"Friends of Kakamega"

2009-01-22


We have now visited the Friends of Kakamega Centre. Very moving. We spent several hours with the kids and the director. It appears to be a very well run centre helping over 234 orphans. We will do some checking around to verify the reputation, but at first glance it certainly looks very positive.

There centre runs several programs:

46 orphans live at the centre where all of their needs are met including housing, clothes, food and education. There is a feeding program for an additional 59 children that come each day for lunch. Their Home-based Program supports 101 children who live at home with a grandmother, guardian or friends. Each year they are given $250 each which is only a portion of what one would need to adequately feed, clothe and educate their children. They are also provided a mattress, some bedding, a uniform and a few necessities. The centre supports 17 students that go to High School and live at the centre. Tuition for high school is 20,000 Ksh/term plus an additional 20,000Ksh for required uniform and supplies.



We discussed the idea of buying an animal for the home-based program. It has its advantages but the disadvantages is the livestock need, care, space, feed and veterinary services. This may be too much for a grandmother to manage. It would also be extra work for the centre to help the grandmother manage.


A large cow…80,000 shillings (56 ksh = 1 CDN $)

Small cow……40,000 shillings

Goat ………….20,000 shillings

Chicken……….10,000 shillings



Valley View raised 100,800 shillings


We asked Dorothy, the Centre Director, what she would do if she could do whatever she wanted. She said she would pay the school fees of 4 children or the partial costs for 8 children, enough to get them in school full time.



Today we gave the children the soccer balls, which instantly replaced the ball they made from plastic bags and we showed them the names on the ball. We also gave them a photo of your Club and we took a video of the children saying "Thank You Valley View"