School report: Busy time ahead

This week's Happy House School Report looks ahead to what's on for our children this term. Mr Mdachi reports:
This school term is 14 weeks of learning.

And key this term is athletics with serious  training already started in our school.

On the side of athletics , we are intending to take  our children to the zona and, district level and have hopes of achieving up to national level.

Areas that we are going to participate in the athletics include : relay races, 100 metes, long jump, high jump, tug of war and javelin among others.

In the side of the curriculum activities we started as we mean to continue with serious learning from the first day of opening.

Class 6, 7 and 8 are going to have a District common wake-up exam and our children are serious revising for this
exam with the help of their teachers so as to maintain the Happy House power. 

Class 5 children went into the grounds  (right) from  a Kiswahili practical lesson in the importance of plants and trees with the help of  gardener, Uncle Thuva.

The children learnt so many things in the importance of trees. The lesson was interesting and enjoyable and learners used all their senses in the learning process.

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Kate and Chloe on top of the world

Three peaks under their belt and £645 raised for the Happy House, Chloe Groves and Kate Beer deserve to rest on their laurels.
Despite bad weather, and at times deep snow,  friends Chloe and Kate were successful in completing the National Three Peaks Challenge in 27 hours at the weekend.
It saw them ascend Britain's three highest peaks,  Ben Nevis. Scafell and Snowdon.
Chloe, who is in Said's sponsor family, said: "Kate and I would like to say thank you to everyone who sponsored us. It was great to have so much support.
"We felt so proud of each other when we finished and knowing that we had pulled through it and made it to the end was a great feeling. We are so pleased to have completed the Three Peaks to raise money for this amazing charity.
The conditions were not the best and very difficult at times. Ben Nevis was very wet and we had to face and hour's trek to the summit through 8ft of snow! Scafell was better but still challenging. When we reached Snowdon there was very difficult weather, wet and windy. We made it to the final summit in 24 hours and completed the Three Peaks in 27 hours."
Chloe and Kate (pictured on top of Ben Nevis) showed real  Happy House Girl POWER to meet their challenge and we are so grateful to them for taking on such a tough fundraising mission. Our thanks to them and to all those people who supported them.
Every penny raised will go  to helping our children.
Thank you girls.
Lakeland talk
Kendal Inner Wheel were delighted to hear how much our family has grown and our Happy House developed over the last 12 months, when Elizabeth Gomm was their guest speaker.
Some of the members had heard Mama's memorable and moving address to the District Rotary Conference in Scarborough last year and were keen to have an update.
Thank you ladies for your lovely welcome and your donations, and welcome to a new member of family who is sponsoring one of our Dr Danwata Scholarship students.

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Rain, rain ...please don't go away!

 While those of us in the UK and colder climes are wishing for some hot sun,  our Happy House family is celebrating the coming of the rains.
The months and weeks leading up to the late arrival of this year's rainy season has brought soaring temperatures and air pressure.
It has been uncomfortable for everyone, and trying to grow anything in the parched earth has been an uphill struggle, which brings its own hardships to many..
So there was great rejoicing when the heavens opened for the first real rain for weeks.
Uncle Billy says: "The heavens have opened and we can't be thankful enough for the blessing showers that will nourish and cool the earth to he comfort of  all plants and mankind.
Many thanks to our creator"
* The rains have, however, made it difficult for volunteer Scott Webster to do as much in the garden as he had hoped.
Uncle Scott, a great friend to Mama, Papa and all our family, is a keen gardener back home in Royal Wootton Bassett and on his visits to the happy house has done much to help our own gardeners with cultivating, pest control and crop rotation and, at other times, is in weekly communication with help and advice.
Uncle Scott, and his wife Laura, are in Rose Safari's sponsor family and Scott and bought her this lovely outfit.

My guitar passion - by Margaret

Since having a guitar lesson with Jon Gomm,  a world renowned musician, back in February, Margaret has kept on playing - helped by of the books and dvds he has sent out  to the Happy House to help the kids enjoy the two guitars he bought for them to share.
Margaret tells us:

"Today's  guest blogger is Margaret and I want to talk about  the guitar lesson.
When Uncle Jon came to Happy House he taught me about guitar.
He sounded lovely,  he played his guitar very well and I wished I could play like him. 

When I started playing the guitar I thought it is difficult instrument to play but now that I am starting to know to play the guitar I am very happy.

I could not have done it, if it could not be for Uncle Jon.

Thank you for everything you are doing for me Uncle Jon so that I may continue learning to play the guitar .

I am very happy that maybe playing the guitar can be one of my dreams in my life .

I am very pleased.

Hugs love and kisses."

Go, girls, go ...

On their way to Scotland this morning

Lots of good wishes to Chloe Groves and Kate Beer as they set off on their Three Peaks challenge tomorrow.
 Chloe, who is in Said's sponsor family, and her friend Kate plan to scale the three highest peaks in the UK in 24 hours in massive effort to raise money for the Happy House.

The National Three Peaks Challenge is an event in which we will both attempt to climb the highest mountains of Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours.

Chloe said: " We will climb each peak in turn, and will be driven from the foot of one mountain to the next. "

The total distance they will walk is estimated at 42/43 kilometres (26/27 miles) with a total ascent of 9,800 feet.

The highest of the three mountains is Ben Nevis in Scotland with an elevation of 1344m above sea level. Second in the challenge is Scafell Pike in the Lake District at 978m this is the lowest summit of the three. Finally, they will reach Snowdon in Wales, with an elevation of 1085m. Good luck girls. We know you can do it! 
* If you would like to make a donation to their fundraising you can do so online at  http://www.justgiving.com/Chloe-Groves-Kate-Beer

Birthday girl Mercy

This week sees the birthday of Mercy Changawa who was presented with a gift by Auntie Rose at Kidz Club. Happy birthday, Mercy.

Andrea's birthday gift will go on giving

Andrea and  Natasha

Kind hearted Andrea Manders' birthday gift from her family and friends will ensure a Happy House education for a needy girl.

Celebrating her 50th birthday and the completion of her year-long treatment for breast cancer, Andrea asked for donations to the Happy House instead of  presents.

And her family and friends gave generously, to the tune of £1456 which, at Andrea's request, will support the education of one of our Dr Danwata Scholarship girl students for four years.

Mama named the scholarships for  Dr Danwata  the oncologist who treated her at Blackpool Victoria Hospital's Breast Care Unit. He was also Andrea's consultant there.

Andrea  has been supporting the work of the Happy House since 2009, when it was still under construction, and she is in Natasha's sponsor family.

Andrea with her husband Paul

Being a part of our family has brought her many new friends and she and Lesley Pidcock, who also sponsors Natasha, have become such good pals they had been planning a 2014 visit the Happy House   with their daughters, Elena Manders and Kathryn Pidock,  to celebrate Andrea's 50th and Kathryn's 18th,  but were forced to put their plans on hold because of Andrea's illness.

Now they will make their trip next year when  Andrea is looking forward to meeting Natasha and all our family,

By coincidence, Andrea and Natasha's birthdays are  just two days apart. 

Our picture of Natasha (with Uncle Billy) celebrating her birthday at Kids Club shows her clutching a gift from Andrea!

Andrea with her party guests 

 Andrea is delighted her birthday will make a difference to a girl striving to learn and so thankful to all her family and friends for their donations, but also for the love and support they have given her over the last 12 months.

Many, many, thanks  for being a wonderful friend to our family, Andrea, for all you do to support us and for the love you show for Natasha. Another big thank you to every one who donated.

Our family wins new friends

 Year 9 students at St Bede's Catholic High School, Lytham, are all fired up to help raise money for our Happy House family after a visit from  Elizabeth Gomm.
Elizabeth was invited to be a guest speaker at the Year 9 assembly when their subject was the importance of being "Green" and protecting our precious world.
Elizabeth showed a short presentation highlighting all the ways the Happy House protects the environment by being green and telling the story of one of our children, Victoria, an orphan, whose grandfather struggles make a meagre livelihood by going collecting used plastic bottles to sell to recyclers.
 He brought Victoria to the Happy House in the hope of getting her a free-place Dr Danwata Scholarship in our school, but when Mama heard of their extreme hardship she offered the child both a home and schooling.
The old man, a carer who had no hope of providing for the child he loves, was overwhelmed with gratitude.
The St Bede's staff and students were both moved and inspired by the way children's lives are being transformed.
Many thanks to Aaran Cassidy, Rebecca Cole and Jagger Bamber for working the technology, and to Lucy Banks to introduced Elizabeth and Luc Cougara who led the prayer.
Special thanks to teacher Clare James for bringing the Happy House into school  and who will be taking the fundraising forward.
Pictures: Top: Elizabeth with Lucy and right: Clare James with Rebecca, Aaran and Jagger.
Kirkham talk

The Mothers' Union at St Micheal's Church, Kirkham, were wonderful audience when Elizabeth introduced them our amazing family.
They really took Mama, Papa and the children to their hearts as they heard how Mama had turned her dream of creating a uniquely special home for vulnerable children into a reality.
A collection and raffle (organised by teacher Joanne Rossall whose class at St Aidan's Preesall are in Linus' sponsor  family) resulted in £101 for our family.
Thank you ladies for your kindness.