Thank you, UNICEF!!! Part 1

A UNICEF convoy arrived in Mazabuka yesterday.  The Zambian staff was there to great them.  They were there to drop off some donations.  Remember I told you that most of the families are on vacation? Well, the Preschool children are going to be in for a BIG surprise when they return to school at the beginning of September!!  I will post pictures of the surprise in the next post later this afternoon. 

2011 Fourth Distribution Post #10: Blankets, Nets, and some more extras

Matron 70 above and Peter 219 below

Lotia 247 above and Muleya 319 below

Sonia 412 above and Macbirth 426 below

Dorothy 438 above and Alice 461 below

Alice 461 with her book above and Christine 489 below

Cryness 500 above and Teddy 556 below

2011 Fourth Distribution Post #6: Skirt and blouse age 10 and up

Astridah 91 above and Chinyama 92 below

Verian 259 above and Nzala 276 below

Gladness 523 below

Felistus 103 below

Check out these styling outfits purchased as extras by the sponsor.  I really like the outfits for the oldest girls.  Very cute!

2011 Pre-Fourth Distribution Post 2: Students of Academy of the Sacred Heart

Here are some of the students that are a part of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.  Why am I talking about students in Louisiana?  The 7th grade class picked some of our Zambian students to write to and offer support to.  It was intended to help both groups with their letter writing skills and to learn about other cultures.  What was not expected was what came next when the ASH students decided they wanted to do more.
The 7th grade students organized a fundraiser across the school.  In February, they gained permission to get a "free dress" day (not having to wear their uniforms).  In exchange for being able to wear the clothes that they wanted to, the girls gave a donation to our children in the Mwana Hope Zambia program.  This small group of determined girls raised $326 in one day!!!  Talk about some incredible girls, right?!

Here is what the 7th grade class president wrote:
"The fundraiser was an idea that seemed simple; I was wondering why no one thought of it before. Then again, some people today do not seem to notice when other people are suffering unless they are pulled into situations where they have no chioce but to notice.  We, the seventh grade students of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, had our own little realization earlier this school year when we were assigned a penpal project with teen girls and boys from Zambia. When we all heard about their lives there we felt a guilty sadness about the way we live compared to them. Some children and teens in zambia have almost nothing but their famillies. Most don't even have that.  Their parents have died from AIDS and other deseases that cannot be cured so that the children end up having to take care of their brothers and sisters. My penpal was only 7 when both of her parents died and now she runs the family.  She has to worry about if she can get her siblings food and keep them alive. All of the children there feel that it is a great privelage to get to go to school.  The school struggles to buy supplies for all the kids. That is why we are doing this fundraiser...
The money will go towards them buying school supplies and whatever they need for the kids.  These children want very badly to be educated so please... help them to graduate from school."
Now that distribution and the annual assembly have happened, we will soon see pictures of what the girls provided for our children.  Stay tuned to see just how much one small group of girls can provide!

Ashes at school

There are not enough desks for all of the students, so my sponsored child Ashes is one of the children that sits on the floor. The desks that the children use fit 3 students to a desk. Each desk costs $120 or only $40 per child. The good thing about furniture is that it lasts for many years, not just one school term!! If you would like to provide a desk for these children, please send an e-mail to macandmic@gmail.com

Mosquito Nets for the June Children

From extra donations, we were able to provide 24 additional mosquito nets to children, so we distributed them to the children that were sponsored in early June. The rest of the June children should, also, get mosquito nets because we have raised additional funds for that. Each net costs $6. I am sure the children will sleep much better now that the mosquitos won't be bitting!!

June Distribution 2010-Part 2

Here are some closer and different angled pictures of the items that were purchased to give out at the June distribution. These items were purchased with the donations earned from the sales of the online items such as jewelry, jackets, etc. In addition, there was a $70 donation from a donor. As you can see, the Zambia team was able to purchase a lot of life saving items that they will be giving out to the 1st 30 children sponsored. We will, hopefully, be able to raise enough in extra donations every month to be able to provide these items for every sponsorship group!! Thank you for all you are doing to help these children!!