Scholarship scheme takes our work to a new level

Today we launch our Happy House School scholarship scheme which will give young people in need a chance to complete their education. It will add a new dimension to our work taking the Happy House magic into the community.

All this week we will be focussing on on scholarship scheme, and telling the stories of some of our first students.

There is the boy who has to work so that he can eat, going to school when he can, but whose books go unmarked by teachers because he cannot pay for extra tuition, in a school where teachers are paid to teach for free.

He does his homework but has no idea whether it is right or wrong, because his teacher can’t be bothered to tell him.

Then there are those, equally eager to learn, whose education has ended abruptly and without warning when the organization or individual supporting them with sponsorship pulled out.

One little girl, exceptionally bright, wants to be a doctor. Her mum, the only parent she has ever known, is terminally ill in hospital. She is being cared for by relatives, being passed from pillar to post, as they try to get her an education. She is a clever girl, with hopes and dreams of helping others.

Two brothers whose dad died in post-election riots a few years ago, and who were orphaned when their mum died last year, face a bleak future, without a hope of achieving their ambitions, unless they get a helping hand to see them through school.

It is excruciatingly painful to lose a parent as an adult, so how must be for a child?  With the death of a parent here in Kenya, a child not only loses the person they love the most, they also lose their lifeline. There is no welfare state to see they are safe and fed and in school.

One after another, Mama listens to harrowing stories, the pain of their suffering etched on her face.So many of these kids are left dependent on the kindness of others for their food and shelter or just to fend for themselves.

One after another, Mama Sue listens to harrowing stories, the pain of their suffering etched on her face.

Mama has, since the very start of her work 14 years ago, invested her time and her energy into putting children into education. When she opened her Happy House School she wanted it to make a difference not only to those in our family, and the day pupils whose fees make the school viable, but also to destitute kids desperate to learn.

And this is now going forward, with your help, by offering Happy House scholarships to young people with an unquenchable thirst for learning.

If an orphaned teenage boy is prepared to toil on a building site to keep himself fed so he can go to school, doesn’t he deserve a chance?

He wants to be a pilot, with our support he can reach for the skies.

He will get a main meal at the Happy House, plus snacks, so will not have to worry about how he will eat. And there will be uniform, books and shoes.

Our scholarship scheme is for children whose need is proven and who show a commitment to learn.

School manager Madam Rose and social worker Uncle Billy have investigated fully their home and school backgrounds. In this country things are often not as they first appear and we need to be certain our help goes to those in genuine need.

There is, for example, the child who comes to the banda for interview without shoes, whose mum tells a story which just doesn’t hold up. When they leave, without a place, the girl is wearing sandals they’d kept hidden.

A well dressed man comes with his twin brother and sister hoping to get them a place. They are well dressed, well fed, and already going to school and achieving good grades. Where are their parents? Back home working the family land, says the man, which is why he has come.

Our scheme is not for them, Uncle Billy explains with a firm, but kind, voice. They have a family who can take care of them, we are not here to shoulder the responsibility of those who are able to look after their own.

We have our first 15 scholarship students. They start school officially today (although they have been in class every day since they were accepted last week).

They will be Happy House Kids – our extended family.

We need to find sponsorship for them to cover the cost of their education, books, uniform and meals. We have set it at 25pounds a month – 300 pounds a year.

We are setting up a Happy House Scholarship sponsor scheme, entirely separate from our Happy House child sponsor scheme.

Those who sponsor a scholarship student  will receive a profile and picture of their child, plus school results and updates.

We hope that companies, organizations and individuals will want to sponsor a child’s education.

And put them on the road out of poverty.

To find out how you can sponsor a Happy House scholarship student please email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

My Saturday - by Lily

This week's junior  blogger is Lily, who has recently celebrated a birthday

On Saturday I like to help Auntie Gloria to play with the small children. They play Up Again and Stop. They are good at playing. I lke playing Up Again.

I play with my sister Pendo. My brother is Samson.

When it was my birthday I got books, cards and a sign. It says A Little Princess Sleeps Here.

I am now nine.

Love from Lily
Exciting news
Tomorrow and through the coming week will be launching an exciting new scheme which will take the Happy House magic into the community. Don't miss it!

Birthday boys and girl

For many, many children in Kenya a birthday is just another day. There is no celebration, no present nor any sense of occasion. 

So when a child joins our Happy House family, where birthdays are  made special, it can be overwhelming.

That is why Mama and the family keep celebrations low-key. Everyone sings the birthday song for each birthday child of the week at Kidz Club which is when they also receive their gift. 

It's a way for the whole family to mark a a special day., without being too much,

Birthdays celebrated in the last couple of weeks include Ricky and Dula, who are new to our family, Baraka, Zawadi and twins Peter and Paul.

Picture: Top, from left: Baraka, Zawadi, Peter and Paul and Dula.

Below: Ricky.

Hope dawns for Victoria

When Victoria finished class six in primary school and the neighbour looking after her died, she was forced  by relatives to work as a housegirl.
Why should she be in school when she could earn her keep?

She is  just 13 years old.

Destined to a life of drudgery, Victoria sought refuge with her grandfather, living near Watamu, hoping desperately to go back to school.
He can’t afford to feed two of them let alone send her to school where he would have to buy her books, uniform and shoes.

He ekes out a living by going house to house asking for used plastic bottles which he can sell.

He is dressed in rags and Victoria’s kanga is worn over an old  tee-shirt when they come to the Happy House.

Grandpa has the look of a man  defeated. He wants to provide, but simply cannot.

Existing from day to day is his challenge.
When Mama and Uncle Billy hear their story, Victoria becomes our 81^st Happy House kid.

Here she will be safe, fed, loved and near enough for grandpa to visit. And she will be educated, her dream fulfilled. Grandpa's prayer answered.

His face in his hands, grandpa sobs. He cannot believe that in a single moment their lives have changed for the better.

‘’God has come into our lives,’’ he tells Uncle Billy in Kswahili, as he thanks Mama over and over again.

Immediately, Victoria is measured for school uniform, and by lunchtime is sitting down happily to eat with her new brothers and sisters.

Last night she she slept in a bed and this morning, she wakes up to a breakfast.

Her new journey of hope is just beginning.

It cost just  20pounds a months to sponsor a Happy House child. If you would like to change the life of Victoria, or another child like her, please email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

A n-ice treat

We are always sorry to see friends leave, but we are happy and grateful that they have been to visit and look forward to the time when we will see them again.

Brian

Brenda and Red Groves, their granddaughters Lucy and Chloe, and their friend Jess Dancy, flew home to Oxfordshire on Tuesday.

Auntie Brenda and Uncle Red are just the most wonderful friends to our family, and wanted to make their leaving special for the kids by buying ice-cream for everyone.

Said

It’s a real treat and the older ones helped served it to the little ones, with everyone waiting patiently for  their portion without any scrabbling or ‘’Me, me, me’’.

They sang some songs for Brenda and Red, and Chloe, who is in Said’s sponsor family and Brenda and Red, who are in Charity’s family, enjoyed seeing them having fun with their brothers and sisters.

Thank you all for all you do for our family. We know you will always come back … and look forward to seeing you again soon.

On the same afternoon, we made new friends in a visiting group of Italians staying at a local hotel Villiaggi Bravo  who came with Manuela, who works there.

She and Auntie Libby took them around the Happy House, after they were  greeted by Mama Sue, and how delighted they were by all they saw and by our very happy and confident kids.

School report: Building on our strengths

School manager, Madam Rose reports:
After the monthly exams it's easy for the teachers to identify the weak areas encountered by the pupils. This provides us with the opportunity to help build our children’s confidence and ability with remedial classes.

 We are very grateful to have well educated volunteers who play a big role in assisting with remedial teaching enabling children to work individually or in small groups.

 We set some free time everyday for this session.

This helps to build the morale of the children as they are always eager to improve themselves and also learn more to achieve their goals as the motto states happy education bright future.
It also ensures that our children on their toes and not afraid to come forward and ask for extra when they need it in subject areas where they may be unsure.

Pictures: Janet, Daniela, Margaret and Samson working on maths with Mr Isaac.

Aunty Fabiola  and Aunty Ally in remedial classes with the primary and nursery kids.

Animal care

Our young donkeys, Mary and Joseph, have a lot to learn and we know just the man to teach them.

  Red Groves, Uncle Red to our kids, spent much of his younger life working with racehorses and has always loved and owned horses.

Uncle Red brought grooming kits for the donkeys, blue for Joseph and pink for Mary, and has been showing both our staff  the correct way to brush and groom them safely.

He also brought halters because they have to get used to wearing them and being led.

He was so patient as he explained how they need their handler to keep them on a short rein, keeping control of their heads, and constantly reinforcing the message to younger kids to keep well away from the rear of the donkeys so they don’t risk being kicked.

Thank you Uncle Red for being such a kind and patient teacher.

Meanwhile, gateman, Uncle Douglas is continuing to train our pups, Big Al and Polly, following the guidance he received from Scott and Laura Webster  are they were here.

They now sit when they are told and are becoming more obedient with every day.