Friday, August 30, 2013

He may have a bed to sleep in, but he needs food in his stomach before he can go to sleep happy.

This was something that Pastor Elisha, the founder of United Hearts, told me on my first trip to Ghana and it has always stuck with me.  I think Pastor was trying to explain to me the crucial matter of food and nutrition for the kids at UHCC, and the real threat of starvation in a 3rd world country.  As volunteers, we always wanted to improve the living conditions for the kids by purchasing mattresses, school supplies, shoes, etc.  Now these things are essential in order for children to thrive, however when UHCC was struggling to provide the most essential living necessity there is, items like that were not the top priority...food was.

And it still is today.  So, that brings me to the importance of the this project.  I know I have said this one hundred times, but i'll say it again.  This project will ensure that UHCC doesn't have to struggle with funding the food bill for all of the children at UHCC and the children they serve in the community. 

Here is just one example of how important United Hearts, and especially this project, is to the survival of vulnerable children in Ghana.  I'd like to introduce you to Nyame Kye, the newest family member of United Hearts:



About Nyame Kye: 
"About one month ago, Nyame Kye came to us, because his mother died while giving birth to her second child.  The child survived, and family members quickly took the one week old.  But they didn’t want Nyame Kye.  We had numerous meetings with the landlords on the compound where Nyame Kye lived, and his father.  They didn’t want him either.  So we then met with elders in the community, and we all decided that UHCC would take him.
The first day he came we took him to a hospital and a nutrition specialist – he weighed in at 7.4 kilograms (or about 16 pounds).  He was wearing pants for a 3 to 6 month old, and they wouldn’t stay around his waist.  The hospital thought he was less than a year old, but he’s 3.  Nyame Kye was not sick – no malaria, no stomach problems – but he had anemia from severe malnourishment.  When the nutrition specialist saw him, he said that he was dying slowly, and wouldn’t have survived much longer where he had been living before.  He gave us a free and unlimited supply of plumpy nut, the emergency therapeutic food that they give to children in countries with famine.
The past month has been an amazing transition.  Nyame Kye now lives in a place where he has 40 people constantly giving them food from their bowls (he eats at least 5 times a day), and he’s steadily gaining weight.  Our staff love him and care for him, especially Auntie Abena, who is Nyame Kye’s primary caretaker."
(Nyame Kye photos and excerpt from:  United Hearts Children Center website,  www.unitedheartsghana.org, please visit their website to read more about Nyame Kye)

I haven't had the chance to meet Nyame Kye yet, but he has already captured my heart. I am so happy that he found a loving home at United Hearts.  We are in need of your donations now more than ever, as more vulnerable children continue to arrive at UHCC.  Help us reach our fundraising goal by September 30, 2013!  Please donate whatever amount you can to www.stayclassy.org/goatfarm and help us save the lives of children like Nyame Kye.

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