Bonnie heading for football fame

Over the years that we have cared for Boniface ('Bonnie') at the Tumaini Children's Home in Mombasa he has had a passion for football.

Now, his dream of becoming a professional footballer is coming true as he has been signed up by Simba Sports Club who are currently riding high in 3rd place in the Tanzanian Premier League.

Bonnie, who is 19 years old, has signed a 3 year deal after impressing the Simba Sports Club coach during pre-season trials.

Footsteps is committed to supporting needy young people until they are independent. Bonnie has taken a huge leap forward!

Vivian leads village health improvement campaign

Vivian Amwayi is combining her community health skills and her natural acting ability to get across vital messages about healthy living.

She is helping educate the women who live in Mafungoni village near Mombasa how to protect themselves and their families against common ailments by adopting simple but effective measures such as good hand-washing and filtering water.

The photo shows Vivian giving a practical demonstration of effective hand-washing, which is very important in an area where there is no running water or sewerage system.

Vivian has been also been issuing medicines to treat worms and fungal scalp infections. Already this year, nearly 600 people have benefited from the campaign.

Footsteps has helped care for Vivian at the Tumaini Children's Home in Mombasa since she was 12 years old.

Eastbourne school links with Nairobi slum school

Children at Church on the Rock
school enjoy uji at break time

The class 4 students at Shinewater Primary School in Eastbourne are keen to find out how their lives compare with the children who attend the Church on the Rock school in Nairobi's Kware slum.

Martin and Mary Print have been asked to take three lessons at Shinewater school . The first will describe the people and geography of Kenya and the second will focus on what life is like for a child in the slums in Kenya. The final session will compare the children's lives, interests and hopes for the future.

The lessons build on work that Martin and Mary have been doing over the past three years with Southwark Park School in SE London.

New classroom...happy children (and staff)

New classroom at slum school

The children at Church on the Rock School in Nairobi's Kware slum are very happy - they have a bright, shiny classroom!

 It's a vast improvement on the old one whose tin walls had jagged edges which cut the children's fingers. 

The new classroom was made possible by a generous Rotary District Grant which was initiated by the Rotary Club of Bromley who have been great supporters of our work over many years!

The classroom is made of corrugated iron on a wooden frame, in keeping with the normal construction methods in the slum. 

The classroom will enhance the children's learning experience, helping them achieve the exam successes they need to get a good job which pays enough for them to leave slum life behind them.

Jo Johnson MP commends (and starts) 2015 Marafun

Newly elected Orpington MP Jo Johnson took time off from his ministerial duties to start the 2015 MarafunBefore counting down to set off this year's runners, Jo took time to congratulate the Footsteps team on their decade of success in caring for street children and orphans in Kenya, and boosting the education of some of the world's poorest young people.

Over 300 participants took part, running or walking in excess of 3,000 miles in total. All proceeds and sponsorship go to help sustain and expand Footsteps' work.

Fabulous visit to Kenya!

Martin and Mary Print are just back from a 3 week trip to Kenya! They say:

 

Thank you….

…for your help, support and encouragement. We have just returned from a visit to Kenya and have once again been inspired by the way that young people’s lives are being transformed.

Together we are making a difference…

…we have met and talked to: 

• 19 boys who told us about the hardships of living on the streets and how coming to the Sunshine Home in January had changed their lives;

• Former street boys who are educated and earning a living so they can support their families;

• Orphaned and abandoned children who are now grown up and taking on responsible jobs such as community health workers;

• Children in Nairobi’s slums who have achieved the grades needed to go to high school.

None of these would happen without the support of so many wonderful people!

To help our work survive and thrive, we always welcome:

•  Regular donations (don’t forget to occasionally increase your gift to offset inflation;

• Visitors (meeting the youngsters and staff has a huge impact on them and you);

• People to run, walk or help at the Marafun on 16 May and climb of Mt Kilimanjaro in October!

I can't believe I'm climbing that mountain again!

I said 'Never Again' last year after I came down from the summit after a gruelling 6 day trek. Then the siren voices started: "It wasn't that bad!" (How soon you forget). "Can  I come with you next year?" Of course you can I hear myself saying! 
But the most compelling reason to do it again is because there are thousands of deprived children who we can help by raising funds to lift them out of a life of poverty and despair. In total we touch the lives of around 1,000 children: street children who have a home, a hope and a future. Orphans who now have a mum and dad and a family. Children whose home is in the slum, but who are receiving the education they need to help lift them out of a life of undeserved poverty. And, in all we do, we underpin our work with the message that there is a personal God who loves and cares for us and who wants the best for us, now....and for ever!

Summit day is October 8th, 2014. Sponsor me if you can at  www.justgiving.com/Never-Again-Kili2014