General

We are nearing the end of another wonderful year. Highlights include:

• We have increased the number of orphans we are providing for with younger children entering the program.
• Some of our oldest children are now graduating from college and university
• One of those young people – Faith – has graduated from teachers college and will be joining the staff of Creation of Hope. Ultimately we are hoping that our graduates will come back to help run or support the program.
• We have increased the number of Kenyan sponsors, supporters, and donors including a new group of ten new children being sponsored.
• We have received funding to create a workshop for our grandmothers. They will be trained to make crafts. They will be paid a living wage – well above what they were earning – and extra profits will be used to support the program.
• We had a very successful banquet which raised funds for the program.
• We received more donations than in any previous year and we now have a larger ‘cushion’ of funds available.
• The documentary film has helped to generate attention and to raise additional funds.https://vimeo.com/190733564

We thank Kids Alive for their partnership in supporting the project and accomplishing these activities.

Christmas party

Every year we have a combination Christmas celebration and food distribution gathering. The children/young people receive Christmas presents either sent by or paid for by their sponsors. A large meal is served to all. Additional presents are given to other children within their homesteads. In addition the food distribution takes place and arrangements are made for the children to spend time over the holidays with their extended families (where those situations are possible). This gathering is for over 300 people and along with food distribution, livestock, tools, uniforms, and the Christmas presents which include clothing, school supplies, books and some small gift items, go home with the orphans. This gathering is one of the highlights of the year.

We also take this opportunity to take greeting pictures to be sent to each sponsor. Below are two examples of the pictures which are being sent.

Here are Boniface, the principal character in the book Hope Springs, and Eric.

This gathering also marks the year end break for elementary and high school students in Kenya. Each student will be starting in a new grade in the coming year including our five new students entering high school. We will soon be assigning specific educational sponsors to these children where needed.

While college students may start their school at different times in the year, the university year is the same as our school year running from September – May.

Penguin/Random House

The kind people at Penguin/Random House and Tundra have been supporting our program in many ways. The donations from Walking Home – $1.30 per book – are mainly used for high school and post-secondary education. Here are some of the recipients of their generosity.

Craft Sales

Our good friend – and sponsor – Barb Kettle continues to sell crafts made by our grannies. She raised an additional $350.

School donations

Hillside in Mississauga made a donation which supported our program on December 27, 28, 29, 30. Lisa Rumble is an educational sponsor in our program who organized this fundraising activity at her school.

Ardis Ann Middle School in Arkansas raised money to provide for both a contribution to our December food distribution but to support the program December 17, 18 and 19. Great thanks to Jill and the students.

St. Mark High School in Ottawa made a donation to support the program on December 9, 10, and 11^th. Great thanks to Janice for organizing this.

Individual Donations

Mary made a donation to support the orphanage for 3 days – December 12, 13, and 14 – and this is dedicated to Sarah, Nick, Tom and Treah.

Josh made a donation that is being used to operate the orphanage for 1 day, and to purchase a chicken, a blanket, a solar light and tree saplings.

Rebekah made a donation of $206.00 which is being used for two days of support for January.

Jaime made a donation which is being used to support our Christmas efforts and is dedicated to her son Weston – you can see the thank you sign below. Jaime has also been a long term supporter through her efforts at McKinnon P.S.

Dr. Bentley is a generous ongoing educational supporter of our program. The staff of her office have come together to raise money for goats. You can see all of the goats – and grateful orphans – in the thank you section below.

Marilyn made a donation which supported our entire program for December 31 and January 1, 2, and 3 and for the January food distribution.

Wendy and Larry donated funds for a day of support – January 6

Thank you Signs

While all the thank you signs were sent to the donor I have not put all of them in this update. We were so blessed with so many donations that I simply couldn’t put them all in – this is a first! Great thanks to all.

Food distribution

Every month we give out up to 2.2 tons of food and supplies to the orphans and impoverished children who live in the community. This is partly funded by our sponsors but additional donations allow us not only to provide for non-sponsored children in the family compounds as well but to help make up for the food distribution deficit we run every month.

 

Days of Support

The entire Rolling Hills Residence can be supported with a donation of $100.00. This provides food for all the children, the salaries of the residence staff and the utilities for the building. Here are the ‘parents’ of our program.

You’ll notice there are two pictures – for the same supporter – for December 16. We temporarily ‘lost’ the picture in transmitting it to our donor so took a second one . . . and then found the first one!

Sponsors

Our generous sponsors often send birthday presents over to their sponsored child. We try to make sure we can send them a picture of the child holding the items.

Thank you for reading our update – and for all of the generous people who make contributions that keep the program running and these children moving forward on their life journey. We wish you all a wonderful start to the new year!