Thrive Kenya Supports Days for Girls
Thrive, a group of young women in Kenya who are raising awareness of gender based violence, human trafficking and ways to connect survivors to services, has been traveling to International Child Care Ministries schools to talk with and educate girls about Days for Girls (menstrual health and sanitation).
Violet reports, “The Days for Girls was such a nice experience. The girls were very excited to receive the kits, which are beautiful. We taught them how to count their days so they could be prepared in advance. Everyone concentrated fully as was evident from their eye contact and facial expressions.”
“Such training is vital. They could share their views from their perspectives and they asked burning questions. The training is important, providing facts that dispel misleading, inaccurate information gained through friends. Some parents do not share with their children the whole process, how and why it occurs. In many cases the girls are not comfortable sharing with their parents what happens in their bodies.”
“Having such training is crucial because the girls count on us as their big sisters. The schools were supportive. Some teachers came to assist us.
The Days for Girls kits will help the girls to fully attend classes and this improves their performance. We are thankful for the hands that prepared the Days for Girls kits.”
Without a solution to manage their monthly cycles:
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1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa…
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113 million adolescent girls in India…
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30% of girls in rural Brazil…
will miss school this year. (Days for Girls)
“Around the world, girls and women resort to using rags, mattress stuffing, banana leaves, feathers, and even cow dung to manage their menstruation. Days for Girls provides a safe, beautiful, washable, and long-lasting alternative — along with vital health education.”
— DaysforGirls.org
Support Days for Girls
ICCM supports Days for Girls efforts by distributing handmade kits to Thrive who educates and supports girls in Kenya.
Supporting Education in Cambodia
#ICCMCambodia 🇰🇭️ – the girl in the video is waiting to be sponsored. Call us today – 317.616.4740 – or sponsor a child online: http://bit.ly/SponsorICCMChild
Brazil: Ninth Grade Graduation
#ICCMBrazil 🇧🇷 Ninth grade graduation was held in the (miracle) gymnasium at our ICCM school in Monte Santo, Brazil. Ninth grade is the conclusion of “Fundamental” education in Brazil. Although it is not a certainty yet, we plan for many of these ninth graders to be able to continue their education in the tenth grade as of February.
Almost all the pieces are in place with the Government of Bahia for the school to begin offering tenth grade in 2019. (Continued prayer appreciated on this point.)
Posted by International Child Care Ministries on Monday, December 17, 2018
Linda Stryker Academy Goats Project (video)
#ICCMCongo 🇨🇩️ This is the goats project at Linda Stryker Academy in DRC. When the goats are ready for sale, they are sold and the money is used to help orphaned and very poor children’s school fees.
Posted by International Child Care Ministries on Monday, October 29, 2018
Celebrating One Year at Linda Stryker Academy (video)
#ICCMCongo 🇨🇩️ We’re so grateful Linda Stryker Academy just celebrated their one year anniversary! 💚
Lyrics:
It’s a pleasure to belong to such a wonderful school
Where we are being taught science and how to know God
It’s a pleasure to belong to such a wonderful school
Oh, What a wonderful school!
Linda Stryker Academy
Oh what a wonderful school!
Brazil News and Events
In late October the government inspectors visited our school in Monte Santo, Bahia, Brazil. One of them is holding the more than 300 pages of documents required to make the final application.
The inspectors were satisfied that the documentation can now be submitted to the State government. It may then be approved, or there may be physical modifications to the school or other changes required before they can begin offering 10th grade. So far as we know, 10th grade in February is still a possibility. It is urgently needed. It’s still difficult and relatively rare for children in in the Monte Santo area to complete high school. Pray for this process to be accomplished to God’s glory and for the benefit of the children.
Visiting Ethiopia
“Thank you” in Amharic is “Ameseginalew” something I learned on my visit to two schools (Jimma and Beta Genet) in Ethiopia this October. These schools are bringing change to their communities. The parents want their children enrolled in our ICCM schools because they provide quality affordable education. Also, they teach good values and uphold discipline for both the teachers and the students.
Mengistu, our Ethiopia ICCM National Coordinator, works hard. He travels extensively to each one of our five ICCM schools to make sure all is well.
He loves the children.
A visit to Jimma School will give you hope. The children are clean and happy. Before class they gather together for instructions and announcements. They love to be in their school. ICCM sponsorship makes a significant difference.
Vickie Reynen, ICCM Africa Regional Coordinator, has worked with ICCM Ethiopia for several years. When she visits Jimma School the students and the teachers are elated. She inspires them all to keep working hard and trust God for great things for the school.
These Jimma kindergartens have warm, magnetic hearts; they will attract your smile. The teachers are dedicated to their calling – to teach, care and love these youngsters.
A visit to Bita Genet School is memorable. This school is a light to the community. Many parents are constantly seeking places for their children. The children here glow with happiness. ICCM makes this happen through sponsorship. 
These three girls at Bita Genet School listen with gladness to their teacher. See their eyes! They are eager and happy to learn. In this social studies class they are learning about the world.
There is a water well at Bita Genet School. ICCM in partnership with Come Unity made this happen. Now they have plenty of water.
Khmer New Year – Cambodia
The people of Cambodia celebrate Khmer New Year, a three day holiday in April. We spend time with family and friends. Most non-profit organizations set aside time for staff fellowship. ICCM teachers, house managers and other key leaders eat lunch and fellowship together.
The children who attend programs at the different houses (Love, Joy, Peace) get together to play traditional games. They have a lot of fun and sharing over a simple, delicious meal.
The children from the House of Joy had a field trip. This adventure included a trip to the Royal Palace, to the Killing Field, a tragic period in the history of Cambodia, and to the Mall, a big market. They were really excited to see a lot of new things, especially how the people in the city live.
Bun Chandara, a holistic child development teacher at House of Joy says, “My students learned a lot about our country’s history. They can learn and know new things in Phnom Penh. Praise to the Lord for the trip. I love my ICCM students!”
The children at the House of Peace were so excited to play games with ICCM teachers. We have planned programs before, during and after the holiday for the students to keep them safe. Too many times teenagers and youths have died in accidents when they go out somewhere on Khmer New Year.
The ICCM Cambodia team and children are thankful for the many sponsors who give to help children in Cambodia to grow up holistically and learn a lot from new things in life.
Ethiopia: They Yearn to Learn!
Ethiopia is home to five excellent ICCM schools. Children may be living in material poverty, but their educational environment is rich. One of those schools is at a crossroads, where desperate need meets tremendous opportunity.
The town of Alem Tena, an hour or so from Addis Ababa, suffers from four serious problems. A very hot climate and deep poverty are two of the four — but these are common to many towns in Ethiopia. The third is almost unique to Alem Tena: The water is contaminated with fluoride, with perhaps 400 times as much as our city water systems use for cavity prevention. The visible result is that most of the children have dark brown stains on their teeth. Even worse, their bones and teeth are being destroyed. And yet, this is home. Families live here. Children are growing up here.
Our school in Alem Tena boasts high academic achievement. On regional and national exams, these students distinguish themselves. In 2016, all 8th graders passed the regional exam to 9th grade, averaging more than 80% on their results. But now comes the fourth major problem: no high school. Once students pass 8th grade, where will they go? Our school only goes through 8th grade. Because of sponsorship, the children have had the benefits of a private school and a Christian education. Once they graduate from 8th grade, they must travel a long way to a public school, move to a place with a public high school, or find a Catholic or Muslim school — but these private schools charge more than most parents can pay. Sounds like we are in dire straits!
But there is amazing news. About a year ago, the local government granted a good piece of property to our school for construction of a high school. This gift of land was received with great joy! In fact, in 2014 our Africa Learning Conference attendees had stood on this very land and prayed that God would give it to us. He has!
After a whole year of working through the bureaucratic red tape and planning with architects and leaders, we are ready to build! All documents are in hand. High school can be a reality.
The local government is pressing us to begin construction immediately or risk losing the land. So far, we have managed to build a security fence and a guard house on the property. We have just sent $25,000 to begin construction.
To build the classroom block, bathrooms, and required laboratories, the estimated cost is $167,000. We are now raising funds for this first phase. Phase two will add an administration block and a library. This is projected to cost another $67,000, for an approximate grand total of $234,000.
Is this impossible? Absolutely not! God has helped us complete big projects like this before, through compassionate and generous donors.
Is this a good investment? If only you could see our wonderful high school at Arbegona, another rural Ethiopian community! To help you envision it, look at the photo below. Students are lined up for a tea break in front of a classroom block on which is painted the Periodic Table of Elements. No educational space is wasted! The photo above that is a university-educated science teacher in a lab furnished by parents’ contributions. Students in this excellent school earn top marks in their whole state! We know this is possible in Alem Tena, too.
Will you pray with us for this dream to become a reality? Donated land, visionary leaders, a partnership from ICCM, and construction support from abroad will change the Alem Tena community for the better in a wonderful way!