b'people here to see the great impact their dollars could In rural western India, most of the children ofhave in Africa or India, and he wanted to create a Morning Star School come from families of subsistencebond between those who donated and those who farmers. Often, their parents are illiterate, and its notbenefited from that donation. uncommon for a family to pick one child to attendOver the past decade, Partnering with the Poor has school while the others stay home to work in the fields.grown, and today, generous donors help educate more Bad weather and a poor harvest can plunge the familythan 3,600 children at these three Marianist schools. into even more dire straits.And so, while an American child may look forwardto receiving the latest video game, a student from oneDonors receive a of these schools may look forward to having her ownphotograph andhandwritten thank- pencil and eating a filling meal of beans or porridgeyou letters, like the at school tomorrow. one shown here, Gaining an education is a huge advantage forfrom the studentsthey sponsor. these kids, says Brother Alex. Realistically, its theonly chance they have of escaping poverty, gainingstable employment and being able to raise their ownchildren in a more hopeful environment.When you sponsor a child, you are a missionary. You are doing Christs work. Brother Alex Tuss, SMMissionaries making a differenceRaising people up through education always has beenthe heart of the Marianist mission. This is part of whoweve been from the very beginning, says Brother Alex.Our founder, Blessed Chaminade, said, we are allmissionaries, and I believe he meant that in a broadsense. Maybe you cant personally go to India or EasternAfrica, but you still can have a profound impact on thelife of a child there. When you sponsor a child, youare a missionary. You are doing Christs work.The least of these James and Karen Kaiman are two such missionaries.In the Gospel of Matthew (25:40) we read, Amen,They have been sponsoring a considerable numberI say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of of children at Our Lady of Nazareth School for seventhese, you did for me. The children of these Marianist years. So, twice a year, we get a big bundle of letters.schools dwell among the least of these. Although Its very rewarding, says James, with a warm laugh.their cultures and landscapes vary greatly, they share We love that the children each write us a letter andthe unjust burden of crushing poverty. draw a picture on it, he says. The children of Our Lady of Nazareth School in The Kaimans, who have children and grandchildrenNairobi, for example, come from the surrounding of their own, also enjoy witnessing the inevitableMukuru neighborhood. Mukuru literally means transformations of childhood. Its fun to see howgarbage dump, and it is among the largest and the children grow and progress over timeand tomost desperate of Nairobis slums. Whole families know weve played a little part in that, James says.live in tiny corrugated iron shacks. Twenty or more Like the Kaimans, Kathy Danneberg began spon-families may share one water tap and a pit latrine. soring children through the Marianists in 2009. SheCrime is rampant and government services arestarted with two children at Our Lady of Nazareth.almost non-existent. Then, three years ago, she invited James and Jake to6 Call 1.800.348.4732'