ERIN CHANDLER | OCT 12, 2022
Grants from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund are helping Kiwanis clubs around the world serve the Kiwanis causes of education, literacy and youth leadership development. By furnishing schools, providing textbooks and essential supplies, developing curricula, paying for classes and serving as mentors, these clubs are making sure all children have an opportunity to grow into educated leaders in their communities. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund makes grants that improve the lives of children around the world. We do this by identifying the projects that create a continuum of impact in a child’s life — one that spans their entire childhood and sets them up for a bright future. By funding projects that target the Kiwanis causes of health and nutrition, education and literacy, and youth leadership development, whether through a Kiwanis Club’s local service project or through a club’s partner, the Children’s Fund ensures that its grantmaking has the greatest possible impact. If you are interested in extending your and your club’s impact beyond your community by giving to the Children’s Fund or applying for a club grant, visit the Kiwanis Children’s Fund page. An empowering educational experience The Kiwanis Club of Lusaka, Zambia, is working to improve the school program they established in 2015 for the most vulnerable children in their community. In an area where families struggle for access to water and electricity, the club makes sure that over 200 pre- and primary school children can get a quality education at ImitiIkula Academy. The club has already made infrastructure updates, including the addition of an iron sheet metal roof to help with the building’s durability. Now, a club grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund will enable them to provide essential school supplies, such as desks, boards, shelves, textbooks and recreational equipment; hire a team of teachers and staff; develop a curriculum that meets students’ needs and provide food so that children can concentrate on learning. An international effort A grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund will help the Kiwanis Club of Scicli, Italy, lead an international effort to see that children in Madagascar have access to an education. Club members from Scicli have long volunteered to help Madagascan children in need. The club’s most ambitious project to date has been to join with other local volunteer organizations to launch the only school in that community. Funds from the club grant will be used to complete the school building and furnish it with desks, chairs and blackboards, as well as to purchase textbooks, notebooks and writing utensils for the 5,000 anticipated students. The next generation of entrepreneurs The Kiwanis Club of Cave City, Arkansas, U.S., will tutor 50 local teenagers in leadership, communication and workplace skills — with help from a grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Teens in Business Leadership and Entrepreneur Skills for Success (B.L.E.S.S.) will reap the benefits of Kiwanis club members’ years of experience in self-employment, graphic design, marketing, tax preparation and more, and they will put those skills to use in promoting and volunteering at the club’s other service projects and events. Club members hope that, through this program, students who might not attend college will be qualified and prepared for more job opportunities. Club grant funds will go toward the purchase of office supplies, backpacks, books and meals for the students. Changing lives through learning Thanks to a grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, the Kiwanis Club of Brown’s Town, Jamaica, will partner with Brown’s Town Community College to offer classes for free or at a significantly reduced rate. The program will benefit parents who want to learn new skills or help their children with schoolwork; students from the ages of 6 to 18; and young adults seeking rehabilitation and jobs following their release from correctional facilities. When needed, club members will provide necessary assistance through programs like Bring Up Grades (BUG) to students who need extra help catching up with their peers.
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