The opportunity to sit in a classroom!

Jahaya, 8 years old

Well, I must say, even though it's cold and snowy out,  'It's a beautiful day, and I can't stop myself from smiling' once again!  I received such a heart warming email, from the Principal, Joanne, of St Henry's Elementary School in Melville, Saskatchewan, that brought me to tears! She said she loved what I was doing and loved reading the blog. She read one of my posts, where I had mentioned some of our children at the Orphanage and our neighbour children needed sponsors so that they may go to school.  She contacted me and said that the school, the staff and all the children, were having a Christmas fundraiser and would like to donate to help one of the children go to school.  This is sooooo awesome and makes me smile sooooo big!  Now ALL of our children at Karim and 3 of the neighbour boys have sponsors. So, because of this extremely kind gesture and big hearts of all the staff and students of St Henry's School, Jahaya, an 8 year old boy, will have the opportunity to sit in a classroom, for the first time ever! Yup, I'm crying again! I am so excited for Jahaya, and I can't wait to see this little guy in a school uniform when he starts in January. Thank you, Joanne and to all your staff and students, you are truly angels! Sending you all a big heart felt hug from both me and Jahaya!  

Happy Holidays to all of you,
Mama Linda

The Gift, that keeps on giving!

At the end of each of my trips to Arusha, Tanzania, I look forward to making a visit to the Masai market. It is truly, an adventure, like no other. It is kinda scary, real crazy and very exciting all at once! After 5 years and 12 trips to this same Masai market, these vendors have come to know Mama Linda quite well. They know why I am here!

just a few of the 100's of beautiful scarves I have

To buy about 300 scarves! As soon as they see me, the word is out "Mama Linda is here" and they are all over me, like white on rice! Each one pulling and pushing me, trying to get me into their shop to buy. It's hard not to buy from them all, but I can't. I pick 10 or 12 shops that are run by a woman and buy about 20 - 25 scarves from each. I buy from the woman only because I know the Mama's will use the money to buy food for her children.  I fill up the car with all my beautiful, handpicked, scarves and off I go. With the sweat dripping off my face and down my back from the heat, I leave with a big smile and a warm feeling in my heart, knowing that some children are going to have full little bellies that night. 

one of the Mama's I buy scarves from so she can feed her family

When I get home with the scarves, I sell them for $25 to all my family and friends and anyone else who wants a beautiful scarf to give away as a gift.  I then take the $25 to Bridges of Hope and it goes back to Tanzania with me on my next trip. In the past years, I used the funds to help build and furnish the Orphanage. Now the funds will go towards my new little project, 'Educating the children in the community around Karim Orphanage'. Each trip, I see too many children running around, playing on the dirt roads, not in school, because the family is too poor. Every child deserves the opportunity to sit in a classroom. Educating one of these children will then educate the whole family! 

So now, you can see, how me sweating at the market for hours, buying scarves from those women, has gifted a whole lot of people! The women have food for their children; the scarf is a gift for you or your friend; the money will educate a child and take him or her off the street; that child will then educate his family! It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Edson, 6 years old

So, I am beyond excited to tell you, that yesterday, I spent a few hours with the staff at RBC main Branch and sold $850 worth of scarves!! Thanks to the RBC staff, our first little neighbor boy, Edson, will be going to school in January! Whoo Hooo!  Thank you, Thank you!


Anyone else needing a beautiful scarf for a Christmas gift, and would like to help send a child to school, please contact me at 403-795-2261 or email me at lizkinnell@hotmail.com 

by Mama Linda

Some children that have changed my life!

the whole gang

Antonia

the young girls

Alex and Mama

the boys ~ Bashiri, Alex, Hasani, Godfrey, Samwel and Onesmo.

Maggie

Bashiri and Alex hanging with Mama

Maggie

Lucy and Johnson

Mwana and Hansani with Mama

Saumu

the 5 youngest girls ~ Hawa, Antonia, Sabrina, Mwana, Maggie

our newest boy, Richard

my angel, Ibra

two of my teenage girls, Lucy and Salma

my teenage girl, Neema

Lucy

Samwel

pajama party with Mama

Sabrina

our neighbors, Napendo and Ellie

Godfrey, Samwel, Onesmo, Maggie and Antonia

the boys, Godfrey, Onesmo and Samwel

the one and only, Alex!

Hawa and Alex

It's Christmas in Africa

Had all the Christmas stockings stuffed and ready for Rehema to pass out for Christmas, when I decided I wanted to see them open their stockings. So Christmas came early, in Africa, this year. A fun fun day! No snow, it was a hot sunny, +33, and the excitement was high! Thank you, to those of you, who helped with treats for the stockings.

 

,

 

Lots of candy and chocolate!

 

New pens and pencils...

New underwear and toothbrushes...

 

Alex checking out his cup full of candy!

New flip flops for the girls!

 New flip flops for the boys!

 

 

One little Christmas stocking, I didn't get to fill, this year. I brought Ibra's stocking home with me. He will forever be, my little angel!



Smile Nice for Mama, Please!

Why do the words 'smile nice' mean something totally different to others?? These kids remind me so much of my family back home when I am trying to get a 'nice picture'. Antonia is the clown here at Karim. She is forever being silly, telling jokes and always making a funny face for the camera. And when she does it, they all giggle, then they all have to do it!

 

 



Antonia

                      OK girls, smile nice for Mama, please!!




Lucy, Antonia, Maggie and Mwana

OK,  how about you boys? Will you smile nice for Mama?



 

 

OK, forget it!  Just smile....forget about the nice..... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          

                                                              Oh boy.........

 

 

 

 





Hmmmmmmm.....

               Well, I guess there is nothing else to do but join in the fun....... say cheese!

 

 

Another beautiful and fun day is gracing me!

The gift of Education

The greatest gift you can give a child, in Africa, is 'the gift of Education'. Our children at Karim Children Care Centre have been extremely blessed with this gift. For a small amount of only $2 a day, you can send a child to school. For that fee the child will receive their tuition, school books, two school uniforms, including shoes and socks, a track suit, porridge, chai and lunch, a ride to and from school and the most important thing 'an education'!! 


The smile, on the face of a child who puts on a uniform, is a gift in itself for you. This year a few of our children at Karim have lost their sponsors so we are desperately looking for new ones. If you are able to help in any way, even if it were for one year, please contact me at my email  lizkinnell@hotmail.com  or at Bridges of Hope.

Here are a few of the children that are in need of sponsors:





Brothers:  Alex, Samwel and Onesmo. Both Alex and Onesmo have sponsors now for the new year but the middle boy, Samwel needs one.

 

                                            Saumu is 13 years old and is going into class 7.

The 3 neighbor boys need sponsors.
 

 





 

     Nickson is 3 years old.

 

 

 

 





   Edson is 6 years old.

 



Daniel, is 9 years old.

Bashiri, is 4 years old. He is now living at Karim with his Mama, out new helper!


Education is their tomorrow!

 

Thank you, Mama Linda