The children from Nanyuki school are going on their school trip on Wednesday!  I have been told that they are very, very excited!  Rose is worried that they will not get any sleep the night before.  I hope they have an unforgettable day.  I will keep you posted.

School trip to Nairobi

Rose mentioned that wouldn't it be lovely if, one day, the children could have a school trip to Nairobi (most of the children have never been out of Nanyuki).  So we set about costing such a trip and gave Rose some of the fund-raising money we had to cover the trip for 70 children.  The children will set out early in the coach to Nairobi (about 3 hours) and visit the Giraffe Centre. Incidentally we visited this wonderful centre on our way home and chatted to the staff.  They said the entrance would be free to the Nanyuki school children and could we just give a donation.  You can feed the giraffes and even hold the food between your teeth for them to take - you get a bit of a face wash!

Also on the trip the children will visit the animal orphange where thay can meet a lion, leopard, cheetah, various monkeys, hyena and ostrich to name but a few. They then will move into the city centre to pay a visit to the national museum and Snake Park situated next door.  We have also included in the money packed lunches, snacks and ice-cream.

Sarah, one of the volunteers still there, will be going with them and will be able to give us details of the trip.  Have a wonderful day!

The Quarry Folk

We visited the people who work in the quarry - these include men, women and their children.  It is a very hard life as it is all done by hand!  The stone is dug and crushed as small as possible.  It is used for buildings and roads.  It takes two weeks to crush 1 tonne and they would sell it for 700 Ksh (which is less than £5).

There is a company which has set up further up the road and they have machines to do the work and fetch far more money for their stone.  The quarry people explained that they need to be quick getting their sacks up to the lorries to be able to sell their stone. Quite often they sell their stone and then this in turn would be sold on for much more.  This seems so unfair but nothing can be done about it.

The children we met at Nanyuki prep school will often, when returning from the school, work in the quarries.  You couldn't meet nicer people than these folk who spend so much time in the quarry.

From A to B quite painfully...

Apart from walking we have been travelling around in Rose's
old 1983 peugeot truck which means most of us have to travel
in the back, (we have to hang to prevent ourselves from being
bounced off!). It has no mirrors, indicators, seat beats and no hand
brake!.. Oh the wipers don't work which we discovered during one
of the many storms out here.

The tracks are incredibly bumpy and (when in the taxi) we quite
often hit the bottom of the car.

Each day at about 3, Mwangi (taxi driver) comes to the school to take
the youngest back to their slums - he makes 2 journeys and can get 12
children in the car in one go!..

Christmas has come early...

Snowflakes hanging from the school tree, headteacher Rose dressed up as one of the wise Kings, well maybe Queen of Nanyuki Prep. Gifts from England were handed out to all the children - books, toys clothes and shoes - one of the oldest girls Ann received a pair of shoes so she has a second pair (other than her school shoes) which she can wear for church.
'Christmas lunch' was githeri (maize.and beans).

Rose at home...

We visited Rose and her grandmother (who remarked on how healthy I look!), in her home in the suburb (slum) of Bluegum (named after the eucalyptus trees).  They were very pleased to see us.  We had many peering eyes on us from the curious neighbours and chickens!  We gave Rose a letter and gift from her new english penpal (rafiki) Lilly and she has said that she will write back...

'Or_fun_age'

Today we have had great fun at the orphanage. Some of the children from here
attend Nanyuki Prep school. I held a make-up session with the girls. We made up games, relay races and frisbee.

At the end of the afternoon Rose turned up with a large holdall containing the football shirts and shorts we have gathered and brought over from the UK. Every child at the orphanage received a shirt - 61 in total. The shorts came in useful for the girls who require these for school.

I gave a pair of football boots to John - the orphanage's star player, whom I had promised I would bring a pair 12 months ago when I was last here. John was delighted and kept saying 'thank you' and 'asante sana'.

I was very touched and tearful when the children were prompted to give some speeches. They thanked me for 'everything' I have done for them and for coming back to them (as promised!). Kevin prompted me to say a few words in return....
I said 'Karibu', for it is my pleasure to do such things....