I would like to thank everyone for the great show of support that the Simama Project has received this year. It has been an amazing year for the Project and also for me personally.
I am very pleased to announce that this year, because of your support, we have managed to send 32 kids to school who would otherwise have had no chance at education. Led by a highly skilled board of directors, we have established a Community Based Organization in Kenya, to create appropriate programs and find the most innovative ways to help children get themselves out of poverty.
While I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our students and pleased with Simama exceeding our lofty goal of sponsoring 28 kids, I know that there is still much to be done. This year I had to look into the eyes of too many well qualified potential students and tell them "no". Even though many of these were perfect candidates, children who eagerly wanted a chance to get themselves out of poverty through education, I simply could not commit resources that we do not have.
One boy hiked from a village over thirty kilometers away, three times in one week, to ask for a scholarship to high school. He had an impoverished family and very good grades in middle school, but Simama had already sponsored more children than we had budgeted for. Another girl from a nearby village wanted to become the first person in her family to attend high school, once again I had to say no.
I am very grateful for the opportunities that your support has given. Seeing these children flourish when handed an opportunity that many of us in the United States take for granted has been a dream come true for me. I hope to be able to share that happiness with more of these deserving children and more people in the United States who will get something out of giving.
We are hoping to be able to sponsor an additional 20 kids this year. At $700, sponsoring a child isn't exactly cheap but it pays for everything a child needs in a year for a chance at success. You can get your friends together and sponsor kids or just give what little you can afford. It all makes a big difference. If you know anyone who might be interested please spread the word. As I posted yesterday we have a $2,500 matching donation from the Cabaud family so anything you give now, up to $2,500, will be doubled.
(Five of the Simama Sponsored kids smiling at school)
