Compass School is now up to 72 students and Flora has a sewing class! We are sending funds so that the children get a warm meal at school every day. One of our generous supporters donated funds so that the school cook could have a new firewood stove to cook the meals on, as the old one was in bad shape. We look forward to hearing from the government official regarding assistance for these kids and the school.
The County Girls Caucus held in August in an area in southern Kenya, dealt with 250-300 girls and boys, and families in the community. Part of the focus was on ending child marriages, female genital mutilation, as well as the importance of education. Tumaini Afrika, the Zonta Club of SSM and another generous benefactor, all contributed to a successful caucus.
Heshima Children's Centre is a rehabilitation centre and school for children in the slum who have physical and mental challenges. These children are hidden away in Kenya, so this centre is wonderful for the children as well as their mothers, who work together to make items to be sold at the on-site store, called Dignity Designs. Recently we sent funds so that they would be able to admit more children from a waiting list.
As you know, we distributed over 200 Days For Girls reusable feminine hygiene kits and educated both women and men on their use on our last trip. Now these girls will not miss a week of school each month! TA donated funds to Days For Girls Sault Ste. Marie to help cover the costs of kits being sewn.
The Mathare Community Centre has asked for assistance with repairing and buying desks and chairs, for bedding for the beds we had sent funds for previously, more bed repairs and bathroom repairs. Funds have been sent to help with the costs. They also requested about $10,000 Canadian to build new classrooms and offices. We do not have those type of funds, but a friend of Tumaini Afrika, has graciously decided to give $5000 towards the building!!
We continue to have a booth at Vintage Co-op at the bottom of Church Street behind the Bushplane Museum in the old MNR building, on Saturdays from 10-4. We share our booth with Sequel, as this group raises funds for refugees from Myanmar who live in Thailand camps. There are lots of great items from Thailand, too! Come and do some Christmas shopping and see the unique gifts that all of the shops have!
Station Mall Craft and Bake Sale - November 22 from 9:30 to 6 - Tumaini Afrika will have 2 tables of crafts there!
Mill Market - TA will be there on Saturday December 15 from 10-2.
A TASTE OF KENYA - January 25th at the Water Tower Inn Pavilion. The chef will prepare a buffet of Kenyan foods and we will have an auction for special desserts to bid on for your table! As well, we will be selling goats and Days For Girls kits, to be purchased for Kenyan girls. $40 a ticket, available at the Station Mall Sale or Mill Market or from any of our members. Call Jeannine at 705-945-1042 for more info and tickets! Bar opens at 6 and dinner at 6:30.
We have three choices for great GIFTS this year, for the person who has everything they need. (I guess we all might)
- We have cards for the purchase of a goat for a girl in Kenya - goats provide milk, breed quickly and are easy to feed, are used as collateral for school fees and are eaten as they age.
- Many of our members are involved with Days For Girls SSM so we have gift cards for $15 which will cover the cost of a kit for a needy girl.
- Tumaini Afrika has cards as well, that indicate that a donation has been made on the recipient's behalf, to assist children in Kenya.
If you have any craft items that you would like to donate, please let us know by November 15th. We hope to see you at our events!
Thank you for your continued interest in Tumaini Afrika and the kids in Kenya!
Holly for TA
Members of Tumaini Afrika - Diane Hilderley, Wendy Upton, Judi McLeish, Carey Groot, Mary Anne Gasparetto, Maria Burgess, Sheena Smith, Cheryl Mireault, Jan Poulin-Zurawinski, Holly Wickett, Sylvie Mackey, Jeannine Jefferson, Micheline Findlay, Gabi Doleske, Sheree Wilson and Marg Dodds.
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