THE MAJI SAFI SCHOOLS PROJECTS - KENYA UPDATE

Linda Greenland & Mike Radford 102 Whitecross Avenue Whitchurch- BRISTOL BS14 9JE

Tel ;- 01275-834883

JULY/AUGUST VISIT

The trip was busy and very demanding; we managed to get almost everything completed. Sadly just 5 days before we were due to come home we were told Mikes 27 yr old son had died, those last days were just a blur. There were a few things that we didnt manage to complete and we did leave all the letters and paperwork behind, thats why there has been a delay in producing this newsletter and sending off information to sponsors. We would like to thank all our friends for all your thoughts and support in such a sad time.

MAJI SAFI SCHOOL

The nine classrooms are now in use; the last 2 still need painting, but are being used by the "informal" classes. These are 2 large groups of children aged 1014 who HAVE NEVER been to school, many spending their time on the streets. The extra teachers are desperately teaching them to reach a standard so they can start mainstream Primary school.

There are now over 300 children enjoying education, I still have about 40 that need sponsoring. "Is there anyone you know that would like to sponsor a child? As stated in the last newsletter sponsorship is now £10 a month for the new children, but some existing sponsors have also increased their payment, this gesture has helped so much.

We now have the new "baby" nursery class, with over 30 3-4 year olds enjoying their basic learning; most of them can count to 20- using their fingers as aids. They know their ABC and are enjoying singing nursery rhymes!!

Since Easter almost £2000 was spent on textbooks, uniforms shoes/socks/bags and pencil cases. We bought lots of posters to go on the walls of the classrooms, also lots of other school equipment necessary. Freestanding tables and chairs were bought, the other classrooms had "fixed" tables and benches and we felt that movable furniture was more suitable for the last 2 classrooms.

CHIGOMBERO SCHOOL - SOUTH COAST

We donated money to help with the new classrooms, and it was good to see photos of the classrooms and the foundations being built for 2 others. Owing to the distance of the school from Mombasa and the ill health of my contact in Kenya, we are putting future donations "on hold" as it is almost impossible to oversee the progress. The school is government run, and parents are very active in raising money to help themselves. The help we gave was greatly appreciated and gave them a considerable boost at a time when building had come to a standstill. The first 2 classrooms are now in full use

"HEATHERS HOUSE"

Four rooms are completely finished, and the families have moved in!! The rooms are painted and vinyl on the floor. All the families are settled and so very happy with their clean, secure house!! There is such a difference from the mud huts they were living in before!! We built 2 toilets and a washroom, and we hope to raise enough money to complete the other 4 rooms in the next year.

SHIKA ADABU SCHOOL!!

"Shika adabu" (means good behaviour or good discipline!! Since purchasing the land after Easter, Hayley and Kirsty our musician friends that performed at many villages/schools at Easter got busy raising money with the pupils they teach. Almost £1000 was raised and this started off the building. The first 2 classrooms have been built and the roofs have just been completed. We are now waiting to raise more money to put the windows/doors and render the walls.

The village elders decided that a CELEBRATION was in order so Mike and I were made "HONORARY" elders of the village (NO WOMEN are allowed as elders, so that was a double honour for me!!) Mike is named "Hekima" meaning "WISDOM" and I am "Nuru" which means, "LIGHT" "Hekima & Nuru" in full dress!!

FEEDING THE STREET CHILDREN



During our visit we went on the streets of Mombasa with another English friend who has been feeding not only "Street Children" but the old and disabled, the sick mothers with their babies that sit on the street corners begging for small money for food to feed them. This was a real "eye-opener" We purchased 200 bags of food, a mixture of rice and vegetables; or beans and chapattis, these people were so grateful as some go days without food.


ROLL OF HONOUR

The roll of honour is getting so long!! A few new groups that have joined in this year and deserve a mention are:

ONCE AGAIN - - A GREAT BIG "THANK YOU" to ALL the childrens sponsors!!!! Your continued support means so many children are enjoying education. A BIG "THANK YOU" to those sponsors who have increased their monthly payment to £10. It was not expected of existing sponsors but your generosity is really making a difference. "THANK YOU" to the sponsors that gave money to buy their child uniform/shoes & books. One sponsor who bought shoes last year told me:-"Can you tell other sponsors that the childrens feet grow!? The price of shoes and 2 pairs of socks has gone up to £15, £10 for the shoes and £2.50 per pair of socks. I had been subsidising this for a while, I didnt realise the special school socks were so expensive!!

Shoes mean they can walk to school without getting their feet torn to shreds on the coral rock. ~ Also "JIGGERS" are becoming a big problem to children who have to go barefoot, they are small "maggot" like worms that live in the mud and bury themselves in the skin, it is very painful & costly to remove them, so "prevention is better that cure" SHOES make the perfect XMAS present!!

"THANK YOU" to everyone who has helped us with donations BIG and SMALL!! Even a small amount goes such a LONG WAY in Kenya, so PLEASE continue supporting these children.

FOOD PARCELS FOR XMAS

We are returning to Kenya at Xmas, if any sponsors wish to send letters to their children. I am sorry I cannot take individual gifts, but if you wish to send a cheque to purchase a food parcel/treats for your child family, we will make sure this is done. The last 2 years have been very successful and many sponsors wish to continue with this.

I am happy to purchase gifts at the local supermarket in Mombasa. This is no problem at all.

OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

We STILL need your support, fundraising and donations to achieve the above!! I am running out of ideas and energy for fundraising, the sponsorship of almost 250 children is taking its toll and taking up most of our evenings!! If anyone belongs to a church group/ladies group on any similar group, that may like us to come along and talk to them about the project, please contact us. We take along our African woodcarvings/jewellery made locally, this is very popular. We do craft fairs and school Xmas fairs etc and are always looking for more events on a weekend.

We were hoping before Xmas to arrange a night in Bristol where sponsors could have a "get together" but many friends have got so many other commitments that we felt that maybe end Feb/March would be better, when there is not so much demand on peoples time and life is a bit "flat" after the winter!!