Letter to our Donors: February 2022
February 2022
Dear Invaluable Donors and Supporters of Humankind International,
Although 2021 began with hope, conviction, and belief that things were going to change, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to disrupt our lives. Many of us have lost families and loved ones, as well as jobs and livelihoods but we still have many things to celebrate. With this backdrop, Humankind International has continued to support the 150 students of Humankind Academy in the Dadaab Refugee Camps with your generous and unwavering support.
In years past, the annual Humankind International Fundraising Dinner has been a time where friends had a chance to come together, network, catch up on the past year all while raising funds for a cause close to our hearts. Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, we have not been able to hold this event in person. However, despite the public health restrictions we have, with determination and your committed support, been able to hold the dinner virtually. Thanks to volunteers, our social media team, Mitesh Trivedi from Charisma of India, Marcy Markusa and all of you, we were able to carry out one of the most successful dinners in Humankind International’s history! With the funds donated we were able to build a beautiful playground for the academy and add 2 pit latrines to address the sanitation needs of the staff and students. There was excitement and joy among kids and their families when the playground was opened. The playground being the only one in the whole refugee camp, has become a sort of attraction for the whole camp and neighbouring communities.
It is our moral obligation to give every child the very best education possible.
-Desmond Tutu
Many describe Humankind Academy as an oasis in the middle of a desert, attracting all visitors to the camp to come in for a closer look. Many leave hoping to adopt the same model elsewhere. Our four teachers, and six staff are doing well, and are busy educating, feeding, and impacting the lives of our thriving students. In the last year a team of representatives from the Humankind Board here in Winnipeg visited the school as is tradition to support our sister organization Humankind Kenya, the teachers, staff, and parents as well as review the progress of the work. They met the families of the students who attend the school and the staff and witnessed the genuine and heartfelt gratitude the parents had for the donors and supporters of the school. “We don’t know who is behind this idea, but it has changed the lives of our children. We are really thankful that our children are getting quality education and are not learning on an empty stomach” one of the parents told our team.
It has been six years since the first batch of students graduated from Humankind Academy. One of our greatest achievements is that the students who graduated from Humankind Academy are mostly still in the top ten percentile in every class.
We do have some sad news to report. Our deputy head teacher, Mr. Hassan Sanweine passed away suddenly after a short illness. Hassan was a great teacher, a pillar in the school and was loved by the students. He was well respected both by the refugee and the local communites. During our visit, our team visited his wife and the seven young children that he left behind in the refugee camp to express our condolences to his family. The school and the community will miss him.
The economic impacts of the pandemic have been even greater in Kenya than in Canada. Now, more than ever, the families of our students rely on the food security Humankind Academy provides. We cannot emphasize just how much of an impact your donations have on the lives of our students and their families. Our gratitude runs deeper than we can express in this letter.
Given the changing landscape of the pandemic, the format of the Humankind International Dinner for 2022 has not yet been determined. Please watch our website and social media for details of the dinner as we hope to have more information for you soon!
Your donation to Humankind is highly valued and spent wisely. We are a 100% volunteer board facilitating early childhood education where simply, there is none. Humankind humbly asks you to consider becoming a monthly donor or increasing your current commitment.
Thank you for supporting our students and making a tangible difference in the quality of their daily lives.
Visit our website to learn the latest news www.humankindintl.org or like us on Facebook at: facebook.com/HumankindInternational or follow us on Instagram @humankindinternational
May 2022 be filled with hope, optimism, and continued resilience.
Abdi Ahmed & Jen Glenwright
On behalf of the Humankind International Board of Directors