Help us Educate 20 Girls in 2016

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Help us Educate 20 Girls in 2016

A Quote from a Sirembe Secondary School Student on the door of the girls temporary dormitory at school. An awesome revamp of "You snooze you lose"

A Quote from a Sirembe Secondary School Student on the door of the girls temporary dormitory at school. An awesome revamp of "You snooze you lose"

As you can see in the photo above these girls are at Sirembe Secondary School to work. They are in school to overcome societal myths that say "girls are not as smart as boys" or "girls are not a good investment", but most importantly they are here to realize their dreams and ensure a bright future for themselves and their families.

These young women wake up before 5am each morning to begin their day. Their entire day is focused on their studies and if you ask each and every one of them, there is no place they would rather be. They value their education in a way that I do not see here in the US. The problem is that many of their families do not have the money it takes to pay the fees. That is where YOU come in. 

The Kenyan school year begins in January, we want to raise $5000 by January 1st to help 20 girls go to school! The cost of a full year of school including a full year of boarding at school (food and shelter), and their required uniform is $500. Many families can pay part of that, but they need additional help to keep these bright young minds in school. 

In our Restore Humanity Outreach Program we usually pay a partial scholarship for each student, and will provide a full scholarship for those in the most dire of circumstances.  The government provides partial funding for secondary students and we have found that encouraging the family to pitch in how they can makes this a real investment for everyone involved. However, there are cases where the family literally has nothing to give, in those cases we cover more, if not all.

 

We want to give 20 partial scholarships to girls at Sirembe Secondary School for 2016! 

Consider donating a one-time gift of $500 for two girls or $250 for one.

You could also sign up for a monthly recurring payment of $20 per month ( annual total $250 or one educated girl) or $40 per month (annual total is $500 or 2 educated girls).

Need a great gift idea? How about educating a girl in Kenya? 

DONATE HERE

Violet lives at our JCO Chldren's Center and is at the top of her class and Rose is one of our Outreach Girls! These girls are working hard to succeed! Girl Power!

Violet lives at our JCO Chldren's Center and is at the top of her class and Rose is one of our Outreach Girls! These girls are working hard to succeed! Girl Power!

These young women are hungry for education and for a chance to realize their dreams. In fact the first year that girls were allowed to board at Sirembe Secondary School (2014) they averaged higher than the boys for the first time ever! Those amazing women worked so hard to drown out the doubters and naysayers and show everyone just what they were made of! 

Some of the inspiring young women from that 2014 class that defied the odds and beat the boys!

Some of the inspiring young women from that 2014 class that defied the odds and beat the boys!

Join us to help these amazing young women realize their dreams! Donate today!

HELP US RAISE $5000 by January 1st!

 

Do you need more reasons to educate a girl? Check out these stats from a recent UNESCO report:

The education of girls and women can lead to a wide range of benefits – from improved maternal health, reduced infant mortality and fertility rates to increased prevention against HIV and AIDS.

More educated mothers are more likely to know that HIV can be transmitted by breastfeeding, and that the risk of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced by taking drugs during pregnancy.

An extra year of female schooling reduces fertility rates by 10%, according to the World Bank.

In Mali, women with secondary or higher level of education have an average of 3 children, while those with no education have an average of 7 children.30

In Burkina Faso, mothers with secondary education are twice as likely to give birth in health facilities as those with no education

Each extra year of a mother’s schooling reduces the probability of infant mortality by 5% to 10%.

Children of mothers with secondary education or higher are twice as likely to survive beyond age 5 compared to those whose mothers have no education. 

Improvements in women’s education explained half of the reduction in child deaths between 1990 and 2009. 

A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past age 5.35

In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 1.8 million children’s lives could have been saved in 2008 if their mothers had at least a secondary education.

Wages, agricultural income and productivity – all critical for reducing poverty – are higher where women involved in agriculture receive a better education. 

Each additional year of schooling beyond primary offers greater payoffs for improved opportunities, options and outcomes for girls and women.

 

Thank you for your support--

The Restore Humanity Global Team

 

Vivian is one of our Outreach Girls, she was in 9th grade this year and worked hard every day !

Vivian is one of our Outreach Girls, she was in 9th grade this year and worked hard every day !

Mercy was one of our Outreach Girls and was in 9th grade this year, she was at the top of her class!

Mercy was one of our Outreach Girls and was in 9th grade this year, she was at the top of her class!


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WORLD AIDS DAY & GIVING TUESDAY –It is a Sign

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WORLD AIDS DAY & GIVING TUESDAY –It is a Sign

WORLD AIDS DAY & GIVING TUESDAY –It is a Sign

 

My first real encounter with World AIDS Day was 10 years ago while I was volunteering in South Africa. I attended a World AIDS Day candlelight vigil with an inspiring group of children that had taught me so much in the months leading up to this. Hospice nurses ran this support group for these children (ages 4-16) who were either infected with HIV/AIDS themselves or affected somehow, usually by losing a family member to the disease. They sang songs and performed a play for their community. After their performance we all prayed and stood holding our candles in silence, remembering those who have lost their lives to this deadly disease. I remember looking at their young faces as they held the candles and thought about the loved ones that they had lost—even as I think about it today I am overwhelmed with so much emotion.

Since that moment I have met countless other children both in South Africa and Kenya whose lives have been destroyed by this disease. Three children that I love as my own live in our JCO Children’s Home were born with HIV. In fact every single child in our JCO Children’s Home has been affected in one way or another, many of them losing their parents to the disease, which is how they ended up with us in the first place.  The three children that are HIV+ came from different families, but all three of them came to us in pretty bad shape. Their caregivers at the time were aware that they were infected and had tried to get them some kind of treatment, but were not able to get them everything that they needed.

HIV treatment is available, but it is a very strict regimen.  One must take pretty high-powered drugs every 12 hours on the dot. Missing even one dose can be really dangerous especially for little ones. It is also essential that anyone receiving treatment is given 3 highly nutritious and well-balanced meals each day to keep their bodies strong enough to handle the disease and the treatment.  Another crucial part of their care is very regular doctor visits to ensure their immune systems are functioning and to figure out the specific “cocktail” of drugs that work for each individual. All of this is extremely difficult for an impoverished family to manage and as a result our kiddos were struggling.

The good news is that now all three of them are doing really well! Their health is better than ever, they are growing strong and doing well in school. If you met all of our children now, you would have no idea who is infected and who isn’t. Our staff at JCO does such a wonderful job at keeping them on their strict regimens, taking them to the doctor every few weeks and taking note of even a runny nose because it could indicate their immune system is not in good shape. We are so thankful that they are doing well and pray each day that it continues.

We also pray for a cure. For our kiddos and others on the current ARV regimens that treatment can add 15-20 years to their lives and we are hoping that within that time frame that a real and lasting cure is found. I am encouraged with all of the progress that has been made in recent years and I have to believe that a cure is coming soon.

Since today is both Giving Tuesday and World AIDS Day we would like to ask you to donate any amount to Restore Humanity to help us do our part in the battle against this global epidemic.

I have explained why this disease is so near to my heart, but allow me to tell you some of the other ways we combat this disease:

1-Care for our HIV+ children in our JCO Children’s Home

2-We have an Outreach Program that provides scholarships to local high school students in Sirembe, so that they can get their education. Statistics prove that education is the single greatest weapon against HIV/AIDS especially in sub-Saharan Africa and most especially for girls. Every year that a girl stays in school her chances of getting HIV+ are drastically reduced.

3-Last year we partnered with the local clinic in Sirembe to build a Maternity Ward. One of the major goals of this facility is to encourage more women to get pre-natal care. If a HIV+ woman receives proper ARV treatment while pregnant it reduces the chance of transmission to the baby to almost nothing.

 We are working for prevention and care for those who are infected. Join us and help us fight this disease!

There are two ways YOU can help: CARE or PREVENTION.

Click here and donate any amount to support:

1-Our Children’s Home and help us continue to care for our kiddos.

Or

 2-Send a girl to high school for a year for $500 (That includes full boarding, uniform, tuition, and fees for an entire year)! If you can’t donate the full amount, just give what you can and we will put it towards an Outreach Scholarship.

 

With Love & Gratitude—

Sarah Fennel & The Restore Humanity Team

 

 

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Who is my Neighbor?

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Who is my Neighbor?

“Who is my Neighbor?”

 

Since I started Restore Humanity, there is a question that I have been asked more times than I can count. That question is “Why are you helping children in Kenya when there are children here in the US that need help?” While I understand the underlying thought process, it still always strikes me as such a strange question.

I could answer them by appealing to the magnitude of the need or explaining how the money we raise here goes such a long way there.  Or I could list the many awesome people and organizations that are working hard to build support systems for those in need in here in the US and how they don’t necessarily have counterparts in the rural area where we work in Kenya, but the truth is that the main reason why I do what I do is because I was given an amazing opportunity to really make a difference in some incredible children’s lives and I took it. 

What I want to address today is the problem with that question in the first place. By my lights, every human is important, every person from every race, religion, nationality, or tribe. Everyone, without exception. So it seems strange to me that someone would see a person helping another and wonder—Why are you helping that person, when you should be helping this person? A child in need is a child in need.

While Restore Humanity is not a Faith-Based Organization, I, myself am a person of faith. The Golden Rule is something that I take very seriously and quite literally. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” is first said in Leviticus and then Christ applies the concept in the wonderful parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10: 25-37)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

What I find fascinating about this story is that Christ uses a Samaritan to be the hero. Samaritans and Jews were historically enemies and did not generally share very positive views about each other. The fact that the first two people in the story walked by their Jewish brother and did not help him says a lot, especially considering one was a Levite (from the priestly tribe) and the other a Priest, two people that would be assumed to be following the "Law" and would be considered this man's "neighbor" in the strictest sense of the word. The Samaritan was just a good person that showed love and mercy in the moment it was most needed. He goes above and beyond to help another human, despite societal norms. What I take from this is that we are to do whatever we can for each other—that means every person regardless of our national borders, tribal affiliations or personal hang-ups.

For the record, if I could help every single child in need in the entire world believe me I would. I was just given an opportunity to help these children in Kenya and I took it. I am so thankful for our Restore Humanity family that supports us, and grateful that so many people share our conviction that even if we make a difference in even one life—that is what is important.

And while many people that support Restore Humanity do not share my specific beliefs about everything, we do share some core values—that every one matters and you should just help whomever you can whenever you can. Period. You do what you can to make the world better. One planet. One People. One Purpose.

And who is my neighbor? Everyone.

 

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Full of Gratitude

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Full of Gratitude

 

On October 9th we had our best Winetopia fundraiser to date! With the help of so many awesome individuals and businesses we raised $63,000! It was a beautiful October evening and Pratt Place Barn was even more so. As soon as we opened the doors our amazing guests came pouring in and set about at enjoying the tables of beer and wine all provided by Glazers Distributing and enjoying some of the best cuisine that this area has to offer. As I walked through the barn getting hugs at every corner I could just feel the joy and generosity exuding from everyone. People taking fun photos in the Making Memories Photobooth, laughing with their friends, or just enjoying the sweet tunes coming from our DJ Matt Boles.

The Buzz Events lounge outside was even more spectacular than the year before, if you can believe it. And inside, my dad (a.k.a Carny in the Corner) had people winning big at the Wine Toss! We had pictures of our sweet kiddos all over the barn bringing the point home that all of the work and care that went into that night was oh so worth it. 

This community never ceases to amaze me! In the weeks leading up to the event there was just an outpouring of generosity from all over this community. So many people and businesses just wanted to do something and help however they could--people bought tickets, offered silent auction items, volunteered, helped spread the word, and donated. I was really moved at the goodness that I was seeing coming from all directions.

Below are some gorgeous photos of the night  taken by the one and only Cole Fennel Photography and please take a moment to look at this list of volunteers, sponsors, and silent auction donors that helped to make this night possible! 

 

Lots of Love & Gratitude,

Sarah Fennel

 

Winetopia Core Crew Volunteers

Chris Beavers—Auction Chair

Meredith Adkins—Volunteer Coordinator

Herbert “Boo” Buchanan—Event Coordinator (He “puts out fires”)

Joe Fennel—Carny In the Corner

Kristi Bachelor

Ellie Jones

Tanj Donovan

Jessy Lang

Alannah Massey

Adrienne Johnson

Jinny Lowe

Garrett “Vern” Gunderson

Michael Adkins

Chris Arcana

Chase Hayes

Hassan Huntley

Danielle Ryan

Tareneh Manning

Brooke McDonald

Allison Chilcote

Anna Marie Jarrett

Jean Ann Fennel

Warren Fyfe

Vincent Agare

Darrin Ingraham

Bartus Taylor & Buzz Events Crew

Glazers Crew

 

Honorary Hosts

Chris & Jeremy Beavers

Ben & Molly Blakeman

Martell Brown & Bethany Sewell

Abdi Dubed

Linley & Dave Dust

Chris Goddard & Bartus Taylor

Jen & John Lewis

Dr. Allyson & William Mertins

Dr. Lance & Tareneh Manning

Neal & Gina Pendergraft

Amy & Brent Robinson

 

 

Sponsors

 

Presenting Sponsor

Glazers Distributing

 

“Grape Crusher” Level Sponsor

Lucke Dental

Miller Boskus Lack

Blakeman’s Jewelry

Mertins Eye Care

 

“Planter” Level Sponsor

Quadrivium

FAC

 

Community Sponsors

Buzz Events

Pratt Place Inn & Barn

Intents

Eventures Party Rentals

Light Works Events

AV Designs

Arsagas

Showerfilter Store by NewMarket Naturals

Making Memories Photobooth

Cole Fennel Photography

 

Media Sponsors

Citiscapes Magazine

3W Magazine

Northwest Arkansas Democratic Gazette

 

Restaurant Sponsors

Bordinos

Cafe Rue Orleans

Farmers Table

Cardamom & Curry

Native Nectar

Mia Tarts

Fayetteville Pastry Shop

 

Silent Auction Donors

All Sports Production

AR State Beauty Supply

Arts Live Theatre

Big Star Lounge and Flying Burrito

Blakman's Fine Jewelry

Bordinos

Brandon & Britney Hurlbut

Brick By Brick

Chancellor

Chef Thomas from Tyson

Chris and Jeremy Beavers

Chuy's

Claudia Smith at Be Fit Studio

Closets to the Max

Clubhaus

Coach Darin Phelan

Cole Fennel Photography

Copper Pig

Country Outfitters

Crisp Studios

Dark Star Visuals

David & Candace Starling

Dickson Street Liquor

Dog Party USA

Dr. Brian Buell

Dr. Rebecca Lucke

East Side Grill

Elevate

Elevate

Ella Shelton

Fayettechill

Fayetteville Acupuncture

Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce

Feel Good Oils

Glo

Good Things

Goodwill Massage/Rebekah Champgne

Greg Dog Vintage Boutique

Gunderpickles

Heidi Brugliera

Hermans

Jennifer Lewis

Joyn

Joyn

Kathy Thompson

Liquor World

Liz Rusher

Lola Boutique

Manning House LLC

Marla Shaver

Masons

Maude

Mertins

Mia Tarts & More

Nitron

NWA Knockerball

Old World Imports

Onemanband

Ozark Escape

Pack Rat Outdoor Center

Pediatric Dental/Dr. Landers

Petra Café

Revive Medical Spa

Rhonda & Mailiah

Robin Devine

Robin Starr

Roblee Orthodontics

Roger Boskus

Romance Diamonds

Salon Bloom

Sara Kincaid & Jessica Phelan

Sarahndipity

Shindig Paperie

Showerfilter Store by Newmark Naturals

Speckled Pig

Spring Valley Anglers

Springdale Liquor Association

Sunshine Broder at Shine Salon

Susie Baker

Swim Ranch

Tareneh Manning @ Bassett Mix

Taylor Plastic Surgery

The Bike Route

The Independent

The Rainbow Lodge

Theo's

Trailside Yoga

WAC

Walker Bros.

Watson Custom Made

Westwood Gardens

WholeFoods

Yard Party- Jamey Sims

Yoga Deza

Right before we opened the doors...

Right before we opened the doors...

A peak at our Silent Auction

A peak at our Silent Auction

Joe Fennel, a.k.a. Carny in the Corner

Joe Fennel, a.k.a. Carny in the Corner

Treats from Fayetteville Pastry Shop

Treats from Fayetteville Pastry Shop

Buzz Events Lounge

Buzz Events Lounge

Buzz Events Lounge

Buzz Events Lounge

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Project #MamasandBabies is complete!

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Project #MamasandBabies is complete!

Titus Omondi--the first baby born in the facility!

Titus Omondi--the first baby born in the facility!

Meet Titus Omondi—the first baby to be born in the newly constructed Maternity Ward! He was born on March 26th of this year and this picture was taken at the beginning of July. A healthy baby to a healthy mama—does it get any better than that?

Let me back up a moment--early last year we decided to partner with the local clinic in Sirembe, Kenya. It is the same area that all of our projects are based in, as well as the clinic that our children and staff get treated when they are sick. The facility was also where many local women would go to deliver babies and while they did the best that they could with the resources available, it was not very conducive to a healthy delivery. There was no drainage in the room and there was no real separation between delivering mothers with newborns and the other sick patients at the clinic. Many of these sick patients have highly communicable diseases such as TB, which is particularly dangerous for people with compromised immune systems. This is absolutely the case for delivering mothers and their newborn babies. It was very clear that a proper facility was needed.

  At that time the local committee came together and decided what the needs were and had raised $12,000 from the Kenyan government. However, they needed an additional $25,000 to complete the construction that included a septic and drainage system. Our Restore Humanity Medical Committee (made up of local doctors and our Board of Directors) decided to step up and help out how we could.

We began raising funds and sent our first grant to them in April 2014. Each time we would send money we would send a Grant Agreement with it detailing what our money could be spent on. Their committee would report back to us with documentation and receipts of how the funds were spent and then we would send another grant when we had the funding. This went on for the next year and thanks to some very generous donors in Northwest Arkansas we raised the money needed to complete the project! During this time I was able to travel to Kenya twice to visit the site and see the progress.

Then at the end of March this year I got a call that the delivery room and septic system were finished and the first baby was born in our facility—Titus. It was a humbling moment to be sure, but not so much as when I got to meet Titus and his beautiful mother this July. They were both healthy and strong. We even got to give them a handmaid baby quilt with fleece lining to keep that cutie warm on cold nights.

That same day in July my fellow Board Member (and now fiancé) Herbert “Boo” Buchanan, Patrick Lumumba (a Key member of our Restore Humanity Team in Kenya) and I went to see the new facility. We were so lucky to get to meet a beautiful baby girl just a few hours old and her equally beautiful mother, Millicent.

Millicent and her beautiful and healthy baby girl.

Millicent and her beautiful and healthy baby girl.

What a gift life is and giving birth is such a miracle. It was such a blessing to be a part of making that experience better for Millicent and her sweet baby girl! Every woman deserves to have a safe and clean place to deliver with a qualified person to ensure safe delivery. We are so thankful to every single person that helped us accomplish this goal!

And this is what it is all about! A peaceful moment with a mother and child after a safe delivery! Love this photo!

And this is what it is all about! A peaceful moment with a mother and child after a safe delivery! Love this photo!

Another wonderful part about giving is that it inspires more giving! Due to the support that we gave this clinic the Kenyan government visited again, saw how much progress had been made and gave them an additional $3,000 for equipment and a local Kenyan non-profit gave them a delivery bed, a heart Doppler machine, and a microscope for a future lab!

Check out all of the photos below of the new facility and some of the essential Kenyan people that made it possible, namely the Clinical Officer Arthur Wamalwa that put in countless hours in planning, implementing, and reporting for this project--all the while running the rest of the facility! We could not have done it any of this without him!

A special thanks to the Chairman of our Medical Committee Dr. Scott Bailey and his wonderful wife Leslie—they opened their home and hearts to this project and got our entire community on board! You two are amazing!

The front of the Facility

The front of the Facility

Where our mothers will go through most of their labor until ready for delivery

Where our mothers will go through most of their labor until ready for delivery

One of our favorite nurses Caroline is in the blue and the man on the right is Arthur Wamalwa, the man that made this all possible!

One of our favorite nurses Caroline is in the blue and the man on the right is Arthur Wamalwa, the man that made this all possible!

Our RH Team member Patrick Lumumba who is also a mid-wife and it now helping to deliver healthy babies at the facility. He is here Millicent and her newborn girl.

Our RH Team member Patrick Lumumba who is also a mid-wife and it now helping to deliver healthy babies at the facility. He is here Millicent and her newborn girl.

The heart Doppler machine donating by an Kenyan non-profit

The heart Doppler machine donating by an Kenyan non-profit

The delivery room ! One of these beds was donated by a Kenyan non-profit.

The delivery room ! One of these beds was donated by a Kenyan non-profit.

Restore Humanity Board Member Herbert "Boo" Buchanan with the head of the Board of Directors for the local Clinic (Sirembe Dispensary) Peter Wanjawa.

Restore Humanity Board Member Herbert "Boo" Buchanan with the head of the Board of Directors for the local Clinic (Sirembe Dispensary) Peter Wanjawa.

 

 

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Love Will Find a Way--JCO Children's Home Turns 5!

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Love Will Find a Way--JCO Children's Home Turns 5!

Love Will Find a Way—JCO Children’s Home Turns 5!

My goodness things have changed. This week marks our 5 Year Anniversary of the JCO Children’s Home in Kenya! It was just five years ago that we opened our doors to 10 amazing kiddos and we are all forever changed. Since then we have added more children. Some of them have grown up and moved on, but most of them are still living with us and doing really well. They are an awesome bunch and we are so thankful to have them!

 I just recently returned from spending 5 weeks with our children in Kenya and I have been reflecting on how much has changed over the years.  I can’t think of anything more beautiful than seeing the progress these amazing kiddos have made. The changes have been really drastic and many of you know about their miraculous stories.  And although the changes in my perspective have been much more subtle, I still think that they are important to share.

 I started this journey charging full speed ahead because this is what was right, this was my purpose in life and I was going to get it done. However, at some point something in me shifted. This project went from being a “mission to accomplish” to becoming just a part of me. Our children and our team in Kenya are now a huge a part of my life, my family and feel like an extension of myself. I am honestly not sure what I ever did without them.

This time 5 years ago Mrs. Opot, Patrick, and I were deciding which children we could take, meeting them and learning their stories. We were also negotiating on the prices of bunk beds, buying pink and blue sheets, mattresses, pillows, cups, plates—all for the first ten kiddos that would live at our home. We were hiring and training staff and trying to plan for every little thing, but none of us knew what to expect when we opened our doors and created a new home. It was exciting, stressful, fulfilling, and it wore me out. 

Boys room at JCO August 2010

Boys room at JCO August 2010

Girls Room at JCO-- August 2010

Girls Room at JCO-- August 2010

A big part of that stress was from me trying to control every aspect of the situation, trying to find comfort in “covering all of my bases.” Don’t get me wrong, all of the details are extremely important and we must prepare as best we can. However, it is also just as important to recognize that when you are dealing with human beings there is only so much that you have control over.  This is a lesson that I imagine most parents learn and that is ok, that is just part of life.

This is where faith comes in, with a healthy dose of patience. These kiddos had been through so much and I instantly wanted to take away all of the pain and hurt and let the healing ensue. But, it doesn’t work that way. True healing takes time. It takes consistent love and encouragement, a true feeling of safety. There is no set amount of time, it is different for everyone and it is part of his or her journey. We just try our best to do everything that we can for them and then have faith that love will find a way…

Five years later, the healing continues for all of us. These 17 children are truly amazing. They have come so far—they are some of the bravest souls I have ever met. They inspire me beyond comprehension and at the same time, they are just children. They sometimes fight over toys and most of our boys abhor the idea of bathing. They love to play soccer, play drums, play UNO, color, watch movies, read books, wrestle in the yard and learn about new things. While they all have good days and bad there is an overall love for life and for each other in our home and I am so thankful. It has been the most incredible 5 years of my life and I look forward to the years to come! Thank you to each one of you in our global family for all of the love and support—we couldn’t do it without you!

 

With Love & Gratitude,

 

Sarah Fennel

Founder

Restore Humanity

August 4th, 2010 -- Day 3 of living at JCO--Our first ten kiddos with a few friends, including Vincent (Our RH Scholar right in the middle) 

August 4th, 2010 -- Day 3 of living at JCO--Our first ten kiddos with a few friends, including Vincent (Our RH Scholar right in the middle) 

July 2015-- These are the 17 current kiddos. Just look at those sweet faces! A pretty solid and confident little crew!

July 2015-- These are the 17 current kiddos. Just look at those sweet faces! A pretty solid and confident little crew!

 

 

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We Belong to Each Other

We Belong to Each Other

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other” – Mother Teresa

Sheryl and I

Sheryl and I

As I prepare to leave again for my second home in Kenya, I am struck by the oneness, the interconnectedness of us all--that everything that we do has consequences and leads to something else. This community here in Northwest Arkansas has been so supportive of Restore Humanity over the last 9 years and our support network grows seemingly by the day. Almost every thing that we have been able to do to provide assistance to those in need in Kenya has been the result of awesome people in this community donating whatever they can to help others.

It is not the result of the generosity of a few who are well off—it is the result of the generosity of the many who give what they can when they can. It is such an honor to be a part of it.  Our extremely hard-working Kenyan Team has put all of this generosity to good use and as a result lives have been changed for the better. With all of the negativity that we hear about and face everyday, it is so good to know that people do care and we all can make a difference.

We all belong to each other and I am honored to be a connecting piece between all of these wonderful humans. Thank you all on the Kenyan side and the U.S. side for all of your hard work and pure love for humanity. You have made all of this possible!

 On this trip I will be taking lots of photos of the newly completed Maternity Ward that we built at the local clinic ! I will also be checking in on our outreach program at the local school, checking on our RH Scholar, Jerrym, in Nairobi and of course spending hours upon hours with our sweet kiddos at the JCO Children’s Home. I will have lots of exciting blogs with updates when I return at the end of July. In the meantime you can follow me on Instagram and follow me on Facebook to join me on the journey!

Have a great summer and we will talk soon…

With gratitude,

Sarah Fennel

Sammie and Miriam, our Head House Mother

Sammie and Miriam, our Head House Mother

Christine and Wilfrieda, two awesome ladies that have worked at JCO since we opened in 2010, taking a break from work to chat.

Christine and Wilfrieda, two awesome ladies that have worked at JCO since we opened in 2010, taking a break from work to chat.

Our youngest little cutie Clinton.

Our youngest little cutie Clinton.

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Two Exciting Updates!

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Two Exciting Updates!

The month of April was a very exciting one for Restore Humanity! We got wonderful news from Kenya about the Maternity Ward--Project #mamasandbabies and we had an incredible fundraiser here to support our Children's Home! We are so, so grateful!

Project #mamasandbabies

At the very end of the year we were about half-way finished with the construction and thanks to all of you we reached our remaining fundraising goal! Sarah Fennel took that money to Kenya at the beginning of January and they set out to first finish the delivery room, the septic tank and all the plumbing. 

Phase 1--Digging the hole for the Septic Tank (January 2015)

Phase 1--Digging the hole for the Septic Tank (January 2015)

Phase 2 of Septic Tank February 2015

Phase 2 of Septic Tank February 2015

 

Since this is a partnership with a local clinic we have a very structured way that we handle the money. We give a smaller amount ($5,000-$7,000) and they sign a grant agreement as to what the funds can be used for. When they have used the money, they provide a report as to how it was spent, including receipts. We go over the receipts and the report. If it all matches up, then we send the next small amount and we move forward.

The local clinic has been really thorough on their reporting and efficient on the building. We have been really impressed. At the end of Fennel's most recent trip (Jan-Feb 2015) they had used the funds and presented her with a report. She went over the report and saw the work for herself. So upon her arrival back in the states she sent more money. 

One of the sinks your donations bought!

One of the sinks your donations bought!

The Delivery Room in February 2015

The Delivery Room in February 2015

 

We just recently got the next report and sent the final amount to finish it up! AND we got some really amazing news to go with that! Although the building in it's entirety is not finished--they did complete the septic tank and the delivery room a few weeks ago. Since then they have delivered 12 healthy babies to 12 healthy mamas! Pregnant mothers can't wait on the rest of the building!

Our completed Delivery Room April 2015

Our completed Delivery Room April 2015

We were so excited to hear this and we knew you would be too! What can be more exciting than that? It is because of all of you that this is now happening and we cannot thank you enough! Fennel will be headed back to Kenya in June to see the final building, get some great photos, and get more exciting updates about healthy babies and their mothers!

A really BIG thank you is due to all of our Maternity Ward Donors and to our RH Medical Committee--with a very special thank you to our Chairman Dr. Scott Bailey and his wonderful wife Leslie. Thank you for all of the knowledge, advice, leadership, and support! We could not have done this without you! 

Thank you all and look for more updates later this summer!

Our Annual Wine Dinner at Bordinos

Our Annual Wine Dinner at Bordinos took place on Sunday April 19th and was a wonderful success! We sold out again this year and we raised $35,250 for our JCO Children's Home in Kenya! We are so thankful to all of the guests that attended and those who donated, to the incredible Bordinos staff--front and back of the house--for delicious food, perfect wine, and impeccable service, and to our wine-expert Dr. Robert "Wine" Neralich! We also would love to send a big thank you to Cole Fennel Photography for the fabulous photos of our event! Check them out below! (For all of the images and more info click here)

Our Restore Humanity Scholar Vincent speaking to our guests! And the lovely Dr. Allyson Mertins looks on. 

Our Restore Humanity Scholar Vincent speaking to our guests! And the lovely Dr. Allyson Mertins looks on. 

With love and gratitude to you alL,

The Restore Humanity Team

 

 

 

 

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There is No Place Like Home

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There is No Place Like Home

There is No Place Like Home

(Caring for our Kiddos—Part 1)

A woman in sparkly shoes once said, “There’s no place like home” and I would have to concur. What a gift it is to be able to have a real home—a place of love, safety, and comfort that brings peace to your heart just thinking of it. It is hard to come by, but well worth the effort to create.

I recently found a quote that I love.  “There are two gifts that we should give our children: one is roots and the other is wings.” I could not agree more and by my lights the only way to do that is by creating and maintaining that sense of “home” throughout their development.

From the very beginning this has been a crucial part of our mission in creating the JCO Children’s Home in Kenya. My partner Mrs. Opot and I had very similar understandings of what a “home” meant and just how important it was.  We knew that stability was key, especially for children that had been through so much chaos already. They needed firm roots to help them build a bright future for themselves.

Mrs. Opot is and always has been a wonderful mother to all of her children (I have known them all for years) and she taught elementary school in Kenya’s capital Nairobi for 33 years before we began our project. I have had professional childcare experience myself, but I really learned how to raise children and build a home from the two greatest teachers around—my mother and father.

My parents provided my brothers and I with a wonderful home which, among other things, was safe, loving and stable. While helping us to develop very strong roots they also encouraged us to spread our wings. I was never afraid to venture into the unknown because I knew where my roots were and that I always had a strong support system to return to.

Everyone on our Restore Humanity team had a shared vision for the loving, stable, and comforting home we wanted to create. However, making that vision a reality is easier said than done. I tried as much as possible to create the type of environment that I was raised in because my parents did such an amazing job. And while we couldn’t recreate exactly what I had, for a variety of reasons, we could operate from those same values.

It has taken a lot of learning and adjusting, but our Kenyan team has done an amazing job. In fact, a big part of our success in creating this consistency for our children is the fact that we have had extremely little turnover from our staff. As a result, our children are growing up with and spending years of their lives with the same wonderful people (I will get into more details about the key ingredients that make our staff so spectacular in an upcoming blog).

I have been asked several times, usually by bigger foundations, “Why just focus on a few children? Why only 20? Why not expand your facility? How much do you want this facility to grow in five years?” It basically comes down to the debate over quality vs. quantity. If the question is whether we would like to help as many children as possible, the answer is yes. However, if our children are not receiving good quality care and the higher numbers comprise how well we can care for them individually, then the answer is no.

We have had a guiding principle from the beginning of our project: “We want JCO Children’s Home to be run like an institution, but feel like a home.” When you have more than 20 children in a facility like ours the feelings of “family” and “home” start to dwindle. It actually starts feeling more like an institution. While we could provide supervision and basic necessities to greater numbers by operating in this way (assuming we had the proper funding) we would be sacrificing the cognitive benefits and emotional development enjoyed only by those with the types interpersonal connections and relationships typical of a close-knit family.  Surviving is not the same thing as thriving.

We decided early on that while caring for as many children as possible is wonderful—we aren’t really accomplishing our mission if we are not taking care of them like they truly deserve.  In our particular circumstance we felt that the best use of our energy and resources was to focus on building a well run “home” that provides all the basic necessities as well as love, consistency, encouragement, stability, and a feeling of safety. By doing so we can give our sweet kiddos the proper foundation that they need to create a bright future for themselves, for those around them, and for the world at large.

I just spent the last month in Kenya with our kiddos and I am so happy to say that after observing them for almost 5 years now, that this concept of a “home” actually works! It is what builds the necessary confidence in order to do big things in your life—to take risks and follow your dreams.

As I spend time with our kiddos and think about how far they have all come, it is astounding. There has been steady progress from all of them and while they all have ups and downs, their confidence continues to grow and their inner lights shine brighter with each day. It is a beautiful thing to witness and confirms my belief that there truly is no place like home. 

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WE DID IT!!

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WE DID IT!!

WE DID IT!

I am so pleased to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal to finish the maternity ward in Kenya! Phase 1 of Project #mamasandbabies is complete! We had a goal of raising the remaining $20,500 to finish the construction and we did it! An amazing group of donors made up of old and new givers made this possible and we are so grateful.

The bulk of the money we raised for this project came as a result of two special events that we had at our donors' beautiful homes. Dr. Scott & Leslie Bailey had the first event in their home in November and Dr. Rick & Julie Roblee followed it up earlier this month at their home. Both parties were amazing and their support was essential to our success. We are so, so grateful!

The ripple effect is still being felt. Carin Schoppmeyer from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette was kind enough to cover our event at the Roblee's home and the article was in this Sunday's paper. In the article she mentioned that we needed a remaining $7,700 to complete the construction. A few hours later, I received an email from an amazingly generous couple that said they will be sending us a check to cover that amount! We also had two other incredible donors commit to buying our beds and helping us to get some of the furnishing that we will need! 

I am beyond excited and am really looking forward to heading back to Kenya on January 7th to get the construction started once again! Now that we have the remaining funds we need we should be completing our construction and delivering babies by May! I will keep you all posted on our progress and THANK YOU ALL for your support!!

 

 

 

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It is Giving Tuesday! Please Donate to Restore Humanity

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It is Giving Tuesday! Please Donate to Restore Humanity

It is Giving Tuesday! Please donate to Restore Humanity

 

Many people are inspired to give at the end of the year for a variety of reasons and while we know there are many causes worthy of your support we ask that you consider giving to Restore Humanity this year so that we can continue our current projects and expand our support to even more people in need.

Since I founded Restore Humanity eight years ago, the most common question that I get asked is “Why are you helping in Kenya?” Some are just asking out of curiosity and others make it very clear that they don’t understand why we wouldn’t choose to help American children? It is a valid question because there are children in need all over the world, including here in the US and if I could provide assistance to every child that needed it tomorrow then believe me I would.

Unfortunately this is not an option, so we all must do what we can, when we can, and how we can. This is exactly why we help in Kenya because there is a serious need in that area and we had an amazing opportunity to make a real and lasting impact.

Mrs. Opot, our wonderful Kenyan partner contacted me in 2007 and asked if Restore Humanity would help her to create a home for children in need in the rural community that she lived in. She had land with a building on it that she donated for the project and was willing to run the home day in and day out. It is also important to note that we can do much more in Kenya than we could in the US with the same amount of money and by my lights the need there exists on a much greater scale.

We took this awesome opportunity and now have a beautiful home full of 17 bright and loving kiddos that also provides employment for 11 local Kenyan people from the community. Each year we look for more opportunities to help and take advantage of every one that we can. I encourage every person to do the same.  Every child matters, no matter where they are from--ONE PLANET, ONE PEOPLE, ONE PURPOSE. We are all in this together!

Please consider donating to one of our projects or to our “General Fund” and we will use it where we need it. All donations are tax deductible and a donation in someone’s name can be the perfect gift! If you are interested in giving a gift of a donation please send me an email at sarah@restorehumanity.org for details.

 

Donate Here 

 

 

#GivingTuesday—We need your support! Here are some options for you:

 

RH General Fund:

We use the money where it is needed the most within our projects.

 

JCO Children's Home:

Our principal project, our children’s home in Sirembe, Kenya that provides a home for our 17 wonderful kiddos. For more information click here.

 

Project #MamasandBabies--Maternity Ward:

We have partnered with a local clinic in Kenya to complete the construction a much-needed Maternity Ward for the community of Sirembe, Kenya.

 

RH Scholars Program:

Providing University education (both in the US and in Kenya) for a select few bright young minds from Kenya. We currently have one student in the US and one in Kenya.

 

Donate Here

 

With immense love & gratitude,

The Restore Humanity Team

 

 

Here are some sweet shots of our cuties and team members this year:


IMG_3582.JPG

 

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Project #mamasandbabies --Help us Build a Maternity Ward in Kenya

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Project #mamasandbabies --Help us Build a Maternity Ward in Kenya

Help us Build a Maternity Ward

 

Project #mamasandbabies

 

Our Restore Humanity Medical Committee made up of local doctors (from NWA) and our Board Members came together to try and assist the Kenyan community of Sirembe with some of their most pressing healthcare needs. We found an awesome opportunity to partner with the local dispensary and help them raise the funds needed to build a much needed Maternity Ward for the area. We are half-way there in construction and once completed they will be able to immediately start serving local mothers!

Proper pre-natal, delivery, and post-natal care are essential for the mamas and the babies! The health of the community begins in the womb and families need the mothers to be healthy to care for them all! A recent article in "Business Daily" concerning Kenya's current health issues surrounding both mothers and children:

In Kenya, "72,000 children below the age of one year died in 2012 while another 40,000 did not survive their first month of birth. 

Ministry of Health records show that 7.6 million children under the age of five died in 2010 from diseases that could have been prevented.

It is estimated that half of the deaths that occur within a month of a child’s life occur on the first day of their lives mainly due to lack of access to proper health services for mothers during delivery."

Read the full article here

 

We are already half-way there and we just need $20,500 to finish construction! Let's all join in and make it happen! Do what you can and join our Construction Crew! So much can be done with a little help from a lot of people!

 

Join our "Construction Crew" Here are some options"

 

Donate $25-- You are a "Brick Layer"

Donate $50--You are a "Carpenter" 

Donate $100--You are a "Steel Worker"

Donate $500-- You are a "Roof Master"

Donate $1000-- You are a "Foundational Giver"

Donate $5000-- You are a "Structural Sustainer"

 

Donate Here* 

*Make sure to specify "Maternity Ward" when checking out

 

Restore Humanity Medical Committee

 Chairman: Dr. Scott Bailey

 Doctors: Dr. Mark Olsen, Dr. Allyson Mertins

 Board Members: Roger Boskus, Herbert Buchanan, Devin Cole,

 Jean Ann Fennel, Joe Fennel, Sarah Fennel, Michelle Fyfe,

 Brandon Hurlbut, Tim McFarland, and Miriam Smith

The future pre-delivery ward for our mamas!

The future pre-delivery ward for our mamas!

This is how far we have come! Help us finish the building!

This is how far we have come! Help us finish the building!


We are taking it one step at a time...


Step One: Finish Construction of Maternity Ward


Phases of Maternity Ward Construction Remaining:

Phase 1: Frames & Plastering 

Phase 2: Electrical 

Phase 3: Plumbing & Draining

Phase 4: Tiling

Phase 5: Painting & Glazing


Donate Here*

*Make sure to specify "Maternity Ward" when checking out


Step Two: Furnish Maternity Ward



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Winetopia 2014 was a success--My Love Letter to NWA

Dear NWA Community,

I LOVE YOU--YOU ARE SPECTACULAR! 

On October 3rd we had our biggest annual event, Winetopia and it was incredible! The NWA community came out in full support of the work we are doing and we could not be more grateful! We raised $59,000 to support our work in Kenya! It doesn't get much better than this sweet little spot in the Ozarks and I had to just take a moment to go through our beautiful night and thank some of the people and businesses that made it all happen...

It was the first crisp night this fall and the Pratt Place Barn looked gorgeous as always, we are so thankful that we get to use this incredible space! Bartus Taylor from Buzz Events created a absolutely spectacular lounge that made you feel as if you were stepping into another world--candles, couches, trees, gorgeous lighting, and real sheep skin on the couches so our guests would be cozy. We are in awe of him yet again and so thankful for the amazing contribution.


Glazers Distributing outdid themselves again! They provide 9 tables of wine, and one high-end beer table and provide the knowledgable staff to man all of the tables! We would not have this event without them and we are so grateful for the years of support! They are spectacular! 


The food was the best of our NWA community! We had our Winetopia regulars (5 years running)-- Bordinos and Cafe Rue Orleans. We also had Arsagas, Mia Tarts, Fayetteville Pastry Shop, Berry Natural, and Old World Imports. It was the best of the best and we are so thankful to each and everyone of them for keeping our tastebuds and our tummies happy! Nature's Water provided us with fruit infused filtered water for the second year in a row!

On the entertainment side of things we have DJ Shortfuze who always provides perfect soundtrack to our evening. Sherry and Ira Schwartzman were kind enough to bring their Making Memories photo booth again this year! It is a wonderful treat for our guests! There nothing like a lot of wine and a photo booth with accessories to make for some epic images.  My dad, Joe Fennel, aka "The Carny in the Corner" runs the Wine Toss that is always the biggest hit of the night!

There were so many people and businesses involved in the making and success of this event, I have done my best to name them all below. Before I begin I would like to give a special acknowledgement to our AMAZING Winetopia "Core Crew"! We have incredible volunteers every year and I will list them all below, but our "Core Crew" is a group of some of my favorite people on the planet that have been volunteering with us for years and spend quite a lot of time and energy outside of the event with me planning, giving feedback, adjusting, and figuring out the best ways to run the event. These people are the reason our event gets better every year and I am beyond grateful to them. The Winetopia Core Crew consists of: Our Auction Chair--Chris Beavers, Volunteer Coordinator--Meredith McKee, Boo Buchanan, Lana Lyon, Tanj Donovan, and Ellie Jones. THANK YOU ALL!! A big thank you to all of the official and unofficial volunteers that made it all possible!

I also want to thank Cole and Mary Fennel with Cole Fennel Photography for taking gorgeous photos again this year! Some of them are throughout this post, but you can see the full gallery here: Winetopia 2014 Photos--Cole Fennel Photography

Here is the lists of all of our Sponsors, Silent Auction Donors, Volunteers, and Honorary Hosts! Thank you all for making Winetopia 2014 a success:

 

Winetopia Sponsors

Glazers Distributors

BKD, CPA's & Advisors

McDonald's

Blakeman's Fine Jewelry

Pratt Place Inn

Buzz Events & Planning

Intents Party Rentals

Making Memories Photobooth

Nature's Water

Citiscapes Magazine

3W Magazine

 

Restaurant Sponsors

Bordinos

Cafe Rue Orleans

Arsaga's

Berry Natural

Fayetteville Pastry Shop

Mia Tarts

Old World Imports

                                                     

Our Silent Auction Donors

All Sports Productions

Arkansas State Beauty Supply

Best Sports & Our Hogs

Bordinos

 Britney and Brandon Hurlbut

Chamber of Commerce

Chancellor Hotel

Chef Thomas from Tyson

Clubhaus Fitness

Cole Fennel Photography

Coach Chris Bucknam

Coach Mike Anderson

County Line Liquors

Dark Star Visuals

Doe's Eat Place

Dog Party

 Dr. Brian Buell

Dr. Jason Landers/PDAO

Dr. Rebecca Lucke

Elevate--CEO Forums

Farmer's Table

Fayetteville Country Club

Glo

 Good Things

 Grey Dog Vintage Boutique

Gunderpickles

Herman's

 Jennifer Lewis

Joe and Jean Ann Fennel

Joyn

 Kathy Thompson

Linley Dust

 Liz Rusher

 Lola Boutique

Lori Vincent

 Massage Matters

Matt Miller

 Maude

 Mertins Eye Clinic

 Mia Tarts and More

Mason’s

Nature's Water

Nitron

 Onemanband

Pack Rat Outdoor Center

Pesto Café

 Powerhouse Seafood

Rhonda Crone & Maliah Pinkleton

Robin Devine

Roger Boskus

Romance Diamonds

Slim Chickens

Southern Trends

Thatch

 The Bike Route

The Independent

The Rainbow Lodge

Trailside Yoga

Walker Bros

 Walton Arts Center

Watson Custom Made

Westwood Gardens

Yoga Deza

 

2014 Honorary Hosts

Steve & Brittany Adair

Dr. Scott & Leslie Bailey

Jeremy & Chris Beavers

Ben & Molly Blakeman

Martell Brown

Leigh & Candra Davis

Abdi Dubed

Chris Goddard & Bartus Taylor

Greg & Hannah Lee

Dr. Allyson & William Mertins

Steve & Natalie McBee

Neal & Gina Pendergraft

Jeff & Eileen Schomburger

Tom & Debi Smith

 

 

Volunteer Crew

Chris Beavers

Meredith McKee

Boo Buchanan

Lana Lyon

Tanj Donovan

Ellie Jones

Rebecca Black

Brooke McDonald

Warren Fyfe

Alannah Massey

Elizabeth Gibbons

Adrienne Seeger

Kristi Batchelor

Anne Michelle Hopwood

Laura Jones

Garret Gunderson

Alexandra Buell

Charlie Hoeven

Seth McCutcheon

Chase Hayes

Chris Arcana

Curtis Willis

Shelia Cole

Devin Cole

Spencer Sabo

Cameron Baker

Bartus Taylor & The entire Buzz Events Crew

Michael Adkins

Kimberly Clinehens

Kristin Wolfe

Stephen Black

 

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS!

 

With immense love & gratitude,

Sarah Fennel

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We are Here--Restore Humanity Reaches 8 Year Mark!

I heard this new song that Alicia Keys released today and it just struck a chord in me. She sings “We are here, we are here for all of us.”  It tapped into that part of me that connects to the rest of the world, to the human race as a whole, and that is the best feeling that I know. It is easy to get caught up in the everyday to-do lists or to start sweating the small stuff, but then I remember that feeling—the feeling of clarity or self transcendence where I feel and know with every fiber of my being that there is something greater than us.  Its what connects us.

Restore Humanity reached our mark of 8 years this past weekend and I have been reminiscing and reflecting about how much has changed in my life and within our organization. What struck me most of all is remembering all of the incredible people I have met along the way that have had roles, both big and small, in making this all happen. There have been so many amazing people from all over the globe and from all walks of life that have made Restore Humanity what it is today. I am so thankful for the last eight years and I am so excited for the future to come!  It has been: liberating, joyful, uplifting, inspiring, both heavy and light, and full of more love than I know what to do with. This work has expanded my heart and has taught me so much. I am exceedingly grateful to an ever-increasing number of people for making this happen!

As I prepare for our upcoming fundraiser Winetopia (October 3rd) I am so moved by how supportive everyone is. We hope to have close to 400 guests at our event inside the gorgeous Pratt Place Barn. There will be 10 tables of wine donated from Glazers, Nature’s Water will keep us hydrated, and there will be 7 tables of food from some amazing local eateries (Bordinos, Café Rue Orleans, Arsaga’s, Fayetteville Pastry Shop, Mia Tarts, Berry Natural, and Old World Imports). Buzz Events makes it all look gorgeous and a variety of local businesses and artists donate their goods for silent auction. We also have the really fun “Making Memories” Photo-booth and DJ Shortfuze is playing groovy tunes. What is incredible is that almost every piece of it is donated (check out our poster to see all of our wonderful sponsors) and it is run by an awesome volunteer Event Crew! The joy that people have in participating and giving what they can is amazing! I am so proud to be from this community! We are so thankful for our guests, sponsors, and volunteers!  It really touches my heart to see the support that we continue to have from NWA. Our community comes together to support some awesome kiddos across the globe and to do what they can for their fellow human beings. It is spectacular! (For more information on Winetopia or to buy tickets click here! )

We are here for all of us.

Here’s to the continuation of Restore Humanity—8 years is just the beginning! Here’s to connecting with more people, growing and learning and of course giving a lot of love!

This is what I love, this is what I live for, this is what makes my life beautiful!


Immense love & gratitude to our Restore Humanity global family!




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Love Begets Love

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Love Begets Love

I am a firm believer in the notion that the more you love, the more capacity for love you have—in other words you don’t run out of space. You can stress yourself out over time and energy and yes there is only so much of that, but there is endless room for love. You don’t have to be guarded or worry that by loving one person you cannot love another. To be clear, I am not talking about romantic love—that is an entirely different ballgame. I am talking about love for everyone else in your life or everyone else in the world for that matter.

I have accepted this conceptually for as long as I can remember, as I was raised with an enormous amount of love. However, despite my upbringing sometimes I am guarded.  This is perhaps out of fear or a perceived need to “protect” myself because I feel overwhelmed at how much I can love and am naturally afraid of the potential for pain that necessarily comes with such deep attachment. It is usually not a conscious decision.  I just contract and put up walls. There have been times when I literally feel like I just don’t have anymore room available.

In the past few weeks, since returning from my last trip to Kenya I have been recovering and getting my wits about me. This trip was emotionally more taxing than usual. This was a little puzzling because on many of my trips I have experienced and witnessed far worse things. Of course every trip is emotional.  I am spending time with these beautiful kiddos that I love dearly and when you have 17 kids there is a lot of joy and pain co-existing. When something is going well for one child, another is experiencing a rough patch. It is always hard, it is always emotional, and it is always wonderful. It is usually a process to get through, but oh so worth it.

Upon returning home from each trip to Kenya I always need a little down time to reflect and appreciate what I just experienced.  This time was a bit different.  I have been stuck in this emotional fog since my return and I couldn’t figure out why? I have been hibernating more than usual and have felt unable to take on anything else emotionally, even positive things.

Then I had this profound experience that is somehow easiest to explain with a Dr. Seuss reference. Those of you familiar the book and film ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ will no doubt know the character of the Grinch and (hopefully) recognize how little I have in common with him.  However, in the story there is the following line: “in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s heart grew 3 sizes that day.” While this is being said you see the Grinch’s heart breaking through barriers. In the Jim Carrey version you see his heart beating out of his chest and growing bigger. It actually knocks him down and causes him physical pain. I had an experience similar to this about a week after returning home.  I could actually feel my heart expanding and making room for more love. Since then it has been like peeling back the layers of an onion, slowly accepting both the positive things and painful things alike—feeling lighter by the day...

Now I actually know this to be true; love begets love. It was a little painful and it wasn’t easy—but true growth never is. The feeling of being overwhelmed turned into a feeling of gratitude for each and every person in my life that I hold dearly.

The beauty of it is that there is room in all of us to actually love everyone else on the planet. I understand that it can sometimes be overwhelming or you feel you have reached a limit.  But, I promise, you are much more capable than you can even imagine. Sometimes loving people can feel like a “burden”, like a heavy weight on our shoulders. It can make us contract or shut down. This is the moment to resist that instinct and dig deeper—to open up and love more. If you can just “power-through” the fear there is nothing but love and peace on the other side.

 Love begets love—bravely step towards it.

Immense love and gratitude to all of you in our ever-expanding Restore Humanity Family.




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The Purposeful Journey

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The Purposeful Journey

"Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights the way" -Author Unknown

The most common question I get before I go on a trip to visit our projects in Kenya is " What are you going to do on this trip?" or "What do you hope to accomplish?" Many times my answer is that my main goal is to spend time and snuggle with our kiddos, which is actually an important part of my job. I have to be here a certain amount of time, just spending time with them to really see and understand what it is we are doing and what our children really need. It is also one of my favorite things to do on the planet--so it all works out. However, this trip has some very clear objectives that will undoubtably cut into my kiddo play time, but in the end will serve them better.

 Healthcare, or the lack thereof, is a prominent issue in the community of Sirembe--where our Children's Home is located. It is really difficult to tackle any other issues in a community when people are sick and cannot get proper treatment. We had been discussing the possibility of building a health facility in Sirembe for years, but we had to wait for the right time. Last year we put a Medical Committee together (made up of our Board of Directors and some amazing local doctors) and we were ready to take it on in 2014.  I came to Kenya in January with these objectives in mind--finalize the details of our timeline and immediate needs for the clinic, then return home to raise the funds and begin construction. However, we found another opportunity that changed our path.

It came to my attention that the local outpatient clinic in our area had the same vision for their facility as we did for ours, but they did not have access to proper funding. It is a community run clinic that was started by the church in that area, but is now mainly funded by the Kenyan government. This crucial funding is not consistent or reliable, thus their growth has been stunted. This clinic provides vital care to the area, but without proper funding you run out of medications and staff pretty quickly. In the end it is the people of Sirembe that suffer. Despite the constant struggle the community leaders of this clinic did not give up and continued to search for the funds necessary. As a result at the end of 2013 they received a partial grant from the Kenyan government to assist them in building a Maternity Ward.


This came to my attention in January and I began to see an opportunity for a partnership. They already had an outpatient clinic that had been in operation for years that was lacking in consistent medications and staff. We had doctors and donors from the US that were ready and willing to help provide healthcare for this community, but we had to first build a facility.

I set up meetings with the people running the clinic and quickly found that we had similar visions and goals for a health facility. This made sense given that we were both responding to the needs of the community. It seemed silly to build a duplicate facility right down the road, both struggling to find our way when we could come together and see an immediate effect. The ultimate goal was to provide better healthcare for the community of Sirembe and it seemed that this partnership could do just that.


After many meetings and a lot of planning with the clinic leaders in Sirembe I came home to tell our Restore Humanity Medical Committee of our new opportunity and we had to make the final decision on which path to take.  There was a unanimous vote to form this partnership with the local clinic. Everyone agreed that we could accomplish the same objectives without all of the financial burden, which would make the project both have an immediate effect and a greater chance of sustainability.

In February the local clinic began construction on a Maternity Ward with the money they received from the Kenyan government. In early April Restore Humanity was able to send a grant to the clinic to assist them in the construction. The main purpose of this journey to Kenya is to see how our money was spent and if all goes well, I will return to the US in June to raise more money to help complete this project. At the end of this month two of our Restore Humanity Board Members--Joe Fennel (who is also my wonderful father) and Brandon Hurlbut--are coming to join me here in Kenya to help assess the situation and decide the next steps.From the reports I have been given I am extremely optimistic about how this project is coming along, but we will report back once we have seen it for ourselves.

My dad and Brandon have been a part of Restore Humanity since the beginning and I am so excited for them to see the progress of our children's home and spend time with our sweet kiddos. Their feedback and advice about our home and our new undertaking will be vital to our success and I am very thankful that they are coming.

This journey has a clear purpose and our passion for our kiddos is what lights our path. We strive to make their community happier and healthier and we are very grateful for this opportunity to do so. I will keep you all posted throughout our journey and thank you for all of your support along the way!

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Wine Dinner 2014 at Bordinos--We are so thankful!

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Wine Dinner 2014 at Bordinos--We are so thankful!

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

We are so thankful! Last Sunday, we had a sold out, record--breaking event and we couldn't be happier! First off, we want to thank all of our wonderful guests! We had the opportunity to share all about how Restore Humanity is growing--all of our projects, old and new. We gained new supporters and received some vital contributions, including five year pledges from some very generous supporters. We are also so grateful for Dr. Robert "Wine" Neralich for being our wine expert and once again keeping our event quite lively. He is one-of-a-kind and we are so grateful to have him on our team.

 Last, but certainly not least are the two integral supporters of this event and Restore Humanity as a whole. We could not do it without them--Bordinos and Glazers.

 Glazers provided all of our wine --5 different vintages for all 80 guests. They have been incredible and support us every year! 

Bordinos were the gracious donors of their beautiful restaurant, their incredible staff, and their delicious food. Chef Matt Barclay of Bordinos was at the top of his game and served 4 courses of fantastic food. Bordinos is the best of the best and we commend their generosity and all of their hard work. 

Lots of love and gratitude to all of our supporters! Thanks for making our event better than ever! A special thanks to Cole Fennel Photography for the beautiful photos of our event!

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

Photo by Cole Fennel Photgraphy

Photo by Cole Fennel Photgraphy

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

Photo by Cole Fennel Photography

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Growth Feels Good

“My destination is no longer a place, rather a new way of seeing.” 

― Marcel Proust


AHHHH----it is finally Spring (at least for our readers in the Northern Hemisphere). Shaking off the winter and beginning anew is what spring is about. I always feel a little lighter and eager to move forward—excited about what the future may hold.

Every year I feel this same way, but this year the focal point is Restore Humanity. I keep thinking about how far we have come, the strength in what we have built, and my excitement about where we are headed.

We have grown so much as an organization. Our kiddos have grown, our projects have grown—we are in a really good place. By my lights, it is the grace of God and the strength of our global team that have brought us this far.

We have an incredible global team and at the head of that is our Board of Directors. Our Board is an extremely talented group of people from all walks of life that all have a true heart for what we do. All of our members have been a part of Restore Humanity for years and have gone to great lengths to lend their support. Each one of them shows their dedication to Restore Humanity on a constant basis and I am so thankful for all that they do. (Click here to see our members)

Another member of our team that deserves mentioning is Sheila Cole. She has become my right-hand lady in the last 6 months and volunteers her time on a weekly basis to help make Restore Humanity better. It is pretty awesome.

All of these amazing people (and many others) have facilitated our growth. We know so much more than when we started. For the things that we don’t know, we have worked long and hard to develop a system from which to base all of our decisions—our Mission and Vision Statements and our Core values. These serve as a way to share with others who we are—but more importantly they serve as road maps for us in difficult moments. They help us find our way and stay true to what Restore Humanity is and why we do what we do.

I am proud of us and so grateful to be a part of this. Thank you to all of our supporters— our donors of all levels, our incredible event volunteers, our supporters in real life and in social media, all of the local businesses that support us in so many ways. All of you are essential members of our family and we thank you. We receive so much love and support from all of you and we are excited to continue this journey with you...

Here are our Core Values that we just recently completed. A lot of time and energy went into them and we are so excited to be able to share with you! Enjoy!


Restore Humanity Core Values

1. Golden Rule

2. All About People

3. Intensive Cross-Cultural Collaboration

4. Prudent Use of Funds & Resources

5.Total Transparency

6. Strategic Fluidity & Patience

7. Drop the Cape

Click here for further explanation of each Value

Here are some fun photos of some of our Board Members and other members of our US Team at our past events! Enjoy them!

Shelia Cole, our RH Scholar Vincent Agare, and I at Winetopia 2013

Shelia Cole, our RH Scholar Vincent Agare, and I at Winetopia 2013

Candra Davis (long-time supporter and volunteer), Joe Fennel (Board Member), and Michelle Fyfe (Board Member) at Winetopia 2013

Candra Davis (long-time supporter and volunteer), Joe Fennel (Board Member), and Michelle Fyfe (Board Member) at Winetopia 2013

Brandon Hurlbut (Board Member) and Joe Fennel (Board Member) at our Austin Fundraiser in 2011.

Brandon Hurlbut (Board Member) and Joe Fennel (Board Member) at our Austin Fundraiser in 2011.


Dr. Scott Bailey (Chairman of our RH Medical Project), Leslie Bailey, Tim McFarland (Board Member) and I at our Wine Dinner 2013

Dr. Scott Bailey (Chairman of our RH Medical Project), Leslie Bailey, Tim McFarland (Board Member) and I at our Wine Dinner 2013


Randy & Miriam Smith (Board Member), Vicki & Bill Mathews (Longtime Supporters), Britney & Brandon Hurlbut (Board Member) at our Wine Dinner 2013 at Bordinos

Randy & Miriam Smith (Board Member), Vicki & Bill Mathews (Longtime Supporters), Britney & Brandon Hurlbut (Board Member) at our Wine Dinner 2013 at Bordinos

Me and Herbert "Boo" Buchanan (Board Member) at our Wine Dinner 2013 at Bordinos

Me and Herbert "Boo" Buchanan (Board Member) at our Wine Dinner 2013 at Bordinos

Joanna Croll (Longtime Supporter), Jean Ann Fennel (Board Member) and Linda Collins (Longtime Supporter) at our Wine Dinner 2013 at Bordinos.

Joanna Croll (Longtime Supporter), Jean Ann Fennel (Board Member) and Linda Collins (Longtime Supporter) at our Wine Dinner 2013 at Bordinos.

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A Smile is Worth a Thousand Words

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A Smile is Worth a Thousand Words

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

-Mother Teresa

 A genuine smile from one of our kiddos is the best gift in the world. I could never receive a thank you more sincere than seeing one of them smiling a heartfelt smile targeted right at me. I feel beyond blessed. To see just one of them smile makes any amount of struggle or time, or energy spent to build what we have in Kenya all worth it. When I see their joy, I am reminded what it is all for.

Whenever I am in Kenya, I spend quite a lot of time with our kiddos. We play, we do homework, we read, we talk, we laugh, and sometimes there are tears. Many of the most cherished moments of my life come from this time with them.

 When you have a group of 17 kids of all ages in one house there are a lot of moments of chaos. Everybody has their own things going on, different games, or coloring or talking and giggling. There is never a dull moment.

 In the midst of all the madness these little cuties give me my greatest moments of joy through this small gesture. Many of them will search me out to look me right in the eye and smile the sweetest little smile—just to show me love and get it in return. With each one of them it is like our little secret, our moment to connect, just between us... They will just stop, smile from their heart and connect with me. We share our little moment in time.  It is as special as it is brief—and then they just continue with whatever they were doing. I absolutely love it. It is just pure heart-opening goodness, a genuine exchange of love.

 The same thing can happen with adults that I am close to or even with strangers. A genuine smile is an incredible communicator—especially for two people that do not speak the same language. Sometimes words are overrated and can get in the way of what we really want to “say.” In this situation a smile can provide an opportunity to communicate things that no amount of words can. It transcends the language barrier.

Someone’s eyes and smile can show things like love and gratitude far greater than words can—and when you are literally at a loss for words, you have to dig a little deeper to really communicate non-verbally. Because like one of my favorite childhood songs tells us:

 “There is just one moon and one golden sun

And a smile means friendship to everyone.

There’s so much that we share

That it is time we’re aware

It’s a Small World after all...”

My best friend in Kenya, Christine (everyone calls her Nyarkisumu) is one of the dearest people in the world to me.  Every day I’ve spent in Sirembe, Kenya going back to 2007 is a day I’ve spent with her. I love her with all of my heart, in fact we tell each other that often. However, she speaks Luo and I speak English. Over time we have learned bits and pieces of each other’s “mother tongue” and our conversational range has expanded.  However, the bulk of our “conversations” over the years have consisted of big and fantastic hugs, laughter and smiles, and both of us saying in Luo and English—“Aheri” (I love you) or “You are my friend” or “My sister.” Nyarkisumu tells me all of the time that she loves me from her heart or from her insides. She uses hand motions and gestures to get it across. It is really awesome. 

 

                                                                      Me a…

                                                                      Me and Christine (Nyarkisumu)

 She has gone above and beyond for me on many occasions and I try to do the same for her. Our mutual love, friendship and respect are constant and it has been this way for years. In fact, it gets stronger every time that I go back. It is a very unique relationship in my life that I cherish deeply. Although our words are limited we can meet eyes and smile—then we know all we need to know.

We all can connect through this small, yet heart-felt gesture. Give someone the gift of a smile, from your whole being and 9 times out 10 you will get it right back. As you make an effort to connect to others—you will find that it really is just a small world after all.

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