A group of John Jay High School students recently traveled to Nicaragua through a non-profit called Bridges to Community, to help build a rural school. The students helped KTKI deliver student-created picture books and school supplies by packing these donations in their luggage. Once in Nicaragua, they passed the donations along to Bridges to Community country representative, Kenia Rodriguez, who agreed to deliver the donations to a school in need. Ms. Rodriguez wrote to tell us about the class that received the KTKI Friendship packages:

“These materials were given to Patricia Murillo, who is a volunteer teacher in the community kindergarten of Cocal (1.86 miles north from Nindiri citytown). The concept of community kindergarten is when there is no infrastructure for a school in a community, people volunteer their houses to set a school-like room to meet the need. Teachers only receive $21.74 as a monthly monetary support and scarce donations. They form as a quick response to reduce the school construction gap. She teaches 21 students, ages 3-5 years old, and has been teaching for 3 years in the community. Patricia is committed to getting a piece of land donated for building a school soon. She also mentioned that, at this time, she is using part of a house as a classroom (owner: Andres Sevilla), but that conditions are not always nice and any kind of support is welcome!”

Proof that the generosity and creativity of our KTKI member schools and students is greatly needed and appreciated!

Northern Westchester Examiner article spotlights the Yorktown High School’s KTKI postcard project!

(click article to view larger)

We love our Girl Scout Volunteers!

Fondly,
Pat Kibbe

Postcards Still Inspire – Yorktown High School is “making a difference!” The inspiration for Kids to Kids International began with the photo of the little refugee boy on the Cambodian border holding a postcard – proof that one postcard can inspire action and make a difference in this world. Building on this inspiration, the Yorktown High School KTKI Club (Yorktown Heights, NY) is sponsoring a postcard drive; with the goal that all 1,200 students will complete one postcard of friendship that can be sent to children around the world (like Japan, Haiti, Thailand, Nicaragua, or here in the U.S. to tornado-impacted Indiana.)

In her own words…

Dear Mrs. Kibbe,
I wanted to print you out some pictures from my trip. It was such an amazing experience and really was a beautiful place. Every time I travel it reminds me to be grateful for everything that I have.

At the school, the kids faces lit up when they saw what I was giving them. They were so excited to see the books and I think they really liked that you added the authors pictures at the end so they could see their faces!

Enclosed are pictures of the school, the children reading the books, a picture of the principal and I, some of the exciting adventures that my group and I went on as well as pictures of the houses that we were helping build.

What you do is truly amazing and I was fortunate enough to see it first hand. The kids were so happy and the principal was genuinely excited to meet us and hopefully keep in contact with you, and kids to kids. This really is an amazing organization and I’m proud to be a part of it. Keep in touch!

Your friends,
Erika Likar

This Fall KTKI members can schedule a Skype call with Kids to Kids International. We had our first Skype call with a school Avoca West Elementary School in Glenview, Illinois and it was a wonderful success. Meet and talk to KTKI online without having to leave your school. We will talk about how and why KTKI was started, where we send the picture books and educational supplies we receive, why KTKI is so important, and answer students questions live. The best part is, you never have to leave your classroom! Contact KTKI to schedule your Skype today – Contact Form!

A new picture book from the Booth Hill School 5th grade in Trumbull, CT was added to the KTKI Bookshelf!
Animal Poems

We recently received photos of the St. Pierre School in Haiti where the Haitian Health Foundation helped to deliver KTKI student created picture books. Click the title of the post to view the photo collage.

View the picture book on the KTKI bookshelf now!
The Very Thirsty Giraffe

View entire picture book here:
El alfebeto en la naturaleza