MAJI SAFI PROJECTS
Registered charity no. 1106384
NEWSLETTER Oct 2005
Linda Greenland & Mike Radford
102 Whitecross Avenue
Whitchurch BRISTOL BS14 9JE
Tel: 01275-834883
Time flies and so does the work on the projects. The fantastic result from the Ceilidh night means the 5th classroom has been built at "Inspirations School"
Tables and benches have been fitted and the outside now rendered, all thanks to kind donors!
The plans for registering the school are going on slowly (nothing moves too fast in Kenya!) The biggest problem was locating the site of the school on the map. How can you describe "turn left at the 2nd coconut tree, past the 3 mud huts on the right, through someone front garden where the washing is all spread out on the ground, across the bushes, etc etc etc) There were NO visible landmarks, so you can imagine the fun our workers have had trying to sort this. The education department said the school was "wonderful" apart from the big snake painted on the mural which they said "frighten the children" They told us we need more toilets (which we already knew) so you can guess what Bobby’s next project is? From last year Bobby’s borehole to this year Bobby’s Bog hole!! Ha ha
Children playing outside the 5 classrooms at INSPIRATIONS SCHOOL
If anyone hasn’t returned their Gift Aid form please can you send as soon as possible? If you have mislaid it please let me know and I will send another one. For every £1 you donate we can increase it by 28p if you are a taxpayer and sign the form.
Bobby’s Story. In the Autumn 2004 newsletter you read about Bobby, Ken, Janette & Vernon’s trip in July 2004, they returned this year for 4 weeks and Bobby has kindly written an account of their visit.
The next Ceilidh night is planned for Saturday 25th February 2006, please don’t miss out next year, it was a BRILLIANT evening and next year is promised to be even better! Phone or email me for tickets.
MAJI SAFI SCHOOL
The update on our first project is very good news. The government have now taken on responsibility for the school, including the exams, and our children have now been invited to all the other events that occur with the government schools.
In June they competed in local sports events and had very good results, bearing in mind the children practised the shot put by throwing a rock and the javelin was a sharpened branch, we got a few 2nds and 3rds, so now the school have bought a proper shot put and javelins, one for boys & one for girls. HOT NEWS UPDATE:- Oct 2005 - Maji Safi School were 1st overall in the district sports events - photos to follow
One slight (Hmmmm!) problem is although the government have taken on the school they haven’t yet provided funding for teachers wages. This means we really struggle every month to find the increasing wage bill. Every year the children go further we have to employ 2 more teachers. We now have children in standard 7 and next year is the final Primary year -standard 8, after which Secondary School.
During our visit I talked to the pupils in the top 2 standards. Explaining to them the marks to enter Secondary school were high & they had to achieve those otherwise a place would not be available. (There aren’t as many Secondary schools as there is Primary)
We gave them lots of encouragement and there were many happy faces, but a few long ones on those children who know they have to "pull their socks up"
ASHTON PARK SCHOOL - arranged for students that are coming to Kenya in 2006 to abseil down the Avon Gorge to raise funds to buy land needed at Inspirations to build 2 classrooms and provide a football pitch.
Mike and others on the committee also took part, it tipped down with rain but everyone managed the abseil, which raised over £2000. WELL DONE !!
Next year it is my turn!
The "Males" on our committee including my 2 sons, getting ready for the abseil!
SHIKA ADABU - VILLAGE BOREHOLE
After the great success of Inspiration School Borehole we decided to start again in the main village 2km away.
By July digging was completed, the depth was 84 feet and fresh water was in
abundance, the building around was built; the pump fitted during our visit,
there were a FEW problems, which were quickly sorted. Bristol
Water kindly donated money to buy the pump and clean, fresh water was pumped
for the village.
WHAT DO WE NEED IN 2005/2006?
We are on target for the building of new classrooms at Inspirations, with the Ceilidh night funds, and the proposed 2006 visit from ASHTON PARK SCHOOL.
Bobby has organised another band night with HMS HERON NAVY band on October 8th. Money raised will go towards the toilets for Inspirations. There are also other events that her friends and family have arranged to make sure these get completed.
We always need to buy uniform/shoes etc etc as the children are growing so fast. New textbooks & school equipment are required yearly, as well as mosquito nets.
The porridge fund is doing well thanks to Janette & Vernon who had a coffee morning, another sponsor Mark Caswell ran the Bristol Half Marathon to make sure our children get something to eat every day.
We are also funding 5 teaching staff to complete training necessary for them to be able provide an excellent education for our children.
An office/storeroom is needed in the near future.
SPONSOR A TEACHER?
After lots of thought our committee has decided that we are desperate to keep both schools "free" so we came up with the idea that maybe a group of people may like to fund a teacher’s wages.
Hengrove School & Ashton Park have funded a teacher’s wages this year. (HALF EACH)
A local church has funded another Teacher wages.
A sponsor has helped one of our teachers for training college. So the idea is obviously interesting.
If anyone thinks they can fundraise or organise a group of friends to help with a teacher’s monthly wage, then please contact me and I will give you ALL the information and help I can.
It’s a struggle to fund the wages etc at the projects with the increasing number of children and staff. The extra costs of equipment etc to enable the teachers to deliver the curriculum are high. We desperately need more sponsors for children, or a teacher sponsored.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR ONE OF OUR "LITTLE ONES"? (Or one of the older ones!)
Just look at the smile of this little one who started in January this year, he is already counting and knows the alphabet and writing simple words, without people like you that wouldn’t be possible, do you know anyone who would like to join us to sponsor these children?
250 children are sponsored at Maji Safi, but the rest of the 200 children attend school almost "free" (we just ask parents to make a small donation of 500ks/£3.50 a year if they can afford to) But we are aware that when some of our sponsored children go on to Secondary education in 2007 that the sponsor money goes with them, leaving even less for the remaining teachers at the school.
We hope to have more support by the government, we have told them that we built the school but this does not mean we can commit to fund the running costs forever.
We are still collecting 5’ps so keep them coming!
PLUS WE STILL NEED MOBILE PHONES!!
ONCE AGAIN A HUGE BIG THANKS to Andy Kybert – M-D of The Woodside Press Ltd – Bristol by printing this newsletter ( 2 extra pages this time) saves me hours and hours of work!!
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND DONORS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!
BOBBY, KEN, JANETTE & VERNON’s account of their visit JULY 2005 written by Bobby
Sorry folks – its that time again!
You may remember last year Linda asked me to write about our trip to Kenya, as predicted she has done it again! It was slightly different this year; we were "on our own". Mike & Linda didn’t arrive until two weeks later. However, the four of us could not have been in safer hands. "The Gang" - Beks, Fidy, & Miriam was our supporting, caring guardians at all times. Right from the moment they were first seen, literally jumping up & down, waving with excitement at the airport. To the tearful farewells back at the airport one month later.
People talk about "Quality Time" the month of July was certainly that, it flew past but what a lot we did.
On the domestic scene
A few changes…… we opted to stay in self-catering accommodation. Janette & Vernon in one apartment, Ken & I in adjoining apartment. It was basic. Two gas rings; two knives; forks; spoons etc. However, Mama Linda had pre thought that one and the "back up pack" arrived before us! We shopped for provisions and thought ourselves set for a few days. How wrong was that! First morning was a BIG learning curve!
The loaf of bread (still sealed and in a previously well bleached cupboard) was crawling with r ed ants. We started off feeling horrified, what had we done! Then we start to think…… How lucky we were. Africans have no cupboards. NO store of food, no ability to replace, or the luxury of throwing away and starting again. We had the lot, sprays for killing ants, mosquito’s, cockroaches etc. We could go back to the supermarket and re-buy. We also had a fridge – albeit beaten up & rusty and held shut with a nail, it worked! How privileged we are, even there.
I’m ashamed to admit we even considered the incident an inconvenience or hassle. By comparison, what had we to moan about?
When you opt to walk in the moccasins you get to feel & experience the story. They shop for each meal, fresh ingredients as funds allow – Live for the day. We were still in English mode. Store Cupboard Syndrome!
The Wonderful Borehole
When we left in 2004 it was a big hole in the ground. I cannot explain how it felt to see it "up & running". Linda had brought us home a bottle of water (still in my fridge now as I can’t bear to throw it) but seeing the water running was the "whole drum set"……
The building over the borehole doubled as a store; Plenty of space for generator, tank and other essential items.
The water is a splendid resource for so many. The children naturally have first call upon it, but villagers come with their containers and fill up from the taps. In addition the water unused in the tank gets transferred to an outside open tank, available to all and used for cleaning, crop watering etc. The villagers get it free of charge and have little distance to carry it. No wonder then it’s regarded as the treasure it is. You never see a dripping tap. If we do nothing more, I’m so thankful we did that. THANK YOU to everyone who supported our fundraising so generously, it’s so so worthwhile.
School & the Classrooms
TWO more classrooms filled with children. Smiling faces and yet more songs. So much has changed in just one year. Many children knew us from last time, others who wondered who we were soon got into the swing of things. We were lovingly "mobbed" each morning. Everyone had to hold our hands. With only eight hands to go around it did take a few moments!
We made clocks with the older children and helped them to tell the time. By pure chance it fitted into their work schedule as already on the board teacher Naomi had a chalk drawn clock. The new clocks meant the hands moved so things were made easier. Sunflowers came next, this time for the whole school. They made flowers from bright yellow card. Each classroom soon had a string of dancing flower heads. As the breeze caught them it was a cheerful sight. We then planted sunflowers in the playground to grow on after we had left.
The younger children made chickens, frogs & sharks:- what smiles we had, happy faces as we daubed paint & stuck on feathers. They cracked up when I pretended to be a chicken, flapping my arms and sounding as though I was laying an egg. Good thing the family could not see those antics "Finally Flipped" springs to mind.
Bingo
Yes, we took bingo cards. Teachers, Night watchman, builders, and children - everyone wanted to play. One line – sweets. Two lines - sweets. Full House - sweets. It was such a popular activity. We started slowly; 5 and 4 Fifty Four. They search, then crossed off the five of one number and the four from another! However, with practice, help and an ongoing intent to play, they are now as slick as any bingo player. It has helped their number recognition no end and what fun they had. A maths lesson very well hidden by sweets! Any spare time and the teachers/children’s request was "can we play Bingo" They even stayed after school.
PHOTOGRAPHS
We take them for granted don’t we? For the children it was such a treat. Linda, bless her,
printed one for every child at school and they were just amazed. Many had never seen a photo of
themselves before. We had a wonderful day making frames for everyone. They were decorated &
sparkling. Class by class they worked away, so proud to show you the finished product. So pleased
to take them home for the family to admire. So simple – but what pleasure.
Stop and think…….. No one has a mirror hanging on their mud wall. No one has a camera. To some
children they were a surprise to themselves!
New Toilets
It had to happen. More children, same number of toilets……not a good combination.
Added to this the schools inspector highlighted the need for more.
They found the school to be "Highly Recommended" in all other aspects. So toilets are
the next project! We dug the first turf and handed over to the experts again.
A hole 15ft x 5ft and 35 - 40 ft deep has to be dug through the rock. A building
put over the top of that and once funds permit a new toilet block of 10-12 toilets
will be built Once more we are counting on many of you to support the fund raising
events - PLEASE
Bobby digging the first turf of the new toilets
Visit to another nursery school
What an eye opener. We travelled 60km to deliver 108 mosquito nets to Chumani village. The whole village turned out for the occasion. The nursery (in fact one classroom) had bare walls, broken concrete floor, no desks, benches, books, and pens paper - NOTHING
Just a blackboard some chalk and two teachers.
The children sit on the floor.
Two buckets stood in the corner for water.
Their toilets were started but not finished. The toilet had no roof and no door.
In any case it was only a rough hole in the ground. The contrast between that and
the schools you support is amazing. Our children, with their desks, benches, books,
crayons, sports activities, playground etc are so fortunate.
It made us realise all over again – if indeed we needed reminding, what a fantastic
job Linda & Mike have done and continue to do. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE how big it
is or the impact it has made.
Most of you reading this have helped them make it happen. Give yourselves a hug and k
now for certain, your money, love & prayers have been put to good use.
These children have had a start in life that’s as scarce and hen’s teeth out there.
They are being given a chance to make good. Encouraged by everyone to go for gold.
With the regular input and dedication Mike & Linda have put into the project it’s
been made to work and work well. Slowly, they have enabled Africans to help themselves,
aid given and aid well used, for the purpose intended.
Goat Farm
This was an extra project for us this year. It’s become increasingly difficult to buy
goats for families. Travelling by lorry a big expense. Hopefully this has been resolved.
New housing has been built and 27 goats are living in harmony. Saidi (nicknamed Guinness –
the farmer) has everything under control. 10 goats were bought before we arrived, the
rest he had to buy from miles away in the bush. (No transport could get through) Such was
his determination he walked them back 130km sleeping in the bush as he did so. His journey
was not without adventure – he met 8 elephants on the way. He returned looking shattered
but a very happy man. Guinness & goats are doing well. Most recent update tells me 2
babies have been born already. He now pays two lads small shillings to take the goatherd
out each day to graze. So more families are earning money to feed themselves. The benefits
start to grow…..
Likoni (small town 3kms from Maji Safi School)
What an experience that was. Sponsors often give Linda money to hand on to families.
Normally that’s easy enough; most families live in Timbwani village near to Maji Safi School.
However with the children that come from Likoni it’s more of a problem. Linda felt she wanted
to visit some of the other families from the school as she promised the sponsors.
In this instance we met someone on the main road in our Safari Bus and drove through the
ever-increasing narrow alleyways. We were saddened by what we saw. Young children sifting t
hrough rubbish piles looking for food.
Housing no more
than lean-to shacks; many with mud walls and roofs about to fall down. We eventually found
our destination and were welcomed inside the already half fallen mud hut.
We came out to be greeted by the Police standing at the Safari Bus. They were horrified that
we had gone into the "interior" of this small town. "VERY UNSAFE" was clear to understand.
He laid the law down (in Swahili) to Beks, & our poor driver and held them responsible f
or our safety. Clearly, a bad error of judgement on our part to attempt to go there.
Linda had never been before & will not return again, our sentiments completely.
However, it brought home once more the plight of others. Seeing children sifting rotting
rubbish brought us all to tears. I have to say there were many shed over the 4 weeks. Many
of emotional joy not all like those of sadness.
It’s not hard to see how the crime, grime and lawlessness run in a circle. Getting out of
the circle is the problem. That is where our part in educating the children is vital.
SO….What’s next?
Difficult one to answer. For Mike and Linda it’s the ongoing task of keeping the schools
going. The paper work, claiming back of Gift Aid etc would for many be a full time task.
For them, it sits alongside full time employment. Linda tells me sponsorship has slowed –
probably as a result of worldwide disaster funds
With more children queuing already to come into school it is obvious to see demand far
outstrips availability. Government schools are taking between 70-100 into each class,
with shared desks and books. Linda, Mike and the Committee don’t want to go down that
route. Paying teachers will be a problem if sponsorship stays as now.
Maybe the way forward will be to sponsor a teacher not a child. Join with friends &
family, workmates or others to pay a teachers wages. Nursery teacher = £600 per
year Primary teachers = £900
If 4 friends shared a Nursery teacher, it would cost £150 per year each. = £2.88
per week. This is equivalent to a couple of bars of chocolate and a magazine. For that
money they would be getting 30 children educated for a whole year. The class progress
would be made available, photographs, newsletters just as before.
Does that sound as good a deal to you as it does to me?
Maybe you know 4 people who could help?
We have seen the children looking from the outside, wanting to come in, and just waiting
for their chance to arrive. Please help if you can. THANKS BOBBY X