KANYAWEGI NEWSLETTER November 2002
JIM
DAWE NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2002
The new system of leaving the day to day running of the home to our Kenyan committee
is working very well at Kanyawegi. It has been a bit more difficult for myself
to adjust in living away from Kenya, but it is getting better as time goes on.
I made a visit at the beginning of this month, but I purposely did not call
in at the home, as I feel I should wait a while longer. I was able to visit
a Jua kali exhibition in Kampala and also have a meeting with the Kanyawegi
committee. Jua kali actually means 'under the hot sun' and it is the term they
now use in east Africa for small businesses, although the original use was for
the car mechanics that worked along the roadside - hence 'under the hot sun'.
I was able to get a lot of new ideas from this exhibition of cottage industries
for our children's future training. This exhibition is something I have wanted
to visit for sometime, which will give us more options for our children's future.
I was also able to take a lot of clothes and shoes for the children and establish
new working practices with the committee. So although I visited Entebbe, Kampala,
Jinja (the source of the Nile), and Nairobi I forced myself to stay away from
the home.
CHILDREN
We have not admitted any new children since my last newsletter, but Michael
one and Eric have now left our care, as I mentioned in my last newsletter, and
David and Steven are still due to leave this month as soon as we have established
their workshop and house.
With some children leaving and with new sponsors, we will soon be in a position
to admit more children from our very large waiting list.
Kevin (1) was finding it difficult at the home, so we have sent him to his homestead
to live and enrolled him on a carpentry course there. We will continue to support
him and we have visited him several times. Both he and his trainer say his doing
well.
Paul was struggling with his motor mechanic training at YMCA, so we have found
an apprenticeship for him - he seems to enjoy it.
All the children are at present doing the end of term or final year exams, so
we are hoping for the best for them all.
When school breaks at the end of November, most of the children will go to their
home area's to stay with any surviving relatives for about three weeks. We believe
this to be important for them to maintain links with the family; it also helps
them to appreciate what they have at Kanyawegi.
SPONSORS
We have had one more regular sponsor since my last newsletter. I, and Hezron
(her sponsored child) welcome her warmly.
With Christmas coming up soon, I thought I would reprint what I wrote in my
last newsletter about children's gifts. If any of you want to give something
for the children's Christmas presents, please send it to me, or Ruth Griffin,
and mark it 'for Christmas' and I will ensure it is only used for that purpose.
(From July's newsletter)
'' When I arrived in Kenya with gifts from some of the sponsors for their children,
the committee felt that it was starting to have a bad effect, not only on the
ones who were not receiving gifts, but also the ones who were. After much discussion
the committee decided that we would ask sponsors who wish to give, only to send
money at Christmas - but we should continue to encourage the exchange of letters
and photo's, which we believe has a very positive effect on the children. We
would therefore ask sponsors NOT to send presents to their children, but to
continue to send letters, photo's and anything small that would fit into an
envelope such as book marks etc. as they wish.''
VISITORS
Jean and Kerry, teachers from Farrington Gurney School, visited the school where
most of our children study and they also found time to spend with the children
at Kanyawegi. They returned to England on the 30th. October, then Doreen Moxham
went to Kanyawegi with her daughter Sarah for 12 days. This is Doreen's fourth
visit, so she will soon be more regular than me!
PERSONAL
I have just begun to settle in my new position away from Kenya, but it has been
a long haul.
My house sold on the 25th. October, but sadly my friend died on the 11th. September.
(See my last newsletter). I was given a great honour by being asked to take
the funeral. This was a big challenge for me, but it ended by being a blessing
also.
SHOPPING LIST
With so many visitors recently, I have been able to send out all my stocks of
clothes and shoes, so I would like to stock up again with shorts, T. shirts,
trainers, school shoes etc. Also needed are mobile phones in any condition and
computer software.
STAFF
We are very fortunate to have the same staff and loyal committee.
FINANCE
I continue to keep everyone informed of new sponsors, which allows us to increase
the children in our care; also since we started we have been very blessed in
not losing any sponsors.
POWER HOUSE
Please continue your prayers for the children, the home, the committee and myself.
All of us have been under attack recently, so please pray for peace, unity and
protection. Please also pray for the other children's homes in Kisumu.
Thanks to all of you for your support in so many ways, Love and Regards - JIM
DAWE
Web www.kanyawegichildren.com email
Kanyawegi@hotmail.com or jimdawehome@hotmail.com
Joash's
newsletter (Joash is a builder by trade and
our unpaid secretary)
"
Jim left Kanyawegi
for England on Sunday 28th. July 2002. His main urgent intention was to rush
back home and witness the sale of his house which had been on sale for the past
two months. This turned out to be partial resignation of active work of Kanyawegi
children. He cut short his earlier intention of resigning by the end of the
year. Reliable information from Kanyawegi committee says that Jim will mostly
be soliciting funds for the home internationally and would be working on books
of accounts which he will be receiving through e-mail services which will be
made available at home in the next few weeks from now.
For the first time Kanyawegi got an illiterate 13 year old boy by the name Elisha.
He has been admitted and helped at the home like any other school going orphans.
His height and weight could not allow him to sit with standard ones where he
was supposed to make a start.
A course which does not need calculations, reading, or taking measurements was
proposed. Part payment was made on the 8th. Of August 2002 and Elisha started
his bicycle repairs and assembly the next day, but Margaret who is waiting for
teacher training college intake is helping him in reading and writing.
The 8th. Of August was a very fateful day for those dealing with children in
Kisumu district. Mr. Kennedy Anchienga who has been district children's officer
died in a tragic road accident. He met his death along the Nairobi road near
YMCA when he was overtaking a passenger vehicle while the oncoming minibus narrowed
the space between it and the Nissan leaving impassable space for Mr. Anchienga's
motorcycle. The accident claimed a total of three lives including Mr. Anchienga.
Three oldest Eucalyptus trees are no longer standing in Kanyawegi compound.
Ogwal (the frog) [his name is actually William, but he was given the name Ogwal
- which means frog] on mwalimu [teacher] Peters instruction brought them down
for use as fuel (fire wood) in our new Jiko [our new fuel saving cooking stove],
which cannot work without firewood. He estimated the material to last six months
without shortage in case Joash will be saved and become faithful enough not
to carry even apiece for his Elnino hotel use. [The writer is saying he will
not take any for use at his own café]
Rasto Omondi had a very serious accident on the 23rd. June 2002 in the football
field. He fell down and broke his left arm and dislocated left thumb of the
same hand. In the middle of 22+ players came cry of agony and shouts of horror.
He was as if the spell had been cast. He was helped to the road while one pupil
rushed home to call mwalimu [teacher] Peter for hurried hospitalization.
He wailed and yelled right inside a matatu (psv) [a small van with windows that
is used as a public transport bus] making it depart without waiting for full
capacity commuters as usual. They rushed to district hospital urgently for treatment.
Mwalimu Peter had to foot the fares for the remaining seats which were not occupied.
To date the physiotherapist plaster has been removed while the appearance shows
that the work was not well done to the fracture. His grandmother who visited
us over the weekend proposed a local bones expert to re-do the work before it
is properly healed. According to Rasto, a herb was smeared on the broken hand
and after one hour, a miracle was taking its course painfully. Bones were being
assembled and fitted by the power of the herb while the expert who happened
to be a woman was busy preparing tea for her fractured patient. [Relax; this
was NOT a witch doctor, just a natural medicine person]
At last Mr. Anchienga was given a peaceful send off on 25th. August 2002 with
a mammoth mourners including one white lady who remained in the vehicle due
to showers about 5 km from the home of Mr. Anchienga. The Kisumu bus which we
boarded failed to pass through a muddy road and my fellow Africans who are used
to great trek were on their heels trekking to that home to see where their faithful
servant was being laid to rest.
The month of August ended with the most honoured visitor Rev. Bernard and his
son had spent three good nights at Kanyawegi. The most surprising event happened
to the Rt. Rev. when he fell on the ground injuring a portion near his left
eye. A pad bolt [a bolt that locks the door] had pierced it when gravity pulled
him down when he was almost fainting. Him (Rev.) and his son Martin could not
take their breakfast the next day due to stomach problems but he persevered
to conduct preaching for one full hour at Kombewo a local church, which he planned
to visit on his planned schedule. God was with him.
"
Regards and love to you
all,
Jim Dawe
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