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Dear Friends of Nyumbani,
I am writing my Quarterly Letter to you a little
earlier than usual as I know, from the many emails I have received,
that you have been concerned about how we are in the Nyumbani
Programmes. Typically media communications focus on the violence and
ignore the fact that this is concentrated in pockets around the
country. Consequently the perspective they give is unbalanced. Yes,
we are in a political crisis; sadly over 1,000 people have lost their
lives; over 300,000 have been displaced and are harboured in camps
under deplorable conditions; the atmosphere in the country is tense.
But the country is still functioning.... The presidential election
results, apart from the query over their validity, unleashed a depth
of discontent and anger which lay below the surface and which needed
to be addressed: issues of unequal development in the country and
historic land resettlement. To my mind, these are the teething
problems in the beginning of democracy in the country. We deplore and
are horrified over the violence, and anguish over the terrible
suffering in which some people are at the moment. There are,
however, movements for justice, peace and reconciliation growing
throughout the country in addition to the mediation process between
the political parties being facilitated by Kofi Annan. The voice of
the people, communicated through a variety of channels and through
their courage and determination to ensure that the country continues
to function, points to a determination to reach a just and peaceful
resolution of the political impasse. As one of our University
students wrote: 'It is time for all citizens to have a role in
leadership and to recognise that leadership is not a province of the
political elite...African leadership must be steered in the direction
of inclusion and equity and global awareness and partnership.' My
hope and prayer is that we are moving in this direction, painful and
disrupting though the process may be.
While all of us in Kenya have been psychologically
affected by the post-election crisis, life in Nyumbani Home and
Nyumbani Village has continued as usual. Some of the Nyumbani Home
children who went on vacation over Christmas to extended family or
friends experienced the violence but were not physically harmed.
Some were delayed in returning, but all are now safely back with us.
One boy in particular had a traumatic return journey: Victor was put
on the bus in his home area, but, on reaching Kisumu, the bus had to
seek refuge from a violent mob in a police station. Not having
medicine for the evening, Victor had the initiative to seek help from
the ChildrenÔÇÖs Police Officer, who put him in contact with the Red
Cross. Not only did the Red Cross get him medicine, but they had him
flown back to Nairobi.
The children, grandparents and staff in Nyumbani
Village, because of its location in the non-involved Eastern Province
and because of its remoteness, were only very indirectly affected by
the political crisis. While the Government deferred the re-opening of
schools by a week, Hotcourses Primary School began on the scheduled
date. Only those in Secondary experienced the delay.
Lea Toto was our programme most affected by the
disturbances. The 6 Centres were minimally functioning the
first week of January since most of the unrest in Nairobi was located
in the resource-poor communities where we operate. However,
gradually they have become almost fully operational except for
Kibera. Sadly, Kibera is still a no-go zone for some of our
staff; two members courageously venture into the Centre each
day; the medical team operates from nearby Jamhuri Showground. In
the early days of the violence, our security personnel were able to
guard the premises successfully and fend off the gangs who were
burning all the houses nearby. Their courage was remarkable.
We will not have full details regarding how our Lea Toto
children and their families have been affected. However, by
Friday last week, through the commitment of our staff, we had
managed to make direct or indirect contact with 2,406 out of the
2,502. We are now concentrating on reaching the remaining 96. We are
very relieved that almost all our children on Antiretroviral Therapy
have managed to get their drugs either through our Centres or through
other Health Centres if they are stranded up-country.
Our staff have shown remarkable courage and dedication in the face of
the challenges. Getting to work can be very challenging and
risky. Listening to the stories of violence experienced by clients is
harrowing. In the early days, one of our nurses in Kariobangi risked
his life to reach out to a young girl of 17. She had not been
attended at one of the Government Hospitals, so he made his way to
visit her at home and give her nursing care on two occasions.
Despite it all, we rejoice that we are able to continue to avail our
services to our HIV+ children. Unbelievably, we had 73 new enrolments
during January at the height of the violence! This surely witnesses
to valuing the gift of life at a time when sadly some are not.
The beginning of the New Year here in Kenya is very
focused on schooling. Just before Elections, End of Primary School
results were released and then began a period of waiting while the
Selection process for admission into High School proceeded. Four of
our Nyumbani Home children qualified, while three chose to repeat.
Four others have moved into Practical Training courses. Given the
desperate life situation which the Village children had experienced
before coming into Nyumbani Village, we expected that much remedial
education would be needed. We are handling this in Hotcourses Primary
School. Consequently, while we encouraged our examination candidates,
we knew that they were disadvantaged. Out of the 21 Village children
who finished Primary School, five were selected for High School. 14
are happy to repeat, this time in our own school where we can give
them special attention. Two will join our Polytechnic.
It is with great anticipation that we await the
opening of the Polytechnic. Fortunately, with the help of a gifted
volunteer, our facilities and planning impressed the Ministry for
Youth which led to a visit from the Director just before Christmas.
The outcome is that our Polytechnic has been selected to pilot the
New Curriculum to be launched this year. Our new Manager and two
instructors are attending an induction seminar this coming week and
we plan to open on 17th March with four courses: Woodwork,
Tailoring, Masonry and Food Processing and Agrobusiness. At the
moment, the Food Production Unit (also the Clinic) is being tiled
with beautiful tiles, gift from Nyumbani Italy.
The Phase 3 Building Program started on target on
13th December last. To date, 12 family houses, the
Administration Block Phase 1, and the Guest House Extension are at
roof level while 12 more houses and a school block have been laid
out. Once the first cluster of houses is ready, we will be able to
admit more families who have been waiting for some time now. Our
main focus in the Sustainability Program at the moment is the
increasing of our drip fed irrigation systems, a need more
accentuated since the last rains were inadequate. We are also in the
process of installing a recycled grey water drip irrigation system in
each family garden so that the members can begin developing some food
self-reliance.
The Fr. Angelo DÔÇÖAgostino Memorial Hall in
Nyumbani Home is nearing completion. In it we will have a room
dedicated to his memory where the story of the founding and
development of COGRI - Nyumbani will be portrayed. While his vision
and mission is very much alive in those of us who personally
collaborated with him, we believe that the story of his life will
always be an inspiration, to those who come after us, of the
difference one person's compassion can make in our world, a model
which we surely need in our present Kenya and in our world.
As I conclude, I ask especially for your prayers for
Sammy who is currently quite ill. Sammy has been showing resistance
to Third Line ARVs for a while now. The addition of a 4th
component in 2006 has helped him up to this, but now it appears he
needs to get Fourth Line ARVs. Investigation is going on by our
paediatrician with the help of an expert second opinion. If Sammy
needs Fourth Line ARVs, we will do everything we can to get these. If
these drugs are available in our world, then a child in Kenya has a
right to get access.
When the time comes to celebrate the Resurrection of
Christ let us pray and hope that here in Kenya we will also be
celebrating the dawn of new life among us as a reconciled nation.
You are all constantly in our prayers, asking God to
bless you and your families abundantly, and we are ever grateful for
your support in spirit and kind.
Sister Mary 20th February, 2008
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