CleanBirth.org in Laos: How $5 can save two lives

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This week as part of World Moms Blog where I am a writer and editor for our social good column, we are participating in our second annual campaign to support fellow World Moms Blog writer Kristyn Zalota’s non-profit organization CleanBirth.org which saves lives of mothers and their newborns in Laos.  Partnering with Multicultural Kids Blog and Girls Globe, we are coming together to help CleanBirth.org launch their crowd funding campaign to raise $7,500 to help train more midwives and provide sterilized birth kits to mothers in Laos.

What is so amazing about Kristyn’s story is how she saw a problem half-way around the world and decided to change it.  As an avid traveler and a doula, Kristyn saw firsthand through her visits in the developing world how many mothers and children die during childbirth from simply lacking a safe, sterile birth. Inspired to make a difference Kristyn began CleanBirth.org and two years later she has seen remarkable results and has saved many lives.

Here is an amazing video on Kristyn and why she started CleanBirth:

 Why are clean birth kits needed?

This year approximately 1 million women and infants will die of infection after birth. For every woman who dies 30 more suffer a debilitating illness or permanent disability.

Many of these deaths are preventable by providing education about clean birthing practices and Clean Birth Kits, which promote and enable clean birth. – CleanBirth.org

So how does CleanBirth.org work?  For $5 CleanBirth.org provides a mother with all the hygienic birthing supplies she needs to make birth safe.  They also train nurses and Village Volunteers to teach mothers about safe birthing practices. In Laos, 80-90% of mothers give birth at home and many without proper supplies to ensure a safe, hygienic birth. Here is where CleanBirth.org comes in.

Why I find CleanBirth.org so remarkable is how incredibly easy and cost effective it is to save a life. Look at the story of Yai below. Her last baby died from an infection caused by an unsafe birth. CleanBirth.org was able to provide Yai with a hygienic kit for $5 before the birth of her next child which not only saved the mother but also her child.

$5 can save two lives. 

What you can do to help?

  • Please contribute if you can to this great cause www.startsomegood.com/cleanbirth.  $5 Saves 2 Lives.”
  • Please share this post with social media and/or participate in our twitter chat (details below).

About Kristyn Zalota, Founder & President of CleanBirth.org

MA Yale Univeristy, BA Holy Cross

Kristyn holds a MA, has run small businesses in Russia and the US, and has volunteered in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Uganda on projects related to women’s empowerment.

After having children, Kristyn became an advocate for mothers in the US, as a doula and Lamaze educator, and abroad, as the Founder of CleanBirth.org.

17 thoughts on “CleanBirth.org in Laos: How $5 can save two lives”

  1. Jennifer Burden – United States of America – Founder of World Moms Network, an award winning website which writes from 30+ countries on motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. www.worldmomsnetwork.com @JenniferBurden @WorldMomsNetwk
    Jennifer Burden on said:

    Thank you, Nicole for finding Kristyn and for supporting #CleanBirth!! Fantastic post!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yeah!!!! It is so great to work with you all! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  2. Sue Slaght – Calgary, Alberta Canada – www.traveltalesoflife.com Many years from now, when I am an old lady sitting in the nursing home, I hope to be the twinkly eyed resident still entertaining anyone who I can corner to listen, about all of the wild adventures attempted in a lifetime. Well into the second half of the game of life there is no time like the present to get out there, live big and laugh a lot. Living in Calgary, Alberta, married to my best friend Dave for over thirty years and Mom to adult children; my decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely. Passionate about social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or my own fear get in the way of trying something new; the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the tales and I hope you will be inspired to try something you have been thinking about doing.
    sueslaght on said:

    The statistics are astounding. Thank you for sharing this great work. I will check out the link on how to contribute.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes it is really crazy. I realize how much we take for granted. I can’t imagine birthing my children alone with no help! Amazing what $5 can do to help save lives.

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sally. The woman behind this organization is amazing. She is a mom of two children, a doula and has an MA from Yale in Foreign Policy and began this NGO all on her own. She is so impressive!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

      Reply ↓

  5. Reblogged this on Morning Angel and commented:
    This year approximately 1 million women and infants will die of infection after birth. For every woman who dies 30 more suffer a debilitating illness or permanent disability… For $5 CleanBirth.org provides a mother with all the hygienic birthing supplies she needs to make birth safe….That’s how you can save a life!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks for the reblog!

      Reply ↓

  6. Thanks for sharing information on this wonderful cause! And stay warm!

    Hugs from Ecuador,
    Kathy

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Kathy! I’m trying to stay warm. It is still quite cold.

      Reply ↓

  7. Thanks Nicole for bringing awareness to this organization. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      🙂 You’re welcome!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes my kids just donated some of their extra money and was able to send 5 kits to new moms in Laos. Amazing what little money can do to help others!

      Reply ↓

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