Happy Easter Happy House

Looking after a family with as many children as we have in our Happy House family takes real team work.
And with Mama and Papa heading the team, it runs runs like clockwork
Mama and her admin team (top pictured left) oversee the smooth running of the management of Happy House, working closely with our social worker Uncle Ronnie..
Our aunties do a great job making sure food is prepared for every mealtime (with numbers more than trebling for school lunches), a mountain of laundry is done each day; plus cleaning and, most important of all, looking after the welfare of each individual child.
Our uncles look after the grounds and growing fruit and vegetables, maintenance, security and mechanics.
Day and night, Happy House staff are on duty caring for our our kids and they do it with smiles.
What could be better than knowing that their efforts are helping children, who have had a terrible start in life, to grow into happy, healthy and confident young people.
Happy Easter, Happy House.

Tailor made

Scholarship student Ann is lucky to have a sponsor who is very good at sewing!

Andrea Manders from Poulton, Lancashire, made Ann a lovely  new dress which she sent out  to Happy House with some friends of Mama and Papa who are visiting.

Andrea visited Happy house last year and was able to get to know Ann and to find out what she likes.

Uncle Ronnie, our social worker, said: The dress fitted very well and Ann was very happy and thankful."

School report: End of term exams

Class eight came top of the zone in the mid-term exams and thry are hoping they will hold on to the top spot in the end of term exams which have been taking place this week.

All classes in lower and upper primary have been working hard and enjoying the exams.

Once the exams are over, it will be time to take a break for the Easter holidays,

Have a happy time kids.

Growing matters

Growing crops in our garden helps us to grow our kids.

Happy, healthy, kids take a lot of feeding and that means feeding them the right kinds of foods.

At Happy House we give our children a balanced diet aimed at feeding their bodes and their minds. We want to give kids, who have had a poor start in life, nourishing foods to ensure they can flourish.

So everything we grow in our garden is important to our family.

Vegetables and fruit form a large part of their diet. At Happy House home and school we have various things growing.

This week we have both passion fruit and pawpaw ready for harvesting and bananas will not be far behind.

Uncle Morris was also able to gather coconuts from the trees at school.

Sporting challenge

Our young athletes from Happy House primary school had a wonderful day at Kijiwetanga  for the zone sports

We were well represented with seven kids taking part,  four in 100 metres,  two in walking race and one in  high jump. 

The events were toughly competed and all our children gave their very best efforts, but only Baraka go through to the finals the high jump..

He came fourth out of eight.

Well done to all the youngsters taking part we know how hard you tried and you make us proud.

Congratulations to our competitors who made it through to the next level of the competition.

Lent Giving

Giving up something you enjoy for the Lenten period leading up to Easter is a tradition followed by many.
But this year at St Aidan's CE High School in Preesall, Lancashire, students in K7 have been giving instead of giving up.
And by donating their loose change they gave raised £31.45 for Happy house.
Form teacher Mrs Joanne Rossall, who is such a wonderful ambassador for Happy House, is rightly proud of her students.
Thanks Mrs Rossall and K7 and Happy Easter from all our family.

Exam time!

With the end of term approaching, all efforts in Happy House School are on getting ready for exams. 
Pupils have been revising with help and guidance from their teachers and all are hoping to well.
We wish them every success.

Seven race ahead

Happy House primary school kids competed in the first round of the inter-school athletics competition hosted by Watamu Primary School this week, writes sports teacher Mr Steve.

there were 15 school taking part and the competition was extremely tough.

Our kids put up a good effort and were placed fifth overall .

We produced the best athletes in the 100 metres, walking race and high jump and now have seven pupils who have been selected to go on from cluster level into the zone competition.

This takes place at Kijiwetanga Primary.

The youngster who will be taking part are Sanita Karisa, Lucky Mwachiru, Baraka Mkutano and Anthony Fondo all in 100 metres;  Neema Karisa, Samson Mweri both in  the walking race and Salim Charo in high jump.

This week's birthdays

There are three birthdays to celebrate at Happy House this week.
And, as usual, the excited kids were given VIP treatment at Kidz Club.

They received greetings and songs and gifts, with Mama, Papa  and Auntie Rose handing over their gift bags.

The birthday trio are: Erick Safari who is now eight (pictured with Mama); Suleiman Safari who is 12 (picture with Papa) and Joyce Mona who is seven (pictured with Auntie Rose.

Happy birthday kids.

Enhancing lives with specialist help

Our children come from many different backgrounds but all shoulder the heavy burden of hardship, tragedy or abuse.

Once they are with us, we give them love, care, protection and education. Our aim is to give them something to smile about, a childhood to enjoy, and to put hope into their hearts.

Our social worker Uncle Ronnie says:" Our support ensures both physical, mental, psychological, and spiritual healing.

" What we cannot offer here we make sure we can access by referrals through proper channels. 

"We referred two of our boys; Katana Francis 13, and Khalid Ali 12 to ‘Furaha Phonix Kinderhaus’ which is a special home helping street children. 

"The two had been on the streets before joining us. We supported them as much as we could but they were in need of more specialised psychological support.

"After three months there, they have to come back to Happy House having benefited from the counselling they have received.

"As we brought them home, we took Moffin and Daudi, also rescued from the streets, for a stay at Furaha Phonix.

"They have been with us since 2016 but have struggled to adopt our Happy House ways, retaining the behaviour and language of the streets.  We are sure they will benefit from the special guidance and counselling and look for to their return to Happy House.

 "We are keep a close eye on them with phone calls and visits to ensure they are well and settled.

Picture at Furaha Phonix are  manager Evarlyn ,Papa Dave, Mama Sue, Daudi, Moffin, Khalid, Katana, (administrator) and Samson (social worker) .

KG nets champion goalie!

Happy House kindergarten has produced the best goal keeper in the county - Everline Richard.

She was one of the children selected to represent the sub-county in the county games at Kilifi.

Mr Steve, sports teacher,  said: "The activities were tough because we were competing at a high level  with seven sub-counties 

 Malindi, Magarini, Kilifi North, Ganze, Kilifi South, Kaloleni and Rabai.

Being the first time we have reached this level Happy House is so happy with those of our children selected for the team and tthey have make us proud .

They are also ensuring that Happy House School  is recognised as also doing well in co- curriculum activities.

We are delighted with Everline's success. Hurray for Happy House! Hurray for Happy House team.

This week the primary section will be taking part in inter-school sports activities and hope to do us proud.

We were very pleased to welcome a visitor, Sara, who sponsors some of our kids who came to cheer the children on.

Congratulations to Everline and our kids!

Packages of kindness

We are always incredibly grateful to our friends who support us in so many ways.
Brenda Groves is one of our oldest and most loyal friends, having been supporting Sue's work from the earliest days,
Brenda and her husband Red, have visited many times as have other members of their family.
Brenda likes to send occasional parcels out to Happy House with useful and essential items for our kids, but knowing how we have to pay import duty on every parcel we receive, she always makes a donation to cover it.
She is in the sponsor family of our Charity, whilst her brother, Terry, sponsors  Brian Hayward and scholarship student Lovinne, and her granddaughter, Chloe, is in Said's sponsor family. Her husband Red is in Emmanuel's sponsor family.
As a family, they care deeply about our Happy House family.
Thank you  Brenda for your latest parcel and for the paying the cost of import duty and for a donation of £15 to buy a chair for school  - it's shown in the picture with (from left) Brian, Charity and Said. 
Our joiner Charo is currently making the 83 chairs we need to meet all our needs in school, at a cost of £15 each. 
Thank you, Brendam  and your family for being wonderful and encouraging sponsors to the kids whose lives you enrich and for all the support you give to our family..
Anyone who would like to know more about sponsoring a child should visit http://www.childrenofwatamu.net/sponsored-child-scheme/sponsored-child-scheme-watamu  or email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

My best friend, by John

Today's blog is written by Happy House student, John Masila, who tells us about his best friend. He writes:
My friend is called William. He is in Standard Six at school.
William likes green and red.
He lives in the town, it is a nice town.
He is a nice dancer and a good footballer, but he is not as good at football as I am.
William is good in exams most of the time.
He has a brother and a sister.
I have two sisters, so I am the only boy.
William is my best friend and I love him,

Today, Happy House is 8

Happy birthday Happy House.
It is eight years today, since our Happy House children's home officially opened its doors realising a long-held dream for our amazing founder, Mama Sue.
Looking back is a reminder of the the high and lows, the joy and the pain, the wonder and the worry. 
But for Mama Sue, there is only ever one driving force - her children.
However hard it gets, she stays focused on her reason for being, the needy children of Kenya who turned her life on its head and led her and her devoted husband, Dave to dedicate all their time and energy to transforming young lives.
Mama Sue and Papa Dave have created a family home that resonates with love and laughter. 
They have gained the love and trust of children, some of whom had never known was it was like to be loved nor had anyone in whom they could invest their trust,
Mama Sue's foresight, entrepreneurial vision, tenacity and sheer determination has grown our Happy House, not stopping with a children's home but adding three schools as well. 
There is no compromise, everything at home and school is done to the highest standards.  
Mama Sue is a tough taskmaster.  After eight years, she has gained respect for her drive and her exacting standards.
Today, as we say Happy Birthday, Happy House, our thanks and our love go to Mama Sue and Papa Dave.
Those of us who share your journey, support your work, sponsor your kids, are deeply grateful for all you do and glad to be part of the huge and joyful family that is Happy House.

It's snow joke!

There was amazement from Dulla when he received a picture of last week's snow in UK from his sponsors Norma and Pat Smith.
Uncle Ronnie, our social worker, explained what snow is and just how cold it is.
 Dulla, who feels chilly when the rains come and the temperatures drop to the mid-20s, found it hard to imagine how Norma and Pat could deal with such cold.
They have been sponsoring Dulla since he was living at Happy House and were happy to continue their support when it was possible for him and his sister, Rehema, to return to live with their mum.
They come into Happy House school every day and Dulla , who is now in class 3, has just celebrated his ninth birthday.
Our children love receiving emails, postcards or letters from their sponsors and to learn about their families, their pets, their work and their weather!
Every message opens another window on the world and broadens their outlook of life.
Thank you Norma and Pat for your love and your friendship for Dulla
If you would like to know more about sponsoring a Happy  House kid, please email: elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net
Together we change lives.

Pendo is 11

Pendo was just three when she joined our Happy House family, the youngest of a family group of three.

That was in March 2010, and this week she is celebrating her 11 birthday.

It's a pleasure to watch all our children grow, to follow their progress and to see how their personalities develop.

At Kidz Club on Tuesday, Pendo was the centre of attention as all the family sang greetings for her birthday.

Mama Sue presented her with her birthday gift bag, and a very big hug!

Happy birthday Pendo.

School Report: No more multiple choice

 Happy House School is to set its own examinations to make them more exacting for pupils.
Uncle Ronald, our social worker, explains:

All primary schools and kindergartens do exams with  multiple choice answers provided on the question papers. Pupils are required to choose one of  the four answers provided. It is clear that if you are lucky in guessing you can score good marks even if in reality you don’t know the right answers.

Once you join high school things are different; no answers are being provided on the exam papers. 

Most students find it hard because they are not used to this method and it takes some time to settle into the new system.

At Happy House we always plan ahead. Mama always encourages staff to talk abuut any ideas they might have on how best we can help the children; we work together not only as  a team but also as a family.

In one of the teachers’ meetings, Mama brought the idea that we should start giving the primary and kindergarten kids exams without  multiple choice answers. This will not only allow teachers to assess the exact academic ability of their pupils but will also prepare them for moving on to high school.

The idea was taken positively by all the teachers and last Friday we had a special morning assembly where Mama informed the children on the changes.

It started with a prayer from Mama, then singing where the Home kids had two groups competing in singing; boys and girls.

The boys team was led by Benedict while the girls team was led by Rukia. 

The girls emerged to be the winners for singing nicely. The boys were very good in entertaining as there was a lot of laughing and cheering during their turn. In short nobody lost; they were all winners!

The kids were very excited on the changes of exams.

They are always ready to be challenged when it comes to academic matters.

This change means we will be setting our own exams as all the exams we normally buy from outside come with answers. This means there will be a lot of printing and photocopying.

To make it easy for the teachers, Mama has invested in a photocopier for the school. It will be a huge asset.

We are waiting to see the results of the end term exams with these new changes.

County here we come!

 Our kindergarten athletes will be competing at county level this week after successfully representing Watamu ward, writes sports teacher Mr Steve.

Seven children took part in the sub-county heats at Chumani School and five won through to the county stage which takes place at Gede this week

Faith Njeri , Rehema Katana, Everline Richard, Samson Mjimba and Lucky Safari were selected/

Thanks to entire Happy House family for the support the kids get in in having the best  all round education both in academics and co-curriculum activities and for the encouragement and motivation they receive.

Go, go, go Happy House!

Race against time to register kids

With the new education system, all children of school age a are required to be registered nationwide 

Registering each child has added a huge amount to the workload of of staff in schools.

Each serial number on each child's birth certificate must be filled in on an online ministry of education platform, along with the details of parents or guardians, the name of the county and sub-county of birth.

Each child will then be issued with a unique PIN number which will see them through the entire length of their education.

The government will be following up trying to minimize school dropouts as all schools will be required to be giving updates.

Notification of any child transferring to another school must be made and each school has already been given a special code.

It all sounds straightforward, but it begins with a birth certificate but many parents just haven't registered their kids and the new system is causing long queues at registration offices and in cyber cafes, as the majority of schools do not have internet access.

Our head teacher Mr Isaac and computer teacher, Mr Omoi, have been working flat out in our computer room to try to get the information input online just as soon as they can obtain it from parents.

They have already covered more than half the school population and are keen to get the remainder registered and returned by the ministry's deadline day.

Me, by Juliet

Juliet is a scholarship student and values the education she is receiving at Happy House.

She is working hard to achieve her dream.

She writes:

I am a girl and I am now in class six. I am 12 years old.

My dream is to be doctor. Why, you may ask, do I want to be a doctor? It is because I want to help people who are suffering from many different diseases.

My hobbies are running and swimming. In the holidays I like to visit new places.

I have two brothers and one sister.

My favourite colours are pink, white and blue.

My best food is chapati and stew, I also like kuku (chicken) , rice and meat.

I have a cat called Puss. She is white and I like to play ball with her. She is shy and doesn't like many people.

Well wishes for Francis

Our Francis was thrilled to get a special delivery of get well cards.
Francis, 13, who has osteomyelitis, is doing well on a powerful course of antibiotics,  has endured a great deal of pain since the infection in his upper thigh and hip set in.
Now with his infected join supported by a brace, and the infection being treated he's getting better by the day.
And well wishes from the ladies of  the Inner Wheel of Garstang and Over Wyre,  the Zoeer family; Jackie,  James, Sam  India and Eloise are an extra tonic.
"They really made him feel more strong, being  loved and remembered," said Uncle Ronnie, our social worker.

"Francis would like to say thank you to every one who has sent him cards and to all those who have sent messages or supported him in any way/

"He is looking  healthy and happy. This would not be possible without your support which we we really appreciate."

Clinic call

Once a week, there is a special clinic day  for people living with HIV Aids at Timboni Community Dispensary,

And it is there that we take those children, in our care at Happy House, who need ongoing treatment for HIV.

Specialist doctors from Bomu Hospital in Mombasa attend the clinic where they provide their services free of charge.

They have been impressed with the ever-improving health of the kids we are taking there,  and have treated them to gifts of school shoes, watches and stationery.

Yesterday, Mama, Papa, Aunty Millicent and social worker Uncle Ronald when to visit the clinic and to thank the staff there.

Uncle Ronald says: "They were very pleased to see us and also pleased with what we are doing in helping children. The viral load of our kids affected by HIV had gone down and they healthy and active."

Mama, Auntie Millicent, Uncle Ronald  are picture with Christine who is in charge of operations at the dispensary.

Christine was delighted to receive a gift of secondhand clothing, surplus to our needs, that she can distribute to her clients in need.

Birthday boy Baraka

Just one birthday for our family to celebrate this week at Happy House.
So it was Baraka Francis' turn to take centre stage at Kidz Club to enjoy the greeting and birthday songs from all the family.
Volunteer, Auntie Gussy, was delighted to hand over his birthday goody bag.
Baraka was all smiles now that he's 11!
Happy birthday Baraka.

A break for Brian

We just never know what emergency is going to arise in our  family of 74 kids to look after!

On Sunday, seven year old Brian Makotsi had an accident whilst he was playing and his left wrist was causing him so much pain he was taken straight to Tawfiq Private Hospital in Malindi.

An x-ray showed that he had a fractured bone which was set in a plaster cast and he'll be back for a  check up in a month.

After the initial shock. Brian was as right as rain and was back at school on Monday to show off his plaster cast!

Chairs in the making

With more children in school and our new classrooms we are once again short of chairs.

To ensure that all children can be seated for their daily school activities we need another 83 chairs.

After talking through his design with Mama Sue, our joiner, Uncle Charo, who is very highly skilled, made a sample chair which was met with Mama's approval.

It is his model for the chairs and he is now busy at work, with the help of two assistants, making the chairs ready for school as soon as possible.

The materials, bought locally, and we estimate a cost in the region of £15 per chair bringing a total of £1254.

If you would like to help by paying for a chair, please donate £15 at  https://www.justgiving.com/childrenofwatamu/Donate

Upwards and onwards

Parents and guardians were invited to attend an academic clinic when they discussed their children's progress with teachers.

Children are always involved in the discussions and are encouraged to set themselves goals.

There was a good attendance and afterwards Mama announced the high achievers who would be moving up a class in order to ensure they are stretched academically.

There was a great deal of clapping and cheering for the bright sparks who are excited to be challenged.

Those moving up received a small prize, presented by Mama.

Parents and guardians were also delighted for their kids.

My friend, by Lily

Happy House kid, Lily, is today's blogger.

She is writing about her school friend:

My friend is Agnes. She learns at Happy House School where she is in Class 6. 

She helps me in different subjects. She is kind to other pupils at school.

She helps at home, and at school. She obeys her parents and teachers and makes sure that she finishes her homework and hands it in to the teacher.

She welcomes visitors at school and at home. 

Agnes is kind and shares what she has,

She likes the olours red and yellow.

Agnes likes eating rice and fish.

Sicily feels the love

Eliana and Mario

A Valentine's Day party in Sicily spread the love for Happy House.

Our family had touched the hearts of Eliana Boni and her husband, Mario Simone,  when they visited Watamu and when they got home they not only wanted to sponsor a child but to do more to help.

With the help of friends, they arranged the party at Hotel Millepeni in Catatafimi Segesta,, the small town in north-west of Sicily where they live.

There were 80 people at the event, and others, who could not attend, helped by buying raffle tickets for prizes donated by generous sponsors, raising a fantastic 1830 euro.

Eliana played a video of Happy House, and showed some of the pictures she had taken when she visited. She also spoke about sponsoring a child.

Eliana said: "I want to thank you all the friends who decided to help me in this crazy project against the clock ( everything was organized in less then one week), the sponsors that offered us the prizes for the lottery, my town Catatafimi Segesta but the most important "THANK YOU" is for Sue and David.

Our small help is nothing extraordinary compared to the job they are doing at Happy House."

Happy House would like to thank Eliana, Mario, their friends and all those who supported their event. All the money raised will go making life better and brighter for the children in our care.