Firstly a HUGE thank you to everyone who donated to the campaign last year!
Please check the posts below for some of the photos of the amazing gifts we were able to give...
And now some news about what's happening this year...
This year I've been in Kenya for 6 months (from April to the end of October).
All those who received gifts send their greetings to those who gave the money.
The HIV+ Women's group, half of whom received chickens, have now given out the chicks and each woman now has a growing collection of hens laying eggs and hatching more chicks!
The football teams are still training and the St Clare's team competed in a regional schools competition, so proud of their brand new uniforms!
The students who started secondary school still carefully polish their shoes everyday and head off in the early mornings across the fields to school.
The little ones who received toys still cherish them, even if the cars are missing a wheel or two and the batteries to the toy mobile phones are long since dead.
My village has since 'finally' got an electricity connection and so now those who were given rechargeable lanterns have a shorter distance to go to get them charged.
Many of the students who attended the computer course are now my 'friends' on Facebook and keep me up to date with all the gossip in the village from who's cow gave birth to how much rain there was last week.
My proudest achievement however is the fact that my little brother and sister were able to attend St Peter's Primary school and had their whole year's school fees covered by a very kind donation.
Sharon Chelangat (age 13) and Kenneth Cheruiyot (age 11).
Before going to St Peter's they went to a small school near to our house. It is a very very rural school and often the teachers do not come to class. They were both failing. They didn't achieve the grade needed to proceed to Class 6 and would have to repeat Class 5 (starting in Jan 2011).
Since going to St Peter's they have risen from below 250/500 (a fail) to well over 320 (a very respectable score!). They are so proud of their smart uniforms and shoes; the gladly get up every morning before 6am to have breakfast (cold Ugali and tea) to walk the 30-45mins to school (depending on the muddy road!). They do their homework in the evenings and have even taught my mum many of the new things they learned in school!
There is no way they would have been able to go to this school if it hadn't been through your help. They are about to take their exams and will certainly be heading for Class 6 in January.
I'm not in Kenya this Christmas and so it's not possible for me to get the gifts out in the same way as in 2010.
This year I hope that Kiptere Unwrapped might be able to keep these two kids in school for another year.
They have another 3 years left in primary school (up to Class 8) and it would be a real shame for them to have to leave the school that is giving them the best chance to succeed in life.
Education is the greatest gift we can give to children in Kenya. They can then have the chance to change their own and their families circumstances because they understand better how the world works. They have had so many more opportunities just from attending a better primary school. Last month they travelled to Nakuru National Park (3hrs away) to see the wildlife; amazing for kids who've never even been to Kericho town less than an hour away!
A whole year's fees for one pupil costs under £200. (with the very favourable exchange rate at the moment)
For the two of them, we need to raise just £1 per day. (2012 being a leap year)
£366 would provide them both with the school fees, new books and pens, shoes and socks.
If we're able to reach that target I will be sending the money directly to the school and have a contract that they will provide the kids education for the next 12 months.
The HIV+ Women's group, half of whom received chickens, have now given out the chicks and each woman now has a growing collection of hens laying eggs and hatching more chicks!
The football teams are still training and the St Clare's team competed in a regional schools competition, so proud of their brand new uniforms!
The students who started secondary school still carefully polish their shoes everyday and head off in the early mornings across the fields to school.
The little ones who received toys still cherish them, even if the cars are missing a wheel or two and the batteries to the toy mobile phones are long since dead.
My village has since 'finally' got an electricity connection and so now those who were given rechargeable lanterns have a shorter distance to go to get them charged.
Many of the students who attended the computer course are now my 'friends' on Facebook and keep me up to date with all the gossip in the village from who's cow gave birth to how much rain there was last week.
My proudest achievement however is the fact that my little brother and sister were able to attend St Peter's Primary school and had their whole year's school fees covered by a very kind donation.
Sharon Chelangat (age 13) and Kenneth Cheruiyot (age 11).
Before going to St Peter's they went to a small school near to our house. It is a very very rural school and often the teachers do not come to class. They were both failing. They didn't achieve the grade needed to proceed to Class 6 and would have to repeat Class 5 (starting in Jan 2011).
Since going to St Peter's they have risen from below 250/500 (a fail) to well over 320 (a very respectable score!). They are so proud of their smart uniforms and shoes; the gladly get up every morning before 6am to have breakfast (cold Ugali and tea) to walk the 30-45mins to school (depending on the muddy road!). They do their homework in the evenings and have even taught my mum many of the new things they learned in school!
There is no way they would have been able to go to this school if it hadn't been through your help. They are about to take their exams and will certainly be heading for Class 6 in January.
I'm not in Kenya this Christmas and so it's not possible for me to get the gifts out in the same way as in 2010.
This year I hope that Kiptere Unwrapped might be able to keep these two kids in school for another year.
They have another 3 years left in primary school (up to Class 8) and it would be a real shame for them to have to leave the school that is giving them the best chance to succeed in life.
Education is the greatest gift we can give to children in Kenya. They can then have the chance to change their own and their families circumstances because they understand better how the world works. They have had so many more opportunities just from attending a better primary school. Last month they travelled to Nakuru National Park (3hrs away) to see the wildlife; amazing for kids who've never even been to Kericho town less than an hour away!
A whole year's fees for one pupil costs under £200. (with the very favourable exchange rate at the moment)
For the two of them, we need to raise just £1 per day. (2012 being a leap year)
£366 would provide them both with the school fees, new books and pens, shoes and socks.
If we're able to reach that target I will be sending the money directly to the school and have a contract that they will provide the kids education for the next 12 months.
The school year starts in January and it would be incredible if we were able to send these kids into 2012 without the worries that they'll have to leave their school.
If you would like to help please get in touch.
The details are the same as last year:
Either by online transfer or by visiting a Lloyds TSB Bank.
Laura Griffin
Lloyds TSB
Account Number: 77-07-05
Sort Code: 21727168
PLEASE Contact me for confirmation!
When you contact me please send the following information:
Full Name:
Address in UK:
Number of Days in School Sponsored:
Any extra information: (if you have any messages for the kids, they love stories and getting post! Even the people you gave gifts to last year. I can pass these on and let them know how you're doing)
Contact Details:
THE BEST WAY IS EITHER TO EMAIL ME OR TO SEND ME A TEXT MESSAGE TO THE NUMBER BELOW.
Email – griffin_laura@hotmail.co.uk
Phone – 07922847589
(in the amazing circumstances that we raise anything over the target I will get back to you all with some options as to what else you would like to do with the funds. There are several options from helping a young mother (who had to drop out of her first year in secondary school) get back to college or subsidising some more computer training etc.)
