Kanyawegi Childrens Home
APRIL 2003 NEWSLETTER FROM JIM DAWE
A lot has happened since my last newsletter in November. I am sorry that you have had to wait so long for news and that this newsletter is so long, but I want to get you right up to date with everything, so that you have the whole picture. I made a short visit to Kenya in February for just over two weeks and visited again in March. Whilst many really great things have happened, some others have not been quite as positive - more of that later.
Kenya elected a new president at the end of December, and so far the new government has done some wonderful things. Fighting corruption was at the top of the agenda, followed by free primary school education. The new government are trying very hard, which makes our work more encouraging - knowing there will be better chances for the children when they leave us
CHILDREN
All the children went to their home areas before Christmas and stayed with any
remaining relatives. Most children stayed away for four weeks, returning just
after Christmas to be in time for a wonderful new years day party.
Little Victor 3 broke his arm when he fell out of a tree, but he is now almost
back to his normal lively self.
We have five new children, Jacob (6), Rael (11), William (12), Josia (8), and
Allice (13)
David and Steven have now left the home with our blessing. They have opened
a workshop, repairing mobile phones and computers - we hope that the training
we have made available to them will help them to succeed.
Evalin wanted to stay with an uncle after she completed her primary school education.
It is always good when a relative wants to assist a child, as this allows us
to admit and help another.
Thomas (Orege), left us at Christmas when he completed his tailoring training.
We gave him the start, which should help him. He got a sewing machine, three
months rent on a house and some cash to get him off the ground.
As the Kenyan academic year starts in January, we have seen a lot of changes
with the children's schooling.
Four of the boy's have just joined secondary school, and Beryl is now at tailoring
training at YMCA. Edris completed his secondary school with a very good pass
of B, so we are just hoping now for a university place for him, as he wants
to go into the medical profession.
Irene is now on a business study course to complement the tailoring she has
now completed, and Margaret is well into the first of a two-year secretarial
course.
The outside kitchen area has been extended; this will help the children who
wash their clothes in the evening - as well as giving us extra security.
CHILDREN'S
OUTING
Two churches', Salem Chapel (near Bath) and Ridgeway (in Wallingford), recently
gave us money explicitly for a special treat for the children. I also personally
wanted to give them something really special, so I came up with the ultimate
treat - to take them all on an airplane journey to Nairobi and return by coach
to Kisumu.
We had already organized a visit to the airport for Monday. This was a mainly
educational tour, but I had managed to arrange with Eagle Air for the children
to see inside the airplane. They were all looking forward to this visit, and
the added knowledge of the real thing the next day, made the day even more exciting.
On Tuesday the 8th April we started at Kisumu airport at 7 am, after we had
traveled in two matatu's to the airport we boarded the 70 seater jet at 8am.
Before leaving for the 30-minute trip half an hour later, Geoffrey decided he
would need to stock up with sick bags, which was very fortunate.
On arrival at Nairobi airport we had a tour of the international terminal, which
saw some of the biggest eyes I have seen, especially when they watched a British
Airways Jumbo take off, and when they traveled up the escalator.
At 11 am we boarded the coach I had hired, which took us on a tour of Nairobi
city, seeing parliament, the American embassy bombsite, the stadium, and all
those tall buildings that they had never seen before. The thing I think amused
them the most was the traffic jams and traffic lights, which they still talk
about. After the tour of the city they began the six-hour journey back to Kanyawegi,
stopping to view the Rift Valley and the tea plantations, plus some unscheduled
stops to empty more sicky bags.
The only sad note was that Brian had acute Malaria and was unable to come with
us. I have promised him that he will have his trip when he gets better.
CHANGES
TO KANYAWEGI
As I have mentioned, not everything has been positive. There have been some
malicious things said about myself, and some of my committee in Kenya have gone
astray. However, now we have a new committee and a new organization to support
us.
I stood down from the Kenya committee in July last year, as I wanted to spend
more time in England. It was after this that things started to go adrift, with
accusations, mis-management and an alleged conspiracy to take over the home.
Unfortunately, there were some bad accusations made about me in Kenya, from
which the appropriate authorities in Kenya have completely cleared me. I have
instructed an advocate in Kisumu to pursue any future cases through the courts,
to ensure there is no repeat of the slander against me. It has been very encouraging
that every relevant authority in Kenya has been persuading me to continue and
expand the work in Kenya.
Two of the committee, Joash and Luke, are no longer with us at Kanyawegi.
I was very pleased that the Board of 'Uhuru Organization International' through Terry Newton has agreed to take over the management of Kanyawegi. Terry, who is now the Director of Kanyawegi, already runs a home for street children. His organization will continue to run Kanyawegi as a separate home, maintaining the present financial set up and staff. I will continue to act as Sponsor Coordinator here in the UK under Terry's direction. Terry, whose home is near Newcastle in England, lives almost full time in Kenya and will be a great asset to Kanyawegi - as he has the respect of the staff and is loved by the children.
The home's title deeds were purchased with my savings and registered in my name in 1998. This I think was the cause of others to try and take over the home. I am now in the process of transferring the deeds to Uhuru Organization International, which is an NGO (non government organization) in Kenya, and registered as a charity in the UK. This should now secure the future of the home and the children.
The new
committee of Kanyawegi is in effect the Board of Uhuru Organisation in Kenya
i.e.:
· G.P.O. Onyango (Chairperson)
· Mrs Mabel Owendo (Deputy Chairperson)
·
Mr Davies Okombo (Secretary - co opted member)
· Mrs Eunice Chek (Treasurer)
· Mrs Jane Onyango
· Mrs Renu Vijay
· Mr Terry Newton (Director - Uhuru UK Representative)
GPO Onyango is a retired banker by profession, Mrs Owendo is a nurse by profession
and is the deputy principal of the Kenya Medical Training College Kisumu branch,
Mrs Chek is the administrator of Nightingale medical centre Kisumu, Mrs Vijay
is a business woman, Mrs Onyango is a lawyer, and Davies Okombo is the Project
Manager of Uhuru International. Mr. Terry Newton is a retired senior social
services officer in the UK, an accredited Christian counselor, and now full
time with Uhuru Organization. Terry is married to Thelma, lives in Hexham and
has four grown-up daughters.
I feel that
this new "heavyweight" Board is just the right thing for Kanyawegi.
When we started with only four children in a rented house five years ago, the
committee of four volunteers did a good job. Now we are 66 and growing, and
in our own property, this new board of professional people will help Kanyawegi
face the new challenges ahead - and who knows how many more children we will
be able to care for.
Anyone who is interested to meet Terry Newton, please let me know, and I will
inform you when he is next in your area during one of his UK visits.
I was very
pleased that during the recent 'upheaval', that Peter, the Home Manager, and
all the staff have stayed loyal. They have all worked hard to ensure that the
children are cared for in a safe and secure way.
Although overall the children were little affected by the changes in the home,
they are now much more happy and relaxed. One of the children had received unpleasant
and suggestive letters that were thought to be aimed at disrupting the home.
These have now been passed on to the relevant authorities, which we hope will
put an end to the matter, and prevent further distress to the children.
FINANCE
Firstly I would like to assure you that there is no change in any of our banking
arrangements.
With only 64 of the possible 75 places in the home taken, we are still looking
for more sponsors to enable us to admit more from our ever-increasing waiting
list.
As our numbers increase, it becomes cheaper to care for each child. It now costs
just under £10 a month to feed a child, and between £35 and £55
a month to completely care for a child - depending on what school or training
they are undergoing.
I would like to say a big thank you to the person who regularly sends cash anonymously
to me. I also acknowledge the latest very generous gift, and to assure you that
every penny will go direct to Kanyawegi, as does every gift I receive.
I can assure everyone that we use money very wisely, and to use it exactly how
you ask (As you have read with the special treat for the children). Not any
of our general funds were used for the children's outing, and no funds go towards
any of my own expenses.
I produce our account every three months, with the end of year on the 31st.
of May. If you would like a copy, please let me know.
UHURU ORGANIZATION
INTERNATIONAL
Under the banner of Uhuru, Terry and his Board run a street children's project,
Grace Home, which cares for 20 boys. They also run an education program supporting
20
children in the community, plus a feeding/medical/educational program for 25
children whose lives have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. If you would like to know
more about their work, or support in any way, please email, phone, or write
to me personally.
NEEDS (things)
Mobile phones (dead or alive), shorts, T-shirts, school shoes, trainers and
more sponsors.
NEEDS (spiritual)
Please continue to pray for our safety and peace. Strength and wisdom for Terry
as he takes on this new challenge.
CONTACTS
Jim Dawe: jimdawehome@hotmail.com
Kenya: kanyawegi@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.kanyawegichildren.com
NEW PROJECT
TO HELP KENYAN CHILDREN
'FOOD TO LEARN' - assisting Kenyan children to help themselves out of poverty
Since Kenya introduced free primary school education in January this year, one
million extra children are now attending. This is great news for the children
and the country, but there is an estimated one and a half million children still
not attending, as they need to work so they can eat, rather than go to school
hungry. Families are unable to pay for the uniform and textbooks and some children
would choose to work on the land and maybe get a meal, rather than go to school
without
I have started a project, 'Food to Learn', which will operate totally separate
from Kanyawegi. The idea is to buy a child one school uniform, one games kit,
and arrange for them to have lunch at a local kiosk on school days only. We
would not involve ourselves in any other problems in their homes, only uniform,
textbooks and lunch.
This complete program I estimate will cost around 6 pounds a month for each
child at primary school. It will operate in a similar way to sponsoring a child
at Kanyawegi. Each sponsor will have a photo of the child, regular letters and
a copy of their school report. Already this program is helping six children,
even before I have made the scheme known.
Please remember that Kanyawegi money will NOT be used for this project, if you
wish to give, then the money should be sent to me personally - clearly marked
'Food to Learn Project'.
If you would like to know more, please let me know and I will send you details
of an article about these children's problems, which was reported in the Nation,
a Kenyan newspaper, recently, from which I have taken the following extract;
Researchers agree that basic education is a key element in developing human
capital for the poor because households are rarely able to afford the money
and opportunity cost of sending children to secondary school and beyond. Studies
have also shown that primary school education contributes significantly to economic
growth. Educated farmers are more likely to adopt new technologies and have
a broader range of self-employment options. It is also documented that educating
children of the poor greatly increases their chance of escaping from poverty.
Moreover, educating girls is seen to have a powerful catalytic effect on every
dimension of development. Besides having enormous impact on their own well-being
and that of their families, there is ample research associating basic education
for women with decreased mortality rates for children under the age of five.
[Kenya's Daily Nation]
With Love from all at Kanyawegi, JIM DAWE
To subscribe to Newsletter/mailouts list via your e-mail Click Here
previous newsletter< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->newsletter index