Happy House Kitchen

Now it looks like a working kitchen, everything is coming to life. Yes, it is a dream coming true. I cry most days, either frustration with the docks or just sheer delight that the children  are able to come home. They are brought to us, in such a sorry heartbreaking condition. People used to ask me why I was crying now the staff just smile and carry on. When they asked I never knew exactly why!  It is very emotional for me, I am a bit wobbly as I am writing this to you all.

 

 I am very worried about money, everything has cost so much more than we expected, the import duty,  electricity, water, even light bulbs, & pillows, we need so many of everything.  Medical treatment, inoculations and medicines for the children, meeting the fire regulations, is all costing every day.

 

We will make it we have to, we have come so far  we can't fall at the final hurdle.

 

Thank you all for being there and caring.

 

Lots of love Sue & The Kids xxx

 

Happy Kids & A Happy Sue

I love this picture.

Fantastic Fridge

Thanks to you two we now have chilled food in stock.

 

Jo, will you or Nadim write a short piece for the blog board, why & how you raised the money, what it has been used for, and why you decided to help our children.

 

Love Sue & The Kids xx

 

 

Janet

Janet at beleven years old cuddles her new friend, she has never had a teddy before.

Oscar

Oscar, is such a lovely little boy. He spends most of his time in and out of the tent, peeping out the door and waving from the windows

 

As you can see by the emptiness of the dining room, we are still waiting for the containers to arrive. We have everything for the ebdrooms and clothes, it is the dining table and chairs, kitchen equipment and office items we are really stuck for. These children have lived in conditions a lot worse than this!!

The Kids are Coming Home !!

We now have 11 Happy House Kids!!  They are settling well and very fast. They were here all day yesterday, being their first day, not one cried or asked for a relative, they bonded together so well. We have two families one of two brothers and a 2 year old  sister. The oldest boy, Musyoka, is fantastic with the sister Fatuma. ( seen here ) He is like a little Dad. The Mum has mental problems and would go and leave the children for days at a time, so it is apparent that Evans took over the role of parent. This is why they have been removed from here and brought to the Happy House.The were definitely at serious risk. It is sad, but also amazing the power of survival in 3 so young. They all responding well to the care they are being given. All so hungry on the first day, but today they seem to be settling, and eating well at meal times. Everyone slept all night with no wet beds.

 

Rose is working with Alice the cook on trational African lunches and I am going to do the tea menu, with a more English theme.I gave everyone Weetabix this morning, the feelings were mixed but most of them ate them up and then asked for bread. It was such a treat for the children when it came with butter and jam!!

 

The children looked so different once they had been washed and dressed in all the lovely clothes that had been donated. It was obvious they also felt better to be clean and fresh. 3 children that Silas brought home last night have terrible jiggers. These are small  worms that burrow under the finger and toe nails. The nails turn black and fall off, the pain must be tremendous. The doctor came this morning and cleaned the infestations, we then took them to a local clinic for tetanus injections. One or two of the children have ring worm, which is very contagious, the doctor recommended a special cream to be used so again within the week, all should be clear. With a good hygiene regime, lots of fruits and veggies at regular meal times, these children will be soon be happy and healthy, just as they should be.

The Kids are Coming Home

What a week it has been!! I can't believe it is Saturday again already.

 

I  mentioned during the week, we had met Benedict our first Happy House kid. Silas also brought 2 brothers and a sister to meet us,  we also had the twin babies. We decided that all 6 children would come home on Monday. Yesterday I got a call from Eric the children's officer in Malindi to say that he had just been to court and 4 children all under 6 had been signed to the Happy House. Silas returned an hour later with news that he had visited 4 children in the remote area of Jimba that he had been told about and that he had told the grandma we would take them on Monday, so in the blink of an eye we went from 1 to 4 to 6 to 10 to 14!! So I think Monday will be a busy day. The excitement among the staff is electric, everyone is singing as they work.We are building families of 10 children with a house mother and an aunty so the firs 6 went to Pricilla and Preshca, well when we got word that another 4 were coming I decided that we would start our other family with  Zippora and Monica, they were thrilled. I told them as much as I knew about the children, in no time clothes were put in lockers, toiletries arranged, and teddies put on the beds ready to be cuddled!! 

 

Sue & Ron Hayes have been a fantastic help with arranging for the registration of the Happy House with the authorities, and staff rotas. Sue also arranged for the staff health checks, with Alex the local Health Officer. Everyone passed with flying colours. Each member of staff had to have a Typhoid jab. Alex will also come on Monday to check the health of the children.

 

I will post some pictures on the children on Monday when they come home and we get them settled.

 

I am have been struggling with the dock authorities to get our second container released, with so many items being brand new we have had to convince them that everything really has been donated for charity. We are truly a first here!  Another container from Terry Burns and the organization Furniture for Education is also now on the dock and hopefully will be with us this next week.

 

It is lovely to hear from so many of you who are following the blog. I am have been having trouble for the past 4 days receiving emails, I can send but not receive. Hopefully it ill be sorted in a day or two. If you are waiting fro a reply, please bear with me I will get back to you as soon as technology allows!!

 

Just remembered I have to go and collect a goat tomorrow that is being donated by a local guy. Do you think it will be able to sit in the passenger seat?? No laughing! I am from Manchester we don't have goats!!