Yvonne & John in Kenya May/June 2010

Jambo to all our supporters,

We flew to Mombasa from Gatwick this time on an all-inclusive deal. We managed  to take quite a few story books with us, that Irene and some of the other teachers of the younger children, had requested.

Books

On our first day we had a meeting with Joshua, our Headteacher, to find out what our main priorities needed to be on this visit. Some new text books were urgently needed as the Social Studies curriculum had recently changed. On our visit to the book shop Joshua also chose 60 story books suitable for the older children. Half of these were written in English and the other half in Swahili. These were put in to the school library.

Repairs

Repairs & maintenance were the next priorities. One of the beams in the extra classroom needed to be replaced and the roof timbers needed treating against insect infestation. This work was begun at the weekend when the children were not in school.

There was no water in school when we first arrived, as the pipes we share with a neighbour were waiting to be repaired. A price was agreed and the repairs were done while we were there and the water returned. The toilets were able to be flushed again!

Food

The younger children are certainly enjoying their porridge breakfast. All the cups go back empty! At the moment the older children only have a lunch every other day as our funds will not stretch to more. But after talking to Joshua & Christine (who oversees the feeding of 150 children in a school for the deaf), we think it will be better for the children to have a smaller meal but every day.

We know that the food is very much needed & appreciated by all the children. To feed a child at Mikoroshoni costs approximately £2.50 per month. Food is so precious in Kenya - the large lorry delivering to a little shop at the back of school had an armed guard to protect its load of maize flour!

Visitors

Some students from a 6^th Form College in Nottingham spent a day in school. They are studying Travel & Tourism and had chosen to go to Kenya for a ‘hands on’ experience. They brought lots of activities with them and we know that the children had a great day. Standard 2 were happily playing with bats & balls and skipping ropes at playtime when we were in school the next day.

Grace

We took Grace to start her first day at the Technical College. She has been sponsored through Secondary School & now to do a Food & Beverage Course at the college. We took her into Mombasa to buy all the equipment - cooking knives, a waiter’s tray, a tray cloth, dish cloths, an icing set, a chef’s uniform & shoes – to name but a few of the items she needed. Although Grace only lives in Shanzu, a few miles from Mombasa town she very rarely goes there as she has no money to spend.

Emmanuel

Emmanuel is now coming to the end of the same course that Grace is just beginning. He wanted us to meet his parents who live in Kwale District about 100km from Mombasa. We arranged for them to come to Mombasa for a visit. Emmanuel’s mother spoke no English but was obviously so proud of her son. Emmanuel is the fourth of her eleven children and the first to go through Secondary School & College.

The six of us would like to say a very big ASANTE SANA (thank you) for all your support.

So many people are helping, in so many different ways, to make Mikoroshoni such a success.

In just the past week we have had 4 new ‘link child’ sponsors, a donation from a primary school raffle, donations from collecting boxes at the Stafford University shops & local newsagents, and a donation from a couple’s Golden Wedding celebration.

Very best wishes from us all.

John and Evelyn’s Kenya trip Nov/Dec 2009

This was a trip with a difference. It was our first visit since becoming Trustees. We had travelled down to Manchester in early November to meet with Pat and John and Yvonne and John. This was the first time we had ever been together as a group despite having been connected through the school for over 13 years!  We went armed with loads of questions and not surprisingly the others had all the answers and a list of “jobs” for us. Just what we wanted to guide us on our way to ensuring we did everything we could to maintain and improve the project.

The school looked fantastic when we arrived. The plants around the building really brighten the place up and they are thriving .They make it seem like a little oasis. Edward [caretaker] has made good progress with hanging grow bags that were supplied by David Acton from the Rotary Club of Rochdale. He has planted up various types of beans and they all seem to be growing. Maybe soon we will see the perimeter fence covered with grow bags and we will be able to supply our own beans for the lunch!

The feeding programme is going down very well. In fact the attendance has improved as pupils are coming to school as they know they will get a daily meal, something many would not get at home.

We were very surprised to see the size of the portions being eaten by some very small children. I was sure some would be left and so was concerned about waste, however I spent several lunch times together with the children and can guarantee there is no waste . Some of the bigger boys can always manage more!

The whole feeding process is now a well organised operation with the children doing their bit to help with the clearing up.

One job on our list was to take the photos of the new intake of KG1 for 2010. Joshua {Head Teacher} had made a selection of 25 of the most needy children from those who had applied to attend. An appointment had been arranged for someone to bring the children to have pictures taken. That morning we were greeted with a line of very keen adults and very anxious looking children. Just like most first days at school! The children were all in “Sunday best” ready for the photo shoot! Who would have thought that having a child hold a numbered card on front of them and looking into a camera could be anything else but easy? Cards upside down, reversed, on front of face, head down, head to sides, sad face and yes even TEARS! But we got there. Now it’s the difficult part, ensuring that we get enough sponsors to ensure that these children are supported for 2010 and the future, along with the other 300 pupils.

Maintenance of the school building is an ongoing issue due to the effects of the weather on the building materials. John had a job of organising the repainting and revarnishing of windows and woodwork. We tried to contact the men who had done some painting for us previously but we were informed that they had now changed their profession to motorcycle taxi drivers! So we started the search for others to do the job however when the original men heard there was the opportunity of work they seemed to change profession again very quickly and said they would do the job. John was going to spend 3 days helping to oversee the work as well as getting his hands “dirty”. The first problem of his project managing was that the “motorcycling taxi painters “didn’t turn up! So he had to get Joshua on the case with him to source others after all. Things went very well after that and good progress was made with the new team. It was hot work but John really enjoyed his hands on involvement, and it makes so much difference when you can lie down in the sun and relax the next day.

In our final week we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas party with the class that UK volunteer Dorothy had been involved with. Dorothy had been preparing things for weeks. She taught the class Christmas carols and songs, she read them stories that fascinated the children. They joined together to make Christmas decorations, paper hats and dressed a plant as a tree! She supplied biscuits and drinks and we all enjoyed a fabulous last day of term for these young children.

During that week we were also invited to attend prize giving for the older classes. We were thoroughly entertained as all of the children joined in singing and dancing as some of the others played on traditional drums The top three in every class were awarded prizes [a jotter and pens or pencils] and all were applauded by the school in various different clapping routines led by one of the teachers, something we had never witnessed before but found very amusing.

The final two days at the school were a delight. All the pupils were in high spirits and frequently a class would burst into song and dance. There seems to be no shyness or embarrassment they are all happy to join in and celebrate their culture.

These children from difficult and impoverished lives are thriving and happy and YOU are one of the people that are helping to make that happen.

Kindergarten children enjoying their porridge