A group of 3 adults and 6 teenagers from Dallas, Texas recently spent some time at the Kageno Kenya project. We will be updating the blog with their entries over the next few weeks...
We had such a great time at Kageno. Alphonse went out of his way to make all our arrangements, make us welcome and make this a great trip. He is really amazing.
Since you are going in July, we thought it might be helpful for us to put some of our observations in writing. Overall, the progress that has been made in the short time we have been involved is amazing. I don't think I have ever been involved in any organization that has accomplished this much. It is such a pleasure and blessing to be involved. We would love to talk in person, so let us know a good time to call.
Nursery School - The Nursery School is doing so well. The teachers seem to be doing a great job and the building looks so good. Jane requested some pencils and some large books with pictures and words. I left her 50 pencils and I have 400 I would be happy to send to you if you have room for them. Dee Ann and I thought that instead of big books we would like to send some laminated pages with pictures and words. Let us know if you have room to take them.
Crafts - This also seemed to be going well. They have some new products since the last time we were there and we loved buying them. I think our favorite new product were the napking rings. We bought all they had.
Feeding Program - We saw the women cooking and it looked like it was going well.
Healthcare - They still don't have a nurse for the village. It seems it is hard to find someone to take that position. We wondered if anyone has investigated affiliating with the Tom Boya Health Center for health care in the village.
Primary Schools - We had a great time working with Uya. We built 8 desks and chairs for the teachers and shelves for their classrooms. The fundi Alphonse hired was very skilled and we were very happy with the quality of the furniture.
Uya along with Alphonse and some parents were able to get funding from the Kenyan government to renovate 1/2 of the school building. The difference from last year was unbelievable. New brick on the outside, new larger glass and steel windows, new concrete floors and white washed walls. I believe 3 or 4 classrooms were renovated.
Sponsorship Program - We met each of the 4 children we have sponsored and they were all great except Glynn who was very sick. Alphonse and I went to meet him and Alphonse knew immediately that he was sick. In talking to his mother, she said he had been sick for 2 months and had not been to nursery school in three weeks. We took the nurse to see him the next day who took him to Mbita. He tested positive for TB and worms and we are waiting for the results for the Sickle Cell Anemia test.
Computer Program - Dee Ann spent time in the center and will send her report separately.
We will be working on blogs during the week.
Thanks so much for letting us be involved in this wonderful project.
Donell Wiggins
Kageno Volunteer
From my experience this past week on Lake Victoria I have come to find that Kageno: "a place of hope" is no understatement of what it gives the people. The people on this island have no running water, no electricity, and only one main source of food being fish, and yet they find a way to be happy and enthusiastic about pursuing their education provided by Kageno. I believe that Kageno will truly turn this small island completely around until one day these people will be able to wake up with unwilling hope that someday they will be something that they choose to be, not what they are forced to be. The amount of change caused by this small community center is shocking and from what I've seen will continue to progress for a long time to come.
Ben Wiggins
Kageno Volunteer
Comments