Give A Child Life

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

 

 

 

Just in from Nairobi.

This just in from Nairobi:

I managed to deliver 35 bags of 50kgs MAIZE and 9 bags of 50Kgs BEANS yesterday.  The remaining items will be delivered tomorrow.

One thing for sure that the Stara community said and was also evident on their faces is that they were THANKFUL. They really appreciated your support since now their warehouse was empty and now they have a reason to smile during this August Holiday.

It is not one person or one organization that will change life for suffering children.

 Good News! A few weeks ago, I wrote about Stara Rescue School, the elementary school founded by community women in the heart of Kibera, one of the largest slums in Nairobi. Every day more than 400 children pour into its mud-walled classrooms, pinning their hopes for a better life on its few, ragged textbooks, broken chalkboards and tired teachers. But as I watched the school over the years, it made a difference. Children learned to read, write and do math. They developed a sense of confidence. They helped their parents as well.

The head of the school, Josephine Mumo, a good friend, emailed me that she had a crisis. Every day they feed the children with corn and beans donated by the World Food program. But in August, the school is closed and the World Food program makes no deliveries. But the kids still show—hungry.  Josephine wanted to feed them in August.

I once spent an afternoon with a mother who had three children at Stara. She had cancer and could barely get up from the bed. She cried as she told me that they had no food on weekends. The children either went to neighbors’ homes, begging for a few scraps of cornmeal or they sat quietly in the house, too hungry to do anything.

Now imagine what it must be like to have little food for a whole month.

I told Josephine that I would try to help. A few months ago, Give A Child Life received $1,000 from the Olson Family Fund at the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation. That was a great start, but not enough.  So I wrote to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I had visited several years ago and been impressed by the depth of their spiritual commitment. The answer came back last night—yes, they would help.

It is not one person or one organization that will change life for suffering children. It is all of us, working together, committed to helping the poor, the hungry and the sick.

Thank you, St. Mark’s.