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Expanding Opportunities Newsletter: Fall 2008 http://www.exop.org - info@expandingopportunities.org |
Hi everyone,
Beginning with the post election violence, 2008 has been an unusual year. It would not be possible to write all that Expanding Opportunities has been doing. Please let this brief newsletter give you an overview.
Expanding Opportunities thanks our regular donors and those who stepped up to help respond to the emergency situation. Kenya is settling down, though still struggling with resettlement and food shortages.
Thank you for your continuous support of Expanding Opportunities. Newsletters are available on the website at www.exop.org.
Joseph Waweru Home School
The Joseph Waweru Home School served as a refuge for several internally displaced persons during the post election violence. Food, mattresses, blankets, and clothing were provided for those who arrived at the Home seeking shelter. Some remained for several months, others were relocated with family.
The boys at the Home welcomed the displaced children with open arms. The children were given uniforms and enrolled in school.
A short-term project, Encouraging Education and Sustaining Dignity, was designed to respond to the need for uniforms and lunches for refugee children in the community. The project provided lunches in exchange for work. It was very well received and will be considered for continuation.
Children
Now that the crisis is over the boys are backing their routine. Well and happy, they are attending school. The Joseph Waweru Home School now has three children attending high school! The rest of the boys are in Primary.
Child Support
Some of the boys have individual sponsors. These sponsors pay for the needs of their child, and can exchange letters. The sponsor can also come to visit the Home when possible or talk on the phone to their child. The joy of sponsoring your own child is found in the personal connection you can have. The child can put a name and face to the person who has helped them have hope and a future.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child, several children are still without sponsors. For more information call 1-800-760-7943, email info@expandingopportunities.org or mail Expanding Opportunities, 84 Payson Road, Brooks, ME 04921.
Sam Waithaka operated the feeding program in Kericho. The post election violence scattered the street children and it was impossible to continue. Still to date it is not possible to safely operate the feeding program in Kericho.
Children on the streets are fed in Nakuru and other locations when passing through. The reestablishment of the feeding program in Kericho will be examined when safety has returned to the country.
STEMS is the program through which we have supported children in school and distributed Micro Loans.
STEMS will be branching out into small business ventures owned and operated by Expanding Opportunities to hire and train local people.
Expanding Opportunities has started one social purpose business to help support the Joseph Waweru Home School. This appears to be a viable and responsible way to help many people.
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Volunteers are now being sought for the 2009 Service Journeys. In addition to the Service Journeys to Kenya, Expanding Opportunities is also offering Service Journeys to Peru.
For more information go to www.exop.org and click on the Service Journey links, or call 1-888-760-7943.
The Artisan Support project brings art work from a variety of artisans in Kenya to the USA and sells them at Fairs and on the internet at two web sites:
Aina Moja, www.ainamoja.com, 1st African Clothing, www.1stafricanclothing.com and at The Aina Moja Shop in Belfast, Maine.
In addition, Expanding Opportunities has purchased www.kangaUSA.com. New Kanga styles will be purchased from Tanzania for this ecommerce enterprise.
The Artisan Support Project is committed to Fair Trade practices and all proceeds support the projects of Expanding Opportunities.
Visit the Working Art Gallery on Main Street in Belfast or on line at www.ainamoja.com.
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2008 brought an exciting development to Expanding Opportunities. In 2006, Ken and Tracy Zeringer visited the village of Kwaupanga in Kenya. The thirst for print material so impressed them that they returned to collect books to send to Kwaupanga schools. Expanding Opportunities partnered with them to make this happen. Ken and Tracy have worked very hard to make this project successful. Due to their efforts a container of books is on its way to Kenya!
A single donor provides regular support to purchase Bibles in Kiswahili for residents that cannot afford to purchase a Bible. The Bibles are presented to individuals chosen at the local churches.
The Distance Learning Center is a project that has great potential and is moving forward. We have an MOU with the Rabondo Community Project t establish the first Distance Learning Center in Rabondo. Rabondo is a remote village in southwestern Kenya. Timon Bondo, born and raised in Rabondo, founded the Rabondo Community Project, and has built a primary and secondary school, dispensary and an orphanage. He took advantage of the Kenya Rural Electrification Project and power was brought to this remote location.
Camp Forest welcomed back Adam Stone, senior counselor. The summer passed quickly and successfully. Osprey Camp and Rock Camp were created and added additional adventure to the camping season.
A meeting will be held to plan the development of Camp Forest. If you have any ideas please feel free to email us at camp@campforestmaine.com.
Take a look at the web site Camp Forest - www.campforestmaine.com
A Few Wishes:
NEW CHILDREN: The construction at the Joseph Waweru Home School has progressed to the point where we are able to house up to 16 children. Our wish is for people who would support a child for at least one year.
BUILDING: Our wish is to continue construction at the Joseph Waweru Home School to accommodate 32 children.
VEHICLE: Our wish is to have a truck for transportation for goods, the boys, and visitors at the Joseph Waweru Home School. The Mini is small, retired and renting is very costly.
DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER: Our wish is to move forward with the establishment of a Distance Learning Center in Rabondo, Kenya. Education is power.
PERMANENT HONOR TO OUR DONORS: Our wish is to find embroiderers and quilters who would embroider the names of our donors and form quilt hangings for the Commons building at the Joseph Waweru Home School.
POT HOLDERS AND APRONS: Our wish is have potholders and aprons for the kitchen at the Joseph Waweru Home School.
FAMILY SUPPORT: Many orphans are living with grandparents or relatives. Often with just a little assistance they can continue to provide for these children. Our wish is for donors who would consider supporting such children.
SCHOOL SUPPORT: Students must pay many different fees to attend school in Kenya, desk fee, tutoring fee, activity fee, exam fee etc. They must also have uniforms. Many students cannot afford to attend. Our wish is for funding to purchase necessary items for school students.
CANOES: Our wish is to have two canoes for Camp Forest.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Our wish is for a local advisory committee to help guide the development of Camp Forest
APPRENTICE: Our wish is to have an apprentice for Camp Forest.
VOLUNTEERS: Our wish is for several volunteers both here in the USA and in Kenya.
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Thank you for your continued support.
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