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Click here to go to my Kenya
Children Project blog
February 5th, 2008
THE CURRENT STATUS OF EVENTS IN
KENYA. . .
As many of you know disputed election results at the end
of 2007 has brought violence, tribal clashes,
displacement of people and an uncertainty in Kenya that
hasn’t been experienced for a number of years. The
incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, of PNU has been accused of vote
rigging by the opposition leader, Raila Odinga of ODM.
This has led to isolated violence in various parts of
the country.
Between 800 and 1,000 people have been killed and over
300,000 people have been displaced, many fleeing their
homes out of fear. Resources for these people are very
limited at the moment, and taking care of the most basic
of needs has been a struggle.
An all African, international mediation team has come to
Kenya, led by Kofi Annan to try to resolve the
situation. Thus far, the two sides have committed to
ending the violence, and have promised to do everything
in their power to bring peace and prosperity back to
Kenya. Many of the issues are deeply rooted in past
tribal conflict that the politicians like to play on
when elections come up. Generally speaking these people
who have been incited to hate each other have been
living peacefully side by side.
Much of the violence has occurred in the Rift Valley,
Nyanza and Western Provinces. Nairobi was heavily
affected early on, but things have significantly calmed
down since the early going. There are now skirmishes in
some of the Nairobi slums, but the city, and the
majority of the country is safe at the moment.
Please join me in prayer that the two sides would come
together, and that God would bring reconciliation to the
situation. Also pray for those suffering, and that
people would come together as Kenyans, not based on
tribal association.
 The
report from the people on the ground with the KCP is
encouraging, all things considered. We have 50 children
back at school right now – which is about 30 shy of what
we should have, but many fled the slum when the violence
broke out. It continues to be shaky, but things are
beginning to return to normalcy.
Even in the midst of all that has happened, the
residents of Jangwani were a source of encouragement. As
gangs were looting all over the slum, the residents of
Jangwani kept the gangs out. The school and project
remained safe and unharmed. We are in the process of
trying to contact all of the parents telling them to
bring their children back to school. God is amazing
though, and continues to see us through. Pray that he
will continue to protect all of the children and their
families, as well as those on the ground working with
the project, as some have faced great difficulty.
 KENYA
CHILDREN PROJECT 2007 REVIEW
In 2007, a partnership between myself (Adam Gould), Life
in Abundance International, and the Believers Centre
Mathare Church created what is known as the Kenya
Children Project. God’s hand in this partnership has
been clear from the beginning as he has blessed the
project with a great amount of progress in just one
year. On top of that, we were $10,000 under our
anticipated budget, which is a testament to those on the
ground in Kenya using the resources well. I just want to
highlight some of progress made in the first year, to
keep you up to date…
1. We started the year with roughly 40 children in the
school and ended with about 60. News of the good work
spread throughout the community, and we got to a point
where we could not take any more children in due to lack
of space.
2. We were able to purchase 6 rooms surrounding the
church and turned 4 of those rooms into classrooms, one
into a kitchen and one into an office.
3. We started a feeding program for the children at the
school. Each child received a cup of porridge in the
morning, and rice, beans and greens at lunch, as well as
fruit twice a week. This was provided 5 days a week, and
we were able to do this for between roughly $6 per
child, per month. The fruits and vegetables used in the
lunch were purchased from mothers in our micro loan
program.
 4.
We were able to purchase tables and benches for each of
the classrooms, which were constructed by local
carpenters, one of which was a father of one of our
children. Desks and chairs were also purchase for each
of our teachers. Each child also received a uniform.
5. We were able to hire 3 teachers who were with us for
the whole year. In that time period they all have
completed their teaching certification.
6. We have been able to put in a new toilet for the
children to use, as well as. By the grace of God,
purchase a water source inside the school.
7. We started our micro loan program with the children’s
parents. The first group that received the initial loan,
all paid back their loan in full. There have been
stories of great success within the program - see
Kevin’s Grandmother.
8.Out of an allotment for evangelism, a home based care
program has emerged. Members of the Believers Centre
have taken the initiative to be trained in home based
care and have reached out to those suffering in the
community, particularly those inflicted with HIV/AIDS.
9. As I have visited, there is a different feeling among
the people in Jangwani – one of hope. The children look
much healthier, and are full of energy and excited about
their education.
 2007
Expenses
1) School Costs (teacher salaries, construction,
uniforms, feeding program, materials, tables and
benches, water connection) - $18,162
2) Staff Salaries and Administrative Costs - $11,113
3) Micro loan Program - $2,126
4) Evangelism - $946
Total - $32,347
Thank you to those of you supporting the project through
prayers as well as those supporting financially. God’s
blessing and protection has been upon the KCP, and those
of us involved are extremely grateful and in awe of what
the Lord continues to do.
Friday, November 16,
2007
GOD REVEALED THROUGH $30 . . .
Patricia Mwikali is one of the women in the micro loan
program. She is 47 years old and has two daughters. Her
first born daughter washes clothes which barely covers
one meal. She is unable to pay rent or take care of
other expenses, therefore her mother is forced to
provide for her. Patricia is also taking care of her
youngest daughter who is a junior in high school and her
grandson, Kelvin, is enrolled in our school.
Due to so much strain on Patricia, she enrolled in a
merry go round financial program with several other
women. They were able to save up a small amount of
money, enough for each member to start a small business.
Patricia began a small restaurant selling food to people
in the Jangwani community. Because of the small amount
of capital, the profit was not significant enough to
provide for her family.
Patricia looked elsewhere for help, and found out about
he micro loan program through Kelvin’s school. She
joined the program and was given a loan of 2000 Kenya
Shillings, or roughly $30. This loan boosted her
restaurant and she quickly began paying back the loan.
She was given another loan and in August she rented a
bigger room to expand the restaurant. Because of her
success she was also able to purchase a larger room for
her family to live in. Patricia received another loan
and has also opened a small store where she sells
vegetables. The store has been very successful and she
has quickly been paying back her loan.
Patricia’s spiritual life has changed as well. Whenever
the women in the micro loan program meet, the project
manager, Consolata, takes time to pray and share the
word with them. In one of the meetings Patricia said, “I
come from a community where people believe that when you
want to learn a business you have to use witch craft. I
didn’t know that God could open a door for me to get
money from people who don’t even know me well, without
using witchcraft. Now I believe that God is real.”
Patricia is looking forward to paying off her most
recent loan, and getting another one that will help her
to continue expanding her business.
Click here to go to my Kenya
Children Project blog
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Email:
adam@matharechildren.com
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