EDUKITS Lions Clubs International and UNICEF, working together to help the world's neediest children.

In November 1996, the President of Lions Clubs International and the Executive Director of UNICEF signed a memorandum of Understanding. One of the points in that memorandum suggested that "the main area of cooperation shall be on programs and projects for youth, with special emphasis on street children and on 'School-in-a-Box/Edukit'"

WHAT IS AN EDUKIT? The Edukit is a School-in-a-Box, a box of basic educational materials for about 40 students or more. The kit is used to fulfill some of the educational needs of children for whom there are no schools because of violence, natural disaster, or breakdown in the social/educational system. The Edukit is designed to be a low-cost, rapid response to an emergency by establishing a self- sufficient classroom. It is adapted to specific needs in each location.
In some countries, Edukits are a collaborative effort between UNICEF and UNESCO.

WHERE ARE EDUKITS DISTRIBUTED?

A. Countries in which there is some form of armed conflict: Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia.

B. Countries in which there are "silent emergencies": Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Zambia.

CONTENTS OF AN EDUKIT The typical Edukit includes a nylon duffle bag, pens in assorted colors, chalkboards in various sizes, chalk in assorted cotors, crayons in assorted colors, erasers, exercise booklets, assorted paper, glue, pencils, pencil sharpener, The Edukit is a School-in-a-box, ruler, scissors, tape, and a ball. Other additional items—such as an activity booklet or a language-appropriate teacher's guide and curriculum—are added by the local UNICEF office at the country level.

COST PER EDUKIT A US$200 donation for a single Edukit includes the development of teacher materials, purchase of the supplies contained within the kit, and the shipping/distribution costs to the designated area. The Edukit provides communities with a haven for learning and healing. A typical Edukit costs US$200 to reach 40 or more students.

A TEP (teacher's emergency package) or "Edukit" represents a school-in-a-box for these youngsters in Rwanda. In the initial delivery, 9,000 Edukits were destined for Rwanda to teach some 700,000 children. Some 250 teachers were trained in the use of the Edukit. Here a teaching assistant distributes notebooks from the "School-in-a Box" to elementary students on the first day of school.

WHY YOUR CLUB SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED The following is one example of how .you can help youngsters in what would otherwise be intolerable situations:

In a recently opened classroom near the Rwandan capital of Kigali, 5-year-old Faustine stared blankly at the bullet-scarred walls. She finds the talk of war hard to grasp because she did not experience the bloodshed. With her family Faustine took refuge in Uganda. Her classmate, Therese, is also silent—for a different reason. She did experience conflict, but she cannot bear to talk about that cruel day when she crouched outside her home and watched as her mother and two brothers were buried alive.

Anyone familiar with the ethnic rivalries that sparked Rwanda's brutal civil war might predict that Faustine and Therese would be enemies: one is Hutu; the other, Tutsi. But the two became best friends after they were brought together as the result of an Edukit. "They write on the same slate, divided in half by a chalk line." There are thousands of youngsters like Faustine and Therese whose lives can be improved through the provision of Edukits. Contributions will help your club/district fulfill the 1st Object of Lionism, 'To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world."

HOW DO LIONS CLUBS PARTICIPATE? Donations should be made out to LCIF and sent to:

LCIF, Lions Clubs International
300 22nd Street
Oak Brook, II 60523-8842.

Designate the donation (US$200 minimum) forEdukits. 100% of such contributions will be used for Edukits. The donating club is not able to designate the area to which an Edukit will be provided. (See "Where Are Edukits Distributed?" for areas in which Edukits are currently being used.) Edukits are not inventoried at Lions Clubs International or UNICEF Headquarters in New York or its country offices or National Committees. The kits are distributed from UNICEF's warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark.

His teacher beside him, a boy points at a cloth imprinted with numbers that hangs in front of a blackboard. The cloth is one of the supplies contained in the "Edukit."

HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND ORDER OUR EDUKIT TODAY? Just print out this page and fill out the following form, and mail it in with your contribution.

Yes, we wish to help provide Edukits (US$200 minimum donation)

CLUB:___________

DISTRICT:______________

COUNTRY:USA

Amount of donation enclosed:_____________________

Make checks payable to LCIF/Edukits and mail to:

LCIF
Lions Clubs International
300 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842