#DifferenceMakers Susannah Schaefer – Chief SmileMaker at Smile Train

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Executive Vice Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer, Smile Train

Susannah Schaefer is Executive Vice Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer of Smile Train, an international organization focused on empowering local medical professionals to provide free cleft lip and/or palate surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally.

Susannah joined Smile Train in February 2013, after serving as a member of the organization’s Board for over ten years.  In her role as CEO, she leads Smile Train’s vision to expand access to healthcare and increase local capacity in countries in which Smile Train helps children. During her time as CEO, Susannah led an organizational rebrand, seeded funding for hundreds of thousands of new smiles, expanded cleft surgical training and education programs throughout the world and helped to establish organizational partnerships in Haiti and Rwanda. In addition, Susannah led the team in developing Smile Train’s ground-breaking Virtual Surgery Simulator, further accelerating cleft surgical training and enhancing the organization’s “teach a man to fish” model.

Susannah came to Smile Train after almost twenty years in operational roles, bringing a vast network and past experiences to the team. Previously, Susannah served as Vice President, Director of International Marketing at CA Technologies, where she led implementation of the company’s international marketing strategies. Earlier in her career, Susannah was the Director of Marketing, Asia for CA Technologies, where she built the organization’s presence throughout the region and hosted the first regional CA World conference in China.

Susannah is a Trustee of The Smile Train UK and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the State University of New York College at Oswego.  

Contact SmileTrain

Website: https://www.smiletrain.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Smiletrain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmileTrain/

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers  series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference 

#DifferenceMakers Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman – Serving Humanity Endlessly

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“My son, you will form an organisation. The name will be Waqful Waqifin, and that name is translated into ‘Gift of the Givers’. You will serve all people of all races, of all religions, of all colours, of all classes, of all political affiliations and of any geographical location. You will serve them unconditionally.”

– Sufi Sheikh Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi

… After receiving this message from his spiritual leader in Istanbul, Turkey, at the age of just 30, Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, immediately heeded the calling… and continues to do so to this day.

Following that life-changing day in 1992, Dr Sooliman returned to South Africa, left a flourishing career as a medical doctor and established the Gift of the Givers Foundation.

In the intervening years, he has travelled to some of the most desolate, war-torn and disaster-struck areas of the world, heading relief missions. Through his work with Gift of the Givers, he and his teams have responded to the needs of countless people affected by a wide range of natural and man-made disasters, such as floods, famine, tsunamis, earthquakes and wars.

He has facilitated the establishment of hospitals, run clinics, created agricultural schemes, dug wells, built houses, developed and manufactured an energy food, renovated fishing boats, offered scholarships and provided food and shelter to millions.

The transition from doctor to humanitarian was both seamless and simple.

He is driven by the same basic principles that led to his becoming a medical doctor: respect, care, professionalism and dedication. But there is something else that fuels Dr Sooliman’s passion for humanitarianism – the solid belief in the common humanity that unites us. His fervour for, and belief in, mankind is what really motivates and energises him, and the reason is his faith.

His sense of community is felt throughout his endeavours with Gift of the Givers.

When disaster strikes or pleas for assistance are sounded – whether in South Africa or abroad – he and Gift of the Givers are ready with an immediate response, swiftly rallying the organisation’s network of doctors, nurses, relief workers and other professionals, and despatching humanitarian and medical supplies to disaster areas.

Gift of The Givers

Overview

The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest disaster response, non-governmental organisation of African origin on the African continent.

It works to unite people, with a common vision, to make a real and telling difference by serving mankind for the ‘Greater Good’ .

Assistance is provided unconditionally; assisting the needy, irrespective of human or animal, race, religion, colour, class, political affiliation of geographic location.

Since its inception in 1992, the organisation has been responsible for the delivery of life-saving goods and on-the-ground support for innumerable people, collectively valued at some R2.8 billion, in more than 43 countries across the globe, including South Africa.

Gift of the Givers restores the hope and dignity of the most vulnerable in their time of need, rebuilding prosperous communities and empowering leaders of tomorrow.

[Note: All the above text is from The Gift of the Givers website]

Contact Gift of the Givers

Website: https://giftofthegivers.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiftoftheGivers/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiftoftheGivers

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers  series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference 

[Superheroes in the Times of COVID19] Vision Tactical Supporting NGO’s On The Ground Deliver Much Needed Essentials During 21 Day Lockdown

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Vision Tactical Supporting NGO’s On The Ground Deliver Essentials During 21 Day Lockdown

April 6, 2020
Vision Tactical –

Private Security company Vision Tactical has lended it’s helping hand by supporting local NGO’s deliver much needed essential items during the 21 day COVID-19 lockdown.

Intervention and Specialized Support Units are making sure that essential items which need to be distributed to hundreds of people on a daily basis reaches its point of destination safely.

Team members also mobilized to manage the coordination of the distribution while ensuring that all protocols and necessary safety procedures are followed.

Director of Vision Tactical, Yaseen Theba says that it’s positive to see how many NGO’s and volunteers have come forward and rose to the challenge of  assisting the needy during a very challenging time.

“The members from the Muslim Association of South Africa found out about the dire need for essential food items required at the Bakazela Settlement, they then immediately purchased the items, and came out to distribute.”

Theba says that every helping hand counts at this point in time.

“During this challenging period, being proactive and positive is the only way to move forward stronger and together.”

Those wanting to contribute:

Muslim Association of South Africa LILLAH ACCOUNT
First National Bank (FNB)
Account Number: 62779526725
Branch Code is: 253305
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX
Ref: (Donor Name)

Aziz Haidar – A Ray of Light for Survivors of Landmines in the Saharawi Refugee Camps

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Aziz Haider with Humanitarian Catherine Constantinides (image captured by Heinrich Knoetze)

Today is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and in honour of that I would like to introduce you to the EXTRAORDINARY Aziz Haidar.

Aziz Haidar was a young man when he became a victim of landmines, which are scattered across Western Sahara by illegal occupying power Morocco. He lost both his legs & right arm. He founded Association for Victims of Landmines in the Saharawi Refugee Camps to help other landmine survivors and their families. The importance of Aziz’s work is impossible to overstate as there are still 5-10 MILLION ACTIVE LANDMINES scattered across the Sahara. Today and every day I salute Aziz Haidar for all that he is and all that he does every day.

[Mensaje a Aziz: Aziz, eres un héroe, gracias].

Contact Aziz

Email: asoc.asavim@gmail.com

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers  series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference 

Smile Train – Changing the World One Smile at a Time

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Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.

Many children with untreated clefts around the world live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Cleft treatment is safe, and the impact on the child is immediate.

Seeing the flaws in mission-based models, Smile Train was the first cleft-focused organization with a model of true sustainability – providing training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 90+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.

And through our sustainable “teach a man to fish” model, Smile Train is not only raising the standard of cleft care and safety – we’re setting it. The support we provide has elevated the standards of care for cleft patients at our partner hospitals around the world, ultimately elevating the standards of care for all patients.

As a result of our efficiency, and with the help of our donors and partners, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 1.5+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.

Contact Smile Train

Website: https://www.smiletrain.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Smiletrain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmileTrain/

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers  series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference 

The Birthday Dedicated to the Western Sahara and Saharawi People #StandInTheSand

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“After Spain relinquished its colonial control of the territory [Western Sahara] to Morocco and Mauritania in 1975, the latter soon withdrew its claims to the territory while Morocco gained de facto control of the area (and with it, control over its rich mineral resources). The battle for Western Sahara ensued for 16 years before a ceasefire agreement was reached along with calls for a referendum on its national status that would ostensibly never come.” – Catherine Constantinides

When I heard about the Western Sahara and the fact that half the Saharawis (the people of Western Sahara) still live in the refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria (where they fled to during the war) surviving on nothing but foreign aid in inhospitable climatic conditions while the other half of the Saharawis live in occupied-Western Sahara subjected to violence at the hands of the Moroccan authorities I knew I had to do something particularly after I heard that the Saharawis in the refugee camp and the Saharawis in the occupied territory are separated by a 2720 kilometre wall, called The Berm, built by Morocco to maintain control of the Western Sahara and separate Saharawi families . The Berm is extraordinarily dangerous to attempt to jump over because on either side of it Morocco placed 7-10 MILLION ACTIVE LANDMINES additionally, The Berm is manned by 120 000 Morocco soldiers daily.

In 2017 I paraglided off Signal Hill to raise awareness about Western Sahara and the plight of the Saharawi People because I believe none of us can be truly free if some of us are oppressed.

Yesterday I dedicated my 29th birthday to the Saharawi People of Western Sahara. For Little Mohammed, Ahmed and every child in that camp who doesn’t know a life outside of itThis illegal occupation began before i was born but IT WILL END BEFORE I DIE.

Playing with her friend Carmella, Catherine Constantinides (image captured by Heinrich Knoetze Photography)
3-year-old Wadadi making a scrapyard in the refugee camp his playgym (image captured by Heinrich Knoetze Photography)
Saharawi Refugee Camps (image captured by Heinrich Knoetze Photography)

On This Day 29 Years Ago

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“To me – old age is always ten years older than I am.” -Bernard Baruch

Today is my 29th birthday and my first one since the passing of Gerda and to pour salt of my wound we are currently in the midst of a pandemic so yeah today isn’t the happiest birthday I’ve ever had but I’m grateful that my family and I are alive and relatively healthy (PLEASE GOD LONG MAY IT STAY THAT WAY)

My President IS THE BESTEST (and how I am coping with the impending 21-day lockdown)

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President Cyril Ramaphosa

The only thing that’s constant is change – that’s what I keep realizing

Last night President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that with effect from 23: 59 on Thursday, March 26th South Africa would placed on a 21-day lockdown to stop the spread of the Corona Virus which means only essential services personnel can work, only essential business will remain open and that during the 21-day lockdown the general public can only go out to seek healthcare, buy groceries, perform banking activities or collect social grants. The next few weeks will be hard for everyone in this country and the world but I  plan to live kindly, lovingly and  generously as I always strive to do.

Thank you to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government of the Republic of South Africa for the bold and decisive leadership exhibited this was a painful but necessary step in the fight against the Corona Virus.

SOUTH AFRICA’S CHANGE AGENT: CATHERINE CONSTANTINIDES

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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR | HUMANITARIAN | EARTH WARRIOR | GLOBAL ACTIVIST I LEADER OF CHANGE | NISHA’S SUPERHERO

Proudly rooted in her home country of South Africa, Catherine is an international climate activist, human rights defender, trailblazer and agent of change.

A 2013 Archbishop Tutu African Oxford Fellow and 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, Catherine’s commitment and passion for social change takes her to the smallest of communities in South Africa, as well as global platforms including the UN, where she currently works as a human rights defender actively engaging in Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council for the world’s most marginalised and vulnerable .

Catherine’s recent work on the issue of the self-determination for the people of Western Sahara has seen her engaged on the ground in the refugee camps in North Africa as well as with political leadership across the continent and around the world to highlight the conflict and lack of political will to address, one of the longest outstanding issues on the UN Security Council agenda.

She travels extensively across the continent, and to all corners of the world to speak about citizenship, social justice, active citizens, people & planet and the role of leadership, with a special focus on the empowerment of women and children. In November 2017 she was an invited panelist at the inaugural Obama Summit hosted by former President Barack Obama, in Chicago. Just a few months ago she was the guest of President of Egypt,  Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, when she was invited to give the closing keynote address to the World Youth Forum to a convention centre of more than 5000 young people and a nationwide broadcast to more than 100Million people across Egypt.

While she is relentless in pursuing justice for forgotten and downtrodden people, Catherine has always used inspiration and positive motivation as a means to create change. Her own social media platforms as well as her speaking appointments and media work always reflect a proactive approach and a desire to spark others to change or to become drivers of change by embedding ‘hope’ as a golden thread of action.

She understands the power of media – both traditional and new platforms to spread important messages, and is regularly featured on TV, radio and in print, in South Africa and across the continent

She has been the resident judge and mentor on the highly acclaimed reality TV series; ‘One Day Leader’, a show aimed at empowering South African youth, challenging their critical thinking skills and harnessing their ability as leaders in their communities. She has been featured in numerous publications and on TV and radio shows as a thought leader, and also contributes to Huffington Post, Daily Maverick and other platforms.

In 2015 she was named one of South Africa’s 21 Icons for a campaign highlighting remarkable young South Africans who will move the country forward. In 2016 the South African Government and Department of International Relations (DIRCO) honoured her with an UBUNTU Award, celebrating South Africans who play a part in portraying a positive image of South Africa, internationally and who are committed to building the continent through diplomacy. She has been celebrated for excellence in the fields of entrepreneurship and business, and in 2018 was ranked as one of the top 100 Most Influential Young Africans, and placed Top 10 in her category of Social Entrepreneur and Philanthropy. In 2018 as the world celebrates the iconic former Statesman, Nelson Mandela, Catherine has been dubbed as one of the 100 Young Mandela’s of the Future.

Amid all of her commitments, Catherine remains active in Generation Earth, a UN Environment endorsed platform that she co-founded at the beginning of her career. Generation Earth targets the youth of Southern Africa and uses issues of environmental impact, climate change, water and waste as key focus areas to drive sustainable change. Under her leadership this initiative has thrived and evolved into a multifaceted development network that empowers the youth to become drivers for change in their own lives and spheres of influence. She remains a dynamic environmental warrior and the theme of sustainable development and her commitment to the SDG’s comes through in her advocacy work around the world.

Catherine’s passion and drive has touched hundreds of thousands of individuals, whether through inspiration, practical interventions, workshops, advice or through the impact of her advocacy work on the ground at a grass roots level.

Catherine at the Saharawi Refugee Camp in Tindouf, Algeria [Photographer: Heinrich Knoetze of Heinrich Knoetze Photography

Contact Catherine

Website: http://constantinides.co.za/

Twitter: @ChangeAgentSA

Instagram: @changeagentsa

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Catherine-Constantinides-861076237297008/

The above post was shared as part of my new weekly Difference Makers  series featuring individuals, businesses or NPOs making a difference in their communities.

The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine [Book Review]

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“The “nervous system environment” a girl absorbs during her first two years becomes a view of reality that will affect her for the rest of her life.”― Dr. Louann Brizendine, The Female Brain

Recently I finished reading The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine I found it absolutely fascinating how a woman’s brain chemistry changes to accommodate for each new phase of her life. I recommend this book to every woman particularly if you have a daughter of your own.