Andrew is our Man of Iron

Many, many congratulations to our own Ironman, Andrew Dickinson.
Andrew, who is in Musyoka's sponsor family, successfully completed physical endurance feat of Ironman Wales in Pembrokeshire at the weekend.
First up for Andrew and fellow competitors  in the gruelling triathlon was a 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride and completed with a 26-mile marathon run.
Andrew,who works for Bupa in London, completed the non-stop challenge in the very respectable time of 13:16:14, raising almost £1500 in sponsorship for our Building a Bright Future Appeal to finish, furnish and open the Happy House secondary school by January 2016.
 Andrew and his wife Amy, who are in Musyoka's sponsor family, were hugely popular with our kids when thy volunteered in 2013, staging our first mini Olympics event!

 Ironman Wales was Andrew's biggest physical challenge to date but he completed in good time as did his friends Paul Richards and Grant Ferguson.
Andrew's self-discipline, dedication and determination  to take part and complete the Ironman challenge is a great example to our children.
Thank you Andrew for all your efforts and for raising so much money to help us to keep young people in education and on the road out of poverty.
To donate to our appeal please go to:
http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

Cooks stand the heat and meet the challenge

Cooking doesn't get tougher than this!
Greg Wallace and John Torode's Masterchef catchphrase came to mind more than once on Saturday morning when the task for Happy House cookery club was to cook for 130, writes Auntie Libby.
For the first time, it wasn't just a taster dish for the group but lunch for the family that was the challenge.
And I got a glimpse of just what a fantastic job our cook  Auntie Phyllis does, day in day out, as she prepares meals for our hungry kids..
I had volunteered to show the group how to make a rich tomato sauce with lots of added vegetables to serve with spaghetti.
First hurdle, ordering the ingredients! When you are used to cooking for two, knowing just how much of everything to order is daunting, but thankfully Auntie Phyllis and Auntie Velma stepped up to the plate and sorted it all out for me.
How much spaghetti? 24 packets should do it!
So on Saturday at 9am with my team of kids, and valuable assistance from Papa Dave, teacher Mr Mdachi and Auntie Phyllis  we got to work.
First we  talked about what we were cooking, the ingredients and how they are good for your health and energy.

Then hands washed and aprons on, the kids, working in groups, got to work with enthusiasm, washing, peeling and chopping a mountain of carrots, onions, garlic, spinach, sweet potato, okra, peppers and bucketfuls of tomatoes! 
After starting off the tomato sauce on the gas stove, Auntie Phyllis lit the chico ovens in the outside kitchen, and as soon as the coals were hot enough she  transferred the surfuria, a huge cooking pot, to the now red hot fire.
With the onions and garlic cooked off, tomatoes, tomato paste, seasoning etc added, the sauce was soon bubbling away, while in a surfuria on the second chico oven the other vegetables were being cooked through gently.
By this time it was sweltering and I was melting, so was grateful that the kids wanted to take turns in stirring the pots with a spoon resembling a paddle.
Once the tomato sauce was cooked, it was taken into the main kitchen for blending before being added to the now cooked vegetables, with the spinach going in last.
By 1pm, with 24 packets of spaghetti cooked, it was time fr service, which was left to Auntie Phyllis and her team of Happy House helpers who know just how it's done and with the whole family seated and grace said, lunch was served.
My team of young cooks was amazing, as was Papa and their teacher, and they all deserve a pat on the back,  but my star of the day has to be Auntie Phyllis for keeping her cool and ensuring we got the job done!

Building a Bright Future

Please help us to finish, furnish, resource and staff our secondary school ready for opening in January 2016. We need a total of £25,000 to make this happen, but we are now 28% of the way there. This school will ensure that children like those who have found a home and safety at Happy House, and other kids from impoverished backgrounds have a chance to complete their schooling with an education of the highest standard. It is their only road out of poverty. To help please donate at http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

Visits and a visitor by our kids

Mama and Zawadi

Today we have a bumper bundle of blogs written by our kids. 
During the holidays, those who have relatives who were able to take them for a short break went on home visits which some have chosen to write about. 
Musyoka has chosen the arrival of Auntie Libby as his topic.

Zawadi:
It was on Friday afternoon when my grandmother came to take Jane and l .Before going for home visit we went to tell our Happy House family goodbye.
After that we went for the home visit .when we had reached home everyone welcomed us with joy and love.
On the next day in the afternoon we went to fetch firewood and also fetch some water for the whole family.
 And also in the morning we always go to fetch water from the borehole. And also we always go for grazing in the morning and in the afternoon also when we have finished eating my lunch.. After grazing the goat we always go to wash utensils.

Jedida:

It was on Saturday morning. When I had prepared myself that

my aunt had come to pick me. When she came she went to the office and signed.

After there we went  at home together. When we reached at home I went to play with my friends.

I stayed for some days. 
When I was coming back to Happy House I was as happy as a king.

The Happy House children came and greeted me I was excited to see my brothers and sisters here at home. I enjoyed my holiday very much at my home visit. My home visit was so nice and I helped my aunt very much, like in the kitchen, washing clothes and cleaning.

Baraka

Baraka Mkutano:

It was Saturday morning while I was in the kitchen baking.

I heard that Baraka you are being called , I went and

changed because I know that I am going to meet my grandmother and my other relatives at our grandmother’s house.

When I reached at my grandmother’s house they welcomed me

I felt a I am at home. At night my grandmother called me and she

started telling me a story that that made me to sleep
.At morning  woke up I went and take a wash and I brushed my teeth I went and took my breakfast.
After that I took our goats for grazing behind our house after that I went and fetch water for taking a bath at night

Said, Grandmum and Rukia

Rukia
I went for my home visit on a Friday, my aunt came for Said and/ I.
After that  we said goodbye to everybody who were there. When we got out of the gate my aunt told us that  she really missed us so much but now she is happy to see us again. We started our  journey to Malindi  it only took 35min . When arrived I saw my grandmother, my cousins ,friends and many more people. 
My grandmother asked if we wanted anything to eat or drink we said yes please I said can I have a drink.    I helped cooking, washing also even going out for shopping.

Rose

Rose Chai:
It was on Saturday when I was going home.

Everybody was excited because l was back home.

A few days I started helping my mother in cooking, washing clothes.

That day I was so happy to see my family members

Even others came from their homes just to come and see me
My relatives came also on the next day.

Selina

Selina:

It was on Saturday morning when we were doing our Saturday’s activities
My father came for Hajiri, Maureen and I.
 We went and wore our safari clothes. As we were finished dressing we took our bags and went to the office as we were waiting for our father to sign.

Uncle Ronald told us to stand so that we can be taken photo together. After Uncle Ronald had finish we greeted everyone in the Happy House. 
We started our journey arrive at four o'clock. When arrived I saw my aunt, cousins and other people.

Kezia

Kezia:

I was very happy when I heard people saying that my mother has come I felt very happy because it was my first home visit since I came to be a Happy House kid.
I went and say bye to every body.

I arrived at our home at 4pm I greet my friends my relatives and other people.

I really help in different ways at home like cooking washing utensils and other works.

I also knew games like football and volleyball.

And that is how I spend my home visit and wishing to go again for home visit.
Francis: 

Francis

It was on Sunday morning while everyone had settled in their respective groups, Musyoka, Mwende and I were called by Mama Sue.

She  told us that we will be going for a home visit.

Some hours passed and then we saw our grandpa coming.

We welcomed him and we told goodbye to everybody.

We started with our journey to Nairobi Itivanzou.

At home we gave milk to the calf.

We did a lot of things during home visit.

ps: I love you mama and papa

 A blog about the coming of our lovely friend Aunty Libby by Musyoka

It was on Friday when everyone was returning to the Happy House family from home visits that we found that everyone who stayed at home had gone to the airport to pick our friend Aunty Libby .

We said to the aunty who was on duty that we had come back home safely we ran and changed our clothes .
And we were told by the aunty that we should get ready to welcome our friend back to the family again and we and we did as the aunty had told us to so when they had arrived we started singing welcome song to her so that we may make her feel welcomed. 
Then on Saturday we gave her a very big surprise with a party.

                                           Building a Bright Future
Please help us to finish, furnish, resource and staff our secondary school ready for opening in January 2016. We need a total of £25,000 to make this happen, but we are now 28% of the way there. This school will ensure that children like those who have found a home and safety at Happy House, and other kids from impoverished backgrounds have a chance to complete their schooling with an education of the highest standard. It is their only road out of poverty. To help please donate at http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

Boy power rules on the soccer pitch!

Our Happy House School boys triumphed in a football match against the girls yesterday.

It was a hastily rearranged match, after a local school invited for two single sex matches for girls and boys had to pull out at the last minute.

But both our girls and boys who were all geared up for their games, still had chance to get on the field, playing against each other.

It was also the first outing for our  Happy House strip, won and donated by Donna McNamara in a Persil-sponsored contest to win a strip.

Proud to be wearing the Happy House colours, both teams gave their all to the game.

They were cheered on from the stand by their school mates, plus Mama and Papa who supported them from the sidelines where they were joined by some of the smaller kids .

There was great jubilation from the boys in the crowd when their team scored.

On this occasion, in a hard fought match, the boys won the day 1-0.

Building a Bright Future

Builders are forging ahead with work on the secondary school with the dividing walls going in.

We will keep working on the build for as long as we can afford to, and in the hope that more money will flow into our Building a Bright Future Appeal to get us to the finish without any more delays. With a January deadline for opening, and kids who need our school depending on us, we must do it. Thank you to everyone who has donated, who is fundraising or helping in an other way. You are just amazing.
If you would like to make a donation and help to give young people an education to put them on the road to a bright future please go to:

http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

The Build is back on!

The school building work is back underway.

Thanks to YOU, we have now raised £6, 107 with our Building a Bright Future Appeal, enough to resume some of the work needed to complete secondary school by January.

Charo, our joiner, has made the window and door frames which some of our older boys helped to transport from Happy House to the school site just a five-minute walk down the lane.

Carlos, the builder who has worked with us on the creation of all the building on the school site, now has his team in place putting in dividing walls etc.

We will carry on with work with the funds we have, and in the hope that more will come to allow us to finish without a break.

We are working hard to explore every funding opportunity we can find, but we also need your help.

If you could hold a fundraiser, maybe a cake bake or coffee morning amongst your friends; an event in your school, church or office or maybe take part in a sponsored personal challenge.

In Italy, Susanna Gregorio cleared out her wardrobe selling her pre-loved fashion items to friends at GetFit Milan raising £345.

South Cerney Golf Club has donated £365, the proceeds of their seniors’ weekend,

South Cerney Golf Club - Scott (front left).

Member Scott Webster who is in Rose Safari's sponsor family,  is pictured accepting  a cheque from South Cerney Golf Club Seniors Captain Mike Burbage. The group of 54 Senior golfers and their partners raised the money by donating, winnings from completion,fines for balls landing in the lakes on the course and a raffle which took place in the evening. This event took place at the Vale GC in Wales on their away weekend.

  Pauline Royle stood a car boot sale and raised another £75;  another supporter has given the proceeds of her weekly chocolate bar between now and January; Andrew Dickinson, who is in Musyoka’s sponsor family, is taking part in a sponsored Ironman Wales challenge  https://www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Dickinson9/ and  Chloe Groves, who sponsors Said, and her sister Grace Dunbar, who volunteered this summer, are taking part in the Great South Run to bring in more money for our fund https://www.justgiving.com/GraceAndChloe
Grange Park Open Door Group, in Blackpool, who are in Rose Chai’s sponsor family, will be donating the proceeds from their Harvest Festival to our building fund.

On Tuesday, September 15,  an Evening of Clairvoyance takes place at the Rose Theatre, Kidderminster, 7.30pm with proceeds to our appeal. Thank you to mediums Sarah Johnson and Nuala Ryan Long and friends for putting their time and energy into organising the event Tickets are £12 each from the box office http://www.rosetheatre.co.uk/   

Windows on the move

 Grace and Favour and the Sewing Sanctuary at Marsh Mill, Thornton, are backing our appeal and we will benefit from the bumper Marsh Mill Christmas Market on November 29.  Caroline Bramhall, who founded Grace and Favour and the Sewing Sanctuary, has other fundraisers in the pipeline because she knows that every penny raised will go directly to changing the lives of vulnerable children – there is nothing between your donation and the project it is intended for.

Cody Leigh-Allen, a pupil at St Aidan’s School, Preesall, is doing her bit by asking her family to make a donation every time they flush the toilet! Her family sponsor Sanita, 12
There are many others who have made personal donations, both in the UK and Europe. 
.Every penny, every Euro, really counts.

Our secondary school is crucial to the education of our children

Please tell us if you are planning an event or fundraiser so that we can help share the word, and provide any information or leaflets you may need.

If you would like to make a donation to help Happy House to Build a Bright Future for many, many, young people now and for many years to come, by giving them the finest education available, please go to: http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

From the bottom of our hearts, Thank You.

A day in the busy life of our Mama

Mama and kds council

 Plan as she may, Mama Sue can never be sure what twists and turns her day will bring.

This is a very different world one the one most of us are used to.
She makes an appointment for nine am but in what we lhave come to call “Kenya time” that could mean being kept waiting for an hour, or three!

We made the 20-minute trip into Malindi for Mama to carry out some business at the office of a major international company. Mama and Papa were  his only customers, probably the first of the day.

 “Yes” he said“you can make the changes you wish to make, but can you come back another day to do it?.

Mr Makuti

“No” said Mama “I have come to do it today. Why should I come back another day?” 

With no answer to her question, the man behind the desk reluctantly got on and did what he was asked and half an hour later we were on our way back home!

Every transaction is frustratingly slow. To live here you have to be firm, direct and infinitely patient.

Back at Happy House it’s a day of meetings.  First  the catch-up with social worker and general manager, Uncle Billy. They look back over the previous evening and talk over the day ahead.

Then Auntie Gloria, who is responsible for the older kids whose rooms are on the first floor, comes to report to Mama on how everyone is doing and to discuss any niggles,

With Uncle Billy

Then the t-shirt man arrives. We need new t-shirts printed for our aunties to wear, and together he and Mama agree a design and price. She goes over the order several times to ensure that he has understood.

There’s just time to grab a coffee, before the outside staff arrive for their weekly meeting when Mama and Uncle Billy go through maintenance that needs doing, garden returns and other items anyone wishes to raise.

Teachers meeting

No sooner is that over than the Makuti man turns up, much later than his agreed time, but Mama is used to that. They talk over work that needs doing at school as we prepare for the secondary school. 
Again, Mama agrees a fair price.

She has made it clear to every tradesman used at the Happy House that if they work well, do a good job for a fair price they will get more work. But if they cut corners or elevate the price unreasonably (as so many have tried to do) there will be no more work. 
 Our electrician has been with us years, he values the work he receives from Happy House and his respect for Mama, Papa and the work they are doing is obvious.
He pops during the morning to check the solar is working OK and to say hi to Mama. Greetings are so important here.

All day, every day,  Mama’s office door is open and her phone switched on.  Staff members know they can go to her with anything they need to discuss, a lot gets done with good humour and a lot of laughter! 

Papa, meanwhile, is doing lots of running around - negotiating prices for supplies, buying hardware that might be needed, he is here there and everywhere - always just a phone call away should Mama need him.

Meeting outdoor staff

First meeting of the afternoon is with the aunties when they sit together to talk about family life and any issues that may need addressing.  If any child has a problem, they will talk it over with Mama and Uncle Billy.

It’s a happy meeting and the love and care these aunties have for the kids shines through.

No sooner is it over, than Mama and Uncle Billy are on their way to school for a meeting with the teachers.  Mama is hands on at the helm of the busy ship she runs.
The Happy House and the school run as well as they do, and bring the results that they do, because of the high standards she sets. 
She wants only the best for her children. Anything less is not good enough.

By late afternoon, it is back to the Happy House for her favourite meeting of the week. Kidz Club.

The little ones, now home from school and changed into play clothes,  skip into the banda and take their seats when Mama arrives the singing starts!  A few minutes later Papa joins us and has the kids in stitches when he joins in the singing – a deliberately exaggerated baritone.

Auntie meet 

A few songs more, and the older kids start arriving home from school, each one greeting their Mama, Papa, Uncle Billy and I with a smile and a handshake. 

Soon the family is at one, and Mama and Uncle Billy talk with the kids about things happening over the week and anyone who wants to have their say, child or adult,  can share their thoughts, ideas, likes and dislikes. It is a family time for family chatter.

Birthdays are celebrated and this week there is just one. Sanita who receives her gift plus a kiss and a hug from Mama.

The little kids leave happily to shower before tea, while the older kids stay behind to talk with Mama Papa and Uncle Billy.

Then they go their different ways, off to get changed, do their homework and prepare for tomorrow before they do have their tea.

Kidz Club with Papa

with Sanita

Only the Kidz Council remains. They meet every Sunday and give Mama a full report after Kidz Club. They talk about activities they have planned, groups they have organised to help around the house and gardens and to discuss any matters of discipline that might need action.

They talk in a happy, relaxed way. It’s kids talking to their Mama, and sharing a joke with her and their Papa.

Finally, at nearly 6pm, Mama’s day comes to an end.  There have been problems to solve, serious issues to discuss but she has achieved much and can go home knowing it's been a good day ... and to start planning for the next.

Building a Bright Future

Happy House is building bright futures for children from backgrounds of abject poverty or despair. Orphaned, abandoned, abused or neglected kids who find home & hope in our family, plus education & opportunity in our school.

Our 100 kids receive an exceptional education in our KG & primary schools, where they are joined by 120+ day pupils + 25 free-place scholarship students.

In Jan 2016, our first Class 8 pupils will move on to our secondary school, currently under construction.

We MUST be ready for them.

Education is their only road out of poverty.

To help us to finish, furnish, resource and staff our secondary school by January please donate at:

http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

School Report: Busy term start and Hannah returns

 All our kids are so happy to be back at school and the term is in full swing, reports Mr Mdachi.
The children are working hard in class, the playgroup and baby class learning through play and interaction. All the senses are brought into play as, with their teachers, they explore the exciting world around them.
In Primary School,  Class Eight has settled into serious study and revision as they prepare for their national examination which takes place in early November.
It's is an important term for them and they, our first Happy House KCPSE candidates, are determined to do themselves, their school, and their Mama Sue, proud.
Guidance and counselling sessions feature strongly for all pupils at Happy House school, helping them to identify their potential, exploit their talents and to build on any areas of weakness.

Our teachers are their mentors, encouraging and building confidence and to make the education they are receiving as exciting, empowering and energising as possible.
Please help us to build and open our secondary school by January 2016. To donate go to
http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/childrenofwatamu/brightfuture

Back to visit

Hannah Dwyer ,a volunteer at Happy House back in our first year in 2010, has been back to say hello.

Hannah, who lives in London, brought with her suitcases of lovely children's clothes given by friends and relatives.

She was thrilled to see how far Mama Sue has taken our Happy House since those early days and was impressed by out school.

Hannah was also delighted to catch up with some of the kids who were among the first members of our family including our Harry who she remembers coming home to Happy House as a weak and tiny baby!

Thank you for visiting Hannah and to you and all your friends for the clothes you brought with you.

Hannah is pictured with Harry (top right) and with Margaret and Sifa (right)