One of the things we promote as a charity is small business enterprise, so it follows that here in the U.K. we do the same.  The coffee shop will have volunteers as well as paid staff to keep our costs down.  We are pleased that the Asante Coffee Shop launched successfully on the 16th March 2010 and has been reaching above its target in the opening week -meaning profits will already have begun to accrue.  From its opening in March 2010 until the end of Decenmber Asante raised over £15,000 for the charity!  Together we can release some of our disposable cash directly into the education of the children and young people living in the slums of Kisumu. 

Asante means ‘Thank you!’ in Swahili.  Please help us by visiting us for coffee and cake!

ASANTE!

c4c Africa has achieved more this year than ever before for the growth and developments of their projects in Kenya.  It could take up to two years to begin the proccess of re-establishing families, this time has reduced to six months to a year as people get on board with the charity.  Many have been rehabilitated back back with their families, and the few who we cannot find relatives for stay with Alice & James Samo, our Kenyan workers.

Through the endeavours of our dedicated staff befriending children of the streets,  we have been able to change the lives of many young people and children from lives of glue-dependency to job opportunities, education and even High School for some, as well as provide a complete education and meal for 250 children currently registered at the Life Centre School.  Here they have an opportunity of an education, many have been forced onto the streets by the sudden death of both parents often due to HIV aids.

Initially it was difficult dealing with some who were used to roaming the streets and discipline was an issue.  Since our last visit c4c have acquired new staff who have worked hard in focussing the children resulting in an amazing achievement of good exam results when taking part in the National Exams.  We are extremely proud of this achievement!  This is largely due to the opening of the Asante Coffee Shop which regularly provides an income allowing us to employ good staff as well as uniforms, books and food.  This ensures that when the new school is built we will already have achieved a name for ourselves for high acedemic achievement meaning private candidates can also apply.  We will continue to subsidise our street children but what an amazing result for children who had been written off by society.

At Christmas the Cresent Primary School collected funds for a special Christmas meal for the children.  This, as well as an extra bonus for gifts from us, made for a fantastic Christmas for all the children who never usually eat meat!  A chicken dinner.  Many recieved new clothes and hair brading.  A special time was had by all who took part.  Pictured here are two of the girls who were among the first to recieve their special meal.  Their faces say it all.  ‘Asante’ to everyone who has made this possible.  In April Kathy Bate, a teacher from the Crescent School, will be visiting with us.  The Cresent School are also raising funds for a water system to be set up at the make-shift school.  Currently James & Alice have to buy in limited supplies of water.  The target to be reached is £1000 as this is the estimated cost.

For the new year 2011 we are aiming to provide the school with this new water system, as well as locate land for building the new school.  On investigation we discover that a private school would mean we could adhere to standards we set and not be under the control of government restrictions.  In the UK during 2011 we hope to be opening another Asante Coffee Shop which would be targeting medical costs-hopefully culminating in a medical centre which could provide help for all of the people living in the slums, many are dying of aids.  But that’s a huge target.

We thank everyone who has made the Life Centre School and associated training programmes a success.  Especially all of those people who raised money and/or worked at Asante over 2010.  Thank you all!

George Nyandoros

George Nyandoro’s life has changed since he encountered two of our trustees back in November 2006.  He is one of a group of youths who came out and argued with Shirley Barter and Beccy Chaplin as they attempted to take photographs at the rubbish dump site where he lived.  Many people come and offer false hope he complained- so leave us alone!  He has been abandoned to live in the squaller of this dump for the past 16 years until that day when we pledged we would not forget his community.  A friendship was made and following this visit we set to work raising funds to rent the houses and initially get some of these guys a roof over their heads and food.  Also basic medical help was necessary.  George was housed in one of our rental houses shortly after.

In August 2007 Paul Barter raised some capital to be used to help with an education programme, some of this money was used to set some of the older youths up in small business’ to make a living.  This was their ‘dream’.  George was assisted in participating in a small shop and is now has a small income for first time.  In January 2009 we received a letter from George written in pigeon english as follows:

Dear supporter, my name is George Nyandoro. I am 27 years old my hobbies are playing football.  Thank you so much for bringing a change in my life.  May God richly bless you.During our visit in 2009 we saw George working in his small shop.  He also assisted us back to the dump where he now encourages many of the other younger boys.

George pictured (centre) at work- far right James

Up until 2010 the school operated out of a rented building which was extremely hot and desperately short of space, books, pens/pencils, teachers, uniforms, funiture…in fact you name it, they needed it!  It was barely a school.  Despite this, due to the care and volunteer services of some, they had a graduation day!   What a proud achievement!

Since that time c4c have raised £4,500 to upgrade the school building, a mere wooden hut with a corrigated iron roof, by making it bigger and raising the roof for better ventilation.  We also installed two new classrooms and a kitchen to provide meals on premises.  Originally we were working with figures of about 125 children which seemd many, but we now have 225 children registered properly through a better administration system run by Alice Samo.  We also have established classes with children housed from as young as 2 years in Baby Class (Nursery) to ages 13-standard practice for Primary.

Previously there were no chairs, tables, text books, pens, pencils or other basic resources.  Now, as this picture shows we have classrooms, teachers a chair for each pupil and desks!

We also have a feeding programme as a kitchen has been built. 

Much of this was possible as the chief of the area became involved following his invitation to see the children graduate.  He organised the moving of some of the residents nearby to make room for these improvements.  As a benefit to the whole slum area we were asked to provide a toilet block (for the whole community!)  We built a toilet block of four toilets, two for the school and two for the region.

We are extremely pleased that the Life Centre School now has smart pupils in uniform that are happy and reunited with families.  We are called citizens for change and can see a massive change in the region of Nyawita, Kisumu in Kenya.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us accomplish this.

Change your perspective!

Sky Dive for c4c!

Many people have shown an interest in sky diving to raise funds.  A minimum of £120 is raised every time someone opts to sky dive for c4c.  Please click on this link for all information  parachuting-information-pack

If you raise £385 sponsorship you can jump for free!!  Go on have a life-changing experience and change the lives of others at the same time!

Dare 2 Dream YT