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Newsletter A message from the Executive Director Happy Holidays! Another year has gone by and a new year is upon us once again. It has truly been a year of new challenges here at Kids Home International. My sincere gratitude to those who have walked the journey with us in the past year. My gratitude on behalf of Kids Home International leadership both locally and Internationally I would like to especially thank the following new Board Members: Victor Makori, Lee Morse and Joe Sigei. We welcome the enthusiasm and vigor they bring to our leadership. We look forward to their leadership as we prepare to confront new challenges in the near future. It was with great sadness and reluctance that we also accepted Phyllis Reha’s resignation in October 2005. Phyllis has been instrumental in shaping the vision and goals of Kids Home International. Phyllis has served since the inception of the organization in 2002 and has faithfully served the organization in different capacities first, as the Vice Chair and finally, as the Secretary before finally stepping down due to other professional commitments. Kids Home International will greatly miss Phyllis’ presence. We wish her well in her pursuits. Kericho KHI Mercy Children’s Home. Our orphanage in Kericho, Kenya continues to experience tremendous growth in all spheres. We recently hired a full time tutor to elevate the academic achievements of our children. The impact was instant. Mid term reports indicated remarkable improvements in reading and math. Some children continue to struggle but given one on one attention, we hope to reverse if not erase the achievement gap exhibited by a few of our children in comparison to the National average. For two consecutive years we have conducted tests HIV (virus that causes AIDS) amongst our children. So far no child in our custody has tested positive. Our children continue to enjoy good health. Good balanced nutrition, access to healthcare and regular exercise have all contributed this positive outcome. Plans are underway to open a clinic early part of next year. Medical container shipped by CrossLink International in May 2005 finally arrived in Kericho, Kenya. The medical equipment will be used to establish a clinic. Fund-Raising Our Goal= $ 30,000.00 The year 2006 will be the year Kids Home International will be implementing its Capital Campaign Initiative to build home, clinic and Library. The year 2007 will focus on Phase 2 will feature a second home, classrooms (4) and workshop. This campaign when complete, will free Kids Home International from renting the current home to owning one. He current home lacks enough room for possible growth. We strongly urge all well wishers to support us in this effort. More communications on this effort will be posted on line as soon as the plans are finalized. You can also make contributions on line via our secure website. We look forward to your continued support in the coming year. Our mission is based on hope. Hope that desperate, homeless, and orphaned children have on all of us that are privileged to have been accorded an opportunity to make it. Hope that we at Kids Home International have on you and your continued support. At the end of it all, when all is said and done, we all can make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate; Children that have no place to call home, nor a parent to depend on. With your generous support, we can build them a home, a school, clinic, library and a workshop to learn life skills!
God Bless you. Sincerely, Eric Chesimet
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