Friends Of Nyumbani

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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 17^th 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 13^th 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 4^th 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 20^th February, 2008