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2009_kenya_safari-graphic1Interested in seeing the Lewa projects for yourself?  Now you can!  Bread and Water for Africa is hosting a Kenyan Safari and Program tour in August 2010 (exact dates TBD). This 8-day safari will take you not only to Kenya’s world famous Maasai Mara National Park, but will also allow you to spend 3 days exploring the Lewa projects and getting to know Phyllis and her family.

The trip is open to both US and UK supporters. For more details visit our websites:

US – www.africanrelief.org

UK – www.africanrelief.org.uk

Or e-mail me for a brochure.

 

You can also watch this brand new video to see photos from previous safaris!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I can tell you, from my own personal experience, that you will have a newfound appreciation for what the hard work and determination of Phyllis and her staff has been able to accomplish.

Check out Bread and Water for Africa’s newest YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/africanrelief (or www.youtube.com/africanreliefUK for those of you across the pond). Here’s a taste of what it has to offer…

See it for yourself…

2009_kenya_safari-graphic1Interested in seeing the Lewa projects for yourself?  Now you can!  Bread and Water for Africa is hosting a Kenyan Safari and Program tour in August 2010 (exact dates TBD). This 8-day safari will take you not only to Kenya’s world famous Maasai Mara National Park, but will also allow you to spend 3 days exploring the Lewa projects and getting to know Phyllis and her family.

The trip is open to both US and UK supporters. For more details visit our websites:

US – www.africanrelief.org

UK – www.africanrelief.org.uk

Or e-mail me for a brochure.

 

 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I can tell you, from my own personal experience, that you will have a newfound appreciation for what the hard work and determination of Phyllis and her staff has been able to accomplish.

More videos!

Check out our video shorts, compliments of the talented Mr. Chris Cannucciari. Learn a little more about the everyday activities of the Lewa projects!

Basic information about orphans in Africa

Community outreach programs 

The Baraka Farm

Grown Lewa children

Hope you enjoy!

While I was in Kenya, documentary film-makers Chris Cannuciari and Abby Cope spent 9 days getting to know Phyllis and all the kids so that they could put together this beautiful documentary about the Lewa projects. Please click on the links below to view the video.  Thanks again to Chris and Abby for all your hard work!

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/6445951

or if you prefer YouTube…

Part I: http://www.youtube.com/user/CannucciariFilms#play/uploads/4/IqOtKU7kn5M

Part II: http://www.youtube.com/user/CannucciariFilms#play/uploads/3/MlfOiFbFwxE

About the blog…

Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read what I hope will be an informative and enlightening account of the everyday activities of one of Bread and Water for Africa’s most successful partner organizations- the Lewa Children’s Home- as well as its neighboring Baraka Farm and Kipkeino School.

Me, Kigen and Newton

Me, Kigen and Newton

I’ll start out with a little bit of information about myself, just so you know where I’m coming from…

My name is Sarah and I’m 22 years old.  I graduated from Johns Hopkins University just a few weeks ago with a BA in International Relations and a BA in French (as well as a minor in Econ).  I studied abroad in Paris for a semester during my sophomore year at Hopkins – a welcome outlet for my immense love of traveling.  I have visited many countries in Europe and have done a bit of traveling in South America (mainly in Ecuador). 

I have been working for Bread and Water for Africa, a 501 (c)(3) charitible organization in the United States under the umbrella of Christian Relief Services Charities, since May of 2008.  Having worked for other non-profits in both the United States and France, I thought that I knew what to expect when I started at Bread and Water for Africa as an intern.  I was wrong.  The impact that this organization, and its partner organizations in the UK, France and Germany, have on the programs that it supports is incredible.  The progress reports, personal stories and photos that have come across my desk while I was an intern and since I began as a full-time staff member at Bread and Water have successfully convinced this steadfast realist that the power of a little money, a strong sense of commitment, and a whole lot of faith can truly make a difference.  My only regret since I began working here has been that I haven’t been able to see first-hand how our work and the generosity of our donors is changing lives in Africa.

So, when the opportunity arose for me to visit the Lewa Children’s Home in Eldoret, Kenya, I eagerly agreed.  I lived in the Home between June 17th and July 21st 2009.  The purpose of this blog is to relay to you the everyday activities of the Lewa Children’s Home, Baraka Farm and Kipkeino School to give you a first-hand account of how these programs function. 

I hope you enjoy browsing the posts from my trip, and please check back for updates on our progress in Kenya!  Asante sana.

Disclaimer: My post today will not be quite as uplifting as the past two.  It is my hope, however, that the contents of this post will alert you to a disaster in waiting – a disaster that will affect not only the Lewa projects, but Kenya, and Africa, as a whole.  Today I speak of the drought that has gripped the state of Kenya and will, inevitably, lead to much suffering in the coming dry season.

Eldoret, located in Western Kenya, about 100 km north west of Nairobi, traditionally receives between 70 and 80 inches of rain during the “long rain” season (which stretches from March to September).  This year, however, rains have been infrequent and unpredictable, leaving the vast majority of Kenya’s farmers without enough viable crops or water reserves to last them until next March. 

IMG_9067

Wilting crops at the Baraka Farm

The Baraka Farm, which is supposed to provide food and water to the Lewa Children’s Home as well as to the Kipkeino School, has only received one day of good rains this year.  Many of the Farm’s life-sustaining crops such as maize, cabbage and potatoes have shriveled to nothing. 

The water supply is also dwindling – with one of the complex’s two dams having already dried completely.  The complex’s only well is providing less and less water with each passing day.  Though the farm workers are attempting to dig deeper to increase the well’s water production, but the digging is slow-going and gets much more dangerous the deeper they dig.  The wells must be dug by hand because there is no machinery capable of handling the job in that area.

Digging the water well 3

Baraka Farm worker digging a water well

This season’s droughts hold heavy implication’s for the survival of the Kenyan lower classes.  Because rains have been sparse throughout East Africa, food prices will inevitably spike next year.  Furthermore, as water supplies run dry, livestock will either have to be sold (for very low prices) or killed for their meat before they die of thirst.  Emergency relief will be needed across East Africa to provide the poorest with the food and water they need to survive until the next rainy season.

Though I hate having to paint such a grim picture about the state of Kenya, there is an upside to this story.  The one thing about drought-related tragedies is that, with much foresight and even more hard work, they can be mitigated in the years to come.  Sustainable water projects and modern farming techniques (such as drip irrigation) can’t make up for the lack of rain, but they can help in many ways.  The Baraka Farm already employs some of these techniques and has plans to expand/improve its water harvesting  capabilities with the help of a volunteer hydrologist in France.

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Chemutai enjoying her lunch courtesy of the Baraka Farm

Unfortunately, however, the Lewa complex will need more help than ever next year to ensure that the children at the Home and School are kept well-fed and healthy.  Due to the crop failure at the Farm, they will have to purchase food supplies subject to volatile market processes.  Bread and Water for Africa will do everything that it can to ensure that no child suffers during these times of need.  I don’t think anyone who has ever met those precious children would spare any expense to make sure they are as happy and healthy as possible.  I know I’m going to do my part.  And hopefully next year Mother Nature will be kinder to the nation of Kenya.

One of the Lewa kids’ favorite past times is drawing.  They’ll doodle on old newspapers, school work, cardboard boxes and the occasional couch cushion/car door/bedroom wall (though we tried to discourage those latter forms of artistic expression).  To satisfy their creative urges, I bought a bunch of paper and crayons while I was in Kenya and, as a thank you, was given some very special artwork before I left.  Take a look…

One of the things that I’ve been asked over and over again since I arrived at the Home and started writing this blog was: “How much would it cost to buy (such and such) for the children?”  Well today my friends, you will have all the answers you could possibly hope for.  While I was in Eldoret, I compiled a list of the costs of basic necessities, food items and staff salaries at the Home, Farm and School.  Here are some of the highlights from this list…

To buy…

 

-        1 textbook

-        Food for 1 child for 1 month

-        1 school uniform (required for school)

-        1 pair of children’s school shoes

-        1 year of school fees (primary)

-        1 year of college tuition (public)

-        1 month of the Home’s hospital bills

-        1 month salary of a caregiver

-        1 month salary of School teacher

it would cost…

 

-        $10 (€7 or £6)

-        $22 (€15 or £13)

-        $53 (€37 or £32)

-        $16 (€11 or £10)

-        $462 (€324 or £278)

-        $2,270 (€1,599 or £1,398)

-        $129 (€91 or £80)

-        $60 (€43 or £37)

-        $93 (€66 or £56)

As you can see, money goes a long way in Kenya.  For just 22 dollars you could feed a child for one month.  The money that you would save by forgoing dinner at a restaurant and cooking for your family at home just one night per month could keep a Lewa child well-fed for thirty days.

It’s pretty amazing how far just a little bit of money can go in Africa.  This just goes to show how even small donations can make a world of difference in African countries.

If you’d like to be a part of that difference, donate now on any of the Bread and Water for Africa pages to the right.  Our UK and French organizations also offer a Partners for African children “direct debit” program which allow you to give regular donations on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.  If you’re interested in enrolling in a direct debit program in order to provide steady, reliable support to the Lewa projects, please email me at: sarahc@christianrelief.org.  Thanks!

July 30: New photos!

I decided to take advantage of my much-improved internet connection and put up more photos for everyone to enjoy.  So… enjoy!

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