As we continue to enjoy comments and feedback from our owners, their friends and all of you who regularly receive our newsletters, we hope you will enjoy an additional section we added this month entitled "Something Noteworthy" Every so often we intend to highlight a subject that we feel worthy of recognition. It won't necessarily be about the Hamlet, our owners or have a connection to Tuscany or even Italy, but is something that has struck a chord with us and so we thought to share it with you. We have chosen to lead this edition with the story of the charity efforts in Kenya and Uganda of our owners Lawrence and Sandi Thiessen
Our Childcare Worldwide story
In the fall of 2006 we began to semi-retire after over 30 years in the mining industry. We started to look for ways to get involved in our community and to give back, so we joined a local Toastmasters Chapter. It was after our first speeches that we were recruited by the Advisory Board Chairman of Childcare Canada… and we have not looked back.
Childcare Worldwide is a non-profit organization that has been looking after children in 11 countries around the world for over 31 years.
There are too many stories to share from our few years of being involved with Childcare Worldwide, however here are a few stories that have touched us.
One of our first connections with Childcare Canada was to host the girls from the Ugandan Children’s Choir. They were in North America on tour performing their traditional songs and dances while promoting awareness of the need for Child Sponsorship.
Our lives have not been the same since. These orphans forever touched our hearts. Soon afterwards we sponsored our first child by the name of Jackie, 9 yrs old. She is from Uganda on the Sesse Islands and lives with her auntie.
In the spring of 2008 the Advisory Board travelled to Uganda and Kenya to visit the villages that Childcare Worldwide operates. We observed first hand the tremendous need and yet we also could see how effectively the donated funds were being used. Everywhere we saw healthy and happy children, receiving the basics of food, clothing, shelter, medical, as well as an education all for $38.00 per month.
It was on this trip, during a delivery of one of many survival packs that Childcare delivers each month, that we met Teddy, a 13 year old girl whose mother was so poor that she only got to go to school occasionally, partly because they had no money. She was also expected to help her mom work to raise her deceased brothers and sister’s 9 children
We sponsored her on the spot and she immediately began to go to school full-time. Childcare was instrumental in getting her caught up. Now, at the age of 16, she is one of the top students in her class.
A year and a half ago Teddy’s mom’s house fell down. The house was a very basic adobe brick construction. Sandi & I were devastated for the family, however, the decision was made and a few short weeks later a new house was being constructed for Teddy’s family.
This past May, Sandi & I travelled, on what has become an annual trip, to Kenya & Uganda. It was during this trip to Entebbe, Uganda while delivering a “Survival Pak” that we met 3 boys, Rogers, Joseph & Topher 8, 10 & 12 years old respectively, who were living on their own. Their father, who was an alcoholic, had left the boys 2 years ago and never returned. Their mother had died many years earlier. Imagine having to look after yourself at the ages of 8, 10 and 12.
These 3 boys are now sponsored by a family in the USA and have been moved to a Childcare village Home where they are now thriving.
We also met a young man, Saidi, 19 years old, who supports his grandmother and 6 siblings. Saidi had been sponsored thru Childcare Worldwide since he was a small child.
After graduating from high school Childcare enrolled him into a welding
apprentice program and he now has his own small welding shop. We asked him
what his biggest need was. His grandmother’s house is far from work, 2 hour
walks each way, as well as another 2 hours to collect water”, his wish was for a
bicycle.
Best $100.00 we ever spent. He uses this bicycle for many things, not only
transportation but to deliver welding materials and fetch water for his
grandmother and siblings.
One of the other things that we have seen first hand is the level of corruption in these countries.
Childcare Worldwide began a program in the Kenya school system early in 2010. This program teaches young children “Character Building” Traits, such as respect, honesty, and forgiveness, to name a few.
The curriculum continues to be taught in 20 primary schools in Kenya. The
original program has now expanded to include the parents of these children so
they too are being taught these Character Traits. So far in Kenya, 30,000 people
have taken the program in the last two years.
The purpose of this program is to stop the cycle of corruption thru education and teaching these values…. No small goal… Childcare has been told by a senior Kenya Education Official that this program could revolutionize Kenya.
As business owners, our early involvement with Childcare Worldwide seemed more about doing our due diligence and seeing first hand that the organization’s programs were in fact effective, well managed and created value for the children. This organization has excelled in this area!
Since that first visit in 2008 we have made 6 trips to Uganda, Kenya & India (all volunteer and at our own expense).
We now have six sponsored children, that we visit each trip. We have since built medical clinics, classrooms blocks, dorms, pit latrines, wash houses, put in Vegetable gardens, water wells and installed solar lighting.
Our involvement with Childcare Worldwide has given us new purpose and a way to give back that we never dreamt possible….and we get back far more joy than we give!
This is at our hotel on Sesse Islands.
The photo shows Jackie & Gift plus... all the other children are from the 2007 choir that stayed at our house. The 2 boys on the outside are Alex & Ivan, plus Aisha all lost there sponsors last year and needless to say we took over so now we have the 6 children we sponsor.
Gift, Jackie, Aisha (standing next to Jackie, in red shirt) Teddy (not in photo as she lives in Entebbe)' plus Ivan & Alex make six. The 2 women are Auntie of Jackie and (girl in beige dress) mom.
If you would like more information or to travel and visit a Childcare Worldwide village, please let us know.
Lawrence & Sandi Thiessen
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