New look for teachers

Uniforms at the Happy House make it easy for members of staff working in different areas to be recognised instantly by children and visitors  ...  plus they are so practical,  smart and professional.

Apart from our maintenance and security men who wear dark blue and the gardeners in their green, the uniforms are in child-friendly prints.

The aunties have been wearing their colourful animal prints since Christmas, and this term the teachers are wearing their new uniforms - black and white animal print shirts, teamed with black trousers.

And they look very nice indeed.

Our Kids Council

 Evans, 11, has his eye on Uncle Billy's job one day. He is a clever, kind and responsible boy who is always happy to take on any challenge within the family and today he is our guest blogger.

Evans writes:

''I am  writing about kids council. 

At the Happy House Mama and people thought  that theywould ask to do a  kids  council.

Evans

Every Sunday  all the kids at the Happy House meet together and we do kids council.

We discuss about  important issues and then we tell Mama what we discuss. 
 We decide that the kids should help more and when Mama  and Papa came home at Christmas we organise a party.

In the kids council there  are seven people and these are

Evans,Sifa, Hassan,Mercy,Janet,Jane and Maria  and we enjoy doing that.

I am the chairman.

Thank you very  much we love you.''

*Pictured (top) are: Sifa, Hassan, Jane, Mercy, Janet and Maria.
Easter parade
Mama thinks it would a fun treat to introduce our kids to a English springtime tradition ..  the Easter Bonnet Parade.
We have some hats, but we really need  trimmings (ribbon, flowers, glitter, glue, glue brushes, chicks, bunnies etc.)
 We know the kids will just love getting creative and it will be fun to see what creations they come up with. We can get them out in time but we would appreciate your help,
So if you have anything suitable that you would like to send to us please email Elizabeth: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net for an address.
Thank you

Welcome to our family

Welcome to volunteer Theano Megousglou who arrived from her home in Greece this week.

She is spending a month in Watamu working with our family and is busy getting to know our children.
She has been helping with our youngest ones in the baby banda and is also enjoying working in the garden, providing a valuable extra pair of hands.
Thank you
A very big thank you to the Surrey family for a delivery of some wonderfully useful items.
Before travelling they took the trouble to call  Elizabeth to ask what was needed most and then filled a suitcase with items from soap, socks and sanitary pads to crayons and crocs. 
Among the gifts were newly reconditioned laptops in perfect working order which will be such an asset in our computer room.
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, are so kind and we want you to know how very grateful to you we are. 

Bravo for Marco and Bravo Genoa!

Marco Narizzano is a very good freind of Mama, Papa and our Happy House family, so it was lovely to see him again when he returned to Watamu on holiday with his parents and two friends.
 An accomplished photographer he kindly helped us out by taking some of the pictures which we need for publicity purposes.
He also brought with him 500 euros from his friends and colleagues at Bravo Tankers in Genoa, Italy.
Thank you Marco and all your friends for being so kind to our kids.
Marco is pictured taking a break during a photo-shoot,  with some of our kids.
Free books token collect
The Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror have a token collect offer  for free Ladybird books - two tokens per book (plus postage which  starts at 60p and goes up to £5.79 for 25 books).
If you take the Mirror please consider claiming your free books for our library at the Happy House.
There are some great titles to choose from, perfect for our little readers, including some read-it-yourself for early readers. 
The more books we have at the Happy House the wider the window we open on the world for our kids.
You could have them sent direct to Mama or Elizabeth when you order to save you any extra expense and we will get them out to our family. Email; elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net for an address.
There's a bonus token for anyone who likes the Ladybird image on the Daily Mirror Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/dailymirror?fref=ts
Thank you.

Papa in a spin ...

 Go on give us for a spin!
Mama’s swivel chair is a source of great delight to our little imps.
They love nothing more than to whiz it up and down the office, or ride it like a roundabout , taking it in turns to give it a twirl.
Linus sets the ball rolling, giving Sauma a twirl and then the little mischiefs, joined by Rose, decide it's time to take Papa for a ride!
It's all so much more fun when their playful Papa is around to do  pushing, or to be pushed… the kids giggling with glee as they chase up an down as fast as their little legs will carry them.
Papa may have a job keeping up with their boundless energy, but he never lets on if he does, and seems to be having just as much fun as they are.

Thank you Mama Sue

An Italian family were sorry to miss Mama Sue when they visited our family at the Happy House, but were so surprised and delighted by what they saw they have now written to say thank you.
Christina, Stefano with Lidia and Lauri write: We are missing Watamu and Kenya very much and will surely be back as soon as possible. We are sending you a photo taken on that day.
It was a big surprise to see such a well organized and equipped structure!!
Definitely Sue (hello Sue - you weren't there that day, you were going to return from the UK the day after ) and the staff have done and are doing an amazing job.
What you are doing during this one life is worth 1000 lives and more.
Our children were very touched by the experience. It was so lovely to see Sue's friends taking the little ones for an ice cream.
Lots of love from Italy

Line dancers debut - part 2!

Health, environment and education were top of the agenda at the Malindi Medical and Environmental Day on Saturday.

As we told you yesterday, our kids were eager to take part in the day's events in the performance section when pupils from local schools took to the stage to give a performance of their choice.

Our line dancers didn't put a foot wrong as they presented their well-rehearsed routines -  captivating an audience who had not seen anything quite like this dance form before.

Mama says her kids looked so smart as they turned out in their Happy House tee-shirts and shorts, their hair tidy and their healthy skin shiny (from all that Vaseline we are always asking you for!)

There were hundreds of people at the event, which was providing a platform for much-needed health and fitness awareness.

There was also a football tournament for older kids.

Uncle Billy says:  ''Our kids staged a wonderful line dance after which Mama Sue was invited to greet the participants  on a bright sunny day. Then the family travelled back home on the matatu to carry on with the rest of their Saturday afternoon activities''

Charity night

Please be sure of getting your tickets  soon for our Happy House Charity Night and Third Birthday celebration at the Hotel Sheraton, Blackpool, on Saturday, March 16, 7pm, as they are sure to sell-out.

It's is always a fun evening and a chance for members of our children's sponsor families to meet each other, to meet up with old friends and to make new ones. Tickets are £15 each and  are limited to 150 only Once again  manager Simon, has made rooms available in the Lodge for the Saturday night at  £22 per person for bed and breakfast for those attending the charity night, for 2 nights in the main hotel the price will be £65 per person and will include dinner on the Friday night  To BOOK call: 01253 352723 quote reference:  BK38307.
This year we will be emailing your tickets, wherever possible, to save on costs so please email Mama - sue@childrenofwatamu.net for payment details or,if you prefer your tickets by post, send a cheque (made payable to Happy House Project) for the number you require, along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope for your tickets to be returned in, to: Mama Sue Hayward, 49 Victoria Mansions, 187-191, 
Newton Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8QG