Over the past few weeks if you’ve kept an eye on our web site and blog you will have seen quite a few posts about ‘Footprints’, including some cryptic clues put out by Kirsty on Facebook and Twitter. So, why ‘Footprints’ – what’s that all about then?
Well, when you think about it, it is a great way to express something of what we do. We all hope to leave an impression in the world, just as our footprints leave an impression when we walk on soft ground. With Vision Africa you’re not only making an impression, but you are walking along-side the children we support and helping them on their journey through life. So actually, the full title of our footprints event is really ‘Footprints of Hope’ because you are helping us to give these kids real hope in life.
So to celebrate this journey we are taking together we decided it would be great to have the opportunity for us to meet with you and share the path we are taking. To that end we offer you a warm and open invitation to join us in Manchester on Saturday 18th September. The event will start at 12 noon and includes a free buffet lunch (yes, really free – no strings attached!) and expect it to last until about 3:30. Deborah will be over from Kenya and we hope to make it a special day for you to enjoy with lots of information and presentations about our projects, crafts from ‘Crafted’ to buy, a fashion show from Seed of Hope and Crafted, and lots more (we may even have a live link up with Nairobi – technology permitting!). Please do join us, it would be great to see you there!
A Lion in the Maasai Mara
Talking about footprints – how about taking a walk on the wild side? Well now you really can – our Trek in the Maasai Mara promises to be a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with nature and raise some money for Vision Africa at the same time. I know it’s a bit pricey, but I can guarantee it will be an event to remember as we do a sponsored walk in Kenya’s premier national park. I had the opportunity to go there a couple of years ago and it was absolutely wonderful. I think I took something like 400 photo’s, many of them amazingly close to the incredible variety of wildlife (like this photo of a lion that I took). I plan to go on the trek, why not join me? See our web site for more details.
So there we are, two fantastic opportunities to make that impression and to step out to make a difference. Walk with us; Take a walk on the wild side. Leave some Footprints of Hope.
Tags: Events, fashion Crafted, footprints, kenya, Masai Trek, Vision Africa
In the next instalment of our series of introductions, I thought it only fair to give one of my male colleagues a chance to share his thoughts and experience of Vision Africa with you.
Name: Gerald O. Oyubo
Role: Project Head
Project(s) you work with: St John’s Children’s Centre, Riruta (Nairobi). This is an informal primary school dealing with less fortunate children.
What impact do you see Vision Africa having? Vision Africa plays a very big role in my project especially in feeding the children lunch, supporting rent payments, subsidising salaries for non-teaching staff and assisting with other educational resources.
How do you feel about working for Vision Africa? I feel good because the organisation encourages accountability and this helps my project to offer good services to the children.
Do you have a message for anyone who would like to donate time/skills/money to a Vision Africa project? Any donation or volunteering that comes to my project through Vision Africa will be highly appreciated. Vision Africa has been working with my project for the last 8 years and has never failed us.
Thanks!!
Gerald is also a member of Vision Africa’s Council of Reference in Kenya and advises Council members on issues relating to education.
You can assist Gerald in his work by sponsoring a child at St. Johns Children’s Centre from just £7 (800ksh) a month. Alternatively, if you live in the Nairobi area and would like to consider volunteering or making a donation in kind please get in touch.
Tags: africa, charity, child, children, education, kenya, Nairobi, nonprofit, Riruta, school, sponsor, sponsorship, Vision Africa, volunteer
Footprints…when I think of footprints in Kenya I think of two things – dust and mud! Anyone who has ever been here can tell you that, depending on the season, dust and mud are fairly prominent in your experience! Whether its getting stuck in mud as you drive to a rural area where the tarmac road network has not quite reached, or losing a shoe in the mud as you try to play football in rainy season, or getting covered head to toe in red dust as you travel…muddy footprints and dusty footprints are pretty common.
However something struck me about footprints. Each footprint is a ‘dual-action’ footprint! Let me explain. If you step in mud you will leave an imprint in the mud (footprint number 1) and as you take the next step you will most likely make a muddy footprint (footprint number 2) as a result of having stood in the mud. Dual-action footprints. Whatever you step in can affect more than just that one footprint.
At Vision Africa we’ve been thinking about the footprints we make and I think the same principle applies. As we make a footprint in somebody’s life – by giving them food, education or shelter – we leave an imprint on that life. That child will forever be impacted by the fact that they received help from Vision Africa. However, as we move on to help another child our footprints are influenced by our experience with the previous child. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not comparing our children to mud! I am simply saying that as we walk this journey we are not only leaving imprints on the lives of needy children but we are also picking up a little bit of ‘mud’ with each imprint that will go with us as we move forward. That ‘mud’ could be hope, inspiration, or a lesson learned for the onward journey.
What I’m trying to say is that as we leave footprints in the lives of the children of Vision Africa they also leave footprints in our lives! Whether as a sponsor, a staff member or a volunteer our lives are being impacted by the children we help. We learn from them and their experiences. We are inspired by their bright smiles and hope for the future. We are encouraged by their efforts and their energy. Footprints.
Interested in making some of these ‘dual-action’ footprints with us?? Check out our website for details about how you can walk an amazing journey with us on September 18th.
Tags: africa, children, footprints, kenya, sponsor, volunteer
Last week I had the pleasure of introducing you to my colleague Mary who works with a number of our projects in the Murang’a area. I thought it would be a good idea to make a series of posts about the people who make Vision Africa such a great organisation so I’d like you to meet another colleague…
Name: Florence Olwenge
Role: Head Teacher
Project(s) you work with: Seed of Hope Centre, Nairobi
What impact do you see Vision Africa having? It nurtures and empowers disadvantaged girls more especially those who didn’t have hope in life. They are trained on life skills, business skills and vocational skills which they later use to set up their businesses after training.
How do you feel about working for Vision Africa? I feel so honoured, especially when I am one of the people in a group that is able to change somebody’s life, or transform someone from a very low level or poor background to a better future or living standard.
Do you have a message for anyone who would like to donate time/skills/money to a Vision Africa project? It is good to help. You feel blessed and helping one or two people in a society you will have helped the whole society because this person may be able to bring change to the whole society. Helping a girl in Seed of Hope is not a loss because you see the impact immediately of your contribution.
You can support Florence in her work at Seed of Hope by sponsoring a student, interning at the project or donating other skills or items if you live in the Nairobi area. Please contact us for more information.
Tags: africa, charity, kenya, nonprofit, seed of hope, sponsor, sponsorship, staff, Vision Africa
You might have noticed a few updates on Twitter and Facebook this week relating to “Footprints”. There is a reason behind this and all will be revealed tomorrow!
In the meantime, here’s something to make you think about YOUR footprints…
Footprints
Footprints – we all leave them as we walk around each day
But did you ever think to stop and see just what your footprints say?
On the path that life has taken you, when you look at what you’ve done
Can you see your footprints showing that you’ve really helped someone?
Have you given time, shared your skills, donated a coin or two?
Have you helped change the life of someone much worse off than you?
It doesn’t take a fortune to make some children smile
But the feeling that those smiles create will last you a long while
Many children need your help, there are simple things you can do
To make sure that your footprints say change was made by YOU.
Tags: africa, charity, child, children, footprints, kenya, nonprofit, poem, Vision Africa
