Update Season VIII - "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!"

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

My $35 monthly gift goes entirely to the kids school fees and supplies as well as a lunch.  Maisha is non profit.  He doesn't make money off my donations.  Plus, several other sponsors call their sponsees their children.  I am far from alone.

1. What exactly costs $35 a month?  Break it down for us, since you know so much about Maisha.
2. Do they actually call them their "children" or their "sponsor children".  Do these people refer to themselves as "mommy" and "daddy"?  Because this is the first time that you've ever mentioned this (and usually when something comes up suddenly that sounds unbelievable, it's because you're twisting the truth in some way).

1. School fees, primarily.  In Kenya, a child has to pay to go to school/take tests/uniforms.  If a child doesn't have the money, he or she is held back and cannot proceed until they pay up. Plus, a bowl of beans and maize for lunch.

2. Some say child, some say sponsor child. In this context, they mean the same thing.   My situation is no different. Though I say father, it is the same as sponsor father.

1. And how much are the school fees and how much is the lunch?

2. The two are not the same thing.  By that same logic, a father and a step-father would be the same thing, and those two are much more closely related than a sponsor father is to a real father.

[Joe Biden 2020]

My $35 monthly gift goes entirely to the kids school fees and supplies as well as a lunch.  Maisha is non profit.  He doesn't make money off my donations.  Plus, several other sponsors call their sponsees their children.  I am far from alone.

1. What exactly costs $35 a month?  Break it down for us, since you know so much about Maisha.
2. Do they actually call them their "children" or their "sponsor children".  Do these people refer to themselves as "mommy" and "daddy"?  Because this is the first time that you've ever mentioned this (and usually when something comes up suddenly that sounds unbelievable, it's because you're twisting the truth in some way).

1. School fees, primarily.  In Kenya, a child has to pay to go to school/take tests/uniforms.  If a child doesn't have the money, he or she is held back and cannot proceed until they pay up. Plus, a bowl of beans and maize for lunch.

2. Some say child, some say sponsor child. In this context, they mean the same thing.   My situation is no different. Though I say father, it is the same as sponsor father.

1. And how much are the school fees and how much is the lunch?

2. The two are not the same thing.  By that same logic, a father and a step-father would be the same thing, and those two are much more closely related than a sponsor father is to a real father.

I'm not sure the exact breakdown.

I said "in this context".

[tmthforu94]

I know that it does cost a considerable amount for kids in Kenya to be educated - a lot end up dropping out pretty early due to finances, which is unfortunate.

[memphis]

I know that it does cost a considerable amount for kids in Kenya the United States to be educated - a lot end up dropping out pretty early due to finances, which is unfortunate.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

My $35 monthly gift goes entirely to the kids school fees and supplies as well as a lunch.  Maisha is non profit.  He doesn't make money off my donations.  Plus, several other sponsors call their sponsees their children.  I am far from alone.

1. What exactly costs $35 a month?  Break it down for us, since you know so much about Maisha.
2. Do they actually call them their "children" or their "sponsor children".  Do these people refer to themselves as "mommy" and "daddy"?  Because this is the first time that you've ever mentioned this (and usually when something comes up suddenly that sounds unbelievable, it's because you're twisting the truth in some way).

1. School fees, primarily.  In Kenya, a child has to pay to go to school/take tests/uniforms.  If a child doesn't have the money, he or she is held back and cannot proceed until they pay up. Plus, a bowl of beans and maize for lunch.

2. Some say child, some say sponsor child. In this context, they mean the same thing.   My situation is no different. Though I say father, it is the same as sponsor father.

1. And how much are the school fees and how much is the lunch?

2. The two are not the same thing.  By that same logic, a father and a step-father would be the same thing, and those two are much more closely related than a sponsor father is to a real father.

I'm not sure the exact breakdown.

I said "in this context".

If you don't know the breakdown, how do you know that it "goes entirely to the kids school fees and supplies as well as a lunch"?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I know the percentages of the two add up to 100%, but I don't exactly know what the figures are.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I know the percentages of the two add up to 100%, but I don't exactly know what the figures are.

And how do you know that?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I've seen it written down before and my Maisha director has also told me verbally.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I've seen it written down before and my Maisha director has also told me verbally.

So you're essentially basing this on an assumption that these are good people who, because they are good people, are being honest with you?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I do trust people.  The Maisha directors know what they're doing.  Yes, it is an element of trust.  Everyone should be able to trust someone.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

So, purely as a hypothetical, if the Maisha director told you that it cost $35 to pay for the schooling and lunch for one kid, but in actuality, it only cost $25, and he was taking $10 for himself for some personal reasons (buying a new TV or a new computer... whatever it may be), would this make him a bad person?

[Joe Biden 2020]

It would make him less trustworthy.  That's why they have a completely separate fund for the infrastructure and stipends that are not funded by the sponsorship money.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

It would make him less trustworthy.  That's why they have a completely separate fund for the infrastructure and stipends that are not funded by the sponsorship money.

1. Would it make him a bad person?
2. Would you still donate to that orphanage?

[Joe Biden 2020]

The Maisha owner and founder is from Kisumu and was poor herself, until a Swedish couple took her in and gave her an education.  In 2007, she moved to Oklahoma City and founded Maisha as a way to give back.  Her mother is the overall director of the operations in Kisumu.  They have assistants that oversee all the day to day activities.  The director in OKC comes home every June and July to see how things are going.  She and a team of assistants oversee the administration from OKC.  Nobody receives a salary, only a stipend paid for by donations strictly earmarked for such.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I understand that.  These are purely hypothetical questions that I'm curious about.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It would make him less trustworthy.  That's why they have a completely separate fund for the infrastructure and stipends that are not funded by the sponsorship money.

1. Would it make him a bad person?
2. Would you still donate to that orphanage?

1. I hate using the term "bad person."  It means so much more than the loss of trust.
2. I would for the sole sake of the kids.  $25 is still better than $0.  I would have a hard time recommending them to others, though.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I understand that.  These are purely hypothetical questions that I'm curious about.

Understandable and good scenarios you are throwing out.  These are questions that SHOULD be asked of every organization.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Anyway, I've got to get ready to go to Maisha.  I will chat more tonight.  Good chat, Inks.  Truly.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

RIP CAD.

[Paul Kemp]

RIP CAD.

RIP Blondie

[Joe Biden 2020]

RIP CAD.

CAD is still very much alive.  It is now integrated into my Kenya plans.  The plans are merged.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

RIP CAD.

CAD is still very much alive.  It is now integrated into my Kenya plans.  The plans are merged.

We remember what happened the last season you came home. It will be worse this time.  RIP CAD and RIP Blondie. 

[bore]

At what point can this thread be renamed season 9?

[Joe Biden 2020]

On a side note, I had a shots worth of a little Rose' the other night and took communion with real red wine this morning.  That was a first!  I like the Rose', but not the red.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Alright, Season 8 is back from a short break.  Cancel the conversation in the Petition thread and move it here.  Now, feel free to discuss my wine indulging!