Kenya Newsletter July / August 2009
After 4 long and eventful weeks we are back from Kenia.Wie in all our travels in this country happened to many unforeseen and very little was as we had imagined.
We had planned to visit mainly the sponsored children and their families, help some women to start a small business and eventually, we had planned, at least 2 weeks to spend a perfect holiday with swimming and excursions.
We ended up with 3 days of "vacation" and the construction of a school ....
Since the last release Pastor Dickson Okoth died. He was buried in May in his home village Ndisi. The school was in many problems because they had been for months without proper guidance. The financial situation looked very bleak, and the spatial situation of primary school children. The two rented rooms for the first and second class were very expensive (150 € a month) in the third and fourth grade were taught in the one place of worship, which became the large number of children and increasing age rather problematic. It was also the 3-year contract with the municipality passed and it was agreed to pay rent there too. In January was a 5th Class to start ... the question was "Where are the children?" and "who should pay the (high) rent and the teacher?"
Despite great efforts were no suitable rental classrooms are found, neither cheap nor expensive money, either near the Preschool still far from it.
What to do?
We had meetings with the parents of most students who were very concerned for the parents' meeting on a Saturday because the future of the school and so afraid of their children. We discussed with the teachers who fear for their jobs had.
All pleaded with us to do something.
The situation in the kindergarten / pre-school is also difficult, but there are at least no space problem. A group of Germans who had supported a few years ago the building of schools, agreed to pay the salaries of preschool teachers, and so the school system there, at least to guarantee further. Heinz Maeurer, a long-standing German living in Kenya, had taken it for them to play the post of "treasurer." We had many meetings with Heinz and Nancy, our social worker. Finally, we looked forward
only one way to build a school. Or even a way back: the only existing sponsorships to support the school at another school and the schools themselves to their fate, to suggest that the latest year. But all the other students would end up on the street .....
We looked again the land that our pastor in January Okoth shown and on which he had planned the new school. By Nancy's skillful negotiations, the price from 100 to 60 € a month to press, we went to various craftsmen and could create cost estimates, we thought and prayed and thought about ... and finally decided for the school construction.
5 classrooms are on the rise (as of 12.8. Almost done) - Each about 40 m² in size, with corrugated iron roof and wooden walls, and on 7 September will be taken of the school operations after the holidays there. In January, then follows the 5th Class (the new school year). There is room for 3 other classes - ends in Kenya primary school after 8 years - and a cook house. By the end, the children are still centrally supplied from preschool, and the food (porridge for breakfast and lunch) will be placed in large pots in a wheelbarrow to the elementary school. Place to play is also available.
The construction of a toilettanlage starting this week, the entrance and a side door of managers, school classrooms in order given. The teachers are dressing adorn the classrooms and early September.
is through generous donations of several sponsors and friends have made this project possible, but we still lack a lot of resources to accomplish everything. The fence and the classrooms are paid, but finances for the toilets and wash (about 1000 €), the gates (370 €), the education institution (30 banks, each with 15 €, 5 boxes of 50 €, 6 tables, each 20 € and several chairs of 12 €), plates, spoons etc., must be found.
We are grateful for every contribution and trust that with God - and your - help the good begun Work can be completed.
Teachers' salaries can be paid with funds sponsored, as are the rent and water costs. We hope that the costs can be paid for a very simple school lunches through a small school fees of those students whose parents are not quite so poor (even ones are available). We are also looking for sponsors for many other children whose sad backgrounds we met during our visit. So we hope that small steps the quality of teaching and also to improve the food (eg by the possibility of a "fruit sponsorship" (Schulbücher..) Meet 25 to 30 euros per month per week to all 120 elementary school students 1 time to give a piece of fruit).
Please help us continue with our next steps! The vision for the future is even greater: in Kenya are school uniforms required - maybe we can find a mother who sew well may be - that would be to make the uniforms a lot cheaper and a woman work, hope and a little money for food and rent. Food may be purchased at wholesale cheap and given to parents of pupils at a very reasonable price .... there are so many options!
4 women who have shown initiative, we could have with "micro loans" to help - they have a small Trade up (sell fruit, fish, vegetables and home baked goods) and in the months to repay the loan in small installments - the money can then be given to other women. These mothers of children at the school no longer have to starve, but can offer their children a roof over their heads, as well as food and clothing.
from the other school where we help some children, there is only good news. We spent several days with Cornelia Mannai, visited families far away in the bush and supplied them with food, we had a good time at the school and also celebrated the school day with the kids, a successful song and dance performance had rehearsed. Just like everywhere else there, the budget is tight, but by Conny's commitment and personal sacrifice, the children are well cared for.
Luckily we found all the children from doing well, apart from the ordinary diseases of Africa, like malaria, diarrhea, or cough, which so many are afflicted. A girl needs maybe a small operation to correct a problem. All sponsored children received at least a double of laundry equipment (T-shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, underwear, socks are ....), to start at school for some new shoes and books.
We also visited a number of students in secondary schools that are supported by sponsors, which degenerated into a case to a special experience. We took a matatu (something similar to a "bus-taxi", are transported together in the 14 seats at least 20 people) and were from that, instead of the agreed upon before the school, in the bush and 6 km away from this subject. Sorry, we did not have hiking shoes or water bottles in their luggage .... every Kenyan stay brings us a new adventure (or more)!
Some of the children wrote letters to their sponsors, others are greeting well, and many families have expressed their thanks for the help. That we want to forward on this path. When visiting a number of families we have in January visits had occurred to us what had already told us the people in advance: there is now hope for so many, the knowledge that the children can attend school, get a meal and, as already mentioned, many women have found a way to earn a living.
A big thank you to you all that you have made this possible! And please continue to help!
photos of the sponsored children are in this release, we will gladly send photos of family, school, etc. via email (please order at: sonja.horsewood @ liwest.at) to
All the best and God bless, John
and Sonja Wood Horse - Helping Hands / Helping Hands
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