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Children of
Pokot Educational Fund, Inc.
C.O.P.E. |
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Lincoln Christian College Mission started in
1997
NW Kenya (10 km from Uganda) |
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Three
Solar ovens are being donated by the Rotary
clubs of Mt. Pulaski, Atlanta, and Lincoln. The
Solar Oven company matched the donation, which
brought the donation to six solar ovens. These
ovens will be used to make bread and other foods
never seen by the Pokot people. Barbara
O'Donohue, a C.O.P.E. director, visited the
Mount Pulaski Rotary Club last Thursday noon to
explain the mission of C.O.P.E. She is a former
Lincoln resident and former owner of a Lincoln
consulting insurance business. Barbara works as
one of the on-site directors, who coordinate the
placement and use of resources provided by
C.O.P.E. partners in the USA. Barbara also
serves as a nurse ("Doctor Barbara") for these
Pokot tribal people. Barbara was very very
grateful for the donation of the Solar Ovens by
the Mount Pulaski Rotarians. She is a former
Lincoln Rotarian. |
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A school has been set up for the nursery
children and for the primary grades, giving
these young children a chance to learn some
academic subjects as well as essential hygiene
and cultural values. There is a on-going
struggle to help the sick and injured. A local
dispensary has been established, which cares for
1000 - 1500 per month. Bites from animals,
especially scorpions and vipers, are common.
Unfortunately, many sick and injured people are
taken by loved ones to old women healers, who in
turn pass many of them onto the local Witch
Doctors. Besides animal and insect bites,
malaria, typhoid, dysentery and aids are the
four most common afflictions. |
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400,000 Pokot people are struggling for
existence, who confront survival on a daily
basis. They have only five different foods in
their entire life, usually having only two
sparse meals a day (morning and evening).
One meal consists of
Ugali, which is a ground corn made into a
paste (mashed potato texture). Occasionally,
Sukuma (like Spinach) is mixed into the
Ugali. Milk, when available, will be added into
this food for breakfast. |
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The kitchen at the school is run by only
two cooks, which serves 700 children and adults
at two meals a day. Drought and famine
conditions, however, continue in this area.
There are only 15 nurses in this Pokot tribal
nation, which has a 50% infant mortality rate.
It is truly a place where the "Survival of the
Fittest" exists. C.O.P.E. has responded by
providing supplies and money to purchase food
for the Pokot people. |
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A Cottage Industry was started in 1998,
to allow the women and men to use their talents
to make jewelry and traditional carvings. The
items are brought to the USA and sold, with the
proceeds going back to the local artisans. A
vocational school and attempts to entice and
establish employment and industry in the area of
Tapadany are being planned. |
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C.O.P.E. Goals for 2005
1)
Construct 5 classrooms to complete the Primary
School
2)
Strengthen the Community Health Education
program
3)
Implement an irrigation system in the school
garden
4)
Construct shared space to teach sewing and
secretarial skills
5)
Construct space for bakery and obtain solar
ovens |
Children of Pokot Education Fund, Inc.
113
N. Kickapoo St. Lincoln, IL 62656
barbara@insightbb.com
jncox@africaonline.co.ke
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