AUGUST 2017

Hello from Kenya,

It is Saturday, as I begin this monthly newsletter, sitting at the table within our home stay, the door out into the school yard is open, it's rather cool. I can hear the children who live with us here babbling in Swahili between each other, I can only just understand a word here and there.

One of our oldest boys, 15, it is Juma, is trying very hard to sing a hip hop 'song', Juma and his brother Diblo came to us after they were abandoned by their parents, leaving them alone to defend for themselves, no food, no home. Peter is playing with a hoop which is pushed along with a wire handle that they make themselves, Perter is adorable, he has cerebral palsy he came to us with his little brother Joseph when the father, and alcoholic could not look after them and abandoned them. Peter's walk and movements were very disabled, his speech almost non existent. Peter now is running, laughing, talking in his own special way but very recognisable, he is in Top class and is an excellent student. The disability now is minimal, his enormous smile makes up for everything.

Joseph his brother is a little quieter and he brings to our attention if anyone is misbehaving, and always looks out for his brother. so wonderful to have these two boys with us. Little Juliette, I know is waiting for me to come down from the home stay for a cuddle, she is sitting near a group of children making little cars out of plastic bottle tops. All our children are family, they look after each other, pick up others when they fall, laugh and cry together. If one has something then it is shared.

Each child no matter the age, well not Hope, just turning 4, washes their own clothes and makes their own bed, their responsibilities taken easily as they know that they are all part of a big family and need to help each other. It is amazing just to hear the laughter, now and then a call rises up for me to come down to them. Over the past few weeks we have been building an outdoor area for a meals area, as we have now far outgrown our hall. This area will be used for community meetings, meals, outdoor classroom activities, play area out of the rain and burning sun and so much more. It was a much needed addition to our school and we are thankful to the TAG Finance Group (https://taggroup.com.au/) in Applecross, Andrew Browne and his amazing team for again allowing Nakuru Hope to be one of the recipients for funds raised at their 1% Humanitarian lunch.

For the past four years The TAG Finance Group (https://taggroup.com.au/) have become very much part of our family now with their support and caring for others. The children have played such a big part in the building, without asking they pick up he stones, push and pull the wheelbarrow and help where it is needed, it has been great to do this new project together. Please pass on our monthly newsletter to family and friends as 100% of all monies donated goes direct to the needs of our children, all that we do is done voluntarily with nothing being used for glossy brouchures, marketing, personal expenses etc. YOU CAN HELP SIMPLY BY FORWARDING OUR MESSENGER OF HOPE NEWSLETTER. We all hope you enjoy our news and photographs, it has been a very busy month!!
Warmly
Susan / FOUNDER

Christopher Makokha
School and Orphanage Director

​JAMBO,

​We are now in our last days of August and it is a month truly to give thanks. So much has been happening in our school and we wish we could have those here with us so that we could thank them personally. To TAG, I met Andrew and his team when I was in your country and we are so thankful for our new and most amazing hall.

This space will mean a huge difference to us. Not only can we now have all our meals together as a family but our children will be out of the rain and heat and we will have our assemblies and meetings here now. It is amazing. John and Linda from Perth please allow us to send blessings as your gift of Grade 8 will mean so much to our students in their final year with us, we have ensured that we have completed this building whilst our Mumma Susan is here I know she will want to show you both the photos that we have taken when she returns.

Our class room finished finalises the build of all our classrooms which is so very important to us. When we began here on our own land in 2013 we had a vision that we would be able to have a school right up to Grade 8, our vision is no longer but a reality. Ray, from Perth.

​Mumma Susan has told me that you would rather not allow us to publicly thank you, but next year for our Grade 7's you will open up a new world for them. We are so very excited and very thankful my friend. Here we have had a month of elections and post elections thank you to all who have been concerned about our safety and hope for our country. Our children who are Kenya's future are all safe and doing well.

Asante Sana.
Christopher

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