The Iselin Center - A Memorial of Love
The Iselin Center opened in January 2009, one year before the official opening of Core Community Development Center and Training Campus. Three weeks later 4 babies had been born in the center, and many pregnant women had visited for consultations.
The Iselin Center is a story of great sorrow and despair turned into a tremendous blessing for many poor people in Mindoro. Iselin Østerholt died far too young in a terrible accident when walking in the mountains with her dad. Iselin had earlier been visiting her uncle Noralv in the Philippines and seen how the new center in Mindoro reached out to poor people, especially the indigenous people there. Iselin was deeply touched by what she saw, and wanted to help. After her death her parents, Kari and Lars Martin, wanted to honor her wish by helping the people she dearly wanted to help.
At her burial people were informed about the plans for helping the poor on Mindoro, and many wanted to give their support. As a result the health center was financed, and given the name Iselin Center in her memory. The center will be used as a birth clinic, medical center, health information and a dental office to people who have no money to pay for such services.
The Iselin Center is a story of great sorrow and despair turned into a tremendous blessing for many poor people in Mindoro. Iselin Østerholt died far too young in a terrible accident when walking in the mountains with her dad. Iselin had earlier been visiting her uncle Noralv in the Philippines and seen how the new center in Mindoro reached out to poor people, especially the indigenous people there. Iselin was deeply touched by what she saw, and wanted to help. After her death her parents, Kari and Lars Martin, wanted to honor her wish by helping the people she dearly wanted to help.
At her burial people were informed about the plans for helping the poor on Mindoro, and many wanted to give their support. As a result the health center was financed, and given the name Iselin Center in her memory. The center will be used as a birth clinic, medical center, health information and a dental office to people who have no money to pay for such services.
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Local People Involved
Landa
We have a goal to empower the indigenous people to help themselves and have had the privilege of training one of their own to become a midwife. Landa worked at the center for more than three years before she was sadly killed in a traffic accident. Her way of pioneering the co-operation with the indigenous groups provided trust, as she was one of them. We now have three midwifes working at the center and one of them is from a native tribe.
The three midwifes currently working at Iselin Center: Jaqui, Eva and Raquel
Programs
Maternity clinic
We offer prenatal check-up, normal deliveries, mother’s classes, family planning, and bilateral tuba ligation of women and vasectomy of men.
Health center
Anyone can come and receive medical treatment and help. This includes medicines, seeing a doctor, hospitalisation and other expanses related to health issues.
Anyone can come and receive medical treatment and help. This includes medicines, seeing a doctor, hospitalisation and other expanses related to health issues.
Medical Mission
Local and foreign doctors and dentists volunteer one day once in a while to give free consultations and medical treatment to the neighbouring communities.
Local and foreign doctors and dentists volunteer one day once in a while to give free consultations and medical treatment to the neighbouring communities.
Community development
We travel to the villages and educate local ladies in health issues to enable them to help their own. This includes basic hygiene, first aid and CPR, sanitation and medical gardens. Further, we work together with them with construction of toilet facilities, and improving their agriculture and vegetable gardens.
Livelihood
Local women are trained in arts and crafts and soap making. We use their old local traditions in producing trace and bags, which are sold abroad and the profit goes back to the ladies and their villages.
Feeding program
Helping the minority children by providing them with a hot meal three times a week during school time.
Relief help
In the center we have an emergency stock of relief goods to quickly respond to an emergency situation like fire, floods, typhoons or drought.
We travel to the villages and educate local ladies in health issues to enable them to help their own. This includes basic hygiene, first aid and CPR, sanitation and medical gardens. Further, we work together with them with construction of toilet facilities, and improving their agriculture and vegetable gardens.
Livelihood
Local women are trained in arts and crafts and soap making. We use their old local traditions in producing trace and bags, which are sold abroad and the profit goes back to the ladies and their villages.
Feeding program
Helping the minority children by providing them with a hot meal three times a week during school time.
Relief help
In the center we have an emergency stock of relief goods to quickly respond to an emergency situation like fire, floods, typhoons or drought.
The Story Continues
Kari and Lars Martin Østerholt, mother and father of Iselin, will still continue to help the people they have come to love in Mindoro - both with money and practical help. She is a dentist, he has a Master of Business Administration. In addition they have raised money for a Jeepney which can transport people and relief aid, and a new combined garage, car workshop and storage facilities of relief goods.
If you want to directly support the projects at Iselin Center you can transfer money to the Norwegian account: 3260.13.82775.
If you want to directly support the projects at Iselin Center you can transfer money to the Norwegian account: 3260.13.82775.
