Give A Child Life

Looking For Her Children

This just in from Kiandutu, Kenya....

 

Last week on Wednesday, 9th May 2012, three of Bernice Wagui's children got lost while at their home inKiandutu. Dennis (11 years) together with Dorothy and Harriet were playing outside with their neighbor's children. The neighbor kid, also about 12 yrs old,suggested that they go visit his dad. Dennis did not hesitate and the sisters followed him. They boarded a matatu along the Thika - Garrissa road and headed for Kitui several kilometers from Thika.

When night came, Bernice started looking for her children with no luck. She spent the night worried. The next day, the dad of the neighbor's kid called from Kitui saying the children had arrived safely. GCL provided busfare to Bernice (kshs.1000/-) to go find her children. That night the village elder Gerald called to inform me that they are back in Kiandutu.

It is still a mystery how such young children boarded a matatu with no busfare and traveled many miles. Bernice is thankful that at least she found her children-though hungry and unkempt- she says she has learned a great lesson from the incident.

Carol

Kiandutu Program Manager

Saddened By This Grave Incident

I just received this from Josephine, who runs Stara School in Nairobi's Kibera slum...

 

"Early Monday morning I received a call from the school by the guard informing me of a fire outbreak. Their cry for help and my phone calls to the fire department could not assist much for the fire had quickly engulfed all of the three classrooms on the old structure including the administration offices. The cause of the fire is yet to be established. We have so far lost four of our classes and the office. A few books were salvaged but we almost lost everything within the administration block. The entire school fraternity has been saddened by this grave incident. Right now, we are in a state of confusion trying to sort out what's left of the debris but will inform you of all progress."

 

I had called Josephine right after I heard about the fire. GCL has been talking to her about starting a feeding program for the 40 children in her nursery. The nursery, thank heaven, didn't burn. The children will be back after Easter break at the beginning of May. We're working on raising $230 a month to feed the children porridge.

Fires often break out in urban slums. Josephine told me she thought this one started from faulty wiring.

 

Debbie

 

 

 

A Good Sense of What We're Doing

Recently a group of GCL friends gathered at the local community center for an in-depth look at our work. I was deeply moved as I worked to compile the media for the event. It always is hard to bridge the gap between words and pictures, especially when describing sick and dying children. In the presentation, I was able to show the places where we worked and tell stories about the children and mothers they were seeing on the screen. Our discussion went far beyond the superficial. People asked about infant feeding and child care. They wanted to know about the water project in El Salvador. They got a good sense of what we are doing and why. Seven more children in El Salvador now have sponsors as a result.

Next weekend we're going to follow up with our first major fundraiser--a garage sale at the home of a donor (and close friend) in Laguna Beach. The garage sale has personal significance...I am clearing away items accumulated during 20 years of global travel, as well as items that have been in my family a long time. It is a cleansing. And it makes me glad to think that my "goods" may make other people happy, while helping raise funds to feed hungry children around the world. All of the proceeds will go to GCL.

If you can stop by, we'd love to see you. The garage sale is Saturday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 841 Fen Way, Laguna Beach. Park near the high school and walk a few steps up the hill. We'll be there!

Hope to see you,

Debbie

 

 

Mother Running Small Businesses.

Yesterday I received the first batch of ledgers from mothers running the small businesses in Kiandutu. A few weeks ago, I spent my last afternoon there helping set up the accounts so they could track their expenses, income and profit. This was a new concept for most of the women, all of whom ran businesses such as selling handfuls of vegetables or candy or pairs of rubber shoes on the street. The one who "got it" best was Zipporah. Her ledger was almost perfect, aside from one math error and a lack of detail for the expenses. But my heart broke when I looked at her profit. For the first two weeks of January, she sold about $20 worth of spinach, $11 worth of mangoes and $10 worth of cabbage. Overall, she took in $66. Buying the food to sell cost her $50. She had a net gain of about $16.

 We're going to keep working with the women and help them track what works best and what doesn't. If you'd like to help, let us know.

Debbie

 

Allan is Now Back With His Family!

 

Note: Three years ago, Give A Child Life found Allan near death at his grandmother's home. With his grandmother carrying him, we took him to a center where he could stay and get food, medicine and other help. Carol, the GCLK program director in Kiandutu, recently updated us on  what happened last weekend.

Baby Allan is reunited back with his family!

News from the elders at Kiandutu came on Monday that baby Allan has been brought back home.

Yesterday I visited Allan at his grandmother's house – Zabina Zaumu- and found him playing with his toy car. He had been bonding with the grandmother and he was so happy though he left the place while still so young.

He is a happy, healthy baby!!

GCL K will continue to assist Allan now that he is back with his family. He will be joining Kiandutu Juniors School nursery level.

Carol

Small Actions Make Huge Differences!

When I was in Kiandutu a few weeks ago, I didn't think Cecilia would make it. She looked so pale and thin. You could hardly tell she was pregnant--even though she was due to deliver any minute. A few days later, she had a lovely baby girl. Look at her smiling! One reason is because GCL provides child care for her two children under age 5.

The same day I saw Cecilia, the village elders asked me to fix the house of another GCL member, Beth. It needed only a few simple repairs to prop up the walls and fill the holes.

Often it's not the big actions that make the most difference. It's the small ones. $3 a month for child care; $3 to buy small bags of flour and beans for dinner; $45 to shore up a house, etc. What matters is that GCL is on the spot when children have a need. Working with Kiandutu's village elders, GCL helps within the hour. Isn't it nice to be a part of it?

Debbie    

 

Choose a Child to Help Today.

Today, the El Zaite Children’s Center reopened for 2012 school year. Forty one little boys and girls came through the colorful gates this morning-- some eager to see their classmates and teachers again, others nervous about this new environment. Most of the students coming here for the first time are far behind children in the U.S. of the same age. When they come to the Center, they know nothing. On the first day, several cry. Many have never seen a book before, don’t know how to hold a pencil and can’t understand instructions.

These little boys and girls will learn. Slowly but surely, they’ll gain the skills and knowledge to prepare them for the first grade and the years beyond.

For some of the poorest families in the world, today is filled with hope and promise. But they need your help.  By sponsoring a child, you can provide a desperately poor little boy or girl with nutritious food, medical care and an early childhood education— all for only $25 a month. You can give a child the chance for a real future.

Please, go to www.giveachildlife.org/sponsor and choose a child to help today.

Just Arrived in Nairobi, Kenya!

What a great way to start the New Year! I just arrived in Nairobi from Los Angeles. This afternoon Charity, Carol and I met with the village elders in Kiandutu, as we do on each of my trips. They were so grateful for what we are doing for their young children. The highlight of the afternoon were remarks by the government's Assistant Chief for Kiandutu--George Muniu. He said, "Your organization has been a great help. Before children would go for days without food. Today if a child is spending a night without a meal, it's only because the parent has not asked for help."

We are making a difference for the little ones here--thanks to caring people like you.

Debbie 

She Worries Constantly About Caring for Her Children.

Rose Nungari has four children: three under six and one nine-year-old who is deaf. Since she and her husband separated in 2010, she has not been able to provide even the most basic necessities. They have all stopped attending school because she can't afford the fees. Her three-year-old daughter is weak and malnourished. Her youngest, a two week old baby, has no clothes. Both girls have bug bites covering their bodies, but she cannot afford mosquito nets. She lives in a one room house that her neighbors are letting her use, but they have no furniture, bedding or cooking supplies.

She worries constantly about caring for her children, but she maintains hope. Once her youngest is about a month old, Rose will be able to carry her on her back while she looks for work. Until then, each day is a struggle to provide food for the children. Right now, she does not even have sufficient breast milk to nurse the baby.

GCL has provided emergency food for the family and is working on a long term plan to help them.

 

No Child Has Missed a Day.

This holiday season, our program coordinator in El Zaite is far more concerned about children’s hunger than providing presents and a celebration. The floods several weeks ago destroyed many families’ small garden plots, making food insecurity a greater issue than ever.

While the preschool was in session, the 40 children received a nutritious meal each day. However, while the center is closed from mid-November until early January, many children go hungry.

On a recent trip, Debbie noticed how thin some of the children were. In response, we're giving the 15 neediest boys and girls a warm daily lunch rich in protein, vitamins and minerals while the Center is closed. Since we started on November 17^th, no child has missed a day.

Food baskets can help families through hard times. But feeding programs can target specific children and make a lifesaving difference. Enjoy your holiday feasts knowing that others are cared for, because of your compassion.