Celebrating success at St Aidan's



 Sue with Andy Smith,  Ian Taylor, George Burrows abnd Grace Johnston

It was a night of inspiration and celebration as this year's school leavers returned to St Aidan's CE Technology College, Preesall, to receive their certificates, trophies and awards.
A current Year 11s who are taking on roles of responsibility within their school community were invested with their badges of office, including the new head girl and head boy, Grace Johnson and George Burrows.
It was was a privilege for  our Mama Sue to be there as guest of honour and to be asked to be a part of such a special Senior Awards Evening.
Education is at the very heart of Mama Sue's work in Kenya and led her to found her charity, Children of Watamu.
It has been her driving force since that day, in January 2000, when she happened across a tumbledown school where children were sitting on stone floors, counting with stones.

Since that time thousands of children owe their education to to schools she has developed,  while now at her Happy House,  kids,who really would have had no chance,  not only haved found home, family and love, they are benefiting from a trail-blazing school, where both teachers and pupils are embracing new challenges and achieving outstanding results.
In the UK, where education is, comparitively,  so  richly resourced but not always so highly prized, it was refreshing and uplifting to see the very high achievements in all areas, gained by the St Aidan's students.  Students were marking successes in academic subjects, music, the arts, vocational subjects and sport.
Mama Sue, Papa Dave and Elizabeth were welcomed by the head Andy Smith, and Mama Sue introduced by chair of governors Ian Taylor.


Sue with Grace Johnston and George Burrows

After presenting the awards, the gathering of students, parents and staff watched a video about the Happy House and heard from Mama how her work had started and how far it had come in the last 12 years.
Mama Sue said: "All I want, is just what any parent wants for their child, that they do their best. That they be the best that they can be. It's just that unlike most parents, I have 59 children in my family!"
She told the students, who have now moved on to the next stage of their lives, to sixth form or FE college, to apprenticeships or the workplace, to make the most of very minute, to seize every opportunity and to reach for the stars.
"Look what a difference I have made, just one woman who passed a school one day. What can you do?

" What difference can you make?"