A week starting and ending on a high, but with a riot in the middle!

Following our success with vocational training for the boys from TEKUA, we are excited that we have found a college that may be suitable for the girls. It is a Danish run charity called Help to Self Help, and it has courses in cookery, tailoring and electrical installation that run from 4 months to 1 year. We are shown around the college by Mrs Makundi, the principal and we are very impressed by the set up here. We think this place is more suitable for the level of the students from TEKUA and Mrs Makundi is keen to take students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The next 4 month courses start in July and with your donations, we intend to fund 3 girls. This is giving teenagers a real opportunity to learn skills that will lead to employment.

 

Home Visits

More home visits to families affected by HIV/AIDS this week. Your donations are helping to support some grandparents caring for orphaned children. We meet Eliebwinga, widowed 9 years ago and caring for 2 orphaned grandchildren aged 6 and 8, who are both HIV positive. She has a great sense of humour and proposes to Garrie.

Similar story when we visit Eliekisia, another widow caring for 2 orphans aged 7 and 10. Both these children are HIV positive and were clearly poorly.

These families live in very basic homes; they cannot afford schooling for the children and rely heavily on extended families and neighbours to get by each day. We come away wondering what will happen to the next generation and yet again need time to reflect on what we have seen.

 

Garrie Referees

Another bumpy ride in the exhaust filled cab of the old Landrover up to Ndoombo for Garrie�s refereeing. A very uneven pitch, no markings, makeshift goalposts with rope for a crossbar, no corner flags or nets. A match has been arranged with the neighbouring school, and great excitement from the supporters; both schools, villagers and all children in the area to see a Mzungu (white man) referee!

At half time all is calm at 1.1. Twenty minutes into the second half, Ndoombo score from a long throw in and courtesy of the goalkeeper's fumbling hands. The opposition's understanding of the rules are hazy, to say the least, and dispute the goal.

After a 5 minute delay, they reluctantly re-start the game only to be devastated 45 seconds later by another Ndoombo goal. It�s too much to take and they walk off the pitch. A riot almost takes place with the supporters and we make a hasty retreat. However, calm is very quickly restored with friendly speeches from the teachers and a rematch is promised for next year.

 

Goats for WAMATA

The "adult club" at WAMATA have asked us to help them with a project to provide some of the 25 families with goats. This will help with nutrition for the family and a little income. The idea is that when the goat produces a kid, it is given to another member of the group. We think this is a very sustainable project, but not having any experience with goats, we check with Heifer International, and the Ministry of Livestock before proceeding. Training on how to look after goats is arranged for Friday and the Ministry look for suitable high bred milking goats in the vicinity. We are delighted when we drop in on the training to see 23 enthusiastic members eager to make this project work, as being able to provide for their families is at stake.

 

Song and Dance at Living Water

We end the week and the month's work with some singing and dancing from the children at Living Water specially presented for us and you. It is moments like these that make the hard work and frustrations all worth while.

 

Group Meeting

Finally in the afternoon for the very first time, we have a meeting with all the 4 local community groups that we support with your donations. The aim was to encourage them to network between themselves and see where they can help each other. The meeting was a great success.

Next Friday, just before we leave, the goats are being delivered so watch here for photos as well as a final summary of how we have spent your donations this year.

THANK YOU.