FOCUS on AFRICA Cookbook
Embrace the Opportunity

Responding to Women & Children
affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa

Thank You Letter Sent to 1^st Printing Volunteers

On behalf of Focus Africa Winnipeg, we thank you for your participation in raising awareness and funds for Beacon of Hope, Africa. Some of you were actively involved in marketing the cookbook (all 5000 printed in 2005 sold), some of you have been part of fund raising events, and all of you are most appreciated Donors.

I wish you could have joined us (the Ronalds and the Larmours) in Jan 2006 as we visited these HIV/AIDS affected women and their families in this huge Nairobi slum in Ongata Ragi called "Kware". The' whole person care' that inspires Beacon of Hope was lived out before us. The women were busy learning marketable skills, reaching out to and caring for other women affected in their community, receiving medical care and counseling in one tiny room, having their preschool children prepared for school and fed in a Montessori- like setting, as well as many more aspects of healthy family living.

We had the privilege of taking $32,000 (funds collected to Dec. 25) and hand delivering it to the community of BOH. They will use this money to develop the free medical centre in their new premises, specifically designed to serve women and children. They are just finalizing the details to move to their new BOH, an 8 acre site that they purchased last year and have been developing gradually over the past 12 months. Monies designated for buildings on the new land are being kept in a trust fund in NB. until needed.

Although the big move is exciting, even in their cramped, rented space, the beginnings of a tailoring school is occurring, with women learning skills under the tutelage of a well-qualified volunteer, while their babies move around at their feet. The wool carders, spinners and the weavers were busy filling an order for carpets for a big hotel in Nairobi, as well as supplying their own shop. Several have been able to buy their own equipment and can work most days from their homes. These women know what their families need to be whole and healthy (both physically and spiritually), and they keep that goal in front of them.

For the Focus Africa team, the problem of HIV/AIDS, overwhelms us. However, partnering with BOH has provided us with an opportunity to help empower a large community, resourcing them to network out to other churches in Kenya and in other parts of Africa. Their vision of building and offering an Internship program will help mobilize other communities to better care for HIV/AIDS affected women and children. Focus Africa's goal is to support BOH until they can develop and run their Internship program independently.

The Cookbook was an amazing success. Could the success be repeated? We felt we needed 'someone' to partner with us to make this happen. Thanks to an order from 'The 10,000 Villages Shops', we have been able to print a second run of 5000 cookbooks. The 10,000 Villages will be selling them Canada- wide in their shops. They will also be available again through Assiniboia - Charleswood Community Church.

Ph. Janet Fritsch or the church office at 895 0608.

BOH send out a newsletter 6-8 times a year by email and if any of you are interested in reading it, please request it at maronald@mts.net. You can also see more of BOH at www.beaconafrica.org or by clicking the link to BOH at www.charleswood.ca/embracingopportunity

Again, we thank each of you for your partnership in this project. All receipting will be done at year end.

With gratitude, Focus Africa Winnipeg