New Kids

The following kids moved out of the area for Save the Children, and are no longer eligible for the programs sponsorship provides.

Juan from El Salvador

Mamot from the Philippines

Ariana from the US (kids in the US can't have their pictures posted)

We're sorry to see them go, but I'd like to introduce you to their replacements!

Here are Bryan from El Salvador, Glory-Cris from the Philippines, and Kendra from the US.

Bryan is Juan's replacement. He's an active kid that plays with his friends and lives with his mother in a wood framed home. He attends school in a combined kindergarten through eighth grade school. Glory-Cris is Mamot's replacement. She lives with her mom, dad, and sister and is still very shy. She's in pre-school. Kendra is Ariana's replacement. She lives with her mom, dad, and 2 brothers. She is very happy and loves playing with toys. She attends a local public elementary school.

Welcome to the new kids! I'm sure they look forward to receiving some artwork and participating in the programs Save the Children provides.

Bryan, age 7

Glory-Cris, age 7

Kendra, age 6 (from the US so no picture)

Our match program is complete, but you can still sponsor as well! Visit Save the Children to do it!

Letters!

A letter from Egypt.

So rad.

This one is from Mayada, the match for Authentic Community Member Sonya.

Mayada, age 6

At our last artwork party, Authentic Community Member Lily drew Mayada a pretty picture. Mayada (with help from an adult) sent back this letter:

Egyptian

It's in Egyptian! How cool is that?*

Here's the English translation:

English

Our match program is complete, but you can still sponsor as well! Visit Save the Children to do it!


* Jon says this is probably in Arabic. My mistake!

Updates and Artwork!

New updates from our kids!

First is Authentic Community Member Meg's match, Shaymali from Bangladesh. Here's her new headshot. Snazzy!

Shaymali in Oct 2009

Shaymali's update says she's benefited from Reading for Children 2, Kisholoy Pre-School, and First Aid Kit management. She's in preschool and that her favorite subject is art. I think you can tell that by the wonderful picture she drew for us.

Shaymali's picture.
A burst of love and color. And flowers.

Rasel from Bangladesh is next. He's the match for Authentic Community Member Kathy, and here's his new picture.

Rasel in Oct 2009

Rasel is in kindergarten and also likes art most. He's friendly by nature and during the day he reads and plays. He's benefited from Reading for Children 2, Kisholoy Pre-School, vitamin A suppleand First Aid Kit management.

Here's the great picture he drew for us!

Rasel's picture.
A plant, ladder, and bug of some kind.

Finally, here's Sant from Nepal, Authentic Community Member Tom's match.

Sant in Oct 2009

He's in the first grade now, and his favorite subject is Nepali. That's like English, but in Nepal. Thanks so the sponsorship, he participated in the following programs: Health Package Program (improves nutritional and health status, includes check-ups), Support of Schools Program (to promote a child-rights-based framework for education with teacher training, drinking water, etc), and Student Support Program (stationary, uniforms, tutors, etc).

Those are great programs. And here's some great artwork!

Sant's picture
Flowers and a bird.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored! And while our match program is complete, you can still sponsor as well! Visit Save the Children to do it!

The return of the Kid Grid!

Here are all the pictures we have of the kids Authentic Community has either sponsored or matched.

LOOK AT HOW MANY KIDS (AND THEIR COMMUNITIES) WE'VE HELPED! There are 38 pictures here, but all told, we've helped 50 kids (and their communities)!!! 50 kids and their communities who are now getting better education, basic medical care, and other amazing programs that will help them live better lives.

This is an amazing accomplishment and we should be really proud.

The Kid Grid:


(left to right: Amisha from Nepal, April-Gaye from Philippines, Bryan-John from Philippines, Chrismari from Philippines, and Christopher from Philippines)


(left to right: Dondrel from Philippines, Fernando from Bolivia, Jerome from Philippines, Jonathan from Philippines, and Joven from Philippines)


(left to right: Juan from El Salvador, Karen-Joy from Philippines, Katherine from El Salvador, Likhon from Bangladesh, and Mamot from Philippines)


(left to right: Mayada from Egypt, Melisa from Bolivia, Mithun from Bangladesh, Mohamed from Egypt, and Mokhles from Bangladesh)


(left to right: Moushumi from Bangladesh, Munni from Bangladesh, Naeem from Bangladesh, Nasrina from Bangladesh, and Pinki from Bangladesh)


(left to right: Rajani from Bangladesh, Rasel from Bangladesh, Rezel-Ann from Philippines, Ron-Jayruss from Philippines, and Sant from Nepal)


(left to right: Shaymali from Bangladesh, Sherlyn from Philippines, another Sherlyn from Philippines, Shubarna from Bangladesh, and Suraj from Nepal)


(left to right: Tasmina from Bangladesh, Victor from Egypt, and William from El Salvador)


If you've sponsored a kid through our program, and we don't have their picture up, send it to me and I'll totally add them.

Be a "Manly Volunteer"

(left to right: Authentic Community Members Peter, America, and Vera)

Last night was the Save the Children // Esquire Magazine event. America hosted and your very own Authentic Community were co-hosts.

I took some pictures on my iPhone... but they suck, so I've included some from LIFE's website. Credit to the original photographer, Jason Kempin, who's a far better photographer than I.

Fun was had and speeches were made, but in a night of memorable moments, the most memorable of them came from our very own America. The party was held at Esquire's "bachelor pad," by a magazine that caters towards the most masculine of men... a demographic not usually known for compassion and charity. But for them, America had this bit of advice.

"Be a manly volunteer."

Yes. Do it.

Volunteer. Give back. Contribute.

It's right and totally manly.

Save the Children's wonderful program the "Survive to 5" Campaign was the topic of the evening. Their goal: That all children should live to celebrate their fifth birthday.

Did you know that, in total, almost nine million children—one every three seconds—die annually around the world, which is more than 24,000 children a day. Ninety-nine percent of these deaths take place in the developing world. Many of these deaths are from preventable or treatable illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles and complications related to childbirth. Nearly four million of these deaths occur in newborns — babies less than one month old. Each year two million children die the day they are born.

Save the Children is going to fight this, to reach their goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, by focusing on the following things:

• Increasing access to community health care for children and their families in countries where access to clinics is limited.
• Supporting advocacy efforts to ensure governments in donor and developing countries prioritize spending on maternal and child health programs.
• Mobilizing citizens and leaders to take action on behalf of children, with efforts such as World Pneumonia Day.

A truly worthy cause, worthy of a hop over to their website for more info. Be a "manly volunteer" and visit Save the Children's "Survive to 5" website.

Updates and Artwork!

Authentic Community Member America's match Mohkles sent us some artwork and a new picture of himself!

First the old picture.

Mohkles in Nov 2008

Very business like. A nice colored white shirt. Debonair. Classic.

And here's the new picture. Drum-roll please...

Mohkles in Oct 2009

Bam! That's a shirt right there. He's also looking spiffy with the short trimmed hair, but the blue shirt is awesome. And I'm assuming blue's his favorite color, because he's the artwork he sent!

I'm not sure what it is, but it's blue and it's great!

Sponsor Match! COMPLETE!!!

WE DID IT!

We got 2 more sponsorships from Authentic Community Members Candida and Maria and we matched them and we completed our match program and it's great and we help the lives of 50 kids and their communities!

WE DID IT!

Candida and Maria haven't sent us there pictures yet but here are their likenesses:

Candida's Sponsorhip

Maria's Sponsorship

And here are their matches, Sherlyn and Bryan-John, both from the Philippines!

They're both helpful in personality. Bryan-John likes helping with chores, and Sherlyn likes fetching water.

Sherlyn, age 12 (Match #24)

Bryan-John, age 12 (Match #25)

Thanks again everyone who participated, or told someone about the program, or just read along with the blog. But don't leave yet, we'll have some other exciting things to post soon!

In fact, I will be compiling a major post to show all of the kids we've helped. Look for it in the next few days!