Winter Bulletin 2000-2001 Vol. 16, No. 4

Introduction
Solar Energy for Belize
Continuing Education for Mayan Health Workers in 2001
Press Release: Lakota Indians Defing DEA

KIDS TO THE COUNTRY
By Mary Ellen Bowen, Program Director

	Participants in the KTC Harvest Children's Village gather at the Community Center at the Farm. Click to enlarge. Color (Photo by Ramona Christopherson)

Kids To The Country (KTC) wishes to thank everyone who helped make KTC Summer 2000 a very successful season for some of our most at risk urban children. Because of your generous support of the KTC program, nearly 100 children were able to participate this year. We were blessed to have children from Bosnia, Rwanda, Senegal and a large contingent from Memphis. This latter group was made possible by a grant from the Hohenberg Family Foundation of Memphis, and the collaboration of our State Representative, Kathryn Bowers.
Our closing event, the Mothers & Others Day was featured on our local CBS affiliate evening news, and one of the mothers who was interviewed said that her child came back from the program a changed kid! Zachary Hoover of Nashville commented on the last day of the session, “I made friends! I got to ride horses and bikes and go swimming a lot. The water feels good, and friends are always there when you need them. I want to stay for the rest of the summer. I hope they forget to pick us up!” One of our Farm counselors, Cindy Devoursney said in her evaluation, “It made me happy to see all of kids perform in the talent show. Everyone was so eager to get up on the stage and show what they could do. It’s amazing how much the kids transform in just a few days.”
KTC has just completed our fall program, the Harvest Children’s Village with over 40 participants on Saturday, October 7, 2000. The event took place at the Farm Community Center and the internationally known Ecovillage Training Center. The children had a ball with the cardboard box village that they created. They also planted Plants for Peace to take back to their homes. Parents and grandparents, who accompanied their children, commented on the positive impact a simple thing like playing together with boxes could have on the kids. Some of the mothers even enjoyed a horse ride and joined in the beading project. Again, all the generosity of our dedicated sponsors and staff is what makes Kids To The Country work. In the name of the children, we extend our appreciation.

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