Grandma's gift

Grandma Yaa maybe in her nineties but she is still keen to grow vegetables, just as she always has, on her plot at Yaa village.

And with the rains helping to produce a good crop of maize this year she and Grandpa thoughtfully sent some round to the Happy Houseas a gift for our children.

The kids enjoy eating maize, as sweetcorn, or as ugali - a dough made from maize flour and which is a staple in the local diet.

Thank you Grandma, as you can see our kids were jumping for joy showing off your generous gift.

Christmas is coming...

Apologies for giving an incomplete link to Mama's Christmas Wish List on yesterday's blog, so if you would still like to buy something from it for our kids this Christmas the link is:

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=4JQKTPSM05F

And finally...

We will be carrying this reminder every day until the Inspiration Awards closing date!

VOTE FOR MAMA SUE

Please click on this link NOW to cast your vote for our amazing Mama Sue in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration for Women Awards 2012, she so deserves to win! http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php

Books ... the vehicles for change

If education is the road out of poverty, books are the vehiclee.

Mama Sue was told that by her beloved dad who did so much to encourage her own passion for reading.

So fostering a love of books and reading at the Happy House is so important to Mama and that means providing a well-stocked library to cater for the diverse literary thirsts of all our kids.

That's why high on our wishlist for Christmas gifts on Mama's Amazon Wishlist are softback books on all kinds of subjects to suit all ages of children.

Our good friend Andrea Manders, who isin Natasha's sponsor family, has made  bookplates so that every child who receives a book from Santa will have their name in their book. It will belong to them and they will be encouraged to keep their book safely in the Happy House library so that it can be shared and enjoyed by all their brothers and sisters.

We are so grateful to Elaine Silverwood (pictured) of real little gem of a bookshop, Silverdell Books, Kirkham, Lancashire, for donating two boxes full of books to our family.

Her wonderful  bookshop and ice cream parlour, which attracts some of the nation's leading authors for signings, is also passionate about encouraging children to read, just like Mama.

Elaine is delighted to think that some of their books would be making their way to our family.

"I always get extra World Book Day titles and give them to schools that are under-funded in their libraries or in areas of deprivation. I love the idea of these going to your charity," she says.

Thank you Elaine and Silverdell for being so generous. Your books are going to very special little people in a very special place.

*If you would like to buy a gift for the Happy House from Mama's wishlist please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=wish_list

VOTE FOR MAMA SUE

Please click on this link NOW to cast your vote for our amazing Mama Sue in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration for Women Award 2012, she so deserves to win! http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php

 

 

 

Songs of praise

Everyone loves a wedding, and our kids are no exception.

They were word perfect when they performed three songs at the wedding of Caroline Rowsell and Steve Sharples.

Caroline and Steve visited the Happy House when they were holidaying in Watamu last year and when planning a return trip and their wedding at Turtle Bay Hotel, they immediately thought of how our family could make it a very special day.

The children who formed the choir, had also been invited to a less formal meal at the hotel Pizzeria as a treat from Steve and Caroline and everyone was so impressed with the way they behaved.

As it was only the older children who were there when they were offered cake they asked if they could take it home to share with their brothers and sisters. What a close and caring family we have.

Auntie Rose and Uncle Billy attended the wedding and Uncle Billy says: "Our kids had a very good time and sang three lovely songs to a loud cheer from the guests. They were praised for being good singers as well as being polite and courteous."

Many congratulations to Steve and Caroline, and thank you for your generosity.

MAKE MAMA A WINNER

If you haven't done so already, please click on this link now to cast your vote for our amazing Mama Sue Hayward in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration for Women Award 2012. 

http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php 

Snap it up for 2013

Make a date with 2013 with a calendar of stunning images of wildlife from home and abroad.

The pictures were taken by award winning photographers Jo McIntyre and her mum Sheila Davies (pictured).

Jo is in the sponsor family of Ushindi and Harrison while Sheila is a member of Rukia's sponsor family and they are donating 20% of calendar sales to the Happy House family.

Jo and her husband Neil,  renowned for his wildlife photography, run Scottish Wild Images together - a company specialising in tailor-made wildlife photography tours in Scotland.

Sheila,from Kirkham, recently visited the Happy House and produced a short documentary, A Very Special Job, which is a  moving illustration of Sue's work and life at the Happy House.

Sheila was delighted to give Sue and Dave one of the calendars - hot off the press. They are priced at £10 each (plus £2.50 p&p) from:

http://www.scottishwildimages.com/#Online%20Shop 

VOTE FOR MAMA SUE

Please click on this link NOW to cast your vote for our amazing Mama Sue in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration for Women Award 2012, she so deserves to win! http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php

Cycling Sifa .... by Janet

Birthday girl Janet, 14, is today's guest blogger and her subject is her "brother" Sifa.

Janet, who also took the photographs, says: "This is Sifa riding a bicycle. He likes riding because its fun to ride a bicycle.

"Children at the Happy House also like enjoying themselves with the bicycles.

"I also like riding bicycles.  

"Sifa was also trying to ride without supporting himself anywhere. 

"Sifa normally goes to school by bicycle."

VOTE FOR MAMA SUE

Please click on this link now to cast your vote for our amazing Mama Sue in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration for Women Award 2012, she so deserves to win!  http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php

Time to dance

Dance teacher Debbie Mills was in for a surprise when she visited the Happy House to teach the kids a few moves!

Debbie, visiting Watamu with her husband Tim and daughters Daisy,12, and Siena, two, for a wedding, had made her first visit to our family a few days earlier and was so impressed she promised to come back and have some fun with the kids.

When she did, she found they were more than ready to move - they staged their fantastic aerobic demonstration.

Debbie was delighted with their performance and not at all surprised when they picked up the new moves she went on to teach them with the speed of lightening! 

VOTE FOR MAMA SUE

Please click on this link now to cast your vote for our amazing Mama Sue in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration for Women Award 2012, she so deserves to win! http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php

 

 

VOTE MAMA SUE INTO TOP SPOT

   

Our amazing Mama Sue has been chosen as a finalist in the Most Inspirational category in the prestigious Inspiration Awards for Women 2012.

The awards celebrate the achievements of remarkable women who inspire those around them and this year's event takes place on Wednesday,October 3, at the iconic Cadogan Hall, Chelsea,London.

Sue is one of six women shortlisted in the " most inspirational" category.

The winner is chosen by a online vote so we must strive to get as many people voting for Mama as we can.

All you do is have to follow this link http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php

(you must vote in each category) and make SUE HAYWARD your choice!

Sue has inspired all of those who support her work, and who have gained so much from being a part of the Happy House family. Now it is our turn to say thank you by going the extra mile to win the thousands of votes the winner will need.

Please help by passing the link on to all your friends asking them to vote, posting on your company intranet asking colleagues for their support or by getting your school or college friends, and everyone you know to Vote for Sue!

She is up against stiff competition so it really is up to us. Please, please help.

We all know how much she deserves recognition of her remarkable work which not only changes the lives those who live and work at the Happy House, but also brings so much to those of us who support it from around the world.

Along with promoting a positive image of women and recognising dynamic role models, the event raises money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Mama Sue, Papa Dave and Elizabeth will be attending the awards night and if any of our supporters in the London area are interest in booking seats they are £35 (inc drinks reception) each from the Cadogan Hall Box Office on 020 7730 4500.

To help you to promote our Vote for Sue campaign please send the following out to everyone you can - making it your Facebook status is a good idea, just ensure you include the hyperlink!

 For your friends:

 

Please take a moment to cast an online vote for the amazing SUE HAYWARD a finalist in the Most Inspirational category of the Inspiration Awards for Women 2012 taking place at Cadagon Hall, Chelsea, on October 3.

To cast your vote visit: http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php (you must vote in each category).  

Manager, motivator, MAMA - Sue is all these to the family she has created at her Happy House Children's Home in Watamu, Kenya. There the lives of children,orphaned, abandoned, neglected or abused, are saved and transformed.

Former seaside landlady, Sue, the force behind the charity Children of Watamu, has has endured personal pain and hardship to achieve her dream of creating an exemplary home and school which illustrates how children in care in the impoverished world can be cared for. Once free of fear and hunger, they grow and flourish with love, education and opportunity.

Since 2000, Sue, from Blackpool, has also developed three schools, creating 700 places for disadvantaged children in Watamu. Her selflessness, courage and determination has won her charity friends worldwide.

If you need any more convincing please watch this short documentary of Sue's incredible work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Pu9DVJc9o&feature=em-share_video_user

Please vote NOW!

Twitter : 
Sue Hayward, founder of Children of Watamu charity, who is saving and changing so many young lives at her Happy House Children' Home in Kenya, is a finalist in the Inspiration for Women Awards. Please vote for her now at http://www.inspirationawards.com/voting/index.php