There are several ways you can help make a difference in the life of a child!  As we prepare for an upcoming trip to Ethiopia, we have several specific needs.

We are hoping to take 40 mp3/voice recorder systems to our blind students, each priced at $30.00 - would you consider adding one, or ten to your shopping list? 

We need a Duxbury Braille Translator program that runs $550.00.  This will enable a local church to begin a translating ministry on our behalf to print Braille books that can be carried over and used to stock our library for the students.

We are also looking for two used laptop computers that work well with no problems.  New ones are welcome, but we aren't picky!  If they are used, it is preferrable to have them running at least Windows ME.  These will be used in our blind student resource room to allow the students to learn computer skills, access audio books, and send emails to their sponsors with assistance.

We would love to purchase two of the FLIP camcorders, a new system that works on a flash drive, recording up to 30 or 60 minutes of video in a compact camera and then uploads via usb.  This will enable our caseworkers to use a simple system to take dvd/video of our students and waiting children and send them to us monthly via the very slow internet service in Ethiopia.  This camera has just the right size of files!  They run about $100-$150 each.

Sponsorship of children or families are also a great way to help, and we are currently accepting family sponsorships at $35 per month and blind student sponsorships at $20 per month.  You will be assigned a specific family or student, and will receive regular updates from them. 

Finally, we hope to rent a small compound to house our 11 blind females in safety while we are in Mekelle, and open a computer learning lab for our 40 students to access for their studies, lecture files, and use of a scanner for reading their textbooks.  This will cost about $5,000 US per year for rent, a housemother, a guard, and a computer lab monitor to assist the students.  We will also need about $800US to purchase beds, some basic furniture, and kitchen equipment so it is user-friendly for the girls.  We would love to have a group of families or a church take this home on as their project, with annual gifts or fundraisers to benefit the students.  A video will be available in February showing the home and giving more background on the students. 

All giving to Fields of Promise is tax-deductible, and can be sent to our office at 3017 Oxford Road, Lawrence, KS 66049.  A receipt will be sent for your tax records for all gifts.  Please make checks payable to FIELDS OF PROMISE.  Thanks for considering these needs!