Happy New Year!

As we bid 2012 adieu, we're still basking in the glow of being Top-Rated by GreatNonprofits!  We were also delighted to see GreatNonprofits mentioned in Bill and Melinda Gates recent newsletter:

When we talk with people about the work our foundation does, one question frequently comes up.

“How can I help?”

That’s getting easier and more fun with the exciting transformation happening in online giving. This holiday season, we decided to list several of the charity initiatives that have sparked our interest. Each of these projects takes a different approach, but they have three things in common: they’re innovative, committed to transparency and accountability, and they’re getting good results.

[Several specific charities were mentioned]

To learn more about any of these organizations and many more, you can also visit Charity Navigator and GreatNonprofits. Both of these organizations focus on helping people make great giving decisions – Charity Navigator through professional ratings, and GreatNonprofits through socially sourced feedback and reviews. Increasing the amount and quality of information available to donors will ultimately make giving easier, more effective and rewarding.

       Here's to a 2013 Top-Rated in everyway!

         Happy New Year!  

Rebuilding one Hut at a time

The village is rebuilt!!  Little Shamba Huts emerged from all corners of the Woods Chapel congregation as children scampered up the aisle to add their huts to the village.  The huts were heavy with coins (plus some paper money) that the children donated after conducting Sarah's Scavenger Hunt.  The scavenger hunt directed the children to count items in their home, such as pairs of shoes, pencils, appliances, that were luxuries children in Africa did not have.   The children then put money in the Shamba Hut for every item they counted.  Little Emma counted her blankies and was troubled and concerned when her mommy told her many children in Africa did not have even one blankie.  She didn't want to send her blankie :-) but she did want to send money so they could have one.  The adults dropped envelopes filled with their donations for school lunches, school supplies and teachers' salaries, into the shoe-box school building.  To top things off, numerous cards of greeting were written to the kids in Africa.  Donations and cards will be safely packed and stowed away for departure on January 6.  The village is not only rebuilt, it is now filled with resources that will bring joy!  Pennies, nickles and dimes are still being counted....we'll have a grand total soon.

Treasured gift of pencils...

Breaking news from Matt Waite:  "I wanted to give you an update on the terrific first grade classroom I spoke with last week. I just received handwritten letters, and over 100 pencils that they want to give to their soon to be friends in Zambia. I'm also excited to share with you that although the school
would not let them do a fundraiser the children took it upon themselves to share what they learned with their parents and each did extra chores throughout the week and personally donated all of their
earnings. Between the 18 students they raised $124!"

Wow!!  That everyone should have such tender hearts -- and follow through with intentional and meaningful action!  Thank you so much to an amazing first grade class in St. Louis!!

The Count Goes On...



Woods Chapel kids showing
Shamba Hut banks they will
use to collect money from the
 Scavenger Hunt
of blessings found in their home.

 One of our supporters and Blog followers recently wrote the following:

The scavenger hunt idea [introduced to the kids at Woods Chapel] intrigued me, so that's why I asked for the list.   I counted the house I currently live in. Amazing..

17 major appliances
2 stairways
3 toilets
12 rooms
84 lights
24 doors
6 sinks

40 containers of opened food in frig & freezer
23 diff types eating utensils
16 diff vegetables
12 diff fruit
142 canned food (metal cans only, didn't count the jars or bottles)
11 boxes cereal
18 desserts

46 places with pencils
0 people in school
2 magazine subscripts
11 backpacks
95 bookshelves
4 computer
4 desk

All added up, looks like I will be sending in $57.20  Feel free to contact us at lash@healthedconnect.org if you'd like a copy of the Scavenger Hunt.

Joyous Holidays!

This has been another year of remarkable achievements for HealthEd Connect.  Together we’ve lifted lives, opened doors of opportunities, and made a huge impact in little corners of the world.  Please join us by making a year-end donation from your surplus or making an even greater impact by setting up a recurring monthly donation at Donate Now

.                                 

Joyous Holidays!

Sherri ,  Jac

and

HealthEd Connect Team

Matt Waite (left) with Mrs. Collier-Paul's first grade class

Matt Waite, a former SIFE student who traveled to Zambia twice with HEC, visited Westchester Elementary School last week and recruited a classroom of new HealthEd Connect fans! 

Matt reports:  They were really sad to learn about children in other parts of the world who don't have the same opportunities as themselves, but were excited to learn that HEC is making a big difference. They really thought it was great, and were still asking questions even when it was time for me to leave!
They are the newest blog followers, and are looking forward to continuing to learn and help out with HEC as soon as they can.  They can't wait for your trip in January and look forward to following the travels on the blog!



.

Beaming faces

This is a rather blurry picture that Gershom sent from Kasompe, Zambia, but the beaming little faces come through loud and clear!!  This is the group that is eagerly looking forward to moving into the new classrooms. 

Very old news!



'Inspector' Bunda Chibwe admiring new classrooms

 You can disregard the last Blog about the beginning stages of the classrooms in Kasompe.  It is now old news.  We just received this picture along with the message that they plan to have the classrooms finished and ready for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January when we're there.  Wonders never cease!  We were thinking June....