Tickets can be purchased at eacef.ticketleap.com/Zoe

EACEF Board Member Kevin Salwen, along with his daughter Hannah, recently released "The Power Of Half: One Family's Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back". The book chronicles the Salwen's incredible journey as they decide to sell their house and donate half the proceeds to Hunger Relief.

Below is a feature on the Salwen's new book from ABC News:

The entire EACEF team congratulates Kevin and the Salwen family on this remarkable acheivement.

To learn more, visit http://www.thepowerofhalf.com/home

To purchase a copy, visit http://www.amazon.com/Power-Half-Familys-Decision-Taking/dp/0547248067

Be at the Fox Theater in Downtown Atlanta on Friday, February 19th for EACEF's Benefit Show with Gorilla Zoe! Regular admission is $28 and VIP admission is $42. VIPs get to hang out and take pictures with Gorilla Zoe after the concert in the upper balcony! VIPs also enjoy complimentary drinks and a t-shirt. The proceeds from the concert will be matched by a donor and will fund EACEF's school feeding programs that feed over 400 children everyday for an entire year! Hurry and get your ticket today because space is limited and you don't want to miss this.

GET YOUR TICKETS AT http://eacef.ticketleap.com/zoe

EACEF, or the East African Children's Education Fund, is a student-run, non-profit created to engage and support communities in East Africa in an effort to raise the standard of education for its children. To learn more about EACEF or to make a donation, visit www.EACEF.org.

If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Candler, Executive Director- Atlanta.

Office: (404) 609 6399

Email: ccandler@eacef.org

The three classroom block stage of the Shalom Project is nearing completion. Once finished, this phase will bring the number of classrooms to five, while also including staff offices, storerooms, a bell tower, gate and guard house, and new school driveway. For more information on the Shalom Project, click here.

Below is a report from Stanley Musoni, Shalom Project Coordinator:

“The tower has changed the appearance of the school.  We are at the stage of plastering the tower.  We are now working on the floor under the tower.  In the future, we shall put on steps that will act as entrance to the tower area.  I will send updated photos shortly.

School opens in two weeks’ time.  We are busy advertising over the radio and churches for the next classes that you have built.  I have interviewed several potential teachers and have offered two of them teaching posts.  They are young and energetic and will make great additions to the Shalom staff.  There has been a good response so far and we hope to get a good number of kids coming to our school.

The ministry of education officials visited and suggested that we put a gate at the entrance of the school in order to secure the safety of the kids.  We will also be purchasing new desks and chairs for the new classrooms in time for the start of term.

I would like to say I really honor and appreciate your support for Shalom.  It will definitely go a long way.  Blessings to you and the whole team of EACEF.”

See below for construction pictures from the end of December. Check back soon for updated photos.

On Thursday January 14th, the six classroom block phase of the Bisate Project located outside Ruhengeri, Rwanda was completed. At the dedication, the structure was named the “Umurage” Building, meaning “legacy” in the Kinyarwanda language of Rwanda. The building is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alecia Lilly, an acclaimed primatologist who ran the African opperations for DFGFI and who served as the impetus for the Bisate Project. Dr. Lilly worked tirelessly to bring the needs of humans and wildlife closer together and this building will serve as a testament to her legacy and impact on the Bisate community. The dedication of this classroom block represents the completion of the $115,000 Phase One of the Bisate Project and stands as a testament to the unique partnership between EACEF and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

For more information on the Bisate Project, click here.

Plans for Phase Two of the Bisate Project, which will consist of the construction of a library and the refurbishment of existing classrooms, are underway.

To donate to EACEF's efforts to bring educational opportunity to the Bisate community, click here.

Below is a report from Joseph Karama, Bisate Project Coordinator:

"The technical reception of the All-new six classrooms building for Bisate School whose construction begun in August and ended in November 2009 took place today January 14th 2010, in the presence of the representatives of the local administration, the school’s administration, Volcanoes National Park authorities, DFGFI, the Contractor, and the Supervising firm. This was a provisional reception that serves to take responsibility over the building from the contractors to the owner (the school) pending final reception within six months. The six months is a guarantee period in which any defects or damage resulting from poor construction is rectified at the expense of the contractor.

The participants at the technical reception inspected all the classrooms and were satisfied. This was in addition to a technical report that was submitted by another construction firm charged with supervising the works that said the building observed all contractual terms and specifications. The school’s Headmaster, the representative of the Sector Administration and the Director of the Karisoke Research Center (on behalf of DFGFI) then proceeded to sign a document attesting to the technical reception.

When the school year reopens on 1st February 2010, an official launch of the building will be organized at least within the first two weeks of the new term. We wanted to wait for the desks being made for use in the new building to be completed and to launch the building when the building is already being used by the pupils."

Below are some photos of the event:

Click here to read the full article.

Click here to read the full story.

Watch their interview below.