Emily graduates as a nurse

Emily was one of the original group of 12 orphaned and abandoned children we started to care for at our newly built Tumaini Children's Home in 2004. She thrived under the care of 'mum and dad' Charles and Mary, did well at school and finished her degree course in 2016. The top photos were taken at her graduation ceremony at the university in Nairobi.

Robert Masinde (bottom left) comes from a very poor family and was struggling to earn a living as a washing up assistant at a hotel in Naivasha. We are delighted we have been able to help him start to train as an electrical installer at the Naivasha Technical Training Institute where he started in January.

Naomi (bottom right) is also one of our original group of 12 orphaned and abandoned children. She is training in hotel and restaurant management. The photo shows her checking out the comfort of one of the beds at La Belle Hotel where she is working for 3 months as part of her course.

Who is chicken!

Thank you everyone who bought a M.A.D. gift this Christmas to support our work. The Christmas chickens have been delivered (they only ever travel first class!). The photos show some of the happy people who received a gift!

Don't forget that the Kenya International Marafun is in May. See www.kenyamarafun.com for details of this life-changing adventure!

The Marafun is moving to Kenya!

All systems go! We've just had the first registrations for the Kenya Marafun. See more on the website www.kenyamarafun.com and our new Kenya Marafun Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kenyamarafun/

Martin conquers Kilimanjaro...for the 7th time

Well...here I am again, folks! Standing at the top of Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak - for the seventh time.
People ask me if it gets any easier. Well, it's just the same height as it ever was, and the air is just as thin, and minus seven degrees is still minus seven, whatever year you climb! So, in a way it doesn't get any easier as my knees get a little more painful as the years roll by.
On the other hand, I am under no illusion about the effort it takes, so I guess I am more prepared mentally, even if physically it gets more challenging! 
But, that's enough about me. Two key things to remember are: it's about the kids we care for in Kenya, not me. Street kids sleep rough every night (not just a few nights under canvas as I did during my climb). And they don't have enough to eat (I had loads of food during the climb). And they don't have many friends., whereas I had Rod and Mike encouraging me every step of the way (thanks, guys).
Together we raised a lot of sponsorship which will keep our wonderful, transforming work going. There's still a chance to donate if you wish to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Martins-SEVENTH-Never-Again-Kili-Climb-2016

The best rainwater harvesting in the County!

"You've given us the best rainwater harvesting in the County!"

That was headmaster Mr Gitau's reaction when the water tanks at his school were completed. "Once the rain starts," he continued, "our problems of sanitation at the school will be buried in the books of history!"

The water tanks (one large new one, and the repaired smaller one) were made possible by the wonderful generosity of our friends at X1 Church Watford who not only funded the work, but also visited to lend a hand building the tanks.

When Footsteps trustees Martin and Mary Print visit Kenya in October, they hope to see the Sunshine Boys and local children using the water...if it has rained!!

Cyrus - from street boy to university graduate!

Cyrus Waweru used to be a street boy. Today he is a graduate with a B.Sc degree in IT and Business.

Cyrus lived on the streets of Naivasha, Kenya until 2004 when he was offered a home at the newly-opened Sunshine Centre. Under the loving care of our staff, and with good food and the chance to resume his education, Cyrus did well at both primary and high school and seized the opportunity to go ti university.

He is the first of our 'Sunshine Boys' to graduate from university and he is a great inspiration to the 120 boys we care for at the Centre. 

No water? No problem! Task team takes action!

A team from Christ First Church, Watford funded a new water tank and fresh paint for dormitories...then visited Kenya and rolled up their sleeves to help.

The 260,000 litre water tank will capture and store rainwater so that the 500 children at Karai Primary School, Naivasha have clean water to drink and to wash their hands.

There is no piped water to the school which relies on infrequent deliveries of poor quality water from a nearby borehole.

"Thank you for helping our school," said Mr Githau, the headmaster. "You have truly blessed us and our children."

70 former street boys from our Sunshine Centre attend the school which is attended by children from the local community.

As well as helping build the rainwater storage tank the Christ First team provided funds to paint the 10 dormitories at the Sunshine Centre. 

The UK visitors gave the local craftsmen a hand, helping to lay stones and mix mortar for the water tank, and painting the dormitories an variety of dazzling shades! The team's visit coincided with school half-term holidays, so the Sunshine Boys who are at high school lent a hand too, led by Bonnie.

The UK team took time to find out about the lives of our former street boys. They made a memorable visit to meet Frederick Kabete's great-grandmother, Nyambura (pictured in front of her house with Frederick in school uniform, and one of his sisters). Although she is 85 years old, Nyambura still works at the quarry crushing stone with a hammer. She earns between 30 and 60 pence a day which she uses to help Frederick's 5 siblings.

One of the highlights of our visit was the walk from the Sunshine Centre to the Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp (our luxury ‘glamping’ accommodation) where the Sunshine Boys enjoyed a refreshing swim in the hotel pool.

Other highlights of included:

1. Meeting Cyrus Waweru who is the first former street boy at the Sunshine Centre to be awarded a degree. He has just graduated from Mt Kenya University with a 2.1 degree in  Business and Information Technology.

2. Naomi Amwayi (on the right with the cake) has just started a diploma course in hospitality and catering. We first met her in 2000 and cared for her at the Tumaini Children’s Home in Mombasa for many years.

3 With the help of grants from local Rotary Clubs, we have established a library and computer room at the Sunshine Centre.

Our social worker Simon Kuria said: “The novels will help us develop a reading culture among the boys that  will improve their English. We will also help the boys to learn basic computing which is  a key skill when looking for work in Kenya.