Most valentines go to just one person. And that’s good. But give your loved one a “Gift from the Heart” from Trees for Life and you’ll be sending a valentine to the world.
Just select one of nine gift ideas that help people lift themselves out of poverty. Then create a customized card to either print or email to your valentine. With your “Gift from the Heart,” you’ll be sharing love with people around with world.
Francis O. Olaniyi
Member of National Youth Service Corps
From January of 2012 up till the beginning of June, Trees for Life staff had multiple email exchanges with a young Nigerian named Francis Olaniyi. At that time Francis was half way into a year long project of working on MORINGA sensitization through out Nigeria. It was kicked off in Pil Gani community in Plateau State where there are lots of Moringa trees. His was a year of volunteering through the Nigerian National Youth Service.
Our initial response was to determine in what ways Trees for Life could be helpful to Francis in his plans to spread awareness about this remarkable tree. We learned that Francis was an accounting graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University in South-West Nigeria. “What I love most is touching lives positively, and want to spread the good news of Moringa to as many as possible, educate rural dwellers……curb poverty, reduce malnutrition…..and improve material health. Also, to educate the government, NGOs and others and get them involved in using Moringa to better peoples’ lives with a focus on children, youth and women.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
Francis continues, “Futhermore, I am currently coordinating the MORINGA LOVERS project and working with other volunteers, community heads, farmers, secondary & primary school students and several youth and women’s groups.” These goals are all a part of his one-year time of service!
To assist Francis, a variety of printed materials were sent to him to use in creating his own translations in the Hausa language. He felt this would further encourage more cultivation, use and commercialisation of Moringa in the rural communities. Three weeks after shipping the materials, Francis confirmed their arrival.
In early June of this year, Francis again wrote to us: “At this juncture, let me say it has been nice knowing “trees for life”. As a matter of fact, the people in Langtang North Local government and Plateau State as a whole are much more aware about MORINGA now, especially the need to plant more trees, the need for farmers to cultivate large plantations and the need for the government and the private companies to invest in Moringa. I have facilitated workshops for farmers, who are already making plans to start large cultivations. The media has also helped me in my awareness. Some researchers in the country have shown interest in making more findings on the Moringa to further bring out more facts. I was featured on a national TV program, ‘NTA AM Express’ on Saturday March 23rd to share with the whole nation and the international community how Moringa can address major health challenges in Africa.”
Francis said he has plans, now that he is finished with his National Youth Service Corps year in Plateau State, to move to the southern part of the country, but Moringa awareness continues strongly in his future.
Francis’ story is not quite yet over! In July we were told he would be sending two copies of an educational booklet that he had written entitled: MORINGA Lovers – An Adventure of Corper Zogale (Corps Member Moringa – one who educates others about Moringa).
Moringa Lovers handbook
Authored by Francis O. Olaniyi
Francis tells how he learned about moringa from his “mum”, ended up in the National Youth Service Corps and detailed his many ideas and experiences during his year with the people in Plateau State, Nigeria. Francis closes his story by challenging the reader that “It is never too late to start maximizing the wonderful endowments of Moringa. Help yourself, help your neighbour, help your environment and help the world at large.”
We are amazed by all that Francis accomplished during his year of service! A true inspiration to others.
The following are photos taken by Francis of his work with Moringa tree planting.
Moringa seeds ready for planting
Removing the outer shell of Moringa seeds
Moringa seedlings after two weeks
A road path with Moringa trees
Be a part of the solution to malnutrition worldwide.
Help plant Moringa trees.
Fabiano with Moringa seedlings
Fabiano saw the Trees for Life website and read about the Moringa tree. He had already been growing this nutritious tree and donating saplings to local farmers and families. The Moringa tree leaves are nutritious and can be used as a supplement for people suffering from malnutrition.
He wanted a Moringa poster to help educate the community, but didn’t want us to spend money on sending it to him, so we sent him the graphic file. Here is what the poster looks like: Moringa poster.
Trees for Life also connected him with two people who worked
on the translation of the Moringa Book into Portuguese.
Fabiano is working in Rondonópolis, Brazil, the third-largest city in Mato Grosso. It is located around 215 km (134 mi) from Cuiabá the capital of the state. Population about 200,000. This link shows you where he is, deep in the interior of Brazil:
The following is from Fabiano:
“Ill try to explain my work with the moringa ok? But, sorry, because I don’t know English very well. Just my intentions are bigger with moringa than my English. LOL.
I’m very happy too because I’m having good results with moringa here in Rondonopolis – MT, Brazil. I’m cultivating it as you can see from the pictures that I’m sending. I put the seeds in the ground on December 27, 2011 and on December 31, 2011, they started to grow. I took the pictures with my twin brother on January 15, 2012. You can see they have grown more than 30 centimeters (12 inches) in just 15 days.
Measuring Moringa seedling
My twin brother and I made donations of seeds for farmers that I know (some friends, some friends of my friends…). See the small plants in the picture below. I’m donating to a village of 100 local farmers. I will wait one year for moringa to grow and start flowers and new seeds. Then I can have enough for the city here where I’m living and maybe for other cities around.
Moringa saplings in containers
I’m the webmaster too. Here is my website: http://www.cidadaosolidario.org.br/Moringa.aspx to help explain Moringa to the people.
Now, I’m studying Psychology at school and I intend to help people with nutrition and psychology, too – helping other people and make a good world.
When I have more results, I promise that I will pass more information for you.
It’s very great to have friends like you, across the world.
Atenciosamente,
Fabiano de Freitas
Rondonopolis – Mato Grosso – Brazil
The spread of the good news about the nutritional value of the moringa tree is due in part to people like Andy Harjula. Andy lives in Canada, but travels back and forth on his own to share with people in Guatemala how their lives can be improved by growing the moringa tree in their villages.
Trees for Life’s first contact with Andy was in December of 2010, when he requested printed materials to share with the Mayan people of Guatemala. Again in December of 2011, more materials were requested. Both times Andy sent along enough funds to cover the postage cost to Canada, though we request no charge for people doing development work.
On a recent trip this past January, Andy spoke to 300 students, including 45 doctors and nurses from Seattle who were in Belize to help for a week. So spreads the story of the miraculous moringa tree!
The following research abstracts have been added to the Moringa research pages in the right column. For a review of the complete article open the research page and go the the abstract number.
305.
Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Leaf Extract of Moringa Oleifera In Experimentally Induced Diarrhoea In Rats
Lakshminarayana M, Shivkumar H, Rimaben P, Bhargava VK
Abstract
To evalauate the antidiarrhoeal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of moringa oleifera leaves. The hydroalchoholic extract was evaluated using rodent animal models of diarrhoea like the castor oil and magnesium sulfate induced gastrointestinal motility, in a model of enteropooling induced by the administration of castor oil and PGE2, Charcoal meal test. Acute toxicity and phytochemical constituents were also been evaluated using standardized methods.
306.
Phytomedicine. 2011 Jan 15;18(2-3):91-5. Epub 2010 Jul 16.
Moringa oleifera induced potentiation of serotonin release by 5-HT(3) receptors in experimental ulcer model.
Debnath S, Biswas D, Ray K, Guha D.
Source
S. N. Pradhan Centre for Neurosciences, University of Calcutta, 244B A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata 700020, India. siddhartha debnath78@rediffmail.com
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
moringa oleifera (Moringaceae), a perennial plant is widely cultivated throughout the world. Extensive pharmacological studies revealed its promising role in modulation of various disorders like antispasmodic, diuretic, abortifacient, antimicrobial antibacterial, antitubercular, antiviral, antifertility, depressant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer property which promoted us to conduct the study to elucidate its role on experimental gastric ulceration.
I received an email article about Moringa Processing in Ghana using the Compatible Technology International Omega VI grinder. The grinder will process both Moringa leaves and roasted peanuts. In fact, mixing the two after grinding makes a wonderful tasting and highly nutritious combination.
While hand grinding is still widely used and it does produce a highly visual photograph it is slow, time and labor intensive and often produces an inconsistent powder.
In using the Omega grinder, studies indicate that by drying the leaves to less than 9% moisture (non-solar drying preferred), manually crushing them through a #6 mesh screen to remove large stem material, followed by one pass through the Omega VI, a fine Moringa leaf powder could be easily produced. The Omega grinder, including delivery, cost approximately $400.
The Omega VI grinder is one of the many products that CTI produces in response to small food processing needs in rural areas of developing countries. To view the rest of the CTI products go to the following CTI link.
Jeffery Faus, a Trees for Life staff member, sent me the following email. Thought you might find the presentation interesting. Dr. Russ Bianchi is a medical and scientific formulator with a passion for Moringa.
Moringa tree presentation _ Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston will offer a program on “Discovering Medicinal Plants and Health Benefits: The Moringa Tree of India” on July 29 as a benefit for the arboretum. Merv and Shirley Schrag will host the program and provide samples of health products from the moringa tree. Ben Bowers and Russ Bianchi will talk about products they have developed from the tree. Krehbiel Meats will offer refreshments. The cost is $25. Proceeds will help complete the pathway around the arboretum that was removed because of recent construction of the new Prairie Pavilion. Donations are tax deductible. Register by July 25 by calling 620-327-8127.
Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2011/07/16/1935623/gardeners-almanac.html#ixzz1SU9QG4wZ
The following research abstract is a copy from Pubmed. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of Moringa have long been listed as one of its many benefits. The following abstract documents that finding.
Title:
Purification of a Chitin-Binding Protein from Moringa oleifera Seeds with Potential to Relieve Pain and Inflammation.
Authors:
Pereira ML, de Oliveira HD, de Oliveira JT, Gifoni JM, de Oliveira Rocha R, de Oliveira Bezerra de Sousa D, Vasconcelos IM.
Source:
Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, 60440-990, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. imvasco@ufc.br.
Moringa oleifera Lam. is a perennial multipurpose tree that has been successfully used in folk medicine to cure several inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to purify and characterize a chitin-binding protein from Moringa oleifera seeds, named Mo-CBP(4), and evaluate its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. The protein was purified by affinity chromatography on chitin followed by ion exchange chromatography. Acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions assay was used for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity assessments. Mo-CBP(4) is a glycoprotein (2.9% neutral carbohydrate) composed of two protein subunits with apparent molecular masses of 28 and 18 kDa (9 kDa in the presence of reducing agent). The intraperitoneal injection of Mo-CBP(4) (3.5 and 10 mg/kg) into mice 60 min before acetic acid administration potently and significantly reduced the occurrence of abdominal writhing in a dose dependent manner by 44.7% and 100%, respectively. In addition, the oral administration of the protein (10 mg/kg) resulted in 18% and 52.8% reductions in abdominal writhing when given 30 and 60 min prior to acetic acid administration, respectively. Mo-CBP(4), when administered by intraperitoneal route, also caused a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of peritoneal capillary permeability induced by acid acetic and significantly inhibited leukocyte accumulation in the peritoneal cavity. In conclusion, this pioneering study describes that the chitin-binding protein Mo-CBP(4), from M. oleifera seeds, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties and scientifically supports the use of this multipurpose tree in folk medicine.
PMID: 21675945 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
While Balbir Mathur, President of Trees for Life, was in Nicaragua recently to take part in the presentation of guitars to the libraries associated with the Books for Life – Nicaragua project he received an urgent request to meet with Mario Salvo, the Minister of Agriculture.
Nicaragua has become highly involved in promoting Moringa as a means of fighting malnutrition within the country. When Mr. Salvo learned of Balbir’s visit to Nicaragua as part of the Books for Life library project he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to have an in-depth discussion about Moringa with one of the tree’s leading proponents. Trees for Life has been promoting Moringa around the world for the past 25 years and has developed a large body of knowledge and information about the Moringa tree and its properties in treating malnutrition in developing countries.
To read the Moringa book
Ted Garber, singer/songwriter
Trees for Life salutes Singer-songwriter Ted Barber who presented a solo performance to benefit three international charities on June 8 in Kensington, MD. For those not in attendance, you missed a real treat. Ted brought his guitar and harmonica and put on an engaging show. The concert benefited the Moringa Tree Project in the Republic of the Congo as well as two other groups.
A United Nations news service report detailed the importance of the Moringa Tree Project. The news service reports acute malnutrition rates among the 530,000 children under the age of 5 and among pregnant women. Just one example of the great nutritional benefits are highlighted in the story of Victor, who when taken to the Nutrition Center in Kinshasa was grossly underweight, listless and had a bloated stomach. After two weeks on a diet enriched with Moringa powder Victor had gained 15 pounds. Victor is one of the very fortunate ones. According to the Ministry of Health at least 700 malnourished children under the age of five die each day in the Republic of the Congo.
