Visit June 2013

We have just returned from a visit to Nanyuki and would like to update
you all as to what was achieved during our visit.

During our last visit in September 2012 we visited Hope and Home
Recreation Centre, which is a fairly new Centre in Nanyuki, which takes
children off the streets and rehabilitates them, providing
accommodation, education and training for the older children, so that
they may become self sufficient and, in some cases, enables them to
start their own small businesses. Whilst we were there one of our
friends had a malfunction with one of her shoes – the strap broke – and
one of the children, who was training to be a cobbler, mended her shoe
beautifully. We were very impressed.

We purchased 12 triple bunk beds for Hope and Home which will enable
them to accommodate another 36 children, and we shall be posting
photographs on our website very soon. Some of the beds had just been
delivered and not yet assembled and the remainder will be delivered
this week. We also took with us some training manuals on sewing,
knitting, beadwork, welding, car maintenace, plumbing, etc. which were
very much appreciated as those type of books are difficult to obtain in
Nanyuki. A large supply of food was also purchased for the Home and we
left them feeling very happy and appreciative of what has been done for
them. The British Army were also helping at the Home – painting
buildings and finishing a new kitchen on the site. It has come a long
way since we saw them in September and we were very impressed with
everything we saw. The children gave us such a warm welcome and they
all appear very, very happy.

Some of the new beds ready to assemble for Hope and Home

During our visit a Medical Camp Day was organised at CEDEC which is a
rehabilitation centre also taking children off the streets, which is
run by the Municipal Council. The Medical Camp Day was organised by a
group of local young people – Nanyuki Ndio Home Group – and it was
hosted by us. It involves screening the health of all the children in
CEDEC, providing them with medication, hospital or dental referrals
where necessary, and many children were brought to the event off the
streets so they could also be screened. They were also fed and music
was organised for them. They had a wonderful day, enjoying a good
meal, lots of oranges, a supply of marbles, a game of football and lots
and lots of dancing. THERE ARE, AT THE MOMENT, OVER 400 CHILDREN
LIVING ON THE STREETS IN NANYUKI. At the end of this event, the local
MP visited and was very, very grateful for everything we are doing to
assist the children in Nanyuki.

We also purchased many school uniforms for the children in CEDEC so
that they could attend school.

During our visit we, together with representatives from the Ndio Group,
visited the Governor of Laikipia, had discussions with him and some of
his Ministers, and subsequently travelled in convoy with him to Nanyuki
Children’s Home where, after a two hour visit, he informed the Home’s
administrator that the local County Government would be taking over the
administration of the Home on the 1st July 2013. To those of you who
know the problems we have had with the administration of this Home, you
will realise what a fantastic achievement this is. We have been
campaigning for the last few years to see this happen. It is the
Governor’s intention to make Nanyuki Children’s Home a Centre of
Excellence for the children therein and we shall be supporting him in
his efforts.

Carolyn, Bill and the Governor.

Visit to Nanyuki Children’s Home

All in all an extremely satisfying visit, and we would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support in our efforts to help the children of Nanyuki.