Sincerely,
Kari Fillmore
Director, Angel Covers

Nutrition Programs

Humble Hearts

Good nutrition is a necessary part of keeping children healthy and helping the children to achieve their potential in school. Many of the children at Humble Hearts are malnourished and do not receive regular meals. Some go for days without being fed due to poverty. The children come to school and are tired and falling asleep because they haven't eaten. With the new school year and a very generous donation, comes an expanded new food program. Starting in January, the lunch program was expanded to feed 50 of the neediest children who do not have sponsors. Children who have sponsors are already receiving lunch. With 80 of the children sponsored, more than half of the 230 children at the school are now receiving lunch.

Shantou Older Kids Food Program

In Shantou China, Love Without Boundaries had established a nutrition program. The nutrition program covered the infants and toddlers, supplementing the meals at the orphanage. This nutrition program has made a tremendous difference in the health of the children at the orphanage. There has been a desire to expand the program to also supplement the nutrition of the older children in the orphanage. Angel Covers is very excited to provide funding for this nutrition program. We are so thankful that the older kids will now receive additional nutrition. They will be well fed and have the energy they need for school.

Chickens Project Maranatha

One of the largest chicken projects we have worked on to date is really taking shape in Uganda at the Maranatha school. The building constructed will eventually be used completely for housing chickens. With a delay in funding for their secondary school building, part of the building will be used for secondary classrooms until the chickens are purchased. This project will help to feed 600 children at Maranatha. In this picture, water tanks are being put in place, which will help insure the success of this project. We can't wait to see the pictures of chickens running around and have eggs for these needy children.

Cows at Dagoretti

Two cows are being purchased for the Dagoretti school in Kenya. Construction of a shelter is already underway. From the sale of fresh milk, the school will be able to generate an income of almost $150 per week. The program is being established in a manner allowing the cows to be bred, making this a long term sustainable program and not a short term solution during the life of these two cows. One of our great desires is to encourage and help start sustainable projects that will provide for the care of the children. The best news that we could ever receive would be that an orphanage or school no longer needs our help. We are continuing to look at other animal and income generating projects for the future. The resourcefulness of the directors never ceases to amaze us as they put forward project proposals that help to income and stability for the children.

Successfully filled gap for First Love

We want to once again thank everyone who helped the food program at First Love for the final quarter of 2006. We were thrilled to hear that their normal source of receiving food for the program was resumed in January. Thanks to our wonderful Angel Covers donors and First Love donors, these children didn't miss a day of meals!

Education Programs

Trade Schools

As the children complete primary school in Kenya, they are required to pass a national certificate exam to demonstrate they have the knowledge needed before proceeding to secondary school. Unfortunately, not all children finish primary school with the mastery of the subjects required to pass this exam. Some children retake class 8 for another year and attempt the exam again. Others just stop going to school with no other real options. While we wish every child could pass this exam, we know these children already have many strikes against them. Children lose hope when they are unable to pass the exam results. These children need to be taught real world skills that them with skills and a chance to break the cycle of poverty. Trade schools are available, but generally out of reach financially for these children. Beatrice, the director of Humble Hearts, and Muscort, the director at Dagoretti, understand the benefit a trade school would bring. Both directors would like to establish a trade school for the kids in their programs who are unable to advance to secondary school.

Trade School Kisumu

In Kisumu, a trade school already exists for the children we visited last summer. More than 10 girls are currently training to become tailors, a profession in high demand in Kenya. Additionally, three of these girls are excelling at their craft and were invited to attend one of the top tailoring schools in Kenya. Angel Covers has agreed to pay for these three girls to attend this school so they may have even greater opportunities. Additionally, Angel Covers has agreed to send an additional three girls to another top tailoring school in Kenya. We wish all of these girls the best of luck and know they will graduate with the skills needed to support themselves and their future families.

Secondary School Humble Hearts

We have told you in past newsletters about the need for a separate secondary school for Humble Hearts. Currently the secondary students are sharing the primary school classrooms, and although there are benefits to having the children in the same location, the secondary students clearly need their own building. They have different needs for books, equipment, and desks. Because of a generous donation, the secondary students now have their own set of laboratory equipment. They will now be better prepared to take the national exams in Chemistry and Physics. Additionally, land has been purchased for the new secondary school, which will be located within walking distance of the new Angel Cottage. Plans have been drawn and construction workers are waiting to start building the new school. This building will cost approximately $35,000 and will provide secondary students with plenty of classroom space, their own library, a laboratory, and someday a computer lab. Please consider donating towards the costs of construction. Not only will these children receive a secondary school education, which they previously only dreamed of, but you will also be providing them with hope to attend university...something they never thought to dream about.

Yaks

Ever wanted to buy a yak but weren't sure what you would do with it? Well, let us help you. Angel Covers would love to raise enough funds to purchase hundreds of yaks for schools in the Tibetan Autonomous Regions of China this summer. Many generous people have already agreed to sponsor children at these school. Sponsorship fees provide tuition, school books and school supplies to these children, but yaks help the children in other ways. Because the schools are located at such high altitudes, many forms of livestock will not survive but yaks are perfect for the climate. Yaks provide the schools with milk, hair for clothing, dung to burn for heat, and when they eventually die, they provide meat for the children. Normally one yak costs $125, but during the summer, a yak can be purchased for half price! Our goal is to purchase 100 yaks for at least three schools. So, do you want to buy a yak? They are so cute! Additionally, three children at the Wenle school in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China are in need of sponsors. Sponsorship of the great kids is only $10 a month. Please consider sponsoring one of them.

Housing Programs

Angel Cottage Construction

Construction has begun! Although only about 10% of the $50,000 needed has been raised, it's amazing to see the foundation for the new Angel Cottage complete. This home will eventually provide a safe, loving environment to approximately 80 children! They will have indoor plumbing, electricity, warm showers, safe drinking water, and comfortable beds. If you would like to be a part of providing this home for orphans and destitute children, please donate today.

Playground Shantou

Because of the efforts of Love Without Boundaries, Angel Covers was able to provide much needed funding for a playground at the Shantou SWI. The playground is clearly a big hit among the children and caregivers. We have seen lots of pictures of beautiful children running and playing on the new equipment. Nothing goes together better than children and playgrounds. A big "THANK YOU" goes out to LWB for allowing Angel Covers to play a part in putting smiles on the faces of these wonderful children.

Medical Programs

Burkitts Program

Angel Covers has partnered with doctors in Kisumu, Kenya to provide cancer treatment for orphans there. Thanks in part to a generous donation from The Red Thread, Angel Cover is able to pay for treatment costs for two very special boys, Erick and John. They have been responding well to treatment and will be receiving treatments for as long as two more years. We will keep you updated on their progress.

Humble Hearts Medical Program

Currently there are 230 children attending Humble Hearts, and few are completely healthy. Over the past year, medical exams have been provided to approximately 50 children as funds have become available. Fewer than ten children were considered truly healthy. Most recently, Alice was examined and it was determined she had large cataracts. Surgery was done and she is now able to see much better. With continued follow-up care, Alice should be able to excel in school now that she can see significantly better. Additionally, approximately fifteen of the most needy children will be vaccinated against typhoid. Although there are many medical issues that need to be cured, it's our hope that we can prevent some illnesses rather than cure them.

Other Announcements

Angel Covers Hats and Shirts

Angel Covers will soon be adding t-shirts and baseball hats with our logo to the website. Please consider purchasing one of these items and help us tell the world that it is possible to care for countless children around the world.

Sale!

We are working on reducing the amount of inventory that we currently have on hand.  As a part of this effort we are having a closeout sale on a few items.  The price for Passenger Pals and the price for most styles of Canvas Squeaky Shoes have been reduced as we close out these items. Don't miss your final chance to purchase these items and help children at the same time.

How you can help!

With many new projects and opportunities comes lots more work. Therefore we are looking for even more committed volunteers to fill important positions. We need people who are willing to give themselves to children throughout the world in a variety of ways. Additionally, donations of office supplies, vitamins, and other items are always needed to help us help the children. Take a look at the list below of job opportunities and items needed to see if you there is a way you can help. If any of these positions sound interesting, please complete this volunteer application and tell us about yourself.

• Sponsorship Coordinator for the Sichuan Schools in the Tibetan Auntonomous Region of China
• Director of Grant Writing
• Medical Director
• Web site design and maintenance
• Vitamins, infant and children's chewable, are always needed.
• Colored pencils, crayons, and other school supplies (but not paper)
• Developmental toys such as stacking cups and duplos
• Canon printer ink. Cartridge size 8