APRIL 2021

After a difficult few weeks we were hoping to be able to get to the coast for a few days at the end of March. With our bags packed ready to go, we were gutted when the President introduced new COVID travel restrictions effective from midnight, meaning that we were unable to travel the following day as planned.

What would you do?

After learning that one of the pupils from the community had run away from home multiple times due to ongoing abuse, the school has been working tirelessly with the family to offer support. We were pleased to find out that the abuse had stopped and the child was no longer running away. Unfortunately, we recently discovered that this was no longer the case and that the abuse and subsequent running away had started again. A lady in the community had found the child wandering the streets late at night and brought her to Cornerstone the following day. The mum did not want the child in the house. The child did not want to be in the house. The social workers at Naomi's Village worked tirelessly to find a solution. With no extended family, the elders, the police, the children's department and several refuge centres that deal with traumatised children were all contacted. Every avenue explored turned in to a dead end. Having exhausted all our options and not knowing what else to do the child ended up having a sleepover with Jonah and Caleb for 2 nights. We were optimistic that the next day the child would be accepted at a specialised refuge centre where they would be safe and receive counselling. Unfortunately that also came to a dead end. Having had a couple nights respite and with no other options the child returned home. The following day Naomi's Village social workers visited the home to check the child's welfare and we were all so relived to hear that they were doing well. They continue to support the family and monitor the situation. Obviously home is the best place for any child and we hope and pray that no further intervention is needed.

This month also saw the Grade 8 children at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy take their Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). We were so thrilled that they all passed and did so well, particularly in light of the recent school closures.

After the Easter break Jonah has been homeschooled as a result of the school closures but we are grateful that Caleb has still been able to attend his local pre-school. In other news we had a lovely day at one of the resorts by Lake Naivasha to celebrate Sean's birthday.