It's hard to comprehend the meaning of the words 'bare necessities' until you see the reality. The small clinic where our Wasaidizi health workers in DR Congo have long volunteered, has beds but no mattresses, babies but no cribs.

The clinic has recently been blessed with several sets of twins that are lined up side-by-side on a bed (with a mattress thank goodness!) because there are no cribs.

We're working to help upgrade the facilities. Last year donors generously contributed to provide mattresses and equipment for six small birthing centers along the Luapula River in the rural area. Now it's time to provide critically needed items for a small center in the city of Lubumbashi. Josephine, our DR Congo supervisor, is preparing a list of needs and costs for us to discuss when we meet with her in Zambia in June. I'm quite sure she'll have no trouble coming up with a long list.

We're super excited about our new global partnership! Friends in French Polynesia who own pearl farms donated some of their less-than-perfect pearls to HealthEd Connect. We in turn sent them to Zambia where the health workers turned them into lovely little 'casual' suede lace necklaces. We introduced this new jewelry line at a HealthEd Connect event in April and immediately sold out!

What a great international partnership! Pearls from French Polynesia, artisans in Zambia, and buyers in the U.S.A. All to provide income generating programs for those in need with profits going to support schools for orphans and vulnerable children.