Barbara Barnes Foundation
2019 Nsongwe Visit Newsletter
“EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.”
NELSON MANDELA
Note from Barbara & Randy
Dear Family and Friends,
Most of you will recognize the quote from Nelson Mandela and know I am writing you about Nsongwe Village. Many of you have been donating to this little village in Zambia for years, know you have made a difference. Randy and I will again be going to Nsongwe in June, which is a surprise to some. Nsongwe pulls at my heart so I guess we will be going until we can’t. Last year had some surprises for me health wise. On March 5th I had back lumbar surgery. It has been a slow recovery, but I am better every day and will be ready to go.
You may remember from the last two year’s letters Brenda and David Kerstine who have joined our team and they have performed wonders. They set up the Barbara Barnes Foundation which has received federal charitable organization status, 501(c)(3), that allows your donations to be deductible, set up Facebook pages so you can see pictures of previous trips and a power point presentation. They have also found sponsors for many students which is one of their priorities.
Note from Brenda & David
Through 2018 into 2019 the Barbara Barnes Foundation, with your donations, has been able to sponsor seven children in High School. Five of these students are attending boarding school and two attending day school. Leveraging our partnership with the local school district we visited each boarding school to meet with the students and tour the facilities. In addition to the students sponsored through High School the Foundation was able to sponsor one young adult student in Nursing School.
In our 2018 visit we had the opportunity to take my youngest daughter, Whitney to experience this wonderful opportunity of giving to others. When we arrived, she looked around and asked what should I do? She quickly connected with the children by sharing stickers, candies, and handing things out in the classes. She shared with them her passion around caring for the environment encouraging them to take care of their land so it will continue to take care of them.
The giving doesn’t stop here. Continue to the Projects section of the newsletter to see our latest projects beyond the school in which Mathews Nyemba braved a journey from the village to San Antonio, T