Nelly Furtado, well known Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, actress and winner of the Latin Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album showed up today at the Markham District Secondary School to lend a hand to Divya Shah and the Markham P4K Club to pack schoolbags destined for Niger!

Ms. Furtado was warm, genuine and compassionate as she shared stories and inspirational words with the students as they packed the bags.  Divya Shah, President of the Markham P4K club, gave a pencil necklace to Nelly, P4K’s symbol for education, literacy and hope.  Divya told Nelly Frutado about her dreams of becoming a doctor and how “giving” enriches her life.  Together with many students, they filled bags with pencils, pens, notebooks and other supplies, many donated by Mark Gavin from Ecotjot, a socially conscious business that donates one notebook for every journal purchased.

It was a heartwarming morning, culminating in a surprise “hello” to all the grade nine students assembled in the auditorium.  P4K is so grateful to have such a wonderful youth ambassador like Divya, who has organized with her team many bake sales, classroom blitzes and more to raise funds and awareness for P4K.  And we were so honoured that Nelly Furtado took the time to help out, share her insights, and offer her support to P4K!

Ecojot donated supplies for the backpacks going to Niger, and this amazing company donates one notebook to a child in need, for every journal purchased.

A plea from Pencils for Kids and our partner Eliminate Poverty Now
When your friends cry out for help, how do you answer?

Pencils for Kids doesn’t do disaster relief, but weeks of heavy rain in Niger have caused massive flooding. One third of the 32,000 people in the Liboré villages where we work have been affected, and while international aid is beginning to trickle in, our friends have an immediate need for basics such as safe drinking water, food, and mosquito bed nets.

Water is waist deep in many areas

They have asked for our help, and we are doing our best to come to their aid by spreading the word and giving what we can, and by asking you to join us in our effort. Please send what you can to Pencils for Kids for Liboré Disaster Relief. Every little bit helps.

• $10 buys a water bucket and bed net.
• $50 buys a bucket, a bed net, and a 100 kg bag of grain.

Abandoned animals

We ask that you please pass this message on to 20 friends to help spread the word;  this recent article from the BBC explains what is happening on the ground : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19384377

Thank you.

DONATE NOW

Flooded rice fields

Today, July 26th, 2012, was the start of  the training program for the ‘trainers’ who will assist in preparing the teachers for the Farmers of the Future program! 16 people will receive training during 20 days, led  by Saidou Abdoussalam from ICRISAT and Hamani Djibo from LIBO. This training session will cover many subjects, including vegetable gardens, environment, tree nurseries and animal fattening,  and use the curriculum that has been developed for the program.

Teaching the curriculum to the future trainers of the Farmers of the Future program!

The teachers will then be taught by some of these trainers in September, prior to the beginning of the school year in October.  The Farmers program is currently being piloted in three village schools in Libore, Gueriguinde, Galbal and Gonzare.

The first day of a 20 day training schedule begins early with enthusiasm and excitement!

Training for the midwives will make a huge difference to many women in the commune who often lose their babies during childbirth.

All this week, July 8th -13th, 2012, the midwives in Libore have been receiving training from a professional health organization in Niger, sponsored by Pencils for Kids through the generosity of Superior Medical.. It has been going very well and the women are not only getting a great education, but are being taught how to use the equipment that was sent over by Superior Medical a few months ago.

Some very needed instruments!

Equipment from Superior Medical in Canada helps change the face of care in Libore, Niger

Each midwife will have her own first aid bag to use and there are now baby scales and other needed instruments to help with deliveries.  So many babies die in childbirth in the developing world.   This training will help combat this growing problem and give many women a greater sense of security and comfort when delivering their children.