Kanyawegi
Childrens Home / FOOD
2 LEARN
MAYFAIR HOUSE,
21, ASHGROVE,
PEASDOWN-ST-JOHN,
BATH,BA2 8EB.
24.3.05
KANYAWEGI NEWS - FROM DOREEN MOXHAM
In November when Sarah and I were in Kenya we visited one of the families
on the Kanyawegi waiting list whose plight was quite desperate - so
when we returned to England we were armed with photos and stories. We
do thank people who offered to sponsor these children, and last month
we were able to bring that family and another little girl into Kanyawegi,
where they have settled happily in the home and at school - you can
be assured that they now have sufficient food and clothes.
Sarah and I will be returning to Kenya on the 14th April when we hope
to visit more of the children on the Kanyawegi waiting list. If there
are any sponsors who would like us to take letters with us (no big parcels
please), then please let us have them before the 12th - the children
are always delighted to hear from their sponsors
FROM JIM DAWE
I was in Africa over Christmas and New Year, but as the children were
visiting their home areas, my visit was purely business.
The home is getting more and more efficient, and transparent. We receive
a fortnightly Directors report - which informs the UK committee and
the Kenyan Board in all aspects of the home. We get a weekly financial
return, which keeps us up to date with the daily expenditure, and we
are now aware of any problems directly.
This has been something I had personally worked towards over a long
period, which will allow me to spend more time away from the home. This
could not have happened at a better time, as when I returned to the
UK I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis - which means I am not
allowed to travel for at least six months, and for journeys of not more
than two hours for the foreseeable future after that.
Food 2 Learn is still growing at a steady pace, it is very encouraging
the number of new sponsors who have pledged to help Kenyan children
get an education (and food in their stomach).
Recently there have been two articles about Kanyawegi and Food 2 Learn
in the local press. I tried to paste them to this newsletter - but it
did not work very well, so I have reprinted the text from one report.
If you would like a copy of these reports, please let me know.
Published 17th February 2005 (with photo of two Lions members, David,
and myself)
"Jim started Kanyawegi Children's Home in May 1998, and Food 2
Learn in March 2003 in Kisumu, Kenya.
David Ochieng, the food to learn administrator in Kenya, was one of
the first children to join Kanyawegi Children's Home after his blind
grandmother died. David trained as a computer technician and in mobile
phone repairs after he left school, which gave him an income on leaving
Kanyawegi.
In January 2003, the Kenyan government made primary school education
free (the child's first 8 years at school). Although this free education
meant that a lot more children attended school - there are still almost
two million who cannot attend because of poverty. The child needed a
school uniform to attend school, but even with a uniform some children
will not go - preferring to stay at home to try and find something to
eat. When Jim started Food 2 Learn, David ran the organization in Kenya
on a voluntary basis. Starting with just 2 children, there are now there
are 47 with another 5 being added this week. F2L provides the child
with a school uniform, textbooks and lunch every day at school (this
is usually their only meal of the day).
There is no limit to the children who can be helped - only money. Every
new sponsor (it costs just £6.50 a month) means another child
can be sent to school, educated and fed. Education is important in any
country, but in Kenya it is essential to help fight the AIDS epidemic
and poverty.
Kanyawegi Children's home now has 73 children in care, but there is
room for many more when sponsors are available (it costs £35 a
month to care for a child at Kanyawegi). Just last Friday the home admitted
another four children - three brothers who were all that were left after
their parents, two brothers, a sister and grandfather had all died.
The other child was a small girl of 8 who looks like a five year old,
who's last remaining relative, her grandfather, had died last Wednesday.
20 children have moved on since the home started, training as teachers,
doctors, nurses, computer technicians, radio technicians, motor mechanics,
tailors, secretaries, among others.
The Lions Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock, have helped Kanyawegi
by building a dining room and a boys dormitory. They have also raised
money for a much-needed borehole, and collected mobile phones, which
are repaired in Kenya and sold to raise money for the home.
Two years ago when the local press reported the plight of the children
in Kenya, the generosity of their reader's enabled the home to admit
more children
Anyone interested in sponsoring a child, donating mobile phones, or
wanting to know more can contact Jim on 01761 410 763 (jimdawehome@hotmail.com)
or contact Doreen Moxham on 01761 437256 "
CHILDREN
Since the last letter, Paul (motor mechanic) Kevin 1 (carpenter) are
now in the big wide world on their own.
As the school year starts in January, all the children have gone up
a year, changed to secondary school, or started in training.
STAFF
Two of the watchmen have been replaced with a contract from a security
company, and Davies has left our employment. John Shukuku has taken
on most of his work, which has been working very well.
BUILDING
Work has just started on the teenager's house. This has been made possible
by a very generous donation from a family attending Wallingford Church
near Oxford.
Directors report from Kenya
We thought you might be interested in what the Kenyan view is. The
following are extracts from the recent Directors report from Kenya to
the UK committee
Dear Brothers and sisters,
I wish to take this opportunity before our Lord God and Heavenly Father
to thank you each for your continued support, interest, prayers and
good wishes. I also wish you all God's blessings in whatever you undertake.
Finances
Money continues to be very tight. With the reasons I listed before i.e.
extra children who joined secondary trainings, Medical bills, increased
general costs of commodities, and setting or starting up our former
students to be able to keep themselves in their respective businesses.
Children
The children/students are now sitting for their end term exams. We continue
to encourage family meetings where children air their views and the
task of teaching them how to grow and with correct norms of life. We
continue to enjoy their contribution and participation in normal duties.
Sickness
We had severe sickness (Typhoid and Malaria most) and spinal pain in
some cases. Five of these were admitted to hospital
Education
The boarders seem to enjoy their extra time lessons at their respective
schools. We are waiting to do the comparison by the end of the term,
to judge the performance.
Building
There are amounting numbers of repairs that are needed, but due to lack
of money these have still been postponed. Repairs comprises of;
Dining room floor, repair of windows in the small boys room and middle
boy's room, pit latrines, fences, guttering systems, kitchen jikos,
painting, bore-hole cleaning and many other small areas.
New proposals
1. Solar panels is needed to combat power failings and high costs
2. Income generating activity to either promote or sustain the home
and promote
Regards Peter
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