Annual Report - Ascend Alliance

“My field experience with ASCEND was
exceptional and incredibly valuable!”
–John Piccolo, Intern to Bolivia
Business Student
Above: Expedition participants teach
basic health and hygiene concepts as
villagers in Peru wait to see a health
care worker.
Below: Teri Peterson greets girls waiting
to see a health care worker in Ethiopia
during the June Expedition.
“The progress in Ethiopia is really
exciting! The expedition was great and
I feel fortunate to have the opportunity
to stay on as an intern for four months
to continue to work with these wonderful,
humble people.”
–Aaron Felix,
Expedition Participant and Intern
16 ASCEND ANNUAL REPORT
EXPEDITION FIELD NOTES
PERU, MARCH 2006 • LIMA, CUSCO AREA
Two excursions to Peru kicked off the expeditions of 2006. During these two weeks of
medical service, volunteers from both the U.S. and Peru saw hundreds of patients in
Huaycan near Lima, Cusco, Anta, Huayacocha and Santiago near Cusco. Volunteers
performed multiple life-altering surgeries, diagnosed infections and diseases, restored
healthy smiles to those in need of dental care, and also worked with children teaching
personal hygiene. Volunteers visited orphanages to serve the medical needs of the children,
and even a large farm where a veterinarian was able to provide needed service to the
animals. Participants shared similar feelings: Our hearts ached seeing the need of the
people. We were very humbled. However, we were joyful all the while through seeing the
hope and thanksgiving on the faces of the Peruvians we were able to serve.
eXPeDitiOn leADer: Chad Fugate PArticiPAntS, GrOuP 1: Darcy Anderson;
Mark, Carolyn, Mark, Liza & Paul Baker; Peter, Alison & Graham Bippart; Helena &
Lane Callister; Linette Chaviz; Rose Davis; Luke Devoe; Ronna Dueling; Kelesi Felt;
Shawn Figueroa; Emily Foster; Grace & Lance Jacobsen; Steven & Mary Klingler; Kami
Lentz; Stuart Marshall; Charles, Elaine, Janet, Audrena & Shannon Merrell, Rodney &
Craig Parrish; Elyse Peterson; Luanne Red; Sarah Schneider; Kristen & Tausha Scott;
Jemela Snarr; Michealla Solomon; John Williams; Barbara Woods; Shad Johnson; Linda,
Isaac & Jessica Bramwell; Gary & Georgia Griffin; Natalie Haskell; Elizabeth Nielson.
PArticiPAntS, GrOuP 2: Loralyn Christensen; Matt London; Deanne Long;
Melanie Morgan; Jim & Lynley Rowan; Tina Dietz; Ronald, Rhonda & Ron Gardner;
Spencer & Steven McClellan; Emilee Miles; Gordon Simpson; Carole Stevens; Abbie
Wolfley; Stephen & Katheryn Schmid; Linda, Isaac & Jessica Bramwell; Gary & Georgia
Griffin; Natalie Haskell; Elizabeth Nielson.
ETHIOPIA, APRIL 2006 • WAYO, ARSI NEGELLE
During the April Ethiopia expedition, participants trained 120 community workers from
20 villages. Motivated by the expedition’s arrival, villagers had already begun work on the
Ethiopia Regional Training and Health Center being constructed in Wayo. Community
members, workers and staff prepared a garden plot, built a VIP latrine and set up field tents
for the medical clinic and training sessions. Over 5500 villagers were treated and trained in
basic health, hygiene and nutrition. Many villagers were fitted with glasses, and the surgical
team with U.S. and Ethiopian surgeons addressed vital surgeries. Community workers
fine-tuned their skills in drip irrigation gardening, enterprise training, savings groups and
micro-credit programs, health issues, health practicums, and human rights education.
eXPeDitiOn leADerS: Carolyn Dailey & Ray Price PArticiPAntS: Jack Williams,
Leah Maestro, Steve Wiscomb, Aaron Felix, Graig Moffat, Tres & Karen Romney, Rachel
Dailey, Jeff & Kathy Anderson, Jay Bosshardt, Ben Bradley, Gordon & Geoff Glade; Tim,
Nancy & Emily Layton; Kathy Moffat, Ann Orton, Matt Price, Diane Simmons; Shyanne
Tibbitts.
ETHIOPIA, JUNE 2006 • GUBETA ARJO
We began our expedition by teaching over 130 community workers and seeing villagers
in the medical and health/teaching tents. We held English and accounting courses for
community members as well. Our nurses, along with a few local Ethiopian