001=3shq57t6t1.app14b&page=NewsArticle&id=7529&news_iv_ctrl=1141

Forty-two Families

ADRA STP recently concluded forty-two latrines to benefit forty-two families in the community of Praia Melão. This investment in health and sanitation was possible through a US Embassy grant.
Praia Melão is situated at the south of the capital city of São Tomé and Principe and is mainly a fishing community. During the last country wide cholera outbreak, in Praia Melão alone were reported close to 4% of the total cases, accounting as one of the most affected communities in the country.
ADRA developed an adapted latrine due to the strong cultural resistance to use regular pit latrines. The ADRA latrines are provided with a water seal and are no longer called latrines but restrooms by the beneficiary families; many have improved their latrines with toilet seats or floor tiles.
Soon after the Cholera outbreak ADRA STP started to build these culturally adapted latrines in Praia Melão and the Community of Saudade. With the support of UNICEF, the Canadian Embassy and ADRA Portugal, more than 150 latrines have been constructed to date by ADRA since the Cholera Outbreack.
You can see more pictures of this program visiting our GALLERY (FIGHTING CHOLERA folder) at http://www.adra.st/

The Police and the Nurse

Last Friday morning, a police officer from Angolares, the capital town of the district of Caué, the poorest district of the Island of Sao Tome, followed and stopped Nurse Ana Maria, an ADRA STP worker.
Ana Maria is the responsible person for the ADRA project activities with women and girls in the district of Caué where she works directly with 6 women and girls associations, promoting health, education, income generating and women rights and participation in the society.
After the initial surprise for having been followed by the police – nurse Ana was informed that the Women and Girls from the ADRA supported association from the community of Ribeira Peixe had filled an official complaint and were requesting action from the police.
The reason for the complaint was that after the association organized a cleaning activity in the community, a person from the community defecated in one of the places that had been cleaned. The group decided to make a stand point, denouncing the situation to the police and making everyone know that they stand by new values and that the cleaning of their community protect them, their children and everyone else against diseases like cholera.
With the intervention of nurse Ana, the situation was resolved but the stand point was made and a clear message was sent, the women from Ribeira Peixe stand for hygiene practices.
The project - developing women’s and girls competencies - is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and ADRA Finland.

Small Libraries for Children

On January 18, ADRA STP received a 20 ft. container filled with educational and other child related materials.
Among those:
- 480 boxes of educational books and magazines.
- Several volumes of didactic materials
- 110 boxes with new sport shoes from the brand “Status”
The materials were donated through ADRA Portugal by families and private companies.
The major activity to achieve will be the creation and amelioration of small libraries in schools in the districts of Caué, Cantagalo and Pagué (Principe). All other materials will be distributed to child support institutions and Primary schools from the rural areas.
In 2004 ADRA STP, implemented a similar project establishing 4 small libraries in Sao Tomé and 2 in the Island of Principe. After more than two years, all 6 small libraries continue functioning and providing access to books to hundreds of children’s.

ADRA office in Principe (test post)

With around 6.000 persons and even fewer opportunities than their fellow countrymen of Sao Tome, the inhabitants of Principe face the same problems lived in Sao Tome aggravated by its extreme isolation.
ADRA STP has been active in the Island of Principe but with intermittent activities and without any possibility of following through its interventions.
With the support of AWARE-RH and with funding from USAID, ADRA will establish an office in the Island to serve as base for a Health System and Community Strengthening project.
The ADRA Project Administrator for Principe – Jordão da Neves – will represent ADRA and serve as a link with the central office in order to allow the agency to better respond to the needs and promote the development of the Island of Principe. Jordão das Neves has been serving for the last 4 years as the ADRA project coordinator for an Education project and has been appointed for other functions as serving as a Consultant linking the UNICEF Offices and the Implementing Partners at the Government level.
“The upcoming opportunity to open an office extending our activities in Principe is a dream we have been pursuing and that will finally allow us to truly be called ADRA Sao Tomé and Príncipe, … ,Principe is one of the most beautiful Islands in the Atlantic and we feel privileged to be able to support its development and its people.” said Emanuel Costa, country director of ADRA.