Onward and Upward
Somehow the Christmas and New Year celebrations breezed by and now it is February! The time is passing very fast and we are on the move with all the programs that need our attention.

The challenges before us in 2010 are very sobering. The programs and ministries that have been implemented need a special emphasis on sustainability. New initiatives always require special attention to detail if there is to be any level of success or improvement. There are a number of such challenges before us in 2010! What keeps the entire staff motivated is they encouraging evidence that GECHAAN initiatives are making a significant difference in the entire region. Hundreds of children are in school rather than roaming the streets, sleeping in beds as opposed to cardboard boxes located in some dangerous alley, or eating food regularly rather than begging to survive. Over fifty newborn orphaned children are brought for formula and a physical check up every Friday. Many would die if not for the supply of formula to sustain them for another week.

Meeting the Standard Accomplished
Winning a grant award for faith-based projects is more than a financial package to assist in completing the objectives of a master plan. For GECHAAN the USAID grant has encouraged a new level of office management and procedure. After one week of program and financial accountability review by USAID staff the special conditions, or areas that needed improvements, have been met and we are set to press forward to continue meeting the needs of orphaned children.

The three foster care field offices and a sampling of foster care homes were visited and all the documents examined. The quality of care for the orphaned children was one of the major concerns. There will be some changes made with regard to a few personnel but such adjustments are quite normal based on the size of this project. The New Tomorrows Project (TNTP) is meeting the standard of quality care and integrity set by USAID and there will always be areas of improvement so that the deepest needs of hurting children

Expansion to Additional Counties In Motion          
Three more counties (Local Governments) are now part of the TNTP Program. They are directly below the Mambilla Plateau. Art has visited each government office, the highest ranking chiefs, and many church leaders to set the process in motion.

There are a total of nine Wards that will host a TNTP office for counselors and managers of the program. A supervisor is overseeing the work in each local government. The difficulty in maneuvering the extremely remote villages is creating some challenges. The number of orphaned children is alarming to say the least and there is funding for only 1,300 within the scope of our current grant. The number of children suffering from malnutrition is so pitiful. You cannot imagine how much help the shipment of food from Impact Lives will be in this area. The distribution of the food supplements is in process. Pray that children who are suffering will be properly identified and treated.

World AIDS Day Observed
The 2009 World AIDS Day, December 1, was observed quietly but with meaning by the total GECHAAN staff and seven special guests from the Edinbrook Church of Brooklyn Park, MN. Part of the program was focused on the dedication of the House of Hope, an eight-room guest house facility was made possible by the generous giving of the Edinbrook Church congregation. Secondly, the final HIV/AIDS Secondary School Quiz was held in Gembu. This HIV/AIDS Awareness effort begins with every school supplied with a packet of information concerning HIV/AIDS. The school selects their participants who will compete with other schools to determine which school is more aware of the dangerous virus. The final competition for first and second prize was the main event on this year’s World AIDS Day. The level of awareness has increase significantly since the concept of such competitions has been observed. Drama and debate competitions will be sponsored during 2010 among secondary schools to keep the level of awareness up.

Container Arrives In Gembu
The container filled with food supplements arrived and because it was rented it was necessary to transfer the cargo into a GECHAAN container. In short order ten young men began the process of transferring boxes to our container. The work continued for a while and then it was time to share some Mountain Dew to rebuild stamina to complete the job. Selection of malnourished children and developing the logistics of how to best provide food on location is ongoing. Reports will be generated as the process continues.

With many project functioning simultaneously adding this one will need some additional hands to carry it out properly to benefit the children who need it most. One ward supervisor brought a list of over 400 children that were showing signs of being malnourished! The gift of this food to assist in feeding children is appreciated very much. There is a need for funding so it can be delivered to children who need it most.

Ambassador to Nigeria from France Visits GECHAAN
Mr. Jean-Michael Dumond, French Ambassador to Nigeria, visited our compound and toured the Lifeline Centre and the main office building. He was impressed with the scope of the work and was very interested in the Hoops for Hunger project.

The part of GECHAAN that drew his attention was the foster care orphan and vulnerable children program which is aligned with community development. It was wonderful to see his interest in the program and the Nigerians we training to take up the responsibilities.

It was an honor for our staff to host an international official and to hear his affirmation of their work.

Prayer Always!

1. For wisdom to discern God’s will in making major program decisions related to personnel.
   
2. For children and their emotional well being after the loss of their parents.
   
3. Pray that our work fund can be revived because projects are put on hold until later and this is creating additional stress and pressure concerning the future.

Dorothy for Art and Dorothy