Newsletter - 1

Well we have completed our first three days of the trip and collectively decided on Phase 1 of our project - Education of orphaned, destitute and needy children who have proven to be bright but fallen out of schooling due to lack of funds. Getting these kids educated will mean they can in turn help many people in their families and the wider community.

Boo has taken us far and wide to many places of which few Western people will ever get to visit. To normal standards we have slummed it where ever we have been, in order to get to know the real Africans to be with the people Boo loved and wanted us to help. What cash we saved or would have consumed under standard holiday conditions, has been given to a family of five and will cover all living expenses for two months including rent, food, water, electric and even two children's school fees. This is in no way a brag about what we have done it is about what needs to be done and through general un-necessary waste, I'm making the point that we can all do more.

It has been just an amazing and moving experience, exacerbating the need for help all over Africa and not just in the city of Nairobi. Having seen many charities and working groups we have learnt form many experiences this has helped us to form our views and cement our decisions on the best most effective way to move forward. The first fact which hits home is the scale of the desperate need and however small our effort and projects the combined efforts of many will have a large impact over time, all of which desperately needed.

We have decided to start with the education of children who are bright and have academic opportunities, but have fallen out of schooling due to lack of funds. Some kids have families but through poor education the parents have continued to bring more children into the World leaving too many mouth's to feed and no way of paying school fees. The AIDS pandemic is also having a huge impact, in some cases both parents have passed away leaving the children orphaned, homeless and in need off emotional support.

Recruiting Bright Kids

Here we were presented with a very distressing situation. Two beautiful girls named Leah age 14 and Pauline age 18. These girls have had good education up to December last year when the only remaining parent passed away, the father had already passed away from AIDS a year ago. The girls ran away from their home area to find refuge and ended up at friends in Mombassa. It has been agreed with the girls and their new guardian that they will join the same boarding school as Marion in Busia, NW Kenya. A wonderful environment and where all three girls can support each other. Roheama will be acting as a parent offering love, guidance and affection when she makes regular visits. Hopefully these girls will regain trust and confidence and go onto achieve good results.

Your opportunity to help and share an experience

Phase 1 - Now presents the ideal opportunity for families or individuals to sponsor children who we know and love. We have the structure to guarantee every penny goes to the child and each child will be able to communicate through Email with the sponsors. This in itself will be an educating process for both parties.

The Future longer-term plan

So we have a total of 7 children into education. The next part of our project is to develop a rescue facility in Nairobi. We have identified a partnership with another group, Vision Africa and a location called Dandora. This is a 7 acre disused seed factory with buildings requiring minimum effort to convert in order to accommodate around 300 children from the surrounding Nairobi slums. This is an exercise of firstly sorting medical needs, feeding and clothing. From this we can assess the education needs and place them in appropriate schools or develop education classes on site.

This project will require £50,000 to purchase and develop facilities and about the same to support running costs each year. The main thrust of our focus will be on achieving this goal.

The longer-term five-year vision is to bring the educated children into these facilities and to develop business run by these children as they become adults. The entire emphasis is on native Kenyans making these thing happen and running the organizations. We have worked with and seen some very bright creative people all they need is the Opportunity.

BOO - Sustained Children of Africa - 5 Year Development Model

If you can help, then please take a few minutes to download a copy of the Sponsor A Child form and return them to us. We can accept cheques, but if possible we would like you to complete a monthly standing order mandate.