Newsletter

Expanding Opportunities
Newsletter - 2009
http://www.exop.org - info@expandingopportunities.org

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Table of Contents

Well the best intentions again have failed. it seems I cannot get out frequent newsletters or blog effectively. Sorry.
I am using FACEBOOK a bit more often though so please sign up and become a friend to get more frequent updates.
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Thank you for your continuous support of Expanding Opportunities.
Newsletters are available on the website at www.exop.org.

Artisan Support

Visit www.KangaUSA.com, www.ainamoja.com and www.1stafricanclothing.com.

The Service Journey of 2009 began with an Art tour. We found a wonderful tailor making dress shirts from African fabric; two young mothers making necklaces and earrings from recycled bottle caps; and one of our established artists making wooden pens with insects hand formed from clay and recycled materials. 2010 will feature an Art tour to Northwestern Kenya. It will be a rough, dry trek but the adventurous can join us. Be sure to visit the websites, stop in at the Aina Moja Shop in the Working Art Gallery on Main Street in Belfast, Maine, or visit our booth at the Silver Tea in Lenox, Mass, the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine or the many other fairs we will attend.

Bring this newsletter and get 15% off any purchase

The Artisan Support project purchases artwork at Fair Market Value from a variety of artisans in Kenya and Peru to the USA. The Artisan Support Project is committed to Fair Trade practices and all proceeds support the projects of Expanding Opportunities.

Street Children Project: Joseph Waweru Home School

Boys receiving gifts from the usa

2009 brought many changes to the Joseph Waweru HomeSchool. Compliance with new regulations from the Children's Department and new staff kept us very busy.

A grant from Alternative Gifts International is allowing us to make needed repairs, construct new housing for additional children, select additional children and assist many more children through our feeding program and other child assistance projects.

The AGI grant is allowing us to assit two of the many abandoned children in Kenya. These two are living in a baby home. JD was abandoned onthe side ofthe road at birth. A premature baby, he now weighs about 6 pounds at three months. The other is a bright toddler. His actual age is not known but he was found wandering the streets of Bahati. Both of them are now receiving excellent care and thriving in their new home.

In 2008, Expanding Opportunities began an income generating business called Debley Rentals. After a rough beginning with the post election violence, the rental items are on a year long lease and therefore contributing to the support of the Joseph Waweru Home School.

Expanding Opportunities is seeking investors for other income generating activities. If you are intersted in becoming an investor, email info@expandingopportunities.org for more information and business plans.

one of many abandoned children

STEMS

Click the image to help,

STEMS is Expanding Opportunities' MicroLoan and education assistance project.

Boarding School is not unusual in Africa. It si one of the most effective ways to asist high school age children. They receive food, shelter, supervision and an education at a reasonable cost. Through individual donations, and the Alternative Gifts International Grant, STEMS now has assisted 6 high school students with Boarding School fees.

Through individual donors, STEMS has purchased school uniforms, and school shoes for several primary and secondary children.

Though primary and secondary schools are now tuition free in Kenya, the schools struggle to provide needed materials such as books and desks. Many times 2-6 children are sharing one desk. Parent are often asked to provide a desk for their child and that is an expense that will keep the child out of school. One Million Ways funded the construction of several school desks.

Receiving Desks

Books For Kenya

A single donor donates funds for Bibles in Kiswahili to be purchased and distributed. Two other individual donor scollect Bibles and other inspirational literature for distribution.

Expanding Opportunities has the priviledge to oversee the distribution to grateful recipients.

Camp Forest

Camp Forest is having a wonderful SUMMER 2009. It is rainy but the campers don't seem to notice. .
Campers are away this week on an expedition while others remain at day camp learning basic skills.
There is still room in the remaining expeditions for 2009. The NORTH WOODS and the BEAVER expeditions remain for this summer.

VISIT www.campforestmaine.com for more information.

Friends Across the Ocean

Visitors are always welcome! Sharing yourself with others enriches everyone!

JOIN US on a 2009 Service Journey! The AGI Grant will provide funding for additional construction at the joseph Waweru Home School and we need lots of help. No expertise is needed just a willingness to pitchin and help.

2010 will bring additional opportunities to volunteer. So far the schedule will include, a missions journey to distribute Bibles and other literature, and work at the Joseph WAweru Home School; a Coastal journey to teach and visit the recipients of shipped text books in Kwaupanga; and a northwest journey to the Pokot and Turkana tribes to develop additional artis and purchase authentic tribal items.

For more information go to www.exop.org and click on the Service Journey links, or call 1-888-760-7943.

Distance Learning Center

Expanding Oppportunities works in collaboration with the Rabondo Community Project to bring Community

Education and Distance Learning to the rural community of Rabondo, Kenya.

The space is prepared and ready to go. We need donated Laptop computers to get started.

Wish List

RUBBER GLOVES: The Joseph Waweru Home School needs rubber gloves both heavy duty and lighter weight.
WIND UP, SHAKING or SOLAR FLASHLIGHTS: The Joseph Waweru Home School can use "no battery" flashlights for safe journeys to the outhouse.
SOLAR POWERED ANYTHING: The Joseph Waweru Home School is "off the grid", we can use any solar powered appliances, inverters, or battery chargers.
NEW CHILDREN: The construction at the Joseph Waweru Home School is progressing. New children wil be accepted into the home. Our wish is for people who would support a child for at least one year.
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.
LAPTOP COMPUTERS: Our wish is to have laptop computers donated for the Distance Learning Center in Rabondo, Kenya, and the Joseph Waweru Home School. 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.
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
VOLUNTEERS: Our wish is for several volunteers both here in the USA and in Kenya.

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