Things are going very well at the Care Centre. The children went "home" in April with bags of food to share with their guardian and smiles on their faces. Many are right at the top of their classes. The library is in constant use. The two children who have been tested HIV positive are receiving medical treatment and counseling. And all the bones that have broken playing soccer have healed up.
We have received very difficult news from the Kenyan Children's Department. They insist that the boys and girls live, not just on separate floors, but in separate buildings (This is the way they do it in all the co-ed schools because of pregnancies.) So, either we build a new dormitory for the boys or they will have to return to their guardians. This would be heart-breaking for the children as they have come such a long way under the care of the program.
Thus, we, the Care Centre Management Committee (the Kenyans there) and Friends of Kakamega (us here in Maine) jointly decided to take on the challenge of building a dormitory for the boys at the Care Centre so they could continue to be part of the program. The biggest stumbling block was finding an affordable piece of land within walking distance to the Care Centre.
GREAT NEWS: After a four month search, suddenly this past month, the perfect plot was found and snatched up by the Management Committee with us cheering them on mightly. It is only a quarter of an acre, but big enough to put up the boys dorm. And it is right next to the Kakamega Township school where the children go, just 8 minutes walk from the Care Centre. So, the boys will be able to sleep there but go to the CC for meals, the pastor/counseling, the library we've made there, the computers, the homework help and all the supports that the Care Centre gives these children. Then they can return to their dorm to sleep. There will be a small "community room" at the boys dorm so they can do homework there and hang out with "just the guys". It's also right next to the town playing field so I suspect there will be many impromtu soccer games.
At this point, the land has been purchased, the old building on it is being removed and the architectural plan for the boys dorm has been submitted to the town board. Ronnie, who built the Care Centre and has an excellent reputation , will be the builder again, so we anticipate there will be no difficulty getting approval. Over two-thirds of the money for the building has been raised, and we are very hopeful that it will soon be built. We are incredibly grateful for all the financial support that has come in so that the boys dorm can be built.
MORE GOOD NEWS: When the 20 boys move out of the CC and into their new digs, rooms will become empty, making it possible to bring in new girls! This is wonderful because after three years of running the CC, they are ready to expand to include more children and girls are often the ones more at risk.
Otherwise, all seems to be going well with the project. The maize harvest was excellent. Two new calves have been born though only one was a girl). A borehole is being completed for water for the farm. We now have 80 sponsors for home-based children (who live out in the regions, now with the support they need to go to school).
Take Care and walk with that Glorious Light
Sukie Rice, Frinds of Kakamega, Durham Meeting, Maine