Crossroads Springs Institute Children's School/Care Center for African Orphans of HIV/AIDS

JAMBO!  ASANTE SANA!
GREETINGS! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
April 2005 Newsletter

The children of Crossroads Springs Care Center thank you for your interest and support! In this first newsletter (April 2005), we will share with you what is happening in the lives of these children orphaned by AIDS and in the Kenyan community where they live.

The Good News!

Since our volunteers’ trip to Hamisi in September, our Kenyan partners have sent progress reports and photographs via email. Here are some of the highlights:

q       About 90 children are learning with five teachers trained in early childhood development, math, and science. In March, health professionals examined the children and are giving treatment as necessary. Also in March, a local tailor finished making uniforms for all the children.

q       Work on rehabilitating the building continues. An emergency stairway and safety railings have been built for the second floor. Two aboveground water tanks have been purchased and installed, and installation of underground water storage is in progress. Next on the list is purchase of a water pump.  (The residents of Hamisi continue to be without a working village water pump; they depend on water carried from a stream, collected from roof runoff, and stored in cisterns.)

q       Octagonal wooden tables have been built on site for grouping children in learning activities. Also, a wood stove for the kitchen has been purchased and installed. Until the kitchen is up and running, food is prepared in a home and brought daily to the care center.

q       One US donor observed that the pictures of the children in dire straits show them smiling! They are fortunate to be able to play, learn, and grow with caring people in a safe place. 

q       The rest of the good news is that the generous contributions of so many people from every corner of USA and Canada make possible in large measure the work of those who give direct care to the children. From June 2004 to March 2005, a total of $38,000 has been transferred directly to Crossroads Springs for childcare and construction!

Continuing Need

While we celebrate such generosity, we also must acknowledge the continuing needs of the children. Dr. Meshack Isiaho, the center's founder, has applied to the Kenya National AIDS Board for help with ongoing food, clothing, and health needs, but thus far no grants have been awarded. We and Dr. Isiaho will continue to seek out grant money. Some of the areas in need of funding are:

q       Funds are needed to furnish the 18 dorm rooms, after which 90 children will move in to sleep and live there.  An additional 30 students will attend as day students.

q       Kitchen and dining areas need tables, benches, and cooking and serving equipment.

q       It is essential that there be ongoing support to provide food, clothing, health care, and education for children, day by day and year by year. US and Canadian $$$ go a long way in Kenya!  Total annual costs for food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education for a child are $250-300 US.

q       Rising prices of construction materials have slowed construction.

Please share this newsletter with friends and neighbors who might like to know about Crossroads Springs!

“A friend is someone you build a house with.”   -Old Russian Proverb