On the Road
Dressing the Part of a Professional
Buckhorn School helps seniors prepare for future job interviews
Buckhorn School is located in Perry County in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. This region is known for its lumber and coal industries, which sustained the people of this beautiful, very rural and isolated part of Appalachia for generations. Unfortunately, however, those industries are now waning, and there are few businesses in the area today. High unemployment and transportation problems are also major setbacks for most residents. Founded in 1902, Buckhorn School has a dedicated […]
A Father Bringing Up Kids on His Own
In Hazard, Kentucky, a single dad needs help supporting his four children
Roy G. Eversole Elementary School is located in Eastern Kentucky in the small city of Hazard. With a population of less than 5,000, Hazard is the county seat of Perry County. This region of Kentucky is known for its lumber and coal industries, which sustained the people of this beautiful part of Appalachia for generations. Originally founded as a settlement in 1790, Hazard received its name in 1854 in honor of American naval hero Commodore […]
Easing a Delicate Heart
Our Director of U.S. Programs talks about helping a special family through an emergency
Hear from our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, about her visit with our volunteer coordinator and a sponsored child and his mother at our affiliated project Johns Creek Elementary School in Pike County, Kentucky: “I arrived on a cloudy afternoon; and even though it was April, spring had not yet reached the higher mountain elevations. The trees had buds, but no leaves. “I was welcomed warmly by long-time Family Resource and Youth Services Center […]
Focusing on Character Education
At Dorton Elementary School, good habits and values for daily life are part of the curriculum
Although our affiliated project Dorton Elementary School in Pike County, Kentucky is an older school that has been around since 1929, the staff and administrators there have implemented progressive tactics to ensure that our sponsored and unsponsored children are receiving a well-rounded education that includes learning valuable ethical lessons. On a trip to Pike County to visit with our Volunteer Coordinator Alisa, our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, was told about the school’s efforts […]
When Community Matters Most
When resources are scarce, our volunteer coordinators seek support outside of the schools in which they work
It is an unfortunate reality that, when it comes to our affiliated projects around the world, including in urban and rural areas in the United States, we often hear from our volunteer coordinators that there just aren’t enough funds provided to them to help every child in need. Sometimes the reason is that a school’s budget has been cut, or the number of children in attendance is growing faster than the administration can keep up […]
Changing the Life of a Child in Need
A special student in Kentucky talks about what his sponsor means to him
Phelps Elementary School is on the far eastern side of Pike County, almost to the border between Kentucky and West Virginia, and about 45 minutes from the county seat. On a recent trip to Pike County, our U.S. Projects Specialist, Shelley Oxenham, met with our volunteer coordinator at the school, Brandi, who talked with Shelley about the level of poverty among families in the area, and why many of them are having a hard time […]