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A Chance Meeting
John Smith meets Joseph Nderitu, a Kenyan runner, at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. They strike up a conversation and John invites Joseph to speak to his school, Glen Brae Middle School in Hamilton, Ontario about life in rural Kenyan schools. -
Glen Brae Middle School First Walk / Run
Glen Brae students held their First Annual Walk / Run Fundraiser. They raised $3125, which built 9 latrines at 3 schools in the Ol Joro Orok district of Kenya. -
First Set of Latrines Completed
Three VIP (Ventilated Pit Latrintes) were constructed at each of our three Kenyan Schools - Kirima Primary School, Kirima Ngai Primary School and Madaraka Primary School. These latrines were built with the funds raised by Glen Brae's First Annual Walk / Run. -
Glen Brae Middle School 2nd Annual Walk / Run
Glen Brae Middle School raises $7100 to build a second set of latrines at each of our three Kenyan Primary Schools in Ol Joro Orok. -
CBC Sports feature
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is featured on CBC Sports in a segment about the 2006 ING Ottawa Marathon because of Connecting Countries connection with a Kenyan Runner. This inspires our original class project "Race for Kenyan Relief" and eventual transition into Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. -
Award Recipient
Glen Brae Middle School is awarded the Profiling Excellence Award by the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board for its outreach project, "Race for Kenyan Relief," the predecessor of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. The school receives a commemorative statuette and certificate. -
Lee Academy joins
Lee Academy, a private school in Lynden, Ontario, decides to join Glen Brae Middle School's involvement in fundraising for latrine building in rural Kenya. -
Completion of our 2nd set of Latrines
6 additional latrines were constructed at each of our schools in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya - Kirima Primary School, Kirima Ngai Primary School, Madaraka Primary School. To this point, a total of 27 latrines servicing 3 schools have been built as Glen Brae's school project. -
Container to Kenya
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School sent a wide variety of school supplies, including pens, papers, classroom furniture, library books and text books to our schools in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya. -
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is founded
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is born out of Glen Brae Middle School's outreach program, "Race for Kenyan Relief." We are now a Not-for-Profit Corporation with Letters Patent registered with the Government of Canada, doing charitable work in Kenya. -
Glen Brae Middle School 3rd Annual Walk / Run
Glen Brae Middle School raised $6400 in one hour of walking and running. Funds raised go to the Latrine Building Program of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. -
First trip to Kenya
John Smith, president of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Board of Directors, went to Kenya with 2 volunteers. While there, he visited our three schools and inspected all latrine building. -
First Board of Directors named
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School names 5 volunteer community members as its first Board of Directors, registered with the Canada Revenue and Customs Agency. John Smith is named President. -
Pen Pal Letter Exchange Program begins
Pen Pal Program from Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School
A formal Pen Pal Letter Exchange is developed as an additional program of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School, following the curriculum guidelines of both the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Kenyan government. This program allows students in Canada and Kenya to build personal relationships and exchange cultural information via the hand written letter. -
Viscount Montgomery School joins
Viscount Montgomery School in Hamilton, Ontario joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. They also fundraise throughout the year with events such as selling tea towels, photos with Santa, a celebrity basketball game and more. -
HWDSB Character Builds presentation
Connecting Counties Adopt-a-School attends the Character Builds event at the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. The tenants of our Pen Pal program correspond the the HWDSB's Character Build's attrributes. Most of the schools currently involved with Connecting Countries are also HWDSB schools. -
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School Official Logo
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School adopted a new Offical Logo, thanks to Craig Fairley. This logo replaced the original draft logo and continues to be used. -
Presentation to Rotary Club
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School attends a meeting of the Rotary Club of Stoney Creek, marking the first time Connecting Countries presents to a non-school audience and beginning a long standing relationship with the club. -
Kenyan Civil Unrest
From December 27, 2007 until February 28, 2008 tribal scars opened again within Kenya due to an unpopular presidental election. As a result, Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School cancelled its planned trip to Kenya. Latrine building and Pen Pal Letter Exchanges are dormant during this time. -
Janet Lee School donation
Janet Lee School in Hamilton presents Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School with a cheque for $3200, a one-time donation in support of our programs. -
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School partners with FTC Canada
Early in 2008, Connecting Countries begins discussions with FTC Canada (Feed the Children Canada) in Guelph centred around latrine building. Later in the year, a partnership agreement is reached where FTC Canada (with the assistance of FTC Kenya) will supervise Latrine Building in Kenya on behalf of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. -
Viscount Montgomery School First Climb-a-thon
Viscount Montgomery School students took pledges towards climbing the Kenilworth Street Stairs in Hamilton, Ontario to raise funds in support of latrine building in Kenyan Primary Schools. -
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School Website is launched
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School Website Our presence is finally on the web, with a website designed by Imagine Creative Communications. -
Social Justice Fair
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School participates in the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board's Social Justice Fair at Liuna Station in Hamilton, Ontario -
Viscount Montgomery School fundraises
Viscount Montgomery School in Hamilton, Ontario presents a cheque for $9335.33, the grand total for their year long fundraising, to Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. -
Completion of our 3rd set of latrines
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School completes the building of 21 additional latrines- 7 latrines each at 3 schools: Kirima Primary School, Madaraka Primary School and Kirima Ngai Primary School. The total number of latrines completed to this point is 48. -
Non Profit Charitable Business
Connecting Countries Adopt-A-School becomes a Registered Non Profit Charitable Business with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. -
Charitable Foundation
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is now a Registered Charitable Foundation with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. -
Connecting Countries Brochure
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School compiles our first brochure which highlights our Mission, our Programs and progress to date in a professional format. -
Social Justice Fair 2009
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School participates in the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board's Social Justice Fair at Liuna Station in Hamilton, Ontario -
Continuing Support Program introduced
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School introduces the Continuing Support Program. This Program, born from an idea suggested by Viscount Montgomery and Lee Academy students, allows schools to continue supporting Kenyan schools where they originally built latrines through funding for school supplies, additional building materials or further needs as identified by the Ol Joro Orok, Kenya school. -
Digital camera sent to Ol Joro Orok
A digital camera, owned by Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School, is sent to Ol Joro Orok, Kenya to document the progress of our Latrine Building and other programs at our Kenyan Primary Schools. The Head Teacher at one of our Kenyan schools is considered "Keeper of the Camera," Photographs are sent to Connecting Countries via email, many of which appear on our website. -
Givers International Meeting
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School participates at the Givers International meeting at Ontario Gleaners in Cambridge. This meeting is a gathering of like minded NGOs (non government organizations) doing charitable work around the world. -
Jacaranda completed latrines
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School completes 9 latrines at Jacaranda Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya, bringing the total of completed latrines to 57. -
Completion of 4th set of latrines
Jacaranda Primary School in Ol Joro Orok is presented with 6 latrines for girls and 3 latrines for boys along with one large urinal. Over 400 students are to benefit from the new facilities. Latrine construction totals 57. -
Human Rights Day
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School participates in Human Rights Day presentations at Ancaster Meadow Elementary School in Ancaster, Ontario by giving a presentation on the Pen Pal Program and its connection to human rights. -
Social Justice Fair 2010
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School again participates in the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board's Social Justice Fair and raises awareness of the connection between world sanitation issues and education. Connecting Countries Pen Pal program and latrine building program are highlighted. -
Equator Latrines completed
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School completes 9 latrines and 1 urinal at Equator Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya. Equator was in danger of closing because their latrines were on the verge of being condemed by the Kenyan Ministry of Health. Building at this school brings the total to 66 completed latrines and keeps Equator Primary School open. -
Completion of 5th set of latrines
Equator Primary School receives 9 latrines, 2 blinders for the girls latrines and one urinal for the boys. This construction keeps this school from being closed due to unsanitary facilities. The total latrines constructed to date is 66. -
Parkside Secondary School joins
Our first secondary school, Parkside in Dundas, Ontario, joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. -
Madaraka received Continuing Support
Madaraka Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya receives textbooks funded by Lee Academy thorugh Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Continuing Support Program. -
Kirima receives Continuing Support
Kirima Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya receives notebooks funded by Viscount Montgomery School in Hamilton, Ontario through the Continuing Support Program. -
Ray Lewis Elementary School joins
Ray Lewis Elementary School in Hamilton, Ontario, joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. -
Thos. R. Birnie Major Sponsor
Connecting Countries welcomes Thos. R. Birnie, a Hamilton plumbing company, as a Privy Provider. Birnie president, Rob Birnie commits to an ongoing relationship with Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. -
Hamilton Spectator Newspaper Article
A news story about Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School, entitled, "Giving Kids a Place to Go" by Mary K. Nolan, appears in the Hamilton Spectator. -
CBC Radio's "The Current" feature
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is featured on CBC Radio's "The Current" during a feature called, "Toilet Parity" for World Toilet Day. -
First Annual Potty Party
World Toilet Day recognized each year on the 19th of November serves as the basis for Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's inaugural Potty Party. The family fun fair format draws public attention to sanitation issues in Kenyan primary schools and raises funds to support our Latrine Building Program. -
Fundraising directions expanded
The Connecting Countries Board of Directors decides to augment school fundraising with a new fundraising theme to be centred around World Toilet Day, which eventually becomes the Potty Party. -
GR Allan Elementary School joins
GR Allan Elementary School in Hamilton, Ontario joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. -
Madaraka received Continuing Support
Madaraka Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya receives notebooks and school supplies funded by Lee Academy through Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Continuing Support Program. -
Kabathi latrines completed
Construction of 11 latrines and 2 urinals was completed at Kibathi Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya. This brings the totals of completed latrines to 77. -
RTO Renaissance article
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is featured in an article in RTO Renaissance magazine entitled, "Global Giving- Kenya: Connecting Countries." -
Completion of 6th set of latrines
Kibathi Primary School receives 11 new latrines and 2 urinals. One 3 latrine buildings is set aside for use by the junior school students. Latrine construction reaches 77. -
MAP Team to Kenya
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's John P. Smith and Norma Davis visit Kenya. They Monitor, Assess and Plan (MAP) our current programs' progress and investigate possible next steps. All our affiliated schools are visited and new schools are considered. Personal relationships are developed and strengthened with Kenyan partners- FTCKenya representatives, school Head teachers and countless students. -
Riverside Primary School joins
Riverside Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya joins Connecting Countries after our MAP team visits them in the May 2011 Kenyan visit. This school will be involved in our Pen Pal Program, Clean Hands Program and eventually our Latrine Building Program. -
Chaka Reli Primary School joins
Chaka Reli Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya joins Connecting Countries after our MAP team visits them in the May 2011 Kenyan visit. This school will be involved in our Pen Pal Program, Clean Hands Program and eventually our Latrine Building Program. -
Uiguano Primary School joins
Uiguano Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya joins Connecting Countries after our MAP team visits them in the May 2011 Kenyan visit. This school will be involved in our Pen Pal Program, Clean Hands Program and eventually our Latrine Building Program. -
Pen Pal record set
Over the 2010- 2011 school year 10 Hamilton area schools and 6 Kenyan primary schools exchanged 2655 Pen Pal letters. This is an increase of over 1000 letters from the year before. Local schools include: Glen Brae, Lee Academy, Viscount Montgomery, Bennetto, Parkside, Ancaster Meadow, Norwood Park, G.R.Allan, Fessenden and Ray Lewis. Kenyan prmary schools include: Kirma, Madaraka, Equator, Kibathi, Kanguu and Jacaranda. -
Connecting Countries in a textbook
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's work is used as an example in the textbook, "Chemistry 11" published by Nelson Education. -
Russell High School joins
Our first school in Eastern Ontario, Russell High School outside of Ottawa, Ontario, joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. -
Achieve Learning Centre joins
Our first non-school learning environment, Achieve Learning Centre in Dundas, joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. -
FTC-Kenya become partners
Feed the Children Kenya (FTCK) enhances their 20 year assistance of Kenyan children by partnering with Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. FTCK becomes our international latrine building partner ensuring Kenyan children have safe, clean and dignified sanitation facilities in their schools. -
Partnership Agreement with FTC Kenya
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School enters into a partnership agreement with FTC (Feed the Children) Kenya. As a result of our pending status as a Registered Charitable Organization, Connecting Countries can now contract directly with FTC Kenya to build latrines, without the need of a third party international charity. -
Tackles for Toilets
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School holds a fundraiser called Tackles for Toilets. Participants buy tickets for field level seats at a Toronto Argo / Hamilton TiCats CFL football game. -
CLEAN HANDS Project
Stephen Kihara, Head teacher of Equator Primary School in Nyahururu, Kenya suggests his students manufacture liquid handsoap. His students use their own soap and sell it to the other Kenyan primary schools affiliated with Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School. This project is self supporting and it completes the sanitation cycle by offering personal hygiene education and handwashing best practices. -
We're on Facebook!
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School established a Facebook page for communicating information via social networking. -
Kirima receiving Continuing Support
Kirima Primary School in Ol Joro Orok, Kenya receives textbooks funded by Viscount Montgomery School through Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Continuing Support Program. -
2nd Annual Potty Party
Our 2nd Annual Potty Party in celebration of World Toilet Day, raised $3500 and promoted awareness of the issue of World Sanitation. -
Givers International Meeting
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School participates at the Givers International meeting at Mission Services in Hamilton, Ontario. This meeting is a gathering of like minded NGOs (non governement organizations) doing charitable work around the world. -
Charitable Organization
Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is now a Registered Charitable Organization with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. -
Dundas Star article
The work of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School is discussed in the article, "The new 3R's- reading, writing and relationships" in the Dundas Star. -
St. Joseph's Elementary School joins
Our first school from the Catholic school system, St. Joseph's Elementary School in Hamilton, Ontario, joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program. -
Khalsa School of British Columbia joins
Our first school in Western Canada, Khalsa School in Surrey, British Columbia, joins Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School's Pen Pal Program.
