A Personal Note from our Director, Michael Matergia
Dear Friends,
As the year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reintroduce Broadleaf, the work we do, and the transformative journey we’ve been on in 2024.
This letter is long overdue, and I regret not sharing more updates throughout the year. The truth is, we’ve been so deeply focused on delivering impact that communications have often taken a backseat. Today, I’m excited to reconnect and share the incredible milestones we’ve achieved together.
Reflecting on a Transformative Year
This year has been transformative, marked by collaborations that extend our reach beyond the Darjeeling Himalayas to new frontiers in the Philippines and North Carolina. While this growth has been both organic and unexpected, our commitment to rural communities of the Darjeeling Himalayas remains steadfast and at the heart of all we do. Here are some highlights of what we’ve accomplished together:
In the Darjeeling Himalayas: Reaching youth in over 100 rural schools through Tealeaf and CHHIP, we’ve advanced teacher-delivered mental health care, secure speech therapy services for our partner schools, and helped children with heart disease and vision deficits access care.
In the Philippines: In Manila, we collaborated with the government and University of North Carolina to pilot Tealeaf in Manila and are currently working towards scaling to 73 public schools, aiming to reach 170,000 children.
In North Carolina: In partnership with UNC, we’re adapting Tealeaf for U.S. middle schools.
These milestones are more than numbers - they represent lives touched, futures unlocked, and communities strengthened.
Looking Forward
This letter marks the beginning of a renewed commitment from Broadleaf to reconnect with you and share stories that matter. The months ahead will be full of exciting updates that we cannot wait to share, including:
Stories of children accessing critical health care in rural Darjeeling.
Insights on how teacher-delivered care is revolutionizing child mental health.
The 2024 Annual Impact Report, highlighting the incredible work your support makes possible.
The launch of our new website and a modernized brand.
I invite you to re-engage with Broadleaf as we share updates and continue this transformative journey.
With deep gratitude and hope,
Michael Matergia
P.S. If you’d like to hear more about our work or get involved, feel free to reach out at michael.matergia@broadleafhea.org. I’d love to connect personally.
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