A Very Important "Thank You"

This month, we would like to offer a special thank you to the 5th and 6th grade girls Sunday school class at Woodstream church. These girls have faithfully been contributing their spare change to benefit Kids Helping Needy Kids and best of took the initiative to collect it. Last week, their total donations amounted to over $60. Their act of love proves that no donation is too small. Special thanks to their teacher, Mrs. Kristina Palmer for organizing their efforts.

Motivation and Rewards

Along with the letters we receive form each sponsor child each month comes a copy of the latest report card. We have been keeping track of progress and improvements and feel it is time to reward and encourage some stellar performances. Effective August 2008, KHNK will send Certificates of Achievement to students who excel academically to recognize such High Achievers. The only criteria for the award (given once a year) is that the student consistently rank in the among the top ten students in their grade. The following students awarded in the inaugural "High Achievers" class: Selamawit Getachew, Eskedar Mulualem, Asnaku Bizuneh, Bemnet Edegaline, and Samrawit Misaganaw. Classes range in size of about 40 to 60 students and the rank takes all subjects into account, so this is no small feat! Congratulations guys!!

There are a few reasons why KHNK believes it is necessary to reward the children who excel in the classroom. The most important of these is to stress the importance of a wholesome education. The 63 Birr ($8) sent to the sponsored kids each month, when put to good use can be used to pay for school-related expenses like uniforms or the minimal but mandatory school fees. Most of the parents of our sponsored children tell us that their child now has the opportunity to attend school. Families can also use the money to buy food or other necessities. In short, there isn't much emphasis on education among the poor in Ethiopia. If children are in school for most of the day, they can't help out around the house all that much. Who will help with the laundry, making the injera, making dinner, selling items to generate income, and the other exhaustive, time-consuming tasks performed daily? In some instances, before KHNK began assisting, children raised by single or disabled parents or grandparents (in general, guardians unable to work) had to beg on the streets in order to live. Dozens of grateful children in are now benefiting from the opportunity to continue their education. It's amazing what a few dollars and a few encouraging words can do for not only the children we sponsor, but for their relatives as well.

It is important to note that Kids Helping Needy Kids is not here to solely to give out money and clothes. We expect cooperation and improvements from the children and their families and proof that the help they receive is being appreciated. One way to do this is to monitor their academic success so those who excel will be rewarded. As we all know from experience, receiving a reward for good work strengthens our performance and propels us forward, especially when it comes to school. We hope to further the message that education is extremely important to improving national development but also to raising standards of living. An education also fulfills individual aspirations and broadens one's horizons; children in Ethiopia have dreams of becoming something better, just like every other child in the world.

Brand New Website Feature

Attention everyone,
The new Paypal feature on khnkp.org allows form anyone to make a donation to our organization. Using Paypal is quick, super easy, and best of all free. All you need to do is click on the link and input an amount of your choosing. Donations can be made both with and without a Paypal account so no extra usernames and passwords are necessary! As always, many thanks to our sponsors and other supporters.