Friday, December 13, 2013

Let's Build A School!

Hi all,

We've added a new button to the website, "Let's Build  A School!" so that visitors can learn more about our hope to help finish the high school in Pestel.   Please feel free to pass this along:

Thanks to all who have donated!  


Some highlights from 2013 (so far!  :)
  • January--Purchased 6 motor cycles for the field health workers.  Reports from our last Vitamin A campaign showed that their effectiveness increased by at least 30%
  • March--Miss World Team & Variety International traveled to Pestel & produced a moving video of their experiences.  We stay at the new Guest House in Ferier with Sisters Fidelis, Jo and Vicky!
  • April--Well-drilling effort undertaken but unsuccessful.  Water Missions International begins Plan B approach.
  • May--Variety International pledged to increase their annual commitment to bring the 19 field health workers back up to full time status!!
  • June--Thriving Villages gets a new website thanks to the hard work of individuals at Deloitte!  Thanks especially to Sheldon who continues to maintain it!!
  • August--Field health workers begin widespread immunization effort throughout all of Pestel for the first time!  Kids in Pestel are still dying from preventable diseases like tetanus, but we are now addressing this.
  • September--Miss World Team has raised substantial funds to help kick-off a 'pilot' project in Duchity (southern aspect of Pestel region) in conjunction with John Ball's team!!  Efforts to begin in full force in January.  Effort aims to reach 2000 households with an entrepreneurial-based approach to providing household ceramic water filters.
  • November--Miss World Team revisits Haiti but an accident requires an emergency medical air evacuation for one team member and an in-country surgery for one boy.  Both are recovering slowly.
  • December--wouldn't it be great to add a line to this list about raising funds to help complete a high school?!?   :)

There are some potentially really wonderful projects in-development that we will send along to you as plans become a bit more solid.  Also, several new individuals and organizations have learned about the needs in Pestel this year and have begun to engage and work together.

We also hope to put together a compilation of exciting activities and initiatives that our friends and partner organizations have undertaken in Pestel this past year!   


May we find joy in this work, perseverance in our efforts, wisdom in our decisions, and humility in our approach.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Ben


--
President, Thriving Villages International

Thriving Villages website:  www.thrivingvillages.org
Thriving Villages blog:  http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/

"Pay special attention to these issues:
   love for one another;
   absence of desire to be thought of as someone special;
   and the impeccable performance of mundane tasks."  Teresa of Avila
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Bridge

Hi all,

My alma mater, Messiah College, just released the latest edition of The Bridge--its quarterly publication.   You'll see a couple of nice photos from our friend Steve Miller (http://stevemillerphotography.net/), an article that includes some comments from Yours Truly, and a mention of Thriving Villages!

Please check it out!

Perhaps folks reading the article will check out our website/blog and read about the opportunity to establish a new high school in Pestel!!

Ben

--
President, Thriving Villages International

Thriving Villages website:  www.thrivingvillages.org
Thriving Villages blog:  http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/

"Pay special attention to these issues:
   love for one another;
   absence of desire to be thought of as someone special;
   and the impeccable performance of mundane tasks."  Teresa of Avila
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Fwd: Opportunity to help establish high school in Pestel

Education in Pestel, Haiti is a priority area for Thriving Villages International.

We have an opportunity to invest in the next generation and complete a high school for students in Pestel!  Basic construction is complete on a 3-room high school in Pestel, and Thriving Villages is looking for partners to invest in the education of rural Haitians.  The $10,000 needed would complete construction of three high school classrooms – lay flooring, construct doors, benches, and chalkboards – at St. Francis school in Pestel.  More than that, it would give hope and a future to a region that desperately needs both.

The Board of Thriving Villages would like to invite you to participate in this important and joy-filled opportunity.  After prayerful consideration and a lot of good discussion, we feel confident that God will provide, the funds will be well-used, and people both here and in Pestel will rejoice when the buildings are finished! 

To donate, visit our website at http://www.thrivingvillages.org, our blog at http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/, or send a check to Thriving Villages International, 1601 Susan Lane Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.  Please write "Education Fund" in the memo.  

Thanks for your love and support.  We pray that the outpouring of relief to some of the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere continues as well, as we work to provide education, medical supplies, clean water, and hope for the people in Pestel, Haiti.  


Ben

PS   Please see the attached letter for more detailed information.

--
President, Thriving Villages International

Thriving Villages website:  www.thrivingvillages.org
Thriving Villages blog:  http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/

"Pay special attention to these issues:
   love for one another;
   absence of desire to be thought of as someone special;
   and the impeccable performance of mundane tasks."  Teresa of Avila



--
President, Thriving Villages International

Thriving Villages website:  www.thrivingvillages.org
Thriving Villages blog:  http://thrivingvillages.blogspot.com/

"Pay special attention to these issues:
   love for one another;
   absence of desire to be thought of as someone special;
   and the impeccable performance of mundane tasks."  Teresa of Avila
Posted by at No comments:
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