An UPDATE to the first printing of the FOCUS on AFRICA Cookbook
(The story goes on)
Since the first printing of 5000 copies of the FOCUS on AFRICA cookbook in October 2005,
some events that have taken place need to be included as the book goes for the second
printing... again of 5000 copies.
Many churches, communities and businesses in Manitoba and beyond,
caught the vision of Beacon of Hope (BOH) in Kenya and the Focus Africa group
here in Winnipeg. The first 5000 books were gone from our storage to be sold
and the monies received by the end of December enabled the Ronalds and Larmours
to hand deliver over $30,000 to BOH when they were there in January 2006.
(One hundred percent of the monies raised from the sale of all the cookbooks
goes to BOH ) This has allowed BOH to continue developing capacity to meet the
needs of the many HIV affected women and children in the Kware slum area.
(See the web site at www.beaconafrica.org )
We have had ongoing requests for the cookbook, but felt we were to wait until another
group, church or community came alongside to partner with us, especially concerning the
initial financing.
Ten Thousand Villages, an arm of the Mennonite Central Committee of Canada,
was approached with the cookbook project and expressed a desire to partner with us.
They have made it possible for this second printing. They are purchasing 1/4 of the
books to be sold in their shops. As well, unknown to us at the time, their purchasers
in Nairobi, have made contact with BOH and hope to be carrying their woven carpets and
other products in their shops as well.
On behalf of the women and children of the Kware slum, we want to
express our deepest appreciation to Ten Thousand Villages for making this
possible.
We see their involvement as God's hand going before us, so the BOH Resource Center
can move more quickly to the development of their Internship Program. This program
will enable other churches and communities in Africa to come to BOH and learn the
skills they need to better support women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in their
own communities.
Many Thanks,
The Focus on Africa cookbook committee.
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