News Update March 2010 - Bread of Life Kenya

News Update - March 2010

We recently returned from our annual visit to Kenya, all the children at SCCH were doing well and work has progressed quickly on the building projects over the last months. We were also pleased to see how well fed and healthy the children looked.

The main issue that was highlighted in our last newsletter was the security problems in the area. This is one of the poorest areas in Kisumu and the crime rate is high; we decided to replace the old fence around the property which was poor quality and had become damaged in some places, with a more substantial one.

Work progressed quickly and smoothly with the fencing and when we arrived we were delighted to see a strong wire mesh and barbed wire fence around the property with thorn bush seedlings planted around the perimeter. The thorn bushes will take some time to grow to full height but will provide an effective and natural barrier around the property.

This method of fencing is common in the slum areas and we felt would be more appropriate than a brick or concrete wall which was likely to create more than a physical barrier between the home and the people in the community. The strong cedar poles are durable and disliked by termites which can cause havoc with any wooden structures.

Work began in November on a kitchen and eating area, which is a requirement of the Children’s Department for any children’s home. The tin structure was completed for our arrival and has already been put to good use. The open sides of the ‘dining room’ make this a pleasant place to rest from the heat of the sun!

Many African’s cook on open charcoal stoves called ‘jikos’, and the kitchen provides a safe place where meals can be cooked away from the children, who can eat their meals in the open area out of the sun.

Another problem that was highlighted in our last newsletter was the erratic supply of water to the home. Kisumu, along with many other areas of Kenya, operates a water rationing programme, which means that the water supply is only turned on at certain times of the day or on certain days of the week. Because of the high population density and the long distance the water must travel before it reaches the home, the quantity is often variable. In an effort to make use of the resources available, work is now under way to install guttering on the buildings in the home and a water tank to collect rainfall during the rainy seasons. This should alleviate the urgency for water and reduce the need to purchase water locally when the piped supply is insufficient.

Just before Christmas the children took their end of year exams which decide whether they can progress to the next school year. Most of the children did very well, and have moved up to the next class, and some have now moved up from nursery to primary school. Unfortunately Sharon, who is blind in one eye and struggles academically, did not manage to attain the pass grade and will have to repeat the year. Sadly this is all too common in many schools were class sizes frequently exceed 70 children being taught by one teacher. The lack of personal input means that many children do not get the assistance they need in the subjects they find difficult.

One of the main aims of our visit this year was to assist the staff to build a chicken coop. Matthew worked with Willis and Martin to build the coop, whilst Samara and Lorine visited a local supplier to purchase new chickens to replace the ones that were stolen two years ago. The chickens will now have a secure place to stay at night, and the eggs that they lay will be used to supplement the children’s diet, and help to create a small income from selling eggs in the community. The six hens and one cockerel seemed to be happily settling in to their new home by the end of the week!

During our visit we had the great pleasure of being able to take the children to a local swimming pool for an afternoon outing. Many of them had never seen such a place before and were a little awed by it, but a few minutes in the paddling pool soon dispelled any fears, and in no time everyone was splashing, laughing and enjoying themselves! With the help of our British friends who we were staying with, we were able to give one-on-one instruction and all the children had a fantastic time.

Overall we had a very productive visit and are looking forward to seeing the work at the home develop over the coming months.

Please pray for:

• Thank God for the excellent health the children have experienced
• Praise him for the good grades which many of the children attained
• Pray for Sharon as she repeats standard 3 that her grades will improve and she will be able to progress through school despite her disability
• Pray for the work to install gutters and a water tank
• Thank God for his continued blessings and provision and ask that he would strengthen and encourage Lorine and the staff in the vital work that they are involved with

Fundraising:

The Christmas cake sale at St Thomas Church Kendal was a great success, as was our 2010 Calendar, all proceeds from the sale of which went to fund the work of Bread of Life Kenya. There is another curry evening planned at St Thomas’s church very soon (keep an eye out for a date in the church notice sheet) and on 1st May we hope to hold another car wash and cake sale at Bridge House in Capernwray; if you live nearby please drop in for refreshments and a presentation on the work in Kenya.