Special delivery

A parcel brought gifts to share for one little girl.
Tunda, who has a free place in our school thanks to our scholarship scheme, had a package from her sponsor Beth Cooper.
Educational charts are always a cause of excitement and they will go up in Tunda's classroom so all her friends can learn from them too.
Thank you Beth for thinking of your special friend

Your gifts are very much appreciated.

Thank you for helping our family, by Sifa

Today's blog is from Sifa, who has been a part of our family since the Happy House opened . The shy, unhappy little boy he was then has long gone and he is now a happy, confident and capable young man.

He writes:

Am Sifa and I was among the first kids to join the Happy House family in 2010..

At that time I was ten years old and I thank all the sponsors for their support towards supporting the Happy House family.

In the Happy House we do different kind of things that will enable us learn more and gain more skills. Every Sunday we have group called the young farmers that go to the garden to help in different sorts of work. We dig and also plant some crops like kale inside the greenhouse.

We also have got a group that lend a hand in the kitchen to cook different types of food.

Besides that we also do some activities while at school.

We have the Primary section and the High School section. I am in form 1 in high school.

There are a lot of games that we do play. These are football, netball, volleyball etc..

My brother, John, sister Karembo and I are now back living with our grandmother. The skills we have learnt in Happy House mean we can be a help to her planting crops and looking after them.

We come into school very day and are still Happy House kids,

We thank all the sponsors for their support and encouragement in helping us kids and all the Happy House Family.

We need your support NOW

 We desperately need people to sponsor a child, from abject poverty, who is only in school because they have a free place at Happy House School on our Dr Danwata Scholarship Scheme.

Each of the students pictured here with Mama Sue needs a sponsor. 

Of our 93 scholarship students, we have 55 without sponsors.

 Not just to help support their education financially but also to become a friend who will, through emails, letters and postcards, open another window on their world and to encourage them in their studies.

It costs just £20 a month to sponsor a scholarship student and to light up a life.

£20 provides all a youngster needs - schooling, uniform, books, PE kit plus nourishing breakfast, lunch and snacks.

 Please tell your friends about us, encourage them to sponsor; hold a fundraising event or make a one-off donation.

Together we ARE changing lives and together we will change many more

For details of how to set up a sponsorship please email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

Making a difference to Mauran

Grandma watches exercises

Every volunteer who helps at Happy House brings something new to our family.
They come from diverse walks of life, different countries cultures and from many different professions..
Andrea Manders who has recently visited with her teenage children, Alex and Ellena, is an occupational therapist working the Lancashire.
She was pleased to be able to put her professional skills into use to help make adifference to one little boy, with special needs, who attends our school.
Mauran comes from a caring family who brought him to Happy House as a fee-paying pupil because they want him to have an inclusive education.
Andrea says:

I noticed a small boy sitting in a wheelchair.  As an occupational therapist  I could see that his posture could be improved. 
I was told that his name is Mauran, he is 5 years old and he has spina bifida.

Before 

Spina bifida is when a baby's spine and spinal cord don't develop properly in the womb, which can lead to problems such as weakness or total paralysis of the legs.

His grandma was asked to come into school, which she did.  
I carried out an assessment and therapy session.  
His upper body strength was just like any other 5 year old boys, he has a full range of movement in his hips and knees but was unable to move his legs himself. 
I showed his Grandma and his teacher exercises  which will be incorporated into his home and school life to help improve his core strength and posture. 

After

I advised a back cushion for the wheelchair and to raise the footplates. 
Correct lifting techniques were demonstrated and explained to Grandma and teachers who practiced these.  
I was also able to explain the  importance of skin care, especially on his legs was discussed.

In the sandpit

Three days later I saw Mauran again – he had a new cushion behind his back, he was sitting upright in the wheelchair and his feet rested on the raised footplates.
His posture was much improved and the skin on his legs had been moisturised.

Mauran takes part in learning activities along with his classmates both in the classroom and outdoors – he loves being in the sandpit!

I am pleased that I could use my occupational therapy skills to help improve his daily life and give Mauran the best chance of a better future. 

Happy birthday boys

Two weeks birthdays today! 
The blog was so busy last week that we didn't share our birthday pictures.
Last week both Brian Isiaho and Alex Kea celebrated their birthdays and this week it's the turn of our Abuu.
Each of the boys received greetings and gifts at Kidz Club when all the family sang for them. Mama and Papa presented their gift bag.
Our pictures show Mama with Alex, Papa with Brian and Abuu with his birthday goody bag! Happy birthday to each of them.

Fuelling the family

Fresh fruit and veg, much of it from ourgarden, home cooked meals and fresh baked bread ensure our children - those who live with us and our scholarship students - have a healthy diet.
As most of them were under-nourished when they came to us,  but we soon build them up and ensure they are fuelled with the freshest food.
As Mama says, if we don't nourish their bodies how can they be expected to perform well in school? 
That is why our scholarship kids have both breakfast and lunch every day.
Feeding all our family, scholarships students and all those others staying for school lunches adds up to busy time for our cooks and a lot of meals a day!

School Report: Hard work pays off

 Kindergarten and primary children have scored excellent marks in their end of  term exams much to their delight, writes Md Sarah.

They strive so hard to do well knowing that hard work brings good results.

Mama and Papa, their teachers, and their relatives are as thrilled as the kids with their improvement and their efforts.

The secondary students will receive their results later this week.  

As it's the final week of term, the school is getting ready for the closing day ceremony to mark the start of a four week break.

Thank you Betty

Our good friend Betty Hatch loves shopping for our family.
Betty, who lives in Essex,  is expert at seeking out bargains and enjoys filling a parcel and sending it off.
And knowing that we have to pay import duty on every parcel sent she always kindly makes a donation to cover the cost.
Betty's latest parcel has just arrived to the glee of our little ones who were eager to pose for a picture with some of the contents.
Thank you Betty for all you love and your support.

Party Time

There was fantastic fun and games for all our Happy House kids when they had a party to celebrate hard work and good results in their school exams..
Mama promised them a a party if they did well, and was true to her word when they did.
Our kids are showing themselves to be striving to be very best, spurred on by the encouragement and mentoring they receive from Mama who, with headteacher Mr Isaac and  and social worker, Uncle Ronnie,  talks to each one individually on a regular basis about their progress and their goals,.
There was magic, juggling, dancing,singing, poems, acrobatics and lots and lots of laughter, specially when headteacher Mr Isaac took to the dance floor for a solo spot.
As the party was on the last day of Andrea, Ellena and Alex Manders visit to Happy House, Mama thanked them for all they had brought for and to our family, and the children sang to wish them safely on their way.
Andrea  said how much they had enjoyed their stay and commented on the excellent manners of the children.
It was a happy time for all the Happy House family and enjoyed by all.

Our talented teachers by Rita

Scholarship student Rita Mapenzi, 17, writes today's blog

I am in Form 2 and am happy to be a member of the Happy House family.

I thank Mama for giving me this opportunity to be here in Happy House.

We have a high school with form one and two students.

In high school section we have five teachers, two female and three male teachers. These teachers are Mr. Laurent, Mr. James Mr.Omoi, Mdm Elizabeth and Mdm Sara.

These teachers teach different subjects. Some teach humanities others sciences.

Our teachers are brilliant and we love them so much. They know how to teach and they are very polite and they understand their students.

In addition to that they are talented many different activities.

We need your support NOW

 We desperately need people to sponsor a child, from abject poverty, who is only in school because they have a free place at Happy House School on our Dr Danwata Scholarship Scheme.

Each of the students pictured here with Mama Sue needs a sponsor. 

Of our 93 scholarship students, we have 55 without sponsors.

 Not just to help support their education financially but also to become a friend who will, through emails, letters and postcards, open another window on their world and to encourage them in their studies.

It costs just £20 a month to sponsor a scholarship student and to light up a life.

£20 provides all a youngster needs - schooling, uniform, books, PE kit plus nourishing breakfast, lunch and snacks.

 Please tell your friends about us, encourage them to sponsor; hold a fundraising event or make a one-off donation.

Together we ARE changing lives and together we will change many more

For details of how to set up a sponsorship please email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

School is the tops!

Officials from the district education department made a special visit to Happy House to congratulate the school on our Class 8 taking second place in the zone.
They presented headteacher Mr Isaac with 3,000KSH (£22) for the school to mark the result.
Mama said: "There was three representatives who have insisted that Happy House is number 1 at the end of term exams. 
"They praised our school and our teaching methods, so we felt very proud."

Thank you

Many thanks to Jennifer Wollniok from Germany for calling in at Happy House to 

bring balls and pencils for our children.

The balls are great for helping our children to develop hand eye coordination and

no matter how big or small every child loves to kick a ball.

Helping out at Happy House

Andrea, Ellena and Alex Manders have been busy helping out in our Happy House school.
As exams are taking place this week for the older kids, they have been helping  with the little ones in the kindergarten.
Mama was thrilled with all the gifts they brought, and also with the £1000 raised by Andrea's Happy House At Home fundraising event.
Andrea had asked Mama if the money could be used to do the Happy  House family shopping and she, Ellena and Alex, had the interesting experience of going out on the shop with driver Noah and Papa Dave yesterday.Andrea said

 Many households do a weekly or big shop, the Happy House is no different. Ellena, Alex and I, joined Noah on his weekly trip into Timboni. There are 66 Happy House kids plus 239 school children to feed. Papa Dave ensures he pays a fair price and as such, gets value for money. This supports the local economy too. My aim before I left England, was to raise enough money to cover this weekly shopping – around 450 pounds. With kind and generous donations from family and friends, I raised just over 1000 pound- enough for two weeks.

A small banana is 5 Kenyan shillings, about 3p. Apples come in at 30 Kenyan shillings each, about 18p. Making them a treat!

The items we collected this morning cost 43,000 Kenyan shillings – 323 pounds.Meat, fruit and vegetables and charcoal for cooking is due for delivery later

Our thanks to Andrea and to all her family and friends who supported her fundraising and made her shopping expedition possible.

School Report: Exams come round again

The computer room has been in use every minute of every day  as high school students have using it  before and after lessons brush up on revision for the end term exams started this week, reports Md Neema

Primary pupils have also been preparing for exams.

Students had a debate on the subject : Polygamous marriage is better than monogamous marriage?

Debates help students inn confidence and to perfect their use of the English language.

Kindergarten kids really enjoy their break times when then have snacks and a chance to play - often in the sandpit.

Play is so important to their development and helps them to be sharing and caring.

Happy House dream come true for Andrea

Everything she has seen, read and heard about, became a reality for Andrea Manders when she walked through the gates of our Happy House.

Andrea started helping in 2009

And there was an all-singing and all-dancing welcome awaiting her and her children Ellena and Alex.
Andrea's three sponsor children Natasha Thoya, Priscilla and scholarship student Ann Joseph were waiting to to say hello along with  all our family ready and eager to put on a show - just for them! 
 Andrea, from Poulton, Lancashire, has been supporting Happy House since it was just a dream in the making for Mama Sue - and one that supporters like, Andrea, helped to turn into a reality.
Not only has Andrea sponsored, she's also held and helped with fundraising events - her latest, held earlier this month, raised more than £1000.
Mama and Papa always want to make sure that our friends who visit have a wonderful experience which gives them memories to treasure long after they've left.
Andrea said: "Ellena, Alex and I arrived at the Happy House School to be greeted by Natasha , who is seven, Priscilla, who is 10,  and  16 year old Ann  – it was hugs all around and a few tears (me not the girls). 
All the school were assembled in the banda.
I took the hands of Natasha and Priscilla and walked to the front. 
Mama Sue greeted the children “Happy House Power”. 
Then we watched a show given by the children of all ages  which included singing, dancing and acrobatics. It was thoroughly entertaining.
 Afterwards, the children went to their lessons and we had a tour around the school.

 For over 7 years, I have seen photos of the land and then the buildings, and the children, of course,  but to actually be here in person, at last,  was quite overwhelming. " 
And for Natasha, who Andrea started sponsoring when she arrived at Happy House as a baby, it was a chance to meet the friend who has helped and encouraged her all her life.
Andrea was able to give Natasha the album she started putting together for her when she was just a baby and in which she an see the story of her own little life.
She is also a wonderful friend to Priscilla and Ann and took along gifts for them too, plus many things for our family.

Laptops outlay

 We've just had to spend £900 on three new laptops.

One is for Auntie Velma, who sends out updates to sponsors. Her laptop was reconditioned, old and very, very slow, making her job difficult as sending emails had become a real problem.

The other two are needed in our school.

If anyone would like to make a donation towards the cost, and we would be so grateful for any amount no matter how small, please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/childrenofwatamu/Donate

SPONSORS  NEEDED

Of our 93 scholarship students, we have 55 without sponsors.

 Not just to help support their education financially but also to become a friend who will, through emails, letters and postcards, open another window on their world and to encourage them in their studies.

It costs just £20 a month to sponsor a scholarship student and to light up a life.

£20 provides all a youngster needs - schooling, uniform, books, PE kit plus nourishing breakfast, lunch and snack.

Our scholarship scheme is for children whose need is proven and who show a commitment to learn.

We need your support NOW

 Please tell your friends about us, encourage them to sponsor; hold a fundraising event or make a one-off donation.

Together we ARE changing lives and together we will change many more

For details of how to set up a sponsorship please email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net 

55 kids need sponsors - can you help?

 We desperately need people to sponsor a child, from abject poverty, who is only in school because they have a free place at Happy House School on our Dr Danwata Scholarship Scheme.

Each of the students pictured here with Mama Sue needs a sponsor. 

Of our 93 scholarship students, we have 55 without sponsors.

 Not just to help support their education financially but also to become a friend who will, through emails, letters and postcards, open another window on their world and to encourage them in their studies.

It costs just £20 a month to sponsor a scholarship student and to light up a life.

£20 provides all a youngster needs - schooling, uniform, books, PE kit plus nourishing breakfast, lunch and snacks.

We do now ask parents to buy shoes as Mama believes they should be encouraged to make a commitment in this way.

Young people also receive deodorants, toothpaste and toothbrushes, sanitary pads for the older girls and shoe polish and a brush.

To cut the risk of fires and ill health from kerosene lamps, we give them solar lanterns so they can read at home, in safety, when darkness falls.

Our scholarship scheme is for children whose need is proven and who show a commitment to learn.

We need your support NOW

 Please tell your friends about us, encourage them to sponsor; hold a fundraising event or make a one-off donation.

Together we ARE changing lives and together we will change many more

For details of how to set up a sponsorship please email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

Our Mama by Phillip

Scholarship student, Phillip Khonde, 14, makes the most of every day in our school and all the opportunities it has brought him.
He writes today's blog:
Hello, How you are all?
My name is Phillip.

I would like to thank our Mama Sue for the great things she has done for me and us at large.

Secondly, a vital thing she has proved to me and us all that she would like us to proceed well in our studies     

To help in that she has even brought the internet to our school to widen our learning.

 I and all of her students appreciate her great deeds.

Chocolate milk ...our Mama must love us

Building strong and healthy bones  needs a calcium rich diet so Mama makes sure our Happy House little ones have a milky hot chocolate every day - and they lap it up!
And if the way the to man's heart is through his stomach, Mama has cracked it!
One small chap told the aunties: "Our Mama must love us very much, she gives us chocolate milk."
Yes, young man, she certainly does.

Schools go head to head on sportsfield

 Happy House Primary School took on Happy House Secondary School in a friendly sports day, reports Mr Steve.
The girls played netball and boys played volleyball.

It was a very tough competition as both sides were determined to win the day and fought hard.

High School girls won 5 to 4 , but for the boys it was a draw with primary winning the first set with 25 to 17 

and the second set going to high school with 21 to 20.

For the contest the high school teams sported  orange bibs and the primary wore green.

Hard fought matches made it a very exciting spectacle for everyone concerned, students and teachers.

Kidz Club celebrations

 Kidz Club had a special greeting for Mama and Papa this week when the children sang songs to welcome them home after a brief break to get some rest and relaxation.

Everyone misses them when they are away so it's always good to know they are home safe, sound and refreshed.

There was one birthday to celebrate - Natasha Franco. She received her gift bag from Mama Sue.

Star of the Week was awarded to John, recovered after a week long sickness, for being brave. Papa Dave presented him with his certificate.

School Report: Top talkers

Gabriel

Two of our scholarship students now in secondary school have been rewarded for their debating skills, writes Mr. Mramba

Moses

Moses Cosmus and Gabriel Mwarabu received certificates for their outstanding performances during a debating competition at Ngala Girls Secondary School. 
Teacher Md Elizabeth presented them with their awards.
Congratulations to both boys.
Students across school are studying with great seriousness for the upcoming end of term examinations, determined to do well for themselves and for their school.
Teachers working hard to ensure each pupil is exam ready.
Students and teachers are also finding time to rehearse for  the school closing ceremony. 
The end of term has been brought forward this year to ensure that all schools are on holiday when the General Election take place on August 8.

Welcome back Natasha

After going on an extended visit to her mum and grandmum, Natasha Thoya has come bouncing back to Happy House.
Natasha's mum was just a young teenager when she had Natasha and was traumatised by the birth so her baby came into our safe and loving care.
This gave the mum a chance to recover, complete her education and to grow up. 
 She visited Natasha regularly and, with her own mother to help, was in a position to have Natasha on an extended visit, with Happy House supporting her education and medical care,
Natasha settled well and enjoyed going to a local school where she was working hard.
But recently, her mum moved to the island of Lamu in search of work and the grandmum was struggling to look after Natasha.

Mama and Uncle Ronnie agreed it was in Natasha's best interests to bring her home, where her friends were waiting to welcome her with juice and biscuits,  and it's just as though she's never been away.
"The children are so well adjusted they adapt immediately.  She's as happy as she's ever been," said Mama.
"Work is uncertain for many people here and migrating to Lamu does open up new opportunities.
"Natasha's links with her family will be maintained just as always and we will continue to monitor the family situation."