MLI’s first K9-9k

Glenelg Upper School in Maryland supported MLI’s first k9-9k on Saturday April 16th. There were at least a dozen volunteers helping out with walks and activities.

Teaching Mine Risk Education in Afghanistan

One of the responsibilities of the CHAMPS Team in every Mine-Affected country that we have CHAMPS International working in, is to learn about the landmine problem through a local demining organization, and then for the teacher and students on the CHAMPS Team to go out to other schools and village centers to teach Mine Risk Education.

CHAMPS Leader in Afghanistan teaches MRE

CHAMPS expands into Northern Afghanistan

the CHAMPS International program has expanded into Northern Afghanistan and has aquired a new CHAMPS Manager for that region, Noor Mohammad Wafa.

Through the efforts of CHAMPS International, Esamuddin, a young landmine survivor has now received a new prostethic leg!  He and his mother and father are all very happy!

Esamuddin is the first to receive medical help in the Samangan Province of Northern Afghanistan.

MLI’s Donor Delegation travels to Lebanon

MLI’s Donor Delegation traveled to Lebanon from September 13-18, hosted by the LMAC (Lebanese Mine Action Center).  During our trip we visited a minefield that was being worked by CHAMPS dogs Nutmeg from Connecticut, and Champlain from the Girl Scout Campaign in Vermont!

Bedouin father and son in Lebanon Minefield area

Just 200 – 300 yards away from this minefield lives a Bedouin Family who lives in a tent and tends it’s some 500 goats and sheep.  The minefield was well marked, but just last year a friends donkey was killed when it accidentally wandered into the minefield.  By October 1st the entire area should be cleared and returned back to the people of Lebanon for productive use!

CHAMPS Patron Joan Wismer was proud when she met her dog Joan (Joanie) and especially bonded with her dogs handler!

The group visited beautiful ruins near the Southern Lebanon city of Tyr and participated in a Mine Risk Education (MRE) event at an elementary school in Tyr as well.

New partnership with the Basra, Iraq!

CHAMPS International Director Kimberly McCasland reports:

I’ve just returned from the Middle East and hit several countries. Most important was my meeting on September 4th with IMCO (Iraq Mine and UXO Clearance Organization) Director Mr. Zahim Mutar while in Jordan to discuss our new partnership for the Basra, Iraq area.

MLI’s new CHAMPS International – Iraq project will partner with IMCO. Ms. Gheidaa works for IMCO and will be the new CHAMPS Iraq Manager for this program. I met with her while in Basra, Iraq, setting up the new program. She is wonderful and I think her experience with landmine survivors, and her obvious desire to help her people, makes her perfect for this job! I was very impressed with how much she knew about the some 3,000+ survivors that live in the Basra area alone.

Our first trial Video-conference is tomorrow morning, September 27th at 5:00 am US time! I’ll be doing it with Ms. Gheidaa (12:00 noon Iraqi time).

The Woodlands High School, The Woodlands, Texas (just north of Houston) will be the first school to work on this project, and is officially the first school in the world to help the people of Basra, Iraq. MLI is the first NGO to partner with a national NGO to help the Basra area. Mrs. Susan Hollier is the CHAMPS Teacher that lead the school to sponsoring their dog Texas who will deploy to the IMCO southern HQ in Basra within the next 2-weeks!!!

The Woodlands HS has already raised over $5,000 for the CHAMPS International Iraq project!!