Update:

October 2010:

It is still not clear whether Tax and Customs issues regarding imports for charities in Kenya have been resolved; TWAM are attempting, once again, to send a container to Northern Kenya in a month’s time to find out!

Unfortunately, their contact in Mombasa (through whom goods to Bura Station pass) has recently had a heart attack and his deputy has left the country! They, together with our friend, Zaccheaus Maganga, are looking for a replacement but all this means no shipments of tools, tanks or computers are likely to get through until 2011, at the earliest.

Because of this, the final donations from 2009-2010 have been used to complete the laboratory at Heartbeat High School – at the end of the block on the left (you can also see the new classrooms they are building) -

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and to provide footballs. For the first time ever, there is now a girls’ football team. They and the Under-13’s (boys) are doing very well in the local league!

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

 

Contributions received since we returned in March have been used to buy more chairs and tables for the school – numbers have rocketed to almost 300! With approximately three-quarters of these students being sponsored by the Children’s Home it will come as no surprise that donations of equipment have been very welcome as has money to buy new uniforms.

 

                                                                          

 

Unfortunately, there were unusually severe outbreaks of cholera and of malaria in May / June but, through your generosity, we were able to help provide medicines. Happily, everyone is well-recovered now.

 

Do you remember the YOM initiative from 2009? Two members of Bishop Dickson’s Church, Nicodemus, a local head teacher, and Juma were working (with the Youth Organisation Ministry) to keep young people within the community healthy, happy, occupied and educated.

We have been able to send on contributions so they could run another summer holiday convention. Last year’s camera allows us to see this!

 

 

 

 

YOM also discovered a need for a new Primary School in the area – many little kids were more than 10km from their nearest school. Amazingly, they have set up a new establishment which started work just this term!

 

                                                                                                           

 

They have to prove the school is viable for 18 months before the Kenyan Community Development Fund (and through them, the World Food Programme) will give them any assistance so we have been happy to pass on some money for food.

 

Between us, we have raised over £1000 since March and our friends have asked us, once again, to thank you all for your kindness, your thoughts and your prayers. Although it’s a very different scale of things, they know that times are hard here in UK and really appreciate your ability (I quote) “to care beyond your shores”.