FOOD 2 LEARN PO BOX 2884 KISUMU

Assisting Kenyan children to help themselves out of poverty

Registered as "FOOD TO LEARN SELF HELP GROUP" by the Social Services in Kenya

The 'Food2Learn' programme costs.....

'Food2Learn' NEWSLETTER MAY 2005

I recently realised that I haven’t given any news of F2L – other than with the Kanyawegi newsletter.

This is just a brief up-date for those sponsoring, or interested in the F2L project. If you do not wish to receive F2L news, or if you know anyone who would like this information, please let me know.

So first, welcome to the first exclusively F2L newsletter, which I hope will be regular (and better) from now on.

Kenyan children are on holiday during the month of April, returning to school on the 3rd of May. The children learning in standards 6,7, and 8, are given extra tuition during this time (for which we have to pay), but all the other classes are off.

The Kenyan system is – 2 years nursery, 8 years primary, 4 years secondary, and for the very fortunate, 4 years at university.

F2L began when primary school was made free in January 2003. We provide school uniform and shoes, lunch every school day, soap for washing their uniform, boot polish and brush, and personal hygiene for the girls who need it.

Although the school is free, we have to pay for nursery school fees (children are not allowed to start primary unless the have attended nursery), and tuition fees for standards 6 to 8.

While the schools were closed (well partly closed), David has put into place a range of new measures that help us in the UK keep up with what is going on. I now get a weekly report of the events during the previous week, and a weekly financial report, which insures total transparency.

David has identified another 19 children who will be joining our program as soon as he has confirmed their details and completed the forms.

When Doreen and Sarah Moxham visited Kenya last month, I asked them to take a

digital camera to David. My hope is that we will now receive regular photos of the children and their activities. If I get the hang of this arrangement, I hope to have photos in the next newsletter, and to all the sponsors. I am aware that the most recent sponsors have not yet received photos of the child they are sponsoring; this has been due to the school holiday – as well as the African attitude (no rush in Africa). Please be patient with me – I hope to have everything done within the next three to four weeks.

I remain very excited about this project, and my hope is that other organizations will also take it on in other areas of Kenya. It is a good cost affective plan that can be adapted and administered in a low budget, small labour organization. It would be good for others to learn from the mistakes we made on the outset of the program – like cooking the food ourselves. There are about one and a half million children in Kenya, who do not attend school because of poverty – so there is plenty of room for more organizations and sponsors.

Since my last trip to Africa over Christmas I have been unable to travel, as I managed to get deep vein thrombosis – which prohibits me from travelling for some time. Although I miss the times in Kenya, the programme is in the safe hands of the F2L committee in Kenya, which is in the process of enlarging to six members – so I will have news of their recommendations, including how we can further help those in extreme poverty.

More news soon, thanks for your support/interest

JIM

CONTACT for info and enquiries jimdawehome@hotmail.com phone 01761 410763

address Ecclesia, High St, Paulton, Bristol, BS397NW

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12 March 2004 Food2Learn program all rights reserved