A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT—Elissa Ponich

2015 was an exciting year of growth! Once again, I am astounded at what we can accomplish. When I look back to where Linked Through Love (LTL) started in 2012, it has surpassed my expectations and I am so grateful for the dedicated ladies who serve hours upon hours to get the job done. I am driven by Faith and Love for those we support. LTL is the direct result of being compelled into action. In 2012, I travelled to DRC for the first time and I vowed I would not merely be a witness to the effects of poverty on children, and families. BUT, I would stand against the injustice of poverty. Poverty has a devastating toll on families especially in developing nations. Poverty is destructive, it tears families apart and builds walls to prevent people from succeeding in life. You cannot break the chains of poverty without education. , You cannot excel in your studies without nourishment, and you cannot flourish without unconditional love and support. The team at LTL strives to support Education, food, and care. We firmly believe that if you invest in today’s generations you will build a bright tomorrow. 2015 Brought: Four villages clean water One new location and of 10 children to the feeding program Launch of Renew Hope-Empower a Mother Sewing Program 22 new sponsorships in our Child Sponsorship program in Kenya. It has been a blessing to work alongside these ladies at LTL, each one us of us brings a different strength to the Board and together we are driven by the same goals. It’s through your support and commitment we can face tomorrows needs and THANK YOU doesn’t seem adequate. But, it’s all I can offer, So THANK YOU for standing with us in the journey to alleviate the injustice of poverty.

This Issue

A Note From the President P.1 Feeding Program P.2

What makes an Orphan P.3 Mogra Report P.4

For the Love of Education

Education is the most powerful tool,

in which to change the world.’

– N. Mandela

LTL sent donations of school supplies

to help students in Kinshasa at the

Mayi Ndombe school. Elissa was

excited to meet these students and see

how energetic and happy they were to

have an education. The students

greeted Elissa with songs and stories,

they are joyful and work very hard

despite their circumstances.

33 kids in 3 different locations are in

school because of you!

www.linkedthroughlove.com/blog/for-

the-love-of-education

Newsletter

January 2016

FEEDING PROGRAM

Thanks to all the support from our donors, in a period of less than seven months, LTL was able to “Give Water” to four villages in Uganda. Over 1400 people now have access to clean water on a daily basis.

Once funds were collected and sent to Child2Youth, the construction commenced. The materials would be delivered and the men would get to work. Within a week, we would be receiving pictures of the transformation. The transformation was not only the water source but the transformation of the village. "It was all smiles, thanks and appreciations yesterday at Lweru village when we were handing over the constructed and completed water source.

In unison they thanked you so much for the financial assistance which enabled the village to have a clean water source after drinking water from an unhygienic source for over 30 years." Steven of C2Y

We all know that water is essential and without it, there would be no life…. These water sources will reduce illness, disease and the long distances that the women and children have to walk to fetch water. It gives them hope of a better future.

Nicole Deschamps

Program Director

Spring of 2015 Elissa (President and Program Director) travelled to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Elissa spend time visiting the homes and the children within our feeding program. During this time she was able to experience the in country operations and see first-hand the many benefits and challenges. Elissa met with our partners at Mwangaza and two of our in-country program Intermediaries, Rose and Joelle. These women and the work they accomplish for Linked Through Love (LTL) is vital to our feeding program. They are responsible in carrying out the shopping and delivery of the food every month to all three children’s homes. This is no small task to co-ordinate! First you have to navigate traffic and then the open air markets. Finding the best quality food and of course at the best price. They are our liaises between the children, the homes and our Foundation required to report any concerns and needs. These two women are amazing! Through all the experience and information learned, Elissa was able to assess the current program and give direction for improvement to prepare for future growth.

This future growth happened faster than ever expected. While on this trip Elissa was approached about the possibility of adding a group of 10 kids to our feeding program. Another

charity could no longer commit to feeding these children and their current home could no longer care for them. How can you say NO? NO, to the most basic necessity for life. FOOD. Miraculously, LTL didn’t have to say NO. ONE family has taken on this group of ten kids.

Currently, our program feeds 30 children at a cost of $0.93 USD/ child. The decline in the Canadian dollar has inflated our costs by up to 43% making a huge gap to fill as we run a $400 per month deficit. We currently cannot cover our monthly costs of running this program and our reserve funds are running low. It is fundamental that we make up this gap, and then replenish the emergency fund, intended for improvements to the program, supplying a more varied diet to the children, and other future emergencies.

The needs at times can be overwhelming, but we are making a difference through your support. These kids are not just pictures, they have names and they have dreams. Please consider partnering with us today to feed a child.

You can read about Elissa’s travels in our blog:

http://www.linkedthroughlove.com/blog/feed-a-child-behind-the-scenes

GIVE WATER

WHAT MAKES AN ORPHAN?

Renew Hope Encourage a Mother

DRC

The summer of 2015 brought a brand

new partnership with Rudi Interna-

tional, with an initiative to Renew

Hope and Empower women to pro-

vide for themselves. Through this

initiative we are training 10 women

over 10 months to build bright fu-

tures with their new skill set of sew-

ing. In April of 2016 these women

will be the first graduating class of

this program.

These women were selected from

Rudi’s Encourage a Mothers program

where they received counselling

through bible study to heal from the

wounds of sexual violence, rejection,

or have been displaced due to war

and ongoing hardship and are unable

to currently provide the basic needs

for their children.

Jolene Thompson Kenya Program Director ‘Sponsor a Child’

Infants at Mogra abandoned at birth.

What Are Our Sponsors

Saying?

"To say my trip to Kenya and Mogra

was amazing would be an understate-

ment. It would become my honor to

be a small part of this great organiza-

tion, where clearly the work done by

the staff is done with a heart of love.

As a sponsor parent to two beautiful

children here at Mogra, meeting and

spending time with them was a great

joy. They were both happy and

healthy, looking forward to starting a

new school year next month. For us to

be able to meet in person, share small

stories, chase the chickens and laugh

made for some special memories. I

know without a doubt the difference

sponsorship makes in their lives and

the lives of other children here who

are fortunate to have sponsors.

We don’t live our lives in isolation; we

are all global citizens whether we

think about the concepts of our collec-

tive responsibilities or not. The world

needs our help. Our world needs our

love. If you are touch by the work

done by Linked Through Love Founda-

tion and Mogra Rescue Centre, please

look at their website and invite a child

into your world. Your love does make

a difference.

Asante Sana (thank-you)."

Shirley Winfield (View Shirley’s full review on our blog.)

2015 Director’s Annual Report – Mogra Rescue Centre, Kenya

Wow… what a year. It would be an understatement to say there has been a lot of growth at Mogra this year. I struggle to just keep the population numbers current on the website!

As many of you know, I visited Mogra in August of 2015. The trip was very beneficial to see first-hand how the home has grown and evolved since I was last there in 2013, and to identify new challenges and areas that we can best assist. I also had the opportunity to deliver your packages of love for your sponsor child(ren), and take the children on a fun field trip to an amusement park where they all got to experience amusement park rides and swimming for the first time ever – creating a memory they will forever cherish.

It would be an understatement to say that I was impressed with the level of care provided to the children at the orphanage. I chose to work with Mogra in 2012/2013 because I was impressed with their level of dedication and care, and now in 2015 – I am amazed how that level has only increased. The home has expanded to provide the children with a better environment to include larger rooms and facilities to ensure the safety and wellness of the children. A new level has been built on the home, making way for 2 new dorms, a new suite for the toddlers and medical clinic. Thanks to some Canadian friends – a Preschool is also being built on the grounds.

However, while this growth has provided a better environment and more room, a steady influx of children this year has put great strain on the management staff at Mogra. Key staff members are spread very thin and are not compensated at a level they should be. These staff members run this home out of love for the children. Recruiting and keeping new staff members is difficult because the home cannot afford to pay competitive salaries. The key challenge is lack of financial support.

At the end of December 2014, this program was only 3 months old, providing monthly support of $670 CAD. By year end 2015, we are providing Mogra with monthly support of $1570 CAD. We have struggled a bit, feeling the impact of oil prices trickle down through our supporters, but we have managed to keep a steady incline of growing supporters. Much of this is contributed to many of you whom have increased your sponsorship amounts or children and whom continue to share our program with friends and family!

While this is a great growth rate for our little program, we know more is needed to adequately care for these 250 children, and I will be working to increase those numbers in 2016.

I hope to travel to Mogra again this year to train an older student at Mogra to work as a correspondent for our Foundation to alleviate the pressure from the core staff. I will also be focusing on ways we can assist in increasing funding and reducing staffing shortages, etc.

The largest challenge at Mogra is to achieve reliable, consistent funding to afford the following:

Formula for the infants. Currently costing $75 US/day.

Diapers.

Staff salaries and hiring of more staff to accommodate the increasing number of children.

Meat and Fruit twice a week. Currently only offered once a week.

Utilities to run the home.

I will keep you updated as any travel plans unfold and let you know if we will have the opportunity to allow you send a little bit of love to your sponsor child!

Thank you so much for your continued support, loving these children and bringing joy to their lives with your letters! I look forward to another successful year, partnering with you to give these children all that they deserve!

Much Love,

Jolene Thompson—Kenya Program Director

MOGRA, Kenya REPORT