By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – A local business woman is back from her 21 day mission to spread knowledge and assistance in Africa. Alden Land Surveyor Deborah Naybor will present two slides shows locally, highlighting progress in the small African villages.
We spoke with Naybor in December before she headed out on her journey to Uganda and Malawi. She was filled with excitement about the possibilities of what could be done there. Naybor's motto is that "it only takes a dollar to change a life." But her expectations were based on experience, not mere philosophy. It was her third trip to Africa in as many years. And Naybor says a lot has happened in a very short time, with very little money.
"Uganda, where I'm working with women farmers, they had gone through three cycles of a micro-loan, where each farmer was borrowing $26.00 to buy a pig, or a goat, or some improvement for their farm," said Naybor. "Some of these families had doubled their income in six months, just because of $26.00. So, it's incredible to see."
Back home, Naybor also manages to weave small investments into big dollars for her African projects. Funds are raised through her "Fabric For Life" Campaign, where people have donated thousands of yards of fabric to help raise money. This year, Naybor says a about a hundred HIV orphaned children from the village of Malawi will reap the benefits.
"It's the first ever secondary school in the village and the school was built with money that I raised," said Naybor. "It's the first free education in the entire country and eight percent of our students are orphans."
Naybor will share news of all the positive progress and future plans in Africa at two local slide show presentations. She speaks with the Niagara Travel Professionals at 6:00 Tuesday night at the Marriott Hotel. And there will be a second presentation with the Business and Professional Women of Hamburg at 6:00 Wednesday night at the Holiday Inn on Camp Road. The public is invited to attend, but is asked to call the organizations ahead.