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Dear East African,
This month has been a whirlwind of activity in Takaungu. Our second
building, much needed to catch the overflow of activity from the
over-crowded original building, is well underway. The seasonal rain has
finally come--a boon for the Farmer's Fields School participants, who had
been waiting in rapt anticipation and were starting to worry. A new session
has begun for the Sewing Club, so there are thirty women starting daily
classes to learn new skills. Suzanne and the Peace Corp volunteers, Evan and
Katrin, are looking forward to spending Independence Day in Nairobi with
other Americans, and a cottage is being prepared for the arrival of a new
volunteer soon after. With so much going on in Takaungu, we decided that I
should write this month's newsletter from Seattle, where things are
relatively calmer.
I have just one major announcement, but each and every one of you can be
a part of it: The EAC's updated and newly redesigned website has been
launched, and is now open for your perusal. Enjoy! -Yarrow W. Goding
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Our New Look |
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If you've been receiving this newsletter for a while, you probably
noticed right off that it has a new look. This is to mirror the updated,
refreshed, and streamlined look of our new website.
The website was re-designed and assembled by Peace Corp volunteer
Evan Serpick from Takaungu. This was no small feat, of course, given
that technology has a way of not being very reliable, there. However,
being in the heart of the action, he was able to get a lot of incredible
pictures that really bring to life what it is we're doing in Takaungu.
Our thanks to Evan for all his hard work, his endurance, creativity
and care. I hope you take some time to check out the new site, and as
you're looking through it, know that all that we've done there is a
product of your support.
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The EAC Sewing Club |
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I love this picture. I love the pride and sassy joy that is on the
faces of the women as they display the purse and apron they have made. I
love that they have gained not just a new skill, but an opportunity,
through that skill, to improve the economic situation of themselves and
their families. The achievement is theirs, but I love that in some small
way, I got to be a part of making it possible for them. I love that I
have been a part of bringing so many people together with that common
goal. I hope that each of you who has supported the EAC in the past can
take pride and joy in having been a part of it, too, and will consider
supporting this and our other programs in the future.
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Farmer's Field School |
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As I mentioned in the introduction, the seasonal rains finally
arrived in Takaungu. This brought much joy, since all the crops in
Takaungu depend on rain, and there was much worry as the beginning of
the rain became more and more late. Not only our Farmer's Field School,
but all the crops that the residents of Takaungu depend on for
sustenance, require the rainy season to grow and produce, since
irrigation is not feasible in the area.
Now that the rain has started, the participants in the Farmer's Field
School will soon start seeing the results of their own hard work, see
the increased yields that are possible, and hopefully, they will soon be
able put the techniques they learned into practice on their own shambas
or farms.
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Wish List |
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This month we don't have a specific wish list. However, I still hope
you will consider making a donation towards the running of the East
African Center. It costs us just $20 each hour maintain the EAC and run
our programming, but we depend on you to make it possible. Please
consider sponsoring an hour, a couple hours, or a day, and know that
your gift is making new opportunities and resources available to
hundreds of children, women and men each day.
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Donate Now to the East African Center
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Did you know that it costs just $20 an hour to run all aspects of the
EAC? Even with such low costs, we very much need your help to keep our
doors open and our programming going. Please consider sponsoring an hour
or day each month so we can continue to offer all our great programs to
the people we serve. Your gift will make you a partner in providing
education and resources that hundreds of children, women and men can use
to improve their own lives.
Other ways to help... |
East African Center
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