Expanding
Opportunities
January 2004 Newsletter
Street Children
Project
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Arriving in Mangu at the Joseph Waweru Home School we found the five boys and their surrogate parents anxiously awaiting us with warm greetings. The home that was started in January of 2003 is now complete, a wonderful, bright, airy home. They spoke of the HOT water showers and the foot pump that allowed the gravity feed water. The few shortcomings of the home were quickly scheduled for completion. The boys have settled in their new school and are working hard. They are very helpful around the home without being asked. It is always wonderful to see the growth of the boys from year to year. Within a few days their school books and supplies were added to the wonderful school supplies sent from the USA. An exhausting shopping day provided the growing boys with new shoes, jeans and shirts. |
 The boys and Mama examine their books and school supplies. From left to right: Vincent, Emmanuel, Mama, Kamau, Kiplangat. |
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The bikes that were donated last year were both in need of repair. To encourage responsibility we decided they should work for the repair charges. The boys jumped at the chance and with smiles and youthful energy began digging the long trench in which the bananas will be planted.
These boys are excited to welcome the three new boys that will join the family before April. The new president of Kenya is working within the means of the country to eradicate the Street children problem. In many cities the street children have been removed from the streets and provided with appropriate services. Expanding Opportunities will work with the Children's Bureau of Kenya to accept appropriate and needy children. |
 Collins and Kamau got right to work. |
Several artisans were contacted and orders placed. It was wonderful to see some of their new work. A past volunteer for A Thousand Villages referred many new artisans. Visits to their workshops have been scheduled for February.
Books for Kenya
The headmaster accepts gifts from the USA |
The headmaster of Mangu Primary School accepts gifts from the USA. He warmly welcomed us and gave a quick tour of the school. It is a medium sized day primary school of over 300 students . The classrooms are full with classes of 35-40 each. The rooms are not finished, there are no windows in most of the classrooms and the walls are still rough stone. But the chalkboards are in place and teachers work hard to teach with few supplies. The children arrive each day in their uniforms eager to learn. Expanding Opportunities had packed several textbooks for the school but that piece of luggage was lost and has yet to be recovered.
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Expanding Opportunities' first long term volunteer, Catherine Sanders, settled in quickly. She immediately began to establish the compost pile, check the humanure, prepare a seed bed and even pump the water to the gravity feed tank with the foot pump. Catherine has already made many contacts with women's groups in the area. She has discovered a large network of groups in Mangu. There is a group for the pruchase of water tanks, a farming cooperative, bee hive project and even a group that is going to begin a silk worm project. Women often belong to several different groups. Upon arrival the fall crop was surrounding the home. It is currently under harvest. Soon the permanent pathways and Catherines' bed preparation can begin in earnest.
Expanding Opportunities looks forward to welcoming more Service Journey volunteers in February. Each day is filled with new and interesting experiences. There is not enough room in a short newsletter to tell you all the wonderful things happening here in Africa. |
Standard six classroom 