I hardly ever write and FINISH a note about what's happening with Kledèv, especially if it is also a fund raising letter, which I completely avoid, but tonight was hot in San Francisco and I couldn't sleep anyway, so here are just a few words about where we are with empowering programs happening in Haiti...

The CHEDEVE Soccer/Leadership Program is still training 70 young men and boys in Port au Prince to build the future together as leaders, but is not going strong as we'd like and is falling short in the all-important LUNCH part of the program. Thanks to generous gifts in the past, this important aspect of the program was added in and successful for most of 2008, but it seems the global economic conversation is affecting the boys just like it is everyone else. They're being tough, but they can’t help being disappointed. I don't like giving this kind of a report, but this is what's happening. So, if you still have pockets (!) dig a little deeper so we can keep our future leaders strong! Special thanks to Roosevelt Hyppolite for keeping the magic alive...

In case you didn't know, we also have in the making a full service Community Center and Guest House in Tabarre, in a quiet area close by the airport in Port au Prince. There are many details to sort on this, and much of the donated furnishings and computer equipment are still being held in a shipping container in Michigan, awaiting the bucket of funding that will put it on the boat! But we have taken possession of the perfect building and have big things in store that will empower our mission and impact the entire community, just like the soccer program has. Special thank you to Junior St-Vil and his family for getting creative and causing all the contributions in the US of furniture and computers!

Some of the services the Center/Guest house will provide are: Language classes for area residents and travelers; computer and internet classes and services; clean water distribution; and a comfortable safe and affordable home for foreign guests who come to Haiti to contribute to making things work for people (let's plan a trip!).

There are plenty of other big dreams and they’re ALL possible, but this is where we’re at with our tapped-out, shoestring budget! So, if you still have a hat (!) and are in a position to drop something in it, now would be a good time to do that! If you just did, Thank you! If now doesn’t work to do that, thank you for caring! How about inviting some of your amazing, caring friends to join this cause to find out about what we’re creating in Haiti?

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Big thanks to: Michael Bois, Junior St Vil, Liehventz Jean-Gilles, Henry Rock, Sandy Sampson, Hugo DuCharme,  Evelyne Ramasami, Jim Macahilas and Al Jourdain Sauray for bringing many of their friends to join us!

And thanks to recent contributors Barrie Bamburg, Jim Macahilas and Paula Lamkins for their generosity!

Posting a donation to donations@kledev.org is the fastest way to donate, but if you would prefer to send a check, our mailing address is:

Kledev
PO BOX 40567
San Francisco, CA 94140

Heart, Clay Kilgore - Kledèv