Morrell Family Charities

For this year, 2009, CERF has awarded a grant to Afega Elementary for its refurbishment program.  As for scholarship, CERF has awarded 41 scholarships to the following schools:  Laulii Elementary, Moataa Elementary, LDS Elementary, Ah Mu Academy, Lalomanu Elementary, CCWS, Vaimauga College, and Faleata College.  Applications for scholarships next school year (2010) have been distributed.  The deadline is October 31, 09.  (NOTE:  School year in Samoa is from February to December all year round).  Also applications for grants and humanitarian supplies have been distributed to schools in Samoa. 

Click here for more information (PDF 10MB)

Website:  www.cerff.org

Hey!  It’s Jen.  Take a minute to read about an amazing humanitarian, Lita Alger.  Her story is both impressive and inspiring.  The more that I learn about humanitarian work and the wonderful people that make these projects function, the more I am convinced of the great need in our world and am in awe of the great goodness that exists in an effort to meet this need.  

 Any one that really knows me can tell you that my life is filled with craziness and beauty.  I have been told by a good friend that my life experiences could fuel many an Oprah show!  But who among us hasn’t had such times in their lives?  I believe each of us has a story uniquely wonderful with pain and triumph, goodness, craziness and beauty.

I have been gifted with a spirit that looks to see beyond the undeveloped strength in others.  I like to see the glass as half full and have been called naïve many a time.  I like to believe that people are essentially good.  When I was a little girl I thought I could change the world. 

As I grew older, I grew to believe the best way to change the world was to make changes in my own life; to live honestly and love openly, to have no secrets.  I feel one very important way to change the world, as a parent, is to raise children to care about their fellow man, the environment and the future.  I am pleased as I see our children giving back, choosing to serve others and share their compassion and vision for a better way of life.

Our work in Ethiopia began three years ago after we traveled on expedition with the Village of Hope founder Lon Kennard.  My husband, Dan & I made the trip with the girls of our family: Celina, Brooke & Morgan.  At the time Morgan was just twelve years old.  This trip made a profound difference in the way we see the world.  We worked hard in the village compound running a scabies bathing station all the days the clinic was open. We washed and clothed children, helped in the pharmacy and planted what seemed like hundreds of fruit trees.

Our work with the Foresight Program began to help build up the villages through the values of hard work and education.  We believe the adage that while giving a man a fish may satisfy his hunger for one meal, it is far better to teach a man to fish that he may feed his family for a lifetime.  Though initially the Fathers’ group was the catalyst of the program, educational sponsorship and community development are at the foundation of our work.

This young man is one of the Foresight Fathers and the letter is from his sponsor back in the states.  A $150.00 donation is matched by our corporate sponsor who provides the funds to pay the father to work at community improvement projects within the villages, such as clearing roads or maintaining a home of a widow or elderly village member.  The donation also covers the cost to send one child to a private school to receive a better education while also earmarking funds to help the public school.  A sponsor also supports both parents to attend classes focused on health, animal fattening, nutrition and micro financing.  

The Foresight Program now also helps fund a Women’s and Youth Group and has plans to help the village leaders develop land that will include educational, cultural and recreational facilities.   The whole community of five villages benefits as individuals work together and finally begin to see there are possibilities and that the future holds more than just the hope of survival.  With the help of generous donations, we hope to see great changes.

In 2004, Steffanie Reeder, a special education teacher, went on a week-long humanitarian expedition to the  rural village of Kersa Ilala in Ethiopia with an organization called the Village of Hope, based out of Heber City, Utah.  After returning home, the images of children in tattered clothing drinking dirty water and living in mud huts were seared into her mind.  She resolved to move back to Ethiopia to help the organization establish their High Risk Children’s Center (HRCC), a safe place for children to live who have been abused or neglected. 

By September 2005, Steffanie had quit her job and uprooted her life to move to Ethiopia to work as a volunteer for the Village of Hope.  Since then, Steffanie has spearheaded an effort to ship thousands of books for the public school in the village, successfully started the HRCC, and building on her own passion and love of youth, organized a youth group for  100 youth ages 14-18. 

This Youth Group focuses on four core areas: mental, physical, spiritual and social with a strong emphasis on the value of giving service.  The youth meet two times a week to receive training in these areas.  Some of the lessons have focused on topics such as first aid, honesty, and goal setting.  The youth have also provided dramas, musical numbers and community festivals for the villagers.  Additionally, the youth participate in large service projects twice a month such as harvesting crops for the widowed and elderly, planting shrubs and trees for the local government and repairing roads damaged by the rain. 

At the same time Steffanie was considering making the commitment to move to Ethiopia for this work her cousin, Carolyn Moore, was looking for an organization in which to fulfill her practicum requirement for her Master’s degree in Intercultural service, leadership and management.  Carolyn received her undergrad degree in International Relations and has worked in several countries in Africa.  She has always been compelled to humanitarian work and helping others who are less fortunate than she. 

Carolyn also moved to Ethiopia in 2005 where she conducted research to help support the HRCC.  Her research also led to helping in the establishment of a father’s working group in the village called Dagoo Harawaa.  Seeing that the youth and the fathers were receiving benefit from programs targeted at them, it was decided last year that it was time to focus on the women of the village and helping strengthen them. 

In October 2008, Carolyn started the women’s group with 50 women from the village.  The women will work through a certification program which focuses on six areas: First Aid, Finance and Budgeting, Health and Nutrition, Communication, Community Service, and Arts and Crafts.  Each area has a number of certification requirements which the women must complete.  If they are able to complete all areas they will receive a Woman In Action award.  The goal is for the women to gain new skills and abilities that will help improve their confidence which they will then be able to spread to the rest of the village.  To date, the women have completed the First Aid and Finance and Budgeting requirements and are beginning work on Health and Nutrition.

Steffanie says she is dedicated to the work “because the youth are so talented and some of them will never know if they could be the next Bach or Beethoven simply because they don’t have the opportunity or materials to explore their talents.”  Although a lot of people donate money and clothing, she is looking for materials that will help the youth develop their talents such as musical instruments or sports equipment.  She believes that this is the place to start with helping the youth to discover the talents that will make their lives better.

Carolyn also believes that change will not come from simple material goods but from allowing each woman to improve her own self image and giving her a skill set to make changes for herself, her family and the village.  “When foreigners, particularly Westerners, go to a place like Kersa Ilala, all they see is the poverty and the filth and they don’t see the people for what they really are—people;  people who have talents and skills and who, given the tools and the opportunity, can flourish and grow and change their lives through their own ability.” 

Both women feel a great love for the people and the opportunity to help them realize their worth and potential.  They have seen remarkable changes in the people they have been working with even in this short amount of time.  They also believe there is a lot of potential just waiting to be tapped into.  They have made the commitment to continue working in Ethiopia for as long as they can be supported in their efforts.

For more information about the organization please visit www.villageofhope-ethiopia.org

Amber and OSSO

Hi this is Cherish and I just wanted to add my little Amber plug. Amber is one of the MOST dedicated women I know to her passion. These children in Ecuador are her children. She loves them with her whole heart, she spends her days working for them and her nights worrying over them and has travelled hundreds of thousands of miles to be with them. She is a very efficient and hard worker and I really admire her.

Hey! It’s Jen. I have only known Amber for a few months, but I know that she is a wonderful and inspiring person who has an incredible job. She is a valuable asset to OSSO and has had many tremendous opportunities. Amber is very kind and cares deeply about the children that she helps provide for. I know that you will be just as inspired as I was in reading and learning more about her.

During my last semester at BYU before graduating I was trying to figure out what I was going to do after graduation, where to live, what job to take, and I had also been looking at possibilities of using my Spanish since I was minoring in it, but going somewhere and teaching English just didn’t seem to be for me. So one day I was in my Spanish class and the teacher put up an overhead that said something along the lines of “Want to work in orphanages in Ecuador? Come to this meeting to find out more information” and I knew I had to go to that meeting—I loved children (I’d babysat tons growing up) and I knew Spanish…it seemed like the perfect thing for me. The rest is history, and at the time I had no idea how much my life would change and take a direction I had no clue I was meant to take.

I went to Ecuador with Orphanage Support Services Organization (OSSO), www.orphanagesupport.org, in August 2000 to work in orphanages. I ended up staying for 10 months and fell incredibly in love with the children (and also OSSO’s program). How could I not? They were so cute and loveable and needed me, and I grew a ton down there. I had had a blast during my four years at BYU and had so much fun that I thought nothing would be able to top it, but Ecuador and my volunteer experience with OSSO far surpassed it.

Not too long before I was due to come home, I was offered my job by Rex Head (OSSO’s Founder and Executive Director), and I moved to Rexburg, Idaho from Ecuador! Never did I have any clue growing up that I’d be where I’m at doing what I’m doing, but I love it. I’m the Managing Director for OSSO, and I travel to Ecuador (to both cities where we have our program, Cuenca and Quito) three times a year to make sure everything’s going how we want it to be going. We help support 10+ orphanages between the two cities, and at any given time we have 28 volunteers (doing 2 ½-month stints) in Ecuador year-round working in those orphanages and loving those precious children. We also have a lot of short-term volunteers. We work with infants, toddlers, handicapped kids and some older girls, and those children will forever be different because of the volunteers who love them and the support OSSO provides them with, but our OSSO volunteers will forever be different as well. I often have parents tell me how much their volunteer changed during their service time with OSSO, and I know we’re doing good in the world. OSSO has affected thousands of lives in Ecuador as well as in the U.S. and Canada.

When you have the chance to rock a baby to sleep while singing them a lullaby, or feeding a special needs child who has an incredibly difficult time swallowing blended up food, or teaching a little toddler how to take their first step or blow you a kiss…all those things mean so much more because you’re doing them inside an orphanage for children who need you. It’s life-changing, and many tears have fallen down my cheeks as I’ve looked into those dark brown eyes and said “I love you”—and I knew it was reciprocated, and that makes all the difference.

In 2005 we decided we wanted to start our own orphanage, and from there the necessary partners came to us, and with Morrell Family Charities (Cherish) who paid for and built the orphanage in Cuenca and Todos los Niños Foundation who furnished the orphanage, we now have our own orphanage called Los Pequeñitos de OSSO (OSSO’s Little Ones). We care for infants and handicapped children, and these children are truly our children. But with the construction of our new orphanage, we didn’t decrease the support we give to the other orphanages in Cuenca and Quito, however, tough times with the economy have extended to tough times for OSSO. We’re being hit hard because donations have decreased, but volunteer applications have decreased as well. People are afraid to spend or give their money, but the children still need help, and they need more help than before because Ecuador’s economy is having hard times too, and the orphanages are struggling.

But there are things everyone can do to help! You can make a donation (either one-time or ongoing); you can sponsor a child ($30/mo.) or an orphanage ($1,000/year); you can volunteer in the orphanages (long-term or short-term; college-age or as a family); you can spread the word. Those things are what we’re needing right now to help during these difficult times. Can you help these children? I promise it’ll be worth it!

Body of Christ Children’s Centre is located in Nairobi, Kenya. It is run by Pastor Mary Watare and her husband. Their funding relies on $100-$200 sent by their daughter once a month and their own retirement, garden and cattle. The Children’s Centre has over 200 orphans and needy children that they feed at least two meals a day, and teach. Mary’s husband also serves in the community to help prevent domestic violence.

They cannot house the children, for they don’t have a place for them to sleep yet.  They do, however, keep the center open all day so that the kids can stay there during the day.  They close it at night and send the kids other places to sleep.  They would like to be able to house the kids all night soon.

In Nairobi the kids have to pass a test in order to attend Kindergarten. The center offers a pre-school class so that they may prepare the kids to pass the test and be able to start Kindergarten.

When Mary petitioned MFC for help she explained they were renting property that has a couple of buildings.  The property is .625 acres.  Some months out of the year they were not able to pay the rent.  Basically they go month to month praying that the Lord will provide a way for them to keep the center open, and every month he does.  They have wanted to add buildings to the property so they could have a place for the kids to sleep but they are afraid that the landlord would take the property from them.

They asked MFC for help to buy the property so that they have security in knowing they will not be evicted and so they may start building a bigger place so the kids can to stay permanently.  Founder of MFC (Morrell Family Charities), Paul Morrell, went down to Kenya and checked out the center.  He feels like it is a great organization and great people running it.  They sang and danced for him and were very excited when he approved the money for them to buy the property and build a new kitchen.

Notes from Deanna and Amy visit Haiti

Nov. 16, 2008

Notes of Fontamara

We went there during feeding hour.  Very chaotic, but very well fed and taken care of.  The nannies were very aware of the children’s cries and would tend to them accordingly.   We were concerned of some of the new babies that looked starved and sick, but Margret said “no worries sister their new and just need time.”  Then they showed us several babies in the same condition when they arrived and at seven months old, they were healthy and happy.

We really like the Bishops morale’s for example he refuses to bribe government workers in order to make the adoption process quicker. Also he has had the opportunity to live and stay in America but refuses to leave Haiti because he feels as though he would abandon his country and the good he can do here.  He plans to live in the new orphanage to oversee everything and keep good relationship with all the children.

It doesn’t matter how many babies they have they are all held equally and very loved.

Nov. 17, 2008

Notes on Leogane

Today we went to Leogane orphanage.  The first things we noticed was how well behaved and how clean the children were, also very happy.  Corey had brought gifts for all of them and we handed them out and the children were very appreciative.  We like the fact the bishop pays as he goes so he has no debt so there are no chances of anything getting taken away.  They also have food storage saved they just have to pay to get it when needed; also the non profit board called Foyer de sion Inc. fill a semi truck full and send it every year and saves money every year to send a container to Miami and then shipped here they are out of Boise Idaho they send enough food for a year so they well be self sustaining with food.   They have had there cars and van donated to them so they have transportation for the children.  Even with the gas prices twice a week the bishop or his wife make the hour and a half drive to the farthest orphanage to make sure the kids are ok and well taken care of in all dimensions.   The bishop also was farming for the children he had a thousand pounds of beans growing but the recent hurricane destroyed the whole crop, but at the new orphanage as in land as it is crops will be safe.

We were told that the culture here the women control the household and men have high respect for them.

Today we thought we took 17 kids to the ocean however when we counted for meals there was 19 so two had jumped into the truck when they had there chance it was pretty funny.  He said he would only bring 15 but when the little ones started crying he gave in like any caring father would, but he didn’t anticipate the two mischievous ones.

De and I both really like the way he treats all 200 of the children as if they were his own.  Corey told us that the bishop and his wife both know which child is crying just from the sound, it is really cool to see him interact with the kids they don’t seem to have any sadness of not having a father because they are treated as though they have one.

Nurses: Francois is the head nurse at the Fontamara.

Thursday notes:

We like the fact that the top level of the new orphanage is built for volunteers to help it be more affordable for them to come, and to make them feel more secure and protected.  He said with the right funding they could have the new orphanage open and running in 6 months.

Amy’s personal notes:

IM IN LOVE AND WANT THEM ALL!!!  The children are all so happy and so loved by the workers and by the bishop and his wife Margaret.  I have felt nothing but good here, the spirit is strong in the presence of each orphanage I would love nothing more than to help them.  If I never achieve anything else in my life but helping them (dad helping them) I will forever feel at peace and happy.   Thank you dad I love you for the good you do.

De’s personal notes:

My notes are on Amy, we all know how grumpy Amy gets in the morning and she didn’t even have a red bull, she fed seven screaming babies and loved every minute of it.  Even though I could tell her anxiety was high she didn’t ask for a pill and neither of us stepped out to smoke, and she  kept on trucking then she cam home in a good mood I am very proud of her. She is talking total control in sponsoring this organization and I am just sitting in the back ground giving her ques.  I am very proud how she has stepped up to the plate and taking responsibility.  Then the next day we found 5 red bulls and we were all at peace thank you daddy.

Nov. 18, 2008

Today we went to the new orphanage that is being built, it is absolutely amazing.  There is an infirmary downstairs for the new babies and any sick kids.  It is very secure it has a fairy tale type feeling about it so the children can be proud of were they came from.  It has beautiful land around it that the bishop said is ready to be planted and for chores the kids would help maintain the crops, they also have there own goats and animals for food, and well be able to be self sustaining.  His dream he said is to have a bed for all 200 children.  He is such a good man and this orphanage is breathtaking.  He has reunited some of the older kids with there biological families but supplies food, school costs, and checks on them weekly.

He said the kids feel as though they are brother and sister and they have never had inappropriate actions from the kids romantically.  But as a precaution he has separated the boys and girls so there are no chances of problems.

Here is the report so far now we are just helping in the Fontamara is there any questions we have not covered?

De Anna and I are 100% on board and think it is a very worthy project..

Although Los Pequeñitos de Osso has been open for over a year, this is the first official website blog about the Ecuador projects and kids. So I basically will write an overview of the orphanage and the kids that reside there.

Ecuador’s orphanages are bursting at the seams. There is not enough funding to take care of all the children.

By divine design, OSSO, Morrell Family Charities, and the Todos Los Niños Foundation teamed up with a dream for these orphans.

 In 2007 this dream became a reality with the opening of Los Pequeñitos de OSSO (trans. “the little ones of OSSO”)! This is a private run orphanage for healthy babies and children with profound special needs. This orphanage, as well as several other orphanages OSSO supports needs your help.

Los Pequeñitos is designed in a family apartment style setting. Each apartment has four bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen and a bathroom. The children are taken care of by Tia’s (aunts) that they create special bonds with and they develop family like relationships with the “brothers and sisters” they live with.

Los Pequeñitos currently has three houses full of kids. They are as follows:

Casa Allegria (House of Happiness)

This casa is made up of babies two years old and younger who moved here together from another orphanage.

Casa Esperanza (House of Hope)

This house is severely special needs kids.
 

Casa Milagros (House of Miracles)

Again this house is full of severely special needs children.

We at Morrell Family Charities love these children dearly and are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives.

Orphanage Support Services-one of the groups we partnered with in the building of Los Pequeñitos runs the administration and volunteers at Los Pequeñitos. OSSO has been in Ecuador for over 10 years and has known most of these children since their births.

Morrell Family Charities appreciates all that OSSO does for the children of Ecuador.

If you are interested in helping these kids or learning more about OSSO please visit:

www.orphanagesupport.org

There at the site you can learn about their long and short term volunteer programs, the sponsor a child program, or purchase products including the exclusive painting done by Del Parson for Los Pequeñitos.

The Morrell Family Charity Blogs are you gateway to all the up to date information on current and past projects.

Feel free to browse the blogs and see what is going on with us.  Also, we would enjoy to hear your comments.