Testing times

Our KCPE exam candidates spent yesterday getting ready for the next few days.
The national exams are held under very close external  scrutiny, with premises under guard.
As only Class Eight and the head teacher are allowed on school premises  during that time, everyone else is back at Happy House.
KCPE exams get started this morning and candidates are ready to tackle the days ahead and to make themselves and happy house proud.

Oher classes teachers have already started the new syllabus for next year and kids are responding well towards and as always we are always thinking ahead. 

Big week for Class 8

It's a landmark week for our Primary Class 8.

Today they start their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education national examination with rehearsals when they will be preparing their exam room and their examination materials.

Examinations start tomorrow with mathematics, English and composition.

On Wednesday they have science, Kiswahili and insha writing papers while on Thursday there will be social studies and CRE papers.

Their class teacher, Madam Doris, said:

"They have promised to work very hard to maintain the standards of our school by getting good results.

They have done well throughout the year. 

In their last exam they managed to get a mean score of 367.00 which is also our K.C.P.E target for this year."

Studying to change my life, by Khamis

Scholarship student Khamis Makau is one of the year eight students who will be taking their KCPE exams when they start tomorrow.

He writes:

I would like to study more so that I can change my life in future.

 Now I am in class eight, I am waiting for the final exam to come this week. 

I am well prepared and me and my fellow candidates have worked hard sowe can all achieve our goals.

Since I was in class one my parents encouraged me so I could have a good life in future. 

I would like to be a pilot when I grow up.

I have young sisters and brothers who are looking to follow me in every step I make in school.
It is for young people like Khamis that we must get the two new classrooms we need for our school.
We have only a a few weeks in which to get them up and open ready for the new school year beginning in January.
The total cost is £7,000 - we still have more than £3000 to raise.
Please, if you can spare anything ( a fiver or a tenner maybe?) please give today at https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

A day to remember

 Visitors are always welcome at Happy House and we try to make every visit memorable.

Not that we have to do much, seeing our children so happy, healthy and enjoying life touches hearts and makes the best kind of memories.

We were delighted to welcome Anita Patel who visited with her father Babu, her mother Raksha and her cousins, Atul and Smruti who live in Nairobi.

They bought cartons of clothing for our kids, biscuits and balloon.

The enjoyed playing and singing with the children and then helped to distribute biscuits which were enjoyed by all.

Thank you all for coming to see us, we hope you will come back one day soon.

With love from Betty

Lovely Betty Hatch is always checking up on what we need for our kids.
As soon as she knows, she's off out shopping seeking out the best bargains. 
Underwear, clothes, pencils and Christmas decorations were all included in the latest parcel to arrive with love from Betty in Essex, affectionately known at Happy House as "Bargain Betty" for her legendary shopping skills!
She not only pays postage, she pays the cost of import duty as well.
Her kindness is so appreciated.
And there's great excitement at Happy House because  the family knows that Betty and her son Paul will be arriving to visit in January.
The welcome mat is ready and waiting ...

End of term nears

ll is going well in school where end of term exams have taken place and our students are eagerly anticipating their results.

They have worked hard and we are sure they will meet expectations, writes Mr Paul

Students are now preparing for the next level when they go up into a new class next term.

in KG3, our youngsters are preparing for graduation to primary school. A big event for them.  

All the school is getting ready for the end of term closing day ceremony.

Class Eight, of KCPE flag bearers, are still busy revising whilst waiting for the starting whistle to be blown by the exam council early next month.

They are all working very hard towards this landmark.

School Report: Teddy's a top talker

Scholarship student Teddy is talking his way to success.
Teddy, who will be sitting his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination next month, has been hailed as one of the best speakers in the educational sub-cluster division.
He has represented our Happy House in the schools debating competition winning through both inter-schools and  sub- cluster and is now set for the sub-county contest.
We now hope he will win that and go through to county level.
Well done Teddy

Seaside fun in the sun

There was time to cool down and chill out for our kids on Saturday when they went down on the beach to play.
A excited bunch they walked from Happy House to the beach near Sun Palms Hotel, where they were able to swim or splash about the Indian ocean.
They played games on the beach and loads of fun before heading back to Happy House in time for lunch, tired and happy after a splendid morning.

Autumn evening boosts classroom fund

 Students From Saint Aidan’s CE Technology College in Preesall celebrated autumn when they took over a hotel restaurant for the night,

K53 and K54 students cooked, prepared and served a three course meal to 156 guests at The Villa Hotel in Wrea Green, one of the Fylde coasts premier country house hotels

Under the expert guidance of  Mrs Joanne Rossall,TLC Design & Technology.

Previously organising an event a requirement for her GCSE students which led to the collaboration with the Villa several years ago.

Every year since then, her students have present a dinner for parents, staff and friends covering every aspect of the events from planning, front of house, cooking, service and entertainment. 
This year, organising an event is no longer a required element of the syllabus, but Mrs Rossall thought it too valuable an experience for students to let it drop and asked her headteacher, Andy Smith, if she could do it anyway - only involving a much wider range of students of different ages.
Each one taking part had to apply for a job and go through a job interview with Mrs Rossall before being given a role to play.
The result was a fabulous evening of tasty food and friendly service complimented
by  and art display Year 7and9 students and Year 10 GCSE candidates and entertainment by the music department.
The evening took autumn as its theme with table decorations and menu to reflect the season.
St Audan's is a great friend of Happy House - Mrs Rossall's K7 sponsors Stevie Karisa -  our charity was chosen to benefit from the raffle.
Our UK voluntary coordinator Elizabeth Gomm and Jackie Fineman, who sponsors Charity and Stevie Ndoro,went along to support the evening.
"It was a lovely evening. The students took on a mammoth task and did it brilliantly. Mrs Rossall and the school have every reason to be proud of them.
"We are delighted with the £389 raised. Every penny will go into our Classrooms for Kids Appeal. Thanks to everyone who donated prizes and to all the Mrs Rossall, her students, Villa staff and school staff who made it all happen. You have taken us a step nearer to starting the build next month and having the classrooms complete for the start of the new school year in January."
* To make a donation to Classroom for Kids please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

My exams. by Faith

Scholarship student Faith will be talking her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam next month - an important milestone in the life of every Kenyan child.
She writes: 

 I have been studying from class 1-8. I have been studying and reading a lot of books so I  am now glad to be nearing my KCPE.

My teachers have taught me many things like how to write a composition, social and even English.

I have set goals  for myself, My goal is to achieve 450 marks.

Teachers have taught me a lot. I have read many books.

What I believe  that with hard work I can do well world.

 I believe in myself  and that with my efforts and the help of God I will pass my exams. 

Birthday boys

 Two birthdays, two boys, five years apart!
Samson turned 15 this week while Thomas Safari reached his fifth birthday milestone.
They celebrated with the family at Kidz Club on Tuesday when they received their gifts.
Happy birthday boys.
With just a month or so  until we need to start building, our Classrooms for Kids appeal fund is growing - but there is still a long way to go,
We now have £3586  towards the £7000 we so desperately need to add two new classrooms to our secondary school.
If you could spare £5 or £10 towards the build you would be taking us ever nearer our target. 
To donate online please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

A circle of kindness

Our UK coordinator Elizabeth Gomm, Auntie Libz to our family, was given a very warm welcome when she visited the Thursday Circle at the United Reformed Church in Poulton.
The  ladies group were inspired and touched by the story of our Mama Sue's road to the Happy House and the extraordinary work being done to  change the lives of children in need.
They wanted to send their love to Mama, Papa and all the family.
A donation of £30 from the club was topped up to £56.16p by a collection.
Thank you ladies for your kindness, your donation will go into our Classroom for Kids Fund.
With just a month or so  until we need to start building, our Classrooms for Kids appeal fund is growing - but there is still a long way to go,
We now have £3556  towards the £7000 we so desperately need to add two new classrooms to our secondary school.
If you could spare £5 or £10 towards the build you would be taking us ever nearer our target. 
To donate online please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Always Happy House kids

After almost two years living with their grandad on his smallholding deep in the country north of Nairobi, Musyoka, Francis and Mwende have come home to their adopted family at Happy House.

The standard of teaching in their school had deteriorated and the children, who are all eager to learn, knew they were not achieving the results they should be.

With Musyoka due to take his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education next year he was worried about his performance.

We have kept a regular check on the children and Mama has spoken to them regularly, so she was deeply concerned to hear that things were not as they had been in school.

With his grandad's cooperation we looked for a new school for the children but because of the remote location of their homestead there was nothing else within reach.

So when Mama asked if they would like to come back, all three said yes!

They have been well looked after and very happy with their grandad and they will continue to see him whenever possible.

He made the nine hour journey to Watamu with the trio to bring them to Happy House and they have settled in as if they have never been away.

They are just the same happy, confident, kids who grew up with us for almost six years ... just bigger!

Welcome home you beautiful kids. 

Once a Happy House kid, always a Happy House kid!

School Report: Welcome Auntie B

Welcome to school Auntie B.
Volunteer Gussy Bunbury's mother, Amanda, has come to volunteer in our school and we are so delighted she has joined us.
Amanda, from London, is on a sabbatical from her teaching job in the UK. this has given her an opportunity to fulfil her dream of teaching in Africa,
Always Mrs B back home, she will be Auntie B to our family.
She has been teaching in primary education for the last 18 years mainly in Year 2 (6-7 year olds) but is qualified to teach across the primary age range.
She is assisting with English in our Happy House school and the kids are loving her lessons.

Leading the way

 All roads led to Happy House for students preparing to take their Kenya Certificate of  Primary Education exam next month.
Class 8 students from Jacaranda Primary School and Kanani Primary School joined our own Class 8 for a special gathering aimed to help them to get ready for the exam and to keep them motivated.
Our own Mama Sue and sub-county director of education were the two main speakers. 
Our school was chosen to host the event as we were the best school in the county in the KCPE  results last year.

CHANGING LIVES: 

We are so grateful to all those who have given to our  Classrooms for Kids Appeal which is raising £7000 to build two new classrooms by January.

Please, please, if you can help by making a donation, no matter how small, or holding a fundraising event you will be helping to change children’s lives by giving them an education which is their only road out of poverty.

You know that every but if every donation will go directly into the build - £ for £, Euro for Euro, $ or $, there is  no middle tier taking off amounts for admin, fundraising costs etc.

To make a donation go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Gifts galore

Volunteer Gussy Bunbury has now been joined in Watamu by her mum, Amanda.
Amanda brought with a whole host of goodies she and Gussy had gathered in. They include legging, underwear, pencils and games.
Thank you Gussy and Amanda for all your lovely gifts,

Teddy's found his place

Teddy Kipchoge is proud to be a scholarship student at Happy House and grateful to those who make it possible.

 He writes today's blog:

The Happy House is located in Watamu.

It is a really nice place helping kids in need.

The Happy House consists of our nice Mama Sue, Papa Dave, Uncle Ronald,  Aunty Rose, Aunty Velma and all the other staff members including Mr Isaac our headteacher. 

The Happy House is not only a school but also a home for children who are well taken care of and loved.

We are happy when we belong to Happy House family because it gives us a land of opportunities, and just as  our Mama tells us  “Once a Happy House kid, always a Happy House kid”. 

We are getting the help offered by our Mama and Uncle Ronald with the help of Papa Dave who we call “Radio Watamu” .

Their help has really helped us.

Having the motivational talks from Mam, Papa and Uncle Ronald after each and every exam has improved our ability to understand and know where we are weak and where we are strong so as to help us boost our performance. Mama has really helped us understand the need for education,

At school we have new learning tools such as computers, smart televisions with Wifi access that enables us to learn more and figure out more things. Through our sponsors we are attending school and thanks to everyone who supports Happy House for making our education possible.

The Happy House the best place to be because we all know that “East or West Happy House family is always the best!".

Happy birthday Steve

Birthday boy, our lovely Steve Ndoro, turned eight this week.

Auntie Rose had the important job of presenting him with his birthday gift  at Kidz Club while all his brothers and sisters sang the birthday songs for him.

The Happy House kids were congratulated on their results in the mid-term exams.

A prize for Francis

Scholarship student Francis Anangwe has every reason to smile.

He has received a special prize from KCB Bank for his performance at a recent careers session when bank manager, Mr Bernard was the guest.

Whilst talking about banking and careers in banking he asked posed a question to the students with the promise of a prize to anyone who got the answer right.

Francis gave the correct answer and won the prize, which was delivered this week by his representative from the local branch.

Please can you help?
For our students, most of whom are either living in our Happy House children's home or on free places in our school, because of their dire living circumstances, education is their road to a future free from poverty and despair.
We must get the two classrooms we need to add to our school built and finished in the next three months, ready for opening in January.
We cannot do this without YOUR help.
We have raised £3,500 of the £7,000 we need. Just a few pounds will take us a step nearer to our goal.
Thank you.
You can make a donation by going to 
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Table service

 Our joiner Charo has now completed another 46 tables for our study rooms at school.
When the tables ,made from materials bought locally and beautifully constructed and finished, were teady to deliver from the joinery workshop at Happy House to our school older older boys were eager to help.
They weighed in to carry the tables the short distance to school working as a team to make it as quick and efficient as possible
Please can you help?
For our students, most of whom are either living in our Happy House children's home or on free places in our school, because of their dire living circumstances, education is their road to a future free from poverty and despair.
We must get the two classrooms we need to add to our school built and finished in the next three months, ready for opening in January.
We cannot do this without YOUR help.
We have raised £3,500 of the £7,000 we need. Just a few pounds will take us a step nearer to our goal.
Thank you.
You can make a donation by going to 
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

School Report: Gussy helps out

Kindergarten kids gather round for action games with Auntie Gussy, writes Md Louisa
Volunteer Gussy Bunbury is a great help in school assisting teachers and working  one-to-one with little ones who need a bit of extra encouragement and help.
Mama and Uncle Ronnie have been reviewing the mid-term results with children, class by class, helping to prepare them for the next challenge to come - the end of year exams.
This term is so short that everyone is having to keep focused and working hard .
But as they know, hard work brings results.

Hotel expert gives careers talk

Tourism is the life-blood of Watamu, providing more jobs than any other single sector.
So it is highly likely that some of the students in our school will go on to work in the hospitality industry.
We were thrilled when Damian Davies, general manager of Turtle Bay Hotel, agreed to come in for a careers session with our secondary students.
He gave them a real insight into the way a hotel works, the different roles and the way to young entrants could work their way up,

Mr Davies brought pens which he kindly gave out to each student and to their teachers.

We are grateful to him for sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise with our students.
For our students, most of whom are either living in our Happy House children's home or on free places in our school, because of their dire living circumstances, education is their road to a future free from poverty and despair.
We must get the two classrooms we need to add to our school built and finished in the next three months, ready for opening in January.
We cannot do this without YOUR help.
We have raised £3,500 of the £7,000 we need. Just a few pounds will take us a step nearer to our goal.
Thank you.
You can make a donation by going to 
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Please give to change lives

Thanks to you, our Classroom for Kids Appeal has hit the halfway mark

We’ve now banked £3,500 and there are promises of more to come.

This means we are hopeful of getting our tow secondary classrooms started next month and finished by the start of the new school year in January.
Gabriel (right) is one of the students who is looking forward to moving into one of the new classrooms.
One of the very first kids to be given a scholarship place in our school, back in 2014, his life has been totally transformed.
Then he was working on a building site trying to help to feed his family and attending a local school when he could - only to be told teachers wouldn't mark his books because he was absent too often.
When he came to seek a scholarship place his enthusiasm for learning shone out. 
Since then he has progressed from primary to secondary school, achieving good marks in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and is now poised to go into Form 3 Secondary in January.
Without Happy House he would have been destined to a life of casual labour and drudgery, no he has a real chance of a good career.

We are so grateful to all those who have given to our appeal so far.

Please, please, if you can help by making a donation, no matter how small, or holding a fundraising event you will be helping to change children’s lives by giving them an education which is their only road out of poverty.

You know that every but if every donation will go directly into the build - £ for £, Euro for Euro, $ or $, there is  no middle tier taking off amounts for admin, fundraising costs etc.

To make a donation go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Taking us into the future, by Evans

Hello, this is Evans .

I hope you are fine. I  and taking this opportunity to appreciate you the work that you all do for us in providing the things we need to help her learn.

We were glad this year to have more computers to make our learning smooth.

We thank you friends for the wonderful work that you do in giving money to help buy these.

As you know today’s world is controlled by electronic gadgets such as computers and we thank you because we know that the good results we will get is thanks to your wonderful support. Because we understand technology we will be able to cope and adapt to the world of work.

Computers play an important role in our school as do our Smart TVs.

 We can use the internet to find information and to research. They make learning to be interesting and enjoyable. 

We take great care of the technology we have and use it only for the correct purpose.

We thank everyone who has given money to help build new classrooms for our secondary school. I am so happy to be in secondary school and to know that we will have all the classrooms we need.

Thank you very much to you wonderful people who are ready to change lives of kids at the Happy House we really appreciate 

May God bless the work of your hands abundantly.

Lots of love from Evans Khamisi xxx 

Happy and settled with grandma

It's a year since Mercy Changawa left the full-time care of our Happy house family to go to live with her grandma.

In making this reunion possible we have continued to meet the costs of mercy's education and healthcare and have monitored her progress with phone calls and visits.

This week, Mama, Papa and Uncle Ronnie paid a surprise visit to Mercy at school, without any prior notice to the school or her grandma.

Uncle Ronnie said: " We reached there at break time when all the kids were out playing.

There were many kids and and we were having trouble finding the one we were looking for.

But lucky enough Mercy saw us first and ran towards us with big smile on her face. She went straight to Mama for a hug, she was so very pleased to see us. 

She is now in class two and she was second in class in recent exams.

We are happy to tell you all that she is happy and settled with herr grandmother."

Banking on the future

Learning about the world of work is an essential part of education at the Happy House.

And involves careers guidance from leading professionals.

This week our school was delighted to welcome Mr Bernard, a manager with KCB bank, who talked to students about working in the world of banking.

He emphasised the importance of working hard now, and staying focused on achieving good results, plus good conduct which would help them if they chose to apply for a job in the banking sector,

We are grateful to Mr Bernard for making time in his busy schedule to spend time in our school.

CAN YOU HELP?

With just a couple of months until we need to start building, our Classrooms for Kids appeal fund is growing - but there is still a long way to go,
We now have £3379 towards the £7000 we so desperately need to add two new classrooms to our secondary school.
If you could spare £5 or £10 towards the build you would be taking us ever nearer our target. 
To donate online please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Birthday for Neema

 After a recent restructure, our Happy house Kidz Council were praised by Mama for the role they are playing .
Good role  models, they are are leading the other kids to ensure they behave well and are caring towards each other and acting on any issues that may emerge
The young people who form the council are Samson, John, Jacinta and Brian Isiaho.

There is just one child celebrating a birthday this week - Neema Kanze who is nine.
Neema received her gifts from Auntie DawnHeather White while all the family sang her a birthday greeting.

School Report: Debating contest

So far so good this term,  everything is going on well as planned, reports Md Naomi.

We are now in our sixth week and everyone is doing their best to do what is expected of them.

Pupils are working hard to ensure good performance come the end of term exam which is also the end of year exam that qualifies them for the next class level.

 Teachers are also on toes trying their best to help the time takers and also our candidates who are expected to take their final primary school exam come the beginning of November 2017.

Class eight pupils who are  candidates this year had inter cluster debating competition with Happy House and Timboni  Junior vs Jacaranda and Canaan.

 The debate took place at Happy House School and our pupils who were the proposers worn in the motion which says; Boarding schools are better than day schools.

Four of our students were chosen to proceed to the finals  by the officials involved. These are; Teddy Kipchoge, Davis Lemayan, Reuben Kahindi and Faith Lozzi.

Pupils are also doing the mid term exam. We are looking forward to good performance in all classes.

Fund grows ... but a long way to go

With just a couple of months until we need to start building, our Classrooms for Kids appeal fund is growing - but there is still a long way to go,
We now have £3379 towards the £7000 we so desperately need to add two new classrooms to our secondary school.
If you could spare £5 or £10 towards the build you would be taking us ever nearer our target. 
To donate online please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids

Max arrives laden with gifts from italy

 It was with great pleasure that Mama, Papa and the Happy House family welcomed Massimiliano Zeuli.
Film maker Max, who lives in Rome, and his wife Francesa are in Abu's sponsor family and the parents of their friend Andreas, are special friends to Abu's sister Sudi.
The two families collected lots of lovely items which Max delivered to our family, much to the joy of all the children who were eager to be photographed with the gifts,
Max is a frequent visitor and we are always pleased to see him.
Thank you to Max and to both families for all their kindness.
PLEASE DONATE
Our £7,000 Classrooms for Kids appeal is heading to the halfway mark. 
It now stands to £3,379 thanks to a £300 donation from Phil and Sabrina Powell.
Sabrina was one of our very first volunteers back in 2010 and she has never forgotten our kids, nor have they forgotten her.
For her 40th birthday her friends made donations to Happy House - a surprise organised by her husband Phil.
This donation is a huge help as we must start the build next month, so that we can complete the two classrooms needed by the start of the new school year in January.
Every single donation, no matter how small, will make a difference.
We know you have so many demands on your hard-earned cash, but if you can spare just £5 or £10 it will take us ever nearer to our goal.
Our thanks to Phil, Sabrina and their friends for their contributions, Every penny will be well spent.
And we hope, one day, Sabrina and Phil that you will come out to visit and bring your own lovely little boy to meet our family.
To donate please go to:  https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/childrenofwatamu/classroomsforkids