Hi Everyone,

Still no news yet from the Pencil Project. The school year is winding down in North America, so it may be some time before they find a match.

What other ways can we think of to support the education of the children? They are in need of supplies as well as uniforms. Eric has managed to maximize funds in the past by having the uniforms made locally. This dramatically decreases the costs.

Are there other organizations we can contact? Any ideas?

Barb

Hi Barb

Saw Eric's news item about Biblionef - that's great news! They have sent books to quite a few Nabuur villages now.

When it comes to books, I think most of the potential donors I have found - http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgs9fnp6_0g5zp8p3n#BOOK_DONATIONS - are already on the list under Resources so I assume you have tried without success?

One that I have recently added to that list is Darien Book Aid
http://dba.darien.org/ who appear to ship small numbers of books in a similar way to Biblionef.
How to request books
http://dba.darien.org/foreign.htm

Have you ever come across the Crossroads Foundation who seem to send a huge range of items to organisations in developing countries?
http://www.crossroads.org.hk/

Global Distribution programme
http://www.crossroads.org.hk/our-work
"Crossroads Global Distribution is a non-profit corporation which takes Hong Kong's quality superseded goods and redistributes them to people in need, locally and internationally. We seek to be a crossroads; a place where need and resource intersect."

http://www.crossroads.org.hk/our-work/what-we-do
"Current stock includes household furniture, office furniture, classroom furniture, bedding and fabric supplies, medical provision, electrical items, computers, household goods, clothing, stationery, books and educational toys."

Request goods
http://www.crossroads.org.hk/request-goods/requests-from-outside-hong-ko...
There are no details of application process or costs, but gives an email address to contact.

Mary

Hi Mary,

Thanks for all the info.

Regarding Crossroads, I actually contacted them some time ago and we were going to submit an application, but it fell to the side. We were going to submit a joint application for Kabondo, Nyakach and Winam as the three Local Reps have been collaborating. I will look into it again. We actually had some success regarding Crossroads and Kyomya. They recently sent a letter saying they will be sending a shipment to Kyomya.

I think the 3 mentioned villages are also putting in an application to HIVOs. They are still working on the application and then will submit it.

I will look into the other organizations you mention as well and maybe Eric can provide some input as well.

Barb

Hi Barb

Good to see the three communities cooperating!

Didn't realise you had already had success with Crossroads for your other village - that is great news. From reading their website it looks as though they could be a good source of items for many Nabuur projects, including some others in Kenya (although maybe too far away from Kabondo to add to your joint application if you decide to submit it). Do they have a simple application process and do they charge for shipping?

Mary

Hi Mary,

Yes Crossroads seems to have lots to offer villages on Nabuur.

The application was not too difficult. It asks many questions relating to the prevailing social and economic situation in the community as well as info on the project and the beneficiaries of the project and any donated items. They want to be able to maximize their reach and impact.

As for shipping, they ask what you can provide and if you would be willing to split a container/shipment, but as I understand, the receiving project does not necessarily have to cover shipping. If they can cover it, I think there changes of getting items increases, but this is just my assumption.

I will be meeting the Eric, James and George in July so maybe we can get the application finalized and see if there are other villages that could be included in the application.

Barb

Thanks for the info - sounds promising!

Am sure there are others in Kenya who would be interested - Kayole and Matopeni (both in Nairobi) spring to mind - so I guess its up to you and them whether you think all should apply together or separately.

Mary

Just want to draw your attention on these wallpapers: http://www.nabuur.com/modules/news/news_details.php?newsid=194&type=news. Maybe you can use them?

Gerdie

Hi Barb

Not sure if you are focusing on items for individual children or for local schools, but here are a couple more organisations who may be able to help schools.

Books Abroad
http://www.booksabroad.org.uk/

http://www.booksabroad.org.uk/how-to-get-involved.html
"How Do We help?
We send books, fiction and non-fiction, to schools and libraries all over the world, repsonding to specific requests from schools.

Who do we help?
Anyone in need who asks from any country in the world. We send our books free of charge by the best route we can find."

http://www.booksabroad.org.uk/chapter-1-about-us.html
"BOOKS ABROAD sends carefully selected parcels weighing approx 8kgs each (approx 50 books), direct to the educational establishments overseas. Emphasis is upon quality, good condition of books and of appropriate content for the institution involved, rather than upon quantity. Parcels are small enough to be carried to even the most remote sites without roads. Great efforts are made to respond to requests made by schools and other institutions, and when no appropriate books are available from our second-hand stock new ones are purchased as funds permit. In addition to this we supply atlases, dictionaries, health books, eg, "Where There Is No Doctor" and "Where There Is No Dentist". "

No details of application procedures. Contact via form on the website.

LabAid
http://www.labaid.org/

"Why LabAid?
Many secondary schools around the world do not have any science equipment. Therefore few of their students pass compulsory practical examinations.

What can be done to help?
Schools, colleges, universities and companies in the UK often have suitable equipment that could be donated. LabAid can supply this to requesting schools in Africa and other developing countries."

Application for assistance via simple form at
http://www.labaid.org/aidrequest.html

"Application form for aid request

LabAid aims to provide students in developing countries with the chance to see and handle apparatus essential to their course work and practical examinations in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. LabAid can supply, free of charge, small quantities of many basic items of science equipment. Note: we cannot supply chemicals."

(have added both of these to my Google Docs page which I have already posted a link to)

Mary

Hi Mary,

Thanks for these links!

As always you find great information!

I will follow-up.

Barb

Hi,

There has not been much activity on this task and so we are closing it down for now.

Barb