Meet Julius, Atlanta Fundraiser, Eunice goes to High School

This month, we are excited to share with you an upcoming regional fundraiser in Georgia and to let you know about the great progress in the education of one special orphan. But first, we'd like to introduce you to another one of the special kids living at Beat the Drum Village.

Meet Julius
Julius is a jovial and hard working nine-year-old boy. He is from Nyeri County in central Kenya where both of his parents died when he was three. After the death of his parents, Julius was sent to live with his aunt, though she was ultimately unable to care for him.

His health worsening, Julius was taken in by one of Beat the Drum Village's sister orphanages in Kenya - a home for orphans, but not specializing in the care of children with HIV/AIDS. During a medical check-up at this orphanage, Julius and four other orphans tested positive for HIV and were moved to Beat the Drum Village. Now these five children live in the same home under the care of one housemother. Julius calls Beat the Drum Village, "home," and refers to the other kids in his home as his "brothers" and "sisters."

Julius' health has improved considerably since arriving at the Village now that he has proper medical care. He works hard in school and has the academic performance to show for it. In his free time, Julius enjoys playing soccer with his friends.

BEAT THE DRUM screening and writer/producer Q&A at regional fundraiser
A regional fundraiser in the Atlanta area! On Saturday, October 23 at 5:30 PM a Beat the Drum Village fundraiser will be held at Cumberland Community Church in Smyrna, Georgia. This special night will feature a screening of the movie BEAT THE DRUM and a question and answer session with the film's writer/producer, W. David McBrayer. It was this film that made the Village possible and proceeds from the fundraiser will support Beat the Drum Village. Everyone in the Atlanta area are encouraged to attend. Please email mulville5@att.net to RSVP or for more information.

Please join our efforts
There are four ways you can help Beat the Drum Village:

1. Spread the word
2. Support a child
3. Build a house
4. Visit the Village

You can help "Support a child" today. In addition to ongoing support, we have a specific need to help with the education of one special orphan. Eunice, whom we shared with you in a previous newsletter, is currently in the eighth grade and will be the first child from Beat the Drum Village to attend high school. In November, she will take her Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education in order to begin high school in early 2011. High school means more education and greater opportunities, though in the short-term means additional school fees. Please consider making a donation to Beat the Drum Village to cover the cost of these fees. Doing so will help one girl with HIV/AIDS in Africa start high school, a milestone realized by far too few children with her circumstances.

We are so thankful for those of you who have helped the lives of these special orphans already. We need many more to ensure their continued well being and to add more homes and more children to the Village.

Let's build a village together,
Stacy