Charting growth

Keeping record of each child's development is one of the routine tasks of our social worker, Uncle Ronald, at Happy House.
We need to ensure that each child is developing within the average for their age,  which is important when some of them came into our care having been undernourished or neglected.
It's also part of the requirement made on children's homes in Kenya.
Now Janet has completed school and preparing to start on her studies to become a social worker, Uncle Ronald has her help.
He will be her mentor and by working alongside him she will gain a valuable and unique insight into the work of a social worker.

Thank you Brenda and red

Look at all the lovely things Brenda and Red Groves managed to pack in their luggage for ur Happy House family.
It took Brenda quite a time to unpack in Mama's office and to show her all the things she had collected, bought, made received as donations from freinds and family.
We are very grateful for everything.  Thank you.

Apple bobbing!

 Our youngsters at Happy House put on a great show to welcome our friends Brenda and Red Groves.
It included songs, dance,  a performance of three Billy Goats Gruff , apple-bobbing and cake!
The kids insisted that everyone had a go at bobbing for an apple which left Auntie Brenda  
(who is always a good sport) just a little wet!

Welcome Brenda and Red

 There  was the warmest welcome awaiting our fabulous old friends, Brenda and Red Groves when they arrived at Happy House.
Mama Sue and Papa Dave and all the family assembled to greet Brenda and Red who had travelled from their home in Wantage, UK.
And there was a party in their honour too with entertainment by the children, dancing, cake and apple bobbing
Brenda and red have been visiting Watamu for many years and first met Mama when she was starting her work with the local community .
They sponsored children in the school which  Mama helped to grow and develop and when it was ready to stand on its own feet and she was embarking on her Happy House project they continued to support her work.
They sponsor Charity and Emmanuel while their granddaughter, Chloe., sponsors Said and Brenda's brother, Terry, sponsors Brian Hayward and Lovine.
All the children know Auntie Brenda and Uncle Red and were excited to know they were coming back to see them.

Butterfly, Butterfly

Five little butterflies sing a song for you today.
This is a favourite song with little girls from Happy House and they have much pleasure in singing it for you.

Story of the Prodigal Son

A song telling the story of the parable of the Prodigal Son beautifully sung by  some of our girls from Happy House.

I'm gonna Ride

Some of our older kids at Happy House are featured in our video today.
They are singing the gospel hymn "I'm Gonna Ride".

I am a winner

Our song today comes from our younger boys at Happy House.
They present, for you, I am a Winner.
Something they'd all like to be!

10,000 Reasons

Songs of praise and worship figure strongly in the lives of the people of Kenya.
And also in the lives of our children living at Happy House.
The wonderful 10,000 Reasons is the choice for our children's song for you today.

Happy to share

Happy House is one big caring and sharing family.
Our  children love to share with their brothers and sisters and so this song is well named for the first video of our singing series.

Singing series

As we promised, our Happy House kids are going to entertain you all this week with their lovely voices.
Each day they will singing you a song.
They have been rehearsing hard for the last two weeks and each day there will be a new song from a group of kids.
Here Uncle Ronald, our social worker, introduces our upcoming series.

Beach time

 Our Happy House kids had a great time on a trip to the beach this week.
Setting off early, before the sun got too hot, they walked to the beach where they had fun splashing in the waves, building sandcastles and playing games
They were accompanied by aunties and uncles who kept an eye on them and enjoyed snacks before returning home in time for lunch.

Chip in with your change

Peter and Joanne Reid will be making their annual visit to Happy House next month and they are calling on friends and supporters to chip in with their change to help equip an arts and crafts room.
Happy House School hopes to do more  explore and uncover the artistic talents of its youngsters by offering enhanced arts and crafts opportunities,
It has the room, but equipment is needed.
Peter and Joanne have hit on the idea of asking people to donate their spare change, or bottles of it if have them, to buy what is needed.
They'd like to raise £500 as Peter tells us in this video.
Making a donation is simple, just go https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/peter-reid-4

Nature Walk

There is lots of time for fun and adventure for our children at Happy House in the long school holiday.
This week they went out on a nature walk as Purity tells us in this video - which they made themselves.

Tailoring lessons

Our Happy House tailor, Auntie Constance,  is teaching our children the basics of tailoring.

Taking classes of small groups, Auntie Constance, who makes all our school uniforms and some other clothing, makes curtains, bedspreads and cushion covers and who does all the sewing repairs,  is giving them a glimpse into her world.

As she says, it will stand them in good stead in the future when they may want to make or repair their own clothes and for some it could lead to a career.

Creating an art room

Work is underway to convert a classroom into an art room at Happy House School.
Mama Sue is keen to give youngsters every opportunity to explore their talents - whether, sporting, academic, or creative.
So having a dedicated art room will give room for organised creative and artistic work.
Having water to hand is important, so as part of this work Uncle Ibrahim is installing a double sink.
And helping him to undertake the work is 
"apprentice"  plumber Evans.

Making more room to play

Katana and John are the young "apprentice" helping our Happy House uncles to dismantle the old woodstore at school.
By removing the store, which is no longer used, will allow for the play area used by our pre-school children to be extended.

Guided by skilled staff Katana and John are learning as they help out.

Happy as sandboys!

Featuring in today's video is Oscar who along with Khalid, Stefano and Moffin is assisting Happy House uncles to maintain the banda at school.
The school holidays provides time to ensure that routine jobs like sanding and revarnishing woodwork can be done without causing any disruption.
And our older boys enjoy helping out and learning as they go along.

New skills for junior "apprentices"

Our older kids from Happy house are learning new skills during the long school holiday by helping with renovations at school.
By working alongside our skilled craftsmen they are  getting a taste of what it is like to work.
Our joiner, Uncle Charo, has a long list of work to get through while school is closed so having some extra pairs of hands is helpful to him too.
He is currently installing a ceiling in the school office which will reduce the dust that comes in through the makuti thatched roof.
Brian and Baraka have been helping him.

Happy band of performers

Today we close our series of  videos  of Happy House School Closing Day  presentations with a charming performance from some of of younger pupils.
We hope you find the lovely effort by Pre Primary Class 1 enjoyable and uplifting.
It should make you smile!

A song from Class 3

Pupils from Happy House School's Class 3 Primary sang a song for their contribution to the end of term concert.
The Class three youngsters entertained the audience at the closing day ceremony which also marks the end of the academic school year.

Our future is thanks to YOU

Nasri Juma was one of our first scholarship students when he joined our school in 2014.
He was being raised by his grandmother who, although having very little herself,  took in her abandoned grandson.
There had been huge gaps in his education because, simply, she could not afford to play the fees. 
He was shy and lacked self-belief.
Now he has just completed his secondary education and his life has been transformed.
He will leave with qualifications, confidence, and the ability to fulfil his dreams.
At the end of term Closing Day Ceremony , his last at Happy House, Nasri spoke on behalf of his fellow Year Four high school students.
He thanked Mama and Papa, his teachers, family, his sponsors who have supported his education and all those who support our charity.
Good luck in the future Nasri, we wish you every success and happiness.

Esther graduates

 Mama Sue, Papa Dave and the whole Happy House family were so proud to see our Esther graduate at the  annual Closing Day Ceremony at Happy House School.
Esther and her Pre-Primary 2 classmates will go up into lower primary when the new term starts in January.
The ceremony was led by teacher, Md Getry.

Panto time

It was panto time at Happy House when  Pre-Primary Class 2 staged a performance of Snow White.

It was their class contribution to the end of term Closing Day Ceremony when each class put on a presentation for the audience of fellow pupils, staff, parents, guardians and friends.

Girls and education

Empowering girls through education has always been important to Mama Sue.
In our area of Kenya,  some parents still see it as more important to educate a boy than a girl.
Thankfully times are changing and at Happy House our girls have many role models os women achieving success - including our remarkable founder, Mama Sue, her administrator Auntie Rose,  school secretary, Auntie Velma, and many of their teachers.
And with this poem our Primary Class 7 girls celebrate and emphasise the importance of education for girls.

Birthday trio

 There was a trio of birthday children at the weekly Kidz Club at Happy House .
Brian Makotsi, Lesley and Emanuel were all treated to a rendition of Happy Birthday and each received their gifts.
David Hayward made the presentation to Brian, who has just turned nine, while Rehema handed gifts to Emmanuel, now three, and  Brian Hayward presented Lesley with his gift bag. Lesley is now seven.
There were songs and lots of laughter at the family gathering when everyone shared their news.
PICTURES: Top left: Brain with David (right); top right: Brain Hayward (left) and Lesley; Bottom left: Rehema with Emmanuel.

10,000 Reasons ...

A beautiful performance of Matt Redman's song of praise 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) as presented at the annual Closing Day Ceremony to celebrate the end of an academic year at Happy House School,
Here a choir of youngsters give a performance to a gathering of fellow students, staff, family, guardians and guests.

Thanks from Class Eight

This has been the final term in Happy House Primary School for our Class Eight students who are about to sit their Kenya Certificate of primary Education Examinations.
It's the culmination of long, hard, studies.  But for these youngsters it's also a time to look back on those who have helped them to get to this important examination.
And Class Eight chose scholarship student, Sakina, to speak on their behalf at Closing Day.
She thanked Mama Sue and Papa Dave for their guidance, their support and for creating their wonderful school  with it's excellent teachers and facilities and and for providing nourishment  ensuring that no child ever had to study on an empty stomach.
She said how grateful they were for the computers suite and the android tablets  and Smart TVs which brought the world to them.
Sakina also expressed their gratitude  to their teachers who had helped, encouraged and guided them through their studies "loving us like parents".
And finally she spoke of their love for their parents for loving and looking after them as they do.

Thanksgiving for a year of progress

The academic year has come to an end for students and staff at Happy House School.
And the end of the term and the year is time to celebrate academic progress and to show off the talents of our children.
But it is also a time to give thanks and Mama Sue opened the Closing Day Ceremony, attended by our school family, parents, guardians and friends, with a prayer.