Merryland Kindergarten

Pat Jones just arrived in Kenya with 6 suitcases of clothes and toys for the children of Merryland Kindergarten, located in Ndaragwa, Nyandarua district, approx 6 km from Nyahururu town.

Pat is 75 and quite clearly has the heart and bravery of a Superhero!



The Kindergarten started in the year 2005, on the initiative of Lydiah Wangechi Gichane (known as Wangechi, below, left) after losing her husband in an accident. Initially trained as an early childhood teacher, she intended to provide the best development for children between two and seven years. 90% of the parents are casual labourers, earning only 100 KSh per day, which just about covers food, house rent and very basic needs for their families. The area also has a large population of children who need special care like orphans, mentally and physically challenged children and highly neglected children.


Pat & my friend, Danielle, are working hard alongside Wangechi to obtain more space for playgrounds at the nursery & playing and learning materials for the children. They have hopes for improved medical facilities and sponsors to ensure teachers can be paid.

We would all be grateful for any form of help or donation you can make.

Please contact either AVIF or Lydia Wangechi Gichane directly; P.O. Box 595 - 20300, Nyahururu Kenya
Cell phone: +254-722-780529



This is little James, age 4. He is his family’s only child. The family is poor and his mother makes a living selling potatoes at a nearby market but is not in good health. She uses the unsold potatoes to feed James and is unable to adequately meet all of his needs. James has a problem with speech and cannot express himself properly.Yes, he's scared & traumatised but we hope Merryland will allow him to play & learn & smile more. James doesn't yet have a sponsor, if you'd like to help please get in touch.
Asante & salamu x

Solar Aid

This is just a fantastic idea and one we're happy to be associated with. My wish now is to get solar kits to each of our hosts, as well as the ArrowWeb Community Hospital, currently supported as an online-managed NABUUR village.


As written on Solar-Aid's website, here's a few things you might not know:

1. The
   earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world
   uses in a whole year.
   
2. Two billion people in the world
   have no access to electricity.
   
3. Building a small solar charger for a radio can
   cost around £5 and can sell for three times the price in Africa .. Solar Aid help to set up small solar
   businesses so people can earn a living.
4. Most
   rural poor in Africa use kerosene lamps, which are heavily polluting in
   CO2 and bad for their health, but a solar lamp would be cheaper and
   better for the environment.
5. Solar panels are guaranteed typically for 25 years and have a life expectancy of at least 50 years.
6. Africa has the
   lowest fossil energy use of any world region, yet the continent is the
   most vulnerable to climate change. Signs of a changing climate have
   already emerged there: disease and melting glaciers in the mountains,
   rising temperatures in drought-prone areas, and sea-level rise and
   coral bleaching along the coastlines.
7. Respiratory diseases
   caused by toxic smoke from cooking fires kill 1.5 million women and
   children each year. Yet a solar cooker, which is much safer, can be
   easily built from cardboard and waste reflective material.

Visit the website for further info.

Road racing for AVIF

I have a massive thank you to give to Shaun K, a good friend from marshalling motorbike racing, after he RAN a road race of his own. 5 miles in 34 minutes, all in aid of AVIF. Here's the man himself handing over a cheque at Olivers Mount, Scarborough,host to the Cock o'the North Road Racing event.

Massive thanks to the UK weather system too for seriously holding off on all the predicted rain.



[Asante sana]