Hello. We have been scrambling around for the last two or three weeks trying to get further along in all of our projects. So much activity, yet we have neglected to write you all about what is going on. Please accept our apologies.

We will just write short excerpts about the results of these activities in each project over the next days, as well as what we are challenged with at the moment. 

 

I haven't written in our blog for a while because we are so busy setting up various school and community projects. We are truly doing a juggling act at the moment.

Our school projects include setting up some more song and poetry projects for the young children's group, learning about various professions and trades for the middle children's group, and a short film project for the older children's group. We have completed the project outlines and now we are working on defining the various tasks and persons to carry out the tasks in each group.


We have also started on a new HIV/Aids youth program. We would like to create a project that goes beyond just information and counseling of our youths. We would like the youths to become active in various drama or storytelling projects as well.


I have made initial contact with persons concerning a clear water and catchment project for the community. As is often the case in the area we live, clean water is a scarcity and we have to try and find a solution to this problem. Our children's health and the health of the community suffer because they lack clean water.

 

Something exciting happened last week. For the first time, Community Breakthrough Support mission had large public radio coverage. The moderator, Joseph Wanjala, of WESTI FM 99.8 spoke for over 15 minutes about CBSM. Even though we heard the programme and rejoice in the event, we can hardly believe it happened.

It all started on Kenyatta Day, Oct. 20. This is a day that is meant to honour the first president of Kenya, Mr. Kenyatta, in official style, when people gather together and participate in all sorts of public entertainment. On this day, our school children performed a song and a poem for the attending crowd.


A journalist approached us, wanting to know more about the children. Out of this conversation, came Joseph Wanjala’s request to air our activities. Of course, we readily accepted.


The day arrived. Unfortunately, the programme did not go on as scheduled, but was delayed for about 30 minutes. The committee members, who had been waiting to hear the programme since the morning, managed to reach me as I was out doing various tasks for the mission.


I rushed to a home nearby with a radio and listened to last half of the programme. This was the part where they were talking about our dilemma to find sufficient resources for the children. They went on and discussed both the short term and long term benefits of our project in the community. It was wonderful to hear people speak so positively about our work.


They finished by giving the two names of people behind the project: mine for local inquiry and Lia Hadley in Germany for other inquires. They also talked about “Our Song Circle - Wimbo Mviringo” site. They mentioned our wish for active participation from other schools.


The committee members, who had managed to listen to the whole programme, said it started with a recording of the performance of our children on Kenyatta Day. All in all, the programme managed to extensively cover our work and our vision for improving the health and education of our children. What a gift this is for our
CBSM family.

There have been many inquiries since the programme was aired. Schools have been calling to find out more about “Our Song Circle - Wimbo Mviringo” site. This is very good and we will do our best to react promptly, so as to benefit from their interest. Many people, even some of our neighbours, have come over to offer their help. They didn’t realise what it is that we are doing. They were misguided and thought we were some up-and-coming private school. Thankfully, this radio program dispelled these notions.

Sadly, the programme has also triggered an inflow of potential applicants for needy children to be helped. Presently, we are struggling to feed and educate the 250 OVCs in our care. We just do not have capacity to admit any more at this time. The fact that so many people are coming to us asking for application admission forms challenges us. I have to talk to the elders’ council about these matters and see what can be done.

All in all, we are very thankful for Joseph Wanjala’s interest in BBSM and feel that such media exposure is a wonderful thing indeed.

 

Well, we managed to get our site up and running these last few weeks. It took a lot of work and fair about of communication back and forth with Lia, who set the site up. What we would like now is for you to tell us your first impressions, your input, your suggestions about the site and how to improve it. If you have any ideas about how we can make this site more interesting for you, so you will feel inclined to come back another time, please leave a comment here. If you have any advice or suggestions (e.g. links) about possible collaboration partners or schools, also please leave a comment.

 

In this blog, I'll be writing about our work; problems that need to be solved, community events, and new ideas. If possible, I will be posting relatively regularly. It is important that you feel connected to our life here in Kimilili, Kenya. Please feel free to comment and tell me which topics are of interest.

If you are interested in where Kimilili is, please go to our Contact page and see a map there.