# Update at 17th August 2019
Four of our teenagers moved to polytechnic in January (three girls undertaking catering and one boy vehicle mechanic). They are currently on August break and the three girls are enjoying helping with the cooking at Wamba home where we have just over 60 of the children. They have been introducing some more exotic food to the children and staff). In January also four of our teenage boys did well enough in their end of primary exams to go to Secondary School
Children
In 2019 we have received 12 young children into our three homes one of which was under 6 months. Total numbers are c 130 as a few of our older teenagers have moved out to their communities and relatives.
Four of our teenagers moved to polytechnic in January (three girls undertaking catering and one boy vehicle mechanic). They are currently on August break and the three girls are enjoying helping with the cooking at Wamba home where we have just over 60 of the children. They have been introducing some more exotic food to the children and staff). In January also four of our teenage boys did well enough in their end of primary exams to go to Secondary School.
The Primary School for our children is progressing well with Standard two to eight at Wamba and Standard 1 and Nursery at Ngaremara. Remoteness means that the 25 children at Ndikir are taught on site there along with some children from the local community who attend our classes. One of our Board members here in NI who is headmaster of a primary school in Ballymena has set up an exchange with Kindfund Hope Primary sponsored by the British Council and already a teacher from the Ballymena school has spent two weeks at Wamba. A Hope primary teacher will visit Ballymena later in the year.
The first week in August we hosted a large team from YWAM Athi River (South of Nairobi) of young people reaching out as part of their 5 month discipleship training course. They shared with the children at Wamba and Ngaremara for the week of Bible teaching fellowship and games. A small number visited Ndikir for one day much to the benefit and pleasure of the children there.
This week we have two young men from Fermanagh Christian Fellowship (a teacher and a hospital worker following up on their visit last year) running a bible camp at Wamba including time with the teenagers every evening. Last week for a couple of days on arrival and next week for a few days before departure they are engaging with our younger children at Ngaremara.
Staffing
Staffing has remained stable in 2019 with a small turnover. We have had a few issues which we have had to deal with requiring disciplinary action but otherwise less stress than 2018 when we had some key staff ill.
A temporary manager engaged at Ngaremara to cover illness has been let go while on probation and we have restructured to promote two of our long-standing staff to fill the roles. An additional House mother for Wamba has been recruited this month to address the proportion of our children at this home because of the location of the primary school there.
We continue to run seminars on Child Protection and are alert to address any signs of poor behaviour on the part of staff.
All our staff have signed employment contracts.
The manager for Wamba and his wife visited N Ireland for three weeks in April/May. For the first week they attended the BES International Conference at Enniskillen. We extended the visit as a holiday in recognition of 10yrs service with Kindfund
Government
We remain closely in touch with Government officials at all three homes. We continue to receive referrals of new children from the Child Officers and the local Chiefs (Government administrative officials).
We have issues (as do all Children’s Homes in Kenya – we have recently joined the ACCI – Homes association) with the Government over their failure to renew registration for our two main homes and accept the registration of the third. This also applies to the registration of our primary school. However, we continue to press on and to function, enjoying good standing with the local Government representatives.
Projects
Apart from replacing two double latrines at Ngaremara and carrying out regular maintenance work we have had no major projects since we installed the water tanks at Wamba. We still need to install electricity at Ngaremara and have other wish list projects for the future.
Currency
The £ has fallen in value from a peak of 164ksh to the £ pre the Brexit vote to currently a recent low of 123ksh to the £. Until the more recent changes in the Government we were achieving c130 to the £.
Common sense dictates that we conserve our resources to cover running costs in case of further deterioration or until the £ recovers
Management by Kindfund UK
Pamela Dobbin and Gillian Stevenson are currently on their second (June to Sept) extended visits to Kindfund Kenya this year and Ken Dobbin will travel to Kenya mid-September for his slightly shorter second visit (5 weeks). All three expect, God willing, to be out again this year with Ken and Pamela spending Christmas and New year there with the children.
Kindfund’s AGM is scheduled for 10th September this year.
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