Well done Wide Angle :)

Thanks for your interest in the Time for School series.

Some WIDE ANGLE programs, including the original Time for School and Back to School, are available on DVD for educational use only and can be purchased from Films Media Group: http://ffh.films.com/wideangle

Unfortunately Time for School 3 is not available on DVD at the moment, but the full episode can be viewed online at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/time-for-school-series/full-episode-time-for-school-3/5558/#comment-4232.

For those of you interested in helping similar children all over the world, there are lots of organizations that you can volunteer though and not just by donating money. Instead of taking another vacation at the beach, consider spending a week or two volunteer to work with children in another country.

I’m thrilled to see that so many people were spurred to action by Joab’s story — it is truly heart-wrenching, and he is an incredible inspiration.

The group my students and I have started, Kenya Krew, is aimed at building a school library at Ayany Primary School (as many of you have read on Wide Angle’s website). We have raised about $8000 toward our goal of $15,000, but some of that money has been used to replace the desks in the 7th grade classroom at Ayany, and to create a temporary Reading Room for the students until the library is constructed. Therefore, we may actually end up having to raise more than the original $15,000 — we are in the process of reassessing the amount.

We have been working closely with the principal of Joab’s school, and as you can see on the website, we have developed tran-Atlantic friendships with the Ayany children through our pen pal activities. While donations to Kenya Krew would not go directly to Joab and his siblings, they would benefit all of the children of Ayany, many of whose stories are equally compelling and inspirational. If you are interested in contributing to our Kenya Krew project, you may send your donation to my attention at Lawrence Middle School, 195 Broadway, Lawrence, NY 11559. Checks should be made to Lawrence Middle School, with “Kenya Krew” written in the Memo line. We wire money directly from our account to Joab’s school, so that we are assured that the money ends up where it is intended.

Ken, your organization sounds like it is doing wonderful work — I would certainly be interested in connecting with you by phone or email to discuss further our shared interest in working with the children of Kibera.

Thank you all for your interest in Joab, his siblings and all of the children of Kibera. Please feel free to respond to my posting if you have any questions regarding Kenya Krew, and of course we welcome your donations to our cause!

Best wishes to all,
Karen Weiner, Kenya Krew advisor (NY)

Some WIDE ANGLE programs, including the original Time for School and Back to School, are available on DVD for educational use only and can be purchased from Films Media Group: http://ffh.films.com/wideangle

Please, please let me/us know where we can purchase a DVD of this wonderful program… hopefully, a DVD that encapsulates all the series from start to end (or to part 3). I want to give this DVD as a gift to my cousin who is a teacher on the west of Chicago. I think this program would provide such a great opportunity for her students to see how other children in other parts of the world are struggling to get an education.

thank you!