It was a happy day in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on May 14 as the REAP Institute School for Liberian refugees was dedicated during a two-hour ceremony. For more than twelve years, REAP has been teaching up to 135 students in a rented house. Classes were doubled up in order to make room for 12 grades in an old three- bedroom house that also housed the administration office and a computer lab full of outdated computers. The high school classes were held on the back porch and many of the younger grades met in the carport of the house. Through generous donations given through Extreme Response International the land and building were purchased, and no more monthly rent means more money for educating the children. Mike Bishop, Dan Maloy and Dan McCann represented Extreme Response at the dedication which also included many pastors, businessmen, friends and family of the REAP students. Now that the school belongs to REAP they can begin to look for work teams to build new classrooms to accommodate growth as well as to allow for each grade to have their own classroom.
submitted by Dan Maloy

You would have enjoyed being with us on Friday afternoon! Nearly 200 kids gathered at Kindle with great anticipation. They knew what they had come for! A few weeks ago they had been promised new uniforms, and today was the day for the promise to be fulfilled. Every occasion is a chance for celebration and teaching, so we started with some songs. Then Mr Mbena, head of the Education Department who has been overseeing this project, gave a speech about the importance of taking care of the uniforms. Here are some of his comments: These uniforms are for wearing to SCHOOL! You do not wear them to dig for mice in the fields (boys like to eat these for snacks!) You do not wear them for going to market. You must not take them and sell them. These may sound like strange instructions, but all very appropriate! He also explained again how important it is for children to stay in school these days. Education will give them an opportunity for a future!

It took a few hours to get everyone outfitted, but finally the group changed from rather grubby looking kids to smart looking school boys and girls. I hope you enjoy the few photos I have attached. You will notice that there are 3 different uniforms as we have children in 3 different schools. Most of them are the blue and yellow. Some are maroon and white, and a few blue and white.

Finally, all of the children say thank you very much! Like this: “Zikomo kwambiri chifukwa cha mayunifomu atsopano. Mulungu akudalitseni!” (Thank you very much for the new uniforms. May God bless you!”)

On behalf of all the children at Kindle, I too say Thank You!

Sincerely,
Marilyn Barr
Kindle Orphan Outreach

Thanks so much to Ali Rubenstein and the Student to Student Malawi School Uniform Program!!!

Student Home for Quichua Indian Students

Reaching out to the Quichua Indian communities of Ecuador, Casa Nicodemo provides a place for students (ages 13 through 18) to live while they attend school in the city of Ambato. The majority of the Quichua communities only provide school through grade six, and in order to continue their education the students have to leave their communities to study in the nearest major city of Ambato. Many of the Quichua villages are isolated with no transportation to and from the city so the students are forced to search for a place to live while studying. Casa Nicodemo provides a safe place to live with good meals and help with studies during the school week. Most of the students return to their communities on the weekends.

The director of Casa Nicodemo has left Ecuador and the work is undergoing some changes. At present there is a core group of young men who have already completed their studies and are continuing to work with Casa Nicodemo and the Quichua communities with humanitarian aid and support.

A new director for the work will soon be coming through Extreme Response to run Casa Nicodemo. This couple will once again organize and open a house for students who wish to continue their education. The most urgent need is for funding for the program and for a good location for the house. Casa Nicodemo depends solely on outside contributions to maintain the house and provide food for the children.

The effect of Casa Nicodemo on the lives of those who live there is very apparent as we spend time with them and see their hearts to serve their own Quichua communities providing hope and help. They are a great example of the partnerships of Extreme Response International as we seek to provide relief and support to people living in extreme, often life-threatening conditions.

Great news for the Nuevos Amigos (New Friends) school in Quito, Ecuador.  After two years of working and waiting and complying and waiting… the school has finally been approved by the Ecuadorian minister of education.  Next year they will expand and add a second grade class.

A team from Providence Christian Academy of Lilburn, GA spent 10 days in Quito - leveling the side of a hill for the new playground.  The five girls, 2 guys and adult sponsors worked digging and moving dirt to prepare the area for the new jungle gym and swings.  They also built the steps up to the area.  The playground was put in place on Wednesday, June 10th.  The kids of the daycare are thrilled to have a wonderful new play area - and proud that it’s one of the nicest around.  To people who are used to living off of others’ refuse, this was a “gift” beyond their greatest expectations.  Thank you PCA for all your hard work!

happy girls from the dump daycare center - ready to play!

the finished playground with all the children

the team from Providence Christian Academy in Lilburn, GA plus ER staff

hard working girls from PCA

I’ve just returned from a trip to West Africa where I visited the folks in Ghana we helped with Christmas events in December of 2008. They would like to expand their Christmas Outreach with the help of ER in 2009. They told me that many of the kids who they fed last Christmas were surprised to learn that the piece of chicken and portion of rice they received was just for them. This was the first time many of them had ever had a whole piece of chicken to eat. Although grateful, many of them only took a few bites and then took the rest home to share with their family. I hope we can help them expand their program in ‘09. Maybe you can help!

I then traveled on to the Ivory Coast where we have been partnering with the REAP Institute for several years. Although other ER staff members and board members had visited this school, it was my first time there. I was impressed by the school’s leadership, teachers, and the students. REAP is a school dedicated to providing a quality education to English speaking refugee kids who have fled with their families to the French speaking country of Ivory Coast. Seven countries are represented among the student body. Most of the school administrators and teachers are refugees themselves yet they serve the students sacrificially. The level of education the students are receiving was equally as impressive as the quality of the students.

Over the years ER has helped REAP outfit their computer lab. This lab has recently been connected to the internet which greatly expands the education opportunities for the students and teachers alike. We have also helped them with their monthly rent and other special needs. The building they have been renting for several years has just been put on the market. Friends of ER have come forward to help them purchase the building. The purpose of my trip was to work through the purchase details of the building and property. We discovered that there are additional taxes and other fees that they were not planning on paying. So they are currently about $13,000 short of the total needed to complete the transaction. Please contact me if you would like details regarding how you can help meet this need. Watch this blog for further updates. We hope to have the transaction completed in the next 90 – 120 days.

As you can imagine a school like REAP has many needs. Some they brought to my attention are; Teacher Training – they would like a team of trainers to spend a week with their teachers, Microsoft Office multi license for their computer lab computers, one of the teachers is desperately in need of surger,y and the upper students are asking for the opportunity to take standardized educational tests like the SAT or ACT to allow them to apply to universities in West Africa, Europe, the USA or Canada.

Jerry Carnill
President ER