Cup that cheers to tune of £1000

It was hats on to Easter when our Happy House Spring Coffee morning on Saturday raised more  than £1000..

There was a huge turnout of friends old and new, some who had travelled from as far as Hull, to help and hear more about the Happy House family.

And it was also a chance to meet Mama Sue and Papa Dave, the remarkable couple behind our charity, who are visiting the UK for a few weeks.

They were delighted to see so many people, and Mama Sue had people both laughing and crying as she spoke movingly about the wonderful family she has created at the Happy House and related some anecdotes about the children..

Members of Garstang Inner Wheel,  St Annes Inner Wheel, Thornton Cleveleys Inner Wheel and Fleetwood Rotary were among the guests, as were a group from Ansdell and Fairhaven WI who brought with them a cheque for £125 raised from a money jar, where members leave small change at monthly meetings. Mama is pictured (above right) with WI president Pat Blundell.

Angie Carmon, Janet Zoller, Pauline Royle

She was happy to meet John Cross, Worshipful Master of Normoss Round Table Lodge, and  wife Shelagh and past master, Michael Dickinson.. The Lodge has recently made a £100 donation to Happy House.
Lesley Thomas, deputy district commissioner for Preston Scouts who brought along neckers from local packs for use by the Happy House School scouts.
Mama Sue also received a cheque for £100 from Fylde Soroptimists, presented to her by Maureen Thompson.

There was also time of them to chat to many of the visitors who wanted to know a little more about the Happy House or to ask after their sponsor child.

Business was brisk on the tombola and other stalls selling handicrafts, cakes, bric-a-brac and books.

Some of our younger visitors had great fun making their Easter bonnets with a little help from Joanne Rossall, her daughter Charlotte and Amy Shuttleworth, a student in her form at St Aidan's..

Ellie Bancroft

Papa Dave had the demanding task of judging the Easter Bonnet parade and eventually declared ir a draw so everyone received a prize!

The coffee morning,  held in Poulton Methodist Church Hall, raised a wonderful £852.1, so with the cheque donations added the morning raised more than £1000!
Plus the promise of three new sponsors for our children.

Many, many thanks to everyone who came along, to all those who helped in any way and to Poulton Methodist Church for giving us the use of the hall and for all their help, with a special mention of Ken and Ann Carr,

Top: Garstang Inner Wheel, below left: St Annes Inner Wheel, right: Margaret Thompson.

Every penny raised will make a difference to the lives of children.

An opportunity to learn, by Kelvin

Schooling is something many young people in Kenya cannot take for granted. It always depends on money, and if there's no money, there is no school.

That is how it was for Kelvin Baraka who is being brought up by his elderly grandmother. A Happy House Dr Danwata Scholarship changed his fortunes and secured his education.

He writes:

"I would like to thank everybody who makes sacrifices  and donated to us so that we can learn. 

I thank also Mama Sue and Papa Dave because they have given us an opportunity to learn. I promise everybody that I am going to do my best in my education so that I can achieve in my life. 

I also I thank the friends who also give things to us like clothes and books and also those who remember us in their word of prayer.

 I also thank our teachers and Doctor Danwata for this scholarship opportunity."

*If you would like to know how you can sponsor the education of a scholarship student like Kelvin please contact Elizabeth Gomm elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net  With your help more young people like Kelvin will have the chance to come to our school and look forward to a bright future.

Sisters on the run and coffee morning fun!

Sister Chloe Groves and Grace Dunbar are on the starting blocks for the Stafford Half Marathon tomorrow.
The girls, whose families lives in Wantage,  are running to raise money for the Happy House.
The half marathon starts and finishes in the town centre with the majority of the course through some challenging countryside, with two steady climbs.
Chloe says: " The charity is close to our hearts.  I am a sponsor to a little boy, Saidi,  at the Happy House and Grace has recently spent her time volunteering there.
To support their effort go to https://www.justgiving.com/Chloe-Groves1
And it's Chloe's sponsor child who is the face of our coffee morning in Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire, today. 
This picture of him was snapped when Chloe last visited with her grandparents, Red and Brenda Groves.
We've just added some Easter embellishments to his fetching topper.
If you are close by please come to see us at Poulton Methodist Church, Queensway, Poulton, from 10am to noon. There's plenty going on and we are thrilled that Mama Sue and Papa Dave are joining us.

Mama and Papa share the love

Members of Blackpool Soroptimist International were delighted to welcome Mama Sue and Papa Dave at their meeting last night.
And they were inspired by Mama's story of the road, including its many twists and turns, which led her to build her Happy House and the schools that have followed there.
Mama and Papa told them anecdotes about the children in the family and there was no doubt of their unfailing love for the youngsters whose lives they have transformed.
Mama and Papa were joined by Auntie Libby, our UK coordinator, who keeps the Soroptimists in touch with the developments in our science lab which they funded with generous donations from the Christine Walker Memorial Legacy.
Mama, Papa and Libby were thanked by president Julie Patel.
Pictured with Mama and Papa are Marcia Roper, Su Gordon and Julie Patel.

Coffee time

No apologies for another mention here for our Happy House Spring Coffee Morning

tomorrow at Poulton Methodist Church, Queensway, Poulton le Fylde from 10am-noon.

Mama and Papa are looking forward to being there and will be happy to tell you anything you would like to know about our amazing charity.

There will be delicious cakes on sale, handicrafts, bric a brac and books, plus a tombola and raffle.

Bring the kids to get creative making their own Easter bonnet with all materials provided for a minimum donation of £1.

Happy House  recycled cotton bags, £5, and bracelets hand-beaded in Watamu, also £5, will be on sale.

Please come along, we would love to see you. Admission is free.

Welcome back Mama and Papa

Mama and Papa are taking a break in the UK and enjoying catching up with friends.
Yesterday,  Terry and Wendy Burns came over to Poulton to see them.  Their friendship dates back to the days when the Happy House was being built and Terry heard Sue being interviewed on Radio Lancashire.
A co-founder of charity Furniture for Education Worldwide Terry was so touched by Sue's vision and work, he  offered to send a container of furniture to Happy House,  and since then it has been followed by more. 
He, Wendy and members of his family have visited twice - for the Happy House official opening six years ago today, and in 2011 when they played Santa to the kids!
Now Terry is looking to helping out again, which is absolutely fantastic news. 
Tonight Mama and Papa will be joining Elizabeth for a visit to Blackpool Soroptimists, 
Blackpool SI very kindly funded our secondary school science lab and Mama will be giving them  the latest news from school and family.
On Saturday,  Mama and Papa are VIP guests at our Happy House Spring Coffee Morning at Poulton Methodist Church, Queensway, Poulton, from 10am to noon.   
It will be a morning of fun and friendship. There will be a stall where kids of all ages can make their own Easter bonnet (£1 minimum donation), tombola, raffle, handicrafts and bric-a-brac and books. Plus lovely bracelets, hand-beaded in Watamu, for only £5.
Admission free. Tea/coffee and biscuits £1.

Entertaining time at Kidz Club

Kidz Club started with Mama's special song Butterfly, Flutterby -  sung extra loud in the hope Mama and Papa would be able to hear it in the UK!
Classes two and three recited a poem about good manners and courtesy and form one treated the family to a song.
Teachers Madam Milka and Madam Doris talked to the kids who are preparing for end of term exams in a couple of weeks.

School Report: Progress is a family affair

Parents and guardians have been into school to find out how their children have been getting on in the first term of the year.
Mr Muramba reports:
Teachers discuss progress with both the student and their parents so that everyone is well informed and knows what is expected of them.
For kids living at Happy House,  Mama and
Uncle Billy meet with teacher and child and they have also reviewed the results of those youngsters who have returned to live with relatives but who have free places in our school so they too know they are still under Mama's caring, watchful and encouraging eye!

Gussy Bunbury, a volunteer from the UK, has been assisting pupils in English reading.

Pupils who won through the first heat are also busy getting ready for the next round of the inter-schools ball games which take place soon.

Boots Appeal

A couple of weeks ago, we appealed for large size football boots.Ideally, sizes 7 to 12 (yes, some of our boys have very big feet). If you do have some please could you get them to Elizabeth in the next week. elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

Thank you, you would make some aspiring young footballers very happy!

 

Primary kids on the ball

Happy House kids had a ball when they took part in a sports competition at Chafisi Primary School.

It was the first round of this term's inter-schools contest in ball games and actiities.

Our young sports enthusiasts did their best and some (top picture) were chosen to represents the Watamu schools in the next round of the competition, the cluster level. Well done to all.        .

Coffee morning

Friends in Lancashire, please come to see us at our Happy House Easter coffee morning at the Methodist Church, Queensway, Poulton, on Saturday, 10am to noon. We have some fab prizes for our tombola and raffle, plus there will be handicrafts, cakes, bric-a-brac and books stall and a craft table with all the material to make an Easter bonnet for kids of all ages (minimum donation £1). Admission is free. Coffee/tea and biscuits £1 .Mama Sue and Papa Dave will be joining us and can't wait to see you. Every penny raised will help them to continue their amazing work in improving the lives of children in need in Watamu.