Relief and Poverty Alleviation Through Key Gifts

It's a delight be a part of helping to better the life of children in a practical way.  This report talks about 3 children that have received vitamin supplements.  Health and nutrition are so very important and this is in the news almost every day.  We all need to ensure we get a balanced and healthy diet and this is true everywhere, including in Africa and particularly for children.  The nutritional supplements that we together provide helps ensure that the children get the essential nutrients that their growing bodies need.

Here is some more information about these 3 children pictured: Mariama attends the Queen Elizabeth Elementary School in Freetown and she is in class three.  She is eight years old. Ramatulai attends the Sierra Leone International Mission Secondary school. She is in form two.  Mohamed is a pupil of the United Mission Community School. He is in form one.  He is eleven years old.

These supplements are ensuring that Mariama, Ramatulai and Mohamed grow well and healthy - with enhanced resistance to sickness and disease.  They were delighted to receive the vitamin supplements and they extend their thanks to you all for the provision of these supplements. 

We would love to provide these supplements to more children.  Please join us in strengthening and building the bodies of many, more deserving children.  October 17^th is the LAST Bonus Day of the year and this would be a great time to make your donation go even further. GlobalGiving will be matching donations 30% up to $1,000 per donor, per project. $50,000 will be available in matching funds and matching will begin at 12:01 am EDT and last until funds run out or until 11:59 pm EDT.  We would be delighted if you could make your next donation before then or on that day.  Thanks so much for your support!

Links:

• Nutrients and Nutrition

Recently a news article caught my attention that I would like to share with you.  The article focuses on the effectiveness and cost savings of solar lanterns - which is one of the areas that this project focuses on.

With regards to lighting, these are 2 two considerations - cost savings and safety. The article Solar Powered Lanterns Change the Face of Rural Arusha - explains that the solar lanterns offer a significant cost savings.  Imagine having one of your utility bills being significantly reduced.  Additionally, the articles states that the "fires caused by kerosene lamps and candles have been claiming lives and destroying property in many parts of East Africa and solar charged lanterns can alleviate the problem."  I can personally attest to the dangers of kerosene lanterns.  While I have fortunately not experienced any related loss, I have talked to several people who have lost friends and family members and property as a result of fuel-related fires. 

Lights are definitely in demand as you can see from this 2nd article Lighting up lives: African women train as “barefoot” solar engineers.  The articles states that "many live in villages without any electricity at all, where kerosene usage is high. Yet kerosene is not a sustainable resource, nor is it cheap or healthy. Barefoot College estimates that the initiative now saves around 160,000 litres of kerosene a month across South America, Africa and Asia."

These articles confirm the validity of this project and lights are warmly welcomed in Africa.  In the included photo, you can see one of the lights that we will be shipping out soon. 

We welcome your support as we provide these cost-saving, life-saving and property-saving lights!

Thanks so much for your support!

Links:

• Solar Powered Lanterns Change the Face of Rural Arusha
• Lighting up lives: African women train as solar engineers