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Newly Constructed Adobe House - El Sauce, Nicaragua
4WALLS PROJECT - NICARAGUA
Building of 4Walls houses will begin again in El Sauce this month after several weeks of unusual seismic activity. Registering as high as 5.9 on the seismic scale, clusters of tremors and aftershocks occurred several times a day in and around El Sauce. As scientists from around the world tried to figure out the cause, families lived in fear and confusion. All 4Walls houses survived the tremors, but older adobe houses did not. Nicaragua sits on five major fault lines. Its capital, Managua, was leveled in 1972.
- Colleen Dunham
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Laying the foundation of the new medical clinc
KAMEKE MEDICAL CLINIC, UGANDA
Exciting things have been happening in Kameke, Uganda. Thanks to funds raised by JOS supporters the foundation of the new medical clinic has been laid on land that is part of the current school campus. As new funds are raised, building will proceed with an estimated completion date of summer 2017. It is hoped that the new facility will include a small, dedicated maternity and pediatric unit, filling a critical hole in local medical services.
In the meantime, the current medical clinic continues to expand its services ; thanks to funds raised by project supporters critical medicines, beds, essential comfort items and vital pieces of laboratory equipment have been purchased over the past few months. Nonetheless, the need for services continues to vastly outstrip the current capabilities of the clinic (particularly in its current, rented building) and there continues to be a desperate need for reliable sources of medication as well as for funds to build outreach and staff training programs.
See weebly.kamekemedicalclinc.
org for more updates!
- Kirsti Shields
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Students at the Eco-Moyo School
ECO-MOYO SCHOOL - KENYA
Eco-Moyo Project Lead Lindsay Sanner is currently in Kenya but shares that exciting things are happening at the Eco Moyo Education Center! The following is taken from Lindsay's website (www.ecomoyo.com.)
"Over the summer, the school shifted location again (the third time this year) due to difficulties in our working relationship with the former landlord. It was so sad to leave at this point, as we could finally see our plants growing, our compost maturing and we had even sealed those bad roofs. Hopefully our next shift will be to the new plot! New classrooms have been made from our beloved sisal sticks and although this
new location is smaller in teaching space, the field on the plot is much better for the kids to play
on as well as other activities. There is currently no water system installed, despite a written
agreement attesting that this would be done, and some other small challenges - but nothing that cannot be managed. We also continue to explore development of our Aquaponics Project.
The idea is for Eco Moyo to be a demonstration site for aquaponics, where local schools and groups
can come and learn - and of course sell fish!! - to earn cash for the school. In the meantime we continue to raise funds to help purchase new PE kit for the students, support initiatives in natural building, such as building with cob, help complete the new school building and plot, and fund the new school van!
Take care - and come to Kenya and help us build our school :)
For more information see: http://www.ecomoyo.com/#!newsletters/c197u
- Lindsay Sanner
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LOS BUFALITOS
After months of saintly patience, hard work, and community organizing, Los Pequeños Búfalos de El Sauce have formed a fútbol (soccer) league for kids ages 11-14. There are four boys' teams and two girls' teams who play every Saturday. This fall their friends at JOS will be raising funds for referees, coaches, equipment, and jerseys. As the kids remind us, playing fútbol is more than fun. It's self-esteem, discipline, leadership, and strategic thinking. Fútbol keeps kids off the streets and out of trouble.
-Colleen Dunham
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TINO'S GARAGE, TANZANIA
We completed the plan to purchase tools and machines in Tanzania to provide Tino's Garage with the equipment needed to outfit a new business repairing Safari trucks. Tino reported recently that the Garage is doing well. Tino is renting the land for the Garage and had hoped to relocate. Fortunately, he discovered at the last minute that government had condemned the property he were planning to buy. As a result, the search for a new location continues.
- Jim Coyne
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"No one has ever become poor by giving."
- Anne Frank
!
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 PPS Friend Kami, outside his home.
SHERPA SPONSORSHIP FUND, NEPAL
As our life here in the USA continues as normal, our friends in Nepal continue to struggle with the aftermath of the earthquake.
Over $20,000 was raised this year to assist our friends. The money was spent helping a family who lost a father in an avalanche and helping our cooks and guides rebuild their houses and lodges. Other funds went to help rebuild a monastery, yo build a monument in Lukla that directs planes to land, and funding a pilot project exploring a new type of building structure that should prove more earthquake-proof. Many we helped do not have access to internet and are out of communication most of the time. Others were helped to find work in an economy crushed by the down-turn in tourism after the quake.
In addition PPS brought a group to India to help provide income for a Nepali family whose businesses we work with. Assistance was also provided to a number of grandmothers who still live up in the Everest area. Additionally, three Sherpas were sponsored to go on pilgrimage to see the Dali Lama, achieving a life long goal.
Thanks go to Emily and Ken and many others who rose to the challenge and created a fund-raising event in the immediate aftermath of the quake.
For more information see "Life Matters" on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PPSLifeMatters
) and scroll down through the entries to find how exactly the funds were spent and for more pictures.
- Rick French
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RAISING ROOFS, RAISING VOICES
Our voices were raised at two concerts so far organized by Maria Gillard. The Dady Brothers and Dangoners both have performed and we danced and sang. We are singing a song Maria wrote, recording it and will be singing it in Tanzania with our friends as we build. Look forward to the resulting video stretching over the ocean and cultures.
Trees were planted on the land this summer and a well 35 feet deep is being dug as this is written. The water is for making the bricks we will need to build the houses.
IN BIG NEWS- We have been offered a challenge grant that more then doubles people donations between now and December 15th up to $6000. That means, if you donate now, we could potentially finish off the $40,000 needed to raise to build all 4 houses. At the moment we have over $28,000 raised which is enough for 2 houses. If people donate now, it will mean 2 more families will have a house to live in. We need help though to raise all the balance to help these 2 last families.
Follow this project on "Life Matters" in Facebook at the end of May to seeing some great singing with the kids and porters in Africa, progress on the houses and the planting of 100 trees in a local village to provide shade.
https://www.facebook.com/PPSLifeMatters
-Rick French
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Project Lead Kris Dreessen with Masai youth
THE FRIENDS PROJECT: NICARAGUA AND KENYA
It has been a busy fall for The Friends Project, as we are actively fundraising for two projects in Kenya and Nicaragua.
In Kenya, we will be sending a Masai young man to professional safari guiding school in Kenya because it provides income for him, his family, and the village, and is integral to wildlife conservation long term. So far, we have raised $600 of the $2,500 needed, in part thanks to a very successful beer-tasting event held in partnership with fellow JOS’er Kirsti Shields.
In Nicaragua, we continue to send three teens from El Sauce, Nicaragua to college, and four El Sauce teens to complete high school. We are raising $900 for this endeavor in 2016.
I expect to do several photo presentations in the next few months about my travel last year working with communities with disappearing and under-documented languages, and building a school in Nicaragua and will fundraise and promote The Friends Project and JOS there.
We were happy to receive several photos from Ndola, Zambia, of the school children and widows and needy neighbors The Friends Project assisted while I was there. We provided $450 for scholarships, and second-hand clothes and fabric for the widows to tailor and sell for income.
-Kris Dreessen
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AMIGOS EN ACCION, NICARAGUA
New JOS project Amigos en Accion will provide a before and after school enrichment program for local students in grades 1-6. By providing home-cooked meals, supervised study time with tutoring, and extracurricular learning and recreation activities, fifty vulnerable students from local public schools - many of whom are being raised by a under-educated single parents or grandparents, and often go hungry - will be helped. The funds raised will be used to cover food, basic operating expenses, educational supplies and staffing costs.
- On behalf of Ashley Sullivan, Project Lead
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AFRICA GUIDE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Nelson Mandela said that Education is the most powerful way to change the world. In the USA we can't understand the thirst our African parents have to help their kids by getting them a good education. Sometimes it comes before water or a bathroom in the house.
Yusu'f's kids are growing up. It was astonshing to see how much more confident the youngest Iziza was the last time I was there. I have known her since she was born. She used to be so shy. Now, she talks with me in English, looks me in they eye.
Education of the children is not just for the kids. In developing countries, the children are the social security net. By supporting the children the ripples go much farther. Yusuf and his wife Fatma are insuring in their old age they will have a place to live and be supported.
I will be in Africa again in May with Yusuf's family. This time in town building houses for the porters so I should have more time to get pictures of all the students. If you have not already done so, be sure to "friend" both Journeys of Solutions and Life Matters on Facebook as that is where we will be posting the pictures. If you are a sponsor, we will be sending you a picture directly.
Pause as you read this for 20 seconds and reflect on the difference this support is making to our world. Asante sana.
-Rick French
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Rick French and Headmaster Ernest Monary
BULATI PRIMARY SCHOOL
We previously completed our plan to build a two teacher house, install a new water storage tanks and provide some books for the library. Thanks to the generosity of our contributors, enough money was available to purchase 45 new desks for the school. Linda Artruc managed the logistics and financial arrangements for the purchase of the desks. Rick French was on the delivery end in February and is pictured above with with Ernest Monary, the Headmaster and one of the new desks.
Joas Makwati
Joas was the site manager for the two projects we completed in Bulati -- the two teacher house and the water storage tank. He also managed the purchase and shipment of tools and equipment from Dar es Salaam to Arusha for Tino's Garage.
This year, Joas began working on a plan to open an egg business and prepared an extensive business plan which we consulted on with him. The Kibada Poultry Production Business Plan calls for a capital investment in land and buildings of $12,000 and operating capital for chicks, feed, vaccinations and medicine totaling an additional $10,000.Joas and his wife Agnes have consulted with USAID in Dar es Salaam where they live and are also looking into Kiva loans. As they work to continue to improve the Business Plan, they decided a small step was necessary to validate their plans. As a result, they purchased 3 acres of land and are raising 200 chicks who should begin laying near the end of this year.
George Mlelwa
George is a former teacher at the Bulati Primary School whom we met while on a PPS walking safari through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. With the help of funds from JOS, George was able to complete his two year degree and graduate from Mt. Meru University in July. He was also able to purchase a laptop computer with funds from a donor. George plans to continue on for a four year degree and we have already secured a commitment to pay his tuition. Presently, he is taking the year off to attempt to save money for expenses while he completes his degree. He expects to learn soon about his application for a job near the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Jim Coyne
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Om Shanti Resident
WIDOWS OF INDIA - INDIA
With much gratitude - your generosity of heart continues to support both the elderly widows at the Om Shanthi Old Age Home, and the young widows in the community!
This year, the second house at Om Shanthi has been built! This means that there are now 25 indigent widows who no longer live on the streets! This year, 19 young widows in the community are learning skills in hand crafts - loom-weaving, beading, embroidery, and making angel dolls - all are earning a fair wage with good working hours and conditions, to include child care. Your kind donations continue to be needed. You are helping the poor widows and women of India in a practical manner, but are also helping to raise the consciousness, and respect for these widows. There, but for the grace of God, go you or I.
- Paulette Elberti
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