MAJI SAFI PROJECTS

(Registered charity no. 1106384)

NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2007

Linda Greenland & Mike Radford 102 Whitecross Ave Whitchurch Bristol BS14 9JE Tel:-01275 834883

We are halfway through our year out so much has happened; we really needed this time to put our efforts into the projects. There is so much news that I would really need 12 pages to tell you everything. All I can say that the projects are thriving and all the staff, children, families etc are benefiting from all the help and support that you are giving them.

MAJI SAFI SCHOOL

The government has posted another teacher to Maji Safi School, this relieves the pressure of paying teachers wages and means the existing teachers can have a well deserved pay rise.

Our first students have completed STD 8 and some have continued into further education. The school did tremendously well achieving 2^nd position out of 27 schools in the division. Esther, our top girl who is an orphan that we rescued 8 years ago and have supported her since then, came 1^st in the division and was awarded a place at one of the top national Secondary schools.

We had 5 pupils go to Secondary. The others now have their KCPE certificate which is what they need to find any employment in Kenya.

Some students are taking courses at Technical colleges i.e. sewing, mechanics; hairdressing; electrical; languages etc. There are a few changes to the plans we make for Secondary education in 2008; we will be contacting the sponsors whose children are in this years STD 8 class to explain everything.

This is Joseph who has started Form 1. He is so proud and happy to be given the chance of further education. He wants to be a pilot. We will keep you informed of his progress in the future!!

I am sorry I confused some sponsors with gift ideas for Xmas; many thought I meant this to buy for their family in Kenya. The idea was to buy a gift card for their UK family/friends and then a goat, mosquito net or whatever they chose would go to a needy family in our villages. We tried to provide all sponsors asked, but some families couldnt accommodate a goat, so we bought other useful items for theim i.e charcoal cooker, pots, pans,washing bowls to promote safety and hygiene.

INSPIRATIONS SCHOOL

The ongoing saga of the NEW TOILETS is now at an end! After 18 months of digging a 15ft long x 6ft wide & 45ft deep hole, with just a crowbar, lump hammer and chisel!! The building was started just before Xmas and completed days before we left Kenya at the beginning of February, we have tiled the urinals, put china pans in the ground, (rather than the normal open hole).

I must mention Citibank Kenya, when Hilary and Carrie our Scottish friends came with the students in July 2006, we went to visit her work colleagues in Mombasa (Hilary works for Citigroup Scotland) and they promised to help, They donated proper guttering, TWO 3.000litre water tanks and all the necessary equipment so Inspirations school can collect the rainwater off the roofs. This alleviates our flooding problem in front the classrooms. Washbasins have been fitted outside the new toilets with pipes running from the new water tanks. In November they brought a group of volunteers to spend the day helping with the construction, building the base for the tanks and fixed the guttering. It was an amazing day and we thank them so much for their support.

Bobby & Ken are returning to Kenya in April, to continue crafts and provide workshops for the teachers to help them provide future activities. Also, Louise from the Venus School of Dance is visiting to work with the pupils on some dance routines and general PE activities.

2 other sponsors are also joining them to help out.

Bobby has kindly written this account of their October 2006 visit.

After so much planning and preparation October saw us making our way back to Africa, this time via a different route. You would think by this time we would be feeling rather laid back about the trip. However, it felt as though we were heading back to our extended family. Our welcome was such that it felt as though we were in every way embraced by them all.

THE SHOP

We wanted to create a pretend shop. One that sold all the things the children would recognise:- Fruits, Vegetables, Tea, Flour, etc. Linda offered to help by getting some of the students at school involved with the process of finding pictures that were suitable, printing them out, cutting and laminating them Yes please! It saved me such a lot of work. They also printed Kenyan money..One sided bank notes, before anyone rushes to the nearest fraud squad. They looked good enough to spend until you turned them over. Shopping lists were prepared and laminated. There were many different options. 4 oranges; 1 cabbage; 4 bananas etc. with different levels of difficulty to use according to the childs age and ability. They were given a list, some money to spend and a small shopping bag into which to put their purchases. Can you imagine a class of 35 children walking to the shop with a bag on their arm, money in one hand, and a shopping list in the other?

Their faces were a joy to behold. They took it in turns to be shopkeepers and bankers, and then they went back to their class to get down to the serious maths. Working out how much it had cost and how much change was due from the money they had been given. All were very keen to complete their calculations and be allowed to go back to the shop with a new list. Class by class we shopped till we dropped.

MANY thanks to the pupils at Hengrove School for their help, and to my friends and family for helping to make all the bags. They are still being used in other ways as well.

THE SCHOOL GROWS EVER LARGER

How good it was to see the new buildings. The Staff room and storeroom are such a help and were certainly much needed. Within the staff room we created a FRIENDSHIP CORNER

The staff wanted to display some of the things the children had been doing whilst we were there. They also proudly added all the Hands we took out. You may recall signing your names on them previously. We put all the sponsors & donors names on as well. They did look great, and it showed them clearly just how many people are involved with making the charity work. Take a look at the picture. Looks good doesnt it. So thank you and well done.

PAPER WEAVING

What a good time the children had weaving multi coloured paper into A4 sized mats. Janette and Vernon worked with each class creating colourful mats that the children then decorated. Have a look at Friendship Corner to see how good they looked. It also shows some of the other activities the children completed.

THAT CILLA BLACK MOMENT!!

We believed Linda and Mike were arriving in Africa just after we left. Everyone else knew that was not the case we were well and truly set up! Miriam invited us to share a tribal meal that she was to prepare. They took the day off to get things readyin fact they were meeting Linda and Mike from the airport! When we arrived for the meal, a different scene unfolded. A video camera had been hidden and set to record the moment- they had even rehearsed where we would all be asked to stand for maximum impact! Surprise, surprise Guess who came out of the bedroom? Well my flabber has never been so ghasted !!!! Stitched up comes to mind, but what a laugh. We had a fantastic celebratory evening. It was just great! Linda said she couldnt miss out on seeing the band. All along I had been telling the children they had to get their marching right for when Mama Linda came.. Little did I know!

INTRODUCING MR McCAW.

We try to make all the things we do with the children fun. What a find then to spot Mr McCAW at a craft fair. He is a hand puppet, very fluffy and brightly coloured with a squawk that matches his stature! He was introduced to the classes and the children were invited to say Hello Mr McCAW whenever they saw him. Im sure I dont need to paint the picture. The blessed thing turned up all over the place, and in many odd places.

The children were not sure of him at first. Some were even a bit scared. We had to tread very carefully. However that did not last long

Mr McCAW is now being Taken care of by the children until we go back

MAKING MUSIC

Mike and Linda thought we had finally flipped when we revealed our plan to start a band at school. Well what else would you do? Friends were very patient with us, and even offered to help. That clinched it. Band it was to be and sparkling costumes for all the kids at school. Oh yes, The Bandmaster (Fidy) had to have a frocktailed coat and a hat! (Thank you very much to my sister Brenda) Just a small matter then of instruments. Whistles, party horns, drums, triangles, shakers and bells. No problem!!! The gang turned up trumps. With endless enthusiasm they prepared loads, even before we arrived. Linda and Mike as always take things on board and away we go. Plastic bottles were saved and filled with small stones as shakers. They make a very satisfactory noise we can assure you. The drums they made were truly fantastic. They even prepared the whackers that went with them drumsticks seemed a very understated word for their works of art.

WHAT A TEAM !

Janette and Vernon prepared (during craft sessions with the children) masks and hats for every child. Plus one for all the teachers and helpers, who were determined not to be left out of all the fun and why should they be?

The masks glittered, shimmered, and sparkled. They also had feathers adorning them to complete the picture. They looked FANTASTIC. Hats were made and decorated with crepe paper and streamers. To complete the scene Janette and Vernon also made pompoms for the children without instruments. Everyone and every thing sparked and glitzed beautifully. For three weeks the children practised dancing and marching having just the very best of fun. When they started to rehearse villagers nearby came running from their houses to stand under the trees watching and laughing at things they saw. Some were even dancing to the music with their babies tied to their backs. All sharing in what to them was a very unusual sound!

On the last day before we left, the children appeared from their respective classrooms with s kirts and tabards, wearing the beautiful masks and hats and playing in time to the music. Mardi gras had come to Shika Adabu. There in the bush, surrounded by mud huts and proud parents, grandparents, teachers, helpers and us CARNIVAL TIME HAD ARRIVED!

There was something about all of that which was so magical. The children looked amazing. It makes my eyes leak just to recall it now. Can you imagine how it was? I wish you could all have shared itmoments to store forever.

GOING FISHING!

Carrying on the theme of fun and education, .Ken thought it would be a good plan to combine his love of woodworking and a game for the kids. Every rainy day and a few sunny ones too, he disappeared to the garage and cut out wooden fish of all shapes, sizes, and colours. They had metal hooks added to their mouths and a weight written upon their backs. Next came the fishing rods. Those were made suitcase length, and had a short line with a magnet on the end. They had three goes each at catching their fish. Once caught they had to add the weight of the fish, then calculate how much they would have to pay for them, based on a different price per pound or colour. If they caught a black boot (it gave Ken a change from cutting fish!) they had to take a certain weight away from the days catch.

It gave us another chance to use the money that we had printed. If the children didnt like the colour of the fish they had caught, they threw it back!! It also gave them longer to play with the rods and see what they could hook. As a certain Mr Forsyth would say GOOD GAME, GOOD GAME

We are very much looking forward to the next trip. Just mention CHARIOT RACING to Linda and watch her turn a funny shade of green!!

In January my youngest son Paul & girlfriend Louise came to Kenya for 3 weeks. Paul was with us at the start; from 1999 until 2002 he had 6 visits. Since starting work & training he was unable to come and was absolutely amazed at the progress that has been made. His first comment was this is not a full-time job Mum! This is 2 full time jobs! They got involved with crafts at the school, making necklaces and bracelets, animal masks and gonks Louise fell in love with many little ones, I had to check her suitcase before she flew home!!

On the left is Meraji wearing the necklace she made and on the right is "GONKS"

INSPIRATIONS SCHOOL

Since you read about the students visit in July 2006 lots has happened, the classrooms and offices they built are now completely finished and look wonderful. We have equipped them all but one class, this one has to have individual desks and chairs at a cost of £47 a set, we need 35 sets total cost £1645, so you can see this will take while to raise money. This classroom is not needed until Jan 2008 and in the meantime will be used by some of the nursery children to do activities.
So if any sponsors or donors would like to buy an unusual gift for their family or friends anytime this year, we are selling desks at £35 each & chairs at £12 each. Please contact me buy phone or email. THANKS

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND DONORS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!! This comes from all of us; our children, staff, family and friends in Kenya they appreciate so much what you do for them.

I dont like mentioning individuals in case I leave someone out! But all sponsors and donors are so important, I would like to thank everyone who has donated, organised events, and helped in any way, EVERYTHING is well appreciated, dont think it is too small.

I have a wonderful story that I will share with you all and I enclose a separate sheet for you to read.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

PLEASE KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE can all sponsors & donors make sure they let me know if they move house, change phone number or email address it is becoming VERY FRUSTRATING and wastes so much of my precious time when I cant easily contact people. THANKS

ONCE AGAIN A HUGE BIG THANKS to Andy Kybert M.D. of The Woodside Press Ltd Bristol for the printed version of this newsletter,