Exam preparation at Happy House

A teacher in Happy House School, Mr Dan, is featured in this video telling how he and other teachers are meeting with Grade 6 students to help ensure they are prepared for exams in two weeks time. Each subject teacher was taking part in the session so that youngsters would know just what will be expected and be able to organise their revision and preparation correctly.

Song of praise

Some of our Happy House School primary children sang a wonderful song of praise at the annual Celebration of Life. They sing with great enthusiasm and energy, perfect for the occasion.

What is a mother?

A true mother is not always the woman who gave birth to a child but the woman who has nurtured a child and been its guiding light. This was the view expressed by teacher Mr Ongwete at the annual Celebration of Life held at Happy House. This is particularly apt for the youngsters living in the care of Happy House family, some of whom orphaned or abandoned. For all the children in our care their mother figure is our amazing Mama Sue, the founder of Children of Watamu charity and creator of the Happy House children's home and school. Mr Ongwete talks about his own mum and how special she is to him.

Happy House Papa had "the best mother"

Our Happy House Papa knows just what it's like to grow up, like our family of children, with lots of brothers and sisters. He was one of 11 children raised in poverty in Yorkshire, His father, who died at 48, had suffered long term illness and his mum, Polly, was the strength that bound their family together. She worked round the clock to keep her family fed and a roof over their heads, they shared beds and clothes, but nobody complained. They grew up in a home full of laughter and love with a mum who always had the kettle on and time to make a brew and listen and help anyone who came to her with a problem. She brought her children up to be respectful, helpful and well mannered. Here Papa talks about his mum, Polly, with love and with pride.

A song to celebrate

Meet Nasri and Janet who are giving us a song at the Happy House Celebration of Life. They schooled together at Happy House, they are working together in our school and today they are singing together. Both of them came to the Happy House because of the extreme hardshjip in their families - Janet who lived in our care and Nasri who was suffering because he was unable to go to school. In them you can you see the Happy House Magic - thanks to Mama Sue whose believe has and is enabling her to change so many young lives for the better.

Endings and new beginnings

As one life ends, another begins. That is the Circle of Life. And as our family at Happy House held its annual Celebration of Life, which honours the lives of those loved ones lost, two birthdays illustrated how life carries on. It was 22 years ago, on May 20th, that our Mama Sue's dad, Harold Hayes, died suddenly. It broke her heart and left her in pieces. But, after a trip to Kenya in which she discovered the vocation which put her on the road to creating her Happy House and transforming so many children's lives, that found a new focus and has lived every day in a way that would make her father proud. May 20th is also the day that two of our Happy House kids were were born. Janet now 23 and Saidi who is 10. That both young people have opportunity, education and hearts full of hope is because our amazing Mama, her love, dedication and constant hard work.

A celebration of life

An annual celebration of life is held every May at the Happy House to coincide with the anniversary of the death of the most influential man in Mama Sue's life - her father. It was the death of Sue's beloved dad, Harold Hayes, in 1999, that led to her going to Kenya and the start of the journey which has brought us to her Happy House. When Harold died suddenly, Sue was devastated and eight months later, fearing she would have a breakdown, Dave took her to Kenya for a holiday and it was there her charity work began. And celebrating life is what Harold would have wanted for his daughter, and what Mama wants for her Happy House kids who have suffered so much loss and hardship before coming to us. With this in mind she decided on a celebration of life each year on May 20. Here she opens this year's celebration with a prayers of love and thanksgiving - giving thanks for those who live on in our hearts and for all we have in have in our lives. She thanks God for bringing her on her journey to the Happy House, giving her the work she does with the children she loves and for all they share.

Birthday bonanza

There was a birthday bonanza at Happy House with six children celebrating their special day in one week. There were gifts for each of the children - Elizabeth, who was five, Daudi 11, Saidi, 10, Husna, 14, Rukia, 16, and Jacinta, 14. All the youngsters in the family had a treat of a mango bought with a kind donation from a member of Elizabeth's sponsor family. Her Mama Sue introduces each of the youngsters - starting with the smallest!

Help guaranteed!

Anyone who follows our daily blog from Happy House will know how much our children like helping out. 

They like to keep their lovely home as need as a new pin. 

When they were on school holidays, Mama Sue asked them if they'd like to help with sanding down the woodwork in the banda, ready for it to be revarnished. The answer was a resounding "Yes".

Exams start term

Back to school a couple of days and pupils at Happy House School are taking exams. This is the way of the Kenya curriculum where exams are a regular feature of school life. Here we join a teacher and her class on the first of two exam days. These youngsters are well prepared for the questions in the English paper they have just been given.

Collecting firewood

When a tree needed felling in the grounds of Happy House School we knew just what to do with the wood. It would be just what we need to fuel the wood burning oven in our outside kitchen at home. The oven is used every day to bake bread so we get through plenty of wood. Our children, as Lucky tells us, were eager to collect up the wood and carry it the short distance from school to home.

Positive role model for nursery on!

Mama Sue has everyone in Happy House School, staff and children, thinking positively. She has spent a great deal of time making sure they are ready for the term that has just started and that they have their eyes on the goal of being the best that they, as individuals, can be. And that starts from the the tiny tots through to the top year primary. Here Mama talks with some of our nursery teachers, including former Happy House kid, Janet, who having lived in our care from being a child is now working in school as a nursery assistant whilst also studying to be a teacher. What a positive role model she makes for our children.

A donation for stores

In her update this week, Mama Sue talked about out store room being low on stocks and about the kindness of those who have sent donations to help with this and in so many other ways. Here, she is in the Happy House kitchen with an example of that help - all the essential items bought for our children with a donation from one generous friend. This help means so much. Thank you.

Happy House success stories

How special it is to be a part of charity that is making such a difference to the lives of so many young people in Kenya. Kids, who could have ended up on the scrapheap of life, without education or hope, are being given a chance grow up empowered with love, hope, confidence and education. Three young people who have benefited from our scholarship scheme, and your loving and generous sponsorship, have just been to see Mama Sue to tell her plans and to say thank you for all the help and support they have received. Lovinne, Ann and Micheal have now competed their secondary education, passing their final national exams, and are preparing continue their studies at the next level for which Government bursaries are available. As Mama says we will help them all we can because, as all our children know: "Once a Happy House kid, always a Happy House kid." Well done to Lovinne, Ann and Michael and our thanks to those who have helped them with sponsorship, love and encouragement. You have truly made a difference to these young lives.

An update from Mama Sue

Ensuring we have the essentials we need, when we need them, for the children living in our family at Happy House has been a constant balancing act for Mama Sue and her staff.

And it has taken its toll on our usually well stocked store room.

With visitors holidaying in Watamu now few and far between, we are not only missing the pleasure it brings to welcome them to Happy House but also the many wonderful and essential items, clothing, toiletries, stationery etc, that they bring for our children.

But as Mama says we stretch everything we can - right down to the last squeeze possible of the toothpaste tube!

Clothes and shoes are handed on until they are no longer wearable and nothing is ever wasted.We have such loyal friends and supporters who help us so much, sending donations to buy what we need, plus occasional treats for the kids.

You help in so many ways - our remedial classes were made possible by generous donors and are making such a difference to children who need a little extra help in specific areas in school.

Your gift aided donations made it possible for us to buy a new mini bus. The list goes on ...

You support us by giving us your money and your love and we love you too.

Your kindness is aways appreciated and never taken for granted and we look forward to that time when, once again, you can travel safely and come to see us again.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Singing in the rain

When it rains in Kenya it pours! Even a short shower can leave you wet through, so umbrellas or raincoats are high on our Happy House wish list this time of year - the rainy season. Angela Lewis, one of our friends and sponsors, has very kindly sent a parcel of lightweight cagoules for our children. They will be a huge help and the kids love them! Here, as a thank you to Angela and to entertain all our friends, they present their version of an iconic song - Singing in the Rain. Fortunately, the rain held off and nobody got wet during the making of this video!

Bus goes on the road

The new school mini-bus is on the road transporting youngsters to and from Happy house School. The bus, bought with money we were able to claim back in Gift Aid from donations made by British taxpayers who so so generously support us, is a huge bonus to our school. Having bought the bus work required to put it on the road as a school mini-bus has been completed - that means adding seats and seat belts, roll bars, governor and repainting and branding it in the yellow and black livery required by the Kenya Government. Here Mama Sue is with one of our drivers talking on its first day use- the start of the new term. Once again our thanks to everyone who Gift Aids their donations ensuring that we can claim 25p in every £ back from the UK Government.

Capturing children's minds - lower primary

Teachers are as eager as our Happy House kids to get back to school after the holidays. Committed to to their work, they appreciate the support and resources they have at Happy house School. Mama Sue has been meeting with every department to ensure they are ready to welcome back learners and to encourage positive thinking for staff and students.

Back to school assembly

The new school term has started with focus at Happy House. And at first assembly, after a seven week break, Mama Sue spoke t the children to inspire them to think "can do" not "can't do." She also urged them to always remember their god manners and to be considerate to other. She then handed over to Papa Dave, the popular "Radio Watamu", who talked through the weekend football results!

Catch up classes

Today we are with Mama Sue meeting and her team of remedial teachers. The teachers, brought in to help pupils gain strength in subjects where they struggle, are funded by a very generous donation. With children out of school for so long because of the pandemic, Mama wanted to build up the confidence and skills of those who needed it and to make sure that no child was left behind. In the short time since we started these classes, the results are excellent and teachers are now looking forward to their return after the holiday.

Computers poised and ready for new term

Mama Sue can be very proud of the wonderful computer suite at Happy House School and the way our students are being equipped for a workplace driven by computer technology. 

And she can also be proud of the two young men who run it - Mr Christone and Mr Nasri. 

Christone and Mama go back to his own schooling, before Happy House, and the early days of Sue's charity work in Kenya when she was supporting the development of a local school. Christone was a pupil at the school when the first consignment of secondhand computers, sent from the UK by Sue and her charity, arrived. Learning to use a computer sparked an interest in him, as an eight year old, that has also led to career.

Nasri is a HappY House kid. He was one of the first youngsters to benefit from our scholarship scheme which offered free places in school to youngsters who were being excluded from any school because their parent or guardian was unable to meet the costs involved.  Nasri was living with his grandmother, having been left with her as a young child, and living in dire poverty. 

He has since completed his primary and secondary education and working at Happy House whilst studying an online university course.

Learning in a splash!

Rukia filmed this video of Stevie and some of her younger "brothers" at Happy House washing one of the school vehicles during the spring holiday. She says: "Since they are at home they can help with different chores which are easy for them but at the same time they are really enjoying themselves and learning how different things are done. " All thanks to our Mama Sue or teaching us the good things in life and at the same time loving us. "We love her back."

Sweet treat for Happy House kids

There was a special treat for our children thanks to a very kind sponsor. They sent a donation for Mama Sue to buy something the children would enjoy as a treat before they return to school after the holidays. Mama chose delicious wafer biscuits, not something the kids would normally have, but something they really enjoy. We are so lucky to have such great friends who do so much to make life at the Happy House such a wonderful experience for our children.

New school shoes

Getting a family of almost 60 children ready to go back to school is a tall order! But at Happy House, Mama Sue and her team are used to meeting every challenge. Next week, our children will be returning to school after a seven week spring break. And quite a number of them were in need of new shoes after growing out of either their school or sports shoes (or both). We do hand down where we can, provided outgrown clothes and footwear are still wearable, but there is always some that is just beyond repair! So here Mama Sue is with the children and their new shoes to tell you what was needed and to say thank you to everyone who supports us.

Growing pumpkins ... and confidence!

It is wonderful to watch our children at Happy House growing up. For those who sponsor a child, seeing their special little friend on the blog is always special. And we also notice how they change, Edward used to be so shy when he spoke on a video, but now he has so much more confidence when he faces the camera. Well done Edward, you and your friends are a joy to watch.

Student turns teacher

From student to teacher - that's our Happy House Nasri. Not so long ago Nasri was given a chance of an education when he was given a scholarship to Happy House School, having missed out on so much because he grandmother, with whom he lived, couldn't afford the costs of sending him to any school. Living in poverty, she struggled to put food on the table and as much as she wanted to fulfil Nasri's hopes of a schooling she couldn't manage to pay. Now, having finished his secondary education, he is working as a teaching assistant the computer suite at our Happy House School whilst also studying an online university course in IT management. He's a great role model for our children and during the holidays he's been helping them to learn more about using a computer and its component parts.

Positive start to new term

With Kenya schools reopening next week after a seven-week break, Happy House is busy getting ready to welcome back its students. Mama Sue is holding meetings with teachers from every department to prepare for the new term. And as she tells us, her focus is on positive thinking - allowing the children to think for themselves and make their own decisions. We also hear from head teacher, Mr Paul, and school consultant, Mr Joseph, on what makes Happy House such a special place to teach and be taught.

Getting active at Happy House

In this blog from Happy House we join John who is leading an exercise programme for the rest of the kids. And they're all really enjoying the keep fit routines he has put together. Our children are healthy, bright and alert because of what they eat plus the exercises that they do. It’s great that they can help each other, in the way that John is here, as exercise is so important to them as they grow.

The braidy bunch

Our Happy House children grow up with a pride in the way the look and behave. Mama Sue inspires them to be polite, kind and smart. And for the girls that means keeping their hair in neat braids which are done , for a small fee, in by local women in their village "salons." Before they go, the girls help each other to unplait the current braids before washing their hair. Diana presents this video

Learning about compuers

During the long school holidays the children living in our care at Happy House are still learning! They all love using computers, but it's important that they know how they work too. Mr Christone, our computer teacher, took some of the children to school to show them the intricacies of the inside of a computer and to teach them about the Central Processing Unit.

Rains find roof flaws

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The arrival of the long-awaited rains are a blessing to the parched earth of Kenya,

They bring the crops to life, fill the waterholes and rivers and bring welcome relief from the unrelenting heat.

At Happy House, the torrential rain has revealed weak spots in some of our makuti thatched roofing roofing.

It's been raining into some of the bedrooms and roofing on the bandas also needs repair. 

As Rukia tells us in the video, the skilled makuti thatchers are at work carrying out the repairs which will cost a total of around £400. 

They have to be done as an emergency and an expense that has to be met. If anyone would like to help by making a donation we would be so grateful any amount, however small, would be very much appreciated. 

A plus for the community is that the makuti, which is woven palm, is made locally and that it is local tradesmen who are doing the work. 

If you would like to make a donation towards the repairs please go to https://www.justgiving.com/childrenofwatamu/Donate 

Thank you to everyone who follows and supports the work of our amazing family at the Happy House.