 |
Expanding
Opportunities March 2007 Newsletter http://www.exop.org/ - info@expandingopportunities.org |
Table of Contents
Hi everyone,March has faded into April. It left gently while breathing in the green of Kericho in the tea bush during a paperwork retreat. The Joseph Waweru Home School has grown to 12 boys. The Service Journey participants have left. The work for the first quarter of 2007 is complete.
Ginger Wilson from Swanville, Maine arrived with her three children for 6 months. She is busy settling into her rented house. She will be writing for the newsletter from Kenya until September when she will return to the USA.
March was the time of our Art Journey. It was a fantastic adventure! Over time the stories will be told and posted on the website.
Well now April has blown and disappeared into May with its own untold adventures, BUT this newsletter is late again. Sorry.
Joseph Waweru Home School
Amos, Otieno and Enoch
Amos and Mama Karanja enjoy an afternoon chat
NEW BOYS at the HOME!!!
Four of them were introduced to you in last month's newsletter. This month the last of the 5 arrived.
The headmaster of the Menengai Primary School brought this boy to our attention. He was living with his elderly grandfather. The grandfather had worked for the railroad but retired many years ago. He was now alone on a small retirement and was struggling to feed and educate his grandson, Brian Otieno. Otieno came with everything he owned in a small plastic bag. On Monday morning he headed out to school. His sweater was only thin threads of yarn hanging from his shoulders and flip flops for shoes. It appears a shopping trip is imminent. Otieno is 7 years old and in second grade. Though he loves his grandfather, he was happy to come where there were other boys, food, clothing and education. He and our new 9 year old, Enoch quickly became friends. Now they are rarely seen apart.
Some of the boys have individual sponsors. These sponsors pay for the needs of their child, and exchange letters. Their sponsor can also come to the Home and visit whenever possible. Some of the boys are awaiting individual sponsors. Their needs are met by donations given to the home without a child's name attached. The joy of sponsoring your own child is found in the personal connection you can have. The child can put a name and face to the person who has helped them have hope and a future. At this time John is being sponsored by a family in Belfast, Maine; Young Brian, called Bryo is sponsored by a group of individuals in Belfast, Maine, Kiplangat is being sponsored by one of the Service Journey volunteers;Amos is sponsored by another Service Journey volunteer, and Kamau's High School Fees are sponsored by an individual in Lincolnville, Maine.
Brian Otieno
Enoch Kipyegon
Brian Otieno has been chosen for Trinity Parish in Lennox, Massachusetts.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child, the remaining children, Kamau, Vincent, Paul, Samwel, Enoch, and David are waiting.
For more information call 1-800-760-7943, email info@expandingopportunities.org or mail Expanding Opportunities, 84 Payson Road, Brooks, ME 04921.
Amos, Otieno and Enoch
Amos and Mama Karanja enjoy an afternoon chat
NEW BOYS at the HOME!!!
Four of them were introduced to you in last month's newsletter. This month the last of the 5 arrived.
The headmaster of the Menengai Primary School brought this boy to our attention. He was living with his elderly grandfather. The grandfather had worked for the railroad but retired many years ago. He was now alone on a small retirement and was struggling to feed and educate his grandson, Brian Otieno. Otieno came with everything he owned in a small plastic bag. On Monday morning he headed out to school. His sweater was only thin threads of yarn hanging from his shoulders and flip flops for shoes. It appears a shopping trip is imminent. Otieno is 7 years old and in second grade. Though he loves his grandfather, he was happy to come where there were other boys, food, clothing and education. He and our new 9 year old, Enoch quickly became friends. Now they are rarely seen apart.
Some of the boys have individual sponsors. These sponsors pay for the needs of their child, and exchange letters. Their sponsor can also come to the Home and visit whenever possible. Some of the boys are awaiting individual sponsors. Their needs are met by donations given to the home without a child's name attached. The joy of sponsoring your own child is found in the personal connection you can have. The child can put a name and face to the person who has helped them have hope and a future. At this time John is being sponsored by a family in Belfast, Maine; Young Brian, called Bryo is sponsored by a group of individuals in Belfast, Maine, Kiplangat is being sponsored by one of the Service Journey volunteers;Amos is sponsored by another Service Journey volunteer, and Kamau's High School Fees are sponsored by an individual in Lincolnville, Maine.
Brian Otieno
Enoch Kipyegon
For more information call 1-800-760-7943, email info@expandingopportunities.org or mail Expanding Opportunities, 84 Payson Road, Brooks, ME 04921.
Friends Across the Ocean
Jay and Samwel prepare the garden.
Barbara Witherly and Janice Drinkwater left Kenya at the end of March. We truly enjoyed them and hope they return again. Jay and Bev returned to the Joseph Waweru Home School to help prepare the garden (Shamba) as the rains had begun. Bev focused on the small kitchen garden with its seed beds and irrigation. Jay helped turn the soil in the larger areas with the boys. A small nursery was started for tree seedlings and Jatropha.
Jatropha plants and seeds were placed along the fence line in February as a trial and demonstration. Jatropha is a small tree which produces oil that can be used straight in a Veggie powered deisel automobile or processed into biodeisel. The plant also offers a great deal more from soap to dye as well as having medicinal value. The seeds had an approximate 30% germination rate and the plants all did well. New leaves are forming and curious onlookers have been asking questions. The Jatropha-Vanilla Foundation in Nairobi has many test plots in various areas of Kenya and hopes to attract more large scale farmers to form a base for biodeisel production to reduce dependency on petroleum products.
Ginger Wilson was a Service Journey participant in 2006. This year she has returned to Kenya with her children to assist Expanding Opportunities as well as work on several of her own projects. She will be bringing us news from Kenya until September.
Ginger Wilson returns to Kenya
Jay and Samwel prepare the garden.
Barbara Witherly and Janice Drinkwater left Kenya at the end of March. We truly enjoyed them and hope they return again. Jay and Bev returned to the Joseph Waweru Home School to help prepare the garden (Shamba) as the rains had begun. Bev focused on the small kitchen garden with its seed beds and irrigation. Jay helped turn the soil in the larger areas with the boys. A small nursery was started for tree seedlings and Jatropha.
Jatropha plants and seeds were placed along the fence line in February as a trial and demonstration. Jatropha is a small tree which produces oil that can be used straight in a Veggie powered deisel automobile or processed into biodeisel. The plant also offers a great deal more from soap to dye as well as having medicinal value. The seeds had an approximate 30% germination rate and the plants all did well. New leaves are forming and curious onlookers have been asking questions. The Jatropha-Vanilla Foundation in Nairobi has many test plots in various areas of Kenya and hopes to attract more large scale farmers to form a base for biodeisel production to reduce dependency on petroleum products.
Ginger Wilson was a Service Journey participant in 2006. This year she has returned to Kenya with her children to assist Expanding Opportunities as well as work on several of her own projects. She will be bringing us news from Kenya until September.
Ginger Wilson returns to Kenya
Artisan Support
Mutisto and his gourd turtles
Baobab Weavers
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.
New Artists
Last month we featured Augustin Lebyare. This month we will present a few more of our new artisans.
The Baobab Ladies
Far off the beaten track the ladies gather to chat and weave. Baobab bark is first harvest in large rectangular pieces from the age old trees. It is then torn and chewed. It is the chewing process that breaks down the tough bark into pliable fibers. The fibers are then twisted into cordage, dyed and woven into beautiful, strudy,long lasting bags and backpacks.
Mutisto is a quiet fellow. He wanders the circuit with a few of his gourd turtles trying to make a day's sale. We have ordered several of these sweet little turtles for Summer 2007 sales.
Mutisto and his gourd turtles
Baobab Weavers
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.
The Baobab Ladies
Far off the beaten track the ladies gather to chat and weave. Baobab bark is first harvest in large rectangular pieces from the age old trees. It is then torn and chewed. It is the chewing process that breaks down the tough bark into pliable fibers. The fibers are then twisted into cordage, dyed and woven into beautiful, strudy,long lasting bags and backpacks.
Mutisto is a quiet fellow. He wanders the circuit with a few of his gourd turtles trying to make a day's sale. We have ordered several of these sweet little turtles for Summer 2007 sales.
Camp Forest
A multicultural wilderness camp
Camp Forest is preparing for the summer of 2007!
Joseph Karanja from Kenya will be with us for the month of July.
Join us for a GREAT SUMMER!!
Take a look at the web site Camp Forest - www.campforestmaine.com
A multicultural wilderness camp
Camp Forest is preparing for the summer of 2007!
Joseph Karanja from Kenya will be with us for the month of July.
Join us for a GREAT SUMMER!!
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 and renting is very costly.
- DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER: Our wish is to move forward with the
establishment of the Distance Learning Center(s). Education is power.
- SUSTAINABLE INCOME GENERATION: Our wish is to find investors for an income generating business to support and expand the Joseph Waweru Home School and the Street Children Project
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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