Post graduation from Physical Therapy school i Will be celebrating by traveling to Kenya with Village Care International from June 25th-July 9th to work in orphanages, villages, and schools to provide needs and tools to the community for their own success. I am excited to be a part of this story to Africa, to give of myself to them, to learn from them. My biggest challenge right now is to raise about 5,000 in 2 months. AHHH! SOOO....I welcome you to be a part of the adventure by donating your funds to help me do this work there. Ive created this Blog for anyone who wants to read, but especially for those who make the trip happen, as you can watch and read what you are doing in Africa with me. So join me in the story!

At the top of the page there is a link to how you can donate online, i think, the easiest and quickest way. Although if you would like a form, i can provide that as well. REMEMBER: ALL DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE! So, this way you can give your money and KNOW how its being put to use :).

What the trip entails:
Basically to empower and provide tools for women and children of Kenya to make their community a healthier/safer living environment. The details:

1. Determine the # of registered children in the community visited.
2. Assess, photograph, and inspect children in groups or homes.
3. Inspect organization records and photos for children provided by the community
4. Compare current situations to records from previous team visits or to files on the children
5. Determine how many businesses were started after from/after VCI training
6. Determine if the businesses are profitable
7. Determine how many people are employed through VCI business.
8. Investigate how the business is helping vulnerable widows and orphans in the program and community.
9. Obtain sample essays or recorded interviews from communities on "how has VCI benefited me and my community."
10. Determine how many people in the community are involved with VCI.
11. View and participate in OPS (outcomes, practices, Open space) training when possible; Training that occurs with people of the village.
12. Time permitting, playing with children
13. Discussion with youth on HIV/AIDS, Becoming a Man or Woman, Life in Africa and the US, and among other topics.

Isn't this exciting!
Join me in reading 2 books before i go {The Insanity of Africa, by David Glenwinkel} and {When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert}.

I enjoyed sharing this first post with you. many more updates to come on the progress of this trip!

Rachel