CHILDRENS INITIATIVE INC
15 CHADWICK STREET, PORTLAND, ME 04102 www.childrensinitiative.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO POOR, RURAL VILLAGES IN ASIA AND AFRICA. THE ACTIVITIES ARE DEDICATED AND FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STANDARDS OF LIVING FOR THE CHILDREN IN THESE AREAS. SPECIFIC FOCUS INCLUDES SUPPLEMENTING THE INADEQUATE HEALTH AND EDUCATION INFASTRUCTURE IN THESE AREAS.

AFTER THE CATASTROPHIC AMERICAN WAR, VIETNAM ENTERED A 20-YEAR DARK AGE. WHEN TCI FIRST STARTED WORKING IN VIETNAM IN 1991- STARVATION WAS RAMPANT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE ECONOMY HAD COLLAPSED; LIFE WAS, IN SHORT, BRUTAL FOR MOST OF THE POPULATION. TWENTY FIVE YEARS LATER, VIETNAM IS UNRECOGNIZABLE: THE ECONOMY IS BOOMING, THE PEOPLE ARE OPTIMISTIC, AND WHILE STILL A POLICE STATE, THE COUNTRY A MUCH IMPROVED SENSE OF ORDER, PURPOSE, AND LAW. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CATDANG, Y YEN DISTRICT, FOR 26 YEARS. WE SETTLED ON CATDANG BECAUSE THIS VILLAGE HAD AN ANCIENT HISTORY OF MAKING BEAUTIFUL BASKETS AND LACQUERWARE. WE REALIZED THAT WE COULD CREATE A HARD CURRENCY EXPORT MARKET, WHICH WE DID FOR YEARS TO SUPPORT OUR INITIAL INVESTMENTS. OVER THE YEARS CATDANG HAS GROWN INTO A MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY BUT IT IS STILL EXTREMELY POOR. FORTUNATELY FOR TCI, THE PEOPLE OF CATDANG HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED OUR INVESTMENTS, AND PARTNERED WITH US TO MAKE TCIS MISSION FEASIBLE. WE HAVE MADE LIFELONG FRIENDS WITH OUR VIETNAMESE PARTNERS: COMMUNIST OFFICIALS, SCHOOL HEADS, TEACHERS, THE WOMENS UNION, AND ASSORTED AGENCIES. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING: - MICROLENDING - LIKE IN HONDURAS, THERE IS NO LENDING/BANKING STRUCTURE TO PROVIDE LIQUIDITY. AT PRESENT WE HAVE 10 VILLAGERS WITH 250 LOANS TO BE PAID BACK AT 4% ANNUM. WE WOULD LIKE TO QUADRUPLE THIS PLAN. ALL LONAS ARE COLLATERALIZED BY PROPERTY, ALL LOANS ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF SUCCESSES TO SHARE: PIG HUSBANDRY, CARPENTRY TOOLS, AND LUMBER ACCESS, BAMBOO CUTTING MACHINES, SHRIMP PONDS, ETC. WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW A LENDING SYSTEM REVOLUTIONIZES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN VILLAGES LIKE CATDANG. - SCHOOL - WITH AN EXPLOSIVE GROWTH RATE, OUR COMMITMENT TO SCHOLARSHIPS (50 A STUDENT PER YEAR) IS TAXING. YET WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE POOREST FAMILIES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEWORM AND GIVE YEARLY HEALTH CHECKUPS TO ALL STUDENTS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF VIETNAM TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO CHILDREN REGARDING THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS, ABUSE, BULLYING, AND SUCH. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY, AND THE ONGOING WORK IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE PLAN TO BUILD PROGRAMS MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN THE ARTS, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A FUN PLACE FOR MOVIES AND STORYTELLING. - PARTNERSHIPS - OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH H2H AND CHOICE HAVE BEEN HUGE SUCCESSES. HAVING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TEACH ENGLISH, SWIMMING, VOLLEYBALL, DEBATE, TRACK SPORTS, AND BRAIN GAMES HAS BEEN A HUGE BOOST TO THE MORALE OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ALIKE. PERHAPS OUR MOST IMPORTANT CURRENT PROJECT IN VIETNAM IS FINDING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, OR PROFESSIONALS, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A STABLE, BUCOLIC ENVIRONMENT TO "DO GOOD" WITH A VERY APPRECIATIVE COMMUNITY. OVER THE YEARS, TCI HAS POWERFULLY CHANGED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN CATDANG AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED; ADULTS FIND MORE PROFITABLE WORK; FOOD SECURITY IS ASSURED; CAPITAL IS CREATED. BUT PERHAPS MORE THAN ANYTHING, TCI HAS BUILT CONFIDENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE WORK, A CONFIDENCE THAT THE FUTURE THE WILL BE BRIGHTER FOR CHILDREN

HONDURAS IS THE SECOND POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. FAMILY INCOME AVERAGES ABOUT 500 A YEAR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE A MAJORITY OF HONDURANS LIVE. THE COUNTRY IS WRACKED BY DRUG WARS, CORRUPTION, VERY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, AND A GENERAL LAWLESSNESS THAT PERVADES ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY. IT HAS THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA MURDER RATE OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. OTHER THAN MULTINATIONAL FOOD COMPANIES AND A GROWING GARMENT INDUSTRY, HONDURAS PRODUCES LITTLE FOR EXPORT. EXACERBATING THE DIRE SITUATION ARE INCREASINGLY INCONSISTENT RAINY SEASONS THAT PUT SUBSISTENCE FARM FAMILIES AT TREMENDOUS RISK. TCIS WORK IS CONCENTRATED IN THE VILLAGE OF EL ROSARIO, LOCATED IN THE BUCOLIC LOCOMAPA VALLEY HIGH IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA HAVE A LONG RECORD OF WORKING WELL WITH MEDICAL GROUPS, AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SUSTAINABLE HARVEST. BEFORE TCI INVESTED IN EL ROSARIO WE WERE SURE WE WOULD HAVE A RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE, AND APPRECIATIVE COMMUNITY AS A PARTNER. THIS HAS PROVEN THE CASE. AND WHILE THE PEOPLE ARE POOR, THEY ARE HARD WORKING, AMBITIOUS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND OPEN TO SUGGESTION. THIS YEAR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - SOLAR LIGHTS - WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED OVER 250 SOLAR LIGHTS TO HOMES, CHURCHES, AND CIVIC CENTERS. WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT LIGHT IS TO THESE COMMUNITIES (FOR WORK, READING, COOKING, AND SO ON). OUR PLAN IS TO DISTRIBUTE 1,000 MORE LIGHTS IN THE COMING YEAR. ONE LIGHT AT WHOLESALE FROM LUMINAID COSTS 12.50. - DIRECT GIVING - WE HAVE GIVEN 100 TO FAMILIES IN OUR IMMEDIATE REACH THROUGH A DIRECT GIVING PROGRAM THAT HAS TRANSFORMED THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES. IT HAS ALLOWED FAMILIES TO OBTAIN ESSENTIAL HOME AMENITIES SUCH AS LATRINES, SHOWERS, RUNNING WATER, OUTDOOR WASH BASINS (A HUGE IMPROVEMENT FROM USING THE RIVER), CEMENT FLOORS, AND CLEAN STOVES. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM TO ALL COMMUNITIES THAT SEND CHILDREN TO OUR SCHOOL. - REFORESTATION - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HONDURAN GOVERNMENT AND THE EU, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN 10,000 VALUABLE MAHOGANY SEEDLINGS TO PLANT IN THE EL ROSARIO VALLEY. THE POSITIVE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASIDE, THE INCOME GENERATED BY THE CLEARING, PLANTING, AND MAINTAINING OF TREES WILL PRODUCE A SECONDARY INCOME TO VERY POOR FARM FAMILIES BETWEEN THE PLANTING AND HARVESTING SEASONS. WHILE TCI HAS PLANTED 3,000 TREES ON LAND OWNED BY TCI CO-FOUNDER CHARLIE MILLER, THE REST OF THE TREES WILL BE PLANTED ON PRIVATELY OWNED PLOTS, WITH THE RESULTING HARVEST GOING DIRECTLY TO LANDOWNERS. - CASH CROPS - THE MAIN ECONOMY OF RURAL HONDURAS IS SUBSISTENCE FARMING, MOSTLY IN CORN AND BEANS. THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR IN MEMORY THAT THE RAINY SEASON DIDN'T ARRIVE, PUTTING MANY FAMILIES AT FOOD RISK. WE ARE CONTEMPLATING WAYS TO STORE CORN AND BEANS AGAINST THE HARD TIMES, BUT MEANWHILE WE ARE ENCOURAGING FARMERS TO PLANT COFFEE, CACAO, AND FRUIT TREES AS A HEDGE AGAINST AN EVEN MORE SEVERE DROUGHT. IN THE PAST YEAR, SEVEN FARMERS HAVE BEGUN PLANTING COFFEE/CACAO. TCI CO-FOUNDER CHARLIE MILLER HAS ALSO INVESTED IN A SMALL COFFEE PLANTATION WHICH PROVIDES YEAR- ROUND WORK FOR VERY POOR FAMILIES THROUGH CLEARING, TRIMMING, FERTILIZING, AND FENCE MAINTENANCE. WITH A RECENTLY ACQUIRED TRUCK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET COFFEE TO A MUCH BETTER MARKET THAN WHAT HAS BEEN THE CASE. - SCHOOL MAINTENANCE - WE HAVE ENROLLED 120 STUDENTS IN THE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL. EACH OF THESE STUDENTS RECEIVES THE 40 SCHOLARSHIP THAT COVERS UNIFORM, BOOKS, AND SCHOOL FEES, AS WELL AS MANDATORY BLOOD WORK, DEWORMING, AND A GENERAL HEALTH CHECKUP. AS OUR PROGRAMMING MATURES, MORE DEMANDS WILL ARRIVE FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED TOOLS: A MICROSCOPE, ATLASES, TEXTBOOKS, AND THE LIKE. - LIBRARY - TCI BUILT, ALONG WITH THE SCHOOL, A LARGE LIBRARY THAT ACTS AS A MEETING HALL, A CIVIC CENTER, A PERFORMANCE HALL, AND A MOVIE THEATER. WE NEED 5,000 TO BRING THE LIBRARY INTO SERVICABLE USE: SOUND SYSTEM, VIDEO EQUIPMENT, PRINTERS, DVD PLAYERS, DVDS, ENCARTA, AND WIKIPEDIA. WE ALSO PAY OUR LIBRARIANS 2,000 PER ANNUM. THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS, BUT NEED MORE MATERIALS TO WORK WITH. AN ENGLISH PROGRAM RUN BY A LOCAL TEACHER HAS ATTRACTED 24 STUDENTS. - PARTNERSHIPS - WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO BRING MUSICIANS, STORY WRITERS, AND BUSINESS PEOPLE TO EL ROSARIO TO WORK WITH STUDENTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE. THESE VISITS HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT GIVEN THE ISOLATION OF LOCOMAPA VALLEY. A CURRENT PROJECT, AND AN EXPENSIVE ONE, IS GETTING MORE SKILLED PEOPLE IN EDUCATION, THE ARTS, THE ECONOMY TO VISIT AND SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE.

HAITI IS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, AND ONE OF THE POOREST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. ALTHOUGH MUCH INTERNATIONAL AID AND NUMEROUS NGOS FLOODED THE COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN 2010 AND SUBSEQUENT HURRICANES, THE COUNTRY STILL STRUGGLES WITH BASIC ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE, INADEQUATE RESOURCES, A POOR ECONOMY AND EXTREME POVERTY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN THE NEGLECTED NORTHEAST WHERE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AID EFFORTS ARE ALL BUT NON-EXISTENT. WE ARE ACTIVE IN PHAETON, A SMALL VILLAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000 LOCATED ALONG THE NORTHEAST COAST OF THE COUNTRY. SINCE THE CLOSE OF A SISAL PLANTATION IN THE 1980S, THERE HAS BEEN NO INDUSTRY, LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND PEOPLE SUBSIST ON A VARIETY OF SMALL SCALE INFORMAL COMMERCE AND FISHING. THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY, NO RELIABLE WATER SYSTEM, OR DECENT SANITATION. THE VILLAGE EXISTS IN SEVERE POVERTY, WITH 70% LIVING ON UNDER 1.00 US PER DAY, AND ALTHOUGH OVER HALF THE POPULATION IS UNDER 24, THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO ORGANIZED SCHOOLING, JOB TRAINING, OR SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - NOAH'S ARK, OUR SCHOOL - THE SUCCESS OF OUR FLEDGLING SCHOOL IS MEASURED BY THE FACT THAT TWICE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WANT TO ENROLL, SWELLING THE STUDENT POPULATION FROM 40 TO 90. THIS IS WONDERFUL VALIDATION FOR OUR EFFORTS, BUT PRESENTS US WITH A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES. - FACILITIES - ALL OUR UNDERSIZED CLASSROOMS ARE OVERCROWDED. TWO ARE IN AN OLD TENT, ONE IN THE KITCHEN'S STORAGE ROOM, AND ONE IN A MAKESHIFT LEAN-TO. WE ARE PLANNING FOR A NEW 4 CLASSROOM SCHOOL BUILDING TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING. - FOOD AND NUTRITION - WHEN WE BEGAN, MOST KIDS WERE MALNOURISHED. THANKS TO OUR DAILY HOT LUNCH, SNACK PROGRAM AND MEDICAL ATTENTION, WE HAVE ONLY ONE CHILD NOW IN NEED OF SPECIAL CARE, BUT WE NOW HAVE MORE CHILDREN TO FEED. - OPERATIONS - WE NEED TO ADD A NEW TEACHER AND COOK. WE NEED MORE FOOD, MORE SUPPLIES, TEACHING MATERIALS, AND UNIFORMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL CHILDREN. - GARDEN - WE ARE EXPANDING OUR GARDEN AND ADDING AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM. OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES TEACHING BASIC NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY LIVING, AND WE HOPE TO ADD AN AGRONOMIST TEACHER FOR THIS PURPOSE.

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