Mariam back for medical care

After settling happily into an extended stay with her older sister, Mariam, has returned to Happy House for a short stay.

She developed an infection in her leg and with medication and medical care in short supply because of prolonged doctors and nurses strike in Government health facilities, we brought her home for treatment at a private clinic.

The infection is not serious and  with the right treatment she'll soon be back to full health and will return to her sister's to join her younger siblings, Saumu and Suleiman.

The two youngest, Fred and Rose, are remaining in our care.

All the kids are fine and doing well.

Mama Sue said: "The children always come first and getting Mariam the care she needs for her leg is our priority.

"Uncle Ronnie is liaising with the private clinic."

Mama Sue was very touched by the very kind reactions she received to the updates on our Happy House kids sent out to sponsors and for their backing for all she doing..

We have decided to publish just a few of them:

"Thank you so much for the update on our lovely Charity.  It's been such a privilege to sponsor her.  The charity not only changed her life but mine too.  I remember when she first came to Happy House (where have the years gone?) and I still feel as passionate about it as I did then.   You and your amazing team worked wonders, as you do for all the children. "  

"I am so pleased to know that Peninah is happy with her grandmum.

 I always keep her with me in my thoughts,it was my pleasure to be a little part in her life.Thank you all once again for your care and love to all this children and to us too!"

 "We are so glad Baraka and all his brothers and sisters continue to thrive in the safety of Happy House."

"Thank you for the news about Dulla. I'm so pleased everything is going well for him and his family.

I am pleased to be able to contribute in some small way to the wonderful work you do at Happy House and hope to be able to visit in the near future."

"Thank you for keeping us up-to-date with news of Pendo.

We are pleased to know she is safe, well and happy.

Please give her our love and kisses and tell her we think

of her often. Love to everyone in the Happy House."

"What great news. I am very pleased for Lesley and Ludwin that they are back living with their mum.

 My best wishes and congratulations to Mama Sue."

"Thank you so much for the update on Erick.  He looks like such a sweet boy and his exam results are so good!  How wonderful that he is safe and well and with his brothers if not his mother.  I hope she is able to build a safe and stable life for herself and the boys.

 I really enjoy all the updates on Facebook and I can’t wait to come visit one day hopefully soon! "

"Thank you so  much for the update on Ludwin. I am really happy that she has regular contact with her mum now and is receiving the education that will hopefully make a difference to her in the future."

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My best teacher, by Husna

Today's blogger is Happy House kid Husna, aged 11.

" Hello everyone, my name is Husna. I am in class three.

My best teacher is called Md. Naomi. She is as beautiful as a rainbowI love her the way I love myself because she is very kind. She teaches us the way she was taught when she was young.

She teaches us Kiswahili and CRE very well. 

She loves us with all her heart and she takes care of everybody. 

Many people love her because of her respect and kindness and she does what must be done. Because of how she teaches us we do well.

Everybody says  they would want to be like her. God loves her. Her parents also love her as they were loved when they were young.

If you are not performing well and you are taught by her you will perform better until everyone will say that your teacher is very bright and they will start asking her what she did for the pupils to make them perform well.

She would say that she is teaching us all in the same way.

Teacher Naomi tells us stories that help us in being good children. She follows rules and what the Bible says too. She listens to what her boss tells her.

If someone does wrong, she corrects and forgives him or her.

She is a very helpful teacher."

Visitor from UK and school visit in UK!

We were delighted to welcome visitors from England who are in Watamu for holiday.

Friends Lucy Caistor and Susie Laybourn were taken on a tour of both Happy House home and school, met our children and were delighted with our work.

They very kindly brought essetials including nappies, sanitary pads, toothpaste & brushes, toiletries, clothes, coloured pencils and books which will be of great use to our family.

Thank you to Lucy and Susie for taking time to come to see us and for all your gifts.

Blackpool school talk

Back in the UK, Elizabeth Gomm has been back to Blackpool's Devonshire Primary Academy for a special Happy House assembly.

She showed the children a short video and then told them the story, with pictures, of their sponsor friend Brian.

The school has sponsored Brian since he came to Happy House as a tiny baby and he has a very important place in the school family.

Elizabeth took along some traditional Kenya kanga wraps, belts and jewellery,some carvings including Masai warrior Musyoka, who is staying in school for their Happy house fundraising week.

Thanks to everyone at Devonshire for all your love and support, we hope your fundraising week is lots of fun!

Inspiring a new generation

Happy House was delighted to be invited to take its message to every student going up into Year 8 at St Aidan's CE High School, Preesall, Lancashire.
Over the course of five hour-long sessions yesterday, our UK coordinator Elizabeth Gomm reached dozens of young people in the hope they would learn something about the plight of many needy children, of how the Happy House is able to help some, and to inspire them do something to make a difference - just like our founder, Mama Sue.
After showing a video of Happy House, she told them the story of one of our children and asked them to imagine they were walking in that child's shabby shoes on the tragic journey which led to her finding a new home and hope with our wonderful family.
Her story included many of issues, some specific to girls,  facing so many Kenyan children who are orphaned, abandoned or neglected.
Elizabeth also emphasised the value and importance of education, something the British kids are lucky enough to able to take for granted, when there are so many impoverished kids in Kenya, and many other countries, who are denied any schooling because of of their impoverished circumstances.
She explained that every child was desperate to go to school because they knew education was their only road out of poverty.

Reflecting

The students also learnt more about Stephen, the little boy sponsored by Mrs Rossall's K7 class.
St Aidan's helps Happy House in many ways, and while the development day was taking place Mrs Rossall and students were baking biscuits which will be sold in school today to raise money for Happy House.
Elizabeth said:" This was the third year I have been invited into St Aidan's for the Year 8 development day and I was, once again, impressed by the the students who listened intently and really attempted to put themselves in the place of the children we are helping.
"They took an active part and asked some very good questions, they also had some very intelligent answers for the questions posed to them.
'' "I hope they will hold our Happy House in their hearts throughout their lives.
"At the end of the session they were asked to write their reflections on Happy House, and I was very touched by some of those I got to read. one student wrote:

Reflections

: "Happy House is run by Sue Hayward. She is the most caring and loving person by setting up this home and school."

Another wrote:

"I am simply amazed by what Happy House does every day of every week of every year."

Elizabeth said:"Thank you St Aidan's for making us a part of this special day and thanks to the students who took part, to teacher Mrs Rachel Fowler for spending the day with me, and to Mrs Rossall, K7, and the entire school for their continued support."

Star kids

A very proud group of  youngsters, our Kidz Council, have received Mama's Star of the week Award.
Mama said: "They are brilliant keeping discipline, guiding our little people, helping the aunties in  so many ways.
Thank you kids."

School Report: Classy achievements

Class 4- best in upper primary

There was joy and celebration when pupils returned to school after their mid-term break. It was a happy day at Happy House as the kids celebrated their big academic improvement shown in results of recent exams,  as compared to the results of the start of term "wake-up" exams.

It was a great day as Mama, Papa and Uncle Ronald were in school to mark the academic prowess of Happy House pupils.

Their presence was highly appreciated.  Mama plays a very important part in our academics by engaging the learners in one on one talks on a regular basis keeping them focused and motivated.

Uncle Ronald is in school for a time every day to be on hand for the children.

The class awards were announced:

Class 3 - best and most improved in lower primary

Class 4 maintained their position as top class, ranked position one overall in the primary section. It was their day as they were awarded a trophy for being the best class as all the pupils in class four showed a positive improvement.

Class 3 were the academic giants of the lower primary section as they were crowned the best class and the most improved class overall in the lower primary section.Their class could not hide their joy by emerging winners twice!

The top three classes in the upper primary section were :

Class 4 in first place; Class 8 second and third place went to Class 7.

We constantly strive to be the best and to give pupils a real belief in themselves and their school.

"Mama always puts it clearly  saying; " You can do it if you want to do it” .

And results show how much our students want to achieve .

As a school we believe  we are the best and ours is the best learning hub in the zone.

Telling Mothers about Mama

The generous members of  the Mothers Union from St Chad's Church, Poulton. Lancashire, opened their hearts to our Happy House family when Elizabeth Gomm was their guest speaker.

Elizabeth told them the story of Sue's road to the Happy House and of the inspirational and trailblazing work she has been doing since it opened seven years ago.

They were very touched to hear how Happy House is leading the way in rebuilding families and impressed by the high-standard of childcare and education being provided.

Elizabeth received donations totalling £96.

Thank you ladies.