The International Distribution Program is an opportunity where Canadian volunteers, leaving to work in developing countries, apply to Project COLORS International for resource materials to give to those in need overseas. They take these supplies directly to the communities they are working in. As shown below, our participants have distributed supplies to: orphanages, homes for street kids, AIDS care facilities, community development centers, aid missions and poverty stricken schools.

Linda Thieu

In the winter of 2008, I traveled to Vietnam and with me I brought street
kits and orphanage donations.  This being my first, I was not prepared for
experiencing such poverty. People did whatever they had to do to survive. It
had only taught me more about love, compassion
and forgiveness.   The orphanage in Cu Chi was a special place quite
different from the world outside their gates. It was a safe and happy place
for children living with HIV/AIDS.  Even if a child wasn't sick, they would
never turn them away. I was honored to have the opportunity to spend time
with these children and kind hearted workers; and personally deliver all of
the donations. They have taught me so much that has forever changed my life
for the better.

Fiona volunteering in Ghana 2007

I had the most amazing, and eye opening time in Ghana, it went far too fast! The supplies COLORS so kindly donated to me were given to a newly opened orphanage in the Central Region. It is called God of Wonders and is run by a couple named Larry and Becky Connell. They were just starting up, and had just relocated to Ghana with their adopted twins, they were very grateful for the help.

I worked in a small non-government run orphanage called Beacon House. It is located just outside Accra in East Legon. It was quite small with between 22 and 25 kids while I was there. It was really interesting as they were one of the first orphanages in Ghana to process international adoptions. There are an estimated 200 000 orphans in Ghana, this number is from 2004, and is likely higher now. Adoptions abroad are still quite new in the country, but they are definitely needed seeing as Ghanaians are willing to adopt, but generally only children under 2. The home I was in had kids ranging in age from 1 week to 13 years, the children were amazing, and I was able to learn so much from them and the staff in the orphanage. I heard so many stories, and was so unaware of the issues surrounding orphaned and abandoned children I also had the opportunity to travel and visit other orphanages in Osu, Ho, Accra, Hohoe, and Bolgatanga, it's amazing how much conditions vary from place to place.

Before this trip I was so unaware of how much of a problem there is with orphaned children in west Africa, and I'm sure in many other places around the world.

Katimavik sings with Fred Penner

The New Westminster Katimavik group was honoured this February, with the opportunity to perform on stage with children’s performance legend Fred Penner.

Mr. Penner was in Burnaby on February 25 to 27, for a weekend of singing, sermons and conferences entitled “Honouring the child” at South Burnaby United Church.

The Katimavik group was invited for a morning of interactive tea and conference with Mr. Penner, as well as a concert in which the group helped perform the last song “This little light of mine”. This was a fantastic opportunity for the group, several of whom grew up watching Mr. Penner’s children’s television series “Fred Penner’s place”, to meet and greet with one of Canada’s favourite family celebrities. During the course of the morning Mr. Penner was informed that several of the groups’ participants had a strong musical background, and were invited for a private session with the artist where they were finally asked to perform with him for the big finally. “Fred Penner’s music is half the magic,” Ryan McBride declared after performing with the artist “Being able to see your childhood idol play in front of you is one thing, but being able to play music with him on stage is an once-in-a-lifetime thing.” This grand event was made possible through sponsorship of the church and one its regulars, Sharon Midgley whose son, Brendan, was a Katimavik participant in 2005. Brendan was killed earlier in the month in a tragic biking accident on Burnaby Mountain, and when Sharon and her husband heard that the local Katimavik house was interested in the event they quickly sponsored their tickets for the day’s events. “It was even more of an honour to receive the tickets donated by Sharon,” says Kristen Taniguchi proudly, “She lets us come to the show in honour of her son who was in Katimavik.” Brendan’s light still shines strong in the eyes of the entire New Westminster Katimavik group.

Mr. Penner is known for saying, “Never underestimate your ability to make a difference in the life of a child,” while others never underestimate the ability to make a difference in the life of a youth volunteer.

Article written by: Kristofer Olson; Katimavik participant

A note from Fred Penner to the B.C

New West group:

“Hello Katimavik, It was a day to remember. It was a pleasure meeting you and a bonus having you perform with me. We are a product of our life experience and this experience will be with forever.

Be well and keep singing.

Fred Penner”

Kicking off COLORS Dominican Republic Fundraiser Katimavik B.C Youth Support Project for International Development

To help kick off a new project in the Dominican Republic through Project COLORS International; B.C Katimavik youth have already started a successful fundraiser. Over $270 has been raised to by educational supplies and many other essential items for the children of the D.R. A big thank you goes out to everyone in the New Westminster and Burnaby community for helping make this fundraiser a total success! Many people also helped by spreading the word about the event, bringing donations to sell at the yard sale, and bottles for the bottle drive.

On top of the yard sale and bottle drive initiatives, the Katimavik youth also had a penny drive in support of COLORS. Quote from participant Lindsay Joy “This money will help buy the orphans and street kids of the Dominican Republic the items they need like tooth brushes, tooth paste, school supplies…etc. Anything we didn’t sell was donated to charity, so nothing went to waste. The yard sale was a fun way to raise money in the community and inform people about the cause.” This year’s project in the Dominican Republic, getting supplies to children in need, will be based in Santo Domingo and will run from July 2006 to January 2007.

Katimavik youth in BC helping kids overseas through Project COLORS! After a long day scouring the neighborhood for donations, our Katimavik group collected many small toys and school supplies to send to kids in need overseas.
We filled 25 gift bags that were sent to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic through Project COLORS for Christmas. Everyone in our group made bracelets for each child at the orphanage plus made sure each gift bag had toys, stickers, art supplies, candy, pencils and paper.

Extra gift bags were also sent to Cuba to be given out to street children.

10 shoe boxes were also filled with supplies for Operation Christmas Child. These boxes will be distributed to children in need in Latin America.

A quote found by one of our group members reads: "you are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here, & whether or not its clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should…with all its shame and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world" ….with this, we should do all we can to make it that beautiful world, with each child, each moment, and each act of kindness.

Katimavik Participants: Sarah Grace, Natasha, Maegan, Marie, Rachel, Jacob, Cam, J.P, Brian and Mellissa.

Rachel Whalen

In the summer of 2004, I had the opportunity to travel to Odessa, Ukraine, as a volunteer with World Hope. My time there was split between a drop-in centre for street children in downtown Odessa that served meals, gave out clothing, and provided education, among other things, and an orphanage/foster home that was connected with the drop-in centre. Project COLORS gave me many supplies to take with me for the children. We made up gift packs for each child in the foster home, and when we gave them out it was like Christmas had come early! They were so excited by things that in North America seem very small. Everything was treasured, and yet these children were still willing to share everything that they had been given with siblings who were outside of the foster home for various reasons. Project COLORS is wonderful way of donating items directly to children who need them, and I am very grateful to them for providing me with such a simple way to bring a little joy and happiness into the lives of the wonderful kids that I met there.