June 2010

Eat So They Can Newsletter

Dear Friends,

This month, June 20th marks World Refugee Day - a day to turn our attention to the millions of refugees around the world who have been forced to abandon their homes.

Thanks to ESTC 2009 funds, a year long porridge program has been set up for over 600 kids from 2 IDP (internally displaced people) camps in Kenya, plus we are building 4 new homes for families living in emergency tents at Pipeline IDP camp. GVNF Australia has also finished building a beautiful new school for 120 children living in the camp and surrounding community. What an amazing effort!

This year we will continue to raise funds for IDPs and will also be extending the campaign to support IDP communities in Haiti.

Please sign-up now and support ESTC 2010!

With Gratitude,

Courtney ESTC Co-Founder and GVN Foundation Director

	Top News New Ambassadors Announced 2010 Eat So They Can funds to support Haiti GVNF Australia builds school for IDP Camp in Kenya

	New Ambassadors We are thrilled to announce 14 fantastic Ambassadors for this year's Eat So They Can Campaign! Located in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Germany, these 14 ambassadors will serve as representatives for Eat So They Can 2010! From blogging about their experiences and mentoring hosts, to working directly with our Eat So They Can team, our ambassadors will play a pivotal role in the development of the campaign. Thank you and congratulations to: Leanna Simmons Alicia Hill Zoe Zapparoli Shelley Bragg Kimberly Jones Lori Taylor Emily Hamsher Miki Isaac Rachael Otieno Lori Fryman Melissa Papanayotou KellyLouise Warner Chrystal Desmond Jordan Kennedy Frieda Loh

	It's Not Too Late! It's not too late for you to apply and be a part of the team. Plus we are still looking for representatives from New Zealand and England! Apply now! Have you hosted an ESTC event in the past? Are you a former GVN volunteer, BTC participant or trekker? Are you passionate and committed to social change? Do you have a large networking base? If you have answered yes to any of the questions above and you are willing to make the necessary commitments, you should apply for our new 2010 Ambassador program. If your application is successful, you will esentially become a member of the ESTC team and you will have a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of women and children. What's more, you will be given the opportunity to join one of our distribution trips, you will be featured in our website and publications, you will receive a certificate and reference letter, and we will provide you with all kinds of support ranging from business cards to conference calls to help you fulfill your role. If you have any questions, please contact Caitie Goddard, Host Mentor at info@eatsotheycan.org

	Haiti Joins ESTC Haiti's worst quake in two centuries hit south of the capital Port-au-Prince in January this year. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. The Haitian Government estimated over 230,000 people died, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 made homeless. Global Volunteer Network has set up a volunteer program to assist the Haitians rebuild their community and this year part of Eat So They Can funds raised will go towards supporting a Haitian orphanage as well as a community centre in Jacmel. The community centre provides after-school classes for children, training course for teenagers and adults, and a safe environment for community members to heal. Sign up now and select the 'emergency relief' cause to host a dinner and support Haiti! To read more stories regarding Haiti and other Eat So They Can beneficiaries visit the blog http://blog.eatsotheycan.org/.

	ABERDARE PRIMARY SCHOOL LAUNCHED IN KENYA! This April, Cass Treadwell, ESTC co-founder GVNFA Director along with her team of donors and supporters travelled to Kenya to officially launch Aberdare Primary School at Pipeline IDP Camp. The school was built through funds raised through Eat So They Can. AfricAid, Tanzania "The opening ceremony was a day that will stay with me, and many in our group, forever. The IDP children's choir sang, danced and recited poetry; the inaugural Aberdare students marched onto the stage singing 'when the saints come marching in' resplendent in their new school uniforms and backpacks (The MP in particular was extremely excited by the (empty) backpack per child); the Government officials declared that 'if any foreigner wanted to see how to build a school in Kenya then they would bring them to Aberdare Ranges Primary School'; we planted a ceremonial tree in theme with our school logo, and raised the flag. I was presented with five more acres of land for the "secondary and boarding school". The library we created, with so much thanks to everyone who donated books but particular thanks to our librarian Mary Nelson and Natasha Seeto of Spoilt Rotten, is the largest library in the whole of the Nakuru district, with over 1 million constituents. We should all be enormously proud of refusing to be silent about the things that matter." Congratulations to Cass and the Team on an amazing effort! AFRICAID LAUNCHES NEW BOOK This month we are excited to share with you a fantastic new book from one of our favorite GVN Foundation partners - Africaid! AfricAid was founded by Ashley Shuyler in 1996 and supports girls' education in Africa in order to provide young women with the opportunity to transform their own lives and the futures of their communities. "After learning that only about 5% of girls in Tanzania are able to complete a secondary school education, I quickly realized how privileged American children are to receive an education, and became determined to find a way to help provide young African girls with their own educational opportunities,"" says Ashley. On My Way to School was written in collaboration with 61 students from Losinoni Primary School in Tanzania and gives children from around the world a colorful glimpse into Losinoni students' multiple mile trek to school from their remote village. All proceeds from sales of On My Way to School will support AfricAid's ongoing projects at Losinoni Primary School. Purchase your copy here: http://firstpersonpublishing.com/store.htm

	Join the Mt Everest Fundraising Trek (Sep-Oct 2010) > This year ESTC is expanding to support our projects in Nepal and we are inviting you to come along on our Fundraising Trek! The 2008 Trek raised $35, 000 that went towards supporting the Brighter Future Children's Home and Shining Stars Children's Home. In 2010 we hope to raise $50 000 to help ensure the children's health, nutrition and education needs are fully met. Apply today! Become an ESTC Facebook friend! ESTC has joined the fast growing online social network - Facebook! We now have nearly four thousand members and would love it if you would join us too! It's a friendly little community and a great place to share information with other hosts. To become a member just click on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=524315985&v=wall&story_fbid=125692704118606#!/group.php?gid=10806519973&ref=ts Action and Advocacy Father's Day - 17 June 2010 Not sure what to get your Dad for Fathers Day this year? Why not give the gift of hope by purchasing a GVN Foundation gift certificate to help orphans in Kenya, Uganda, Peru, Vietnam or Nepal.Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. World Refugee Day - 20 June 2010 This year's World Refugee Day on June 20 has as its theme, "Home," in recognition of the plight of more than 40 million uprooted people around the world. Please take a minute to imagine what it must be like to have to abandon your home in order to escape persecution or conflict. Consider sponsoring an IDP family in Kenya through GVN Foundations 'Rebuilding Lives' program. To learn more, visit: http://www.gvnfoundation.org/gvn_changemakers/international_fundraisers/kenya/idp_pipeline/