Mama, Papa and the Happy House family were delighted to see Charlotte Poulter when she came to visit.A few years ago, Charlotte and her friend Saskia Flower, then students at the Harrodian School, London, raised £7,000 by organising a dinner. That money was used to buy the acre of land where our three schools are now sited.
Charlotte and her family visit Watamu every year, and she loves catching up with our news and progress and seeing Saumu, whose sponsor family she is in.
Here Charlotte tells us about her visit:
"Having been to say
hello to everyone the day before (having not been there since last Christmas), I had the pleasure of
going back to the Happy House for the opening of the new secondary school.
It was the children's first day back after their Christmas holiday and
the first time I had seen the school up and running.
My best friend Saskia
and I raised the money a few years ago to buy the land so I was
particularly keen to see it all.
I was amazed by how smart it all looked - the
last time I was there it looked very impressive but was still a building
site; so to see it all, one year later, finished and fully functioning with
all the kids running around was quite moving.
The Happy House has a very big place in my heart and I want to
be as involved with it as I possibly can, for as long as I can.
I had the pleasure of catching up with little Saumu, who I sponsor and love to pieces, and many other too. She was as cheeky and smiley as always, still making me work for her affection!
I had the pleasure of catching up with little Saumu, who I sponsor and love to pieces, and many other too. She was as cheeky and smiley as always, still making me work for her affection!
"I gave Saumu a small chocolate with her Christmas present, and without being
asked, she bit off little pieces and gave them out to all the little ones
surrounding her. It was one of the sweetest things I've seen!
asked, she bit off little pieces and gave them out to all the little ones
surrounding her. It was one of the sweetest things I've seen!
She hardly had any herself!"
I was told that some of the children were on trial periods, staying with their family members at home, to see if they could move back for good; Saumu, and her twin Pendo, were amongst them which initially scared me because I thought I'd never get to see them again but Uncle Billy assured me they'd still be there during the week for school!
I was told that some of the children were on trial periods, staying with their family members at home, to see if they could move back for good; Saumu, and her twin Pendo, were amongst them which initially scared me because I thought I'd never get to see them again but Uncle Billy assured me they'd still be there during the week for school!
Selfishly, I was so sad to hear that Musyoka
and his siblings had left (only because I didn't get to see
them) but I know that being with their grandad is best for them and where they want to be which is
what matters.
It's amazing the Happy House is able to reintegrate
children who were once considered "orphans" back into their
families, where they should really be.
I am already looking forward to seeing everyone
again in December. Thank you for having me xxx.
