Tourism is vital to the economy of holiday-resort Watamu, providing more jobs than any other single sector. So it is almost certain that some of the students in Happy House school will go on to work in the hospitality industry. We are grateful to Damian Davies, general manager of Turtle Bay Hotel, who agreed to come in for a careers session with our secondary students along with Alex, who is the food and beverage manager at the hotel. They gave our students an in depth view of the industry and an understanding of how careers can progress to management level - for both girls and boys.
The rains in Kenya are a mixed blessing. On one hand they bring relief from the intense heat, and quench the thirst of the arid land. But on the other, they seep through even the tiniest crack and find every flaw! But as plants spring to life, makuti thatching on some of our buildings at Happy House has been springing a leak and repairs are needed as Mama Sue tells us. If you would like to make a donation towards the £400 costs of roof repairs we would be so grateful. Please go to https://www.justgiving.com/childrenofwatamu/Donate
Continuing our Celebration of Life, Mr Duncan Ongwete, who teaches in upper primary. about some of his heroes. He talks about the family members who he has loved and lost - the greatest hero of all being his mother. Mr Duncanfinishes by telling our youngsters they should live their lives with the aim of leaving their own unique imprint on history. He turns to Mama Sue saying that with her Happy House she has written her own place in the history books.
Savanna
Afterwards,Wendy sings a song, Margaret reads an emotional poem and Savanna speaks of her own gratitude.
Happy House student, Charity, spoke movingly at our Celebration of Life. Charity, born to a single mother, talks about when she learnt her father, who she had never known, was dead. Her life is now full of opportunity and hope and she cherishes it and all those who make it possible.
Happy House scholarship student Teddy will never forget the kindness of his sponsor, Mike Foster. And he shared his thoughts at the annual Celebration of Life. Mike, who was the partner of our own Elizabeth Gomm "Auntie Libz" to our Happy House family, died in May 2017. It was two years after he had started sponsoring Teddy that Mike was told he had incurable cancer. He had always hoped he would see Teddy grow up to make something of his life, putting to use his excellent Happy House education. When Mike died, donations from his funeral, were towards funding Teddy's schooling. Teddy treasures his letters from Mike and the watch he bought for him. Teddy also spoke about his devoted grandfather and the part he played in shaping his life.
Happy House School is today making an appeal to supporters who maybe traveling to Kenya in the next few weeks. We have received donations to buy more Amazon Kindle Fire tablets which will increase our stock and make them accessible to more young people. But we can't get them out to Watamu, so Mama Sue and some of our students are appealing for friends who would be prepared to bring them in their luggage. The tablets are proving a huge success as a learning resource giving, as one students says, a library at his fingertips! They can also access past exam papers which prepare them for coming national examinations. Please, if you could help contact Mama Sue: sue@childrenofwatamu.net
You can't celebrate life without song and dance. In Kenya, children are born with music in their hearts and start to sing and dance as soon as they can talk and walk. So for our celebration of Life Day, pupils from Happy House School staged some wonderful entertainment for those attending. Here is an extract.
We are grateful to Damian Davies, general manager of Turtle Bay Hotel, who agreed to come in for a careers session with our secondary students along with Alex, who is the food and beverage manager at the hotel.
