Tuesday, May 29, 2007
World AIDS Orphans' Day Photo Exhibit
Dick Adams and Kirsten Carpentier with their joint photo exhibit for World AIDS Orphans' Day
May 7 was World AIDS Orphans' Day and in honor of this event Kirsten joined Dick Adams from Zimbabwe Artists' Project (ZAP) in creating a photo exhibit of AIDS orphans' portraits and artwork at First Unitarian Church in Portland, Oregon. The exhibit has been up for the month of May and has received a lot of enthusiastic feedback. The color-backed photos on either side of the two bulletin boards are pictures Kirsten took at the Happy Children's Centre in August of 2006.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wish list for HCC Orphans
Today's visit to Glencoe High School and other discussions I have had the past few days about the Happy Children's Centre has led me to think that posting a "Wish List" might be helpful to people who would like to donate towards this work. I leave on Wednesday, June 13 and I will be in Kenya for three weeks. I will spend the first part of my time working with Portland State University and Kenyatta University in Nairobi on a research grant proposal covering HIV/AIDS and its affects on families. Then I will fly to the coast and visit HCC from June 28-July 3. Anything I take with me to Kenya should be in my possession to pack by Monday, June 11.
I am quite limited in what I can take with me because of luggage weight restrictions. I would like to bring a couple of soccer balls again, a small ball air pump, some dried fruit from Oregon, school supplies like pencils and more art supplies so the orphans can do another project year. In the past I have bought pencils at the Dollar Tree and given each child a new pencil, which is a big thing for them. I have plenty of paper to bring to them at this time.
Despite the weight restrictions, I am planning to bring some books for the start of a small library. Many of the orphans requested books in their cards to the Glencoe students and I know they have few if any books. I am trying to carefully pick books that are culturally sensitive and appropriate for their reading level. I have about 20 books so far, including a children's Bible and a simple children's dictionary. To find a list of books that I'm still hoping to include:
1. Go to www.powells.com
2. Click on Wish List at the top of the page
3. On the page where it asks for a "friend's list" type in my email address which is kirstencarpentier@hotmail.com
4. My list should magically appear. If you have any questions, please contact me via email.
5. If you are a student of Mrs. Shigemasa, please let her know that you are interested in helping out so she can guide you through this process or have her contact me.
In addition I plan to use cash donations to help augment the orphans' regular food with some high protein items and a special meal. I plan to take any orphans who need medical attention to the doctor if possible and get some simple medical supplies while I am there. I'm sure they will have other needs, and depending on what donations come in, I may be able to do more. I cannot take clothes or shoes, although I would dearly like to do so. There isn't enough room in my luggage to clothe all 300 orphans!! Anything like that I would need to consider buying there, but it would need to be something that all of the children receive.
THANK YOU in advance for your interest and generocity!!!
I am quite limited in what I can take with me because of luggage weight restrictions. I would like to bring a couple of soccer balls again, a small ball air pump, some dried fruit from Oregon, school supplies like pencils and more art supplies so the orphans can do another project year. In the past I have bought pencils at the Dollar Tree and given each child a new pencil, which is a big thing for them. I have plenty of paper to bring to them at this time.
Despite the weight restrictions, I am planning to bring some books for the start of a small library. Many of the orphans requested books in their cards to the Glencoe students and I know they have few if any books. I am trying to carefully pick books that are culturally sensitive and appropriate for their reading level. I have about 20 books so far, including a children's Bible and a simple children's dictionary. To find a list of books that I'm still hoping to include:
1. Go to www.powells.com
2. Click on Wish List at the top of the page
3. On the page where it asks for a "friend's list" type in my email address which is kirstencarpentier@hotmail.com
4. My list should magically appear. If you have any questions, please contact me via email.
5. If you are a student of Mrs. Shigemasa, please let her know that you are interested in helping out so she can guide you through this process or have her contact me.
In addition I plan to use cash donations to help augment the orphans' regular food with some high protein items and a special meal. I plan to take any orphans who need medical attention to the doctor if possible and get some simple medical supplies while I am there. I'm sure they will have other needs, and depending on what donations come in, I may be able to do more. I cannot take clothes or shoes, although I would dearly like to do so. There isn't enough room in my luggage to clothe all 300 orphans!! Anything like that I would need to consider buying there, but it would need to be something that all of the children receive.
THANK YOU in advance for your interest and generocity!!!
HCC Orphans Send Cards & Letters to Glencoe High School Students
Glencoe High School students read over cards and letters from the Happy Children's Centre AIDS Orphanage in Kenya 
Sometimes it takes a small thing in one's day to make a difference in the week of another person half-way across the globe. Today I had the delightful experience of sharing messages from Happy Children's Centre with students from Hillsboro, Oregon who had written cards to the orphans in January. After months of waiting I received a package from Sophie with about 100 of the orphans' cards and letters, including some from the teachers, Sophie and Zablon. The cards have simple messages (some of which are hard to read) and requests for prayers, books and visitors. I recognized many of the names on the cards and if I had a photo of the orphan, I attached it to the cards so that the Glencoe students could see a picture of who was writing to them. There were several words in Kiswhahili that needed translation (example:"Jambo, Rafiki" "Hello, Friend") and cultural concepts to explain (like why the orphans were so excited to have a "bore hole" or well at their school). But the orphans' drawings and brightly colored artwork on their cards really spoke volumes for them.
The Glencoe students studied the cards carefully and asked very astute questions that told me they were curious and engaged in learning more. We filled a full hour and a half with a discussion about the lives of the orphans, Kenyan poverty and the rights of women. I tried to impress upon the Glencoe students how their small act last January of writing to the HCC orphans has made a difference to the HCC children. Someone is remembering them and thinking of them! It means a lot when you are one of many without parents to love you. It was personally very gratifying to me to be able to bring the project full circle, tell the Glencoe students about my upcoming trip and encourage them to continue the dialogue with students 10,000 miles away.
The Glencoe students studied the cards carefully and asked very astute questions that told me they were curious and engaged in learning more. We filled a full hour and a half with a discussion about the lives of the orphans, Kenyan poverty and the rights of women. I tried to impress upon the Glencoe students how their small act last January of writing to the HCC orphans has made a difference to the HCC children. Someone is remembering them and thinking of them! It means a lot when you are one of many without parents to love you. It was personally very gratifying to me to be able to bring the project full circle, tell the Glencoe students about my upcoming trip and encourage them to continue the dialogue with students 10,000 miles away.
Mrs. Shigemasa, the Glencoe teacher who invited me to talk to her class, reads letters from the HCC teachers, Sophie and Zablon.
Cards made by the Happy Children's Centre AIDS orphans to Glencoe High School studentsSaturday, May 12, 2007
Finally some photos!!!
One of the HCC new buildings with completed classrooms. The Italians bought the children all new uniforms and desks.
Zablon with the well, the new corridor and toilets.
News is slow from Kenya, and their sense of time is different from that of Americans. I finally have some photos from Sophie of the new buildings and the children at their desks with their new uniforms! You will also see a photo of Zablon with the new well, which is a major improvement. It is a real challenge to get photos from Kenya because they do not have digital cameras and so photos must be taken the old fashioned way and be scanned to send to me. This costs money and time, both of which are in short supply for the HCC Board. The buildings were completed with the help of an Italian agency and while that relationship has not been completely smooth, at least I am grateful to see the children at their desks, something they have not had until now.
I sent $580 to Zablon for the HCC to use to complete the toilets and get a kitchen installed at the new site, but I have not heard what exactly the funds were used for nor have I seen receipts or accounting. This is always a frustratingly slow process. I plan to return to Kenya in June and after working at Kenyatta University for two weeks in Nairobi, I will then visit the Happy Children's Centre in Malindi and get a closer look at the building and see the children once again. I am very eagerly anticipating the trip and will post a report when I return. I will be bringing funds with me at that time. These funds were raised at a birthday party of my cousin, who has been a wonderful supporter, and at a photo exhibit for World AIDS Orphans' Day (May 7). I also hope to once again do art with the children and tell them in person just how far their art has reached. The photo exhibit was very well received and their bright smiles and art work was much admired by all who saw them.
Zablon with the well, the new corridor and toilets.The new buildings, now complete. I have been told the children are living there and also have their classes there at the building site.
