Subject: Nairobi update

Hey Shug,

Hope you're keeping well. I've had a busy old time so far since arriving 3 weeks ago and had my first day off yesterday. The kids are great - they live in houses of 9 or 10 kids with a House Mum who looks after them. We have 200 kids from newborns to 18 year olds, although the older kids are at secondary boarding school right now. The Home runs a wedding and events business to generate income, which is very successful and we also opearte a bakery where we bake bread (sponsored by Kelvinside) and either sell locally or donate to other needy childrens' homes nearby. The Home also operates an outreach programme for about 150 kids who stay with their families but are supported financially for school fees and upkeep (there is no free secondary education in Kenya). Some of the homes I've visited to deliver bread are operating under incredibly difficult circumstances, but it's heartening to know that there are people doing great things for the kids despite the difficulties.

We also opearte another home near the Masai Mara for Masai girls who are at risk of female genital mutilation or under-age marriage and there are just over 50 girls living there, although they currently have no running water or electricity. Finally, we have taken over the running of a school in the Kibera slum area where hundreds of kids have access to education and are fed properly during the day. It;s been an incredible privilege so far to spend time with the kids. I spend most of my time in the office providing admin support to the various projects but have an hour and-a-half of homework supervision with the kids at the end of every day and I'm on duty at the weekends for clubs, games (and church duty!).

I'd be grateful if you could post an update on the Hawks website because if people donate through my justgiving page the money goes directly to support all of these amazing projects.

Cheers,

Ricky.

This article was posted on 7-Jul-2008, 07:18 by Hugh Barrow.