April 24, 2008

Dear Kids for Kenya Supporters,

As we are preparing for our trip to Nairobi this June, we are reflecting on the accomplishments of Kids for Kenya over the past year and are looking forward to contributing to the Humble Hearts community in exciting new ways. We were incredibly fortunate to travel to Nairobi as 16 students and 5 adults in the summer of 2007. We formed lasting relationships and came to better understand the strengths and needs of the program there. Together with our Kenyan counterparts, we built desks, tables, and shelves, planted a garden, painted the building and outhouse, helped build the foundation for the orphanage, provided 38 suitcases of clothing and books, cooperated in staff development, and helped initiate and facilitate a group to deal specifically with the problems facing young women.

Our sister community in Nairobi has had an extremely challenging year. Widespread political violence and soaring inflation have made resources even scarcer and pushed food prices higher. We were fortunate to be able to support our friends in Kenya during this very difficult time.

During the 2007-8 school year, the Kids for Kenya students worked hard to produce many successful events, and laid the groundwork for long-term sustainable support for our Kenyan community. Students put on the Autumn Harvest Festival, the Crab Feed, the Shop Africa campaign at holiday time, and established the student-run Kids for Kenya coffee cart here at Trillium. Altogether, students have helped raise over $3500 that goes directly to programs at Humble Hearts.

Our original intention with our fundraising efforts was to support programs we had been working with when we visited in June of 2007: the building of the orphanage, expanding access to basic health products, and supporting teachers and students with educational resources. Given the crisis in Kenya over the past several months, the demands shifted radically. The cost of food and water has increased over 700% since then. The money we raised went almost entirely to providing food for the community.

Despite the high cost of food and water, the Humble Hearts community is grateful to regain some predictability in their lives as political order is being restored throughout the country. They have managed to continue construction on the orphanage and expand the high school despite these difficulties. With a little help we can support them in stabilizing the food program so that they can focus their energies on long-term, sustainable, improvements.

There are a variety of programs and projects that need support at Humble Hearts. Attached you will find a list of ways that you can contribute.

Thank you for the kindness and caring you have shown the Kids for Kenya program.

Peace,

Polly, Ken, and the Kids for Kenya

Supporting Humble Hearts

For the 2008-9 year, we are focusing on supporting Humble Hearts through four basic programs: Health, Sustainable Business, the Angel Cottage Orphanage, and the Exchange Program. You can contribute to these programs in the following ways:

o Directly support the health of the students:

§ Food:

· For 1 month for 1 student: $6

· For 1 month for all 170 students at the school: $500

· For 3 months: $1200

· For 1 year: $4000

§ Wellness:

· Basic personal health and hygiene supplies for 1 student: $7

• For 20 students (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, first aid): $100

· Supply re-usable feminine hygiene products for 1 girl at the school: $8

• For 100 girls at the school: $500

o Support a start-up sustainable business:

§ Sewing for Health:

• Girls in Nairobi stop coming to school when they start menstruating, as resources are too limited to buy basic feminine hygiene products. One sewing machine and supplies for making reusable feminine hygiene products: $475

§ Carpentry:

• Currently the school’s handyman, Ray Ayaya, a talented carpenter who learned his trade from his father, helps the school when he can borrow or rent the necessary tools. We hope to provide Ray with the resources he needs to provide for the school and for his own family. A complete tool package would include basic hand tools (hammers, planers, saws, chisels, etc.) as well as a cordless drill, electric saw, and router: $1100

o Complete the orphanage:

§ More than half of the preK-12 age students who attend Humble Hearts are orphans. Currently sleeping in two rooms, 2-3 to a bed, the new building now under construction, Angel Cottage, will provide many new beds in a safer, more secure environment. Construction supplies for completing of the orphanage: $2600

o Fund the exchange program:

§ We have obtained funding for Humble Hearts director Beatrice Anunda, and star pupil Sarah to come to Portland this fall! We want to offer more students and staff the opportunity. One Humble Hearts teacher and one student to travel to Portland: $3400

Kids for Kenya is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All contributions are tax deductible.