Sponsor A School! Sponsoring schools keeps children from going hungry so they can focus on their education.  During a recent visit to Iltaqui, Ecuador, we found children, such as this young girl, crying from want of food. Upon interviewing local community members, we found it was a common occurrence for children to miss classes and leave school during the day because of hunger. Teachers have volunteered to cook the food we provide. There will be no overhead or maintenance. To sponsor schools, feeding & enhancing education for children, please click here: Sponsor Projects for Children To read more about the children under our care, their needs and their lives, please scroll through the stories on our children's blog. For more information please email laura@sxhu.org. SPECIAL CHALLENGE NOTIFICATION On-line searches and shopping help children! $1 will be given to Southern Cross Humanitarian for each person who joins iGive using this special link AND visits a participating iGive store, via iGive, between noon, Wednesday February 24, 2010 and 11:59 a.m., Thursday, February 25, 2010. Please tell your friends and family! It's easy! Southern Cross Humanitarian: Bridging cultures to provide long-term solutions for children-at-risk in South America.   Laura Chabries - President Cameron Smyres - Project Director Wayne Merrill - Chairman of the Board   Contact Information: website: www.sxhu.org phone: (801) 397-5578 fax: (801) 397-5579 email: laura@sxhu.org Address: 1492 South 800 West, Suite A Woods Cross, Utah 84087 Southern Cross donations!!  DONATE BY Visa, MC, Amex or Discover Credit Cards using PayPal. DONATE BY CHECK Mail to: Southern Cross Humanitarian 1492 South 800 West, Suite A Woods Cross, Utah 84087 CHANGE FOR GOOD SOUTHERN CROSS HUMANITARIAN Partnering with Communities & Schools, 2010 Expeditions Focus on Prevention The Problem: Too many children in South America live in extreme poverty. Often children in these circumstances turn to the streets for solutions. Our 2010 expeditions focus on establishing long-term preventative measures (such as remodeling this school kitchen to provide food and water for children who attend school) so children can learn and thrive in their own communities. Summer expeditions will be working with local schools providing food, hygiene, educational materials and one-on-one skill development. Join Us & Be the Solution! June 12-21: El Bichito (Cajamarca, Peru) - Finishing a permanent shelter - Providing food for children-at-risk - Working with the local school providing educational materials & training July 1-10: Sacred Valley (High Andean Village) Peru - - Building bathrooms for the local school - Providing electricity in the local school July 11-20: Yantalo, Peru (Peruvian Amazon Jungle) - Building a kitchen in the local school - Creating a food program & training August 1-10: Cartagena, Colombia "Alegria de Vivir" - Creating a garden to help feed the handicapped children in this center  August 2-12: Otavalo, Ecuador - - Remodeling the kitchen and providing the food in schools - Working on bringing in water for the bathrooms and kitchen - Provide hygiene training December 26-January 4 - TBD based on greatest need Together we're changing the label of "children-at-risk" to "children-of-promise" with a new life free of starvation, disease and fear to one of hope for a positive future.  Join an Expedition today! Expeditions Intern Updates! Welcome to Mitchell Beazer, Cori Hoffman, Shelisa Goates and Brianna Skates who are all currently interning at the Aldea under the care of Professor Puertas.  Here are some excerpts from their weekly entries to our children blog: "Getting to the orphanage I was not sure what to expect, I was blown out of the water at how amazing the children are and how loving they are even to a complete stranger. When our truck pulled up the children came flooding in and they helped us instantly with our bags and carried them to our house. I enjoy and love so many of the children already and it has only been two weeks but they have my heart....." "My new best friend  would have to be Andrés. He lives in modulo 2 where I was assigned to eat this week. He is around 11 years-old and loves to play in the water and play soccer. He has a kind heart, always offering to help me. A couple of times this week we played a board game called "ludo". I find it interesting that even the most disobedient child wants to do good deep inside......" "Kenny has a great talent for drawing.  When we were in class teaching about washing hands to not have germs, we had the children draw their hands and Kenny went into amazing detail! I was truly shocked he drew so well.  Kenny also enjoys listening to music and is such a good kid with a lot of drive and motivation....." To read more, check out our child blog! For information on ways to volunteer for Southern Cross, email Info.  Heartbeats "When people donate their time, they are giving of their valuable heartbeats." - A warm welcome and appreciation for Yussef Sumar, our newest Chapter President in Peru,  who has been busy bringing cheer to and helping the children in Huanta. Our July expedition will be working in this community to bring electricity to their school. - Big Hearty thanks to the local volunteers in Colombia who went with our country liaison Henry Ponnefz and played with the children at "Alegria de Vivir" (Happiness of Living).  The children loved the one-on-one attention! - Much gratitude goes to Shelly Fishbein and her family, from Cupertino, CA, for all the school kits they prepared!  Your generosity is greatly appreciated. - Flints Funschool, in Layton, UT, put on a "fun" and successful fundraiser with their preschool students.  Big thanks to all who were involved! - Thank you to the women in the Layton, UT 18th Ward who had an evening making donation kits for Southern Cross.  Your work and efforts will be appreciated by many!