MAJI SAFI PROJECTS

(Registered charity no. 1106384)

NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2008

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

Mobiles: Linda: 07803 052039 Mike: 07803 248218

KENYA NEWS

Thanks to all friends and sponsors that phoned or emailed us during our recent visit with concerns for our safety and for that of our staff & children in Kenya. We arrived in Kenya on Election Day and were reasonably safe where we stay, but areas of Mombasa and Likoni saw demonstrations and riots. The worse affected areas are in Western Kenya. Our schools are fine and I have written a separate account of the situation for you to read.

Sadly, since we returned on 27th January the situation has got worse and the 32 Ashton Park School students & staff have cancelled their trip to Inspirations School in July, we all understand they could't take the risk, but they will be sadly missed by everyone and we thank them for the money they have raised and their continued support, and we hope and pray that they can visit in the future.

IMPORTANT DATEs

Barn Dance

1st March 2008 Yearly Barn Dance – with CATS WHISKERS & guests the Applejacks at Ashton Park School. ALL PROCEEDS TO OUR PROJECTS
For tickets email or phone me or Dave Byett 01934 835435 or Bobby 01761 490627

GREAT NEWS: FUTURE VISITORS to UK !!

Mr Josephat and Bekker visit will now be May 2008. It was unfortunate they couldn't be here for the Barn Dance so we are holding a 'VISITORS NIGHT' at Ashton Park School on May 10th or 17th at 7.00pm onwards. All sponsors, donors, friends etc are invited. We are not selling tickets but would appreciate a small donation on the night as this will enable us to bring further project workers and teachers to the UK in 2009. There will be a bar and some light entertainment.

Come and meet Bekker & Mr Josephat - for more information phone me or Bobby 01761 490627 the date will be either 10th or 17th, but at the moment a lot depends on when they can get the visas to visit. With the problems in Kenya at the moment we cannot be sure of what date they will come to the UK. The current plan is that when Mike and I travel on 21st March to Kenya that it will be booked for them to return to the UK with us at on 3rd May.

PLEASE PHONE OR EMAIL NEARER THE TIME FOR AN UPDATE! THANKS

RAFFLE PRIZES

PLEASE if you have anything you can donate to our raffles then let me or Bobby know. We don't like having to go out and spend money when lots of sponsors have unused or unwanted Xmas chocolates/wine/whisky etc or have contacts that can help them with prizes, and we are very grateful for past donations.

Or if someone has time to write or phone companies on our behalf then I would also be very grateful as I am so busy since our return. I can provide you with the Maji Safi Project headed paper.

TOILETS & BATHROOMS

Toilets built Toilets built In the last newsletter we showed you photos of old toilets and bathrooms. Here are some photos of toilets that have been built in the villages thanks to generous donations in the last 6 months. You can’t believe the difference it has made to these families and how happy they are with having such basic amenities - which we all take for granted!

 

 

BOBBY & KEN EASTER 2007 VISIT

In the last newsletter you read Louise account of her Easter 2007 visit - as promised here is the account of Bobby & Ken's visit last year.

The 'theme' for this visit was twofold. We both felt that the 'glue stick' era was over. It had served everyone well and is now continued throughout the school on a regular basis. It had introduced so many children to the joys of making things with their own hands. Using scissors (what a learning curve that was!) The next stage was to create things that could be used as educational tools for the future.

We wanted to work on large group projects. This was new to both teachers and children. Normally they work on an individual basis. We had several workshops with the teachers and helpers and had such fun doing it. The Puppet Company kindly donated a wonderful selection of hand puppets. We used these and our imaginations to create and tell stories. Once told, the story had to be written in English and then read out to the class. Everyone at first was shy and unsure of themselves. It was so different. However, it soon became clear that fun could be had. Lion puppets became roaring giants of the jungle. Crocodiles became a bit snappy. The Zebra was a bit flighty (until he met the Lion ) etc

Very soon the teachers and children were using their enlivened imaginations and creating stories you had to hear to believe. Their English came on in leaps & bounds and confidence grew. Thespians were in the making!

The next stage was to introduce teachers to creating the basis for group art work. Colour washes didn't mean yellow soap on your face!! Respectively: a giant sized mosaic; a rural countryside theme; a beach & underwater theme:

A giant sized mosaic A rural countryside theme A beach & underwater theme

Armed with paint, sponges, ideas and the determined will to 'have a go' we started. The teachers did a FANTASTIC job. Confidence and pride grew when they saw what the children could achieve as a group. The have created even more since we left and I'm sure group work is there to stay.

'HOORAY' for the 194th Scouts Group in Kingswood Because we saw and admired the chariots they built at a family camp, they offered to sponsor the building of chariots in Kenya. Plans were drawn up and money raised. Bekker went on a mission to acquire what was needed. Mike and helpers got them built and ready for action by the time we arrived (all duly hidden away from the children in the borehole room).

Chariot racing in the bush The excitement of the children, teachers, onlookers and us, was like being at Silverstone at the closing of the big race. Did those children run, they just flew! The 'passenger' must have thought they were going into orbit! We laughed, clapped, cheered, & had wonderful times. Thank you Scouts, Cubs & Beavers - you made the day and many more days to come.

 

Chariot racing in the bush!! One of our children as a 'passenger' and you saw the others enjoying the chariots in the last newsletter.

 

Linda being pulled by Melly We found this photo of Linda enjoying a revisit to her childhood being pulled by Melly our friend who is an amateur weightlifter! Ha ha No offence Linda !!

Crafting progress With numbers of children ever increasing, it becomes difficult to transport the prepared crafts to Kenya. To the rescue came Linda & Mike. We bought a Sissix cutting system, they transported it. They were questioned by every security guard on the way, so much so they cut tulips with the cutter at Amsterdam airport to show it wasn't a new nuclear weapon!!

Sissex kindly donated a selection of cutters including an alphabet and numbers set. What a bonus that was. It means that teachers have the ability to prepare for themselves what they need for a lesson. We just buy extra cutters and send them over. Armed with new equipment we had another workshop on how to use it. I take my hat off and salute them all. They were so willing to embrace new ideas and skills.

Every child had an alphabet set, cut out of brightly coloured card. They stuck them to a sheet and numbered the letters.
A = 1, B = 2, etc

The 'game' and lesson then began. I gave them a word, they had to spell it (ENGLISH) then work out the math! A double whammy.

i.e. DOG would be 4 + 15 + 7 = 26

Once they got the idea they were off, and were they fast?

In NO time they were doing HORSE plus DOG = ??

Progress continued. The older children started to add more and more words. ENGLAND plus AFRICA take away DOG!! Ha ha The basics of algebra had arrived. To them it was just a game. To us it was a maths lesson.

We had thought 20 - 30 mins would be enough.

NOT SO - 'please can we do more?' despite it being 'home time. They played on, pleading 'Can we do this again in the morning?'

I wonder how many English children at school, would be quite so keen?

the math lesson They are progressing so well. We couldn't believe the difference in the children even in the six months since our last visit. Growth in every sense of the word. Their English, their confidence, their ability to embrace new ideas & their pride in achieving. We are so proud to be the tiniest cog in that wheel. If only every sponsor, donor or supporter could see those children for themselves. You would be amazed as we are. They have been given their chance and 'Oh Boy' have they worked at it. Those kiddies deserve to succeed. Lets all work on for the day they do.

We can't wait to see them all again

Written by Bobby & Ken - 2007

'NEWS ABOUT PAST EVENTS & DONATIONS'

Bekker stamping text books The Barn Dance held by BRISTOL BREAKFAST ROTARY CLUB in Nov 2007 at Ashton Park School was a great success and £1000 was donated, which we promptly spent on textbooks for the new Std 5 class starting January 2008.

 

 

A photo of our project worker Bekker stamping some of them ready for use.

 

ROTARY CLUB NORWICH

Classroom desks A friend & his wife we met 9 years ago at the hotel where we first stayed, we sat with them talking about the problems of the village, who thought then that we would be where we are now??

We have kept in touch and through him we received £1000 from his Rotary club, which bought desks for a classroom.

 

 

 

CHARITY BALL December 8th 2007

Where do I start? So much time and preparation by Louise from the Venus School of Dance. Who, after her visit at Easter 2007 has been on a mission to help our projects for the benefit of our children. Tickets were sold out long before the event, many auction & raffle prizes were donated raising approx. £2500 .

A BIG THANKS to one of our sponsors in particular that donated a brand new villa in Orlando for 2 weeks rental this raised a whopping £750 check out their website www.go2disney.co.uk

The evening was a fantastic success, dancing, eating and enjoying by all friends, family, sponsors etc etc that support Louise and our projects.

NORTH WILTS LADIES GOLF CLUB

Kitchen & Fire Pit Kitchen & Fire Pit

After a local government inspection we were told that our lady making porridge in her own house and transporting it on a wheel barrow to school, really needed a small kitchen on the school site. Also, a fire pit to dispose of our office and school waste should be built. A generous donation from the Ladies meant this could be done.

A BIG THANK YOU !!

 

 

INSPIRATIONS SCHOOL

Lots of work going on:

Future plans (when finances allow):

MAJI SAFI SCHOOL

GREAT RESULTS from this years Std 8 leavers and because the Government have reduced tuition fees it looks like we will have 16 students going into Secondary Schools. They don't start until 4th February because of current problems. Mike was busy running around town (in between the riots!) to get their uniform, shoes, books, etc. to start them at school. We were determined these pupils will get a chance of a 'normal' life.

Maji Safi School is now totally under the control of the education offices and being ran very well. We will continue to support the school for the next 5/6 years, while we still have children sponsored there.

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