Vision Africa founder/field director, Vera Packard, reports on 2 projects she recently visited.
KAMBITI
Upon my recent return to Kenya, I visited Percy Davies School for Children with Special Needs in Kambiti. Being in a recognized very arid area it was like a desert – very hot, dry and dusty, not a blade of grass anywhere. Food is very expensive and in short supply and John Kiboro, our Vision Africa Administrator, is finding it hard to make ends meet. A 90kg sack of maize is now costing between 2700ksh-3000ksh (£22-£25) and beans 5600ksh-6000ksh (£46-£50) as prices have continued to rise. Crop growth in this area is nigh impossible. Even mangoes, for which the area is well known, are very bitter and lacking in flavour.
Those who have been following our news over the past few months will be aware that Vision Africa is looking for long-term solutions to minimise the impact of the current global economic crisis while giving our projects a helping hand towards a more self-sufficient future. Having lost 35 sponsors in recent months, it is clear that we need to look for alternative ways of raising income to support our work. To that end, we have been introducing income generating activities (IGAs) at as many of our projects as possible.
September sees the start of the third term for our Seed of Hope centres. This is the shortest of the three terms and the most pressured one for both first and second years. For first years there is their first experience of government exams and for second years the preparations for graduation and leaving the centre to start up their own business.
After the successful completion of this year’s Manchester for Kibera tournament, there is no rest for the Kibera Mpira Mtaani committee as they move straight in to preparations for an informal schools tournament. Thanks to a donation from a Vision Africa supporter, the funds are available for a one week football tournament that will kick off on the 8th October.
Saturday 12th September saw the finals of Kibera Mpira Mtaani’s “Manchester for Kibera” tournament. Launched on the 8th of August, this tournament ran throughout the August school holidays and involved 124 teams across 5 categories.
For those who have been following Vision Africa’s Global Giving Grand Prix we are now on the final lap. Our thanks go to everyone who has helped us raise $3,355 over the last 3 weeks. We now have just 3 days left to raise $645 in order to secure a permanent spot on Global Giving’s website.
As you may have read, Vision Africa is currently taking place in the GlobalGiving challenge to secure a permanent spot on its website. To do this, we have chosen to fundraise for our Seed of Hope training centres which cater for destitute teenage girls.