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Virtual Visit to Different Countries Ideas from Life Thread post by Ruth Hernandez – Central Bible Church, Aurora, IL

1. Map: Draw a large (about 15 feet by 15 feet) chalk outline map of country on the blacktop parking lot before club. During club, the kids fill in the mountains and rivers, put in stars for the capital city, dots for other major cities, and then color in the whole thing with sidewalk chalk. Variations: A smaller scale map as a handout for each student, map on the wall or even in a PowerPoint slide with visual interaction.

2. Flag: Using a 9 x 12” inch piece of felt as a base, and gluing on strips of pre-cut contrasting felt and the central design, have the kids craft the country flag. Staple or glue on a ¼” wide, 18” long dowel rod and then hang them in a visual place in your church for a few weeks to build interest with the congregational as a whole. Variations: Show flag in a PowerPoint slide, print outlines of the flag to be colored.

3. Sample the Food: A great way to experience the culture is to do a sampling of foods typical to the culture.

4. Learn about the Missionaries: Share about the missionaries serving in a specific country or in the region you are learning about.

5. Clothing: Do a search on the internet to identify some clothing that is specific to that country and culture.

6. Music: Find a familiar chorus, and teach the kids to sing it in a different language. (ie - “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” or “Jesus Loves Me”)

7. Fast facts: Spend a few minutes teaching the kids about various aspects of the culture: geography, religion, the caste system, history, clothing, famous people, animals, music, sports and games, weather, language (include a few vocabulary words), foods, and holidays. Use pictures!

8. Activity sheets: On-line teacher resources or teacher stores provide great reproducible pages regarding countries and cultures. Send a coloring sheet or craft sheet home with the kids each week. If they do it and bring it back, they get points toward a final prize.

9. Special speaker: Invite a missionary to talk to the children or arrange a Skype session.

10. Early arrivals: On a huge piece of cardboard, outline an animal or something visually engaging from your focus region. Have the kids color in the outlined segments when they arrive. When the coloring is done, (after several weeks) they can add glue-on sequins and jewels or whatever is appropriate.

awana.org/go

Virtual Visit to Different Countries Ideas from Life Thread post by Ruth Hernandez – Central Bible Church, Aurora, IL

URLs to get you started:

Awana Around the World Sheet http://awana.org/aroundtheworld Awana Missionaries Around the World http://awana.org/where-we-serve/missionaries All around facts https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia Musical Instruments http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_instruments_%28music%29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBs9UCetgog Sports http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_sport Foods http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/80dishes Flags https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/flagsoftheworld.html B/W - http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/245-world-flags-black-and-white Games http://webpages.shepherd.edu/EMORRI01/KWCurriculum_Games.pdf http://www.gameskidsplay.net/GAMES/FOREIGN_INDEXES/INDEX.HTM http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/4h/4h05500.pdf Animals http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html http://www.bornfree.org.uk/wild-crew/animals-around-the-world/ Religions http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855613.html http://www.worldfactsandfigures.com/religion.php

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Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. At about 11.7 million sq. miles including adjacent islands, it covers six percent of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4 percent of the total land area. With approximately 1.0 billion people, it accounts for about 14.72% of the world's human population.

WEATHER Africa’s northern half is mainly desert or arid, while its central and southern areas contain both savanna plains and very dense jungle/rainforest regions. Africa is the hottest continent on earth; dry lands and deserts comprise 60% of the entire land.

DEMOGRAPHICS Africa's population has rapidly increased over the last 40 years, and consequently, it is relatively young. In some African states, half or more of the population is under 25 years of age.

ECONOMY Although it has abundant natural resources, Africa remains the world's poorest and most underdeveloped continent, the result of a variety of causes that may include the spread of deadly diseases (notably HIV/AIDS and malaria), corrupt governments, failed central planning, high levels of illiteracy, lack of access to foreign capital, and frequent tribal and military conflict.

RELIGION According to Encyclopedia Britannica, 45% of the populations are Christians, 40% are Muslims and less than 15% follow traditional African religions.

EDUCATION Education in Africa began as a tool to prepare the local youth to take their place in their respective societies and not necessarily for life outside of Africa. Education participation rates in many African countries are low. Schools often lack many basic facilities.

CROPS Agriculture is by far the single most important economic activity in Africa. Africa produces corn, wheat, and rice—in that order of importance along with many other crops depending on the climate and conditions.

LANGUAGES By most estimates, well over a thousand languages are spoken in Africa.[95] Most are of African origin, though some are of European or Asian origin. Africa is the most multilingual continent in the world, and it is not rare for individuals to fluently speak not only multiple African languages, but one or more European ones as well.

SPORTS Association football or soccer, for short, is highly popular in Africa and is a favorite sport among the region’s natives.

Awana Club in Kenya

Awana Club in Cameroon

Awana Club in Ghana

Awana Club in Malawi

Awana Club in Nigeria

Reaching kids in Africa

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Botswana, Africa

Botswana’s flag was adopted in 1966 and has been the flag of the Republic of Botswana since the country gained independence that year. The colors of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The light blue represents water; the black band with the white frame has two meanings. Firstly, they symbolize the harmony and cooperation between the people of different races who live in Botswana. Lastly they represent the stripes of the zebra, the national animal of Botswana.

WEATHER Botswana is semi-arid, due to the short rain season. However, the relatively high altitude of the country and its continental situation gives it a subtropical climate. The dry season lasts from April to October in the south. And in the north the rainfall season is high in November.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy at birth for total population is 55 years of age (males 56 years, females 54 years).

ECONOMY

Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world. Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country. Giving it a standard of living around that of Mexico and Turkey. Debswana the largest diamond mining company operating in Botswana, is 50% owned by the government.

The mineral industry provides about 40% of all government revenues.

RELIGION Christian 71.6%, None 20.6%, Indigenous 6%, Other 1.4% and Unspecified .4%.

SCHOOLING

Botswana has made great strides in educational development since independence in 1966. Botswana increased its adult literacy rate from 69% in 1991 to 83% in 2008. Primary schools in particular still lack resources and the teachers are less well paid than their secondary school colleagues.

CROPS The principal crops for domestic use are sorghum, corn and millet. Crop production is hampered by traditional farming methods, recurrent drought, erosion, and disease. Most of the land under cultivation is in the eastern region.

FLOWERS Botswana is around 90% covered in savanna, varying from shrub savanna in the southwest in the dry areas to tree savanna consisting of trees and grass in the wetter areas.

SPORTS The most popular sport in Cameroon is football (soccer). Other activities include cricket, tennis, rugby, track & field, and badminton.

Reaching kids in Botswana

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Burkina Faso, Africa

The flag has two equal horizontal bands of red and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center. The red recalls the country's struggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance, and yellow represents the country's mineral wealth

WEATHER The climate of Burkina Faso is tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 54 years of age.

ECONOMY

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country that relies heavily on cotton and gold exports for revenue. The country has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. Agriculture represents 32% of its gross domestic product and more than 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture. Cotton is the main cash crop. A large part of the economic activity of the country is funded by international aid. Since 1998, Burkina Faso has embarked upon a gradual privatization of state-owned enterprises.

RELIGION Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6%, none 0.4%

SCHOOLING

25.3% of Burkina Faso is literate. Education in Burkina Faso is divided into primary, secondary and higher education, but schooling costs approximately $97 USD per year, which is far above the means of most families.

CROPS Sorghum, pearl millet, maize (corn), groundnuts (peanuts), rice and cotton.

FLOWERS Bougainvillea and hibiscus are a couple of the popular flowers in Burkina Faso.

SPORTS Sports in Burkina Faso are widespread and include football (soccer), basketball, cycling, Rugby union, handball, tennis, athletics, boxing and martial arts.

Reaching kids in Burkina Faso

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Burundi, Africa

The national flag of Burundi was adopted on March 28, 1967. It consists of a white saltire which divides the field into alternating red and green areas. The center of the saltire merges into a white disk, on which there are three red solid six-pointed stars outlined in green.

WEATHER

Burundi in general has a tropical highland climate, with a considerable daily temperature range in many areas. The four seasons can be distinguished: the long dry season (June–August), the short wet season (September–November), the short dry season (December–January), and the long wet season (February–May).

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 52 years of age (males 51 years, females 53 years).

ECONOMY

The economy of Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The mainstay of the Burundian economy is agriculture; it supports more than 70% of the labor force, the majority of who are sustenance farmers.

RELIGION Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%, Indigenous Beliefs 32%, and Muslim 1%.

EDUCATION

Education in Burundi is compulsory for six years, between the ages of 7 and 13. The government attempts to provide for most of the costs of education through grade six. Discrimination against females has resulted in differential access of girls to education.

CROPS Principal crops for local consumption are manioc, beans, bananas, sweet potatoes, corn, and sorghum.

FLOWERS The Burundi national flower is the Yellow Frangipani flower and Plumeria flower.

SPORTS Soccer is the national game of the country. The second popular sport of Burundi is basketball. Track and field events are also very popular among the Burundians.

Cameroon, Africa

The current flag of Cameroon was adopted on May 20, 1975 after Cameroon became a unitary state. The star symbolizes the unity of the country. The green field represents the forest vegetation in the southern region. Red stands for independence and unity. The yellow represents the savannas in the north and the sun, which is the source of Cameroon’s happiness.

WEATHER The climate of Cameroon is very hot and humid, ranging from tropical weather along the coast to semiarid and hot in the northern region. The coastal belt includes some of the wettest places on Earth where the average rainfall in some areas is over 400 inches per year.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 54 years of age (males 53 years, females 55 years).

ECONOMY

Cameroon has one of the most affluent commodity economies in the Africa region due to its oil reserves and favorable agricultural conditions. Some concerns about the economy are the disproportionate distribution of income and high budget deficits. Also, about half of the population is considered in poverty.

RELIGION Christian 69%, Muslim 21% and 10% Other.

SCHOOLING Primary schooling is free, but families must pay for books and uniforms. Tuition and fees are unaffordable to many families for secondary education. There is a high dropout rate and a shortage of school teachers. About one-quarter of the population is considered illiterate.

CROPS Cocoa, coffee, bananas, palm oil and peanuts.

FLOWERS There is no national flower to Cameroon. Some native plant life includes impatiens, lilies and begonias.

SPORTS The most popular sport in Cameroon is football (soccer). Other activities include wrestling, swimming, tug of war and canoe racing.

Reaching kids in Cameroon

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was adopted on February 20th, 2006. It shows a sky blue flag, adorned with a yellow star in the upper left canton and cut diagonally by a red stripe with a thin yellow frame, which represents peace. Red stands for "the blood of the country's martyrs, yellow the country's wealth; and the star a radiant future for the country.

WEATHER

Democratic Republic of the Congo witnesses a hot and humid climatic condition along the river basin especially prevalent in the lower western and central regions of the province. While the southern highlands were effected with cool and dry weather conditions.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 56 years of age (males 54 years, females 57 years).

ECONOMY

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is filled with abundant natural possessions and mineral riches, as the economy witnessed decline during the month of 1980s. The economy depends largely on the agricultural industry, while contributing to about 57% of the GDP within the area.

RELIGION Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant Christianity 20%, Indigenous Christianity 13.5%, Indigenous Traditional Beliefs- 11.5%, Islam- 1.5%, and other Christian denominations- 1%.

EDUCATION

Primary education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is free and compulsory, and is governed by three government ministries: the Ministère de l’Enseignement Primaire, Secondaire et Professionnel (MEPSP), the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et Universitaire (MESU) and the Ministère des Affaires Sociales (MAS).

CROPS Cassava is the most widely-grown crop in the DR Congo, with plantains and maize also common.

FLOWERS Among the native flowers, worth mentioning are the orchids, lilies, lobelias, and gladioli along with the species of the euphorbia and landolphia floral genres.

SPORTS Football Soccer is the main sport played in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, basketball is growing in popularity, along with track and field, volleyball, and boxing.

Ethiopia, Africa

The flag of Ethiopia was adopted on October 31st, 1996. The three traditional colors of green, yellow and red date back to Emperor Menelik. The emblem is intended to represent both the diversity and unity of the country. Blue represents peace, the star represents diversity and unity, and the sun's rays symbolize prosperity. The green recalls the land, yellow stands for peace and hope, and red is symbolic of strength.

WEATHER

Ethiopia’s climate type is a predominant tropical monsoon, with wide topographic-induced variation. A dry season from October–February, a light rainy season from March–May, and a heavy rainy season from June–September. The dry season is the sunniest time of the year, though even at the height of the rainy season in July and August there are still usually several hours per day of bright sunshine.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 60 years of age (males 61 years, females 62 years).

ECONOMY

The economy of Ethiopia is largely based on agriculture, which accounts for 46.6% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 85% of total employment. Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is Africa’s second most populous country

RELIGION Christianity 62.8%, Islam 33.9%, Traditional Faiths 2.6% and Other 0.6%.

EDUCATION

Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and universities. Recently, there has been massive expansion throughout the educational system. Primary school education consists of two cycles from grades 1 to 4 and grades 5 to 8. Secondary schools have two cycles from grades 9 to 10 and grades 11 to 12.

CROPS Principal crops include coffee, beans, oilseeds, cereals, potatoes, sugarcane, and vegetables.

FLOWERS Ethiopia has a large variety of indigenous plants such as the jasmine, and poinsettia flower trees.

SPORTS Ethiopia is best known internationally for its middle-distance and long-distance runners and soccer.

Ghana, Africa

After Ghana gained its independence in 1957, the flag of the United Kingdom was replaced by the current national flag of Ghana. The black star symbolizes the lodestar of African freedom. The red color denotes the blood shed for independence. Yellow stands for the mineral wealth of the country. While, the green field represents its forests and natural wealth.

WEATHER

The climate of Ghana is relatively tropical, but the temperatures vary due to the seasons and elevation. There are two rainy seasons, the first is from April to July and the other one is from September to November. The only exception is the northern areas where the rainy season lasts from April through September. The highest temperatures are usually in March while the coolest time of the year is in August.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 61 years of age (males 60 years, females 62 years).

ECONOMY Ghana is one of the more economically sound countries in Africa. It has a vast amount of natural resources. Additionally, agriculture accounts for over half the work force. However, approximately 30% of the population lives in poverty.

RELIGION Christian 69%. Muslim 16%. Traditional 9%. None 6%.

SCHOOLING There is a high number of primary and secondary schools which allows easy access to good education for the student population. Ghana has one of the highest enrollment rates in South Africa. However, about one-third of the residents of Ghana are illiterate.

CROPS Cocoa, rice, tapioca, peanuts and corn.

FLOWERS There is no national flower of Ghana. However, Ghana is also know for its West African hardwoods such as mahogany, odum and ebony

SPORTS Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Ghana. Other activities include boxing, basketball, swimming, tennis and cricket.

Reaching kids in Ghana

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Kenya, Africa

The flag of Kenya was officially adopted on December 12, 1963. The flag has three horizontal bands of black, red (edged in white) and green. The Black symbolizes the majority population. Red stands for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom. Green represents natural wealth and white stands for peace. The shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom.

WEATHER Kenya’s climate is primarily warm all year round. It is usually hot and dry from January to March and July to October. The wet periods are From April to June and November to December. Rain comes in heavy, but short outbursts.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 59 years of age (males 59 years, females 60 years).

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate of Kenya was 40% as of 2008. The three primary sectors of Kenya are service, agriculture and industry. Kenya has been hampered by corruption. In 2006, the World Bank delayed loans pending action by the government on corruption. The international financial institutions and donors have since resumed lending, despite little action on the government's part to deal with corruption.

RELIGION Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, Indigenous beliefs 10% and Other 2%.

SCHOOLING In January 2003, the Government of Kenya announced the introduction of free primary education. As a result, primary school enrollment increased by about 70%. Secondary and tertiary education enrollment has not increased proportionally because payment is still required for attendance.

CROPS Tea, coffee, cabbage, onions and mangoes.

FLOWERS One of the unofficial national symbols of Kenya is orchid. Kenya never officially adopted a flower as its national symbol, it's suggested that the tropical orchid could be the national flower as Kenya is a large exporter of the tropical flowers.

SPORTS Kenya’s most popular sports are football (soccer) and cricket. Also, Kenya is known for its dominance in distance running. Other popular sports include rallying (auto racing), ruby and boxing.

Reaching kids in Kenya

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Liberia, Africa

The flag of Liberia was officially adopted on July 26, 1847. The design is based on the US flag. This represents the ex-American slave origins of the country and the horizontal stripes symbolize the Liberian Declaration of Independence. The blue square stands for the African mainland and the star denotes freedom given to ex-slaves. The blue color signifies liberty and justice and the white stripes represent purity and cleanliness. The red color is for steadfastness and valor.

WEATHER Liberia is tropical and humid with little variation in temperatures throughout the year. There are two main seasons. The dry season ranges from December to March with low humidity. The rainy season occurs between late April and mid-November.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 57 years of age (males 55 years, females 59 years).

ECONOMY The civil war in the 1990s combined with government mismanagement has destroyed the economy of Liberia. Liberia is a low income country and is heavily dependent on foreign revenue. The Liberian economy has very high unemployment and an extremely low growth rate.

RELIGION Christian 86%, Muslim 12% and Other 2%.

SCHOOLING The civil war destroyed over 20% of the schools and many others are in need of repair. Most of the schools are located within the Monrovia area. There is a shortage of instructors and a lack of teaching materials.

CROPS Coffee, cocoa, rice and tapioca.

FLOWERS The national flower in Liberia is the pepper. It is a small, white, star-shaped flower. Other native flowers are pomegranate blossom and orchids.

SPORTS Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Liberia. Other activities include basketball, tennis, volleyball and kickball.

Reaching kids in Liberia

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Malawi, Africa

The flag of Malawi was recently adopted on July 29, 2010. The stripes on the flag were changed to match the original Pan-Africa Flag layout. The sun, in the center of the flag, symbolizes the economic progress of Malawi since becoming independent from Britain in 1964. The color red represents the blood shed in their struggle for freedom. Black stands for the native peoples and the green field is the color of nature.

WEATHER Malawi has two main seasons. The dry season is from May to October while the rainy period lasts from November to April. The climate is tropical with hot and humid temperatures in most of the country.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 52 years of age (males 51 years, females 52 years).

ECONOMY Malawi is one of the least developed and most densely populated countries in the world. The economy is predominately agricultural as it accounts for over 80% of its labor force and 90% of its export revenues.

RELIGION Christian 83%, Muslim 13% and Other 2%.

SCHOOLING In Malawi there is a strong emphasis on agriculture and practical training, so most children begin work immediately after primary school. Therefore, few students go to high school or college. The literacy rate of the Malawi population is approximately at 73%.

CROPS Tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn and potatoes.

FLOWERS Currently there is no official national flower of Malawi. However, in the rainy season over 200 types of orchid are in flower.

SPORTS Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Malawi. Netball, which is similar to basketball, is predominantly played by women. Other activities include cross-country running and cricket.

Reaching kids in Malawi

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Mozambique, Africa

The flag of Mozambique was adopted on May 1, 1983. In the center of the triangle are four symbols. The first is an AK-47 rifle which symbolizes defense and vigilance. Next is a hoe that represents the country’s agriculture. There is also an open book that stresses the importance of education. The star in the background stands for Marxism. The red color signifies the struggle for independence and the white is for peace. Green is for the riches of the land, black the African continent and yellow denotes the country’s minerals.

WEATHER Mozambique has two distinct seasons. The wet season is from October to March. While, the dry season lasts from April to September. It has a tropical climate as temperatures remain constant throughout the year.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 52 years of age (males 51 years, females 53).

ECONOMY Mozambique in considered one of the world’s poorest and most undeveloped countries. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and its budget remains dependent on foreign assistance. The majority of the population lives below the poverty line.

RELIGION Christian 56%, Muslim 18%, No religious affiliation 19% and Other 7%.

SCHOOLING

Mozambique has a lack of funding for education causing there to be a deficient in schools and teachers. Most of the education budget is supported by the international community. Only half of the population is literate and has the ability to read and write.

CROPS Cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn and coconuts.

FLOWERS Native flowers to Mozambique include the Devil’s Thorn, Flame Lily, and Leopard Orchid. So far, there has been no national flower of Mozambique.

SPORTS Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Mozambique. Other activities include basketball, cricket and track & field.

Reaching kids in Mozambique

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Nigeria, Africa

The flag of Nigeria was adopted on October 1, 1960 which is the same day Nigeria gained its independence from Britain. The green fields represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country. White stands for peace and unity.

WEATHER

Nigeria has four different types of climates depending on the region. One of the climates is tropical rainforest and is found in the southern vicinity. While, the tropical savanna climate covers most of Western and Central Nigeria. Drier weather is located in the northern areas. The highland regions are known for its cooler temperatures in the mountains.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 48 years of age (males 46 years, females 49 years).

ECONOMY Nigeria’s economy has been hampered due to political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure and poor management. Nigeria is heavily dependent on gas and oil exports for government revenues. Approximately half of the population lives in poverty.

RELIGION Muslim 50%, Christian 48% and Other 2%.

SCHOOLING

Education in Nigeria is managed by the state. The first 6 years of primary education are mandatory in Nigeria. There are several state-owned polytechnics and agricultural colleges in Nigeria. The colleges are regulated by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education. The present literacy rate is estimated at 72%.

CROPS Cocoa beans, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, cashew nuts, sesame, groundnuts and maize (corn).

FLOWERS

Nigeria's national flower is the Costus Spectabilis. Some native flowers to Nigeria include the Bird of Paradise and Mimosa pudica (sleeping grass).

SPORTS Football (soccer) is Nigeria’s national sport and it is the most popular. Other popular sports include boxing, basketball, cricket and track and field.

Reaching kids in Nigeria

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Rwanda, Africa

The flag of Rwanda was adopted on October 25th; 2001.The blue stripe is symbolic of happiness and peace. Yellow stands for the country's mineral wealth and economic development. The green stripe represents the natural resources and prosperity of the country. The sun and its rays in the Rwanda flag represent unity, transparency and enlightenment from ignorance.

WEATHER

Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures than are typical for equatorial countries due to its high elevation. There are two rainy seasons in the year; the first runs from February to June and the second from September to December. These are separated by two dry seasons: the major one from June to September, during which there is often no rain at all, and a shorter and less severe one from December to February.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 58 years of age (males 56 years, females 59 years).

ECONOMY

Rwanda's economy suffered heavily during the 1994 Genocide, with widespread loss of life, failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting, and neglect of important cash crops. The economy has since strengthened, with per-capita GDP (PPP) estimated at $1,430 in 2012, compared with $416 in 1994. Major export markets include China, Germany, and the United States. The currency is the Rwandan Franc.

RELIGION Roman Catholic, 26% is Protestant, 11.1% is Seventh-day Adventist, 4.6% is Muslim, 1.7% claims no religious affiliation, and 0.1% practices traditional indigenous beliefs.

SCHOOLING The education level in Rwanda, remains low despite implementation of the policies such as mandatory education for primary school (6 years) and lower secondary schooling (3 years) that is run by state schools. The children are not required to pay school fees for the mandatory schooling.

CROPS Crops grown in the country include coffee, tea, pyrethrum, bananas, beans, sorghum and potatoes. Coffee and tea are the major cash crops for export.

FLOWERS Pentas lanceolata and Utricularia livida, a small to medium-sized annual or perennial carnivorous plant.

SPORTS Rwanda emerged gradually in the middle of the 20th century with greater exposure to international sports such as football (soccer), volleyball, track and field (athletics), and, later, basketball.

Reaching kids in Rwanda

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

Sierra Leone, Africa

The national flag of Sierra Leone was officially hoisted on April 27, 1961. The flag is a tricolor of horizontal bands of green, white, and blue. The green stands for agriculture, mountains and natural resources. The blue stands for the hope that the natural harbor in Freetown will make a contribution to peace in the world. The white stands for unity and justice.

WEATHER

Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with two seasons determining the agriculture cycle: the rainy season from May to November, and a dry season from December to May, which includes harmattan (dry and dusty West African trade wind). When cool, dry winds blow off in the Sahara Desert and the night temperature can be as low as 60.8 degrees. Average temperatures vary from 78 degrees to 96 degrees.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 56 years of age (males 54 years, females 59 years).

ECONOMY Sierra Leone is slowly emerging from a protracted civil war and is showing signs of a successful transition. Rich in minerals Sierra Leone has relied on mining, especially diamonds, for its economic base. Though rich in diamonds, it has historically struggled to manage their exploitation and export.

RELIGION Muslim 60%, Christianity 20-30%, and 5-10% other beliefs.

SCHOOLING

Education in Sierra Leone is legally required for children 6 years of age to 18 years of age. But the shortage of schools and teachers has made implementation impossible. Two thirds of the adult population of the country is illiterate. The Sierra Leone civil war resulted in the destruction of 1,270 primary schools.

CROPS Coffee, cocoa, cassava, yams, coconuts, peanuts, rice and corn.

FLOWERS The national flower of Sierra Leone is the Passion Fruit Flower.

SPORTS The most popular sport in Sierra Leone is football (soccer). Other activities include cricket and basketball.

Reaching kids in Sierra Leone

with the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing them

long-term discipleship!

South Africa, Africa

The national flag of South Africa was officially adopted on April 27, 1994. There is no universal symbolism attached to any of the colors on the flag. The only symbolism in the flag is the V or Y shapes represent the “convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity”. The origins of the black, green and yellow colors are from the flag of the African National Congress. While the red, white and blue colors came from the UK and Netherlands flags. The UK and Netherlands settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era.

WEATHER South Africa’s climate is considered subtropical along the east coast. The sunny and hot summer lasts from mid-October to mid-February. There is very little precipitation in South Africa except for the Western Cape where it rains during the winter months of May through July.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 49 years of age (males 50 years, females 48 years).

ECONOMY South Africa has an upper-middle income economy due to its vast amount of natural resources. Most of the advanced development is localized around the four metropolitan areas. The rural areas are predominately poor. One-quarter of the population suffers from unemployment and poverty.

RELIGION Christian 80%, Muslim 2%, None 15% and Other 3%.

SCHOOLING

School life in South Africa spans 13 years. Although, the first year of education and the last three years are not compulsory. South Africa has both public and private schooling. Public schools are funded by the state while private schools are funded by fees. About 20% of the country’s expenditures go toward education. Among the South African population, only 14% of blacks have an education of high school or higher, whereas 40% of Indians and 65% of Whites have an education of high school or higher.

CROPS Corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables.

FLOWERS The giant or king protea is the national flower of South Africa. Other flowers include African lilies and daisies.

SPORTS The most popular sport in South Africa is football (soccer). Rugby and cricket are also major sports in the South African culture.

Reaching kids in South Africa

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South Sudan, Africa

The current flag of South Sudan was adopted on July 9, 2005. The three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side contains a gold, five-pointed star; black represents the people of South Sudan, red the bloodshed in the struggle for freedom, green the verdant land, and blue the waters of the Nile; the gold star represents the unity of the states making up South Sudan.

WEATHER South Sudan has a climate similar to an Equatorial or tropical climate, characterized by a rainy season of high humidity and large amounts of rainfall followed by a drier season. The most rainfall is seen between May and October, and March being the warmest month of the year.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 61 years of age (males 62 years, females 61 years).

ECONOMY Long based on subsistence agriculture, South Sudan's economy is now highly oil-dependent. While an estimated 75% of all the former Sudan's oil reserves are in South Sudan, the refineries and the pipeline to the Red Sea are in Sudan.

RELIGION Religion in South Sudan is as follows, Christianity 60.5%, Indigenous Beliefs 32.9%, Islam 6.2%, and other religions .4%.

SCHOOLING

South Sudan’s primary education consists of eight years, followed by four years of secondary education, and then four years of university instruction. In 2007 South Sudan adopted English as the official language of communication. There is a severe shortage of English teachers and English-speaking teachers in the scientific and technical fields.

CROPS The main subsistence crops produced in Sudan are sorghum, millet, wheat, cowpeas, beans, pulses, corn, and barley. Cotton is the principal export crop and an integral part of the country's economy and Sudan is the world's third largest producer of sesame after India and China.

FLOWERS South Sudan includes the Sudd, one of the largest protected wetlands in the world. South Sudan has no official flower.

SPORTS Many traditional and modern games and sports are popular in South Sudan, particularly wrestling and mock battles. In the modern era, South Sudanese have excelled in international sports, such as Basketball and Football Soccer.

Sudan, Africa

The flag of Sudan was adopted on May 20, 1970. The flag of Sudan has three equal horizontal bands of red, white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the left side. The red signifies the struggle for freedom. The white is the color of peace, light, and love. The black represents Sudan itself. Green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity.

WEATHER

Sudan’s climate ranges from arid in the north to tropical in the southwest. Temperatures do not vary greatly with the season. Sudan’s rainy season lasts for about three months in the north, and up to six months in the south. The dry regions are plagued by sandstorms which can completely block out the sun. In the northern and western semi-desert areas, people rely on the scant rainfall for basic agriculture.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 55 years old (males 54 years, females 56 years).

ECONOMY

In 2010, Sudan was considered the 17th-fastest-growing economy in the world. The rapid development of the country comes largely from oil profits. Two decades of civil war in the south, the lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture ensure much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years to come.

RELIGION Sunni Muslim 97%, other 2.3%

SCHOOLING The literacy rate in Sudan is 61% and the school life expectancy is 4 years. Education in Sudan is free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 13 years.

CROPS Cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), millet, wheat, gum Arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame.

FLOWERS There is no national flower of Sudan. Sudan is an important source of flowers with medicinal properties. Some of these flowers include citrullus colocynthis, solenostemma arghel and guar gum.

SPORTS The two most popular sports in Sudan are football (soccer) and track and field. Other popular sports include handball, basketball and volleyball.

Reaching kids in Sudan

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Swaziland, Africa

The flag of Swaziland was officially adopted on October 6, 1968. In the center of the red band is a black and white shield covering that has two spears and a staff with tassels running through it. This symbolizes protection from the country’s enemies. The colors on the shield represent the people of South Africa living in peaceful coexistence. The blue field stands for peace and stability and red denotes past struggles. Yellow represents the mineral resources of the country.

WEATHER The climate varies from tropical to moderate temperatures between summer and winter. There are four seasons: spring (September-October), summer (November-March), autumn (April-May) and winter (June-August). Most of the rain falls in the summer months and winter is considered the dry season.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 49 years of age (males 50 years, females 48 years).

ECONOMY Swaziland has a small, landlocked economy with the agriculture sector employing approximately 70% of the population. Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives 90% of its imports and sends 60% of its exports. Problems for the future include contagious diseases, drought, and floods.

RELIGION Protestant 35%, Zionist 30%, Catholic 25% and Other 10%.

SCHOOLING Most of the burden for the funding of education is raised through the local communities. The money is used for building maintenance and teacher housing. Approximately 13% of the population is considered illiterate.

CROPS Sugarcane, corn, rice, citrus and pineapples.

FLOWERS The giant or king protea (Protea cynaroides) is the national flower of South Africa. Other native flowers are the clivia, nerine, ericas and zantedeschia (calla lily).

SPORTS Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Swaziland. Other sports played include cricket, rugby, archery, javelin and wrestling.

Tanzania, Africa

The flag of Tanzania was adopted on June 30, 1964. It combines the colors of the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The green field stands for the natural vegetation present in the country. Gold represents its rich mineral deposits, black is for the color of the Swahili people and blue is for the many lakes and rivers, including the Indian Ocean.

WEATHER

Tanzania has two major rainfall regions. The southern, south-west, central and western areas experience their precipitation during the months of December and April. The north and northern coast have two rainy seasons. The Masika, (the long rains) is from March to May while the Vuli (the short rains) last from October through December. Climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 53 years of age (males 51 years, females 54 years).

ECONOMY Tanzania is one of the world’s poorest economies in terms of per capita income. The economy is primarily agricultural which employs approximately 80% of the work force. Poverty is a primary threat to the Tanzanian population as over one-third of the country is poverty stricken.

RELIGION Mainland – Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, Indigenous beliefs 35%. Zanzibar – more than 99% Muslim.

SCHOOLING

Education in Tanzania is compulsory for seven years, until children reach the age of 15 years. About 25% of the country is illiterate in Tanzania. School drop out rates are high. There is a lack of funding causing a shortage of classrooms and books. There is a lack of commitment from teachers. The average workday for a teacher in the nation is 1 hour and 15 minutes per day because they don't show up.

CROPS Coffee, tea, cashew nuts, corn and wheat

FLOWERS The national flower of Tanzania is the baobab flower. Other native flowers in Tanzania are the clove, African violet and angle trumpet.

SPORTS The most popular sport in Tanzania is football (soccer). Other activities include basketball and netball.

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Togo, Africa

The flag of Togo was adopted on April 27, 1960. The flag has five equal horizontal bands of green alternating with yellow. A white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper left side corner. The five horizontal stripes stand for the five different regions of the country. The red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people. Green symbolizes hope, fertility and agriculture. Yellow represents mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity. The star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity and Togo's independence.

WEATHER The climate in Togo is generally tropical. There is a dry climate and characteristics of a tropical savanna. There are two seasons of rain, the first season is from April to July and the second is from September to November. Togo receives less rainfall than most of the other countries along the Gulf of Guinea.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 63 years old (males 60 years, females 65 years).

ECONOMY Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. Economic growth prospects remain marginal due to declining cotton production and underinvestment in phosphate mining.

RELIGION Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%.

SCHOOLING

The literacy rate in Sudan is 61% and the school life expectancy is 10 years. The education system has suffered from teacher shortages, lower educational quality in rural areas, and high repetition and dropout rates. Due to lack of finances, the Government is unable to give free education to students. The public schools in Togo villages have a record of ill treating the children, which makes education a terror for them.

CROPS Coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum.

FLOWERS There is no national flower of Togo. Some of the native plants include pandanus crassicollis, rinorea bussei and gutenbergia folios.

SPORTS The most popular sport in Togo is football (soccer). Some other popular sports are boxing, tennis and traditional wrestling.

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Uganda, Africa

The flag of Uganda was adopted officially on October 9, 1962 which is the date that Uganda became independent from the United Kingdom. The center of the flag has a white disk which depicts the red-crested crane, the national symbol of Uganda. The Black Color symbolizes the African people. Yellow refers to the African sunshine and red stands for African brotherhood.

WEATHER Uganda’s climate is tropical and has four seasons. There are generally two dry seasons from December to February and June to August. The rainy seasons are from March to May and September to November.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 53 years of age (males 52 years, females 54 years).

ECONOMY Uganda is amongst the world’s poorest and least-developed countries. Persistent economic decline has been due to the political instability and unstable economic management of government.

RELIGION Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 42%, Muslim 12% and Other 4%.

SCHOOLING Over 30% of the Uganda population is illiterate. Children receiving primary education (which is for the first seven years of schooling) have been increasing steadily. Free primary education is available, but only to four children per family.

CROPS Plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes and millet.

FLOWERS A popular contender for the national flower of Uganda is the impatient, but there is currently no official national flower.

SPORTS Football (soccer) and cricket are the major sports in Uganda. Rugby and basketball are also growing in popularity.

Reaching kids in Uganda

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Zambia, Africa

The flag of Zambia was adopted on October 24, 1964 and then slightly modified in 1996. The green color stands for natural resources. The red symbolizes the struggle for freedom. The black stands for the people of Zambia. The orange for mineral wealth. The eagle represents the people’s ability to rise above the nation’s problems.

WEATHER

The climate of Zambia is tropical. Most of the country is classified as humid subtropical or tropical wet and dry. There are two main seasons. The rainy season (November to April) corresponds to summer and the dry season (May to November) corresponds to winter. The modifying influence of altitude gives the country pleasant subtropical weather rather than tropical conditions during the cool season from May to August.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is years 52 old (males 51 years, females 54 years).

ECONOMY

Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years. Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, despite a stronger economy. About 68% of Zambians live below the national poverty line, with rural poverty rates standing at about 78% and urban rates of 53%.

RELIGION Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49% and indigenous beliefs 1%.

SCHOOLING Demand for schooling is high among Zambian children. Education support is only available for 40% of children and even then is not entirely free, leaving churches and charities to pick up the balance as best they can.

CROPS Corn, Cassava, Peanuts and Sweet Potatoes.

FLOWERS Zambia's national flower is the bougainvillea. Other native flowers include the morning glory, lemon flower and impala lily.

SPORTS Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Zambia. Other popular sports are golf, rugby, boxing and cricket.

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Zimbabwe, Africa

The flag of Zimbabwe was adopted on April 18, 1980. The soapstone bird (left side of the flag) represents a statuette found at the ruins of Great Zimbabwe and is considered the national emblem. The red star on the left symbolizes the nation’s hope for the future. The white triangle is for peace. The green field represents agriculture and yellow signifies mineral wealth. The red color is the blood shed for independence. The black color stands for the heritage and ethnicity of the native people.

WEATHER The climate in Zimbabwe is primarily tropical. There are three main seasons. The rainy season, which consists of monsoons, is from October to April. The hot, dry season ranges between August and October. High altitude regions have a dry, cool winter season from May to August.

LIFESPAN Life expectancy on average is 50 years of age (males 50 years, females 49 years).

ECONOMY

Zimbabwe's involvement in the war in Congo from 1998 to 2002 drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. The government's land reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged the commercial farming sector turning Zimbabwe into a net importer of food products. The EU and the US provide food aid on humanitarian grounds. The farming sector was the traditional source of exports and provided 400,000 jobs.

RELIGION Syncretism 50%, Christian 25%, Indigenous beliefs 24% and Other 1%.

SCHOOLING The education system consists of seven years of primary schooling and six years of secondary schooling. Zimbabwe has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. Some concerns about the education system are the lack of public funding, hyperinflation and political unrest.

CROPS Corn, wheat, coffee, sugarcane and peanuts.

FLOWERS The gloriosa superba (also known as the flame lily) is the national flower of Zimbabwe. The devil’s thorn and leopard orchid are also native to Zimbabwe.

SPORTS The most popular sports in Zimbabwe are cricket and football (soccer). Rugby, field hockey and polocrosse are popular sports enjoyed by the Zambian culture.

Reaching kids in Zimbabwe

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