Thursday, 13 November 2014

Susanna has reason to smile!

  There was a whole lot of shaking going on when GetFit, Via Vico, Milan, staged a Movero Masterclass to raise money for the Happy House.
Movero is a fusion of aerobics and Latin dance moves ... high-energy fitness which gets both your body moving and your mind buzzing!
Arranged by our great friend and  GetFit executive Susanna Gregorio, the masterclass attracted a great turnout of people wanting to give it a try,
Susanna said: " In three hours of the Movero event we collect over 350€."

She has also been running a special market, selling pre-loved items from her own wardrobe, at Via Vico and business was brisk on Saturday, with one happy shopper spending 100€
Susanna is hoping to raise as much money as she can before she goes back to Kenya in December to be with Levian, the little boy to whom she is guardian, and all the Happy House family.
She is thrilled with the the wonderful response she is getting from everyone at Via Vico.
" I'm so happy!" she said

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

School report: An exciting day out

It is now the last week of term and everyone is looking forward to a highlight of the school year ... the closing day ceremony.
Madam Naomi reports:
Pupils are now through with end of term three exams and teachers  have been busy marking and compiling their results. Some of the primary school teacher have been out invigilating the KCPE [Kenya Certificate of Primary Education] exams.   
There was great excitement when we went on a trip to Malindi Marine Park with all the kids, teachers and Papa Dave.
Everyone reported to school before setting off on the journey.

On reaching the Marine Park, we went on a boat  tour to a Marine Island whereby we were able to observe marine life -  coral reefs and different types of fishes, small and big.
Pupils were given time to swim where the water was shallow and they found it very enjoyable.
Afterwards we went back to the beach where we took our lunch which was prepared in one of the beach hotels nearby.
Angel, a day pupil who is in baby class, was celebrating her third birthday and we celebrated her birthday at the beach. 
She cut her birthday cake, gave some to her friends as the rest sang the birthday songs to her. They wished her long life and each of the kid got a share of the cake.
 It was very enjoyable.
On Monday , we were priviliged to welcome three new teachers to joined the Happy House teaching staff .
They were introduced officially in the assembly by the manager Madam Rose and the kids gave them a warm welcome.  

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

There's no place like home ... says Mama

Hello, Mama Sue here today,
It is wonderful to be at home again  with our children. 
Mombasa airport was ringng with the voices of our children. It was very emotional for the Lovely Papa and myself. To feel such love is very special. 
Everyone got back on the buses and we set off on the two hour journey to the Happy House, calling for a soda on the way. When we arrived home there was more singing from all our little people who are too young for the journey. 
The children's favourite meal of chicken pilau was waiting for us and a lovely cake. I had asked the children to learn the Bette Midler song of Wind Beneath my Wings, for Papa, as he truly is, we both cried. 
The next day it was back to work.Rose and Billy have done a brilliant job of looking after things. We had so many things to catch up on.
Rose and I have changed our accounting system as we now have an excellent accountant in the UK. 
We have also been updating our records.
 So many of you have been in touch regarding your new addresses and emails, thanks for that. 
We love to send all our sponsors updates , exam results and thank you letters with pictures of the parcels that have been arriving for the children for Christmas.
I am very worried about the situation here. No tourists means no work for a community.
 People who had very little now have nothing. Here at Happy House we are also feeling the knock-on effect. 
So many people were  coming to visit, bringing much needed essentials, socks, crocs toothpaste, soap, now we are having to buy everything. 
I am so grateful to every one of you who have been sending parcels to make the children's Christmas magical.
 I know the postage is expensive and you are also donating into JustgIving the cost of our import duty. The love kindness and generosity truly overwhelms me.
 As this situation continues I know some of our students will not be back at school in January, which is the start of our school year.
 I wonder how I will be able to pay the teachers as time goes on. Children are being sent up country to grandparents as people here on the coast are unable to cope
.The school holidays start next week and we are going to reorganise the sleeping arrangements to prepare for the children,  we know, are going to need our safe and Happy House. 
I just cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel, until advice changes and tour operators re-start charter flights.
 Papa and I flew home without a problem, other than my leg!  It is so much better. I am still using one walking stick but I can now manage at home without it.
At Happy House, as soon as I want to walk from one place to another,  there is always one of the  children, asking me to use their shoulder or a little arm for support
Elizabeth and I worked closely together during our recent stay in the UK. Applying to Trusts and Foundations for donations, anywhere or anyone who we thought could help us.
 We need to have a Secondary School ready by January 2016. It seems a long way off but how the time flies. 
How fast the children are growing.
 Even if it is just for Happy House kids and scholarship students they need their education and there is nowhere we can send them to achieve our level .
The education officer for our district called last week. She had heard all about Happy House and seen our exam results. She was delighted by all she saw and heard.
If you know of anywhere, or anyone, we can apply to for financial support please do not hesitate to tell us. 
Maybe a special Christmas present would be sponsorship of a child. It can be paid monthly and would give so much joy. 
Thank you for all your love and support for Papa and myself and most of all for the children.
Love &best wishes,
Mama, Papa and the Happy House Family xxxxxxxx
*To find out more about sponsoring a child please visit http://www.childrenofwatamu.net/sponsored-child-scheme/sponsored-child-scheme-watamu or email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

Mama and Papa are pictured with Maria, Margaret,Lucinda,Mercy, Sifa, Evans and Linus who always finds his way on to Mama's lap! 

To make a donation: https://www.justgiving.com/childrenofwatamu/Donate/


Monday, 10 November 2014

Love in every stitch

 Francis and Oscar have a cheery wave for everyone at at Lancashire sewing centres
The enthusiastic needlewomen (and men) at Grace &Favour and the Sewing Sanctuary, Marsh Village Village, Thornton,  have made lots of dresses and shorts for our children and these are from their latest parcel.
Francis (left) and Oscar really got into the spirit of modelling to make a picture for owner Caroline Bramhall, manageress and tutor  Emily Smith and colleague and friend Jessica Woolley and all those who took part in the special Dress a Child Around the World workshops.
The girls also had fa fine time trying on the dresses and all look very cute.
Thank you everyone for your kindness and for taking our children into your hearts.

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Maths are great - by Sifa and Victoria

Today we have two junior bloggers writing about their favourite subject ... maths!
They have just completed the end of year exams, the results will determine whether they move up a class when the new school year begins in January.
Victoria writes:      
My best subject is mathematic. The day before we were going to do an end of term exam, I revise very well at night,
The first paper was maths. I was the first one with 82%.
I am Mathematician Girl in Happy House.


Sifa writes: 
My favorite subject is maths.
Many pupils in my class have their favourite subjects and also me, I have mine,  and I love maths so much. 
The class which I am learning is standard six. I work hard so that I can proceed to the next class which is class seven.
God will help me whatever I do not know.
When I do maths I get 86 per cent or, sometimes, more than 90. I love it very much and I will continue doing my maths.
  

Saturday, 8 November 2014

Milan gets moving and Susanna downsizes her wardobe

Our wonderful friend Susanna Gregorio  is again busy in Milan raising money for our Happy House .
Susanna, who works with her husband Livio Leardi in his GetFit chain of fitness clubs,  is planning a Masterclass Movero for Happy House today at the  Via Vico GetFit from 1pm to 2pm,
Instructor Daniela will captain the team.
All proceeds will be for Happy House which Susanna and Livio  have been supporting for several years.
Susanna and Livio are guardians to Levian, a little boy they came across in another children's home
Once they became his legal guardians they asked Mama they could move him to Happy House with their full financial support, so that they would have the security of knowing he is being well cared for in a family atmosphere and is receiving the best education,when they are back in Italy. 
This week Susanna has also held her own fashion market  at Via Vico, setting up stall with beautiful clothes from her own wardrobe.
It is the second time Susanna has done this to raise money for us. 
She says: "I'm certain that many women will agree with me in saying we have in our closets so many clothes that we do not wear  any more  and yet we keep them there for months or years without wearing them even once .
 I was one of these women, but in the end I got courage and I decided I could do a little market selling my clothes. Some never used with tags attached,clothes really beautiful and also branded."
The sale, with everything at bargain prices, was a huge success.
Susanna (pictured delivering a donation from GetFit to Mama) visits Levian as often as she can and is a lovely friend to Mama, Papa and all our family. 
She said: "I will return in December to be with Levian and also to help this wonderful place."
Thank you Susanna, you know how much we appreciate everything you do.

Friday, 7 November 2014

Important message from Mama!

Keeping our records up to date is absolutely crucial to our charity.
And as we have been going through our list of lovely sponsors it seems that some of you may have moved house or changed your email address and forgotten to send us your new details.
We can only keep you in touch with news of your child and what we are doing, if we know how to reach you, so please if you have moved house since you started sponsoring, or have changed your email please email me with your new details: sue@childrenofwatamu.net 
It will help us to keep our Happy House database in good order!
Thank you. 
Santa sets the trend
Who needs a sack when you can have a Happy House bag.
Our Santa dropped in to see Mama before she started her journey home and spotted our Happy House bag.
He thought they were just the job for delivering presents, and suggests that maybe you would like to follow in his bootstep!
"Happy House bags are great! They make really smashing stocking fillers and I am having a few on my sleigh to help with deliveries,
"At £5 a time they are a bargain and a Christmas gift that will go on giving all the year round."
If you live on the Fylde Coast and can collect please email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net
or pop in to Aladdinz Cave, Clifton Street, Lytham or Garce&Favour at Marsh Mill, Thornton.
For mail order, postage is an extra 75p, please go to this link http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/reusable-cotton-shopping-beach-bag-children-of-watamu-happy-house-132684988.htmhttp://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/reusable-cotton-shopping-beach-bag-children-of-watamu-happy-house-132684988.htm