How We Got Started
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Lon Kennard and his wife, DeAnna, are the parents of thirteen children; the six youngest children were adopted from Ethiopia over a decade ago. Those children are now adults. Four of their children kids came from a poor village in the South of Ethiopia, Kersa Illala.
While visiting that village the first time to allow their children to bid farewell to their relatives and friends, the Kennards were struck by the abject poverty prevalent in Kersa Illala and throughout Ethiopa. In the intervening years, they returned many times to Ethiopia, seeing many different parts of that beautiful country, and have experienced the problems of Kersa Illala and many of the world's poor villages first hand. Because of the poverty they encountered in Ethiopia and while traveling to other impoverished countries, they have committed their lives to helping the village of Kersa Illala, and eventually villagers worldwide, to help themselves become self sufficient.
To provide that help, the Kennards have mounted a humanitarian effort aimed directly at supporting the destitute people of Kersa Illala. They focus their efforts on four areas of development; physical, educational, cultural and spiritual. Their goal is to act as catalysts to help the villagers solve the problems faced trying to survive and educate their families. Lon and DeAnna personally travel many times each year with volunteers like you to work with the villagers.
The Kennards invite individuals and businesses to join them in their efforts to help in Ethiopia. If you feel a tug on your heartstrings for this frightful situation, contact the Kennards to see how you or your business can help. You may even consider joining an upcoming expedition.
Learn More About Joining an Expedition with Lon And DeAnna
