Tembo Kenya

pikipiki pictures

2012-01-29T11:23:00.001-08:00

Here they are!

pikipiki

2012-01-29T07:37:00.000-08:00

One of the most engaging things with the teachers we were interacting with over the last few weeks, were the poems and chants that are so powerful for encouraging language. On our way to the last day in Maseno I made up this chant and Nancy added pictures. A pikipiki is a motorbike:
and they do carry all the things mentioned and more

PIKI PIKI

One pikipiki rolling down the road,
Two pikipiki losing half his load;

Three pikipiki taking kids to school,
Four pikipiki do not know the rule!

Five pikipiki, chickens on the back,
Six pikipiki bouncing down the track;

Seven pikipiki, three girls on the seat,
Eight pikipiki driving in the heat.

Pikipiki on the left .........
Pikipiki on the right .......

I love my pikipiki -
We are such a sight!

- Patricia Crossley

Singing with teachers

2012-01-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

lunch arrives

2012-01-21T21:05:00.000-08:00

A group of widows in Kakamega make lunch for our groups when we do day-long sessions. Punctually at 10.45, they bring kettles of pre-mixed tea and fresh mandazi-small donuts, which are impossible to resist.
Most sessions go to about 2 pm when the ladies re appear carrying plates, cutlery and bowls of cooked food. We usually have rice, potatoes, stew and a delicious mix of cabbage and onions.

Teaching language and raising awareness

2012-01-17T23:56:00.000-08:00

The last three days have been taken up with teacher workshops offering strategies for reading, writing, vocabulary development. We had a smaller group than expected, but that always leads to better interaction. Next week we go to Maseno where we expect about 50 participants.

Thanks to some donations, I have a workshop planned for the beginning of February with clergy about responses to domestic violence, which is very widespread and even accepted as normal here in Kenya. The topic is usually swept under the rug. I hope to break the reluctance to even talk about it. I did a mini presentation last year with a 100 or so rural women. It wasn't easy to get them to understand what the point was. 'If my husband doesn't beat me it means he doesn't love me.' I'm hoping a dialogue will start through the churches which have powerful influence.

No towing service here!

2012-01-14T23:36:00.000-08:00

A few months ago our landlord was in a traffic accident with his brother's car. He wasn't hurt, but the unuseable car has been sitting in the compound covered with a green tarp. Last week we came home to find a big truck sitting there with the car's front wheels on the tail gate and the car body balanced on an oil drum. After much consultation, several young man were recruited from the neighbourhood to manouver the whole vehicle into the truck

A day off at last!

2012-01-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

Just relaxing after a busy week. Teacher seminars went so well and job training applicants were literally jumping up and down with joy. The fellows (no women as yet) doing driver ed (which will include motorbikes) were in Kakamega two hours early for the start of their course.
On Friday we trained three new schools for Read for the Top to start this month (one secondary and two elementary). We were truly blessed to have with us Kenyan teachers who have run the programme to share what a huge difference it has made in their schools. One school is a Virtues school and the Head Master also spoke to the group. Then the teachers did a simulation exercise which opened their eyes to what their students will encounter.

On Saturday the group forming a marketing cooperative met and elected their sponsors (who sign the legal documents) and their interim executive. Once they have completed the paper work the Department of Cooperatives will give them some more training and they can invite other producers to join. Their target is 100.

English strategies for Elementary teachers

2012-01-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

Two review sessions yesterday and today for teachers of English (basically TESL or TEFL) These people attended three days last year and asked for experience sharing. I am seeing the evolution in their thinking and attitude. They have a very tough job becaise of class size and lack of resources so we are showing strategies that do not need special equipment. It's also good for them to know that other places in the world contend with the problem of children whose home langauge is not the language of instruction. One more review tomorrow and then three day sessions with new groups.
We also give out contracts to new job training students tomorrow. Eleven drivers, 3 (women) in motor mechanics, a couple of tailors and a carpenter.
Pictures to come

helping Kenyan schools

2012-01-08T22:01:00.000-08:00

We try to help the children by helping their teachers: Virtues training, Read for the Top and English seminars. All exams are in English which severely disadvantages rural children. Two girls committed suicide last week when they received their KCPE results and would not be able to continue in Secondary. Oh for a school not tied to the Kenyan exam system! Watch the videos of Read for the Top. The link is on our web site www.tembokenya.org

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education

2012-01-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

Three private elementary schools in Kakamega have been interdicted for 'irregularities' in the recent KCPE exams. They will not be allowed to offer candidates for the test for two years. Parents are naturally in a panic. The interdicted students will have to 'rewind' (repeat the year). Out of 500 points you need 250 to qualify for a place in a secondary school. There are sometimes not enough places even for those who pass the exam, even if a parent or a sponsor can pay the fees. Here is what a newspaper article says: Matter of Life and Death. Almost every household in Kenya has a child in school. This explains why the country waits with bated breath for the release of KCPE results. This year was no exception. What is staggering is the extent to which pupils, teachers and parents go to cheat on the exams. Passing the exams is matter of life and death. A pupil who fails to get marks for high school falls by the wayside, his other talents notwithstanding. Something is terribly wrong with a system that condemns a 13-year-old as a failure and cuts him loose.'
This is why with the help of Tanya we are trying to offer vocational and polytechnic training to some of the jobless who never went on with their education or who dropped out for lack of fees.
My other dream is to open an international school based on Virtues and with a Canadian curriculum. Hmmm

The last week

2012-01-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

Outside and inside the interview room

After the New Year holiday we saw 20 people on Wednesday for job training. Some very young school leavers, some middle aged with families. We selected three women to train as motor mechanics. One is in her thirties with two young children. Her husband was murdered 2 or 3 years ago. Ten or eleven men want to do driving, so we have negotiated a price with the driving school that will give them the full range of vehicles, plus motorbikes. We were not aware that the motorbike licence is separate. Most drivers in town are unlicensed and very dangerous. We shall be doing our small part to improve the road safety.

On Thursday we took two of our scholarship girls to a new school. They have done well and we are moving them to a bigger and higher rated school. It took us most of the day to obtain permission to remove their belongings from one school and then sign them in to the new one.

On Friday our American teachers arrived for the teacher seminars to start next week.

On Saturday we received the shy gifts of one egg and a stick of sugar cane as we handed over a well to a local community

Here are the 'before' and 'after pictures. It took 65 seconds to fill a 20 litre container with clear water.

Long-ish update

2012-01-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

We are back from our Christmas break in Turkey. A wonderful visit with our daughter in Ankara, including an overnight in Cappadocia, then four days in Istanbul. The only spoiler was the brutal return trip. Early evening departure from Istanbul, arriving in Nairobi at 2 am and then a wait for the first flight out to Kisumu at 10 am. Still recovering from a compeltely sleepless night.

However, we came back to a busy schedule and great news as some of our programmes show great progress.

Went shopping today in the big new supermarket after making arrangements for the next few days. A young woman spoke to me. 'Do you remember me?' Out of context, it's sometimes hard to place a face. She belongs to the Youth Group who have attended business training. Over the holiday they have had training which we organised for keeping rabbits (good source of cheap protein) and have set up their soap making project for which they have customers.'We are not idle any more.' Remember that the unemployment rate in Kakamega area is around 60%.

This group is part of the 'coalition' to form a cooperative and we will meet Jan 14 to decide on the major income-generating project in which all will participate.In the mean time we have given seminars in poultry keeping, rabbits and bee keeping so the component groups can generate extra income.

It is slow to bring people together who have little formal education and experience of the world outside this area. But they are progressing step by step towards independence.

We think we have found a winning formula for improving performance in Kenyan elementary schools. We teach the Virtues Project for eliminating the use of the cane and improving atmosphere. We run Read for the Top to improve language comprehension in as many schools as possible, and we offer teacher seminars for language teaching strategies. One of our schools has just improved phenominally jumping to a high position in the district rankings and another has also shot up. The first school has incresed their average score in the national exams by 40 points--an unheard of achievement. The interesting thing is that the whole school adopted the Virtues, but the Read for the Top was conducted in class 6 and 7. So the high achievers this year (class 8)were not participants in the organised contests. Nor did this school send many teachers to the seminars last year becasue of some political nonsense at the education office. I am betting they will send more this year!
In the other school Virtues training was recent and they are yet to do their Read for the Top. Yet they improved their scores by 25 points.

The Provincial Education office is ready to give us full endorsement for Virtues seminars in schools. Not only does this training help eliminate (sometimes vicious)coporal punishment, but as we see improves academic performance. The schools will be able to cover our costs for seminars and we pray for enough funding to continue the teaching in communtities. The urgency in this is the prospect of conflict and violence leading up to the elections later this year.

We are so grateful to all those who donate to us to make this possible.

Yesterday we interviewed 20 anxious people for job training and selected 19. If our funding allows it, we will maybe be able to take more before we leave. Photos to come.

Today we go to Isecheno primary to select three students for secondary scholarships and Friday we welcome our American teachers for the seminars to continue over the next three weeks. The slogan 'help the children by helping their teachers' is so very true.

We shall be training new schools for Read for the Top later this month as well as the business training follow-up.

As soon as I get some breathing space I will select some photos for you.
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Best wishes

2011-12-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

We leave today for our Christmas break, this year to be spent with family in Ankara and Istanbul. We wish joy and peace to you all.
Often people ask us what brings us back to Africa every year. There are many answers, and this quote provides one of them:
“Westerners arriving in Africa for the first time are always struck by its beauty and size – even the sky seems higher. And they often find themselves suddenly cracked open. They lose inhibitions, feel more alive, more themselves, and they begin to understand why, until then, they have only half lived. In Africa, the essentials of existence – light, earth, water, food, birth, family, love, sickness, death – are more immediate, more intense.” Richard Dowden

Independence day

2011-12-12T01:41:00.000-08:00

Today is Jamhuri Day, the celebration of 48 years of independence. It is hot and sunny and some are taking advantage of a day off to rest with family. Others continue to work, especially the manual labourers finishing the construction in our compound.

The country still has major problems. Doctors in public hospitals have been on strike for the past week. There are some initiatives for treating emergencies but many cannot afford to attend private clinics. A doctor in a public hospital earns about $300 per month (plus some allowances),about one seventh the income of an MP. The medical staff are also protesting the deplorable state of most health centres. Drugs and machines are often lacking. Health clinics close regularly a few days each month because of no drugs.

At the same time there are protests over cost overruns in redecorating the Parliament building, where each individual chair is estimated to cost over $200.

There is on-going argument over the new Constitution. When the British pulled out in 1963 they left a Parliamentary system with two houses and potential decentralisation. The new MPs immediately proceeded to dismantle the document with at least eleven major amendments, abolishing the upper house, regaining power for Nairobi, eventually leading to a one-party system. This changed a few years ago and the people voted in a new Constitution last year, removing much of the power of the President and instituting checks and blances. Corruption will flourish less easily. Those seeing the possibility of power slipping through their fingers are busy trying to change clauses even before there is the first election of new representatives. The election is supposed to be in August, but that will mean sittng MPs will leave a few months early (they were voted in in December). They are clamouring for 'compensation' for their lost salaries, or else to switch the election date to December. Tensions are running high.
MPs have paid no tax on most of their income under the old regime and the government has already agreed to pay back taxes for each of them, amounting to several million shillings each.

Yesterday we visited the third major supermarket to open in Kakamega in the last two years. The variety of goods and the layout are astounding in a town where ten years ago we tried in vain to have the local grocery store bring in cans of tuna, mayonnaise and olive oil. There is obviously plenty of money in the town itself, leading to an even greater divide between urban and rural polulations. We have just finsished the shortlist for our job training applicants. For some, the future already looks brighter.

Students, wells and teaching

2011-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

These last three days have been full. On Thursday last week we met our 'academic' students for reporting their marks and taking fee sheets for next year. All are working hard and they wrote careful letters to their sponsors. Dorcas is in second year of Electrical Engineering and beaming. One boy won a place at a 'National' (top level) school and we sent him there for a year. But fees have shot up and are double those at a good 'Provincial' school, so we shall have to move him.
Lewis was top of his year in Form I, Dorcas and Mildred are pictured here together with Mildred and Dickson writing their sponsor letters.

On Friday we went to a community to hand over a well. About thirty women came with their water containers, some with a baby on their hip. They have been drawing water from a dirty pool and this will make life much easier for them.

Today, Saturday, we continued with the business training group who are definitely, it seems, moving toward the formation of a cooperative. We were given some reading glasses and some of the participants were able to use them right away.

Job training achievements

2011-12-05T23:11:00.000-08:00

We just met our job training students who will be continuing next year. Some of the young men have finished short courses and are working away from Kakamega. Five women and one young man reported their marks to us. Two of the women have little schooling and are married with children. They all reported excellent marks near the top of their class in tailoring, hairdressing, catering. One is taking a diploma in social work. The young man finished a certificate in motor mechanics and wants to take a driving course to enhance his chances of employment. Two of the women had no funds and left home at 6 am to walk to the office, arriving at 9 as requested. I was happy to give them their return fare and something for a cup of tea and a snack. This was a moving morning and a true validation of our mandate to help people who have little hope of earning any income whether because of lack of education, isolation or family circumstances.

Three springs completed

2011-12-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

Three protected springs are now in operation. It is difficult for those of us used to turning the tap for water to realise how some people collect their water from dirty pools. Where there is running water in a stream (even if polluted) we can tap into it closer to the source, protect it against run-off from manure, fertiliser and latrines, and build pipes for easy collection. Most springs are situated at the bottom of a slope, which can be steep and slippery in the rains--especially if you are carrying 20 litres on your head. So in many cases we build steps to make life a tiny bit easier for the women and children (Men do not carry water!)
On Saturday we visited the three new installations and received tearful thanks from the women. here are some before and after shots:

Call Hope for Soap

2011-12-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

On Friday and Saturday we showed the Hope Youth group how to make liquid soap. As well as the demo they set up sub committees for research (prices), manufacture and marketing. They are enthusistic and determined and we look forward to a successful small business

Composting latrines

2011-12-03T06:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we visited the secondary school where we will install the Rotary gift of eco-san latrines for girls. They had just started to dig but yikes! with the wrong orientation! We are almost bang on the equator but the sun does move a few degrees north or south for 6 months of the year. So if we orient N-S we will have sun on both sides during the day and for most of the year to help the composting. Urine collection will be made and stored for urea for the fields. The solid waste will eventually provide manure.

In January we will hold a meeting with the girls to explain their use. We have some very simple (but explicit!) illustrations.

December

2011-11-30T05:39:00.000-08:00

December is a crazy month here. It's the end of the school year, so mark taking is held for scholarship organisations and students bring their fee schedules for the next school year for payment. Our job training students follow the same schedule.
Big exams are held in schools in November, then there's a marking frenzy to get results of elementary schools out by Dec 28. Then students are 'called' to schools and those fortunate enough to have marks high enough for scholarship applications can be called for interview. We have two girls moving up to a Provincial school in the second year of HS, so we shall have to get all their 'shopping' (a long list of items and uniforms) completed by Jan 3.
We shall be interviewing for new scholarships at the beginning of January since form 2 (second year) doesn't enter school until February.
There are many choir festivals during the month and confirmations and bapstisms are traditionally held at this time. A whirlwind of activity!

hand up, not a hand out

2011-11-28T01:15:00.000-08:00

Succesful workshop on Saturday with 30 leaders from self-help groups. Our trainer is great and doesn't pull any punches. They are beginning to gel and to plan constructively together. We are holding our breath to see if they will come together to form a cooperative. Although it is helpful to give funds directly in certain circumstances, the international NGOs have created a culture of 'we are poor, we need help'. Yes, help is needed but of a thoughtful, discriminating kind. Africa has received billions in aid, but is still the poorest continent. Africans need to empower themselves to move forward.
We are also inundated with requests for job training support. This is where there is a huge need: vehicle maintenace, food and beverage certificates and so on. So few students progress any further than the lower levels of secondary school, that a formation to earn a living is lacking for most. Unfortunately we will not have the funds to accept more than half a dozen of the candidates.

workshops and planning & a new logo

2011-11-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

We are busy planning the teacher seminars in January and Read for the Top in a Primary school. We can purchase the 'story books' now and consult the school staff, but the new school year starts in January when we will be able to confirm class numbers. At that time we will squeeze in a full presentation for the teachers as we set up the teams.

Yesterday we traveled an hour from town to meet a community group for Virtues training. They are so well organised and eager that we think we will be able to incorporate them into our business training model in the new year.

We have a new logo! Thanks to the wonderful people at GoVolunteering we now have a professionally designed log. We love our elephant family and may continue to use it for some things, but here is our new, eye-catching design. You can see us featured at
http://govoluntouring.com/help-build-skills-western-kenya

Dedication of Virtues Centre

2011-11-19T22:38:00.000-08:00

During the past year we received donations from the Virtues Facilitators mentorship in Victoria, Canada, and a shipment of materials from the Virtues Founders in memeory of John Kavelin (co-founder) It has taken a while but last Saturday we dedicated our centre in Kakamega to the memory of John. We hosted a number of Virtues-trained people (and some who aren't yet) and had a few of our facilitators on hand. We set out a display of sample materials.

A proud grad

2011-11-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

On Friday we were invited to a graduation celebration for Tony, who obtained his B.Ed with distinction in Geography and KiSwahili.Tony and his fiancee Caroline have been doing some of the business training for us in that they go out to rural groups and teach poultry keeping (for example) and basic bookkeeping. Tony struggles all through his schooling relying almost entirely on 'well wishers' to stay in school. Because of his excellent results he is hoping for a junior teaching post at the University and the chace for a schoalrship to continue to the Masters level.

a word from Nancy, our agent in Kenya

2011-11-18T00:27:00.000-08:00

It is so beautiful here in the early morning. Dark, natural honey from local beekeepers in my coffee, meusli and Kenyan fruit juice; roasted groundnuts bought from the local market which I roast in a 275 F oven for an hour after sprinkling with sea salt dissolved in water, stirring every 15 minutes.
Fresh papaya, mango and pineapple diced on my cereal and Kenyan yogurt. Brown oatmeal bread. Local peanut butter and a little tin of jam. Everything from Kenya.
I am not suffering.
I beat the 'water demon' this morning and brushed my teeth before the water went off. I think it's still on. About to have my breakfast. When the water is off I have half a glass of boiled water. I brush my teeth and try to rinse my mouth, rinse off the outside and clean my toothbrush, then do something about the wee sink. I prefer doing it when the little tap pours forth its miracle!

Well committees

2011-11-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

Went out today to visit and sign contracts for three wells. The first (Kwamujumbe)was down a terrible road, the committee was not assembled, the chair lady was away and they have done nothing to procure a legal agreement to put the well on private property. The water source they use is appalling, but we are handling donated funds that must be properly managed. We left amid wringing hands and said we would be back when they have their legal affairs in order. Too many wells (not ours) in the past have relied on promises from land owners that the water would be available to the community, only to find it fenced off for the owmer's use.
The second was a delight (Wandugu). The committee (on the left)was waiting for us, they have no outstanding issues, so they will hopefully have their clean water supply by Christmas.

The third site was also well organised. Some bright, articulate women who are also asking for business training in the new year. I am hopeful we can do that. They have one legal issue that should be settled tomorrow.

On our way back we stopped at a spring (Mudede) where work to protect it is in progress.

Read for the Top success!

2011-11-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

Wonderful day at Mwiyenga Primary for Read for the Top. This is a poor rural school that used to be bottom in results of their division of 54 schools. This year the grade 7 who did R4T last year captured the top three places in English and one girl had 100% in math. The teachers are ecstatic. I mentioned this is a Virtues school and about 30 of the students recited their virtue for us, which I have on video. Unfortunately it needs some captions before I can post it as the accents are hard to understand. I'm adding a couple of shots of the students in the competition (Concentration and Consultation), the staff and one of the flat tire that greeted us as we left. The road was very bad and stony!

Here's a different story

2011-11-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

The newspapers are full of Somalia skirmishes, university closures because of the strike by profs, costs of staple foods and exam cheating. All getting quite ho-hum. Two days ago the news was that Maasai morans (young warriors in beads and red cloaks and spears,) had invaded a girls' boarding school looking for wives and attempted to abduct some of the girls. They were repulsed, the girls fled and hid in the bush. The young men claim they are not being provided for by their elders.The Principal is putting in more security (which the parents will have to pay for)

Pace of Grace workshop

2011-11-13T05:16:00.000-08:00

Twenty eight highly focused people attended the seminar on Satusrday, Their evaluations of their day are humbling. Here are some pictures: the Virtues table with meaningful things from Kenya and Canada; the working group, and the ladies who prepared tea and mandazi (delicious small donuts) and a very substantial lunch for us. Many people travel with little or no breakfast, so we like to give them a snack at the break. Then we usually continue to the end of the workshop (maybe 2 or 3 pm), eat a meal and everyone goes home with a full tummy

Two weeks of silence!

2011-11-11T06:21:00.001-08:00

So much has been happening that I had no idea it is nearly two weeks since I posted.

Rod has flown to Canada for his medical appointments. He is booked to return Dec 4 but we are hoping it could be sooner. So I am alone and busy boiling & filtering water and taking care of all the other little tasks that need to be done when you live in rural Africa. Our agent, Nancy, has arrived and settled in to her cute little apartment on the compound. maybe pictures later.

Johnstone, our medical student, passed his exams and went to Nairobi for

his certificate. He has an internship at a public hospital about 30 minutes away and not too far from his home. Here he is proudly showing his qualification.

We have contracted six water projects, three shallow wells and three protected springs, bringing in all clean,safe water to about 2,000 people. Next week we shall start to visit the communtities who have to set up a management committee to take care of the well. The shilling has dropped against the dollar, so we are hoping to have enough remaining funds to put in eco- san toilets in a school where the girls' latrines collapsed. The school cannot reconstruct in another spot because the water table is too high and the latrines will contaminate the ground water.

The news here is full of the rise in prices. Our Advisory Committee chair says he has never seen anything like what has happened in Kenya over the last four months. Prices of basic foods have tripled and those already constantly hungry are in a desperate way. There are real fears that hostility and violence are on the rise and that next year's election could go badly. We are putting together a plan with our Kenyan facilitators to expand Virtues training to more communties to promote Civic Education and peace. We very much need funding for this effort.

There was a scathing article this week about the public universities and the so-called parallel program. Anyone with enough money and a mediocre pass can get into any prgramme including the formerly tightly controlled medecine and engineering faculties. There is a low fee subsidized program for 'A' students. The universities are coining money but have not added staff or facilities. Instead they are investing in commercial enterprises. Classes run to the hundreds and lecturers pay others to teach the class. There is little research anywhere. Now the professors are all on strike, students have been sent away, graduation ceremonies (usually in Dec) will probably be cancelled and exams have been interrupted. All this only reinforces our focus on job training for those who ahve not been able to continue their education.

Our meeting with our Advisory Committee this week set our dates for the next few weeks:

Pace of Grace (advanced Virtues) seminar Nov 12; Read for the Top at Mwiyenga pri (their own initiative) Nov 14; Visit to Isecheno to set up Read for the Top and hopefully a feeding program Nov 17; Dedication of our newly painted Virtues Centre Nov 16; Business training for leaders of the groups Nov. 26, soap making for the Youth Group Nov 25 and interviews for job training scholarships Nov 30.

I think I'll leave December's plans for later!

Income- generating projects

2011-10-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Surfacing after a busy but satisfying day yesterday. I was sure that we would only have about 40 of the 60+ people who had attended our first business training sessions. We had 69 (some new ones) and some were there before 9 am with homework done! I couldn't believe it. Of course some came very late & will not receive an attendance certificate, much to their disgust. Gotta respect the boundaries. Alex, our trainer, was delayed arriving Saturday morning (partly heavy rain, partly other commitments) so I used his flip charts to review what we did last week. Always a good thing to run over the points again and good for the newcomers. It also gave us the opportunity to translate into KiLuyha so we were sure everyone was on the same wavelength. Four groups produced a complete logical framework (action plan) and will now turn their minds to accumulating some funds to start up. In the meantime we will give them Virtues training and specific seminars on their project (in these cases poultry keeping.) We have planned the follow-up training for group leaders later in November. These are the people who will keep things on track and monitor progress. The group of young people were very impressive. Four other groups who were sparsely represented drew up a tentative plan and have to go back to consult their groups to finalise. We gave them sodas during the session and a lunch voucher at a cafe in town (owned by a good friend who is one of our Advisory Committee) I feel very good about it all.
On another front, we expect our other volunteer agent on Tuesday so we're getting her apartment ready. We have a busy schedule planned, mainly literacy and teaching projects.

Hurry up and wait--this is Africa

2011-10-27T03:52:00.000-07:00

Cool and wet today.
Spent all day in Kisumu yesterday since I lost a filling and we had an appointment with our mechanic (for the car, not the teeth!) Found a good dentist. I was fortunate to get her, since right now it's Diwali. There are normally fireworks for the celebration, but they have been banned because of the Somali conflict. There were a few permitted between 7.30 and 9.30 last night. The police have caught one fellow who admits to setting off the grenades in crowded spots in Nairobi and to being a member of Al Shabaab. Security in the city apparently is pretty tight.

But not all yesterday was spent at the dentist. When we arrived a month ago, we took delivery of a (new to us) vehicle. It's four wheel drive, powerful and comfortable. But it has a central locking system that is disastrous in this dusty climate. There are problems with the locks and our mechanic picked up a new mechanism while in Nairobi. He worked on it all day, only to find it didn't work. So we have a cobbled system which means that we can lock up, but he has to get a replacement from Nairobi.

We are also battling the African time table in getting our second apartment ready to welcome a new agent.We are right down to the wire.

Business training

2011-10-23T01:34:00.000-07:00

We welcomed about seventy people yesterday to our first intensive business training. We had two groups (morning and afternoon) The message is: focus on income generating projects, because you cannot help others (as many want to do) without first helping yourself. There were inspiring stories from Alex, our trainer, about successful implementation of plans (commercial goat herd, passion fruit farming) in his area. Africa is full of potential. What is lacking is expertise and focussed planning. Aid has spoiled Africans, duping them into believing they need to first find a sponsor or a donor before undertaking any change. The message is 'hand up, not hand out.'
Here are some pictures of the group registering, singing joyfully and listening intently. Next week we shall do focussed planning on specific projects. I expect we will have fewer people, but they will be the ones we can really work with.

Possible water sites

2011-10-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

Most of the possible water sites have now been visited. All are very needy. The rain has started early (around 1 pm) the last couple of days, so it shortens our visiting time. Here is one shot of a village water supply. In some cases we can protect the spring, in others where the water flow is inconsistent, we need to put in a shallow well

Nixon and Mary

2011-10-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Here is Mary, our new office assistant, as she finds her way around the files. We met Nixon, our contractor, this morning to start things going for the water projects and the renovation of the Training Centre. Tomoorw we'll look at the sites asking for protected springs and shallow wells.

Emmaloba village

2011-10-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

Last week we spent a couple of days in Emmaloba where we have a Rotary Matching grant. The Victoria Rotary Club has provided clean water, books, uniforms and feeding to this school.

We met with the Maseno Rotary Club and dicussed how to move forward with the remaining parts still to be realised. Thanks to the feeding and planting programe 90% of the children in the school ahve been fed throughout the year. Some pay a little if they are able, others are sustained anyway. The school took on the tree nursery grant and has about 600 seedlings (some on a private plot, belonging to Boaz (in the picture) They aim for 10,000 seedlings, the market is good and the income will maintain the feeding program in future.

Read for the Top at Kerongo Secondary

2011-10-12T03:39:00.000-07:00

Kerongo is the first High School in Kenya to do Read for the Top. The class was Form 4 who begin their national exams later this week. The teacher, Linda, wanted to encourage the reading of the set texts in English and Ki Swahili and worked very hard to make sure it happened.

Ice at the equator

2011-10-07T22:10:00.001-07:00

We are thirty minutes from the equator, albeit at 1700m. We are in the 'short rains' which usually means a torrential downpour in later afternoon, lasting maybe two hours and cooling things down considerably.
Our network has been down for a day, so this is a little later than I intended.
Thursday was the mother of all storms. Hail fell in buckets for about half an hour, making the compound look more like a site in Canada in early winter. The ice soon melted and as we went out for the Rotary meeting later steam swirled along the dirt road as the ground released its warmth. Cars were completely covered in leaves torn off the trees.

Joys and frustrations of rural Africa

2011-10-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

Life in rural Africa is never easy. Many joys but also many frustrations. Today we were supposed to leave for a Rotary meeting with the Club adminstering our big grant. But one is sick and one has a funeral tomorrow so we'll postpone for a week. Our bank account was dormant when we came back because of inactivity for 6 months--reason: someone who had contracted to make monthly deposits has not done so. So, reactivation in process and we are opening another account for Tembo specifically, even though our wired funds have not yet appeared. All this requires multiple visits, passport photos, copies of passports and ID cards, which is annoying even though the service people are patient and charming.
I have misplaced my loyalty card for the big supermarket and they want 500 shillings to replace it!! Add that we have a major drip in the shower and the plumber came just after we left this morning (for the banking stuff) although we had said we would be out. But Monday we go to a High School for Read for the Top. That will be fun! Stay tuned.
We also have some good news of students. Johnstone, our Clinical Officer, has finished his exams and will graduate in Dec. He is working at a private clinic in town gaining experience (but probably no money). Wilson is the grandson of our star micro-finance lady. His parents died of AIDS and he did very well in elementary school but had no hope of continuing his education. We sent him to a good high school and he completed with an A- average. He is now doing a B Comm. Two of the young men we sent for driver training in the Tembo job training programme are working in Nairobi.
We had a good meeting yesterday in Kisumu with our business trainer and have some exciting plans for the groups of women and youth.

Moving along...

2011-10-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Things are moving fast already. We transferred a chunk of cash because the Kenyan shilling is at its lowest point ever with about 100 shillings to the dollar. When we first came in 2003 it hovered aroung 50. Only worrying thing is that it seems our Bank of Montreal cards no longer work at Barclay's ATM. Will check into it Monday.We're just about unpacked and sorted and had a meeting today about opening a new bank account, about renovating the rental space we use for training and interviewing a lady for office help. On Wednesday we plan a trip to Kisumu to complete the paperwork on the new (to us) vehicle and to meet our business trainer for setting up future training sessions with women's groups. On Thursday I hope to go to Maseno where we have a Rotary community grant that must be completed in the next few months.

Safe in Kenya

2011-09-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Nairobi last Monday and in Kakamega Thursday. Just had a bit of a glitch with the internet connection, but now set up with a small network. Means we can work anywhere in the house (great for Rod’s I Pad.)

Had a few meetings in Nairobi and caught up with old friends.

We did Nairobi-Kisumu in 5 1/2 hours. The road is great now with one small section near Kericho that is still under construction. Ben, our driver, was upset because his station wagon, which he meant to use (so much luggage) went for a fill up & they put in diesel instead of petrol. So the whole engine has to be dismantled & flushed out. We used his sedan which actually was fine with just the two of us.

The vehicle was waiting for us and is great. Air conditioning, working seat belts and very comfortable. We were in Kakamega by 3.30. Lots of people calling us and stopping us on the street. Had supper at the Sports Club with Richard & Bibiana and a quick tour around Nakumatt (supermarket) to set up groceries. We have water, the power is on, the fridge is working!

The apartment is fine (dusty of course) We were so busy before we left, that I didn’t really leave everything as tidy as I would like. Going to do some ruthless chucking out of old stuff and try to reorganise a bit.

Bibiana, who is a town councillor & volunteer children's officer, is a member of our Advisory Committee. She has some great things going with some women’s groups, so I’ll let Alex (our trainer) & Tanya (who will be here as an agent later) know there is something ready for them to work with.

The small apartment on the compound is finished. I’ll take a look today or tomorrow and take some pictures. They just need to tile the floors, so we can start thinking about furniture, curtains etc.

The next 2-3 days I want to keep clear for unpacking & organising. Then we will start planning with Richard etc.

Leaving for Kenya

2011-09-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

We thank everyone for their faithful encouragement and support, especially those who were able to make it to the AGM at the end of August. We have completed our first year as a registered charity and have seen the work expand. Our web site has been updated with thanks to Matthew Crossley and you can now meet the Tembo Board and our faithful Kenyan Advisory Committee by clicking the ‘about us’ tab at www.tembokenya.org
We are especially excited about the prospect of two Canadian agents who hope to work with us for a few months:
• Nancy Carson, our VP, hopes to be with us to work on Read for the Top, student selection and Teacher Seminars
• Tanya Harmon is a great fund raiser and will be donating to job training and Business Education. She will work with our trainer, Alex Omino
We are hoping to welcome supporters on a tour in February 2012 to meet the communities in which we work and to see the projects. To find out more, click the ‘join us’ tab on the web site.
Here is an overview of what we will be working on for the next six months:
October: Concluding the Rotary grant for Emmaloba community: Groups for several enterprises were set up and we will purchase computers for the primary school Contracting for five protected springs with a Rotary District grant Setting up heats and finals for Read for the Top in Kerongo Secondary School Dedication of Virtues training centre in memory of John Kavelin (co-founder) Pace of Grace workshops
November: Seminar on community response to domestic violence for clergy
Purchase of books for Read for the Top in Isecheno Primary School Interviews for job training with Advisory Committee Planning and communication for Teacher Seminars December: Mark collection and renewal of student contracts.
January: Selection of new scholarship students form Isecheno Primary
We hope to welcome back Mary and Jim Higbee and Sue Dauer who did such a wonderful job of teacher seminars in January 2011.
Payment of school fees for all our sponsored students
February: Tour of communities and projects
Dedication of springs Reports for grants
Agents will return to Canada in March 2012
Please note that you can now donate directly from our web site by using Paypal or Canada Helps buttons on the ‘Donations’ page. You can also contribute to funds by purchasing ‘Nice Time’ an e-book of letters and pictures from 2001 for $9 through the web site.

latest news from the Daily Nation

2011-09-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Kenyan MPs have raided money set aside for relief operations and other national emergencies to settle their tax arrears. The public kitty will also compensate MPs for the income they will lose once they start paying full income taxes.
The details are in the fine print of alterations to this year’s Budget by the Budget Committee of the House. The manoeuvre is meant to give the impression that MPs are finally willing to pay their taxes while disguising the fact they will be subsidised for loss of income.
The money will come from a reallocation of funds from the National Contingency Fund to the budget of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile in the Hague:
The International Criminal Court prosecutors accused three of the Ocampo Six of being behind a network that executed killings and displacement of people during post-election violence.
Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo says the network ensured the occurrence of violence that rocked Turbo, the greater Eldoret area (Kiambaa, Kyamumbi, Huruma, Kimumu and Langas), Kapsabet town, and Nandi Hills.
The prosecutor submitted that Eldoret North MP William Ruto, suspended minister Henry Kosgey and Kass FM radio presenter Joshua arap Sang raised funds for buying weapons, paying perpetrators and promising rewards “for every PNU supporter killed or property destroyed”.
Mr Kosgey is said to have paid Sh1,500 for everyone who attended planning meetings for attacks in Kapsabet town and Nandi Hills.

important notices

2011-08-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

- next Tembo-Kenya board meeting in Canada August 29 2011 at 2 pm
- Annual general Meeting to be held in Victoria, BC Canada August 30 2011 Chapter Room Christ Church Cathedral at 2.00 pm) All are welcome.

- Our web site (www.tembokenya.org) has been updated. Please check it out, especially the page for the Kenyan Advisory Committee (follow the link on ‘About Us’)
- We are now on Twitter. Follow the links on the web site. These communications will be most active while agents are in Kenya.
- The links for the videos, including Read for the Top, are also listed on the web site.
- Check out the proposal for a tour to visit the projects in Kenya next February (www.tembokenya.org/joinus) You can ask questions at the meeting.
- We plan more seminars for schools with visiting teachers and more Read for the Top. Learn more at the meeting.
- Two of our Board members have had to resign. We are looking for more volunteers to help us, particularly for communications. (Contact us before the meeting if you would like to help us.)
- Would you like to serve TEMBO as an agent in Kenya? Check out ‘join us’ on the web site and ask questions at the meeting.

Tour information meeting: Thinking about the tour in February 2012 but want to know more? Attend the information meeting August 30 at 7 pm. Chapter Room Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC

Correction

2011-07-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Google is giving problems for editing a previous post. Please note that in the E-book for sale post the contact email should read kenyatembo@gmail.com. The line about membership should read 'Annual'

Adventure tour

2011-07-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Would you like to know more about Tembo-Kenya? The best way is to visit the area and the projects that your donations help.
- Let us take you off the beaten path...
Not just for the back-packer or bungee jumper, adventure holidays are fast becoming the vacation of choice for travellers who want authentic local experiences.
Tembo-Kenya can offer you a unique glimpse into the life of rural Africa in small towns, villages and open country. Sing, dance and share food with the local people who have received gifts of water, education and training from Tembo-Kenya donations. www.tembokenya.org/joinus for more information.

E book ready for sale

2011-07-18T16:08:00.001-07:00

This disc gathers all the emails and blogs from 2001 to 2009 with hundreds of pictures. It is now on sale for $9 plus postage and is a fundraiser for Tembo projects. Contact kenyatembo5@gmail.com

Reminder: Annul memberships are due: $25 per year as a friend of Tembo. $100 per year allows you to vote.m

AGM Aug 30

2011-07-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

To be held in Victoria

- We plan more seminars for schools with visiting teachers and more Read for the Top. Learn more at the meeting.

- Two of our Board members have had to resign. We are looking for more volunteers to help us, particularly for communications. (Contact us at one of the addresses above before the meeting if you would like to help us.)

- Would you like to serve TEMBO as an agent in Kenya? Check out ‘join us’ on the web site and ask questions at the meeting.

Tembo continues

2011-05-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

Wendyand Don Reimer, Tembo-Kenya board members, are in Africa until June 2011. We received a donation to purchase text books for grades 1-5 at Isecheno primary school. Wendy and Don took delivery, catalogued and photographed the books and carried them to the school for distribution and storage. Well done, Wendy and Don and many thanks for your time and efforts.

Wendy is also investigating a project to supply re-usable sanitary pads to girls in school. We'll keep you posted.

You do not have to be a Tembo board member to volunteer to help. Tembo is setting up the possibility of receiving agents to manage specific projects and to welcome visitors for a rural Kenya tour. Keep your eye on the web site http://www.tembokenya.org/ for details and updates.

Don Reimer puts together our quarterly newsletter. If you have ideas of how to help spread the word about Tembo, please contact kenyatembo@gmail.com

Poultry project

2011-04-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

I told you earlier about the training on poultry keeping that was so successful a few weeks ago. Here is a picture of two of the seminar particpants with their new chicks in the mud walled hen house.

Video on You Tube

2011-04-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

We have posted a 15 minute video to give an overview of the last six months. Tembo-Kenya 2010-2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdDSAml3uZI&feature=youtube_gdata Thank you for your supprt

Safely home

2011-03-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

We arrived home in Victoria on Wednesday this week. It is always sad to leave our good Kenyan friends who always shower us with warm wishes and small gifts. On the table in this picture is an insulated basket which is used much like a 'slow cooker' and keeps food warm. I am also wearing another gift--a necklace made of painted horn.

Now we are home (and once we have recovered from the jet lag) we shall be busy with presentations and reports that are due. There will be only a few messages to the blog. Please remember us and come back at the end of the summer.

The springs are done

2011-03-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

Shikoti

Mukongolo

The last Saturday we were in Kenya we were able to visit the two springs I told you about two messages ago. Just scroll down the blog to see the pictures of the contaminated pools where whole communities were drawing their water. One spring was completely finished at Shikoti. The other at Mukongolo needed a couple more days work.

Although the work on both springs was organised by Tembo-Kenya, the funding came through a donation for 'One Drop of Hope' Dedication plaques will be installed

Nixon's workshop

2011-03-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

Nixon is our well contractor busy right now working on the two springs to be protected. Over the years he has done excellent work for us. He is a first class organiser (not always a Kenyan strength) and has a tabulated list of communities that want a water project, all assessed with a vi st and an estimate.

He has set up a workshop and makes the pumps for the rope and washer installations. Always looking for new ways to increase his business and also to help his community.

Here is his picture. The sign might not be clear in this reduced size, but he is advertising his concrete rings, his repairs and the pumps as well as window and door manufacture.

more donations!

2011-03-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

The generosity of Canadians is amazing. Just as I wrote the last message for the blog we heard of a donation of books for a school (our committee will take care of this) and a gift to protect water springs. Protecting a spring means that sufficient cover is supplied to prevent run off from fields and houses (particularly latrines) so that the water stays uncontaminated. Most of these springs (of which there are many in the area) serve 200-400 people per day. Very few of them dry out in the dry season, so they are in constant demand. Here are the pictures of the two we have chosen.

We have a list of communities asking for a well (about $2500), or a protected spring (about $750) or- for rocky areas- a water harvesting system (from the roof) (about $1200)

The last weeks

2011-03-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

Ebumamu Primary Read for the Top finals

Our programmes have closed with the possible exception of Read for the Top in a secondary school which I hope to organize before we leave. We are also going around taking the final pictures of the water projects.

For anyone interested I shall be speaking at Victoria Rotary Club meeting April 28 and to the Vancouver Chapter of the International Reading Association in Vancouver on May 3. The first presentation will be an overview of our 6 months with emphasis on water projects and Read for Top, funded by the club. I shall also present the progress on the Adopt a Village project in Emmaloba.

The Reading Association is interested in Read for the Top in Kenya and the audience will be mainly teachers. For more information on either of these, or to request a talk for a group of your own, please contact me at kenyatembo@gmail.com.

We fly from Nairobi on March 21 so there will not be much news until we arrive home. I want to thank everyone who follows this blog and offers encouragement and support.

Kwa herini (Good bye)

Wilson

2011-03-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

From time to time I have mentioned Margaret, one of the women who has done so well with the micro loans. She has just finished paying off her last loan, has at least two cows and is still ready to do more. Although she cannot read or write and has no English and little Ki Swahili, she has brains and determination.
She is a grandmother, bringing up her grandchildren since their parents dies of AIDS. For the past four years we have paid the fees for her grandson, Wilson, to attend a good secondary boarding school. He phoned me this evening to announce the results of the secondary leaving exams, which have filled the newspapers. He had an average of A-, an extraordinary achievement, and one that should give him a government place at University at much reduced fees.

last few weeks

2011-02-27T03:46:00.000-08:00

We are closing down most of our programmes. The last spring we protected is pictured here (before and after).

The last two schools for Read for the Top will do their heats and finals next week. I am hoping there will be enough left from the Rotary grant to leave materials for at least one more school. They will read their books over the next few months and do their competition in October.

We have enough funds in our water budget to place a 6,000 litre tank at Kerongo Primary school for water harvesting. The school is in a very rocky area where hand digging is impossible. We can get the tank and guttering in before the start of the rains. They will then have a supply for the next dry season with careful monitoring.

We have been asked to supply text books for a very poor (economically and academically) primary school. On investigation it seems that the former head teacher, possibly the school management committee and some teachers have been diverting the government funding over the past few years, leaving the children with no books. Thanks to the generosity of a donor, we can fill the need and thus help the children. What can be done about the adults remains to be seen.

We are hoping a member of Tembo board who will be here for a few months will agree to monitor the ordering, delivery and control of the new books.

We have made contract agreements with members of our Advisory Committee to pay fees, living allowance and medical needs as and when they arise for some of our sponsored students. The bookkeeping can be a little hairy but Rod has done a great job of making accounts and templates to keep things straight.

We have also agreed to the rental of a small apartment being built on our compound that will house a dedicated office and also be available to guests or those who wish to serve as agents. Don't be intimidated by the scope of what we do. We would welocme anyone who would like to come to rural Kenya for a short period to oversee water or education projects. Contact us through our web site.

Secondary education

2011-02-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Free primary education was brought in eight years ago. The first children to have gone through the painful first years of huge classes and few books or resources are now hitting the secondary level. Secondary day schools are 'free' but most of them do a poor job. The government pays for 'tuition' which is less than 25% of what boarding schools charge for fees. The rest is for infrastructure, boarding of course, school buses, dormitories and 'teacher incentives.'
The examination at the end of class 8 serves to separate the academically stronger students from those who will not receive any further education. Even so, the fees for many are well beyond the family's means.
Most of the charitable scholarship organizations send students to the 'Provincial' schools, many of which do a good job of preparing the majority of students for college level (again if they can meet the fees).
There are at the moment 18 'National' schools which take the highest achievers but charge twice the amount of a Provincial school. (up to $1000 per year rather than $5-600) Most of their pupils come from expensive private schools with small classes and many resources. This year the selection process was changed to limit the number going to a National school from the private sector. Many children from the public sector were offered the plum of a place, but a large number could not afford to take up the opportunity.
Now the government is proposing to create 100 more National schools with a large amount of money set aside for upgrade. These would be schools with a good reputation and potential for enlarging both their intake and their resources.
The unanswered question is: what will the fees be at such schools? Will our scholarship organizations who have students in the schools, be able to maintain them? Will sponsors be willing to double their contributions? And where will the pupils who cannot afford the fees find a place in the reduced number of Provincial schools?

FGM article from the Daily Nation

2011-02-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

This is still a huge problem in some areas, making girls as young as 9 or 10 undergo the 'cut' and then marrying them off, thus depriving them of education and of any future save that of caring for their many children and their husband.

I hope you can accesss this link. If it is not highlighted, cut and paste it into your browser. The text only is below.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Parents%20disown%20girls%20for%20evading%20the%20cut/-/1056/1102708/-/kdcr7jz/-/index.html

News

Parents disown girls for evading ‘the cut’

Cooperative Development assistant minister Linah Kilimo (centre) joins Pokot women in a dance during the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation marked at Makutano Stadium in West Pokot District on February 6, 2011. Photo/JARED NYATAYA

By ERICK NGOBILO engobilo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, February 6 2011 at 20:53

The International Day of Zero Tolerance By ERICK NGOBILO engobilo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, February 6 2011 at 20:53

The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation was marked on Sunday, but in Mt Elgon District there was little to celebrate.

Many girls have been forced to cut short their studies and married off at a tender age while some of them are still in hiding, disowned by their parents after running away to avoid undergoing the rite.

In December, more than 100 girls targeted to face the knife in region were rescued by Maendeleo ya Wanawake officials.

The girls from Kamuneru Location - some as young as nine - had been threatened with death if they tried to escape.

They underwent guidance and counselling after their escape but they are yet to fully recover from the harrowing experience.

“They said I should never go back home again because I escaped the cut,” said nine-year-old Nelly Cherono amid sobs.

Twelve-year-old Faith Chepkemoi, who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education last year, said she was supposed to get married soon after she healed.

Not many girls in the area are left to pursue education beyond Standard Eight. And Lily Chebet, 10, was taken to her grandmother’s house to be circumcised.

“They said that if I wasn’t circumcised, I would never get married and that no man would ever want me,” she said.

Chebet was told that education was not meant for women because they were supposed to get married and take care of their husbands.

“I want to finish my education and become a lawyer so that I can protect young girls from my home area,” she said.

Mt Elgon District Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson Jennifer Mbatian said some girls were traumatised as they had undergone preparations for the rite.

Mrs Mbatian appealed to the Sabaot community to abandon the practice. “Female genital mutilation is a monster destroying the destiny of the girl child,” she said.

Authorities in the district say FGM is still practised despite government efforts to end it. Uncircumcised women are generally looked down upon and discriminated against.

Therefore, many young girls agree to undergo the rite of passage so that they can be accepted by the community.

According to the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the prevalence of FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia by traditional circumcisers, lies at 27.1 per cent.

Some 48.8 per cent of circumcised women falling between the ages of 45 to 49 and 14.6 per cent being girls aged between 15 to 19.

Kenya has recorded milestones in fighting the traditional rite, including passing and implementing legal instruments such as the National Policy for the Abandonment of FGM/C, the Children’s Act of 2001 and the Sexual Offences Act of 2006 The Prohibition of FGM Bill 2010 was approved by Speaker Kenneth Marende for publication by the Government Printer and will soon be tabled in Parliament for debate.

Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi, who will table the Bill, says: “If this Bill is approved by Parliament and made into law, then it could be the biggest milestone yet.”

Marakwet East MP Linah Kilimo, who chairs the women parliamentarians’ association that has been involved in the fight against FGM, is optimistic that the Bill will be passed.

However, the women of Mt Elgon say a lot still has to be done in efforts to end the barbaric practice that has destroyed the lives of many young girls.

Read for the Top

2011-02-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

The children in the poor rural schools are amazing us all with Read for the Top. They are bright, enthusiastic and fiercely competitive. The group on the left in Esibembe came to us as we waited for our ride home and shyly asked us to take a 'snap' as they drank their sodas. A bottle of pop and a T shirt--the height of riches for these children.

The best school we have seeen so far is Kerongo primary (above) way out in the Maragoli hills. The finals were a ding-dong batle between four strong teams. In this school the Area Education Officer dropped in for a courtesy call, intending to stay ten minutes. She spent two hours with us, totally captivated by the competition, and wants me to do a presentation for all her head teachers. I hope she contacts me before the end of the month.

There were a number of parents present and they had decorated the classroom with bougainvilea twined in the window bars and bowls of flowers on the tables. The judge was a teacher from the neighbouring secondary school and we have agreed to run a pilot for the last year of Secondary (Form 4) to help them revise their set texts.

Here in Hombala (below) we used a classroom for our heats. This was the youngest group so far, but they are equally as sharp and motivated. There is no reason these children could not do exceptionally well in National exams with encouragement and focused teaching.
I have calculated it costs approximately $400 to equip a class with books, bells, T shirts and prizes. This includes a small amount for training the teachers -- not forgetting the soda pop for the winners!
These classes are large, with never less than 50 students. We leave the books and the call bells in the school so the teachers can use the strategy again for another class or even other subject areas. The Maseno area has formed a committee to run Read for the Top in their cluster of schools and conduct an area inter-school final. These schools are using the strategy to help their senior class (Standard 8) review material for the exams. So $400 is a small amount for a far-reaching impact.

seminars, figs and monkeys

2011-02-04T05:58:00.000-08:00

While the visiting teachers were in Kenya we took a respite at Rondo Retreat Centre in Kakamega Forest. I hope you can see the detail well enough in this picture to see the monkeys playing and eating the figs. (Click on it to enlarge)

There was lots of hard work too. The evaluations are outstanding. All the particpants are asking for MORE!

HERE ARE SOME SNIPPETS FROM THE EVALUATIONS:

I wish this seminar to continue to exist in every January of the new year to sensitize and uplift the teaching style of the teachers
I have not met an instructor better that Jinx Brandt who made mathematics as real and interesting...
There has been a lot of discovery... I have learned a lot.
I have realized that teaching is complex, there is psychology that is not well understood. Thank you for your efforts to have given me this direction.
Kindly let this not be the last in-service. We request that we have more of this to help us be better teachers.
The seminar should be held again regularly so that the Kenyan teachers should see the need of changing from teacher-centred methods of teaching to learner-centred methods. I’ve really benefited from the instructor and how I wish such teachings to continue,.
Such seminars should be quite often to refresh the teachers on child-centred approach in teaching and learning processes
What I liked about the seminar is that I was exposed to easy methods of teaching which will enable
my slow learners to enjoy lessons
The strategies are student centred and friendly as they actually involve the student
I liked the new tricks to enhance the learning process and how to make teaching/learning interesting.. The teachers were wonderful, knowledgeable and confident
Mind maps allow the student to be creative and their story will have a nice flow
I have learned a lot and will go and improve my teaching especially when handling a reading lesson..I will take more time to understand my children
I have learned how to teach composition writing, how to tackle a reading lesson and answer comprehension quiz
I have learned the gradual release of responsibility (for learning) which I knew nothing about.

The course has empowered me with new skills on how to teach English as a subject.
For us to make the workshop even more effective we need to be good time managers, avoid lateness We want to learn more because you are more experienced in the field of English than us.
I liked everything. It was WONDERFUL
It has made me a better and more confident English teacher than I came in or was before
The seminar has awakened my spirits in new approaches of handling English which is the key medium of instruction in all subjects
The use of teaching aids impressed me as it drove the point home. Wow! If all teachers taught like this it would be a wonderful world.
Great teachers, ever ready, armed with teaching aids.
They have enabled me to know how to handle a comprehension and library lesson. They have also made me teach children how to write a composition with a lot of ease.

The instrucors taught skills and strategies for group work, more individualised learning and 'child centred' education. Kenyan teachers in the past have relied on rote learning and 'chalk and talk' but are moving to different methods. They have few books and often no power in the schools, so we wanted to help them use the resources they have.

We received some 150 participants. Since Kenya does not have 'homeroom' teachers as such, but all teachers meet several different classes for various subjects, we calculate that each of these teachers will have contact with about 100 children. So in our three weeks we will have reached about 15,000 students. And that is just this year. Not counting future years as teachers practice and develop their skills.

WE WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT THIS PROJECT. ARE YOU A TEACHER LOOKING FOR A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE AND WILLING TO DONATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE? IF SO, CONTACT MARY HIGBEE AT JIM.HIGBEE (at) YAHOO.COM

Update (long overdue)

2011-02-04T05:32:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks of January were very busy. I am going to try recapping some of the activities with a variety of pictures.

When the teachers arrived from the US to conduct the seminars, the Tembo Advisory Board gathered at the Sports Club to welcome them

Johnstone, our medical student, proudly wore his Arsenal shirt

Norm is volunteering for CHES right now in Kakamega and is a member of Tembo. He is pictured here with Isabella, who is one of our successful students and helps out with office and

secretarial duites

Ekwanda Primary:Read for the Top and an appeal

2011-01-19T05:34:00.000-08:00

This weeek we started Read for the Top finals in Ekwanda primary. The children received the books a few months ago and this last week the teacher in charge was transferred! We have two other dedicated teachers who have taken over, so on Tuesday we distributed the T-shirts to an eager class of fifty grade 6 (now grade 7 of course). On Thusday we will do the heats and on Tuesday of next week the finals.

Here are some of the students in their new T shirts with their books.

This school has a Special Education unit for mentally handicapped. The building has been condemned as unfit for use, so now the class is in temporary accommodation which will be needed by other classes. We are teaching interlocking brick making to a group of young men in a neighbouring community through a Rotary matching grant. We would very much like to use them to rebuild the special unit, thus rendering a vital service to the Ekwanda school community. We would have to raise some funds to pay the young men for their work. About $1,000 would allow us to do the work for two classrooms. I wonder if a school, a church, a teacher association would be interested in starting off the fund?

Rest and relaxation

2011-01-19T04:57:00.000-08:00

1)The lush vegetation 2)relaxing 3)the forest canopy

These teachers are amazing for their stamina and tolerance. It is very hot right now and hard to find a cooling draft of air. After the wonderful three days of teaching we took off for some R & R at RondoRetreat Centre in the Kakamega Forest. When you fly over you can see how little is left of the trees that once extended from coast to coast. The beautiful trees, flowers and animals of the forest create a whole different world from the dirt and noise of the town.

The school where we interviewed students for scholarships recently is at the gate to the forest. There is a new head teacher and I wanted to be sure to leave him messages and information about the children we will be helping, so we stopped off to visit for a few minutes.

In the past the majority of places in Form 1 in National (the best) schools have been taken by students from private schools with small classes and sufficient resources. This year the Ministry made a new system whereby most places go to public schools, especialy in the district. There is a big outcry from the private schools, but it looks as if the system will hold firm. Two students from one of my rural schools have been 'called' to National schools. The only problem remaining is the issue of fees. Some students will not be able to take up the offer of a place because their families are not able to meet the fees. But it is a good start on equalizing the system which gives such an unfair advantage to privileged children.

so much to tell you!

2011-01-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weeks have been extra full and there is a lot to tell you. I think I should break it up into smaller chunks.

I have mentioned the teacher seminars planned for this month. All the organizing by email went amazingly smoothly thanks to a positive and cooperative attitude from everyone. Four American teachers arrived in Nairobi on January 6 and in Kakamega on January 8, landing at the new commercial airstrip about 2 kilometres out of town.
After a couple of days looking around and finalizing the planning, the first seminar began in Kakamega on January 12. Three days of intensive work on methods and strategies for teaching English (at Elementary) and Math (at secondary) were received with delight by the Kenyan participants. The teachers in the rural areas rarely receive professional development training in their own districts and with their immediate colleagues. Just the opportunity to work together and share was so much appreciated. The evaluations all ask for More! More! More!.

It would be wonderful to be able to repeat this another year.

While familiarizing themselves with rural Africa, our visitors accompanied us to the hand over of a well at Mulaka (the pictures show the original slow spring and the new well with plenty of water)

and a protected spring at Shibiriri

The joy and gratitude of the community is always a very emotional experience.

cell phones and banking

2011-01-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

I continually sing the praises of the use of the cell phone in Africa.Technology enables many 'unbanked' to use their cell phones to send money for family, to pay bills and even hold cash while they travel. The system of Mpesa which is run by Safaricom (a partner of vodaphone) allows deposits & transfers by phone of up to 140,000 shillings (about $1800) There are other cell phone companies that do similar things. One has to register with mpesa and if there is money in the account you can use the link on your phone to send money to anyone else with a cell phone number. There is a small fee of about 30/- (35c)
Some of our women's groups are sending micro finance payments by mpesa when we cannot send someone to collect.

Another function is Mkesho whereby people can keep money in a secure account. I don’t think it pays interest, but is wonderful for those who are far from traditional banks or who cannot afford the high fees.

Cell phones are everywhere and have proved invaluable in communication Landlines have always been unreliable and expensive. I suspect they might eventually disappear. We already ignore the landline number in schools (which hardly ever works) and use the principal’s cell phone.

A ‘Line’ or SIM card costs 100/- ($1.20) and can be inserted in your phone yourself. ‘Airtime’ can be bought in units of 50/- by means of a scratch card whereby you enter the number of our line. One can also buy airtime from the mpesa account, and can send airtime to another phone for use by someone else.

I have even heard discussion that voting in the next election might be by phone.

We use the same system for our computer modem which is basically a tiny cell phone and has a SIM card which we top up with ‘airtime’ I should also note that there are no ‘long distance’ charges. We can call anywhere in Kenya for the same cost. And there is no charge for receiving calls. Text messages are also very cheap and used extensively.

When we have travelled to Uganda & S Africa our phones automatically switch to the local network (ugandatel or vodaphone) and we continue to use them as normal with local rates (even if we call Kenya or overseas). Calling Canada at the moment is 3/- per minute (2.5c)

Scholarship interviews

2011-01-06T02:38:00.000-08:00

Interview team and Sheilla

Francine, Dickson,

On Tuesday this week the Tembo team went to Isecheno primary, a small rural school. A sponsor is offering scholarships and we were there to interview candidates. Three fortunate children will have fees paid at good secondary (probably boarding) school for the next four years.

Cape Town

2011-01-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

Nelson Mandela statue at prison entrance

The famous 'Table Cloth' descends over the mountain

We spent ten days away over Christmas in delightful Cape Town, returning on Dec 31. We went to Christmas Day service in the Anglican cathedral where Archbishop Desmon Tutu used to be Dean. The city has changed even in the three or four years since we last saw it. Because of the World Cup, infrastructure (at least in the centre) has improved with new roads, a rebuilt airport and of course the stadium.

We wanted to hire a car for wider exploring but there was not one to be had at any agency--there were so many visitors.

The story of Esther

2011-01-05T22:07:00.000-08:00

Girls and young women in rural Kenya struggle to go to school. They have huge family responsibities and little hope of escape, except through education. A friend sent me the story of a girl (I will call her Esther) who attends a very poor school in a rural area, about 20 kilometres from Kakamega. She has given me permission to use the story, but I have edited some elements. These are my friend's words:

Back in 2008 after looking at the photos of a beautiful 10 year old girl I'd seen over and over on my two visits to the school in 2007 , I send an email to a local resident asking her name and details of her life. When there, I had seen her daily either in her school uniform or carrying endless containers of water from the river.... back and forth all day, it seemed. But she was so photogenic......and shy and lovely....and luminescent.

It was at least three months till the contact went into Kakamega on his trusty bicycle and saw my email with photo of the girl and replied. Apparently the girl was a neighbour whose family compound was near his guest house that we stayed in. He gave me her name. Esther is the 21st child of a polygamous family. Her own mama had birthed 10 children and she was the second youngest. I had asked if she was in school and found that she was indeed in school in Standard 4 and at the top of her class. I was also told that her future was already determined since her father had promised her in marriage to an older man in the area by age 13.
I was shocked. I asked by email if there was any way I could ask for her to be educated instead, offering myself as her sponsor. And lo and behold... my contact negotiated this for me.
It was 2 or 3 months before I heard that the father had granted my request. More years of connection at a distance went by. I was now sponsoring Projects in the school. . I offered to pay her fees whenever she was sent from school for lack of them... and later provided sanitary pads for all the menstruating girls in the school so that they wouldn't miss out on classes each month. Esther became what my colleague called "our poster child" and we featured her in our photos for the projects and at the Grand Opening of the Well, she read a beautiful poem about orphans, I am told. She received daily 'honorary' orphans food rations and notebooks and pencils. My friend often remarked that she was a positive role model for the other children.
In Standard Six, she was doing quite well in her studies, Standard Seven, she wasn't doing so well. I had asked all my volunteer teachers to TUTOR her as much as possible. They all felt that she WAS A HARD-WORKING STUDENT but lacked the basic skills that were not taught to her in the lower standards. I guess they were unable to teach her from their own lack of skills???
And now in her KCPE, scoring 11th place out of 42. Anyway....that's the story of Esther and the marriage that wasn't.

Of note: Girls in this village still disappear from school into marriage, even mid-term.
Yet..this year 21 of the 42 sitting for KCPE were girls !!!

FOOTNOTE:
The Tembo team went to this school to interview for scholarships. Three students will be starting secondary school in February thanks to the scholarships provided. We were able to negotiate a place for Esther at a high achieving boarding primary school where she will 'rewind' her final year of primary school. This gives her a much better chance of fitting successfully into a high school the following year.
I will post some pictures of our interviews and more details in the next message.

the end of the year: wishing all our friends health and happiness in the New Year

2011-01-01T23:33:00.000-08:00

We can hardly believe we have just had our eighth Christmas in Africa! ten
years ago we would never have imagined the work God has led us too.
Looking over the past year our first surge of thanks must be for good health
and energy to continue the fairly hectic pace we live both here in Kenya and
in Canada.
The next source of joy is our grandchildren. We received the gift of a new
grandson in February. The other two (Maryn, 3, and Elijah, nearly two) are
equally precious and we miss them very much.

At the prompting of the Cathedral in Victoria (whose donations have
supported our work) we formed our own charitable organisation and received
our official status in Sept. This means we can give tax receipts for
donations. (TEMBO-KENYA stands for Teaching, Empowering, Mentoring and
Building Opportunity. Tembo means 'elephant' in Swahili) We received a flood
of donations for water and education as well as Virtues training.
-We are putting in 3 wells and protecting five springs. The joy of the
communities receiving the gift of clean water is moving.
-We interviewed for job training and will be sending a new list of young
adults to learn skills to help them 'put food on the table' Although we did
not intend to cover scholarships at secondary and post-secondary, we have
received dedicated donations for a few students. We will be interviewing
this week.
-Read for the Top has been a huge success and we start the heats and finals
in 10 classrooms later this month. We are reaching over 500 elementary
students.
-This next week we shall welcome four American teachers who will be
conducting seminars in three areas: Language Arts for Elem and Math for Sec.
We expect about 300 teachers to attend in all. It has been amazing how this
has come together. We see God's hand in this. Our slogan is 'help the
children by helping their teachers.' If this is a successful endeavour we
hope that other teachers might be willing to come in future years. We would
also like to see young (college age) people who would like to spend some
time helping in the 'real' Africa

-Virtues training has a long list of requests. We did a training and a
follow up for all Anglican clergy in the diocese and have also run sessions
for other pastors.. A couple of teacher seminars and a few community groups
bring us up to about 800 people since we returned in Oct. We are fortunate
to have the full support of the Prov. Dir. of Ed who insists that we are
really part of his staff and keeping his schools safe and peaceful. We plan
to train more facilitators in March, just before we leave and some businesses
are enquiring about training their staff.

Our Kenyan advisory Board is a joy and inspiration to us in all the
projects.

What do we wish for? How about more hours in the day? We desperately need
some office help as the projects expand. We have a young woman now part
time. Isabella is an orphan and we have supported her through school to a
Higher Diploma in Bus management. We have tried to get her a student visa to
finish her degree in Canada (she has a place offered) but the High
Commission is digging in their heels and refusing to accept her despite our
guarantees of sponsorship, basically because she has no resources of her
own. (duh!) We continue to pray that there will be someone there who will relent
and show understanding and compassion.

I try to blog a couple of times a week to keep our friends and prayer
partners up to date. I can usually post pictures but videos don't seem to
work too well, since our connection is so slow.
Similarly our web site must remain static until we get back to Canada and hi -
speed internet. When I am home I expect to put a couple more movies on you
tube.

The sun is blazing, the birds are singing their hearts out We are now into
the dry season and likely will not see rain again until Feb. My prayers for
you all and best wishes for the New Year

Imulama hand over

2010-12-19T00:37:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful reception on Saturday afternoon at Imulama. The dispensary has water to carry it through the dry season and the well as the back up. The community filled in the well that collapsed and planted a banana tree to grow where it will also receive the run off from the storage tank.

The Ministry of Health will now desist the threats to close thhe dispensary because of the lack of water and might even extend the facility-- the only one for several kilometres around. The only thing the community now needs is a microscope so that the nurse can diagnose problems such as malaria without guessing at the cause of the illness. We shall perhaps receive enough special donations to help them

I am posting a couple of pictures. I have some great video clips of the women and girls singing and one of the elders dancing, but I seem to be having problems posting any visuals especially video.

We go to Kati this afternoon, where we have put in a well to serve an orphanage. I don't know if I will be able to post any pictures until we come back from Christmas in Cape Town. We are really looking forward to the break.

The best Christmas gift

2010-12-15T04:22:00.001-08:00

Three communities will receive the gift of clean water before Christmas. The well at Imulama (pictured above) is completed and we will hand it over on Saturday afternoon. At the same time we will unlock the 6,000 litre water storage tank and hand the key to the dispensary. After all the heavy rain it is full. The storage tank will serve the dispensary and the well is for the whole community. The three pictures show the before and after shots . We shall have some more pictures on Saturday with the dedication plaque to the Rotary Club of Nanaimo, BC, who sponsored this project .

At Emulele our contractor, Nixon, has done an excellent and fast job in protecting the spring On Sunday afternoon we will hand over the well at Kati which will serve an orphanage.

Christmas greetings

2010-12-14T02:38:00.000-08:00

Create a free digital ecard

Emmaloba community grant

2010-12-13T23:23:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned before that we have a substatial grant from Rotary to enhance the school and community in Emmaloba. With an original grant we supplied uniforms, books and a feeding schedule for the school.

This larger grant is to supply computers to the school as well as incoming generating projects for the community.
The women's group here has been wonderfully faithful in paying back the small loans we started a few years ago. The 'chairlady' of the group told me what a difference the small loans have made in her life. She is a widow, 'But,' she says, ' I don't care any more, because I can look after myself'.' This group is now ready to form a recognized group (They call themselves: We have woken up) and handle their own finances and loan scheme. Our trainer, Alex, has met with them and will do so again to assist them in their organization. Charging interest (which they will have to do) is a troubling concept and Alex is guiding them through.
Last Saturday there was a large community meeting.Many of the people in the community have already formed groups and are trying to initiate projects to generate some income. We are happy at the basic initiative and determination shown, so we were able to apportion the funding from the Rotary grant into the projects that these communities already have and which correspond to the grant proposal. They will meet again next week with Alex. The rules we set were:1) arriving on time (one man arrived two hours late last week and was upset that his group did not receive a project) 2) majority of members of the group must be present(or the project will go to a 'waiting list' of groups.
We hope that the implementation of this grant might serve as a model for the smaller Rotary grants that will involve more than just handing out money or materials but will leave a sustainable legacy in a community.
The only part of the proposal that we have not yet followed up are the comnputers. The school is scheduled to receive power and the head teacher has innvolved the local MP in hastening the completion of the power line (Yes, MPs in Kenya can do that) If they have power we will be able to purchase more desk top computers instead of the solar panels intended to run laptops. We hope this will happen in the new year

interviews for job training

2010-12-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

We had a very successful day on Monday. Vincent, one of our advisory board, took charge of all the applications for assistance in further education or training. He reviewed them, contacted those he could, and called them for interview. We have forms for application, interview and an objective grid for assessment. We can also refer for a future home visit to verify need. Applications ranged from driving school, to computer studies, to hairdressing and tailoring. One lady only spoke Swahili and has two children. Others were fluent in English, having finished secondary school

The team of four Kenyans interviewed twelve candidates and finished with a deep sense of purpose and contribution. The whole advisory board will meet on Friday to help us select the ones who will be suppported by Tembo.

water

2010-12-12T02:35:00.000-08:00

We have contracted for nine water projects: three wells and hopefully six springs. The spring at Ebukhunza is finished and I am attaching the 'before' and 'after shots.

The people are happy and have promised us a gift of eggs--they have nothing else to give.

This was a difficult project because of the rock around.

It just grieves me that the women are so grateful for such a small step in easing their burden. Clean water should be their right, not a gift from a foreigner. I look at their hands, their bare feet, their wraps, let them shake my hand and embrace me, and think yet again how much Canadians take for granted.

a new scandal everyday

2010-12-11T23:36:00.000-08:00

I don't post much about the on-going scandals and political wrangling and manoeuvring, but a few things are happening of importance.Kenya did not set up local tribunals for finding those who instigated the post election violence in 2008, so the International Criminal Court at the Hague took over. Now things are nearing a climax there is a huge amount of anxiety in some parts and jubilation in others.
Politicians who think they might be in the cross hairs of the investigation have resorted to much protesting (that the ICC wants to crush certain tribes) or that the US (or the Hague) is seeking to overthrow the government. Some have tried to request injunctions from Kenyan courts to stop the processes of the ICC. Others have gone to the Hague to try to 'set the record straight' voluntarily.
In all this a number of senior civil servants and some Cabinet Ministers have been indicted for corruption and fraud. Most of the 'old guard' is in deep trouble.
The investigator for the ICC (Ocampo) has sailed through all this with a neutral expression and firm reiteration of his mandate, although privately I am sure he is grinding his teeth.
He has promised to reveal the names of six 'prominent Kenyans' for indictment on Wednesday this week. I think we will be careful if we go out that day. I don't think there will be any violence or demonstrations in this area, unless Raila Odinga,, the Prime Minister, is one of the six. But in other areas there could b some trouble ifff their 'favourite son' is named.

Circumcision

2010-12-05T02:41:00.000-08:00

December is the month for circumcision. With the Luhya tribe, boys undergo the rite of passage at about the age of 13. The big ceremonies occur every two years. As we sat the other evening with the self-help group meeting the representatives of Shelter Forum, we heard the voices of boys as they marched from house to house in the gathering dusk. They sang as they were gathered food, gifts (& undoubtedly courage) for the upcoming 'cut'. They would be housed together, away from their families,, for almost a month as they healed. This is the traditional time for teaching on 'how to be a man.' Many boys used to return to the house primed never to lift a finger for any household chore which would be 'women's work.' In some comm unties there is nowadays more teaching about responsibility, HIV and education.
I have said before that this local tribe does not practice Female Genital Mutilation but many hundreds of girls suffer the 'female circumcision' in other areas. Some try to flee, some fathers protect their daughters, only to be opposed by the mother, some mothers try to remove their child, only to be frustrated by fathers or brothers who want the 'bride price' for their little sister.
Refusing the 'cut' means estrangement from the community in most cases. Undergoing it inevitably means dropping out of school and early marriage.
The government is also promoting male circumcision as a means of reducing the spread of HIV. The young man we support who is training to be a Clinical Officer phoned us the other evening. He is away on 'attachment' (practical training). Things are going well, but could we send him some money for a circumcision 'kit'? After questions and deliberation, we sent him about $25 but since then his phone has been off. I'm sure we'll hear from him again soon.

A Christmas gift idea

2010-11-23T04:36:00.000-08:00

Tembo students:
Our Advisory Commitee will be assisting us in a new round of interviews for job and skills training. We are committed to almost $1000 for those students already in a course (excluding those at university whose fees will not be required until later in 2011 and who have a commitment from a sponosr) and hope we can add another $1000 for the pile of letters we have already received. The committee will do an initial sort after applications close on Nov 30. Then we shall interview on Dec 13 & 14.

We must have received at least thirty requests for job training and we know there will be more. If you want to help a Kenyan put food on the table by acquiring a job skill, please see what you can spare. This, or a contribution to the teacher seminars, would make a wonderful Christmas gift and would make a real difference in someone's life. (donations@tembokenya.org; http://www.tembokenya.org/) Tembo will send a gift card to the recipient.

Teaching for schools

2010-11-23T04:01:00.000-08:00

Tembo does a lot of teaching in communities, but also has programmes for schools. We have run Read for the Top in two schools earlier this year, thanks to an initial Rotary grant. This grant was increased and we have distributed books to ten more schools, reaching over 500 children.

I did a short presentation on R4T a week ago at the Rotary meeting (I have some video clips) As a result of this I did another (longer) presentation Tuesday morning with 30 teachers from informal schools run by ACCES (a Canadian NGO). Tomorrow evening I shall show the same video to Rotoract at the University where they have 70 members.

This is a wonderful small project for Rotary clubs to promote literacy.

Our big initiative (which we pray is not getting out of hand) is the visit of four American teachers to our area in January to teach strategies and skills for English in Elementary and Math in Secondary. We have opened up a number of places to other schools and have been trampled in the rush! We are hoping and praying we can cope with 60 eager teachers in a session. Some schools want to send their whole staff and we shall have to put some limits.
Yes, we are looking for donations to offset costs of meals, photocopy and some accommodation for teachers based way north who cannot travel home every day. If you want to help some eager teachers who have so few resources (and classes as large as 78!) please take a look at tembo-kenya website (http://www.tembokenya.org/) if you can spare a small amount.

It costs $1 to provide a book of handouts, $2.50 for a meal, $10 for a room. You can help children such as those in the picture by helping their teachers.

Virtues and Housing

2010-11-23T03:42:00.000-08:00

Our Kenyan facilitators are busy almost every day with Virtues training sessions. Last week we did a two day follow-up intended for Anglican clergy but had about ten or twelve other people who asked to attend, making a group of 54.

As a result of this I was asked to speak in a church on Sunday (both the English service and the KiSwahili one --with an interpreter of course) I think there will be requests for full training from that community.

Now that schools have closed we are doing some teacher training, this week at a whole school session just outside Kakamega and next week for various teachers in Kakamega.

On Sunday evening we attended part of a meeting run by an organisation called Shelter Forum with a group where we installed a well earlier this year. The mandate of Shelter Forum is to help communities provide affordable, safe housing. They teach brick making and help with housing loans. What they feel is missing is the basic assistance to groups such as the one on Sunday where the people need help in formulating income-generating projects and receiving business training to start to save towards a housing cooperative. This is where Tembo can step in.

This Shelter Forum group would also like Virtues training to help them in their groups and we can probably do a full 'retreat' with them in Kisumu, because they can contribute some funds. This will enable more training for communities who cannot pay anything.

Then during the course of our discussion over a plate of kuku (chicken) and chips, we learned that they can help us with the implementation of the Rotary Grant in Emmaloba where we were planning on teaching brick making to build a poultry project. Shelter Forum can provide the instruction and also supply the brick making machine.

There is a clip on the video linked to our web site which shows brick making at Imulama. Incidentally, those bricks were used for the base of the big water tank that was recently installed.

The network is growing impressively.

Business training

2010-11-23T03:28:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was an exciting and rewarding day. Alex, our trainer went home bubbling over. This was the third session for a group of about 30-35 people in Khwisero near Kakamega. They have attended faithfully, taken notes and begun to plan in groups. This week they went home with their groups formed, plans for raising funds in place and a definite project to pursue. Two groups want to keep rabbits and poultry and we will help them with information on 'getting it right from the start'
The highlight of the day was the story of a small group who were inspired by Alex's second talk, went home and decided to begin their own project. They could only contribute 20 shilling s each at a time (about 22 cents) but they eventually raised 600 shillings (about $7.50). They took 400 shillings and began to make drinking yoghurt which they are selling in town for 60 shillings for a cup. They brought samples for us & we immediately bought two bottles. I think they made back their original investment in that afternoon. I didn't have my camera with me but if I meet them in town I'll take a picture.

We have now reached the stage where the groups forming will ask us for specific training on livestock, fish ponds, book keeping etc.

No more KCPE?

2010-11-16T06:55:00.001-08:00

In the midst of all the corruption charges flying around, the legislation being put into place to bring in the new constitution in the next year and the machinations of the politicians desperately trying to hold on to their positions, a new bill will be tabled in Parliament next week.
Kenyan students undergo two sets of torture in 'final' exams, once at the end of primary elementary) school in grade 8, and once (if they go on to secondary school) in Form 4 (grade 12)
At the end of primary they sit the KCPE (Kenyan certificate of primary education) Upon these results hang many a scholarship, and even a place in a secondary school. Those who 'fail' (having less than 250 marks out of 500) will not be allowed to continue any meaningful education.
Now the proposal is to wipe out these exams, and not just in a couple of years, but right away. So many educational reforms, good in themselves, are implemented in haste and with little thought for the necessary infrastructure.
Secondary schools select their students according to the results of these exams. The National schools (the premier league) take the top students, the Provincial schools take the next layer and the District schools the lowest of those who have 'passed'. So how they would now make their selection is anyone's guess. There is at the moment no continuous assessment, although the students do take regular tests throughout the year. Would these be used? and how to achieve some semblance of objectivity?
Secondary tuition is free in theory, but since most secondary schools are boarding, (all the National and pretty well all the Provincial,) those families who cannot meet the demands of boarding, uniform and 'extras' like school buses, go to the the weaker day schools.
The premise is laudable: education is a right and no child should be classed a 'failure' at the end of elementary. The head teachers association has backed this proposal, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Virtues news

2010-11-12T04:50:00.000-08:00

Richard Andabwa has received his accreditation as a Master Faciltator. On Wednesday of this week he received the congratulations of 54 attendees at a Virtues deepening in Kakamega. We will now be able to train new facilitators through Richard, even when Patricia is out of the country.
Richard is shown here with his wife, Bibiana, also a trained facilitator.

In other news, we are still looking at possible water sites. In a few days we shall call a meeting of the Tembo-Kenya advisory committee to help us assess the various requests.

Shibiri and Kati (with an orphan school)

This weekend we are free! So we plan a trip to a new hotel in Kisumu with a large, inviting pool. Doubtless there will be some 'errands' to run while we are there. We are thinking that we need to buy a small generator because the power is so unreliable. We plan a session on no-till farming as part of our small business training on Nov 27 with 5 complete DVDs to show. It will be a disaster if we are again without power. A portable generator will also help with other presentations in the rural areas.

Our DVD player is acting up and we're hoping it will last another 6 weeks until we go to S Africa where we can look for a reliable replacement.

The entrance to our apartment is looking so much better! Our landlord has had the whole entrance painted as well as the trim on the outside of the house. The old mesh window covering has been replaced with glass. It is so bright that we keep thinking the outside light is on! The smell of oil paint has been a little overwhelming for the past week, but is starting to fade now.

For some reason Google has decided that I speak Spanish, so my spellcheck is useless. Forgive any typos that slip by.

Our first Tembo students

2010-11-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Alex Omino and his attentive class

Rod, Julius and Alex

On Saturday we went to Shisilachi, the village of Julius, the jeweler. Alex, our business trainer returned for another session with the village women (although there were several men this time.) Alex is a good teacher and obviously understands the issues, since he himself comes from a poor rural area. He emphasises 'wealth creation' and not 'poverty reduction.' He is gradually getting the message across that with knowledge (which Tembo is supplying) determination and organization, small village groups can do very well.

While we were there we met the first Tembo students proudly showing their diplomas. Jeremiah, Joseph and Elphus all learned to drive a commercial truck. Jacklyne did basic computer training and liked it so much she wants to continue with a diploma. Erick is doing bio-agriculture and showed us five A's and a B for his first term. One driver was away on a job and the others still at school.

Elphus, Jeremiah,Joseph and Jacklyne

Some more possible water sites

2010-11-05T03:59:00.001-07:00

Rod looked at a couple more sites yesterday. Here are the pictures. Ebukhunza (75 families)the two at the top and Mwituha (50 families) on theleft. A resident has planted banana right in the stream in the first location and eucalyptus around. These suck up huge amounts of water. He has promised to remove them and will have to do so before the contractor starts work if this is one of our chosen sites. Each of these will cost around 60 to 70,000 Kenya shillings which is approximately $800 including steps down the slope where necessary. We calculate we have sufficient donations for about 5 springs and will look at a couple more close to Kakamega before deciding.

An eventful few weeks in politics

2010-11-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the recent timetable of ministerial resignations or firings. October 19: Higher Education Minister Ruto is suspended. October 27: Foreign Affairs Minister Wetang'ula and his Permanent Secretary step aside; October 29 Kenya Anti Corruption Committee says four ministers, 45 parastatal (Crown corporation) heads are under investigation; October 29 eleven immigration ministers interdicted over alleged corruption. Nov 3 Kiplagat, the chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, steps aside. The foreign member who recently resigned in protest will return.

And this is not counting the on-going investigation in the Hague.

In other news the ubiquitous 14 seater matatus (public service vehicles) which are the public bus service and which often carry up to 20 people, will be withdrawn. No new licences will be issued and as of next month, they will not be allowed into the centre of Nairobi. Only 25 seater buses will be permitted. All licences must be held by cooperatives, eliminating (hopefully) the 'rogue' owners and drivers. It seems the same rules will apply to motor bikes which, although providing a needed service in the rural areas, are causing mayhem on the streets of the towns. Many are unlicensed and driven by youths with a fifteen minute initiation.

Water projects

2010-11-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

Last week we finished the water harvesting (from the roof) for the Imulama Dispensary. This was the best we could do since we hit solid rock when digging for a well. We have put in a 6,000 litre tank and with the rains we have been having I'm sure they will have water at least to start the dry season. We shall meet with the community members soon to proceed with the rehabilitation of a disused well for the community.

Rod has been out this week with Nixon, our contractor to look at well sites.

The pictures show two communities in dire need of cleaning up and protecting the spring. The first two shots are of Emulele where we shall put in steps down the steep slope to the water source. The third picture is Lihanda where the need speaks for itself.

A third place has a partially protected spring but which is receiving a lot of run off. It would need totally redoing, so we will see where it sits in the list of priorities.

Read for the Top and Virtues

2010-11-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

Last week we completed the heats and finals for the second class at Mwiyenga Primary. The children were amazing. I tried to upload a video with captions to YouTube but without success. Class six north proudly declaimed: Reading, reading reading, reading for the Top. We have read six books--four books in English, two books in Swahili---we have read for fun and enjoyment--we have read for knowledge. Reading reading, reading, Reading for the Top. yes, we have read six books. They sang 'I have a dream' with the line: I believe in reading... (instead of 'I believe in angels') Still working on the youtube upload!

On Saturday I did a Virtues follow-up training to a wonderful mixed group of teachers, pastors and community leaders. Their evaluations were so positive and they always want more time! I wish we had the funding to do it. They are great ambassadors for peace and harmony in their communties.

the corrupt are on the run

2010-10-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

There are amazing things happening after the passing of the new constitution. One hardly knows in which direction to look, so many heads are rolling.
First of course, the International Criminal Court in the Hague is relentlessly pursuing its slow and steady course. There have been many attempts to use the Kenyan court system to expunge names or to declare that the ICC has no jurisdiction. The time for that is long past when Kenya did not establish its own tribunal. One article told us that a 'prominent person' has communicated with the Hague and volunteered to testify (confess?) to his or her part in the post election violence. There is apparently a guarantee (or at least a hope) that he will not be publicly arrested. Of course, we don't yet know who this is.
The Minister for Higher Education (William Ruto) has had to resign from Cabinet because he is implicated in a fraud case, despite his protests of not ever signing cheques, not sitting on committees, not overseeing contracts. So we wonder what exactly he is paid for.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Wetang'ula) has also stepped down because of a scandal about embassy properties in several countries where billions of shillings 'disappeared.'
The mayor of Nairobi has also had to stand aside while an investigation into corruption in the city goes on.
The Truth , Reconciliation and Justice Committee has been told it must do some meaningful work, basically get its act together in 72 hours, or the committee will be disbanded. This is after the second prominent person (in this case a foreign representative) resigned in frustration. This committee apparently employs 413 people as 'statement takers'. They will not lose their job, but it's to be hoped they will be used more realistically.
Now we hear that the Anti Corruption Committee is going to re-open inquiries into Anglo Leasing (where funds for new passport machinery went to a non-existent company in the UK) ; Goldenberg (where development funds were paid for non-existent exports) and the Free Primary Education (where donor funds never reached the schools).
There are some very nervous people in high places.

the end of a busy week

2010-10-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

We finished delivering most of the books to primary schools on a very high note! It is very gratifying to hear positive feedback on our efforts and see the willingness of head teachers and staff to try something new. We have also managed to deliver most of the letters about the seminars and are sure we shall soon receive responses. It remains now to give the update to the Quality Assurance Officer at the Provincial office to find more teachers in some areas to attend.

Exams started in High Schools yesterday and most schools we visited had a resident police officer on duty to try to protect the packages which have to be sent by courier--usually motor bikes. Since we are still experiencing heavy rains, roads are quite difficult to navigate in the late afternoon.

On Thursday we held our first meeting of our Tembo Advisory Board. They had many good ideas for improving our on-ground procedures. What is more important, they not only make suggestions, but are willing to help.

This evening our business trainer will arrive for a session tomorrow with a group near Kakamega. We shall set some future

dates for him to work with us.

Standing: Vincent, Richard, Julius

seated: Bibiana. Jeremiah, Grace

The other piece of good news is that Caroline received a clean bill of health when she returned to the hospital for follow-up.

On Monday of next week we shall do the heats and finals for Read for the Top in the second class of one of our pilot schools, then a meeting of the Board of Education and finally a meeting with Maseno rotary Club to continue the matching grant for Emmaloba. we are looking forward to beginning some of the projects and computers in the school.

read for the top, teacher seminars,water and Virtues

2010-10-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

We now have eleven schools signed up for Read for the Top and the books have been delivered. We'll be reaching over 500 elementary level children. We are sorting and labeling the sets this week and will deliver them to the teachers next week. The second class of one of the pilot schools from earlier this year is ready for the heats and finals, so I'll be ordering their T-shirts today.
The logistics of running the teacher seminars are a bit difficult. Kenyan secondary schools go into examination mode about now, and will close by about Nov 15. So we have to get information to them in the next couple of weeks. Sounds as if that should be easy, but communication is ultra difficult. The Post office is basically non-functional (even if I had all the PO Box numbers and the schools would check their boxes for mail) so I'll have to deliver to the Education Offices, either myself or by using motor cycle couriers.
We met with our well contractor this morning and made some plans for finishing the water project at Imulama dispensary. This was the well that hit rock, was blasted and then collapsed. We plan to do water harvesting from the roof into a 6,000 litre tank for the clinic. We have the bricks that were made from the spoil and which can be used to make a base for the tank.
Then there is a disused well on a nearby property which we can rehabilitate at little cost, adding the pump we already have. This would serve the community.
On Thursday of this week we shall have a meeting of our Tembo advisory committee and will catch up on what happened while we were away and what plans are for the next while.
On Saturday we shall do a follow-up session with one of the business groups with Alex, our business instructor. This group left the first session in February with projects, so Alex will review and continue with them.
On October 30 we have a follow-up session with trained Virtues people. As for the Virtues, we have a contarct to train 150 staff at the big supermarket and now the whole of the Town Coucil and staff--about another 200. Our Kenyan facilitators will be very busy!

another sunshiny day!

2010-10-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

Today the news is good. We have our vehicle, thanks to our genius of a mechanic who modified some parts from another model. It is running well. Our concern is that it is now so old and has seen such hard service that it is becoming more difficult to keep it running. Yet, we would not be able to serve the rural communities and schools without it.

Caroline is home and feeling well. I made an error in my last post. 50,000/- is $725! Gulp! We added another 12,000/- to have her released. The hospitals here are full of patients, particularly maternity cases, who cannot leave because they can't pay the original fee and as they remain, costs keep piling up. What is wrong with this picture?

Yesterday I ran the Read for the Top seminar for teachers from 9 schools. We will reach nearly 500 children with this programme.. The teachers are understandably apprehensive about such a new approach (two of them have 78 children in their class!) but are willing to try. Kennedy Nandwa, one of the pilot teachers last year, gave invaluable support in presenting his own very positive experience. We shall have the heats and finals in February. Here is one picture of the teachers reading and preparing questions for the practice. I tried to upload the video of them simulating the contest, but the connection is far too slow tonight. I also made a 5 minute movie of the Read for the Top earlier this year and tried to upload to youtuibe. Again, no luck. I'll try again another day.

I had a long talk with the Bishop this morning about all the projects and the strategic plan for education for the diocese. After Read for the Top and the continuation of the Rotary grant for Emmaloba, the big project will be the volunteer teachers coming from the US to run seminars in Language Arts (primary) and Math (secondary) . Our plan is for this to happen in January 2011.

Other things will be happening in between--a seminar of no-till farming, workshops on domestic and sexual abuse. Lots of things to keep us busy.

Our first real set-back

2010-10-12T04:47:00.000-07:00

We are over our jet-lag, there is water more often in the kitchen, thanks to the new water system gradually coming on line in town. This means we can fill kettles to boil water more easily. Great!
Plans are set for Read for the Top, the books ordered and other training sessions are scheduled.
Then at the end of last week we found that Caroline, a young woman member of the Tembo advisory board had visited a free clinic in August and had been advised to investigate a lump in her breast.
She is a student from a poor family and the cost of travelling to a centre with the right equipment plus paying for diagnosis and possible treatment would be far beyond her means.
But on Saturday she didn't look well and could hardly raise her arm. We sent her to the Aga Khan hospital in Kisumu.
Long story short: they found two lumps with ultrasound and decided to operate, then do a biopsy. The only snag being that they wanted 50,000/- (about $125) before they would admit her. So yesterday we set off for Kisumu with the cash and Tony, her very anxious fiance.
The road from Kakamega to Kisumu is very bad, so we opted for the slightly longer but better paved road through Kilingili and Maseno. That turned out to be a good choice.
As we entered Maseno, the car died. We were right outside the Total gas station and rolled into a vacant space. That was the first piece of good fortune.
But what to do? twenty minutes from Kisumu and no hope of an operation without the money. Delaying would only mean more expenses piling up.
I phoned the theological college nearby where we often do residential training and they promised to send a vehicle and driver to pick us up and take us to the hospital. That was the next positive piece in the jigsaw.
Rod phoned the mechanic we use in Kisumu and he arranged to send a tow truck.
Only 20-30 minutes behind schedule, we rolled into the parking lot of the Aga Khan. We paid the deposit (despite the computer failing at one point) and Caroline was admitted. By five another friend had driven from Kakamega to pick us up and the vehicle was safely stowed on the mechanic's compound.
We have heard from Caro--she feels fine, should be home tomorrow and will have her lab results next week.
So far the diagnosis on the vehicle if not good, is at least positive for repair. The mechanic is waiting for a part from Nairobi on the overnight bus. In the meantime we shall have to rely on friends and taxis to get around.
The network of people we have built up over the years is invaluable to us at times like this

all the news, all the time

2010-10-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

The big thing for us is that we have had water in the kitchen two mornings!. If we're up early enough (at first light) we can fill some containers.
Other news is more serious. Sexual abuse (& violence) is a huge problem and the newspapers have been reporting on the predatory teachers who prey upon girls in their care. There is a report at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11492499
Our meeting with the Provincial Director's deputy was very productive. We have been invited to speak to all the Directors of Education at their meeting on Monday. We shall touch on all three on-going projects: Virtues, Read for the Top and the seminars in January.
I have nine schools registered for Read for the Top. One counts double, since there are 78 children in the class (grade 6). I shall meet the teachers on Wednesday and look forward to explaining how it works. The Head teacher of one of the schools from last session has agreed to release his teacher for the day to assist in the training.
Here is a picture of the community Virtues training we did last week. We met with one of the owners of the Yako supermarket, one of the biggest in town, and discussed Virtues training for all his staff, 160 people in all. Bibiana and Richard, our two facilitators in Kakamega, did a training with one small group a few months ago. It was reportedly very successful and may have calmed some unrest and a potential work stoppage. This will be a huge boost to working with businesses and community groups.
In politics. the International Criminal Court is zeroing in on a few politicians. A couple of years ago, they refused the alternative of setting up tribunals in Kenya to try those responsible for the violence after the last election. Now it seems they think that is the best option, but it is too late. There are a couple of high powered people who are really bad news. They set up a legal protest to have their names expunged from any documents. Fat chance, guys!

One week

2010-10-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Nairobi a week ago (Sunday) after a delay in London because of a fault with the wing de-icer. It sounded odd to be concerned with that when we would be landing at the Equator, but figured it was better to fix it.
We had to buy a visa on entry because we were lacking the famous 're-entry stamp' in our passports, although we had our work permit renewals. No point in arguing with Kenyan bureaucracy! We went to Immigration on Monday and received our passport stamps and the re-entry visa.
Our friend Bibiana met us when we arrived and we stayed with her daughter in Nairobi. Bibiana returned to Kakamega on the bus on Monday night and took our 6 big bags with her. We have learned that there is a small 'puddle jumper' plane that now flies into the Kakamega airstrip from Nairobi. Great for commuting, although there are likely serious restrictions on luggage. We'll certainly look into that when we go away at Christmas.
On Tuesday we met our 'daughter' Isabella, who now has a job and on Wednesday we flew back to Kisumu because our vehicle had remained there while we were away for some maintenance. Our mechanic met us, we shopped at Nakumatt supermarket and by noon were in Kakamega. We took the long way round through Maseno and Emuhaya because the Kakamega-Kisumu road is reportedly even worse than when we left. In town the intersection at the road leading to the town centre and the Golf hotel has lost its surface and is all mud puddles.
Our apartment was in good shape, although a little dusty. We spent the next couple of days unpacking and sorting. Still some office work to do with files and documents that we brought back. Our phones work and our computer modems were re-activated with no trouble. It was a remarkably smooth arrival.
Friday night our business and micro-finance teacher came up from Kisumu to talk about sessions for the women's groups. Alex is on the video on our web site. He works for an NGO in Kisumu but is aiming at branching out on his own, so working with us is good experience and exposure for him. It also allows us to use his Kenyan expertise at low cost. We have organized some follow-up sessions for the groups he met earlier this year and tentatively set up a new programme for no-till farming.
On Saturday I helped with a Virtues workshop, which I found a bit tiring since the jet lag is still hovering, but the group was enthusiastic and a joy to teach. Alex also participated since we want as many people as possible who work with our groups to be Virtues trained. (For more about the Virtues in Kenya go to www.virtuesinkenya.blogspot.com. You can also see a video of Bibiana and Richard, two of our Kenyan facilitators on You Tube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Roxd_BM4g)
Tomorrow morning I have a meeting scheduled with the Provincial Director of Education. I want to give him the outline for Read for the Top which a Rotary grant will put into ten classrooms, consult him on the proposal to run seminars for teachers in January with volunteers from the US and Canada. I also need to attend the next meeting of the Directors of Education to alert them to these projects and the Virtues possibilities.
On Monday we shall be interviewing a potential University student for funding through Tembo and on Tuesday I shall be starting the new study session with clergy. I'm hoping they will bring the registrations for schools to participate in Read for the Top, since we must start the first batch of schools as soon as possible.
We shall then meet up with the community in Emmaloba for the continuing of their Rotary project, which includes computers, tree nursery and a poultry project.
I'll keep you updated on all these activities with some pictures if possible. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Tembo Board and AGM

2010-09-11T08:31:00.001-07:00

Tembo Kenya Board Standing: Peter Kerr, PatriciaCrossley, Helen Goodchild

Seated: Wendy Reimer, Rod Crossley, Nancy Carson, Don Reimer

The Tembo board held the Annual General Meeting in Victoria,BC on September 8 2010. There was a lively exchange of information and attendees applauded the announcement that Tembo should receive its Canadian charitable status by the end of the month.
The meeting approved the installation of Don and Wendy Reimer as new board members. All Board members were introduced individually. (This information will appear on the web site shortly.) The new web site http://www.tembokenya.org/ should be launched this weekend. Patricia gave an overview of last year's activities and the projects planned for October 2010 to March 2011.

Expect an occasional newsletter put together by Don and Wendy Reimer and a Facebook page started by Tanya Harmon.

Nancy Carson announced that she has nominated Patricia for recognition in Champions of Change, sponsored by CBC and ManuLife Canada. If Patricia is one of the ten finalists (in the category of Education-Community-International) then Canadians will be asked to vote. Stay tuned for information.

Looking for teachers!

2010-08-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

We are hoping to run seminars in January 2011 for our Kenyan teachers in English Language Arts (elementary) and Math (secondary) . If you have skills and are interested in volunteering in rural Africa for about three weeks, please contact Mary Higbee at jim.higbee(at) yahoo.com

Tembo Kenya

pikipiki pictures

pikipiki

Singing with teachers

lunch arrives

Teaching language and raising awareness

No towing service here!

A day off at last!

English strategies for Elementary teachers

helping Kenyan schools

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education

The last week

Long-ish update

Best wishes

Independence day

Students, wells and teaching

Job training achievements

Three springs completed

Call Hope for Soap

Composting latrines

December

hand up, not a hand out

workshops and planning & a new logo

Dedication of Virtues Centre

A proud grad

a word from Nancy, our agent in Kenya

Well committees

Read for the Top success!

Here's a different story

Pace of Grace workshop

Two weeks of silence!

Income- generating projects

Hurry up and wait--this is Africa

Business training

Possible water sites

Nixon and Mary

Emmaloba village

Read for the Top at Kerongo Secondary

Ice at the equator

Joys and frustrations of rural Africa

Moving along...

Safe in Kenya

Leaving for Kenya

latest news from the Daily Nation

important notices

Correction

Adventure tour

E book ready for sale

AGM Aug 30

Tembo continues

Poultry project

Video on You Tube

Safely home

The springs are done

Nixon's workshop

more donations!

The last weeks

Wilson

last few weeks

Secondary education

More benefit from Read for the Top

FGM article from the Daily Nation

Read for the Top

seminars, figs and monkeys

Update (long overdue)

Ekwanda Primary:Read for the Top and an appeal

Rest and relaxation

so much to tell you!

cell phones and banking

Scholarship interviews

Cape Town

The story of Esther

the end of the year: wishing all our friends health and happiness in the New Year

Imulama hand over

The best Christmas gift

Christmas greetings

Emmaloba community grant

interviews for job training

water

a new scandal everyday