Mariam Patel - ZF Rescue Ranger 2014 Report

I liked the CAN DO-er project because we had fun making stuff out of cans. I liked it when we made the well. We worked together as a team to build it. The boys tried to make Mario but it kept on falling. Instead they made a fence around the well. We made the well with a lot of cans and we put a bucket for the little thing that pulls up water. Once the judges came to see the well we gave the cans to the local food bank so that the needy people could have some. We also won the award for being the most creative team.

The rare disease day which my dad organized was also fun. I liked the skits that we made along with my friends. We learned about a few different diseases which are very rare. We did lots of research and we found that the names of the diseases were very difficult to spell and pronounce.

I also learned that it is nice to help people in need. And with a good team helping people can also be fun.

Mariam Patel
ZF Rescue Ranger

My year as a Rescue Ranger

I have been part of the Rescue Rangers team since 2013. Every year we do interesting projects. Here is a report on my 2014 projects. 

My favorite projects were the Rare Disease Awareness project and the ‘CAN Do-ers’. The Rare Disease Awareness Day was conducted on April 19^th. This year we also added the organ donation theme to the program since April is also called ‘Donate Life’ month. In the program we did many skits with my friends to raise awareness about special needs children. Also my dad shared a slideshow about my transplant journey.

For the ‘CAN DO-ers’ project we initially tried to make a Mario just like the game super smash bros but then we decided to make a fence around the well that the girls’ team had made.  All the cans were donated to the local food bank. To close the year, we did a winter coat campaign which ended on Dec 2^nd on the ‘Giving Tuesday’ Day.

In all these projects I learned that helping people is good for the people that you help and it is also good for us as we feel good after helping others. And working as a team was fun.

Yusuf Patel
ZF Rescue Ranger

Being A Rescue Ranger

Already, a year has past since we started the Rescue Rangers project! During that year I did a lot of projects, Philippines Typhoon Disaster, Indonesia Volcano Relief, Childrens Hospital, Candoers project, Giving the Gift of Cattles, and the Winter Campaign. We did many things for each of these projects. Like, bake sales, movie nights, and many more fun and interesting events. Like one unique one as we went to the farmers market and set up games and things to sell and we raised a lot of money from that. We also went to Boscovs a few times. I crocheted a blanket and auctioned it, to raise money for the Childrens Hospital. It bid up to around $60. Also all the other members one their own helped the needy, during this year. I learned a lot more and hope to continue. 

what a year for Rescue Rangers by Adam H.

          I am fortunate that I am a part of the Rescue Rangers. I am an active member. I have helped raise money for the poor. We held events at the ZF center so we can bring people in to help support us. The Can-doers met to build a well out of food cans. We collected a lot of cans to feed the hungry  in Delaware for the food bank. We had so much fun building the well. We couldn't have done it without friends helping us. A lot of  people came to our movie events. I helped make a skit with my sister. We had an opportunity  to bring people in so they can come to support us. I learned a lot by being part of the Rescue Rangers. I learned about countries such as Philippines, Indonesia, India, Ethiopia and so much more. I got to go to a hospital in Philadelphia to help kids with rare diseases. My favorite part is the movie because I helped collect money. It made me feel responsible. I enjoy helping people. I look forward to doing more things in the future.

Delaware Can: CANdo'ers

          I am a member of a group of kids called the Can-Doers, who are youth of ages 4 to 16. This is our second year participated in the DelawareCAN project, and we hope to continue to have it in the following years. The Can-Doers create a 3D structure entirely out of cans, and give the cans to the Delaware Food Bank so that the poor and needy can have food to eat.

          Thinking of the structure to create, and planning out how to make it was the subject of the first few meetings that took place once or more times a week. We thought of what we will create, how many cans it will take to build it, then we set out to raise funds to get the required cans.

          Building the structure itself was the most interesting and interactive step. With the cans provided, we stacked, aligned, and arranged cans till the image we had in our heads came to life. We decided the focal point would be a well, so we did. In the first meeting where we started building the well, we constructed almost all of it. But there needed to be some changes too.  There was going to be a Mario character beside the well, but, since that proved challenging  to create only with cans.We decided to be creative and build a gate instead. difficult, a gate . We added the words: Water Is Life made out of juice boxes. After countless hours of work and meetings at last, our creation has finally been completed, and we owe it all to teamwork.

 

            Creating the well took a lot of effort and time, but together, we made it come to life so to speak. It goes to show how, under the right circumstances, anything is possible when you work together. I'm glad I am member of this wonderful group, and I encourage others to be part of something that joins a community for the greater good. 

The first step

The second step

The third step



Ghana

I previously told you about Burkina Faso, and now I think you ought to know about Ghana. Not to be confused with the similarly-sounding Ghaza, Ghana is in the western side of Africa, surrounded by Burkina Faso to the north, Cote D'ivoire to the west, and Togo to it's East. As for south of it—there's nothing but ocean!

Ghana has many cities, some of the larger ones being Wa and Kumasi, and Accra it's capital. With an estimated 20 million people, Ghana is a rather populated country, ruled by John Dramani Mahama.

Although I have not even begin to cover the many exiting and intriguing facts about this not well known country, I shall close with the fact that Ghana is—at least to me—a truly fascinating place.

Ghana is one of those we are helping with the life stock purchase. Lives are changed for  the better with our involvement. Thanks to those individuals that helped us make a difference in others lives. 

Bangladesh Facts

We are raising money for many countries to buy cows and sheep for them. One of the countries is Bangladesh. I will give you some facts about this country.

* Dhaka is Bangladesh's capital

This is the flag of Bangladesh

* They speak in bangali, maybe english
* Its population is about 141 million
* 26 % of Bangladesh's population is poverty
* 4 major religions, Islam, Hinduism,Christianity, and Budshism
* Islam is 88 % of Bangladesh
* The flag is green and has a red circle in the middle. (look at the right)
* Has a tropical monsoon climate
* It is located at the estern of India
* Currently, it is 84 degrees
* Major Cities: Chittagong(2.8 million), Khulna(1.8 million)Rajshahi(1 million)

This is where Bangladesh is located

Those are some basic fact about Bangladesh. Please help us raise more money for this country and others. We really need your help. We can't do it without you!

Burkina Faso, What you didn't know.

 

Have you ever heard about Burkina Faso? I sure haven't, until I began this project for the Rescue Rangers. Here are some facts about this small country.

• It is located in West Africa.
• It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest.
• Its capital is Ouagadougou
• In 2010, its population was estimated at just under 15.75 million.
• Until the 19th century, Burkina Faso was dominated by the empire Mossi.
• It is 60.5% Muslim, 23.2% Christian, 19% Roman Catholic, 15.3% Animist, and 4.2% Protestant.

Burkina Faso, in case you don't know, is one of the countries that we are raising money for by purchasing livestock. It changes the lives of villages, and the families within them. Join us in our effort to make a difference in our last month for this project.

Soda caps

Now we are currently collecting as many as soda caps as we can. We are collecting those for the hospital. Why? When we give the soda caps to the hospital they change it into money for sick kids in the hospital. How can you help? You can snap off the soda cap every time you drink soda. At home collect as much as you can. Like if you have a party, you snap your friends caps off and tell them to do it to their parents'. Also tell your brother or sister to do the same to his friends. If all the rescue ranger members and you do this then we will be able to raise a lot of soda caps. Even tell your friends to collect some at home.When you got to the zf center bring your collected caps and give it to one of rescue ranger members. They will put it somewhere safe, where it will eventually go to the hospital. This is something that you personally can do by yourself. So don't just stand here go and start your collection of caps!

If all of us raise some caps we will raise this much!

Eid Party at the Zakat

The Rescue Rangers are trying to find creative ways to raise money, so we rented out the Zakat Foundation for an Eid party. There was food, music, and everyone had fun. The exceptional food was displayed on a white-clothed table, and the room seemed so much more lively when the people where there to brighten it.

       The driving force that spurred us to support this Eid Party was so we could donate the sales to families in India and Bangladesh. The money, as you might know, goes to purchasing livestock, and we raised $50 for the Rescue Rangers alone. In the future, if you would like to host a party you are more than welcome to rent the Zakat Foundation Community Center for only $100. Be a part of making a difference in the world.

Giving a Helping Hand to Ethiopia by Hana S. Hubert

       Have you ever heard of Ethiopia? It is a country in the Horn of Africa,  with a population of 91.73 million. The capital city is Addis Ababa. It's main language is Amharic, although there are over 200 others. The most common, after Amharic, are Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga , Somali, and Arabic. There are also many religions including Islam, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Animist. The currency that is used in Ethiopia called Birr and is found in the form of paper and coin. One dollar equals 19.75 birr, which makes Ethiopian items cheap to buy. For example, a fancy Ethiopian Pen Cup Holder that is 100 birr, would be 5 dollars and seven cents, while similar item in America might range from 5 to 10 dollars. The average life expectancy in Ethiopia is 54.

        Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries. Droughts and famine are common, and civil wars and conflict have taken it's toll. Almost half of the county's population don't receive enough food to support them and their families. 

        People in rural Ethiopia live in extreme poverty. The living conditions are horrendous. There are only 3 medical doctors per 100,000 people.  Only one out of three Ethiopians have running water. Because droughts are common, millions of people are on the brink of starvation, and food is limited. By Purchasing livestock for needy families, we will provide means for a family. If we purchase a dairy cow for them, it will provide enough milk for a family to feed the young, and what is left they can sell to earn money. If you buy a pair of sheep or goat, the family will pass on any offspring that the two animals have, to a neighbor or relative. The goal is to help the families escape poverty so that they can educate their children. Ethiopia is one of the countries that will benefit from our efforts. Get informed, get involved, and help to make a difference.  We the rescue Rangers are doing our part. Join us in this effort. 

Hana S. Hubert

A Gift That Keeps on Giving- by Hana S. Hubert

         Children's Hospitals project, our previous project, is ongoing. We hope to do more with the children hospitals. We are collecting cans to help Ronald McDonald house, so if any of you can collect tabs from soda cans and drop them off at the Zakat Foundation, it will be greatly appreciated. This will help a family that doesn't have funds to afford to stay In a hotel while their kids, who have rare diseases, get the treatment they need.

         Our current project is about helping families purchase a cow, a pair of sheep or goat, or just a single animal in poor countries in Africa such as Ethiopia.. If the pair of sheep or goats have offspring, they must pass on the child to another family. We are helping families purchase these animals to use, not for consumption, but for their daily life. It is $450 for a cow, a pair of goats or sheep is $200, and a single sheep or goat is $100. The $200 dollar deal appears to be the best, at least to me, because the family that receives them will receive two animals, twice the wool or milk, and another family will also benefit when the two animals have offspring. It is a gift that keeps on giving. However, the $100 deal is also appealing to me, since we can assist more families by buying one animal for each family, instead of multiple animals for one family, therefore helping far more families for a cheaper price. 

         This can change the life of a family, after all, our motto is to make a difference in another person's life. It's amazing what we can accomplish when we work together.

Adam Hubert and Sarah Ali Khan at the George Wilson Center,
Thursday, July 10th.

Summer Camp at ZF- by Hana S. Hubert

On Tuesday's and Thursdays, zakat has a summer camp, to raise money for the children hospital's. The camp's activities are taught by youth leaders, and are forty minutes long. Such classes are: cooking, art, origami, crocheting, science fun, and more.the class I am teaching is called nature fun, for ages 3-6. I hope to teach kids of all ages about our environment, inshallah. In my class, we get to color, glue, and cut, to make nature-related activities, and play fun games to test their knowledge of plants and animals. I also have a website, ZFforevernature.blogspot.com. We have raised $432 at our camp.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia! By Hana S. Hubert

           On Saturday, June 14, the Rescue Rangers went to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to sponsor brunch in the coffee break room. The room provides a safe haven for the families whose kids are sick and have to stay there for a long period of time. We laid out appetizing, appealing, mouthwatering, heavenly and delicious food, such as brownies, sweet bread, banana's, apples, cookies, and more. We were there for 1 1/2 hours, but the coffee break lasted longer. 

           The hospital provides many services for the families, like a laundry room so that families could wash their dirty clothes, instead of going home to do so. There are also beds for the parents to spend the night. I can't imagined how awful it must be to be stuck in a room for months on ends. 

           The people that came were delighted so see all the palatable food laid our for them. It's nice to make a difference, even in a small way. Our motto is Inspiring others to take action and make a difference, and we felt like we did just that, that day.

Childrens Hospital Visit

On Saturday 14, the rescue rangers visited the Children Hospital of Philadelphia. We brought food there to feed breakfast to sick people. We also got to get a tour of the library there. I think the breakfast was a good success. We had many different choices of foods. Many people in the hospital had a nice refreshing meal. I hope to do something like that again. 

Spring Picnic

At the picnic on May 18th there were fun games and delicious foods.  All the people including me had an awesome time. We kids had fun playing at the playground, riding our bikes or scooters, and running around in the field. There were also a game which was three legged race. It was really fun playing that game. The adults had fun relaxing and talking with their family and friends. The foods were even better. There was barbecued hot dog and burgers that's smell filled the air. The Rescue Rangers also had a table. There you could sign up for our upcoming summer camp, donate to sick children, or fill in our survey. In the survey it had 2 questions. 1. Are you a organ donor? 2. If not, are you interested in becoming one. We got 17 people to fill it in. There was also a cake that read "Rescue Rangers". It was very yummy. That picnic day was a vary fun and exciting.

The Delicious Cake

Having fun in the park!

Cystic Fibrosis by Hana S. Hubert

               Cystic fibrosis is a disease passed down through families that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults. It is a life-threatening disorder. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by a defective gene which causes the body to produce more then normal thick and sticky fluid, called mucus. This mucus builds up in the breathing passages of the lungs and in the pancreas, the organ that helps to break down and absorb food.This collection of sticky mucus results in life-threatening lung infections and serious digestion problems. The disease may also affect the sweat glands and a man's reproductive system.

                 Millions of Americans carry the CF gene, but do not have any symptoms. That's because a person with CF must inherit two defective CF genes -- one from each parent. An estimated 1 in 29 Caucasian Americans have the CF gene. The disease is the most common, deadly, inherited disorder in the United States. It's more common among those of Northern or Central European descent. Most children with CF are diagnosed by age 2. A small number, however, are not diagnosed until age 18 or older. These patients usually have a milder form of the disease. Please donate so that we can give the money to hospitals to continue to do research and help families that can't afford the expensive treatment.

The Park Day Picnic! by Hana Sabrine Hubert

             On Sunday May 18th, 2014, Zakat Foundation held a picnic at Fox Point Park with a breathtaking view of the Delaware River. The day was sunny and slightly breezy. Friends and families gathered in this lovely day to share a meal of grilled beef and hot dogs as well as fruits and desserts. Some adults took the time to take a stroll while enjoying the view. 

                The park was a perfect setting for kids to let loose and have some fun. Many of them were seen  having fun playing in the playground while others played a game of football. There were also those who rode their bikes and scooters all around the park. There was three legged races, which I participated in,  and balloon races. 

                 
                 The Rescue Rangers had a table to advertise their latest fundraising which is for the children's  hospitals. We are raising awareness about rare diseases that affect young kids and the possibility of being an organ donor. We gave away a beautifully decorated cake and also passed out survey questionnaires on organ donation. Most people were not organ donors, but some wanted to be, which means that in the future they might become one! Out 17 people, only two were organ donors, and 6 would like to be. We hope to do more surveys in various different places to raise awareness about organ donation.

              All in all, it was a lovely day to spend some time having fun.

 

Down Syndrome By Meryem Kose

Down Syndrome is a rare disease. When people have Down Syndrome they have 47 chromosomes when they are supposed to have 46. A chromosome is something in your body that makes you special. About  250,000 people have Down Syndrome in U.S. You can have Heart Defects. If you have a Heart Defect you have trouble breathing. You may also have memory loss, hearing loss, and a lot of other things. You can have slanted eyes, a short neck, a small mouth, and small hands and feet. They learn how to walk and talk later then normal children. There is no cure for Down Syndrome. I hope now you know what Down Syndrome is!

Picnic

On May 18, there will be a picnic. Come and enjoy fun time with your family and friends. There will also be a table for the Rescue Rangers. There you can donate and buy pretty bracelets. Of course, all proceeds go to the children who suffer from many different sicknesses and rare diseases. We will be also handing out a survey about if you are an organ donor or not. An organ donor is someone who lets doctors take their organs when they die. They do that so people who need those organs later can use it. Do not miss out this opportunity to become an organ donor! I hope to see you there.

Come and enjoy a fun time with family and friends!

Child Life by Hana Sabrine Hubert

   Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals and other settings to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management and coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities. They also provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. Child life specialists collaborate with parents and other health care professionals to meet the distinct needs of children in managing the effects of stress and trauma. Because children may feel overwhelmed, child life professionals help children gain a sense of familiarity and control of their environment through play and exploration inside the healthcare facility. Understanding that a child’s well-being depends on the support of the family, they also provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members.

          I think that the Child Life section should have an area where they can create their own movie, so that they can express what they are going through, feeling, or love, in a cartoon. I have an app called Toontastic, and I created a movie based on a book I read, and I could draw the characters, and animate them through an adventure of my choice, and I could even choose the feelings for each scene. I hope that we can raise awareness so that the children can know that their are people out there that care.

MMA Methylmalonic Acidemia

Methylmalonic Acidemia by.Aadil Syed

Methylmalonic acidemia is also called MMA, and it is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder.It is a classical type of acidemia.

Methaylmalonic acidemia stems from several genotypes and secondary hyperammonemia. The disorder can result in death if undiagnosed or left untreated.

Ginetic

The inherited forms of methylmalonic acidemia cause defects in the metabolic pathway where methylmalonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) is converted into succinyl-CoA by the enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Vitamin B is also needed for the conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to Succinyl-CoA. Mutations leading to defects in vitamin B₁₂ metabolism or in its transport frequently result in the development of methylmalonic acidemia.

This disorder has an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern and this means that the defective gene is located on an autosome, and two copies of the gene—one from each parent and this must be inherited to be affected by the disorder. The parents of a child with an autosomal recessive disorder are carriers ( a carrier is a person who has a g of one copy of the defeene but it is not dominant so they don’t hagenee it but their offspring may have it) , but are usually not affected by the disorder.

Nutrition

A severe nutritional deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ can also result in methylmalonic acidemia.^[6] Methylmalonyl CoA requires vitamin B₁₂ to form succinyl-CoA. When the amount of B₁₂ is insufficient for the conversion of cofactor methylmalonyl-CoA into succinyl-CoA, the buildup of unused methylmalonyl-CoA eventually leads to methylmalonic acidemia. This diagnosis is often used as an indicator of vitamin B₁₂deficiency in serum.^[7]

Pathogenesis

Methylmalonic acidemia has varying diagnoses, treatment requirements and prognoses, which are determined by the specific genetic mutation causing the inherited form of the disorder.^[4] The following are the known genotypes responsible for methylmalonic acidemia

Cerebral Palsy [also known as CP] By Anaum Allimulla

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or  posture that is caused by an immature developing brain, most often before birth.In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement  associated with exaggerated reflexes, floppiness or rigidity of limbs and trunk, abnormal posture, involuntary movements, unsteadiness of walking, or some combination of these. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty with swallowing and commonly have eye muscle imbalance. People with cerebral palsy may have reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies due to muscle stiffness.

The effect of cerebral palsy on functional  abilities varies greatly. Some people are able to walk while others aren't able to walk. Some people show normal to near normal intellectual function, but others may have intellectual disabilities. Epilepsy , blindness or deafness also may be present. People with Cerebral Palsy often have underlying developmental brain abnormalities.

Cerebral Palsy is the name given to a number of motor problems which usually result from the damage done to the brain during early childhood. It is called Cerebral Palsy because the area of the brain that is damaged is the Cerebrum. It cannot be cured. Scientists are currently looking for a way to stop cerebral palsy from happening and to cure it. It is treated with therapies. The person affected often has trouble standing or walking. Those may also suffer from other problems such as learning difficulties or mental retardation. Did you know that 1 in every 400 children in the UK has cerebral palsy. Although there several types of cerebral palsy . Most people with this condition live as long as people without it. This is first identified by an English surgeon called WILLIAM LITTLE in 1860.

So please support and help us in our effort to raise awareness about various rare diseases !

Rare Disease: Autism

Many people know what Autism is. I am going to tell you more facts about it that you may not know.

 It is basically a mental condition present from early childhood. One person in every 68 children has Autism. One person in every 42 boys has Autism. Unfortunately, Autism doesn't have any cure. But just because someone has Autism doesn't mean that that person is bad. It just means that that person needs special care and a little more attention then a normal person. Just because someone has Autism doesn't mean they can't accomplish things in life. In fact an Autism child named Devin Ross actually made it to the Swimming Olympics! You can see that Autism people have special talents too.

Even though Devin Ross had Autism, he still went to
the Olympic Trials!

Autism children are special too!

AUTISM

There are many different type of autism. About one out of every 88 children in the United States currently has autism. About 36,500 of every 4 million children born each year in the United States will have autism. Autism is a brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. With autism the different areas of the brain fail to work together. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism. There is no cure for autism. Most people with autism will always have some trouble relating to others. Autism tends to run in families, so experts think it may be something that you can inherit( which means passed to children from parents through genes). This condition came up as a result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, also affecting development of the person's communication and social interactive skill.
Autism typically appears during the first three years of life. Some children show signs from birth.

ASPERGER'S SYNDROME  is a kind of Autism where the person or child is very intelligent but have the same social problem and limited scope of interests as children with autistic disorder where kids and problems with communication and social interaction .
Smilarly , RETT SYNDROME is where children primarily girls start developing normally but then begin losing their communication n social skills. children with this syndrome are usually cognitively (meaning lack of memory , or judgement) impaired.
so come help raise awareness about Autism and spread some extra love and care to these children so we can see them smile :-)

 SO BE KIND TO EVERY KID BECAUSE THEY ARE SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN WAY...

Thalassemia by Hana Sabrine Hubert

                Thalassemia is a blood disorder that is inherited. The body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This results in excessive destruction of blood cells, which leads to anemia, meaning you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. Thalassemia can cause significant complications, including iron overload, bone deformities and cardiovascular illness. If a person receives a beta thalassemia minor from his father and another from his mother, he will have beta thalassemia major. If a person received an alpha thalassemia trait from her mother and the normal alpha parts from her father, she would have alpha thalassemia minor. Having a thalassemia minor means that you may not have any symptoms, but you might pass that trait on to your children and increase their risk of having thalassemia. If you have thalasseemia major, you will have to get blood transfusions. It's important to know about rare diseases and continue extensive ongoing  researches, so please help us increase awareness, and donate.

 

Down Syndrome

There are many rare diseases that kids, teens, and adults suffer from. One disease is Down Syndrome. If you have this disease it means that you have 47 chromosomes than the usual 46  chromosomes your supposed to have. The condition can cause delay in the way a person moves, both mentally, and physically. It usually affects about 1 in every 800 babies born in the United States. Some physical features that happens because of this is flat facial profile, a upward slant to the eyes, small ears, and a protruding tongue. Most of the time babies that get this will be born at a normal size but as he/she gets older they grow at a smaller rate and usually shorter than their peers. Some mental problems are they can have delays in speech, and self-care like feeding, dress, and toilet teaching. There are many more affects that can happen because of this disease.  Let's help the people with Down Syndrome and try to stop the disease.

Let's help these people, and try to stop the disease. :)