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Womens Community
Centre |
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InepdKelvin |
Running a little
late here. Just finishing off breakfast and then off to the Makeni
Women's Community Centre in Sierra Leone in about 15 min |
5:54 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Right now we are
just about to leave. |
6:07 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Had a great last
night at a small bar in Makeni by the market.. Makeni is a small town
in the center of Sierra Leone. It is incredible hot. |
6:07 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
We had some beers
with the staff here who manage a women’s community development
program. Fascinating work they are doing. |
6:07 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
They help poor
women with lots things to help become un-poor. Women are so important
in the family being the main child bearers. |
6:08 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Women also play in
important role in towns economy by working and helping all the time. |
6:08 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Right we are just
getting in the Inepd Land-Cruiser to visit the Inepd Women’s Community
Centre. |
6:09 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Samantha my
Personal Assistant will be tweeting for me on the visit so I can
concentrate fully on the great work of Inepd international |
6:10 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
She has been
fantastic on the trip such a vivacious young lady. Reminds me of a
girlfriend back at University. |
6:10 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Fantastic summer
of 83, Spandet Ballet and the Cote d'Azur. Pity father was a GP.That
was before I met my wife Cynthia. A long long time ago |
6:10 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Right, Now handing
the tweets over to Samantha. |
6:11 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Hi I am Samantha. |
6:11 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
I am Kelvin's
personal assistant and I will be tweeting for '@InepdKelvin while we
visit the Inepd Makeni Women’s Center here in Sierra Leone |
6:11 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Just getting in
the Land-cruiser. Only a short drive to the centre. |
6:12 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Oh it is next
door, we are just pulling up at the gate. |
6:12 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin is wearing
a traditional Sierra Leonean suit made of the local designed cloth
(Gara) he received from the Inepd staff here last night |
6:13 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
It is bright
orange bursting in a constellation of exploding stars with purple
nuclei. |
6:13 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He also has a
traditionally carved wooden staff/walking stick and white Inepd
baseball cap and dark brown boating lofas. |
6:13 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
We have now
stepped out of the Inepd LandCruiser. We are met by the Centre
Director Mrs Kadiatu Tureh. |
6:14 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu tells us
about the history of the centre. How it was formed after the war to
help women get back on their feet. |
6:14 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
The centre gives
literacy classes and supports women with income generation activities. |
6:14 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
The centre is also
an information and referral service to support victims of domestic
violence. |
6:15 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu now asks
us if we would like to see the centre and meet some of the staff and
women. |
6:15 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
We walk into a
small room a bit dark with natural light. The house has mud brick
walls with cement rendering and thick yellow paint. |
6:16 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
There are around
10 women dressed in beautiful dresses of all colours and matching head
wraps or scarves. |
6:16 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu introduces
us to the women. There are 2 staff and a savings group who are
particpants in an Inepd Program. |
6:16 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu explains
the savings group has 6 women and they save together and take turns to
access credit from the group savings. |
6:16 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
The credit usually
goes to support an income generation activity of one or more of the
women. |
6:16 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
We are asked if we
would like to sit down and ask
the women about the centre. |
6:17 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Hi I am Samantha.
I am Kelvin’s PA and I am tweeting for '@InepdKelvin while we visit
the Inepd Makeni Women’s Center here in Sierra Leone. |
6:17 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
We all begin to
sit on the mats. |
6:17 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin has walked
off to the corner of the room, there is a table and chair and picks up
the chair and walks back to his place. |
6:17 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He stays standing
for a while seeing us all sitting on the mats. The women start to
stand again. |
6:18 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu says it is
no problem for him to sit on the chair and everyone sits down again. |
6:18 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu asks if he
would now like to so say anything to the women. |
6:18 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin then stands
and says that he is so happy to be here in the presence of some many
beautiful ladies. |
6:18 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He then goes on
the say he knows that being a woman is not easy; it takes hard work
and patience. |
6:18 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He then says In
poor countries like Sierra Leone it can be even harder for women, but
with perseverance and Inepd support they can make it. |
6:19 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He then thanks
them for the opportunity to visit them in their natural surroundings. |
6:19 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu then asks
Kelvin if he would like to ask some questions to the women. |
6:19 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin ask the
women what they use the money they make from income generation
activities. |
6:19 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
One women in her
early 20s Sarah says that she uses money she makes for school fees for
the children and any emergency medical expenses. |
6:20 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin asks how
much she has made from one of the income generation activities. |
6:20 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Sarah says she
made 30,000 Leones in 3 months. This has helped her family a lot; it
is there only savings. |
6:20 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu says that
this is around $10. |
6:20 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin now looks a
little disappointed and says to Sarah, don't worry once this financial
crisis business will bounce back. |
6:21 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin asks
Kadiatu why doesn't Inepd just pay for school fees for the kids and
support a clinic if that's what the women spend the money on |
6:21 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu starts to
reply but Kelvin interrupts. |
6:21 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin goes on to
say, that this business model for the savings group looks pretty
marginal. |
6:21 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He asks Kadiatu if
all the savings group women are as poor. |
6:21 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu then says
that we target women with little means for our programs. However it is
difficult to target the poorest women. |
6:22 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
kelvin's advice is
to broaden their portfolio, try and get some local businessmen etc. in
the program to expand the capital base. |
6:22 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu, thanks
Kelvin for the suggestion. Kadiatu suggests that we move on and look
at some of the women work. |
6:22 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
We then move the
to a Tukul at the back of the office. The Tukul sits in the middle of
a neat and simple garden with some fruit trees. |
6:23 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu explains
that this where women come to work and socialise when not caught up
with family matters. |
6:23 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
It is an important
place because our staff and volunteers can also provide information on
services that women can access to support them. |
6:23 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
The women have
brought some of their handicrafts to show the type of work they are
able to undertake with the support of Inepd International |
6:23 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin sees one
piece that he says is exquisite. It has been made by a widow Zaria
with 3 school aged children. |
6:23 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
She has just
finished the piece. |
6:24 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu explains
that the piece is an intricately beaded bag with accessories(belt and
ear rings) and has taken Zaria 4 months to make. |
6:24 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Zaria explains
that because of Inepd the Inepd Savings Group she has been able to
purchase materials that she could not otherwise afford. |
6:24 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
When Zaria sells
the beaded bag and accessories she will enough for her children’s
school fees. |
6:24 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin tells Zaria
that Cynthia his wife would absolutely love a bag like this. She just
loves handicrafts. |
6:24 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Zaria tells Kelvin
he can have the bag for his wife. Kelvin then asks how much. |
6:24 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Zaria tells him not to worry. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin accepts the
bag and thanks Zaria. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin then walks
to admire one a wall tapestry hanging by the entrance of the tukul. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu and Zaria
are having a heated discussion in their local language.
Kelvin then asks which woman made this tapestry. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
No woman comes
forward. Kadiatu steps towards Kelvin and explains that the hanging
was done by a woman who is absent. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kelvin says that
it was just what he would have wanted for his office back at work. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
Kadiatu asks if we
would like some morning tea with the women.
Kelvin says he would love to but we need to be back in Freetown
tonight. |
6:25 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
The UN Womens
Auxillary is performing “A Street Named Desire” |
6:26 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
He promised to
attend as one of his colleagues from the Royal Bank of Scotland wife
is performing. |
6:26 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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Saamantha for
InepdKelvin |
We head towards
the Land-Cruiser. I am now handing back the tweets to '@InepdKelvin
Hope you enjoyed my tweeting. Here's Kelvin. |
6:26 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Thanks Samantha so
much for tweeting what was a fascinating visit. |
6:26 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Each time I come
on a visit I learn so much. When I am also able to use my financial
background to give some advice to support a program. |
6:26 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Well a long drive
now back to Makeni. |
6:27 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
I wanted to
congratulate '@InepdMercedes on the splendid work she is doing in
Florida with Time Poor Donors( Senior Citizens). |
6:27 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
Here is the
cutting edge “Time Poor Donor” training session she did on Tuesday:
http://bit.ly/380gUP |
6:27 AM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
@taylmer Our finc, dep. like that tax havens exist. It's the highlight
of their financial year to visit Caymans in March to close the books |
6:46 PM |
30-Oct-09 |
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taylmer |
@InepdMercedes when i did accounts i wish i had such a perk as that!
ur financial team is so lucky |
6:56 PM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
@taylmer Not everyone can go to the Cayman Islands for 6 weeks of
course.The interns stay behind to support our poverty development
programs |
7:03 PM |
30-Oct-09 |
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taylmer |
@InepdMercedes now i'm studying law i can't be envious. change of
industry means i'll be going other places. but cayman is a place to
visit |
7:06 PM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
@taylmer I think Tom from Advocacy is a lawyer. He is always
travelling but under difficult conditions. Advocacy Unit only travels
economy! |
7:11 PM |
30-Oct-09 |
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taylmer |
@InepdMercedes i like travelling full stop!! its in my blood going
down from generations. Tom is lucky anyway :) |
7:13 PM |
30-Oct-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
@martinb9999 Support our small NGOs: http://www.inepd.org > But Inepd
International is not a small NGO. |
11:37 AM |
31-Oct-09 |
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martinb9999 |
@InepdMercedes Small in the nimble, Schumacher sense. |
12:35 PM |
31-Oct-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
@martinb9999 I thought Inepd International is more a Ferrari, although
Schumacher is splendid!,he would be a great Inepd Goodwill Ambassador |
1:16 PM |
31-Oct-09 |
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solarafrica |
@InepdMercedes Thanks dear - totally honored and humbled to be
considered an Inepd friend. |
1:40 PM |
31-Oct-09 |
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texasinafrica |
Best development
expert tweets ever. RT '@InepdKelvin Post on visit to women's centre
in Sierra Leone: http://bit.ly/2L5q8k |
7:31 PM |
31-Oct-09 |
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tracy1314 |
@InepdKelvin Seriously, saying you need help enabling poverty
development 4 the poor is funny. They have poverty down. No need to
develop it |
7:37 PM |
31-Oct-09 |
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giantpandinha |
@sablikatriumph Obligatory reading: http://www.inepd.org/ |
12:20 AM |
1-Nov-09 |
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Tendaijoe |
@InepdKelvin This is a post from my visit to a school for child
soldiers in Sierra Leone this week http://bit.ly/4BL6fE #childsoldiers |
6:21 AM |
1-Nov-09 |
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Tendaijoe |
@InepdKelvin how are you.You have very powerful tweets |
6:25 AM |
1-Nov-09 |
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giantpandinha |
The "Palm Tree
Index" of international development http://bit.ly/4s9R7K - for
'@sablikatriumph '@InepdMercedes, maybe '@Meowtree |
8:56 AM |
1-Nov-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
@tracy1314 Totally agree with you. Inepd International does our best
to support and enable poverty development. Not an easy task!! |
4:08 PM |
1-Nov-09 |
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InepdKelvin |
@Tendaijoe Thanks for the compliment and RT, All the best, Kelvin |
4:17 PM |
1-Nov-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
RT '@giantpandinha
"Palm Tree Index" of int. dev. http://bit.ly/4s9R7K >Sad to see INGOs
moving away from marketing based program selection |
4:40 PM |
1-Nov-09 |
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Tendaijoe |
@InepdKelvin Memories of a street child :Exclusive :6 November My
Birthday...http://tendaijoe.wordpress.com #poverty |
6:42 PM |
1-Nov-09 |
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tkb |
Might be old hat
but new to me: "fascinating" NGO.... http://www.inepd.org/ :-p |
8:15 PM |
1-Nov-09 |
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Tendaijoe |
@InepdMercedes oh thanx for the add.How are you |
10:22 PM |
3-Nov-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
New innovation in
Charity Conferences. Please join our InepdCamp first topic is to be
"Where does caring stop and humanitarianism begin" |
7:42 PM |
8-Nov-09 |
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InepdMercedes |
New Inepd climate
campaign #EverySecondCounts Just think if every second person in the
world consumed a fraction of the energy of the first |
7:46 PM |
8-Nov-09 |
