Four years old Akiela from grade two at the preschool Star of Hope Maloney in Trinidad shows her workbook.

The teacher has put a little sticker to show that she has approved the assignment. This time Akiela gets credit for the letter f.  Congratulations!

Preschools Star of Hope Maloney with 89 children and the Star of Hope St. Jospeh with 50 children in Trinidad will shortly go on summer vacation for two months. They derserve it.

The children have fought hard to prepare themselves for the upcoming primary school. They will come back to school the first week of September.

Thanks for your support for needy children. Together, we give children a good start in life.

Pre-school Star of Hope Maloney opened in 1987 and celebrating its amazing 25 years this year. Pre-school Star of Hope St. Jospeh is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Hundreds of children have started their school years by Star of Hope in Trinidad and the fine facilities. They have learned to read, write and count. They can play and have fun at the pre-school. Furthermore, everyday the kids get a much needed lunch. The teachers do everything for the children to get a good start in life.

A very important person for that work has moved on so well in Trinidad is country manager Naomi Reid, who is with her big heart very popular among the kids. Here are some pictures of Naomi among the children where she enjoys very good.

Some important work was carried out by Star of Hope in the poor north-eastern Ghana a dozen years ago was an upgrade of school facilities and the distribution of school supplies.

Together with the local committee for pre-schools in Bolgatanga a dozen extreme poor schools received new desks, blackboards, toys, paints, and teacher guides. Furthermore, many teacher received training through Star of Hope.

The results were several. The children were given proper school equipment and toys, the teachers got proper working material, and the parents were motivated to send their children to school. Everyone saw a definite improvement in this important work. This donation also gave echo throughout Ghana through the media.

The pictures below I took in 2008 on my journey to Bolgatanga.

You remember how Gorbachev tore down the wall and how Pink Floyd sung about it, well we want to build a wall. The wall is to keep the kids in one of our projects in Argentina safe and active in a safe place.We just need bricks - a lot of bricks.

Click on the link and buy a brick then share with your friends or whoever and we will have this wall up in no time and the kids will be safe and happy as they play soccer.

Northern Argentina is home to the Toba people. Because this group is on the margins of society their children are at risk. The goal of The Wall is the first step in giving them a safe place. A place where they play soccer, meet other children, learn to work together, while learning more about Jesus. Together with your help The Wall can be built.

YES I WILL BUY A BRICK

Star of Hope schools in the Philippines started yesterday the academic year 2012-13. There are about 2 500 students at the school in Taytay.

The new official school plan is implemented, which means that schools must now offer 12 grades instead of the earlier 10. So there are new deamands on teachers and students. Many new challenges lie ahead, but in the long run, the children will get a better start in life.

I wrote several posts last week about the new curriculum. I believe in it.

It rained hard yesterday in Taytay. There were many new students. Many were nervous and cried.

I remember how it was like. What will happen now? Is it my teacher good?

Below are some pictures from the start of school yesterday taken by Star of Hope staff. More here on Flickr.