Poverty Eradication Network Trust

Poverty Eradication Network Trust
Welcomes You To Our Holiday Craft Sale

Dates: Wednesday, December 7 - Saturday, December 10
Times: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM W - F 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sat.
Place: 8924 - 40 1/2 Avenue North in New Hope, Minnesota
Directions: East of 169 N/exit at County Road 9 east/go through one stop light and turn right on Ensign Avenue/the house is located at the corner of Ensign and 40 1/2 Ave N/gray cedar with driveway on Ensign/numbers 8924 above the garage door.
Contact Persons: Kenneth Wall and Heather Johnstone
Phone: 763-544-6086 (Ken Wall)

(If you are unable to attend during these times and would like to schedule an appointment, please call Kenneth Wall to do so.)

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Mama Yohana is a widow aged more than 120 years. Her husband died more than 40 years ago. Raising her three sons and three daughters was laid entirely on her. Now that they are old as well, they cannot take care of their mom as expected, simply because they can not afford it. So Bibi is on her own still struggling with the day to day life with little help from grandchildren or her own children.

PEN.TRUST first assisted her with boxes of food from Feed My Starving Children, medication and some clothing. The last time we sent her food packages she was very happy and thankful. She told Mungwe that she is on her last days before she goes. We pray we return to find Mama Yohana still in good health.

On behalf of Mama Yohana and the entire population we supplied food to; we thank all the FMSC team for their noble work and contribution towards serving the hungry.

How can you help?
• Become a family sponsor, and help contribute to livelihood of a family like Bibi Yohana’s.
• Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children if living in the Iowa or Minnesota areas, by packaging meals.
• Contribute funds towards a container of food for PEN Trust.

Imagine being a teacher with not enough books, paper, desks, regular salary – nothing to spare. As a former Kindergarten teacher in the US I think, “Could I still teach if I just had a room – could I teach without the stuff?”

These students are practicing their work in the sand before their teacher approves it and sends them inside the classroom to transfer it onto the precious paper they have.

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Edmund is a wood carver from Mvumi, Tanzania, about 45 kms from Dodoma town.

He has started a carving cooperative, in which girls and boys are learning the trade.

The carvings turn beautiful mkongolo wood into the striking forms of African animals and men and women doing daily tasks.

PEN Trust is seeking to find markets for the art produced in Edmund’s cooperative. Please contact us if you would like to purchase carvings.

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PEN Trust was recently involved in coordinating the acquisition and distribution of vegetable seeds to area garden co-ops.

The seeds were donated by the Precious Blood Society here in Dodoma but originally came from Halifax Seed Company in Canada.

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In 2004 PEN Trust had the opportunity to distribute books sent to Central Tanzania by Books for Africa, a wonderful organization located in my native Minnesota.

These are some of the pictures that we took during the process of receiving, sorting, and distributing the books to schools and libraries.

This picture shows students at the Msalato Girls Secondary School unpacking their new books.

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Just a quick note to let you know of an opportunity to buy beautiful handicrafts from Tanzania. We have sent to the US a wide assortment of crafts purchased throughout Tanzania. They will make excellent gifts and conversation pieces.

If you can’t make it to these sales in Minnesota, you may, as always, contact us directly. We are always looking to connect local Tanzanian artists with customers around the globe and will do our best to facilitate large or small transactions.

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