Urgent need for donations for food at Amazing Grace

We recently received an email from Mama Susan from East Africa. Susan is our Sudanese partner who runs the Sudanese children's homes in Uganda and Sudan. She let us know of a budget shortfall at the home, and is requesting some immediate funds from Lahash and the friends of Amazing Grace. In January a couple of the children passed their exams from Junior High (primary school) which enabled them to go into High School (secondary school). Secondary School in Northern Uganda is done primarily at boarding schools and costs a lot for room and board as well as uniforms, books, and other school fees.

Because of the great progress of these kids, Susan spent ahead some of the funds that would have been used for food during February and March as well as the staff salaries to help pay for the kids entry into secondary school.

So we are currently left with a shortfall of $1,500 for their budget. Our advocate in New Mexico, Eric Chapman, was able to raise $860, and we've received another donation that puts our total at nearly $900. We still need an additional $600 for the kids.

Would you be willing to help out? If so, please visit our online donation page at: lahash.net/donate.html. Click on online donations, and write "Amazing Grace Needs" in the Donation Destination box.

Thank you!

Almost There!

The past week has been a very busy with the new Tenderfeet construction building. Despite the heavy rains, We have been able to make a great step with the building. the contractors and the workers are doing a great job with the building.
The new building.



Timber ready for roofing

Yesterday we went to the hardware to buy metal bars that will be used to fix the windows and the doors which is very good for security purposes.

Rice & Beans Month Video

This March our community is inviting you to join us in eating Rice & Beans for March. Check out our quick new video of the month-long event. And then head on over to www.EatRiceAndBeans.com

Building Hope.

It’s very true that the shovels and the hammers are busy at Tenderfeet. The construction begun last year December and there has been great progress. It has taken the longest time but finally they are there. The Tenderfeet dream of owning their own place is finally becoming a reality.

Going back to history from kibera where they have been displaced uncountable times , then the post election violence that brought confusion to the whole country affecting tenderfeet big time, to satellite-Riruta in the small rooms and finally in few months coming they are going to have their own spacious classes.

Yesterday we were very busy laying the stones with the help of professional people who have been in building field for a long time therefore with more experience

Though the wait has been long, the tenderfeet new school construction is underway. It all started with one visit which opened up doors to many other blessings .the building which has been constructed in a rural environment will be a very conducive environment for the young ones. The air around there is very fresh free from urban pollution and noise. The area is very large thus the children will have enough space to play and run around something they have not been able to do due t o lack of space. Also the newly constructed classrooms will be capable of holding a larger number of students. This means that more needy children will be able to receive assistance which is quite a step for the project towards assisting less privileged students

Introducing Rice & Beans Month!

Lahash friends, we are excited to introduce our new event! During March we are inviting you and your friends and family to be a part of Rice & Beans Month. This will be a solid month of eating simple Rice & Bean meals for the following reasons:

1. SOLIDARITY: We are standing with our brothers and sisters in East Africa who live on limited incomes and who can only afford simple meals like Rice & Beans.

2. SIMPLICITY: Those of us who live in wealthier nations often eat for pleasure and eat in excess. We are going to eat a nutritious and simple meal to give up on wasteful consumption.

3. SHARING: We choose to simplify and stand in solidarity in order to share with our brothers and sisters. We are asking you to look at your food budget for the month and give whatever you would have spent on your food for that month to the kids living in our East Africa partnerships.

Head on over to EatRiceAndBeans.com for more on the movement (and to share your photos, videos, and recipes) - and click on the Rice and Beans Facebook event to officially join the event during March. For questions please email Erin Gleason at info@eatriceandbeans.com

New Video - Stories from 2009

Our new 2009 stories video is online. Thank you to everyone for being a part of this past year. We are grateful for the advocacy and care you have shown to East Africa's most vulnerable people this past year!

Solar Energy At Amazing Grace.

I am just from Amazing Grace home with a lot of season greetings and many thanks to all the supporters who contributed to make sure that they have light at Amazing Grace.
Below is what they have been using for the past years which has been very unhealthy for the children. It produces very black smoke which was not good healthy wise. i took some pictures of Moi George one of the boys at Amazing Grace. He loves drawing.

They also used hurricane lamp but it has been very expensive to buy the kerosene.It consumes a lot of fuel.

Today they are using Solar energy for lighting. Below you can see Moi George drawing very comfortable with light from the solar panels.
I was able to install the solar panels,Huge batteries that will be charged by the solar panels, an inverter which converts the power from the batteries to 240Volts. They are able to charge laptops if they get one and other electronics. Obu one of the oldest boys helping in installing the cables underground.
Solar light in one of the houses(Tukuls)