Brian Veen has been serving Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic since the fall of 2009. (Kids Alive photo)
Dominican Republic/Haiti (MNN) ― For kids in impoverished countries, they rarely have the chance to get new toys, or any toys, let alone basic necessities.
That's why Kids Alive International sent a container of three playground sets to the Dominican Republic. The container arrived on August 2, after a month or so of preparation in the U.S.
Brian Veen with Kids Alive has been a missionary to the Dominican Republic since 2009, and he said the container also included 150 desks, a dental chair, supplies to outfit a dental office, and $20,000 worth of medicine. With these desks, Kids Alive will be able to equip five new classrooms and educate 100 new students.
But that's not all. Veen said, "It included 250 backpacks--the majority of which are going to Haiti to supply our children there and allow them to go to school in the fall. Many of these children are refugees from the recent earthquake disaster."
Giving these kids a chance to return to school or attend for the very first time will not only restore a sense of normalcy to their lives, it will give them more opportunities to overcome poverty and impact their communities in the future.
In fact, Veen said, that's the goal of Kids Alive in both countries: "The kids in our programs are given all of the basic needs: health care, food, an education. And at the same time, we teach them about the love Christ in their lives. Ultimately, we hope that these kids will grow up as mature members of their own community, and that they'll have the opportunity to give back to children just like themselves."
To keep this work going, Kids Alive needs help with child sponsorships. Click here to sponsor a child from Haiti or Dominican Republic for just $35 each month.
Also, pray for the ministry of Kids Alive to continue to thrive in both countries.
