Please join us for an evening of...
๐น Delicious drinks... aguas frescas for cocktails and refreshments provided by JuiceLand, vodka provided by Tito's, beer from Austin Beerworks!
๐ข Delectable Peruvian nibbles from Killa Wasi http://killawasiatx.com
๐บ A silent auction of one-of-a-kind indigenous art from communities of the Peruvian Amazon (photos coming soon!)
๐ A raffle with awesome prizes from local businesses
๐๐ฝ And of course, Latin tunes for your dancin' pleasure!
Las Cruxes has generously offered to host us in their beautiful space in East Austin. Attire is party casual. Come as you are!
About our cause:
All proceeds go towards a new family planning program with Amazon Promise (AP), that I (Olivia Wellborn) am spearheading. For over 25 years,
AP medical teams have traveled by boat, raft, canoe and helicopter to set up full-service clinics in communities in and around the jungle city of Iquitos, Peru, providing treatment for ailments ranging from parasites to Parkinson’s. They also provide cervical cancer screening and treatment, train village healthcare workers, and install rainwater catchment and composting toilet systems in villages that have no access to clean water. The deep trust and long-standing relationships they have created within these communities over the last 25 years really sets AP apart.
I have just returned from my second medical trip with AP and am proud to say that we have made great progress already towards providing long-term dependable birth control to women who previously had no access. I conducted a needs assessment in which I interviewed the women in our clinics about their history of childbearing and their history of contraceptive use. What I found was surprising in some ways. The religious and cultural taboos that I had expected to find simply did not show up in my conversations with women. Virtually all of the women actively wanted to prevent another pregnancy, whether they were 18 with one child or 38 with eight children. A large majority of women had tried some form of modern contraception already; their main problem was keeping up with pills or injections while living so far from the nearest clinic. Working as the lab technician, I had many tearful conversations with women who were terrified and desperate after finding out (from me) that they were pregnant with an unplanned child.
An excellent TED Talk by Melinda Gates about the crucial role of family planning in development and in saving the lives of women and children all over the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BOTS9GAjc4&feature=youtu.be
Our program will focus on the Implanon contraceptive implant that is placed under the skin of the arm and reliably prevents pregnancy for three years. This is a method that most women outside of the city have never had access to, yet it is ideal for many of them given that access to a clinic on a regular basis is the main barrier. Abortion is illegal in Peru, so that has never been and never will be on the table.
We plan to do our first family-planning-focused trip in November. Funds raised with this campaign and event will go towards project costs which include: Peruvian medical professionals, transportation (boat drivers and fuel), medicines/medical supplies, logistical staff, food, and administrative costs. The goal is for family planning to become an integral and on-going part of the services AP, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health of Loreto, Peru, offers on every trip.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope that you will support this important project by making a contribution today, and I hope to see you at the party!
Saludos y gracias,
Olivia Wellborn
