Empower African Children Blog

$125,000 Challenge Gift Announced!

Big news!  Empower African Children has received an exciting challenge gift from Stephen and Donna Malouf. The Maloufs have pledged to match dollar-for-dollar every donation received by April 15, 2009, up to $125,000. 

So, we need your support!  Every $1 you donate to Empower African Children is worth $2 until April 15th. 

Help meet the challenge today!  Click here to donate.

The Maloufs' challenge is intended to help address the impact of the difficult economy on Empower African Children.  “We hope our gift provides an incentive for people to continue supporting this important mission, even when they may not have as much to give,” said Stephen Malouf.

“This support will significantly impact our programs” said Alexis Hefley, Empower African Children’s Chief Executive Officer. “The challenge will help us remain in a healthy financial position during tough economic times and allow us to continue providing life-changing programs for the children that we serve in Africa.”  

A Ugandan Back-to-School List

This week, all of the children supported by Empower African Children reported back to school for the start of a new school year. That means that we just completed our back-to-school shopping. Our shopping list, however, may look different than a typical American back-to-school list.

Here are a few of the items on our list that may not match up to yours:

• Mattress: at boarding schools you bring your own bedding
• Mosquito net: to prevent malaria while sleeping
• Toilet paper: no explanation needed
• Shoe polish: well-shined school shoes are important part of the school uniform and a source of pride among students
• Basin: used to hand-wash all of their clothes each week
• Sugar: to add to tea or porridge (the kids' one indulgence)
• "Jerry Can": for storing your own water
• Money for haircuts: hair styles are strictly regulated at the schools