All of the mattresses at the home need replacing; the mattresses here are made out of a porous foam and are not able to withstand too many seasons. With your help and generosity we can replace all of the mattresses, many of which were either destroyed or damaged in the fire.

The mattresses being put out to dry

We would like to thank all of our supporters and donors who helped to make this need a reality. The children are so excited to finally move into their new rooms and have some space to themselves again. They are also excited to have a new dining hall so that they will not have to suffer another rainy season eating outside. Thank you again for your generous support.

On May 8, 2009, NewPlace International held its first fundraiser at The Greatest Bar in downtown Boston. Guests mingled, won exciting raffles prizes, played games, and learned more about our projects. We raised $1,085 in donations from the event which will be invested in sustainable projects in Kenya. We will have more information soon on exactly which projects we will be sponsoring and we will keep you updated as to the progress!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped to make this a successful and enjoyable event. We appreciate your support and hope to see you at the next event!

Want to stay updated on NPI’s projects and future events? Consider becoming a member and joining our mailing list! Please check out the “How you can help” page for more information. Thank you again for all of your continuing support for our mission to achieve the creation of sustainability for child care centers in the developing world!

NewPlace International Launch Party

May 8, 2009  7:00pm-10:00pm, Boston, MA

If you missed Mardi Gras the first time around, come celebrate it with us!

The Greatest Bar
262 Friend Street
Boston, MA

NewPlace International is having its first launch party and fundraiser event! We would like to invite you to join us, have a drink, listen to some music, and learn about the work we are currently supporting in Kenya.

The party is on May 8, 2009 at The Greatest Bar, on Friend Street, near North Station in downtown Boston, from 7 PM to 10 PM. We will be having a raffle featuring a variety of prizes, including Red Sox tickets! Please join us and learn a little more about the work we are doing while having some fun!

Please feel free to contact us at event@newplaceinternational.org with any questions regarding this event.

If you cannot make the event, please consider a donation to help in our cause. Please note that all donations made to NewPlace International are tax deductible. To donate by check: Make payable to NewPlace International/International Humanities Center and mail to our office address.

Thank you and we hope to see you on May 8th, 2009!

In other news, a local farmer donated 10 acres of farmland to the Centre for agricultural development. The Centre is allowed to use the 10 acres for a period of five years, with the option of purchasing 5 of the 10 acres the price of 190,000 Kenyan shillings per acre, $2,470 USD per acre. The cost for the 5 acres of land will total 950,000 Kenyan shillings, $12,340 USD. Currently the Centre has already begun work on the land, initially spending the first couple of weeks removing a few tons of stones from the land. They have also fenced the entire land and constructed an iron-sheet house and iron-sheet bathroom for the watchman. They are now in the process of plowing the land and planting the seeds for beans, maize, and hay. The seeds for these crops were donated through charitable contributions.

The estimated monthly savings from this land is approximately 50,000 Kenyan shillings, $650 USD. The ability to produce these crops will further the Centre’s ability to move towards self-sustainability, and will also help to provide the children with a proper and nutritional diet. The fundraising of the necessary money to purchase the land and to properly cultivate the food is one of our highest priorities. This project could provide the stepping stones for St. Paul Childrens Care Centre to truly develop into a self-sustaining home for these children. The land also offers the chance for some of the children interested in agriculture to participate in vocational apprenticeships. They will have the opportunity to learn various irrigation techniques, fertilizing techniques, as well as what types of crops can and should be grown on the type of land. We look forward to sharing more news with you as the land is cultivated.

In other news, another project that was untaken and funded by recent volunteers includes the revamping of the Centre’s playground. Recently additional swing sets have been added, along with a volley ball pitch, a basketball hoop, a trampoline, a ping pong table, and a miniature inflatable “kiddie” pool. The children have delighted in playing with their recent additions and it has certainly made their holiday break much more enjoyable.

In other news, the Centre has rebuilt the cow shed and raised the floor so that the waste flows to the bio-gas dispenser, which will hopefully be operating once construction on the new building allows. They have also received 200 boiler chickens in addition to the 200 chickens to be used for the production and sale of eggs. The boiler chickens were used for Christmas, consumed at the home as part of Christmas dinner, with the excess being sold for profit. The chicken house for the egg-laying chickens has been completed and they now have 300 egg-laying chickens.

In the summer of 2008 there was a large fire at St. Paul Childrens Care Centre. The fire started in the kitchen and spread to the roof. In a matter of moments the kitchen and the row of boys’ dormitories had been structurally destroyed. Luckily no one was injured, the children having just left for school. While injury had been avoided, the destruction that the fire caused was massive. The entire building had to be torn down since the fire had made it structurally unsound. The fire caused around $170,000 USD worth of damage plus an additional $6,000 USD in fireman fees.