March 9th, 2010
The transition from the temporary orphan care center in Nicaragua to ICC’s new Fountain of Life children’s villlage has gone very well. The firs set of house parents adjusting well and it is such a blessing for the children to finally be at their permanent home.
One of the primary areas of focus has been to plant gardens in order to supplement food budgets. The project is blessed with an abundant supply of water that can be used for personal use as well as gardening. Here are some pictures of the recent harvest.
Chidren and House Father Harvesting Vegetables
Watermelon Harvest
Posted in Nicaragua - Fountain of Life, Project Updates | Comments Off
March 8th, 2010
Several weeks ago, ICC Founder, Alcyon Fleck, and Daniel Ixcot of ICC Mexico were interviewed by Ralph Watts at the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network. Those programs will be aired on the network over the next two weeks.
Here is the Pacific Standard Time viewing schedule:
Program 1
Tuesday (9th) – 2:00 AM & 4:30 PM
Wednesday (10th) – 1:30 PM
Thursday (11th) – 5:30 PM
Friday (12th) – 10:30 AM
Program 2
Sunday (14th) – 9:30 PM
Tuesday (16th) – 2:00 AM & 4:30 PM
Wednesday (17th) – 1:30 PM
Thursday (18th) – 5:30 PM
Friday (19th) – 10:30 AM
Posted in General Information, Partner Updates | Comments Off
March 4th, 2010
This winter has been particularly harsh in Romania. However, with the change of the season and warmer weather just ahead, plans are underway to make significant progress in preparing the building for the bakery industry at our children’s village.
Outside of Bakery Building
The work needed to remodel the building is broken into phases:
- Phase 1 – Install the electrical, plumbing and heating systems. Install the ceiling.
- Phase 2 – Plaster the walls and pour the sub floor
- Phase 3 – Install the septic system, finish the roof, install doors and paint
- Phase 4 – Install the finished flooring
Three mission groups are planning to travel to Romania this summer, bringing much needed funds and volunteer labor. ICC Iceland has organized a trip for late May. In July, two groups from the Netherlands will volunteer at the project. One of the groups is being organized by the Netherlands ADRA office and the other by ICC Netherlands.
At this time, there should be sufficient funds raised or already in hand to complete phases 1 and 2 along with part of phase 3. Additional funds and volunteer labor are needed to complete the remodeling. In addition, funds or gifts-in-kind donations are needed for the industrial equipment needed to operate this industry.
Inside of Bakery
Once operational, it is expected that the bakery will generate profits that will go toward the operating needs of the children’s village. It will also provide a resource for the older children to learn valuable work skills.
If you’d like to get involved with this project through donating funds or technical skill, please contact ICC at 800-422-7729.
Posted in Project Updates, Romania | Comments Off
January 28th, 2010
Recent heavy rains in Baja California, Mexico have caused extensive damage to the the village of Valle which is where the ICC children at the El Oasis project attend school. According to Daniel Ixcot, development director, it was a miracle that the buildings at the school are still standing. The main entrance gate was washed away and there was heavy damage to the new wire fence. The pump house was destroyed.
- One of the main streets in Valle
It was reported that 8 inches of rain fell on the area during a four day period. The waters flowed down the surrounding mountains and caused flash flooding. We praise God that the El Oasis Children’s village was spared damage. However, power was lost and has only recently been restored. The project was without water for some time because electricity is needed to run the pumps in the well. Also the parts of the road between El Oasis and Valle was washed away as can be seen in this picture.
It will take some time for Valle and the surrounding region to recover from this tragedy. Many farms were totally flooded and facilities were damaged or destroyed.
Posted in Mexico, Project Updates | Comments Off
December 30th, 2009
- New Entry Gate
This has been a very special Christmas for the children at ICC’s Fountain of Life Children’s Village in Nicaragua. After a decade of waiting for a permanent home, ICC’s children in Nicaragua now have a beautiful campus and beautiful homes in which to live. Rick and Sharon Fleck were able to attend the official inauguration and share in the Christmas festivities which included a piñata.
In 1998, Hurricane Mitch brought death and destruction to this country in Central America. Many children became orphaned. Felix Almendarez, a Seventh-day Adventist Businessman, and his wife took on the care of about 30 orphans. Since then, the children have lived in a dormitory setting. Now the children have real family homes to call their own.
On the new campus, there are four children’s homes. There is plenty of land for further development including more children’s homes, a church, a school and industry.
Congratulations go to ICC’s children and staff in Nicaragua. Welcome to your new homes!
- Children’s Homes
- Children at the Inauguration
ICC Child in Nicaragua
ICC President, Rick Fleck, Speaking at Inauguration
Fun with a Piñata
Posted in Nicaragua - Fountain of Life, Project Updates | Comments Off
December 2nd, 2009
Graduates
The weekend of November 27-29, 2009 was a special time for some of ICC’s kids in Guatemala. Seven from the Guatemala Los Pinos Children’s Village graduated from the Instituto de Capacitacion Adventista del Peten otherwise know as ICAP. ICAP is the secondary and vocational training school that is adjacent to the ICC project in Guatemala. Three additional kids from ICC’s project in Nicaragua also graduated bringing the total of ICC graduates to 10. One of ICC’s kids also received a medal for achieving the highest grades in the graduating class.
It’s thrilling to observe ICC kids growing and preparing themselves for life on their own. Congratulations to these graduates for this achievement.
Posted in Guatemala - Los Pinos, Project Updates | Comments Off
November 17th, 2009
Tommy Pootemans, volunteer and Public Relations assistant for ICC Belgium and also nephew of Ann Peremans-Buelens, founder of ICC Belgium, has brought in our first Ambassador for ICC Belgium.
In the Spring of 2009, Tommy made contact with Danaë Van Oeteren, an actress and singer in the Flemish part of Belgium, to ask her if she would be prepared to take on the Ambassadorship for ICC Belgium. Danaë met with Tommy and Ronny Van Dessel, president of ICC Belgium. After some time of reflecting on the position and after attending our concert in Brussels in October where she saw the ICC Romanian children perform, she officially accepted the invitation to become our first Ambassador.
Danaë played some important roles in several Flemish television programs and also played an important role in a Belgian movie production. She sings and has her own music group and has also recorded an album.
ICC Belgium is very happy with the decision Danaë has made and hopes that she can become a well known face for our organization and that she can also find some other well known public figures to join ICC.
Danaë & Tommy
Posted in ICC Belgium, Partner Updates | Comments Off
November 14th, 2009
Recently, Lunter Textiel, a Dutch clothing manufacturer, decided to support ICC Netherlands. Lunter Textiek has created a new design of baby clothes. This design is made from bright, cheerful colors and designs and is call Puk Design. The first summer collection of Puk Design, made for babies from zero to eighteen months, was made entirely from organic cotton. It will be delivered in December 2009.
Puk Design will promote ICC to its customers. On each garment is a special hangtag that features ICC. The manufacturer will also donate clothes from its production facility in India to the ICC children’s village in India. In this way Puk Design hopes got give some color into the lives of these children.
The first child who got dressed in Puk Design clothes was the newest member of the ICC family in Congo. Lambro Triantos, Director of ICC Netherlands, was visiting the ICC Patmos children village in September. Puk Design had given him the very first sample of the new design. According to Lambro, the baby was very happy with his new outfit.
Lambro with Baby Dressed in Puk Design
Posted in Congo (DRC), ICC Netherlands - (IKN), Partner Updates, Project Updates | Comments Off
November 12th, 2009
The following letter was given to Rick Fleck during his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is from one of the older boys in our ICC project there. He is in secondary school taking technology.
Posted in Congo (DRC), Project Updates | Comments Off
November 8th, 2009
ASML Foundation from the Netherlands has decided to continue their support for the work of ICC in 2010. The Dutch foundation will help with the educational costs of 72 children in India.
In the ICC children’s village in India, ICC has a total of 76 children. Seventy-two of them are going to the elementary school nearby. ICC feels it is very important that children can have a good education. It costs $240 for one child to enjoy a year of education.
Recently ASML Foundation decided to donate for the total cost of all 72 children, a total of $17.280. ASML Foundation also believes that it is important for children to have a good education. Just like ICC, they believe that for the long term, good education for children will help move society forward.
Lambro Triantos (left), Director of ICC Netherlands, Visits ASML Foundation
Posted in ICC Netherlands - (IKN), India - DEWS Sweet Home, Partner Updates, Project Updates | Comments Off
