May 5, 2010

Fifth Ward Elementary

We just received this note from our friend Samantha Lakin who is completing her second year of work for Teach for America. Over the past year Sam has shared some very poignant stories about the children in her class as well as the difficulties she and other teachers encounter as they try to broaden their students’ life experiences with very minimal available resources. Sam has confirmed through both words and pictures that our small tzedakah investment paid off big returns to those kids who experienced the wonders of the aquarium.

…We had the best time. They loved the museum and the art projects they got to do…We also toured the museum, visit the studio and spoke with an artist.

Before we left all the kids were using the words…awesome, fantastic, and cool. Those are 3 words that are hard to come by when you are working with kids. They loved the experience. Parents have contacted me over the weekend and at school to tell me when their kids got home all they wanted to do was paint, color, and draw. Thank you for opening up a door for these kids. You have given them a new opportunity and a way to express themselves. Thank you for all you do for our students…

This was an excerpt from an e-mail I received this morning from one of the staff at the McRoberts School in McRoberts, Kentucky. As part of our ongoing work with this tiny school tucked away in the mountains of Appalachia, we agreed to provide funds for some field trips to museums and other venues which the kids might otherwise never see.

Judging by this note, their trip this past weekend to the William King Art Museum was a resounding success! We are excited about the part we played in broadening these kids’ experiences and wonder if perhaps a young Picasso might come forth from this opportunity…??

"The calculators are here. The teachers are very excited. They couldn’t wait to get them. They are very appreciative! They were needed and will definitely be well used. Thank you so much. "

We continue to do very special work with the families and schools in McRoberts, Kentucky. (Described in this Diary on November 18, 2009) Situated in the Appalachians, McRoberts is a tiny, proud rural community that struggles to educate its youth and improve the lives of its citizens. Over the past year we have interacted with the schools in many different ways – providing individual early reader books for each child in kindergarten, field trips, school supplies and more.

The school staff is dedicated and constantly seeking ways to provide students with the right learning tools. When we learned that math students in the middle school did not have the proper calculators, we agreed to help and immediately ordered a set for one of the classes.

Judging by the picture, it looks as if the Good People Fund’s investment was a wise one and the calculators are being put to good use!

While visiting last week with Anne and David Silverman and Aida Miller, founders of The Forgotten People Fund in Israel we learned about the very important work this all-volunteer group does on behalf of Netanya’s large Ethiopian population. We even had a chance to see first-hand the incredible changes they made possible at the elementary school where a mostly Ethiopian student body studies. It was heartening to know that even though FPF is working with 50% less funding this year, they are still making an impact.

During lunch, we heard about the scholarship they had just provided to a young Ethiopian woman who is studying nursing at the nearby Laniado Hospital and thought that this could be a very meaningful place for some of our tzedakah money. When we learned that $1400 was what was needed to allow one student to complete a year of training we immediately committed funding and within a few days learned that a young woman whose family had arrived in Israel in 1996 would continue her studies. Ruthie, our young student, comes from a single parent family with a Mother who is too ill to work. She has raised her family on government assistance and now one of her children will become a professional nurse…breaking the cycle of poverty once and for all. An interesting comment shared at our lunch was that it is generally agreed that Ethiopian nurses are particularly compassionate and gentle, making this a fine profession for those who express interest. We were happy to be able to help.

Coincidentally, at the same time we learned about a second young Ethiopian woman, this one coming from a single parent family as well, but studying to become a teacher. While scholarships were providing for the actual education costs, "S", was having a difficult time staying in school since she had very limited funds for incidentals and other living expenses. When we heard that she was considering dropping out of school we committed three months of living expenses so that "S" could remain in school and achieve her goal to become a teacher.

We are excited about both of these tzedakah opportunities and how they might help young Ethiopians become self-sufficient, productive members of Israeli society.

On April 7 we shared the story of Moti*, a 75-year old man, paralyzed and blind in one eye, who had the opportunity to take part in a dance program if he could get a wheelchair that was in better condition than his present dilapidated one. Within minutes of learning about this need, the Good People Fund committed the modest funds and Moti was on the way to getting his weekly lessons.

As we had expected, Linda Mosek, the dedicated head of CLICK, an Israeli program that serves the elders in Hod HaSharon, sent along a photo of Moti’s first lesson.

Enjoy! It was one of the best uses of our tzedakah dollars!

For Jeremy Coleman and his wife Pamela Becker, a young Israeli couple with three children, life was turned upside down three years ago when Jeremy was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer. In addition to fear and anxiety, the side-effects of treatment and the constant travel to receive new opinions, there was that ever-present worry about how the illness affected their three young children. Friends and family stepped in to help but even that could not make up for the very real trauma enveloping the family. When the couple’s oldest child mentioned her wish to have a friend who might also have a Dad with cancer it took many months to find a youngster living with a similar situation and that relationship proved to be very helpful. After a year of difficult treatment, it was apparent that Jeremy would not survive his disease, but before he died he and Pamela developed the idea of Jeremy’s Circle, an organization focused on bringing together children living with cancer in their families.

In our meeting today with Pamela we learned how important the play-dates and special fun days are to these kids and their families. At their latest event held during the Pesach season, kids enjoyed the activities of a local ecology center while the parents who attended joined together in a discussion with a psychologist, himself a widower who had brought his own kids.

In addition to these activities, Jeremy’s Circle also sponsors a mentorship program for students on three university campuses. Students, many of whom have grown up with cancer in their own families, are paired with local children and provide a warm and supportive friendship.

We learned from Pamela that there are more than 5000 young families in Israel living with cancer so we know that the importance of the services this young organization provides and the Good People Fund has committed funding for fun days as well as the expenses associated with the mentoring program.

Spending time with Pamela is an affirmation that life goes on and from tragedy good things can come. We are excited about our work with Jeremy’s Circle and hope to continue to help them as they grow.