Last Christmas, instead of sending gifts to its clients, the multi-billion dollar conglomerate that is Peach Home Loans sent them donations to Women for Women in Africa in lieu thereof. I found out about it because a wonderful man, Peter Toms, who used to be the Principal of my son’s Primary School was increasingly involved with them in his retirement from the school. So the money we used to pay the Fred Hollows Foundation went there.
Not being a slouch as a charity, they followed up with an end of financial year fund raising letter. It consisted of the information below and the invitation to contribute.
So I thought I’d throw it open to all and offer to match any contributions Troppodillians make. So here’s the deal. Download this pdf for guidance on how to make a donation. If you intend making a donation, please comment with the amount below, or if you don’t want to do that, email me on ngruen at gmail and let me know how much you donated. If you don’t want to do that, please email Marguerite Anne Ryan who is on ma DOT ryan AT bigpond DOT net DOT au with your name and where to email a tax invoice to. Donations are tax deductible.
Please make your donations by the 27th of June. I’ll then ask Marguerite how much has been raised and double it. All readers of this post will then be led, as if by an invisible hand, to refinance their homes through Peach Home Loans. Here are some of the kids you can sponsor.
EvynetAdhiambo
Age: 12
Gender: Female
School: Toi Primary
Class: 8
Evynet was born on 16th of July in 1998 in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. She is the third born in the family and sister to Ann Awour who is also under sponsorship. They live in Kibera -Katwekera with their single mother; Millicent Atieno who was left to take care of the family three years ago after she and her husband; Mr. George Oduor divorced and he remarried.
The mother now survives on her small business of roasting maize by the roadside and washing people’s clothes.
Evynet has suffered health problems that have really affected her academic work; she has a chest and ear problems, this makes it difficult for her to attend school frequently.
Francis Odour
Age: 13
Gender: Male
School: Olympic School
Class: 7
Francis was born on 3rd June of 1996 in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. He is from a family of six of which he is the last born boy.
He lives with both parents in Kibera -Bombolulu. His both parents don’t have a stable job, his mother; Grace washes clothes for people in nearby estates and his Dad is way past retirement age.
Francis would like to complete schooling, get a well paying job and help support his parents.
James Odhiambo
Age: 13
Gender: Male
School: Olympic School
Class: 7
James was born on 18th of November in 1997 in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. He is from a family of four children of which he is the third born lad. He stays with his both parents in Kibera -Katwekera.
His mother Jane Anyango sells vegetables and his Dad is currently unemployed.
James aspires to complete his studies and be able to help out his parents.
Alex Nyabuto
Age:
Gender: Male
School:
Class:
Alex nyabuto was born on 5th January, 1995 in Kibera. Alex is from a family of five of which he is the second born; one girl and four boys. He resides in kiberakianda.
He sat for his KCPE of 282 marks in Nyakicheche primary. Akex had a chance in form one at ulumbi secondary in nyanza but dropped out due to financial constraints prevailing in the family.
After his studies he has the passion to be an accountant God willing.
Dennis OchiengMbowo
Age:
Gender: Male
School:
Class:
Dennis OchiengMbowo was born on 1st January, 1996 in Kibera. Dennis is from a family of six and he is the last born in the family. He lives with his mother and other siblings in Kisumu Ndogo Village in Kibera. The father died in the year 2003 and the mother has remained to be the sole bread winner.
Dennis sat for his KCPE and attained a total mark of 274 in Ngei Primary school in the year 2010.
After his studies he would like to be a Doctor.
PriscahAkinyi
Age: 8
Gender:
School: Ayany Primary
Class: X
Lucy Njeri
Age: 10
Gender: Female
School: ShadrackKimalel
Class: 4
Florence Misesi
Age: 11
Gender: Female
School: Ngei Primary
Class: 5
Elena Ngele
Age: 10
Gender: female
School: Ngei Primary
Class: 4
She is an orphan first born in a family of two children. They live with their single mother Mrs. Ann Akinyi who separated with the husband 8 years ago.
She secured a job at the Mother Teresa Home For The Destitute; the little she earns can only get them going.
The mother also takes care of three orphan kids who are her close relatives (Baraka Mercelius is one of them and is sponsored by W4W).
This makes it difficult for her to meet all the needs in the house therefore she is very grateful for the little she gets.
Elena has a great desire and passion to be a professional in the education sector.
Baraka Marcella
Age: 12
Gender: Male
School: Ngei Primary
Class: 5
He is the first born in a family of two children. They live with their single mother Mrs. Ann Akinyi who divorced with the husband 8 years ago.
She secured a job at the Mother Teresa Home For The Destitute; the little she earns can only get them going. The mother also takes care of three orphan kids who are her close relatives (Elena Ngele is one of them and is sponsored by W4W).
This makes it difficult for her to meet all the needs in the house therefore she is very grateful.
Baraka would like to be a medical doctor once he completes his studies.
Oscar Ouma
Age: 12
Gender: Male
School: Baraka Za Ibrahim
Class: 5
Oscar was born on 4th of November in 1998 in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. He is from a family of six of which he is the third born lad.
Him and his family reside in KiberaKatwekera with his single mother; Mrs. Rose Akinyi.
She is a charcoal dealer and her earnings are not enough to support Oscar and his five siblings.
Oscar has a hearing problem but determined to be a professional after his studies.
Vivian Isendi
Age: 12
Gender: Female
School: Palm Olive Academy
Class: 6
She is sister to Lucy Musimbi who used to be under the sponsorship. She lives with her parents who are both HIV+ in Kibera-Katwekera.
The parents’ health status has affected her as it was realized early this year after prolonged health problem of the father.
The mother Mrs. Jane; who is a manual laborer washes people’s clothes to earn a living. They had been driven away from their home during the post election clashes.
She is determined to be a professional after studies.
Arnold Omondi
Age: 12
Gender: Male
School: Jamhuri Primary School
Class: 6
He is the first born in a family of five children and has an eye problem; they live with both parents at KiberaRaila. The mother Mrs. Caroline Akinyi is a nursery school teacher and the father Mr. Charles Omondi is a construction worker.
Their income is not sufficient to supplement their needs therefore sort sponsorship for Arnold’s education.
Arnold is a very bright boy who loves studying and playing football despite his eye problem.
Susan Achieng
Age: 11
Gender: Female
School: Baraka Za Ibrahim
Class: 6
She is the third born of four children and sister to Eunice Adhiambo who is also under the sponsorship.
She lives in KiberaKatwekera with her mother Mrs. Gertrude who does casual work like washing people’s clothes and her father Mr. Joseph who works as a blacksmith.
Susan wishes that after school she gets a paying job to serve the entire community as a professional.
Pauline Okari
Age: 13
Gender: Female
School: Forest View Academy
Class 7
Pauline Okari was born in 2000 and since then she stays with her aunt who took her after their mother abandoned them; herself and her five other sisters and brothers. Their father is a drug addict and hasn’t appeared to see his siblings.Pauline could plant and sell vegetables for her little brothers and sisters.
They live in Loreto – Limuru with their aunt who is a worker in one of the flower farms in the area. The little she gets keeps them going.
Since Pauline joined school, she is doing well and has improved in terms of expressing himself in English. So much determined and focused is she that a professional job in the near future awaits her.
Ambrose Ogembo
Age: 6
Gender: Male
School: Forest View Academy
Class: Nursery
Ambrose Ogembo was born in 2005 and since then he stays with his aunt who took him after their mother abandoned them; him and his five other sisters and brothers. Their father is a drug addict and hasn’t appeared to see his siblings.
They live in Loreto – Limuru with their aunt who is a worker in one of the flower farms in the area. The little she gets keeps them going.
Since Ambrose joined school, he is doing well and has improved in terms of expressing himself in English. So much determined and focused is he that a professional job in the near future awaits him.
Eunice Adhiambo
Age: 13
Gender: Female
School: Baraka za Ibrahim
Class: 8
Eunice was born in 1997 in Kibera slums of Nairobi. She is from a family of four of which she is the first born. Her sister, Susan Achieng’ is also in the programme. Eunice and her family stay in Kibera -Katwekera with her mother Mrs. Gertrude who does casual work to keep the family going.
Her father Mr. Joseph works as a blacksmith but the little he gets can only sustain the family in terms of rent and other family necessities.
She wishes to complete her studies and benefit the society as a professional.
James Odhiambo
Age: 13
Gender: Male
School: Olympic Primary
Class: 7 South
Drat – I donated yesterday, but to a charity called Village Reach, chosen largely on the basis that they topped the Give Well (www.givewell.org) ratings regarding effectiveness and transparency.
Village Reach would have to be twice as effective as Women for Women in Africa to match this offer, though :-)
I think I felt guilty for posting cake-of-the-day on my Facebook, so I put in $50.
It’s a reminder that the refugee camps are just the tip of the ice berg, when it comes to global poverty and suffering. The people themselves are not so much the trouble as the accidents of history that have led to parts of Africa and elsewhere in the developing world becoming dysfunctional, as well as the rest of the world’s indifference to these examples of the “collateral damage” of “progress”.
I got dragooned by some young enthusiastic folk a while back into contributing a monthly sum to a group also working is East Africa, Child Care Fund, with a goal of providing infrastructure like water pumps, to a village.
Martin, Conrad thanks for your comments, you sound a bit like me as to these sorts of issues.
They can say we’re squeamish, but that’s how we were brought up and I wouldn’t change it for all the tea in China.
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