Every click matters! (Using Ads)

Starting within the next few weeks, you may see Google Ads in the sidebar when you view the Orphanage blog. Be assured that every time an ad is clicked, 100% of the kickback goes toward the orphanage and travel costs!

I thought this would be an efficient and easy way to contribute to the orphanage. I'm still learning the ins and outs of earning through advertising but I think that anything to help the children is worth learning about!

Every click matters! Click to your heart's content!

A Thankfulness-Filled Day!

Today I have three BIG things to be thankful for:

- You might have noticed on my gift registry that today, the Canon All-in-One Printer vanished from the Wish List. Thanks to the Danville Pharmacy, now I will be able to easily send and print pictures back to the US during my time in Ghana, as well as improve professionalism in order to document progress and strategic planning moving forward. An important part of time spent in Ghana will focus on refining a business plan and developing a more financially sound long-term plan. Being able to document this and print and send necessary files to and from key partners will be an important part of my goals for the orphanage and foundation.

- My mom has helped and supported me so much by helping secure donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste from our local dentist, as well as working with the Danville Pharmacy to help support my travel and vision. Encouragement from parents and friends has meant so much to me!

- Close friend Nancy Weigle has been so active in pursuing donations from her circle of friends, collecting tons of toothbrushes and toothpaste as well (notice a trend?! these basic things are actually incredibly necessary). Between her efforts and the efforts of my mom, hopefully the lovely children will have clean teeth and pearly whites for quite a while!

Thank you!

Children's Spotlight: Charles!

Charles
Age: 17
African name: Akwaasi
Charles' Story: Charles is a leader among the children at Love Kids Orphanage. They each see Charles as a role model and he loves setting a good example. Charles enjoys playing games with the other kids, and helps with chores around the home. He certainly helps to look after the children and they look up to him too!

Children's Spotlight: Divine!

Today I saw pictures of a volunteer currently at the orphanage, Jane, who gave the children some books so I added some to the Walmart Wish List under the "Stationary" section that you can purchase for the kids here! Walmart Wish List I'll bring them along with me when I travel this summer.

Divine
Home: Domiabra in the Ashanti region
Age: 11 years
Favorite food: Chicken
Divine's story: Although Divine's parents are both alive, he was brought to the orphanage after his mother and father split apart because his mother struggled to care for Divine and his three siblings. Divine was no longer attending school under his mother's care but after joining the orphanage, he began classes and is now in class three. At school, Divine is one of the popular students and one day he wants to be a bank manager. For now, he's one of the cheekiest boys at the orphanage, playing pranks and being the jokester among all of the children at Love Kids!

Children's Spotlight: Meet Ebenezer!

This morning I talked with Charlotte from the Love Kids Orphanage Foundation and she expressed that the children are in need of new uniforms for school since the children grow so quickly! One more thing that your kind donation will help by contributing here! 

For the second day of the "Children's Spotlight," meet Ebenezer!

Ebenezer
Home: Domiabra in Asante Region
Age: 6 years
Favorite food: Rice balls
Ebenezer's story: Ebenezer was brought to the Love Kids Orphanage at age three by his grandmother. When he was brought to the orphanage in 2009, his grandmother was no longer able to take care of him due to lack of work. Shortly after arriving in Nkoranza, Ebenezer started schooling at the Integrity International School and fortunately, all of his needs were met by Love Kids. Ebenezer is a smart young boy with a bright future. Affectionately referred to as "Short Man," he is sweet and loves to be picked up. Just like Kofi (from yesterday's post!), Ebenezer loves to sing!

Introducing Kofi!

It's crazy to me to think about this time next year, when I'll have been to Ghana and back already. I have a feeling that next Thanksgiving, I'll have quite a bit to be thankful for after experiencing three months with the seven beautiful children living at the Love Kids Orphanage. Over the next few days, I'll spotlight each of them in a post!

Kofi
Home: Banoflour in Brong Ahafo region
Age: 11 years
Favorite food: Chicken
Kofi's story: Kofi's father died a number of years ago and when this happened, he stopped attending school to help his mother around the house and farm. Altogether, Kofi, his seven siblings, and his mother all slept in one room. Unfortunately, because Kofi's mother did not have enough money to send all of her children to school, she was only able to send two of her beautiful children. Kofi's sister was also at the Love Kids Foundation and after struggling for some time, his mother asked if the orphanage would be able to raise Kofi as well.

Kofi moved to the orphanage in December 2010. Since his life started at the orphanage, Kofi has had a better quality of life since he now attends school and has somewhere safe to sleep. One day, Kofi wants to be a teacher but until then, he loves playing with the other children at the orphanage and especially loves to sing!

How YOU Can Get Involved!

Well, Where in the World is Ghana?!

Ghana, close-up:

In case you didn't know where Ghana was, now you do!

Some daily updates:
Keeping in tune with creative ways to help the children at the Love Kids Orphanage, here are some ways to get involved! The first way is by visiting your dentist's office (yes, that's right! Go to the dentist!). The children desperately need new toothbrushes and toothpaste, so what better place to ask than the toothmen and toothwomen themselves?! I have a ready-made letter to send to you to bring to your local dentists so contact me by commenting on this post, emailing (RLMiller16@gmail.com), or calling (570-317-5647).

The second way is by visiting local businesses, offices, cafes, rec centers, or other cool hot spots to inquire about the place hosting a donation bin for the clothing drive which will take place December through February. The children are constantly in need of clothing and the orphanage accepts hand-me-downs which are modest and appropriate, and fit ages three to sixteen. The collection bins will be provided. We just need the places to put them! As with approaching the dentist offices, I also have a letter ready to go for you to bring to these potential donation locations.

Finally, we can contact local businesses to ask for monetary support. As with the above strategies, I also have a letter ready to go to bring to local businesses.

Again, comment here, email (RLMiller16@gmail.com), or call me (570-317-5647) to be in touch about engaging with your community to help this worthwhile cause!

P.S. - If your idea of getting involved is by actually going to the orphanage -- WONDERFUL! Contact me and I'll put you in touch with the founders to arrange a trip. 

Happy Tuesday! [And Walmart Wish Lists]

Feeling a little giving as our Thanksgiving Day rolls around? Take a look at the Wish List I've put together on Walmart.com to see what items I'll need to bring with me to Ghana! Walmart Registry: Items Needed for Orphanage

Note that most of the items are for the children, but a few (the trash can, camera, video recorder, laptop, paper, envelopes, and photo printer) are for other needs.

During December and the beginning of next year, I'm going to coordinate a clothing drive to collect clothing for the children at the orphanage. The clothing should be modest, appropriate, and suitable for children ages 3-16. The trash cans will function as donation bins to collect clothing donations at local businesses.

The laptop, camera, video recorder, envelopes, printer, and printer paper, are for printing pictures and composing letters to send to our donors as thank-yous. Additionally, these resources will help us in having more success in applying for grants and other forms of funding.

If you or a business you know would be willing to host a clothing donation bin during the months of December and January, please comment on this post or email me at RLMiller16@gmail.com. Thank you!

My Thirteen-Month Goal

It's official! I've decided to spend three months after graduation in Ghana living and working at an orphanage on an administrative assignment to help fund raise, coordinate community efforts, and to help make the kids' overall lives in the orphanage better. Look at these beautiful smiles; who wouldn't want to spend all day coloring with them?!

Although I'm only spending three actual months in Ghana, my time with the orphanage starts now. Between December 2012 and December 2013, my goal is to create and implement a strategic plan that creates a sustainable financial structure to ensure that these wonderful children are never without a home.

The unfortunate truth is that four of the original eleven beautiful children have already been placed in the Ghanaian social welfare system because the orphanage can simply not afford to keep more children than finances allow. When I heard this story from the founder, my heart broke. If for no other reason than this, my mission is to create a long-lasting and healthy environment for these and many more children to live!