The Marshall Legacy Institute Updates

Keep updated with all the news...

MLI has many new events and chances for you to become involved. Browse the links to the left to view our most recent news or visit our archive of past articles. Please visit the events section of our website to see what's happening. New dogs will be highlighted as they become sponsored with photo's and information as it becomes available.

MDDs Lead Vital Clearance Efforts in Afghanistan

Lately Afghanistan has made front page news on a daily basis. The ongoing insurgency and Presidential elections have contributed to an upsurge in violence and destruction. Meanwhile, MLI is actively working to support this beautiful country. Since June 2008, MLI has donated 18 MDDs to Afghan NGOs. These lifesaving dogs are making a measurable and positive difference in the lives of many Afghan citizens, despite the constant security challenges posed by the Taliban.

MDDs survey suspected mine-contaminated land, clear low density or scattered minefields, and conduct quality assurance on land that has been recently cleared by other methods, such as metal detectors, to ensure that the land is truly safe to use. Mines are made mostly of plastic, making them frequently invisible to metal detectors. However, highly-trained dogs’ noses can readily detect the presence of explosive odors in the mines, so their use as a quality assurance check is a vital part of the clearance process.
MLI dogs have recently worked in Kabul Province, Nangarhar Province, and Laghman Province, clearing land in areas used to graze animals – a primary means of sustaining a livelihood for the majority of the country, before the land became mine-contaminated. These hardworking dogs have helped create safe zones in formerly heavily mined areas, so that people again may graze their animals and walk without fear of stepping on a landmine.

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MDDs Lead Vital Clearance Efforts in Afghanistan

As one recipient organization put it: “The positive impact of MLI dogs’ demining has been the witness of bringing social and economic prosperity and transformation by reusing the land and [restoring the] safety of the masses.”

*MLI wishes to thank the MDDPP Afghanistan donors: General Dynamics; the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters; Michael Lazar Family; Glenelg Country School; the U.S. Department of State; Nicholas and Eleanor Chabraja; Association of the U.S. Army; the schoolchildren of Vermont and Antonio Pomerleau; the Laura J. Niles Foundation and the Friendship Hospital for Animals.

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DAFA MDD Assets have been proved beneficial to the reconstruction and rehabilitation process of Afghanistan in various geographical locations by clearing sufficient part of mine fields. The positive impact of these MLI dogs demining has been the witness of bringing social and economical prosperity and transformation by reusing of the land and safety of the masses in Bagram district of Parwan province. This project has brought immense changes directly in the lives of 200 families - 1,500 people of the area. The local people adhering in the concerned areas have appreciated the efforts and work DAFA MDD by making the land a safe zone for day to day life of the community in various parts of Afghanistan.
View some pictures

DAFA MLI Dogs along with their Handlers in state of rendering obedience

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Mdd Dogs Are sent for Service in northern iraq

This year, with funding from the U.S. Department of State, MLI launched a collaborative effort with Mines Advisory Group, the Mine Detection Dog Center, and the Global Training Academy to reintroduce MDDs to clearance operations conducted by MAG in northern Iraq.

In this heavily mine-affected region, the dog teams leased from the Mine Detection Dog Center have proven to be very valuable assets, clearing 90,000 square meters of land in over 7 mine-contaminated areas that can be returned to the people of Iraq for safe and productive use.

In June, MLI sent 6 new MDDs to northern Iraq, where they have been paired with local handlers and are currently working and training for accreditation. Two of the MDDs have already been accredited. MLI looks forward to continuing to help build a MDD capacity in northern Iraq, and wishes to thank the State Department as well as the Bradosti family, who generously sponsored three of the six new dogs— Arco, Bowie, and Dori. Meet the Dogs

meet our Northern Iraq MDD dogs

 

MLI is proud to have donated 18 dogs to Lebanon over the past 8 years

Since then, 4 have retired. Although bad weather this spring delayed scheduled MDD clearance operations, the dogs are now training and working again with their handlers. In the past year alone, these dogs have sniffed out mines at 6 sites in Mount Lebanon, and one site in southern Lebanon. Three cleared sites have been returned to the Lebanese people for farming, tourism, and infrastructure construction. Land that was formerly unsafe and unusable can now be developed for a multitude of uses, thanks to the work of our MDDs.

MLI wishes to thank the generous donors to MDDPP Lebanon – William Rouhana Jr. & Amy Newmark; New Lebanon School & the John Vrabec Shadow Foundation; Girl Scout troops of Essex Junction & Williston, VT; Trinity Episcopal School; LA Cedars Rotary Club; Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation; Partnership for Lebanon; Joan Wismer Foundation; Kirsten Parkinson & the schoolchildren of Greenwich, CT; friends & family of St. Kassab al-Hardini Family; & Anthony Lake & Julie Katzman; & the U.S. Department of State. View another picture >

Iris gets a treat

Anthony Lake and Julie Katzman give Iris a well deserved treat!

Domestic CHAMPS Program is thriving!

 

Currently active CHAMPS campaigns for 2009-2010 in the U.S. include:

Plantation Middle School, Plantation, FL

Betsy Parkinson and the community campaign for MDD Yankee, Greenwich, CT

Ashley Parkinson is running a Campaign to sponsor a dog she will name Marlin, Greenwich, CT.

Evergreen School, Seattle, WA

The Woodlands High School, Woodlands, TX

DFW Junior World Affairs Council, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Kempner High School, Sugar Land, TX

Memorial High School, Houston, TX

Wister Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA in partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia, PA

CHAMPS Awardee Organizes Hugely Successful Dive-a-Thon

Kirsten Parkinson, recipient of the 2009 Joan Wismer CHAMPS Award and sponsor of MDD Nutmeg, organized a January 2010 Dive-a-Thon and raised over $6,000 for a young landmine survivor(s) with the help of her talented Marlins Diving Club and the Greenwich Family YMCA.

MLI Trading Cards Now Available !

Collectable cards highlight our hero dogs

In December, MLI distributed baseball-style trading cards to the donors of CHAMPS-sponsored dogs. The recipients were so thrilled by the cards that MLI has designed cards for non-CHAMPS dogs as well!

Each card features a photo of the sponsored dog on the front. If the donor has traveled to the mine-affected country where his or her dog is working, a photo of the two together is on the back of the card, along with a dog bio, including breed and birth stats and the organization with which the dog serves.

If you would like MLI MDD trading cards—a fun memento for donors, a great way to honor CHAMPS teams, and a popular awareness tool—please contact CHAMPS Director Kimberly McCasland at (703) 598-9290 or kmccasland@marshall-legacy.org or champs.kimberly@yahoo.com

CHAMPS International: new launches

CHAMPS International, MLI’s student-led survivors’ assistance program, is active in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Lebanon—and expected to expand to Vietnam.

 

Currently active campaigns include:

 

Glenelg Country School, Maryland to help young landmine survivors in Afghanistan
North Hollywood High School, California to help young landmine survivors in Afghanistan
Beth Scanlon, New Hampshire to help young landmine survivors in Bosnia
Girl Scout Troops 125 and 820, Vermont to help young landmine survivors in Bosnia
Kirsten Parkinson & Greenwich Country Day School, Connecticut to help young landmine survivors in Lebanon
Trinity Episcopal School, Texas to help young landmine survivors in Lebanon
Mercer Island High School, Mercer Island, WA to help young landmine survivors in Vietnam
Dealey International Academy, Dallas, TX, to help young landmine survivors in Afghanistan

 

The program pairs U.S. schools with schools in mine-affected countries, allowing the children not only to develop a dialogue about mine issues and awareness via live video chats and student exchanges, but also to assist mine survivors. Visit the site >

champs international: afghanistan

When the CHAMPS program and promise of assistance came to the area, many villagers were skeptical, having developed strong anti-American sentiments. A student from the village said, “We thought all Americans hated us…now we know they love us because they help us..they send us gifts…they talk to us about their lives and they want to know about us. Now we know they love us.”

Since the fall of 2008, MLI has partnered with Help the Afghan Children (HTAC) to implement CHAMPS International at Roshan High School in Laghman Province, a highly mine-affected area of Afghanistan.

The high school was paired with Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD. It was a fitting match, as Glenelg was already involved in the CHAMPS program domestically, having sponsored MDD Dragon in early 2008, who is now working in Afghanistan. Roshan is also working with North Hollywood High School in California.

Using a computer and satellite internet provided by MLI and HTAC, Roshan students are conducting weekly or biweekly live video chats with Glenelg students, making Roshan among the first schools in Afghanistan to have Internet connectivity.

In addition, the American children raise money to provide their young Afghan landmine survivor peers with prosthetics, rehabilitative treatment, or other needed care – truly children helping children! The combined efforts of Glenelg and North Hollywood have allowed 120 mine-affected children to receive wheelchairs, crutches, and orthotic socks. Glenelg arranged Kite Festival to celebrate the Afghan pastime and raise funds for their Afghan friends.

On the Afghan end, the students and their teacher organized a Landmine Awareness Committee, consisting of students in 10th-12th grades. The committee distributes awareness information to the members of their community, finds and links mine survivors with the CHAMPS program, and receives hands-on training in mine awareness. See pic

Using Skype to talk with the kids in Afghanistan

Assessment Trip: lebanon 2008

In July, MLI’s CHAMPS Int’l Lebanon program conducted its first video conference between American high school teachers attending a summer seminar program at Rice University and the CHAMPS International team in Lebanon.

The Lebanon participants included Lebanese students and landmine survivors participating in CHAMPS, as well as the CHAMPS Lebanon project manager.

The U.S. participants included the 100 teachers attending the seminar.

The virtual meeting was engaging and exciting, with the teachers and kids interacting for over an hour.

Now that a new school year is in full swing, students in Vermont and Connecticut are working on CHAMPS International Lebanon campaigns to help their Lebanese landmine survivor peers.

Survivors’ Assistance: Afghanistan

In partnership with Help the Afghan Children (HTAC), MLI’s Survivors’ Assistance: Afghanistan program has found much success:

 

An estimated 26,200 people participated in MLI and HTAC-coordinated landmine awareness meetings. No mine incidents were reported in the areas where people received awareness training.
2,500 people, including 900 women, were identified as needing assistance. Now that there is an accurate count of those requiring help, rehab and prosthetics can be provided to those who need them.

120 mine-affected people, including 35 women, received wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and orthotic socks through MLI’s CHAMPS International: Afghanistan program

1 boy and 2 girls were taken to Jalalabad International Red Cross Hospital to be fitted for and receive prosthetic limbs

 

Due to the great benefits of the program, treasured and appreciated by those in need, MLI and HTAC are working to expand the program to other Afghan Provinces interested in participating.

Survivors’ Assistance: Azerbaijan

April 2009 marked the conclusion of MLI’s one year project with the Ganja City Regional Resource Center, which provided vocational training to family members of landmine survivors.

The stigma faced by the disabled and their families makes it difficult for them to gain employment. MLI’s partnership with the Resource Center aimed to help combat the issue, by training and employing 12 family members of survivors in carpet weaving, embroidery and tailoring techniques. As the trainees progressed in the program, they learned to make carpets, bed linens, embroider items like baseball caps and t-shirts, and to tailor items as well.

With MLI’s funding, a computerized embroidery machine and raw materials were purchased and donated to the center and four sewing machines were awarded to the highest-achieving graduates of the Center, to encourage these young women to start their own ventures.

MLI wishes to thank donors the U.S. Department of State and Gaylene Graham for their support of the program.

Survivors’ Assistance: Azerbaijan

April 2009 marked the conclusion of MLI’s one year project with the Ganja City Regional Resource Center, which provided vocational training to family members of landmine survivors.

The stigma faced by the disabled and their families makes it difficult for them to gain employment. MLI’s partnership with the Resource Center aimed to help combat the issue, by training and employing 12 family members of survivors in carpet weaving, embroidery and tailoring techniques. As the trainees progressed in the program, they learned to make carpets, bed linens, embroider items like baseball caps and t-shirts, and to tailor items as well.

With MLI’s funding, a computerized embroidery machine and raw materials were purchased and donated to the center and four sewing machines were awarded to the highest-achieving graduates of the Center, to encourage these young women to start their own ventures.

MLI wishes to thank donors the U.S. Department of State and Gaylene Graham for their support of the program.

donor trips

In late September, a donor delegation trip took MLI staff, MLI Board Members, and friends and donors to Bosnia and Slovenia. The delegation met with the Bosnian president and Dr. Bisera Turkovic, former Bosnian Ambassador to the U.S. and a good friend of MLI. After visiting MLI’s MDDs at work, the delegation also had the unique opportunity to meet the members of a mine survivors’ handball club. The trip provided a special chance for both MLI Founder GEN Gordon R. Sullivan and MLI Chairman Tony Lake to meet their respective MDD namesakes, Sully and Tony. The delegation spent time exploring Sarajevo and Mostar before heading to their next destination.

In Slovenia, the delegation visited Ljubljana, the headquarters of partner organization the International Trust Fund (ITF), and beautiful Lake Bled. Some members of the delegation took part in a Legacy of Hope Golf Tournament co-hosted by MLI and the ITF. All enjoyed the fabulous scenery, delightful ITF hosts, and spirited tournament play.

donor highlights

Program Assessments: Bosnia and Slovenia

In September, MLI Program Manager Elise Becker traveled to Bosnia to assess the progress of MLI’s MDDs. Upon her visit, Elise learned that several beneficiary organizations could not sustain their current MDD capacity.

MLI is now working with the Mine Detection Dog Center to reassign 6 MDDs away from Pro Vita, BH Demining, and STOP Mines and into new Bosnian demining organizations. Elise then traveled to Slovenia to participated in a Partner Exchange Program with longtime MLI collaborative organization, the International Trust Fund. The experience allowed Elise to learn more about ITF programs and to detail the needs of mine-affected countries in South East Europe. Elise was able to explore the possibilities of implementing new programs in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and central Asia. She looks forward to continuing her evaluation of the programs and possibilities offered by MLI’s friends in South East Europe.
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MDDs and their handlers at a demining site outside Kabul

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CHAMPS International: launches in vietnam

CHAMPS International has just launched a new program in Vietnam

Visit the site >