What is "Kids of Hope" ???

(Above photo: Kate Royal holds up a picture while the story is relayed in the local language through a hand cranked cassette audio player. Why hand cranked? Simple - batteries often don't last in the heat in Burkina and are expensive and electricity cuts are a daily occurrence often lasting for hours)

The Kids of Hope program is in Burkina Faso. Founded by John and Melissa Franke back in 2004 and currently run by Kate Royal, it exists to specifically reach out to the "beggar boys" in the capital city of Ouagadougou. Every day a free meal is prepared for the boys who range in age anywhere from 6-18 years old. Saturdays are the highlight of the program. Team games are played, skits are often performed, a proper (and fun) story from the Bible is told which is then followed by a craft and topped off with a hearty meal.

Food really is a huge part of the program; and without the offering, many of the boys would go hungry throughout the day. When the program first started back in 2004, food costs were very different. For example, the cost of rice in Burkina as gone up 100% (from around $20 to now over $40). Today the program actually operates on LESS than what is did back in 2004; but it cannot keep running at this rate.

This is why I have chosen to help support the program and why I am asking others to do the same. If you have never made a donation to a non-profit before (or maybe you have) consider making one today. Scope out the posts below for more information or go to www.gotonations.org and look for the "Kids of Hope" program to make a donation today.

Where to make a donation online????

GO TO NATIONS

Click Here (or on the Go To Nations link above)

You will be taken to a page that looks just like the above photo.

Scroll down until you come to KIDS OF HOPE

You will see the DONATE NOW button or icon.

Click on it and you know the rest.

If you prefer to participate in ANY other form or fashion PLEASE FEEL FREE

to contact me anytime.

What is the Kids of Hope program all about???

The little known Rice Bag Race!

Instead of potato bags, we use rice bags because rice is the main staple here each week.

With just one meal per day, we are currently going through one $40 bag of rice every 10 days.

Joy in the Simple Things.....

Oh to be a kid again! Card board swords, stick sling shots, and branch made spears! It's just so different when we get older, isn't it???? The simple things don't seem to bring the satisfaction that they once did. We want to replace our PS3 with the latest "slim" model and larger drive, our Xbox 360 just doesn't seem to cut it now that Intel has surpassed console gaming with it's latest Core-i7 980x (with six cores might I add), and those Nintendo Wii graphics just don't cut it on that new 50 inch wide screen 3D HD TV!
I think it's time to find enjoyment in simplicity once again - don't you?

Young and on the street....

People often ask at what age the boys first start begging on the streets in Ouagadougou. The truth is that it varies; but that said, this is not an uncommon sight that still pulls on my heart.