It has been a year of progress for Pencils for Kids despite very challenging economic times. We continued to build meaningful relationships with our partners that will definitely have a lasting impact on the people of Liboré, Niger.

The Farmers of the Future sign that shows partnership of EPN and P4K

P4K has developed an approach which balances direct funding and sponsorship for a small number of model programmes (Scholarships for Girls, Sewing Centres, Farmers of the Future), with very active networking and partnerships at all levels (INGO’s, UN, governments, private and corporate funders) to leverage additional resources. We will continue to develop this two-pronged strategy in the future.

John and Judy Craig of Eliminate Poverty Now (EPN) with me and the girls from the Cooper's Clothing Sewing Centre

We have committed this coming year to fund 72 scholarships for girls in the middle and secondary levels, to pilot a literacy project in five schools for grades 1 and 2, to expand our Cooper’s Clothing Sewing Centre so that more girls can participate, and to fully pilot our Farmers of the Future program (FOF) in three villages in Libore: Galbal, Gueriguinde and Gonzare Beri.  This FOF is an exciting initiative in agriculture and education – teaching children in grades 4 and 5 how to be successful, educated farmers using agriculture as a business and not merely as a way to subsist. We are preparing curriculum in 7 topics including water management, vegetable gardening, tree nurseries, economics and the environment, and we are working with education officials at every level to ensure we have the support we need. P4K is honoured to partner on this FOF program with Eliminate Poverty Now, an outstanding NGO in New Jersey. We are optimistic and hopeful that the FOF has the potential to one day help eradicate poverty.

Farmers of the Future

Our partnership with Veahavta, an NGO dedicated to doing good deeds around the world,  is also tremendously exciting.  Last week a forty foot container left Toronto for Niger filled with 4,000 kinderkits, all donated and shipped by Veahavta! They will arrive sometime in January or February!  On the container were also generous donations from Superior Medical Canada consisting of medical supplies for the midwives in Libore and also for the empty medical clinic.

It is these relationships with like-minded organizations that have sustained us this year, both in impact and in spirit.

However we still have commitments to honour for our programs and we are looking for new and creative ways to bring in funds.

A huge thank you to our many friends, supporters and sponsors who have helped us in the past and give us strength for the future.

As the holiday season approaches, we hope that you will join us in thinking of the children in Liboré — their wish is for an education, and a better life. We can all make that happen, together.

A letter written by students about their P4K initiative they started at their school.

   ”  One day in late October, our teacher Mr. Hynd told us about a charity; Pencils for Kids. Pencils for Kids is a Canadian charity that provides classroom supplies, programs, libraries, and schools for communities in Niger, Africa. They try to create a world that provides every child with an opportunity for an education. We were immediately inspired and wanted to help out.

     Both being from the Sri Lankan heritage, we know the feeling of children left in poverty and having no education. As in Sri Lanka, many kids feel this way. Not only do they not have an opportunity for education, but the families cannot afford to send them to proper schools. We wanted to make a difference; we wanted to change many things.

     After forming a club, we immediately wanted to start. We sold pencil necklaces made from stone, to raise awareness throughout the school. We wanted our school to know about this great charity, and how they can also make a difference, and help kids who deserve an opportunity for an education.

     Then we decided to host a penny drive at our school. With the help of Mme Martin and Student Council, we asked every kid to fill up a paper bag to a certain amount with pennies. They were then tallied, and the total was counted on a pencil meter. In order to raise the spirit of the School Community, we gave a prize to the first class that filled up their pencil meter.

     For a final event and fundraiser, we had a raffle at the school’s Family Movie Night. The winner of the raffle was rewarded with a $25 gift card to Chapters. Many people enjoyed this activity, and thought it was a great way to raise money. We had loads of fun.

     In total this year, Pencils for Kids Redstone raised an amount of $1410.87. We would like to thank our teacher Mr. Hynd for giving us this wonderful opportunity, Mme Martin for supporting us, and Redstone for helping us achieve this amount. We are very proud of ourselves for being able to raise awareness for kids in need of an education, and we feel honoured to have been able to be a part of this charity. We look forward to another year of continuing our charity contributions at Redstone!”   

 -Vithu and Thurgaa

Redstone Public School

This has been an incredible week for the villagers and children in Libore! Mike Mitchell and Dave Stahl from Project Play are there for 8 days, visiting every village in Libore and showing the coaches, teachers and students how to establish soccer (football!) clubs, leagues and competitive play. They are spending time teaching  training and practice drills to the coaches from every village and then playing with the children everywhere they go.  It has been a huge success thanks to Hamani Djibo and his fellow members of LIBO who spent days and hours preparing for this visit, organizing every village and explaining what would happen.
Project Play has donated 1200 balls to Niger this time. Some are being distributed to the villages in Libore, and then the commune of Libore will have the responsibility to share the knowledge and skills they have learned with other communes in the country.  The mentored becomes the mentor!  P4K’s connection to Project Play began three years ago when I contacted Mike Mitchell in Brazil, and said I heard he had soccer balls he wanted to bring to Niger! At the time, he was contemplating a return to Niger – he had been there as a Peace Corps volunteer 17 years earlier and had always wanted to return with soccer balls.  Soccer was an integral part of his life and when he was in the Peace Corps he was instrumental in helping the soccer team in Niger!  Mike did return not long after we spoke, and donated the first hundred balls in Niger to Libore. Now three years later, he and his lifelong friend and soccer pro Dave Stahl, are spending quality time in Libore training, coaching and laying the foundation for a true club, village and regional  network of soccer. It is beyond exciting to see the faces of the children and the anticipation of the people. Bravo Project Play!

Imagine, you are learning and you have one pencil for the whole class or you are sharing an eraser with five other children and it’s smaller than a penny! Imagine no desks, no chairs, no black boards…. Imagine having no school supplies. Sure you are thinking “Boy, that will never happen.” But, you are all wrong. Not only did it happen but it is still happening today. I am going to tell you about the organization pencils for kids. Read the rest of this entry »