Improving the Quality of Surgery in Developing Countries with Mentors--Mission: Restore

Episode 9
by Bill Quinn

Last week I sat with Karina Nagan in a quiet Brooklyn coffee shop to learn about Mission: Restore, an organization dedicated to supporting surgeons around the world with knowledge and skills to improve treatment of their patients.  As Executive Director, Karina has helped to send veteran doctors to Myanmar, Tanzia and Haiti among others where they train and work with local surgeons to manage the complexities of their job.  This episode we learn more about how mentors, like Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, founder of Mission: Restore, impact local doctors and their community as well as use teleconferencing technology to maintain their mentorships after the trip has ended.  Plus learn about the upcoming "Fall Soiree" and an opportunity for listeners to support the training of one particularly talented doctor in Tanzinia.

Download this episode here.

We just scratch the surface of their work--learn more by following these links:

Start with their home page.

Have a great night at the Mission: Restore Fall Soiree on November 13th!

Follow them on social media like Twitter and Instagram.

Get involved!  Internships, fellowships, volunteering all available by emailing.

MISSION: RESTORE in Myanmar from Lena Rudnick on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Karina Nagin for spending some time talking with me.  And thank you to Babita Patel for introducing us--learn more about Babita's organization the KIOO project here.  And I'm testing out a new theme song--let me know what you think!  

Theme song: Quittin' Time (Patrick Lee) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
Additional music: http://www.bensound.com

"What Stories Would They Tell?"--the KIOO Project

Episode 8, October 6, 2015

by Bill Quinn

Humanitarian photographer Babita Patel tells a story of a boy laughing and pointing at the image of himself on the screen of her digital camera.  It turns out that he and other Haitian boys like him rarely if ever get to see what has become ubiquitous here in New York--a picture of themselves.  This small moment has launched an exciting nonprofit called the KIOO Project which runs photography programs for students in some of the world's poorest countries.  They not only teach students new skills but empower young people to express themselves.  This episode Babita shares stories from the work she has done in Haiti and Kenya.  And if you like what you hear, be sure to support the KIOO Project on Indiegogo by October 8th!

(Technical note:  Due to some major computer-related hurdles, this episode is very late in being posted.  Some of the times mentioned, such as two weeks left in the Indiegogo campaign, are considerably off.)

Download this episode on Pod-o-Matic

Learn more about all the great work of the KIOO Project in the links below:

• Help this excellent program on Indiegogo before time runs out on October 8th. Your money will support their work with students in India.

• Here's the KIOO Project's excellent web site with a lot more information plus pictures from Haiti and Kenya. 

• Purchase some of the photographs discussed in this episode, plus other great pictures, to support the organization.

• Follow the project with regular updates from India on Instagram.

• Connect with the KIOO Project through the other usual suspects of Facebook and Twitter.

• Watch videos to see KIOO in action!

• Learn more about Babita Patel by visiting her web site.

A huge THANK YOU and shout out to Julia Firestone for supporting the podcast and connecting me with Babita and the KIOO Project.  And another big thank you to Babita for being a fantastic guest, for patiently waiting for me to figure out technical issues (a reoccurring theme here at the BQ Podcast) and for not openly judging me when I didn't realize my web cam and microphone were broadcasting as I ranted to myself about the less-than intuitive Google On Air controls.   And lastly, thank you NOFX for not bothering me about stealing your song.  However your unresponsiveness to my requests for permission may have finally wore me down.  I will have to find a new song to lead me to the promised land: Itunes.

Music: http://www.bensound.com

"I still feel the roof crashing over me." -- After Rana Plaza

September 17, 2015

Ending this Sunday, September 20th, is a photo exhibit from Bangladesh as part of the Photoville project in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It documents the aftermath of the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster and the ongoing experiences for victims, families and the community. With each photograph comes a carefully documented account connecting the image to the collapse.  The pictures are striking, tragic and touching yet vivid and beautiful.  One of the organizers, Thahitun Mariam, graciously answered several questions about the exhibit.

Update:  If you click on the picture you will be linked to the corresponding story.

Bill:  What is "After Rana Plaza?"

Thahitun:  After Rana Plaza" is a year-long documentary photography project to shed light on the lives of people who remain deeply impacted by one of the world's deadliest industrial catastrophes. It is a collaborative project between Bangladeshi photographer Ismail Ferdous and The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  

Bill:  How did you get involved?

Thahitun:  I am involved with "After Rana Plaza" because I was one of the main content writers for the stories being told. The interviews and photographs are captured by Ismail Ferdous, and then sent to us writers to understand and explain the narratives of many people who were involved in the collapse - whether it be the survivors themselves, or the organizations that are working to provide services to them even till now.

Bill:  What are some of the more memorable stories to come out of the exhibit.

Thahitun:  Visit the web site here. Feel free to shift through the pictures to get a better idea of the stories being told.

Bill:  When and where can people see the exhibit?

Thahitun:  "After Rana Plaza" is being exhibited during the Photoville festival which happens yearly in Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City. It is happening from September 10, 2015 — September 20, 2015. The Hours of Operation for the festival can be found on the Photoville website.

Bill:  If someone wants to get involved with your project in one way or another, what should they do?

Thahitun:  They can get involved with the "After Rana Plaza" project by emailing us at afterranaplaza@gmail.com.

Bill:  What have you learned from organizing photography exhibits such as this one that you can pass on to others who might want to do something similar?

Thahitun:  From my experience working with "After Rana Plaza" we have realized that it is always best to have a vision and work towards it slowly. "After Rana Plaza" is a vision of Ismail Ferdous's to follow up and tell the stories of people who may otherwise be forgotten. As a writer, it is important for me to provide dignity and honor to the stories being told as stories of survival, and not as tales of defeat. "After Rana Plaza" was approached to be exhibited during Photoville since Ismail Ferdous and his work was selected as one of the three recipients of the first Getty Images Instagram Grants.

My thanks again to Thahitun for taking the time to answer my questions.  If you miss the last few days of the exhibit be sure to check it out online at the official page for After Rana Plaza where you can click on pictures for their story.  You can also go learn more about photographer Ismail Ferdous's work by visiting his web site.  

How to Build Outstanding Schools in Rural Africa--The Impact Network

Episode 7
August 25^th
by Bill Quinn

From her small office in Brooklyn, NY Reshma Patel is tackling the difficult problems confronting schools and students in Zambia with new technology and innovative teaching methods.  She is the Executive Director of the Impact Network and I was lucky enough to talk with her a couple of months ago in episode three.  In order to keep the episode around ten minutes there were a lot of interesting things I had to cut.  But since I’m currently struggling to find someone to interview, I thought I'd put the whole interview together.  In this episode Reshma talks about the education system in Zambia, what the Impact Network’s schools do differently and how they are able to be so successful for so much less.  If you’re inspired to get involved, Reshma describes many of the available opportunities to be a part of the organization.  One quick note on the recording quality; this was one of my first efforts so I clearly had some issues.  Full apologies and thanks for your patience.

Download the episode here.

The interview was in early June so we didn’t get into much detail about the gala but since November is just around the corner I’ll mention it here.  Expert chefs from around the city come together for one big international culinary blowout to benefit the Impact Network.  And since a child’s education can be funded for $3 a day, the money raised at this event can go very far. 

A overview video of the 2013 event.

Has this only whet your appetite to learn more?  Here are some links for more about the Impact Network and Zambia’s education system.

A good place to start: The Impact Network’s web site.
 
Do you like what the Impact Network does?  Make it official on their Facebook page.

Don’t want to read?  Here’s the Impact Network’s Youtube page.

Learn more about one of New York’s more unique fundraisers—Chefs for Impact.

Get an overview of the education system in Zambia from The Ministry of Education.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about education in Zambia.

My thanks to Reshma and the Impact Network for their time and support of the podcast (episode 3 is currently holding the title for most views).  I’ve been out of the loop for a bit between a small vacation and a large cold that took me out of action for a while but I’m back and should have episodes up more regularly going forward.  And there’s this song I like and keep using (pirating apparently) from NOFX.  Thanks fellas!

The Sunday Film Series--Putting a Spotlight on the Underground World of Indie Cinema

Episode 6
August 3, 2015
by Bill Quinn

I live in Brooklyn--a borough alive with artists and filmmakers. Yet their works are too often hard to find. Luckily people like Heather Freudenthal and the "Sunday Film Series" have stepped up to bring films to audiences in intimate settings with moderated discussions. This ongoing series has a broad mission where the selected films "...provide thought-provoking content and engaging stories that highlight a variety of topics, themes and issues, providing the audience with a captivating glimpse into characters and worlds which are underrepresented in traditional film." This episode I talk with Heather about what makes the Sunday Film Series so special. I got an inside glimpse into running a film series as well as what we can expect from the Sunday Film Screening going forward!

Download the episode here.

Visit the web site to learn more about the Sunday Film Series.

The featured film of the month is up here.

If you want to contact heather, find her email address here.

Heather endured technical difficulties and rescheduling to be on this episode so I'm very thankful for her patience and time.  I'd also like to thank Liam Billingham for taking me to a Sunday Film Series screening years ago which ultimately led to this episode.  And NOFX--why you no return my emails?  Thanks for the song all the same.

CityScience--Turning the City into a Laboratory

July 27, 2015
Episode 5
by Bill Quinn

Want to create civic pride through interactive science?  Need ideas and materials for your science classes?  These are two of the many questions this week's ambitious and unique organization wants to help you answer--the Brooklyn-based  CityScience (one word).  I had a chance to visit the office and speak with Thor Snilsberg, the personable and enthusiastic Director who has helmed the organization through it's very successful first five years and is ready to continue innovating New York City's science education.  In this episode we talk about the ways CityScience will help science teachers as well as all the different ways volunteers can get involved.  If you teach science in New York City definitely listen and check out the links below to learn more.

Download episode here.

UPDATE (12/1/15):  Be sure to click here to check out the extra questions and stories that got cut from this episode.

Check out everything CityScience has to offer by visiting their web site.

And they have a Facebook page here.

Thor mentioned the web site "Catch a Fire" which you can find here.

My thanks to Thor and everyone at CityScience for their time.  And how could I forget NOFX, thanks for the song!

Changes since Rana Plaza? Nazma Akter Part 3

July 22, 2015
NGO Report 1 Part 3
by Bill Quinn

I was so honored to speak with human rights leader Nazma Akter I broke our interview into three with this being that third and final piece.  For this part we spoke  briefly about what has happened in Bangladesh since the Rana Plaza factory collapse that claimed well over a thousand lives.  Before this interview I had always seen the improvement of factory conditions as the focus of human and labor rights in Bangladesh and other countries with a history of sweatshops.  But talking with Nazma encouraged me to think of improving the workers' lives beyond the factory.  Listen to hear Nazma make the argument that even safe and fair factories will not improve living conditions.

Download this episode here.

Listen to part one and part two for more of my discussion with Nazma.

Contact the Awaj Foundation with this email address.

Visit the Awaj Foundation's web site here.

I referred to a couple of articles from The Guardian about few corporations acknowledging problems in the supply chain as well as The Gap's reaction to allegations of sweatshop conditions.

And this concludes my three-part interview with Nazma.  My thanks to her for her time and for  earnestly answering every question I had. I look forward to catching up with her again as they continue to improve the lives of millions in Bangladesh.