Inside School: Laboratory Lesson

A visit to our laboratory at Happy house School today with teachers and some of our science students.

Having a laboratory, funded by Blackpool Soroptimist International, Christine Walker Fund,  brings the sciences to life for our students and inspires them.
We are immensely grateful to Blackpool Soroptimists for their belief in what we are doing and for giving us such a wonderful learning space.

Inside School: The Music Room

Today, Francis, a free-place scholarship student Happy House School invites you to join him in the music room.

We are fortunate to have items of musical equipment that have been donated by generous friends, including a handmade drum kit.

All our kids love music and have a natural sense of rhythm, so having musical instruments gives them the opportunity to explore their talents.

Francis, who is Form 3 in our secondary school, and the other older kids including Gabriel, on drums, share their own talents by helping the younger kids to learn some basic technique.

Inside school: New storybooks

A donation of £250 has bought new storybooks for our children in Happy House School.The books, seven titles all by Kenyan writers in Kswahili, will help improve both reading and language skills. Mama Sue went into Class 2 to distribute the books with teacher Madam Hilda.She talks about the value of donated resources of all kinds to our school and the children add their thanks.

Thanks you to all those who help us so generously.

Inside School: Transport

Being able to get children from the community into Happy House School and back home at the end of the day involves a lot of organisation.
Our school bus, painted yellow earlier this year to comply with new Government regulations, has a whole list of collection and dropping off points in the areas on the outskirts of Watamu and beyond.
Not only do the children have to be transported, they also have to be chaperoned by a teacher.
So it's a busy time, morning and afternoon, as they board the bus to start and finish their school day.
It's a noisy time too!

Home News: Birthday girl Florence

 Florence celebrated her birthday with all her Happy House family at the weekly Kidz Club.

She one very happy little girl as you will see from our video.
It was the usual busy gathering, with children of all ages forming choirs to compete against each other in a sing-off.
And as a special treat there was fruit salad for everyone with a topping of evaporated milk.
Picture tucking in are Elizabeth (top left) and Abu, Erick, Said and Brian

Hassan comes home for a holiday!

Once at Happy Hosue kid, always a Happy House kid! Hassan an elder sister, Maria, spent five years in our care at Children of Watamu happy house children's home and school, before we were able to repatriate them to an auntie - with our continuing support.
Reunited with blood family, they remain a part of our family and know they are always welcome back.
Hassan, in particular, loves coming to visit and asked Mama Sue if he could come to stay for a  week in the  school holidays. Of course, she said yes.
So home he's been, back with his Happy House brothers and sisters and a big helper to Papa Dave, who he looks up to and loves.
School holidays over, he's now returned his aunt's and is looking forward to his next visit for the Christmas reunion week in December.

Home News: Ice cream and more for all

No sooner do our visitors arrive than it is time for them to go - time flies at Happy House!
It was a great pleasure to meet Richard Lea from South Ribble Rotary Club and for him to see just how the support they give us is helping to change lives.

Richard was impressed with all he saw and enjoyed his time with Mama Sue, Papa Dave and our family.
On his final visit he brought a pen and pencil for each of our children which will come in very handy as they start back at school next week!
They posed for photographs together on our Happy House steps before bidding our friend a safe journey home. He also left money for ice-cream which was duly bought and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone,
Thank you Richard for your kindness and for coming to se us.