Behind the scenes

Volunteering at the Happy House Dawn Heather White got a glimpse of every day life and goes into keeping a such a big family home run smoothly.  Today she reflects on what she saw:

 " Running a home for 49 children plus a school with four classes and day pupils from outside takes a lot of hard work and organisation.

"Visitors see the children working in their classrooms and playing football and other games outside and maybe get a chance to talk to Mama Sue and social worker Uncle Billy but they are not likely to notice the hard work of the team in the background.

" Feeding the children plus ensuring they have clean clothes and bedding is a huge daily task.

" Behind the scenes there's constant activity from Auntie Rose (pictured) the administrator: chef Habel and his assistant Juma (pictured) in the kitchen preparing all the meals: Aunty Lydia who always has a mop in her hand now that the babies are potty training; top shopper and bargain hunter Papa Dave and the groundsmen and gardeners who are producing delicious crops of fruit and veg. "

Thank Evans for little boys!

And this week, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,  the winners are ... the BOYS team!

Evans, chosen by the lads as their team leader and Kidz Club spokesperson, won the Star of the Week award for being an excellent role model.

He punched the air in triumph when he and his room mates also received a special prize for keeping their room the neatest and tidiest... two weeks in succession.

Their reward was a brand new football donated by Aunty Lynn.

Well done Evans and the boys.

Fw: Two's company

Our Happy House double act, twins Sauma and Pendo celebrated their second birthdays at Kidz Club.

Presents and cards marked their special day with everyone applauding as they paraded their matching fancy hats and sparkly bags.

Little Brian wasn't overshadowed, it was his first birthday and he also received a gift and cards.

Their special cards, from those in their sponsor families, are set to become treasures of their childhood - they'll be kept in their memory boxes as mementos of this special day.

Vitamin alert

Just a reminder, if you or anyone you know, is heading out to Watamu for a holiday please make room to take a few bottles of vitamin pills for our children. We have plenty, donated by a manufacturer, so just email me, elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net,  and I will post some on.  A daily dose of vitamins has made such a difference to our children's health, so any help in getting them there would be appreciated.

 

What a welcome

What a welcome was awaiting friend and fundraiser Lynn McCluskey when she arrived back at the Happy House.

Lynn, Aunty Lynn to the family,  who is spending the next two weeks volunteering with Sue and the kids, was greeted by the staff and kids singing Today is my Favourite Day at the top of their voices.

Aunty Lynn just can't believe how far all the children have come in the five months since her last visit .. especially baby Harry.

She is delighted that so many are now speaking excellent English, including her own special little boy, her sponsor child, Musyoka. Now they'll really be able to get to know all about each other!

Aunty Rose tells me there's an easy answer to Lynn's astonishment.

"It's the Happy House Magic, girl!"

 

 

Another Oscar!

Happy parents Peter and Joanne Ward have paid the greatest tribute to their sponsor child Oscar by naming their beautiful newborn son Oscar John.

A brother for Dylan, Oscar John made his arrival last month - six weeks premature.

After several weeks in hospital he is now back home and doing fine. Many, many congratualtions and lots of love to them all from all our family .. Oscar especially. How proud he is to share his name with such a beautiful baby.

This honour is a real birthday bonus for our Oscar, as well as celebrating his birthday with a gift  at the Happy House, he has also received birthday money from those in his sponsor family for his child savings account .. helping to build him a nestegg for the future.

If you would like to know how to send money for your sponsor child's savings account please email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

He's not heavy, he's my brother!

Volunteer Dawn Heather White's reflects on the sense of family at the Happy House:

"One of the important aspects of the Happy House is how all the children support and help each other. Each day at break times, the older children go to the younger children in baby class to help them down the steps to the banda for morning break and lunch.

After meals they stand behind the little ones' chairs patiently waiting for them to finish eating before taking them by the hand and helping them back to class.

The sense of family and camaraderie is tangible and is encouraged by Mama Sue and her team at weekly Kidz Club with 'Star of the Week' certificates for the children who are particularly caring and helpful or who have reached a special landmark … like taking their first steps!"

A magical place

Dawn Heather White volunteers at the Happy House as often as she can , and is a fantastic fundraiser once back home in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

Dawn Heather, who sponsors Katana,  and a friend Judith Carson,  are just back after a recent trip.

Over the next few days we'll be catching up with some of Dawn Heather's  reflections on her Happy House moments.

Her first is on Being a Volunteer:

"I first visited The Happy House in April 2010 when met Katana, the young boy I sponsor, and his brother Fakiri who is sponsored by my sister.

" Since then I have returned twice as a volunteer and my next trip is planned for November 2011.

Anyone who visits the Happy House describes it as a magical place and it certainly has cast a spell over me!

" It is such a privilege to be able to spend time with the children whose spirit and resilience is a lesson to everyone.

" No matter how much time and effort I put into fundraising activities or working directly with the children, my efforts are returned one hundred fold.

"Several people have said to me that they would love to be a volunteer but they would find it hard to leave again. My response is yes, it is very hard to leave, but nothing can describe the pleasure of seeing children who have often experienced abuse and neglect, rediscovering the innocence of childhood and blossoming in the safety and love of the Happy House. "

*If you have anything you would like featured on the blog please email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net