More gifts from MannaRelief of Advanced Nutrition for malnourished children

My wonderful contact at MannaRelief has just rang to offer another 6 months supply to us, fully funded. With these "glyconutrients" we can add to the "current food programs which are mainly cereal-based and lack many of the nutrients young children need ... filling a child's stomach not only fails to correct the problem, but it serves as only a temporary fix to a much bigger problem." This product ... "provides children with plant-sourced nutrients in standardized and nutritionally effective amounts. ...Nutritional Chews can be eaten directly from the packet and do not require refrigeration or mixing with scarce clean water."

avif, malnutrition, manna relief, kenya, children, poverty, volunteer, gift

The spirit of Christmas is alive and here

We all just wanted to express our huge appreciation and .. well .. Douglas and wife Grace who run the Ingrids Education Centre in the Matopeni area of Nairobi are just speechless.

The generosity of "A Friend" is staggering, donating 64% of the target funds needed via our JustGiving site with a simple message Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.



We'd like to also thank Nick, Nicola, Jack, Robert, Liz, Sammy, Simon, Charlotte, Sally, Charlotte N, Ralette, Alec, Steve, Mary, Steven, Eleanor, Mike, Leila, Bridgette, Deb and all anonymous donors too for their generosity in securing the future of the 116 children currently being cared for and given the hope of an education under the watch of Douglas and Grace. ASANTE SANA

Since our "friend" was a UK taxpayer, JustGiving automatically provide Gift Aid from the HMRC which means the target has already been met by that Gift Aid supplement alone. I will be sending the funds directly to Kenya via Moneygram.

Merry Christmas to Everyone x

gift aid, christmas, kenya, volunteer, avif, ingrids angels, education, poverty, children

Kukuhut and progress in Kenya

I'd like to introduce the gorgeous Amanda, pictured here with Diana. (Click the photo gain access to the FB album for more photos).

Amanda is director of the Tumaini Centre and the Vision Centre in Khalaba, a neighboring village community in the Matungu District of Kenya, Western Province. The nearest town is MUMIAS and is only a ten minute drive away.
On a standard day, Amanda may be seen in Kibera, sitting with Raila Odinga, or providing surgery to change the lives of disfigured people, building houses, feeding malnourished children, finding the support needed for shunned disabled children ... and much more .

The Vision Community Vocational Centre has a goal to train troubled and uneducated youth in a new skill. Currently they have two programs; tailoring and a brick-making project. The tailoring (dress making) has been running for 3 years now and last year alone enabled 30 students to pass the national exam with some already finding jobs. The brick making project actually obtained a tender in January to supply 15,000 bricks to government school production putting the project in profit. Amanda says "we would like to train more people in brick making and also find a way to market ourselves to the outside communities ..". They've also started a small class of 25 children, nursery age, as there was a need for it in the community.

TUMAINI Community Development Centre (Tumaini = Hope) primarily deals with orphans and vulnerable children in a village called Eshibanze. Open since 2006 they now have 4 classes, including ‘baby class’, Nursery A and B, and Standard (Grade 1). Standard 2 is starting in January although it will be a tight squeeze due to a lack of funding to build another classroom. The kids all have homes that they live in but in some cases they are not fed and taken care of properly. The school provides some food each day which they would otherwise not get at home and their educational standard is much higher than the government school nearby that charges all students school fees.

Amanda has been responsible for the creation of a new women’s group of about 20 members who have a poultry project as well as a garden through which they provide food and pocket money to some of the poorest families in the area.Through her craft business KukuHut

started in Canada this past year, Amanda ships crafts from Kenya and surrounding East-African countries to help the people in the projects. The women’s group will be trained in craftmaking, sponsored through the profits of Kukuhut e.g. a 2 day tie and dye workshop for 30 ladies was held recently with a professional tailor brought in from Nairobi. In January 2010 they will hold a 3-4 day beading workshop for 60 women (and a few men too!) with $500 's worth of materials provided as well as salaries for the 2 teachers, suppliers who also teach.

Volunteers will be going to spend time with Amanda and the communities in Feb/ March 2010. For more info please contact us or Amanda

kenya, kukuhut, avif, poverty, africa, development, volunteer

Make this Christmas extra special for Ingrids Angels

The Ingrid Education Centre was visited this Summer by a handful of AVIF's volunteers; Beckee, Sam, Mariam, Stan, Deb, Alec and Charlotte spent time with the Director, Douglas aka Wesley Snipes ;-) and his wife Grace and family, assisting the wonderful work of the centre in the Matopeni slum area of Nairobi. Children here are fed and educated rather than spending a day breaking rocks with thier hands, alongside their parents or guardians in the nearby quarry, day in, day out. The volunteers were lucky enough to help teach some the  lessons to the children, they cooked chapatis, they bought a water tank and helped install it too. It was a success for all.



.... but now there's a chance the hopes of all the children there could be lost. Although a deposit secured the plot of land temporarily there are only 41 days remaining!!! to help secure the future of the Centre by raising the £2,440 needed to legally buy the land, or the owner has to sell.

If you can spare just a dollar $1 or just a "quid" £1 we'd hugely appreciate it, you'd be buying a share in the future prospects of many children. Simply go to the JustGiving fundraising site it will only take a minute to help, or if you prefer not to give our details on the internet and have a Paypal account you can send a secure payment via our email Volunteer@AVIF.org.uk

Help us make a difference x
Deadline is 29th December, 2009



I'd like to say ASANTE SANA [thank you very much] to all that have already donated...x

More Photos on the main FB group
Technorati Tags: ingrids angels, christmas, future, kenya, volunteer, poverty, education

	Christmas with Sky and AVIF Bring your family together with the best line up of movies all in stunning High Definition. When new customers subscribe to Sky+ HD via the webshop AVIF will receive £120! If you are thinking of joining Sky please do so via our webshop so we can receive this huge donation. Why join Sky+ HD? Join Sky+ HD with Sky Movies in HD and receive a FREE Sky+ HD box (£30 set-up). New customers will receive £50 to spend at M&S when they join Sky TV too!   Don’t forget there is £120 for AVIF for every new customer that subscribes to Sky+ HD via the webshop. The offer unwrapped Sky+HD Box is FREE when you take Sky TV with Sky Movies and the HD Pack for 12 months This package comes with FREE broadband and calls Enjoy a £50 M&S voucher when you join online* AVIF will receive £120 when new customers subscribe to Sky+ HD Don't Forget Support AVIF this Christmas when you buy online, simply start shopping at www.buy.at/AVIF or use any of the links in this email. *Only available for new customers with their viewing card enabled by 17 January 2009. One voucher per household and only available when you join online. Visit www.buy.at/AVIF for more great offers from over 150 top retailers.
	Forward this mail on to help AVIF raise funds. Please forward this mail on if you think that you know people who would like to receive it. Responsible emailing Remember if someone receives this mail from you, then tells you they don't want to receive a similar one again you must not send them future messages. If you are considering forwarding it on you must do so only to people who you consider would like to receive it and to whom the content is relevant. If you have a formally-managed list you must only send it to those who have expressed that they wish to receive such mail from you. Purchases made through www.buy.at/AVIF are made according to the information and terms provided by the company making the sale to you. Further details on using the buy.at shop are provided on the site.

Please help us to help Ingrids Angels

The Ingrids Education Centre has been leasing the land it stands on for the last 3 years and now the owner has put it up for sale. In this time the Centre, under the guiding hand of Douglas "Wesley Snipes" Onkware has been caring for over 100 children in the Matopeni slum area of Nairobi.

This summer AVIF volunteers assisted greatly, helping the buy and install a permanent water tank as well as teaching and spending time at the Centre. We've all secured the plot with a deposit but the agreement with the owner is that the remaining amount is to be paid by end of December 2009.

Securing this plot also secures the futures of 116 needy children from the slum area, keeping them from working in the neighbouring quarry but instead providing them with at least one meal a day and a chance of an education. The money currently being spent on rent at the Centre will then help towards the purchase of food and materials for the children, as well as saving towards more permanent classrooms.

There is a simple fast way to help, by donating via the JustGiving page,
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. If you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Please help us secure the childrens education now!

Mount Kenya with Mary Kariuki

MOUNT KENYA, alt 5,199m (Batian), is the highest mountain in Kenya, and 2nd only to Kilimanjaro for the entire African continent.



My good friend Mary "Mumbi" Kariuki of StandOut Adventures is planning to take us up to one of its 3 peaks, early 2010.

Lenana via the Sirimon Route is a non-technical trail that allows all trekkers to enjoy a magnificent view of east africa without any climbing skills. The other two routes, Naro Moru route and Chogoria Route are more suitable for climbers familiar with rock climbing, belaying and rope techniques.

Day 1 : Sirimon Park Gate to Old Moses Camp - 9km, approx. 3/4 hours hiking through the beautiful rain forest to Old Moses Camp at alt. 3,300m.
Day 2 : Shipton's Camp - 16km, approx. 7/8 hours hike through the Liki Valley via Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp at alt. 4,200m where you enjoy an incredible view of the north faces of Nelion and Batian peaks.
Day 3 : Peak Circuit for Acclimatazation - 4 hours - ascending to a steep ridge through Kami Hut, Hausberg Tarn and Two Tarns Lake through some of the most spectacular sceneries. Return to Shipton's Camp.
Day 4 : Point Lenana at alt. 4,985m and back to Old Moses - 4 hours starting at 2.30am to arrive for sunrise. From here you can admire Kilimanjaro's highest peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi visible from the south, the Indian Ocean from the east and Mt. Elgon from the west. Descent back to Shipton's camp for breakfast. Old Moses for dinner.

Mary and her climbing team are native Kenyans who grew up close to Mt Kenya. All are very knowledgable about protecting the ecosystem. As with Mt Kilimanjaro, the glaciers of Mt Kenya are retreating rapidly due to climate change and low snowfall.

Mt Kenya benefits from equatorial climate. A typical day is a sunny crystal clear morning with temperatures around 25°C in low altitude and around 10°C as you slowly climb. Fog and clouds are commonly generated by mid day but at dawn, the ground surface is cooler and clouds leave the peaks uncovered. Temperature can drop down to -10°C during the night.

The mountain has two rainy seasons from late March till June and from October to December. The best climbing season is December – March and July – September.
Contact Mary for a quote at info@standoutadventures.com or +254 722 562449
Technorati Tags: mt kenya, kenya, mountain, mary kariuki, climbing

The Road to Hell by Michael Maren

Shaking up the inertia, as he does so well, I first blogged about Michael a few years ago.



A former food monitor for the United States Agency for International Development, Michael provokes debate about Aid in Afica. One such discussion comes from AVIF volunteer, Alec, recently returned from 5 weeks in Kenya, mainly rural and Mike, a Board Member for AVIF's CIC, KO2.

M: That is a great article. Some of the poorest Asian countries seem to have
been able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps with relatively
little aid - Cambodia is going to be an interesting case in point when
I visit again eight years on. Corruption on a grand scale but people
who were incredibly, remarkably inventive at making the best of what... Read more

A: Good article and well put Mike. My own feeling is that withdrawing all aids
to Africa at this late in the day may not be the solution. Perhaps
everyone from both sides needs to stop seeing just $ signs and change
their perspective on what they regards to as aid, and welcome the idea
of just providing and receiving education as a mean of aid......

The discussion continues on FaceBook here ...

Technorati Tags: michael maren, aid for africa, poverty, greed, corruption, kenya

Mercy Home Storyboard from Eleanors volunteering in Kenya

Eleanor has wonderfully uploaded a story board with great explanation, onto Facebook.
You may need to add her to read it, starting here.
That concludes this years volunteering, Asante Sana to all involved.

Technorati Tags: volunteer, kenya, AVIF, mercy home

Swine flu - malaria - resistance to drugs - Hello?

With the hysteria about to escalate over swine flu, I'd like to bring back chlorine dioxide, or its marketing name MMS, to the fore. Its really incredible stuff and despite the unlicensed factor is totally capable of ridding anyone from anything from a common cold to malaria, verrucas, athletes foot, internal sexual viral infections. Swine flu (which is killing less people than standard seasonal flu) would be equally wiped out.



The only down side is that chlorine dioxide does the job for you, so your first defence, your immune system, doesn't build up your own antibodies/immunity, leaving you open to attack again as with the common cold .. BUT .. chlorine dioxide will have also wiped out 99% of any other viral pathogens you're carrying around so boosting your immune systems ability to get on with defence. Double whammy!

We're pushing its use in Kenya without support from WHO, who say their testing came out negative on mice a few years back. The Malawian government are backing MMS' long term use with discoverer Jim Humble, in order to eradicate malaria. Onyla couple of drops of the solution can also purify any water supply, as it does with our own UK supply.

 .. its certainly controversial but it makes me laugh out loud whenever I see articles about resistance to Tamiflu etc. At the beginning of this new pandemic Tamiflu's owners were rubbing their hands. Not so much anymore. The fact is our licensing process of way out of synch with the faster viral process of evolution. Such drugs are ill equipped to deal with viral infections speedy metamorphosis on reaction to drugs .. yet we have a perfectly simple solution at our fingertips.

Unfortunately MMS can be made in your own kitchen (though we don't recommend it, Jim Humble explains how in his book). Because of this simple manufacturing process MMS won't make huge amounts of profit for the pharma giants so it'll never appear on our shelves, but is available online. My young family suffer from one or two ill health periods a year, if at all, which are quickly treated with a dose or two of chlorine dioxide. Even my dog was treated when he first arrived with skin complaints.

I'm dead against drug use, antibiotics especially and definitely chemo. Those who know me well know why. Its common knowledge how cancer cells work and how oxidation can aid recovery. Brady Hurst, a functional practitioner in Atlanta, GA, explains here

MMS Chlorine Dioxide Dr Brady Hurst True Health Center

Contact us for more info.
Technorati Tags: MMS, chlorine dioxide, Kenya, malaria, swine flu

Progress in Yala

Edward has sent an update from the work carried out this Summer in Yala with Deb and Alec.
He tells us the widows in the community "are very committed and have worked very hard to complete the office. It is now our plan that we plaster it... They have also contributed maize and hope to start a feeding program in the centre for the orphans they are caring for".


[1]Ruth watering seedlings at the Yala tree nursery.

Over the Summer the volunteers challenged the group to build their own office.
This is now almost complete.

[2] Kobat officice in Sawagongo.


[3]Training of widows in micro finance at CWOSUP office, using the money sent by Nick and the Mercy Home Foundation volunteers. We look forward to hearing more.
Technorati Tags: kenya, volunteer, AVIF, CWOSUP, Yala, poverty, sustainable development

Challenging a youth group to build their own office

Alec & Deb, in western Kenya this Summer, challenged a local youth group to build their own office. Offering to provide the roof, they told the group they would have to find the rest of the materials and tools and of course the labour. After news of the challenge, land had been donated to the cause, so that a big centre could be built up around it, the new self help centre.

Click the photo for a running storyboard, hosted by FaceBook. Many thanks to Deb & Alec.




Technorati Tags: volunteer, kenya, africa, innovation, challenge, construction

Storyboard of a summer in Kenya

Instead of blogging it you may as well go direct to the wonderful storyboard put together by 2009 volunteer Deb from UK. The storyboard is hosted by FaceBook so you'll need to join if you haven't already and visit the Volunteering in Kenya group where the link is on the group page. Alternatively add Deb and introduce yourself before reading through the highly informative, open and honest account of life in rural Kenya.


CWOSUP's contact details if you'd like to help are:
Facebook group
Director Edward Wata
EdwardWata@Yahoo.com
Mobile number:+254723204653

Technorati Tags: AVIF, kenya, yala, CWOSUP, poverty, volunteer, africa

More photos from Kenya

... just a few links so you can see what amazing work has been done this Summer.
Alec's photo journal of the office being built for the Christian Widows and Orphans Support Project CWOSUP in Yala is here:



The photo journal for the water tank construction at the Ingrid Education Centre in Nairobi is here:


Christina's photos on Flickr from Nakuru are here:
Thank you to everyone involved
ASANTE SANA

Technorati Tags: AVIF, kenya, volunteer, africa, poverty, children