Dear Friends,

It’s been a long while since we wrote and gave you the news of the little village of Komenya in Kenya, East Africa.  Lillian, our first ever library homework social worker, came back to the village during her summer vacation from Nairobi Technical College and volunteered to work in the summer programme alongside the children, giving Jackie (present library teacher) much needed assistance.  It had been a difficult 8 months prior to that with children falling sick, not enough adult volunteers to assist Jackie with her ever growing number of children     asking to come and join in the teaching programme, and the parents under pressure due to the crop failure.  Then the sun came out!!  In July Peter (voluntary project co-ordinator) managed to obtain 80 kilos of maize flour and rice from the local government and rallied the village committee to distribute it fairly to every home within the close proximity.   There was once again a feeling of HOPE.  In August with assistance from a Kenyan friend living in Bradford (and his church members),  African Connection organised a 4 day residential summer camp.   20 children travelled 40 miles to join 20 other children from Maseno region and by all accounts had the time of their lives... with electricity for the first time in their lives.   We now have 35 children sponsored but 60+ children asking to come and join the programme.  They want to learn, but most of all THEY WANT TO BELONG.  These beautiful children who smile at you and are so polite, need our help.   These are children as young as ten, unable to go to school because of their commitment to the home, looking after their younger siblings (always daughters) because Mum has to go to the “shampa” (little strip of land) to tend the weakest of plants.  Many of the children are orphans living with elderly grandparents or distant relatives who reluctantly take them in.  The land is all they have.   YOU have given these children and their families HOPE.  That little mud hut with its selection of books is HOPE.   It’s their future.  That’s why the children want to come.   It’s stability.   No, the children are not excelling in Maths and English and YES, the region is renowned for poor educational standards - with 1 teacher per 106 children in each class, that’s understandable.  YES, it’s a high risk zone for Aids facilities and YES, there is a need for a nutritional programme.  NO ONE CAN LEARN ON AN  EMPTY STOMACH!!   We have already started giving a nutritious meal on the full Saturday homework study day.   You’ve heard about the “give a goat for Christmas” - will you help us to do just that?  Please.  Peter, (George’s uncle), is now working 4 days a week for a small monthly allowance from AC UK.   He visits the local school once a week and teaches alongside Jackie in the after school homework classes.   He has even obtained a larger house to cope with the swelling numbers of children who come after school.  He’s butcher, baker and candlestick maker!For Christmas this year the project committee would like to aim to buy 10 goats to provide the children with milk.  As last year we will also be giving each child a bag of maize flour, cooking oil and sugar to take home on Christmas Eve (at Peter’s request).   With your HELP these children CAN be helped to be given the proper nutrition they need to sustain them for another day.   They walk very far to school, some on little more than maize flour and water.   You remember....the famour UGALI.  How sweet it would taste with a cup of milk (or porridge) to accompany it.

After estimating the cost of buying goats and setting up a homestead to keep them, we estimate it will cost approx. £800.  If you feel able to give your support to this specific venture, please contact us or see the details below.   CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT A GIFT THAT WOULD REALLY BE FOR THE LIBRARY PROJECT CHILDREN.