My Time To Be Thankful

by Crystal Matterson (Captivating Volunteer)

The Captivating Healthy Village Program for 2015 has just concluded – a program bringing essential health information to remote locations in Western China. As I scan my personal vanity this morning, I take a moment to be thankful for my life. My husband’s area of the washroom consists of only the finest in men’s shaving accessories, and I take great pride in my multi-step dental hygiene products. With a plethora of scented soaps, creams, lotions, and shampoos, along with a medicine cabinet full of meds for any ailment imaginable, I realize just how privileged we are to not only have these “things,” but to also have the education needed to live a disease free, sanitary life.

I compare my situation to the picture below. These students, as part of the Healthy Village program, were thrilled to be provided simple necessities such as a small wash basin and basic sanitary and hygiene products. These students, along with 3,000 other program attendees spread over 10 separate locations, received several hours of critical health education focused on creating awareness about HIV/AIDS, women and men’s health issues, infectious diseases and childcare (specifically on caring for newborns). Thank you to the Shenzhen Annual Captivating Charity Auction as well as the Macau Oilmen’s Golf Tournament Group who have supported this program for two years now. Thanks to their support, many remotely located impoverished families are becoming more aware of critical health matters affecting not just their own lives, but the lives of their children. Our thanks to our program implementation partner, Shamtse, and the team of medical doctors from partnering hospitals and counties. Stay tuned for a further update about this program in the future.

For more information about this project or to find out how you could partner with Captivating to bring lasting change to families in remote rural locations, contact andrewc@captivating.org