February 3rd, 2012
Recently we were fortunate to be given the opportunity to acquire lighting, at no cost, for the new commercial bakery being built at the ICC Romania Children’s Village. The only catch was that our crew from IKN in The Netherlands had to provide the labor to remove the lights. So über volunteer Dimitri Triantos spent two days extracting the light fixtures.
Once the fluorescent fixtures had been removed IKN shipped them to our Romanian project where they have now been installed into the drop ceiling for the bakery. Thirty-three of these fixtures were sent to and installed in Romania.
One of the lighting fixtures after being installed in the ICC Romania bakery
We were informed by our staff in Romania that getting these fixtures without having to purchase them locally created a significant savings in material costs for the construction of the bakery. Typically these types of fixtures cost $120.00 each. That’s $3960.00 our staff in Romania will be able use in other ways to support the children.
One the light fixtures installed with the finished ceiling at the ICC Romania bakery
Thanks to IKN and Dimitri for providing the lights for our bakery project at ICC Romania.
Thanks for reading!
Ken Wilson
Media Director ICC
Tags: Bakery, Construction, Dimitri Triantos, Flourescent, ICC, IKN, International Children's Care, Lighting, Romania, The Netherlands
Posted in Project Updates, Romania | Comments Off
January 31st, 2012
Work continues on the bakery at ICC Romania’s children’s village. Currently, a drop ceiling is being installed. Materials for the ceiling were donated by a sponsor in Romania who also gave technical training on its installation.
New drop ceiling being installed in ICC Romania's new commercial bakery
During the first part of 2012, our Dutch partner office will be raising funds for the equipment and machinery that is needed. If anyone is interested in providing funds for the machines please contact the ICC office at 800-422-7729.
Tags: Bakery, Care, Ceiling, Children's, Dutch, Funds, ICC, International, Machinery, Office, Romania
Posted in Project Updates, Romania | Comments Off
January 27th, 2012
In 2010 and 2011 Desire Murhima and his team worked hard to fight a severe erosion problem at the ICC Patmos Children’s Village. With the financial support of our ICC Europe Chapters and Offices they were able to successfully combat the problem. Canals to control water flow during heavy rain along with small bridges were constructed and new trees and grass was planted. Desire wishes to thank all the donors for their support.
One of the erosion control canals at the ICC Patmos Children's Village
This year, 2012, Desire wants to expand the project into other parts of the village. The need for erosion control in those areas is not as imperative as it was where erosion control was installed, but still this needs to be done.
Another view of one of the erosion control canals
Tags: Canal, Care, Children's, Congo, Erosion, ICC, International, Patmos, Village
Posted in Congo (DRC), Project Updates | Comments Off
January 24th, 2012
There is a big need in the area where our ICC Romania children’s village is located. In that area live approximately 5000 people 40% of whom live in extreme poverty. ICC Romania finds it important to help where ever they can. In cooperation with ICC Netherlands ICC Romania gave out 250 food packages the first week of December 2011.
Some of the families who received food packages
In November 2011, 750 shoe boxes were given away to the pupils of the local elementary schools. ICC Romania works closely with the local government, which contributes to a very good relations with our neighbors.
Some of the kids who received shoe boxes from ICC Netherlands
Tags: Box, Children's Village, Elementary, Government, ICC, International Children's Care, Lighthouse, Neighbors, Netherlands, Package, Poverty, Romania, Schools, Shoe
Posted in ICC Netherlands - (IKN), Partner Updates, Project Updates, Romania | Comments Off
January 21st, 2012
Here is an excerpt from a letter recently received from Lilly Kaligithi, director of ICC’s Sweet Home Children’s Village in India.
Dear Friends and Family;
We have come to the end of the year 2011. We look back with gratitude and praise in our hearts to God for the wonderful way He led us. We are also very grateful to all the ICC leaders and our sponsors for their generous gifts and love. Just look at the Sweet Home Family in the picture and see how happy and healthy the Sweet Home family is. Thank-you again for all your support.
We experienced many happy moments of pride when our children received awards for their high scholastic and winning in speech and Bible contests. We just had graduation for the class of 2012. [One of our boys] who has been standing first in his class for the past ten years was the president of the class. My eyes and heart were filled with tears of joy and pride as he delivered his presidential speech. Wish you were here with me to share this joy. Soon tenth and twelfth class students will be writing their board examinations. Please remember them in your prayers…
We wish you a blessed and prosperous New Year. May you enjoy good health and peace throughout the year to come.
With sincere thanks,
Lilly
Lilly, the kids and the staff from ICC's Sweet Home Children's Village in India wish you a wonderful new year.
Tags: 2012, Care, Children's, DEWS, Family, Friends, Home, ICC, India, International, Joy, Kaligithi, Lilly, New, Student, Sweet, Year
Posted in General Messages, India - DEWS Sweet Home | Comments Off
January 20th, 2012
On the 22nd of November another transport was loaded for Romania by the ICC office in the Netherlands. Dutch volunteers loaded a Romanian truck with building materials for the bakery. Items included natural stone, special glue for floor tiles and special lighting fixtures for the ceiling. There were three pallets with food and some clothes, toys and furniture.
The crew who loaded the truck and the truck they loaded
The shipment also contained 750 shoe boxes. Each shoe box was filled with school materials and a gift. ICC Romania will give these boxes to the pupils of the elementary schools in the surroundings of the ICC Children Village. ICC Romania will also distribute 220 family boxes with food for the poorest families in their area.
Over the years ICC has developed a lighthouse program to support the needs in their community.
Lambro Triantos
Director of IKN (ICC Netherlands)
Tags: Bakery, Breger Mega, Building, Children's Village, Clothes, Community, Dutch, Elementary, Food, Furniture, Glue, ICC, IKN, International Children's Care, Lighthouse, Lighting, Materials, Netherlands, Romania, School, Shoeboxes, Stone, Tile, Toys, truck, Volunteers
Posted in ICC Netherlands - (IKN), Partner Updates, Romania | Comments Off
January 17th, 2012
Five years ago a new activity for ICC Belgium came to life, a Spaghetti Festivity. In that year, 2007, we started very modest with 60 subscriptions and a net profit of 375 Euro / $490 USD.
In 2011, 145 people found their way to Mechelen and the profit was 2,100 Euro / $2,745 USD.
Guests of the Spaghetti Festivity enjoy the food
Our cook surpassed himself once again this year. Everyone enjoyed the very tasty spaghetti sauce with fresh vegetables and some of the visitors even took a second portion. Everyone was full of praise of our cook. We were also able to count again on our volunteers who lent a hand, even two hands.
Wim the chef, Coszack his assitant and Anja and Louiza prepare the food.
The sales table has also become a yearly tradition and different kind of items (also handmade) were nicely presented. And lots of items were sold during these two days, thanks to the handmade items of Carmen and the handmade Christmas pieces of Denise.
Some of the hand-crafted items sold at the Spaghetti Festivity
As president of ICC Belgium, I’m very proud of my ICC team and I would like to thank the whole team for the enormous work that they have done: Wim (Chef Cook), Coszack (Assistant Cook), Anja and Louiza (kitchen help), Mia, Ingrid and Carmen (Bartenders), Frank, Jozef, Mario and Kristof (Waiters), Francine and Dirk (Sales Table) and Jeannine who always helps us out with the promotional materials for our events.
A word of thanks as well to those who came and to those who were not able to come but gave their financial support. We were able to close out this year in a fantastic and wonderful way!
Ronny Van Dessel
President ICC Belgium vzw
Tags: Bartender, Belgium, Christmas, Cook, Craft, Dollar, Euro, Financial, Hand, ICC, ICC Belgium, International Children's Care, Mechelen, Sauce, Spaghetti, Support, Vegetables, Volunteers, Waiter
Posted in ICC Belgium, Partner Updates | Comments Off
January 13th, 2012
Our ICC project in the Democratic Republic of Congo is located on Idjwi Island which is located in the middle of Lake Kivu. This lake holds a certain natural beauty and is very much a part of our Patmos Children’s Village. Some of the ICC Children at The Patmos Children’s Village have actually ended up being part of our project in Congo due to tragedies that have occurred on this particular lake.
The last week of December, 2011, our Congo family felt such a tragedy. Our partner organization in Congo, Prolasa, owns a boat that is used for transporting food, construction materials and passengers on this lake. On December 28, their boat was crossing the lake with passengers and cargo when a severe storm struck. It was during this storm that the boat and all supplies sank, and all passengers were in the water for about 10 hours during the night.
While all the passengers had life jackets, sadly, only 10 of the 17 passengers were able to be rescued. Seven are still unaccounted for, including a woman, a 12-year-old boy and five children between the ages of two and three. None of those lost are from the ICC Patmos Children’s Village, none-the-less, it is a tragedy felt by the entire village.
Our hearts go out to the families of the lost, and we pray for our Congo family as they deal with this tragedy.
Posted in Congo (DRC), General Messages | Comments Off
January 3rd, 2012
Some days it feels as though we are not all living on the same planet. Or as Paul Harvey used to say; “It is not one world.”
A story in the January 3 New York Times, “For Congo Children, Food Today Means None Tomorrow” by Adam Nossiter, caught our attention. It told how parents in the DR Congo can only afford to feed their children just one meal every other day.
This is what Joel Reyes, our public relations director, posted to his Facebook page about how ICC’s children have been effected.
“I hope some of you are able to read this article. It is a reality most of us ignore and some may even think is a myth. We had heard that our children in our ICC Congo project were only eating two meals per day because they didn’t have the budget to provide three [meals per day]. We were horrified when we heard that, however the kids were not complaining. They thought they had it good, and they did considering the rest. They are eating three meals [per day] now.”
Please take a few minutes to read this story. The events in this article are the daily life for millions of people in the DR Congo.
We would also like thank you for supporting “His Kids.” As you can see by this story your support of ICC truly does make a difference.
Here’s the link to the story–
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/world/africa/in-congolese-capital-power-cut-applies-to-food.html
Thanks for reading!
Ken Wilson
Media Director ICC
Tags: Adam Nossiter, children, Congo, Facebook, Food, ICC, International Children's Care, January 3, Joel Reyes, New York Times, Patmos Children's Village
Posted in Congo (DRC), General Messages | Comments Off
December 29th, 2011
We would like to take this time to wish all of our readers and supporters a wonderful, joyous and blessed New Year.
Thanks to all of you for what you do for “His Kids!”
Tags: "His Kids", Happy New Year, ICC, International Children's Care, Thank You
Posted in General Messages | Comments Off