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.
However in the midst of this we have a school of very happy children. They have a rabbit hutch with some very nice rabbits, they were able to show them to me and they loved to hold them. This, for them, was great fun. The children look healthy. I did however notice a lack of things to play with so thanks to the generosity of a friend in UK who raises money for Vision Africa I was able to purchase some balls and skipping ropes. I also intend to get some tyres and paint them different colours. Kenyan children love to play with these.
We have also been able to purchase some uniforms for a few children. Many of the children who came to the school with severe learning difficulties are progressing well. I was amazed at the improvement in their skills.
We have recently added pigs and hens to their collection of animals. The compound is well fenced in now bringing security. Later this year, we plan for a celebration to officially open the school and we are looking forward to this. It was a pleasure to visit this project.
RIANDU CHILDREN’S HOME
This is located in another very arid area. We had to take a different route to the home this time as the usual route is some 12 inches deep in soft soil, so soft it is like talcum powder making it impossible to drive. Unfortunately, this also meant a longer journey than usual – sitting in the vehicle in the hot sun is not the best way to spend an hour. Along the way the scenery was like something out of a science-fiction movie. Every leaf, stalk and tree was covered in dry red dust rather like when we have snow falling and covering everything.
However, what a welcome when we entered the home, the children were excited to see us. I had taken lots of clothes and each child received something new to wear, later they enjoyed lollipops, biscuits and juice. The children look very healthy and are happy.
The bakery has done very well as an income generating project and so far this year has covered the school fees for the children. However it has hit a snag as the man who delivered the goods to nearby shops etc is demanding more money that would render the project non viable. The answer would be if we could afford a motor cycle then Henry (the home’s administrator) could make the deliveries himself. This would cost us around 70,000ksh to buy (approx £600).
Despite losing a new born calf the cows are doing well and continue to provide milk for the home. Rearing chickens and pigs are the other income generating projects and these are going well. To date the rains are long overdue and water is rationed making things somewhat difficult. 2 water tanks have been installed but there is no water to fill them.
It is always a joy to visit our home in Riandu and we rejoice with Henry and his wife Joselyn in that they are expecting their first child sometime in December.
Vera Packard.
