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NRTA With Our Youth! National Award – June 2008
By Lynda
Wheeler, KARSP Community Service
 The NRTA With Our Youth! program recognizes people
for outstanding volunteer projects. This year Kansas
has a national winner of this award. Edie Jorns of
Manhattan, Kansas was recognized for her work in
initiating and building Children’s Christian Concern
Society. She, and selected other winners from around
the country, will be flown to Washington D.C. to
receive the award at a recognition ceremony.
Edie Jorns and her missionary husband began their
involvement with helping to educate underprivileged
children when they traveled to Guatemala and found
so many bright young people who had no school to
attend. They opened the first school in Zapaca,
Gautemala, and started the Children’s Christian
Concern Society as a means to raise money. CCCS has
grown and it now raises money for schools,
scholarships, and other needs at 164 sites in 17
countries around the world, and is currently serving
over 12,000 students. After 23 years as a social
worker in the Manhattan School System Edie retired
and has taken on the full-time volunteer director of
CCCS, volunteering over 2000 hours a year.
At the longer established sites there is evidence of
a middle class emerging with higher expectations,
aspirations, more cultural activities, and
achievements. One girl whose mother was one of the
first students is now studying architecture in
college. Many graduates have gone on to college and
have become lawyers, judges, teacher, even a
general.
The international impact of Edie’s passion and
commitment is evident when you hear the words of
those who receive help from CCCS. “We the teachers
wish to extend our best thanks and appreciation to
the CCCS in Kansas State USA. We thank you for your
love and support for the education of our children.”
Tamber Amara, Principal, Refugee and Displaced
Community School, Kissidougour, Guinea W. Africa.
Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel
515 Kansas Ave., Ste 201.
Topeka, KS 66603-3415
Phone: 785-232-8788
K.A.R.S.P@hotmail.com
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