August 2010: Micro-credits for At-risk Youths

To test a new socio-economic reinsertion strategy in Chad, CFK began providing micro-loans to at-risk youths who received job training while residing in a group home.

Arni lived on the streets for many years before the case workers of the Bethesda Center convinced him to return home. With psycho-social support and multiple family meetings, Arnie was successfully re-integrated.

Arni decided he wanted to go to a better school this fall but couldn’t afford the costly fees. With training from CFK, he was able to elaborate a successful business plan and get a loan to begin selling candy on the side of the street. Using the training he received in carpentry, Arni built himself a table to start his business.

Arni, and others like him, will benefit from off-site follow-up services, business management and accounting classes and continued psycho-social support in his community during the duration of the loan to ensure that he can become financially independent.

July-August 2010: CFK completes a Technical Assessment of the “Centre Espoir de Koundoul pour l’Enfance” (CENEKE)

Co-funded by the Chadian Ministry of Education and Caring for Kaela, CFK completed a technical evaluation of Chad's oldest Psycho-social Rehabilitation Center ("Le Centre Espoir de Koundoul pour l'Enfance" - CENEKE). In collaboration with the Ministry of Social Action, the evaluation Team, composed of CFK’s Executive Director, an international Engineer, local experts and three local CFK staff, completed a three pronged technical assessment.

The Team (1) measured the parameters of the property and determined land-ownership; (2) assessed the structural soundness of the 15 buildings currently vacant; and (3) compiled socio-economic data on the city and inhabitants of Koundoul as well as information on the management dynamics that led to the Center’s closure’s in 2007. The final report established the cost of rehabilitating the structures already in place and re-opening the program... Read more

July 2010: CFK volunteers rewire the Bethesda Center

Careful to properly utilize materiel given by CFK, the Bethesda Center Staff decided to wait before installing the generator donated by CFK. Darcy, a new CFK volunteer on mission in Chad, and his MINURCAT colleague, decided to donate their time to street children in Chad. They rewired the Center to ensure that the connections with the generator and the computer were safe.
 

December 2009 (N'DJAMENA): Child Sponsorship

On location in N'Djamena, CFK sponsored the education of 2 more children. Graduates of the Bethesda Center, Arni and Basil were successfully re-inserted in their family about a year ago. Wanting to pursue their education, CFK purchased school books for the two youth and helped register them at the Lycée Gassi.

• EACH ONE, REACH ONE: Child Sponsorship opportunities 

August 2009 (N'DJMAMENA): Electricity for the Bethesda Center!

To provide additional after-school activities for street children, CFK donated a generator to the Bethesda Center. Staff will be able to show movies and documentaries, giving the kids another incentive to stay off the streets and engage in the treatment program.

July 2009 (N'DJAMENA): CFK's Executive Director spends a week with the children of the Bethesda Center

The Staff of the Bethesda Center prepared a week of fun and relationship building for Caring for Kaela's Executive Director, Nathalie Losson, during her stay in Chad.

Staff taught the kids how to make lotion and jams. Kids attended Bible Study and went through hygiene classes. Nathalie shared lunch with the boys at Samson's, the local restaurant that offers the youths breakfast and lunch.

The week would not have been complete without Nathalie watching the children play a few games of soccer against the boys of the EET#12.

Nathalie met with graduates of the Center and their parents who were full of praises for the work the Staff had done with their child. The Exec. also ran a few groups on conflict resolution with the kids currently going through the program.

Nathalie met with the elders of the EET#12 to discuss plans to expand the Center.

See photo gallery

April 2009 (N'DJAMENA): Providing Positive After-school Activities for At-risk Kids 

The Bethesda Center, CFK's local partner, began providing youths with after-school activities. The Center formed two sports teams to teach kids how to play soccer and learn discipline and team work. One is a “Junior Team” for kids ages 10 to 14 and the other a “Youth Team” for those 15 to 18 years old.

Half of the kids participating in the program are children who received services from the Bethesda Center and transitioned back into their community. The kids have already faced off in a few games. The Bethesda Center’s sports program totals over 40 kids.

August 2008 (N'DJAMENA): Field Update

Due to the educational sponsorship of Ms. Anne, Julien will be enrolled in a Private School (Ecole Evangelique Shama) starting in September where he will also be learning to speak English. He's hoping to be able to write her back in English in the near future :) Depending on the amount of his school fees in September, staff will decide if he'll eat at the Bethesda Center or join his classmates in the dining hall... Read more