Dear Family and Friends,
I hope you are doing well! I am so excited to be returning to Africa to work with students and teachers. Africa continues to hold a special place in my heart and I can not wait to see who I will cross paths with on this next journey. I am overjoyed to be working with the Light of Hope Home whose mission is to provide refuge, restoration, and redirection for girls of Kenya. The Light of Hope School for girls provides education for girls as well as encouraging leadership. This is so important as in the world, 62 million girls in the world are not in school today because of poverty, lack of health care, forced marriage, or simply because they are girls. Educating girls is a main focus to end poverty in our world.
Each summer we visit areas where families struggle with daily hardships attributed to living in poverty, such as the lack of access to a quality education. Children growing up in this area face unique challenges and the teachers often do not have the training to address their academic or social/emotional needs. We will be preparing and presenting professional development workshops for teachers who work with students from several schools in areas of extreme need. The professional development workshops will be based on the needs and desires expressed by the teachers praticipating in the training.
I have had the opportunity to travel with a team of teachers to Costa Rica and South Africa. I am so blessed to work in a school and teaching community that allows me to receive amazing professional development and also to present at national conventions (AMLE and NAGC), now is my time to share. I am excited to return to explore a new region and have the opportunity to work with teachers and students more directly.
I am wondering if you would be willing to be a part of my support team and help me raise these funds? This is a volunteer service trip facilitated by the non-profit organization INGAGE UNLIMITED. All contributions are 501(c)3 tax deductible donations, and they can be made online at https://give.ingageunlimited.org/Kenya2019/items/308929 Just select my name from the drop down menu of team members. Your donation will assist with our travel and provide support for the families and students with whom we engage along the way. I will also be sending out Tweets, pictures, and video updates following the trip to share about our experience. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Christine Dykstra