School Report: Year off to a good start

There's been a good start to the new academic year at Happy House School which students performing well in their "wake-up" exam.

Our youngsters are doing well by learning in groups where they can share ideas, build on strengths and help each other with any weak areas.

Everyone is enjoying being at at school these past four weeks and the children who joined us at the start of the term have settled well, made new friends and are learning our Happy House way of doing things by being caring and sharing.

Blackpool kindness

Elizabeth Gomm, our UK voluntary coordinator, was delighted to be invited back to Blackpool Probus Club to give members an update on all that has been happening at Happy House.

And there was plenty to tell them as it is coming up to five years since her last visit there.

They were interested to her about how our school has grown, how, with support,  we are successful repatriating children back to family members in the community and of course touched by Francis' story,

A club donation from the meeting, at the Carleton  Hotel, of £40 was boosted to £87 by individual donations and  another £100 followed later bringing the total to £187,

Our thanks to the club for making our Auntie Libby so welcome and for their generous gifts to our family.

Francis is a class act

A bit swapping classes around, and Francis was able to got back to school yesterday.
Recovering from surgery to remove some dead bone from his hip joint, and a biopsy to see establish the exact cause of the infection which his consultant believes to be osteomyelitis , he's a had a restful weekend and with a brace to support his leg, crutches and strong painkillers, he is no longer in pain.
He was eager to get back to school and will be driven there instead of the usual walk for as long as he need to be.  
His friends are delighted to have him back and treating him with care and concern.
In our video Mama Sue gives us a fuller update and share her own anxieties.
If you can donate toward his treatment (there is no free healthcare in Kenya) please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/get-francis-well

      

Farewell to friends

There was ice cream for pudding on Saturday, thanks to our generous friends Betty Hatch and her son Paul.
Betty and Paul spent the morning at Happy House saying goodbye to our family as they were flying home to the UK last night.
They enjoyed Saturday lunch of pizza with the kids and very kind brought them ice cream to follow.
Mama said they were sorry to see their guests leave: "They have been a joy to be with and their generosity is second to none.
"We wish them a safe journey home."
There will be an update on the progress Francis is making tomorrow -but you can see him in the background of the bottom picture enjoying his pizza lunch!

Our first Happy House kid pens today's blog

 Today's blog is written by our very first Happy House kid, Benedict.

He joined our Happy House family, as its very first member in February 2010. He was four and had been orphaned when his mum died.

His extended family have remained in touch and for a time he was able to go back to live with them, with our continuing support, but it didn’t work out and he returned to our care.  He is able to go on home visits in school holidays. 

Ben is a happy and confident boy and was the most improved pupil in the school in the recent end of year results in December.
He writes:

Our school is called Happy House. Our director is called Mama Sue.

We called her Mama because she loves children and she always takes care of us at home and in our school.

In our school there are may children. Some of them are Happy House home kids and some are scholarship kids.#

Our dear Mama Sue works very hard to raise the money get the things for us that we need. Things like, for example, food, shelter and clothes.  

Thank you Mama.

Birthday trio

There was a trio of birthday girls at Kidz Club this week.
With Esther, Rose and Sudi all celebrating their birthdays there were celebratory songs to sing and gift to hand out.
Our special guests, Betty Hatch and her son, Paul, were happy to distribute the birthday goody bags with Betty handing the to the Esther, youngest of the trio, and to Sudi, the eldest.
Paul did the honours for Rose.
There were treats, too, with sweets and sodas for all the children, very kindly bought by Betty and Paul
Happy birthday girls and thanks to Betty and Paul.

Francis update

Francis is continuing the rest at home after his visit to hospital. We will bring you more news early next week, but for now he is comfortable and enjoying having his friends around him.

Home again

Safe back home, and star of the show - that's our Francis.

All his Happy House "brothers and sisters" were thrilled to bits to see him when they arrived in from school yesterday.

Still groggy after his op, he needs time to rest and all our caring kids are on hand to help him.

Francis, 13, had his operation on Wednesday afternoon at Tawfiq Hospital in Malindi, and was released yesterday afternoon with some strong pain killers, broad-spectrum antibiotics and with his leg brace fitted.

It's been a testing time for Mama Sue and Papa Dave who have been worried about Francis and anxious to get him the very best treatment available to us.

Francis who has osteomyelitis is now resting at home but with the love, company and support of  his older brother Musyoka, little sister Mwende and our huge family around him he couldn't be in better hands.

Mama Sue gives a full update and tells us what comes next in today's video.

To make a donation towards Francis treatment please go to  https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/get-francis-well

 https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/get-francis-well