Dear friends of PROSAMI, Our program, to promote the health of women and children in the rural and very underdeveloped areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been progressing steadily. We have fourteen (14) candidates for the advanced nurse midwifery degree. Each of them lives in the central - western part of the CONGO, and all are practicing nurses in this rural agriculture / rain forest province. * We have purchased each of them textbooks (approx $80 per set of two textbooks). * All of the candidates have computer access, and we have initiated the lesson plans. To date, two lessons have been completed and they are working on the third didactic lesson on maternal health care. The instructors are Agnes Kanyanya, PROSAMI Founder (Virginia, USA), Eudoxie Kasekw (Kasai Orientale province of Congo), and Joyce Zwane (Durban, South Africa.) Dr. Jean Mukendi, of the Congolese National Health Ministry, is our Medical Director in the Congo. PROSAMI has created a movie of childbirths in the rural Congo area; with key stories being one of a mother who dies shortly after a stilllbirth, a woman who is diagnosed as being pregnant and is permitted to continue her pregnancy for 11 months, at which at which time emergency surgery demonstrates a 12 kg. cyst, and the birth of premie quadruplets who are taken, one by one in arms of men and women, in a conventional automobile to the nearest maternal / infant clinic to ensure their survival. PROSAMI has been granted tax exempt status, so any donations may be considered as such. Our Board of Directors is based in Virginia,with communication between the Virginia Board and the Congo / Durban South Africa, on nearly a daily basis through e-mail, and occasionally phone. Two board members of PROSAMI in Virginia speak English and some French, in order to converse with the Congolese Prosami delegation. PROSAMI has participated in worldwide Midwifery conferences, with the most recent being in Washington, D.C. PROSAMI is a member of the Center for Non-Profit Excellence in Charlottesville, Virginia, with hopes of maximizing our efficiency in allocating every possible resource to the PROSAMI project in the CONGO Kasai Province PROSAMI projects , to raise funds, include: - submission of Grants to World Health Organization - presentations of PROSAMI vision and mission to churches and civic organizations in Virginia and the mid Atlantic region - presentation in central Virginia, Sept 21, 5 pm, at UVA School of Nursing - FUN RUN, Oct 9th, 5 K run in Charlottesville PROSAMI has three sponsors, Skylight Studios, Rivanna Gear and Apparel, and Storage Solutions. PROSAMI needs MORE sponsors. !! PROSAMI needs at least $70,000 to fund the tuition for the 14 Congolese nurses. Each nurse faces an 18 month tuition / room and board, and transportation cost of $5,000....this may seem like a small amount, but it is more than PROSAMI has to disburse at present. PROSAMI needs donations in the form of company sponsorships on our WEB site, pledges for runners or participation yourself with pledge, in OCT 9 Fun Run, or just donations that can go directly to PROSAMI to support these 14 courageous women and men who are trying to make a difference in their native country. You may send donations directly to PROSAMI C/O Mrs. Agnes Kanyanya, Founder- PROSAMI 665 Gloria Place Staunton, VA 24401 United States of America.