Mission News
 
 
After careful consideration the Mission Committee selected two international organizations to support through the Gift of Tomorrow:
 
Children and Wellness Shops from The Health Store Foundation
The goal of this program is to improve access to essential drugs, basic healthcare, and prevention services for children and families in the developing world using business models that achieve economies of scale while maintaining health standards.  
 
The HealthStore Foundation provides micro loans to individual entrepreneurs to set up Children and Family Wellness (CFW) shops and clinics.  The franchisees are trained in best practices to help ensure that clinics and shops are successful and stay in line with the foundation’s mission.  The business model allows the franchisee to provide much needed healthcare and medicines in poor, rural areas through a for-profit structure, which circulates funds and creates jobs.  
 
Through the foundation CFW Shops get access to high quality, low cost medicines so that those in need have access to medical care.  The ongoing investment of the foundation in the franchisee provides incentives for the franchisee to follow the procedures and best practices of the foundation because the franchisee risks loosing their shops if they break the rules.  Data is collected on an ongoing basis to ensure that each shop is in line with the foundation’s mission and that best practices are followed.  
 
Operations:  The HealthStore currently operates 54 outlets in Kenya, 28 shops and 26 clinics and opened their first shops in Ghana in fall 2006.  
 
Action:  We will send $4,700 a year for three years beginning in February of 2007 with a total contribution of $14,100. Funds are spent to:
  1. •Build the clinic including fixtures, equipment, painting, secure storage, etc.
  2. •Training for the franchisee in business management and medical treatments
  3. •Monthly deliveries of medicines and supplies
  4. •Twice monthly inspections by HealthStore field supervisors to ensure compliance
  5. •Data collection to ensure that program goals are being met
 
Church World Services Disaster Relief
The additional funds from Gift of Tomorrow of about $15,000 will be given to Church World Services Disaster Relief fund.  After reviewing Church World Service’s programs we feel their strength is in disaster relief, not long term development.  We also feel that making a non-restricted gift to disaster relief would be most appreciated because immediate response to new disasters is always needed.  One of Church World Services is their timely response to natural disasters around the world.  We will recommend donations to Church World Services begins as the funds become available in 2007 and beyond.      
 
 
International Mission Projects