 |
Expanding
Opportunities January 2007 Newsletter http://www.exop.org/ - info@expandingopportunities.org |
Table of Contents
Hi everyone,Bev is back in Kenya.
There is a great deal of work to be done this year. Lucia Robinson of Whitefield, Maine, is the first Service Journey volunteer. Jay Gilbert of Tallahassee, Florida is here for three months.
The next few newsletters will be sent from Kenya with news about the volunters and the progress of the projects.
Joseph Waweru Home School
The Commons January 2007
Water in the Kitchen
Driving down the road to the home in Mangu for the first time each year is an exciting moment. I find myself watching through the eyes of new volunteers, searching for the boys to greet us, and looking at the growth that has occured during the 9 months in the USA. This year carried an extra surprise. The rains had not ended. Everything was green!! The garden was still producing and passion fruit was sporting an additional crop, and there were bananas!. The boys had grown, the kitchen was in use and Pastor had a new addition on his own home.
After settling in, work plans began. The gas stove needs to be installed, the plumbing completed, the floors polished, the solar power installed, windows and doors in the dining area.....It never ends but work began the following Monday. By the end of January the cold water plumbing was completed, the solar power installed, the floors polished, the gas stove waiting for the gas man, and the windows under construction. Fantastic progress!
Kamau in his new high school uniform
Mwangi interviewing a child
Two boys waiting for a space
The decision to accept five additonal boys this year had us scheduling interviews. We will be making the decisions by the middle of February. It is both exciting and heartbreaking. There are so many children who are homeless or in dangerous living situations, making a selection of five is difficult.
Waiting in Kericho for us were two boys whose mother and grandmother were both deceased. The father was unknown. The grandfather lived in a small two room mud house. He has not been mentally stable for a number of years.
The great grandmother is very ill and in constant pain. She hobbled out of her small house, collapsed on the grass and tried her best to greet us. Her twisted, pain wracked body was refusing to give her a few minutes rest. She pleaded for her great grandchildren.
As we approached the grandfather's home, he was in the yard sitting on the ground sorting beans. He smiled and when asked where the small 4 year old was, he just pointed to the field. There was no child to be found anywhere. A search began and the child was brought up the hill by a neighbor. He is a bright and bold 4 year old with a grandfather that loves him but cannot properly supervise him. A short while later a young boy was seen running toward the home. It was the 9 year old elder brother returning from school. Rushing to find his younger brother and to see the strangers. After a full intake, we told the children we would make a decision soon. The eldest child's response, "We will be waiting for you."
The Commons January 2007
Water in the Kitchen
Driving down the road to the home in Mangu for the first time each year is an exciting moment. I find myself watching through the eyes of new volunteers, searching for the boys to greet us, and looking at the growth that has occured during the 9 months in the USA. This year carried an extra surprise. The rains had not ended. Everything was green!! The garden was still producing and passion fruit was sporting an additional crop, and there were bananas!. The boys had grown, the kitchen was in use and Pastor had a new addition on his own home.
After settling in, work plans began. The gas stove needs to be installed, the plumbing completed, the floors polished, the solar power installed, windows and doors in the dining area.....It never ends but work began the following Monday. By the end of January the cold water plumbing was completed, the solar power installed, the floors polished, the gas stove waiting for the gas man, and the windows under construction. Fantastic progress!
Kamau in his new high school uniform
Mwangi interviewing a child
Two boys waiting for a space
The decision to accept five additonal boys this year had us scheduling interviews. We will be making the decisions by the middle of February. It is both exciting and heartbreaking. There are so many children who are homeless or in dangerous living situations, making a selection of five is difficult.
Waiting in Kericho for us were two boys whose mother and grandmother were both deceased. The father was unknown. The grandfather lived in a small two room mud house. He has not been mentally stable for a number of years.
The great grandmother is very ill and in constant pain. She hobbled out of her small house, collapsed on the grass and tried her best to greet us. Her twisted, pain wracked body was refusing to give her a few minutes rest. She pleaded for her great grandchildren.
As we approached the grandfather's home, he was in the yard sitting on the ground sorting beans. He smiled and when asked where the small 4 year old was, he just pointed to the field. There was no child to be found anywhere. A search began and the child was brought up the hill by a neighbor. He is a bright and bold 4 year old with a grandfather that loves him but cannot properly supervise him. A short while later a young boy was seen running toward the home. It was the 9 year old elder brother returning from school. Rushing to find his younger brother and to see the strangers. After a full intake, we told the children we would make a decision soon. The eldest child's response, "We will be waiting for you."
Feeding Program
Street Boys of Kericho enjoying a meal
Receiving a well earned shirt
Sam Waithaka is doing an excellent job with the feeding program. He is well known among the boys in Kericho. He not only provides meals for them but also takes the time to get to know each individual. For two of the boys that were ready to work and earn a living, he rented hand push carts for them. They have now been able to work with the carts and earn enough to rent a small room together and pay their own expenses.
Thanks to donors in the USA Sam will be able to buy two carts to help the boys with independence. He will have the boys rent to own at a lower rent but sufficient to replace the carts or invest in another scheme for self-sufficiency.
Sam also involves himself with the boys in other ways. Some of the boys have families and Sam works toward locating them, reconciling them with their families and following up regularly.
The boys also receive clothing, personal hygeine items, and medical care when possible.
Street Boys of Kericho enjoying a meal
Receiving a well earned shirt
Thanks to donors in the USA Sam will be able to buy two carts to help the boys with independence. He will have the boys rent to own at a lower rent but sufficient to replace the carts or invest in another scheme for self-sufficiency.
Sam also involves himself with the boys in other ways. Some of the boys have families and Sam works toward locating them, reconciling them with their families and following up regularly.
The boys also receive clothing, personal hygeine items, and medical care when possible.
STEMS
Peris Waithaka
Peris Waithaka
In the course of his volunteer activities, Sam Waithaka often discovers other needs. Four young children ages 7 and down are living in one small room in town with their grandmother. The grandmother is still young, but when the daughter died she was unable to continue her business selling vegetables on the side of the road as two of the 4 children were too young to accompany her all day on a blanket. She is the mother of 4 of her own children. Her children are grown with the youngest just completing high school. She raised and educated them alone.
Sam discovered that she is still able to care for these grandchildren but needs help to find a business she can do with small children. Her idea is to build a small kiosk and sell a variety of items. She would care for the young children inside the kiosk.
Two STEMS loans will be combined for this woman to give her a good start in the business.
Peris Waithaka
Peris Waithaka
In the course of his volunteer activities, Sam Waithaka often discovers other needs. Four young children ages 7 and down are living in one small room in town with their grandmother. The grandmother is still young, but when the daughter died she was unable to continue her business selling vegetables on the side of the road as two of the 4 children were too young to accompany her all day on a blanket. She is the mother of 4 of her own children. Her children are grown with the youngest just completing high school. She raised and educated them alone.
Sam discovered that she is still able to care for these grandchildren but needs help to find a business she can do with small children. Her idea is to build a small kiosk and sell a variety of items. She would care for the young children inside the kiosk.
Two STEMS loans will be combined for this woman to give her a good start in the business.
Friends Across the Ocean
Jay Gilbert presents a Globe from Augusta Raa Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida
Lucia Robinson pitches in to do the dishes.
Friends Across the Ocean Service Journeys bring volunteers to Kenya. This year our first two volunteers are Lucia Robinson and Jay Gilbert. Lucia has traveled to West Africa but this was her first East Africa experience. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the boys and meeting people in the village. She pitched right in and helped with kitchen and household duties as well as worked long hot days in the garden. She had a wonderful time selecting ornamental and food bearing plants and then locating them in perfect places around the compound. She created a seed bed and we await the fruit of her labor. She took the boys on two field trips and left enough to take them swimming in her absence. Lucia's time here flew by and all too soon it was time for her to leave. Her generosity and sincere interest in the boys will not be forgotten.
Jay Gilbert is a 14 year old from Tallahassee, Florida. One evening he collected the squash seeds before they found their way to the compost and roasted them. The boys looked at him rather curiously as they had never before heard of roasting seeds but after they were finished and salted, no one could get enough. He has attended school with the boys, played soccer, chatted about music and clothing and travel. AS we travel around Jay is learning what it is like to immerse in another culture.
Jay Gilbert presents a Globe from Augusta Raa Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida
Lucia Robinson pitches in to do the dishes.
Friends Across the Ocean Service Journeys bring volunteers to Kenya. This year our first two volunteers are Lucia Robinson and Jay Gilbert. Lucia has traveled to West Africa but this was her first East Africa experience. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the boys and meeting people in the village. She pitched right in and helped with kitchen and household duties as well as worked long hot days in the garden. She had a wonderful time selecting ornamental and food bearing plants and then locating them in perfect places around the compound. She created a seed bed and we await the fruit of her labor. She took the boys on two field trips and left enough to take them swimming in her absence. Lucia's time here flew by and all too soon it was time for her to leave. Her generosity and sincere interest in the boys will not be forgotten.
Jay Gilbert is a 14 year old from Tallahassee, Florida. One evening he collected the squash seeds before they found their way to the compost and roasted them. The boys looked at him rather curiously as they had never before heard of roasting seeds but after they were finished and salted, no one could get enough. He has attended school with the boys, played soccer, chatted about music and clothing and travel. AS we travel around Jay is learning what it is like to immerse in another culture.
Job
Job and Jay at Job's home
Job continues to progress. He received his test reports and has halved one count and doubled another!!! He has increased both height and weight. He is well, happy and now able to learn in school.
When we arrived he presented us with a notebook full of drawings he had done for his sponsors. That notebook will be returning to the USA in April and sent on to his sponsors.
Last year Job had admired a remote control car in a shop window. A small one was donated and Jay is demonstrating how it works. While visiting we asked him what one thing he would like. He asked for a small hand held game called BRICKS. It is similar to Tetris. Lucia purchased it for him. Though she will not be present to see him receive it, he will remember her always.
Thank you for giving life and hope toJob!
Job and Jay at Job's home
Job continues to progress. He received his test reports and has halved one count and doubled another!!! He has increased both height and weight. He is well, happy and now able to learn in school.
When we arrived he presented us with a notebook full of drawings he had done for his sponsors. That notebook will be returning to the USA in April and sent on to his sponsors.
Last year Job had admired a remote control car in a shop window. A small one was donated and Jay is demonstrating how it works. While visiting we asked him what one thing he would like. He asked for a small hand held game called BRICKS. It is similar to Tetris. Lucia purchased it for him. Though she will not be present to see him receive it, he will remember her always.
Thank you for giving life and hope toJob!
Artisan Support
Lily Kiegan at her shop on the Equator
Sarah Maapayo admires her first grandchild.
The Artisan Support project brings art work from a variety of artisans in Kenya to the USA and sells them on the internet at three web sites:
and at The Aina Moja Shop in Belfast, Maine.
Each year most of the artisans receive a visit. Sarah Maapayo, one of our MAasai bead workers, lives a distance from the tar road in Isinya. This year we were able to make it all the way to her home and reunite with her family and meet her new grandchild.
Lily Kiegan, one of the soapstone finishers, was next on the list. Her unique patterns and brilliant colors will be found on the usual items on the website as well as the introduction of a few new items.
Lily Kiegan at her shop on the Equator
Sarah Maapayo admires her first grandchild.
The Artisan Support project brings art work from a variety of artisans in Kenya to the USA and sells them on the internet at three web sites:
- Aina Moja, www.ainamoja.com
- 1st African Clothing, www.1stafricanclothing.com
- African Crafts and Art, www.africancraftsandart.com
and at The Aina Moja Shop in Belfast, Maine.
Each year most of the artisans receive a visit. Sarah Maapayo, one of our MAasai bead workers, lives a distance from the tar road in Isinya. This year we were able to make it all the way to her home and reunite with her family and meet her new grandchild.
Lily Kiegan, one of the soapstone finishers, was next on the list. Her unique patterns and brilliant colors will be found on the usual items on the website as well as the introduction of a few new items.
Camp Forest
Hello fish, would you like to be lunch?
The Camp Forest schedule for 2007 is ready!
In addition to our regular full summer weekly Day Camp Schedule, this year we will have the option of several week long expeditions.
The beginners expedition explores the headwaters of the Passagassawaukeg River. Beginning at Camp Forest campers pack all gear and hike to Half Moon Pond. set up a primitive base camp: explore, fish canoe, visit beaver, hike to the top of the mountain to find a surprise. Although open to all ages 9-12, campers must meet a few basic requirements.
Coyote Moon is an intermediate level expedition focusing on mastering the skills for the Osprey Award. Build a primitive shelter and sleep in it at least one night. Learn what to do if lost, fire safety, animal tracking, water purification, plant identification, wilderness crafts, navigation, and more. Learn to become part of the natural world, meet the beaver, coyote, fish and loon. Campers must meet a few basic requirements to participate.
Fly Away is an advanced expedition focusing on mastering the skills of the Eagle Award. With less gear, learn the skills to be free on this earth and receive the gifts of nature. These skills build confidence, motivation and faith. Campers must meet the requirements of the Osprey Award.
Mother Earth/Father Sky is an expedition for MALES ONLY. It is a rite of Passage expedition based on the traditions of Africa, South and North American Natives. A boy becomes a man when he can provide for himself and his family. Working individually with each boy, this expedition will enhance confidence, teamwork, and turn boys to men.
Watershed Exploration and Research will travel the full length of the Passagassawaukeg River by foot and canoe. Journal plant and animal life and condition of habitat. The information gathered will be available for public use.
Take a look at the web site Camp Forest - www.campforestmaine.com
Hello fish, would you like to be lunch?
The Camp Forest schedule for 2007 is ready!
In addition to our regular full summer weekly Day Camp Schedule, this year we will have the option of several week long expeditions.
The beginners expedition explores the headwaters of the Passagassawaukeg River. Beginning at Camp Forest campers pack all gear and hike to Half Moon Pond. set up a primitive base camp: explore, fish canoe, visit beaver, hike to the top of the mountain to find a surprise. Although open to all ages 9-12, campers must meet a few basic requirements.
Coyote Moon is an intermediate level expedition focusing on mastering the skills for the Osprey Award. Build a primitive shelter and sleep in it at least one night. Learn what to do if lost, fire safety, animal tracking, water purification, plant identification, wilderness crafts, navigation, and more. Learn to become part of the natural world, meet the beaver, coyote, fish and loon. Campers must meet a few basic requirements to participate.
Fly Away is an advanced expedition focusing on mastering the skills of the Eagle Award. With less gear, learn the skills to be free on this earth and receive the gifts of nature. These skills build confidence, motivation and faith. Campers must meet the requirements of the Osprey Award.
Mother Earth/Father Sky is an expedition for MALES ONLY. It is a rite of Passage expedition based on the traditions of Africa, South and North American Natives. A boy becomes a man when he can provide for himself and his family. Working individually with each boy, this expedition will enhance confidence, teamwork, and turn boys to men.
Watershed Exploration and Research will travel the full length of the Passagassawaukeg River by foot and canoe. Journal plant and animal life and condition of habitat. The information gathered will be available for public use.
Take a look at the web site Camp Forest - www.campforestmaine.com
Wish List
A Few Wishes:
A Few Wishes:
- NEW CHILDREN: The construction has progressed to the point where we are
able to house up to 16 children. Our wish is for people who would support a
child for at least one year.
- BUILDING: Our wish is to FINISH the kitchen and dining areas and furnish
it with durable kitchen utensils.
- VEHICLE: Our wish is to have a truck for transportation for goods, the
boys, and visitors. The Mini is small, and ready to retire.
- DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER: Our wish is to move forward with the
establishment of the Distance Learning Center(s). Education is power.
Comments
COMMENTS : We would like to hear what you have to say.
Please use mailto:coments@expandingopportunities.org to suggest or comment on issues.
COMMENTS : We would like to hear what you have to say.
Please use mailto:coments@expandingopportunities.org to suggest or comment on issues.
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