Willing Hearts International Society — Canada

· Special Messages of Farewell

Messages of Appreciation to WHISCA (Traduition de courtoisie -Mokuh)

From The PTA

Manda 1 the 20/06/09

Subject: Thank you.

The executive of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of Nouveau Jardin Manda 1 will like to express its sincere and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all the material and financial support given by WHISCA in the promotion of education in our school and village.

Conscious of the difficulties and challenges the world is facing today, we are praying fervently to God to improve the conditions of every one.

We will also like to inform you that our children scored 100% in Government common entrance into form 1 (6e) and First School Leaving Certificate (CEPT).This gives us the opportunity to think of starting a secondary school.

We wish long for WHISCA and all its members.

Signed the president of the PTA

Sortangar.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

From Allahrabye David.

Sarh, the 29 /06/09

Subject: Thank you.

Dear parents and members of WHISCA, Good Morning.

I certainly have more to say than this letter can express. I will like to thank you for all the services and assistance you have been giving to me and my family. You have sustained us and support my training throughout these years. Now that I have graduated, I do not know what to say to you.

May the Beneficent God protect and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thank you.

Allahrabaye David.

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Verbal appreciation from the chiefs and others

“We are so grateful to WHISCA for their collaboration and relentless support in realizing this great work. Words can never adequately express how we feel in our hearts. Tell them we are so grateful”. (Ngarterigue chairman of the council).

“Both WHISCA and Mokuh are like natives and children of Manda 1. They have done a lot for this village .we appreciate their efforts and contributions to these great achievements. I know they are not leaving us for good. They are natives of this place and I am sure they will always return to see how we are doing.” (Sartebaye Levi-Administrative chief)

“I was shocked this morning when Mokuh told me that he will be going away for a very long time and that WHISCA is closing down in Manda 1.I have only one message for you and members of WHISCA. Remember you are leaving us behind and we are now like orphans. Always remember to come back and see how the orphans are doing." (Djassibai – sub divisional Pedagogic coordinator)

"I want to thank WHISCA sincerely for making this dream comes true. But I have only one message to the chiefs and council of elders. They must understand that this transfer of assets by WHISCA is not all. In my view, it is also a transfer of responsibilities to the chiefs. They must see to it that the buildings are well used otherwise it will be inhabited by bats and rats after the departure of WHISCA. In that line I am suggesting to the Administrative chief to organize a general assembly of parents and all villagers to explain to them that the responsibilities to sustain this project has been shifted to them…" (Ratoide Beyadji)

“WHISCA has done quiet a lot. We started under trees a few years ago. We did not know we could make this much progress in a relatively short time. Thank to the assistance and support of WHISCA, we are moved from under the trees to equipped classrooms. Besides that, our pupils are the best. I want to thank WHISCA and Geraldine from the bottom of my heart. However, I regret you are leaving and we will all miss you and all fun times and laughter we use to have.” (Mme Idjimet Nadjiana)

The women responded to all the appreciations in their traditional way of shouting the cry of “yuuh-yuuh”.

· June 1 2009

Congratulations are in order to each willing heart for the contributions and dedicated service up to now that made incredible progress in Chad possible in record time. with all of the goals met (see website).

The first Chad project was collaboration with Brooks High School Interact Club, Powell River, to construct two wells in neighbouring villages and to award a high school scholarship. Local folktales were translated into French, printed and sold in both Chad and Cameroon to support literacy. A roadside kiosk was funded for an adult polio victim.

Seven orphans were supported through basic education into high school or trades that have made them self-sufficient. The latest and last successes are a sewing business for Haoua and graduation from mechanic’s training for David; only Eleazard’s education remains. He will complete high school and take computer training in Cameroon in the company of our university graduate, Bartholomew, who will begin courses for a master’s degree in education to enable him to train teachers.

Six classrooms and a two-room nursery have been erected—with almost half of the desks furnished from the fundraising efforts of the West Vancouver Secondary junior club. Apprenticeships in carpentry were made possible for two youths who used their wages to pay their own school fees. Fifty scholarships were awarded to orphans at the elementary school, and Powell River’s Dohm and Southcott children won Big Heart awards for their generosity in fundraising for orphan support and scholarships.

In the fall of 2008, wind-up lanterns for each of the 96 desks were sent, making evening adult literacy and sewing class lighting more effective and comfortable.

Four radios provide accurate French language for the teachers and students: 14 men and 124 women in the first classes.

The village women’s wish to earn their own livelihood and provide school fees for their children came true in 2009 when the sewing centre and dry-crop storage unit were added to the school building. Donors provided five sewing machines which now serve 21 women students.

For all of these accomplishments, WHISCA and the recipients of this outpouring of generosity will be eternally grateful. Our Chad community resource centre is now self-sufficient and will be turned over to village management at the end of June.

· Big News! WHISCA Expands

It is with excitement that Willing Hearts Int. Soc.-Canada (WHISCA) announces its expansion to Kenya to begin another community resource centre and the move of its office from Powell River to North Vancouver. Merging with the infant Lugari project in Kenya, WHISCA continues its education mission with construction and furnishing of a four-storey trade centre which will house equipment for training in health and first aid, sewing, solar cooking, computer literacy, and agriculture initially, while it continues its focus on scholarships.

Celebrating the completion of the Chad projects, this year’s AGM will also feature a guest speaker, Khayanga Jenipher Wasike, the Kenyan founder of the Lugari project, who will present information on its current progress and goals for the future.

With deep gratitude to all our willing hearts,

Gerri

· Sewing machine project - February 2009 update

There are more than 21 women registered for the sewing lessons. Haoua can't do it alone because she still some how timid. The women hired another teacher and they are contributing 50f each session to pay him. There are five machines. Photos

· WHISCA Winter 2009 Newsletter

From Our Hearts to Yours,

THE SEWING CENTRE AND STORAGE FACILITY

CONGRATULATIONS, dear Willing Hearts, the home stretch in Chad is within sight!  The construction of the storage unit and sewing centre is nearing completion.  Money for three more sewing machines was received, making the class of ten women a possibility before year’s end.

The solar panels have been sold, and wind-up lanterns on every desk replace that source of light for the evening literacy classes.

The Vancouver youth groups are busy finishing off their fundraising for this year’s supply of desks.  By March, all the projects in Manda will have been fully funded with the exception of a nursery activity room.  The classes will continue to be held in the grass-wall hangars out of necessity because of a new government regulation forbidding brick-making.  Our buildings were constructed with those locally produced fired bricks.

EXCITING NEWS!

WHISCA plans to continue—in Kenya!  This month, the board is meeting with Mrs. Jenipher Wasike, a Kenyan citizen and Canadian permanent resident, who plans to replicate our programs in her native village.  She will spend March and the beginning of April in the village assessing progress onsite for a community resource centre.  

Moringa seedling plants are already sprouting in her mother’s garden and the fired bricks are waiting.   Watch for the announcement of a huge Powell River celebration in June to thank and congratulate all of the willing hearts and hands that finished the Manda work in half the expected length of time.

With our love and congratulations!

Board Members:
Marilyn Carey
Kathy Northrup
Adrian Redford
Victor Njume
Jan Burnikell

Gerri
Coordinator of Development

Willing Hearts International Society-Canada (WHISCA)

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· January 2009 Greetings from Chad

To: The Board of Directors And All Willing Hearts.

The conclusion of a tumultuous year has offered me this opportunity to extend heartfelt greetings and profound gratitude from the heart of Africa. With the current financial upheavals from your end and the rising political confusion from ours, I feel it incumbent to pause and salute your relentless efforts towards alleviating poverty and the promotion of education in Africa. Words can never be adequate enough to fully appreciate your efforts.

Imbued with a stronger sense of global solidarity, you have demonstrated your ability to instill hope in the orphans of Chad, alleviate poverty through trade training and promoting grass root development initiatives through education and material support.

To have remained focused on the set objectives even at the dawn of economic distress and global poverty which looms in the horizon is highly commendable. Your enormous sacrifices stand unchallenged. I am confident that we are all on the right path, a path that will bring lasting solutions to the current global tumults. The restructuring of society can only come through universal education. That your efforts in Africa are already laying the foundation for global solidarity and collective prosperity cannot be disputed.

Rest assured that victory follows every crisis and that all sources will be replenished even from an invisible source. Happy New Year and best wishes to you all.

With warmest love,
Yours in service,
Batholomew Mokuh.

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·Previous Newsletters

• News 2008
• News 2007
• News 2006
• Projects completed in Chad

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