UniKids

Ethiopian Folk Tale - The Thief and the Chair

2011-12-24T16:06:00.003-05:00

For generations, Ethiopian stories such as this, with their perceptive wit and useful lessons, have been used to entertain and instruct young children.

I am sharing these folk-tales from the collection of stories by author Shlomo Bachrach, 1967. Enjoy. Senait Mareligne

A long time ago there was a thief in the region of Dessie,Ethiopia. This thief stole many things. He took books, horses, clothing andfood. He took everything that he wanted.

One day the thief went to the café. He didn’t sit down at thetable. He walked around the room. He looked at the pictures on the walls. Helooked at the bottles on the shelves. He looked at the people sitting at thetables.

At last, the thief picked up a chair. He carried the chair tothe door. Then he walked outside, carrying the chair. He crossed the road. Whenhe got to the other side, he put the chair on his back. Then he slowly walkedacross the field with the chair. The waiter ran out the café. He looked for thethief. He saw the thief walking across the field. He shouted at him, ‘Stop!Bring back the chair.” The thief heard him, and he stopped. He put the chair onthe ground and sat down. The waiter saw him sitting in the middle of the field.He began to walk towards the thief.

‘Come here, waiter,’ said the thief.

‘What do you want?’ asked the waiter.

‘Bring me a cup of coffee,’ said the thief.

‘Do you want sugar?’ asked the waiter.

‘Yes, I do,’ said the thief.

So the waiter went backinto the café to get the coffee. Then the thief picked up the chair and ranaway.

Ethiopian Folk Tale - The Clever Son

2011-12-05T10:57:00.001-05:00

For generations, Ethiopian stories such asthis, with their perceptive wit and useful lessons, have been used toentertain and instruct young children.

I am sharing these folk-tales from thecollection of stories by author Shlomo Bachrach, 1967.

Enjoy. Senait Mareligne

THE CLEVER SON

A long time ago an old man lived in the regionof Gondar. He had three sons. The old man was sick and he called his sons tohim. He wanted to find out which son was the cleverest.

The old man told his sons, ‘I will reward themost clever one. There is some money on the table. Each one take twenty-fivecents, and buy something to fill my room.’

Each boy took twenty-five cents and went out tobuy something to fill his father’s room.

The oldest boy went out. He said to himself,‘This is easy. There are many things I can buy in the market.’ He went to themarket and bought some straw.

The second son thought to himself, ‘is thereanything that fills a room?’ Then he went to the market and looked in all theshops. At last he bought some feathers.

The youngest son thought for a long time. ‘Whatis there in the market that costs twenty-five cents and fills a room?’ Hethought for many hours. Then he went to a small shop and bought a candle and amatch.

The next day the three sons returned to theirfather. They entered his room. Each one brought what he had to fill the oldman’s room. The oldest son brought his straw. The second son brought hisfeathers. The youngest son brought his match and his candle.

The oldest son showed his father the straw. Itfilled only a small corner of the room. ‘Only one corner of the room is full,‘said the old man.

The second son showed his feathers. They filledonly two corners of the room.

Isn’t there anything that will fill the room?’asked the old man.

The youngest son took the match and lit thecandle. The light from one small candle filled the dark room. The old man wasvery happy. He rewarded the youngest son. He gave him all of his land andmoney.

Next Folk Tale....The Thief and the Chair

Starbucks School Supplies Collection Drive

2011-08-23T05:43:00.000-04:00

During the month of August, twenty Louisville area Starbucks stores put out collection boxes to help us collect school supplies for students in orphanages and low-income families in developing countries.
This drive was spearheaded by the St. Mathews Starbucks manager Karen Larkin who is supporter of our cause. Thank you Karen for organizing this for the first time and we hope to come back for many more drives.

The collection box

We will continue to hold such collection centers for people to think about recycling school supplies and also donating new ones. Of course, it is difficult for someone to remember to bring school supplies when going to Starbucks. But the goal is to have the information out there so Starbucks goers can make it a habit.

We always welcome ideas for spreading the news about UniKids' mission. Please contact us at smareligne@unikids.org to let us know of the next great idea.

Press Release

2011-05-24T07:29:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senait Mareligne, Director

502.235.8682

smareligne@unikids.org

UNIKIDS COLLECTS SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ORPHANAGES

LOUISVILLE, KY – May 18, 2011

A campaign to provide students in orphanages and low-income families in Ethiopia and other developing countries has called on schools in Louisville, KY to get involved in the cause.

UniKids, a not-for-profit organization founded by native Ethiopian and Louisville resident Senait Mareligne, collects gently used and new school supplies and books from area schools and ships to Ethiopia, The Gambia, and other developing countries.

Many families struggle to equip their children with the necessary school supplies they need to pursue their education. They face difficulty to even buy the children the basic paper, pen, and pencil. However, the children are committed as they get up every morning and go to school.

UniKids goal is to boost these students learning desire by adding color and excitement to their learning experience. Our goal is for each student to have crayons, coloring pencils, coloring papers, markers, etc at their disposal and help them expand their imagination.

School supplies collection drive is going on through out the month of May to engage as many schools as possible before the end of the school year. So far, six area schools are committed to involve their students in the drive and donate school supplies and books.

The goal is to reach to ten schools where UniKids will be able to collect enough supplies to support about 500 students in orphanages and low-income families in Ethiopia.

For more information, call 502.235.8682 or visit www.unikids.org.

Find us on UniKids Face book Page.

# # #

UniKids - Thinks Recycle: School Supplies Collection Drive

2011-05-08T12:38:00.000-04:00

UniKids - Thinks Recycle: School Supplies Collection Drive

School Supplies Collection Drive

2011-05-08T12:37:00.000-04:00

Before the end of the school year, we are asking schools to participate in our school supplies collection drive. Parents, teachers, and students are encouraged to think about donating the left over school supplies from the year.

Before UniKids, my kids used to bring a backpack and more full of year round school supplies that ended up in the basement and sometimes in their backpack:-) What started as a suitcase donation to a small school in Ethiopia has now grown to helping more that one school, more than one orphanage.

We now work with registered not-for-profit organizations in Ethiopia that help students in orphanages and low-income families. Our goal is to help out about 500 children this year. These are children who don't have the necessary supplies to help them continue their education. They use notebooks and pens/papers but imagine if they are able to have a notebook for each subject, crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, rulers, erasers. And when they go to their library, imagine their smile when they are welcomed by books and they are transported to another world through the books.

We are hopeful that our participating schools will make us proud by donating as many school supplies and books as possible. Our goal is to have about 10 schools participate this year and we are at 6 schools.

Your school or your child's school can be part of this cause.

Thank you for your unconditional support.

Senait Mareligne

Founder/Director

UniKids Team

Desserts of the World

2011-04-24T17:52:00.000-04:00

We gave the usual "bake sale" a twist with a touch of the world through desserts. This fundraising event for UniKids was held on April 15, 2011 at the UniKids location in Louisville, Kentucky. Friends from different countries donated home-made desserts and we also got delicious donations from two of the local bakeries. All proceeds went to support UniKids in its effort to collect and donate school supplies to orphans and low-income families living in Ethiopia.

To eat or not to eat
That was the question!!!!
Gateau Aux Trois Chocolat
Canada
Ghyslain in louisville

Represented regions were Barbados, Canada, France, India, Iraq, South Africa, Mediterranean, Peru, Puerto Rico, Germany, and USA.

Coconut Flan - Puerto Rico
Nancy Tora
Nancy gave this flan a touch of Puerto Rico with an abundance of coconut. It was very delicious.

Baklava - Iraq
Muhsin Fliah

The Sisters from Sacred Heart School donated these cookies. Great with tea!

Ginger and Almond Cookies
Germany

Baklava - Mediterranean
Rahel Telahun

The all rounded Rahel, who is from Ethiopia, prepared this melt-in-your-mouth baklava. She also prepared the rice pudding from Peru (recipe: courtesy of our friend Mari Mujica).

Millefeuill
France
Chef Gregoire Guilot

Chef Greg of Miravelle Gourmet Catering donated his Millefeuill. Well, this layer of heaven was devoured by our attendees. It was crunch on top and soft inside. Some of us enjoyed it the next day too.

Hollie Dollies
USA
Connie Marrett
Connie gave these crunchy, chocolatey, nutty bars an all American name: Hollie Dollies. Well, I learned that Holly Dolly is a pretty little donkey-girl who grew up in the country and whose dream was to become a big star.

Far Breton aux pruneaux
France
Edith Guicherd

Judith's coconut bread tastes great by itself and even much tastier with tea. This is not the first time I had a taste of the coconut bread. She even brought the recipe, but truly, I like it when she makes it:-)
Coconut Bread
Barbados
Judith Grazette

Edith has a magic touch when she makes her desserts. We have enjoyed many of her bakings on several occasions. This was one of her donations. She also prepared the Far Breton without the prunes.

Kids watching a movie after their sugar intake:-)

It is not only adults who enjoyed this evening. Kids also got a taste of all desserts and they came back for more.

Mother and Daughter
Having a good time!

Also not shown in pictures here is the smooth and delicious Melk Tert from South Africa. Prepared and donated by Beate Rose. Now, Beate experiments with exotic spices and she gave this Tert a good twist by adding spices from Morocco. The result? Delish :-)

We are very thankful to our friends who donated the desserts, the restaurants that baked their best for us, our friends Patsy Rebac and Rahel Telahun who help set up the decoration and our friends and their kids who made the evening complete. We are so grateful for your support and we look forward to seeing you in one of our upcoming events.

Great time for a great conversation

Enjoying coffee

Taking a break before the next round of desserts

Everyone in attendance, about 35 friends and acquaintances, enjoyed the taste of these sweets, coffee, tea and each others company. As in the desserts, our attendees were from different countries. Now that is Desserts of the World.

Many Many Thanks....We love you all!

Senait Mareligne
Grace Pau
www.unikids.org
UniKids Team