Hello Everyone,

The situation in Kenya has not improved since I mentioned it in the last newsletter. Pangaea has discussed with UNESCO/Kenya the possibility of launching Pangaea activities in Kisumu in mid-February. We have both agreed to postpone our plan. Mr. Kofi Annan, the chairperson of the Commission of African Union, has mediated a continuing crisis in Kenya, but so far there seems to be no solutions found. We explained to children in our activities what has happened in Kenya. We decided to send our messages, written using Pictons, to cheer their Kenyan friends up. I heard their conversation talking about which Pictons they might want to use: "I want to tell them that I hope they don't die in the violence." "But when they know you are talking about 'death' from your Picton message, it will probably make them sad."

Some children shared their stories: since they watched television news, reporting violence in Kenya, during the New Year holiday, they have been worried about their Kenyan friends. We have been helping with children to cultivate compassion for others, regardless of geographical distance, as the first step. I realized that those children showed their sympathy toward their peers. They have been bonded as Pangaeans, and tried to understand what their friends are going through. We will send as many messages as possible to Jane, who is working with Pangaea in Kenya.