Happy children and big dreams

Dear members, sponsors, and donors,

We’re pleased to finally share the newsletter you’ve probably been waiting for!

The children are doing very well. They are happy, study hard and can simply be children – individual, carefree and full of joy. When I am at the children’s home with guests, they often ask what the children want to become when they grow up. The answers range from police officer to doctor, teacher, football player, or pilot – just like here!
Especially nice: According to Ann and his teacher, Alex, the oldest boy here, has a good chance of being able to study one day.

School is also back to normal after being closed for a long time during the pandemic.

Political situation and training

New elections were held in Kenya in August. During this time, there were concerns about unrest, so schools were closed for two weeks as a precaution. Fortunately, everything remained peaceful.

In the meantime, Ann attended several training courses and further developed her knowledge. She is healthy, committed and loves her work – and above all, “her” children. Elisabeth continues to reliably take care of the children’s physical well-being. The children are well fed and have a balanced diet. Wiclif, our caretaker, also fulfills his duties with dedication and actively helped with the construction of new rooms.

Visits and impressions on site

All guests visiting the children’s home are always deeply moved. Some association members and sponsors have also been to Kenya by now and were able to for themselves how well the Pamoja Machiuka project is running.

Support for Ann: Lucy is here!

As you probably remember, we have been looking for support for Ann, who has been caring for 14 children on her own for over two years.

The government requires a “social education training” for this position. Unfortunately, no one with this qualification applied. Therefore, we implemented plan B:

We found Lucy through a taxi driver we know. She had already worked briefly in a children’s home and previously spent many years in Nairobi with a large family with children.

Lucy completed a trial week with Ann and the team – and everyone was thrilled. So we hired her for a trial period of 3 to 6 months. She does not have the official qualification requirements, but we will provide her with further training.

A children’s home on the coast, run by a good friend of ours, supports us with relevant information and training opportunities. Petra’s daughter, who established a Waldorf school in Kenya, also offers suitable courses.

We – and especially Ann – are glad to have found Lucy. She fits in wonderfully with our children’s home.

Outlook: expansion possible!

Thanks to Lucy’s support, we will be able to take in more children in the medium term. So we are moving ahead – and we are looking forward to it!

Challenges: Rising costs in Kenya

As in Germany, the cost of living in Kenya has risen sharply. Our monthly expenses have almost doubled. School fees as well as all daily necessities – especially food – have become more expensive.

Nevertheless, we are still managing well at the moment. Some repairs had to be carried out, e.g., the installation of additional rain gutters, which Wiclif took care of.

Water supply and rainy season

The new water tank is large enough to hold an adequate water supply. Unfortunately, there has been hardly any rain in recent months, so the tank has not yet been used to its full potential. The next major rainy season is expected in November.

Thanks to the team – and an unforgettable trip

Thanks to local donations, we were able to invite our team – Ann, Elisabeth and Wiclif – to a joint lunch and give them a small gratuity. Everyone was very touched, especially Ann. It was a wonderful, appreciative day!

Another highlight: A generous donation enabled all the children and staff to go on a safari in the “Aberdares” National Park. The children had wished for this trip – and we can’t wait to hear about their experiences!

New intern on site

At the end of September, a new intern will travel to Kenya for three months to help out at the children’s home. She is also a member of the association. We would like to thank the Evangelical Children’s Home in Herne for arranging this!

On behalf of the entire association, we wish her a fulfilling, educational and wonderful time.

Pride and gratitude

I am always touched and proud of what we have achieved together!

The desire to put the children’s home into Kenyan hands and allow the children to grow up in their own culture is fulfilled thanks to the wonderful staff and Petra’s commitment on site.

You – dear donors, sponsors and members – are the ones who make all this possible. Thank you for your interest, your loyalty and your support!

Give yourself the credit you deserve – on behalf of the children and the association: Asanteni sana!

Obituary for a founding member

Finally, some sad news: Our oldest association member and co-founder has sadly passed away. For privacy reasons, we are not allowed to mention her name, but we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to her for her many years of loyalty and her love for our children.

With warm regards – and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Karibu tena! (Welcome back)
Yours, Gitti