JANUARY 2023

As this is our January update we want to start by wishing you all a happy New Year! We arrived back in Kenya on New Years Eve but unfortunately we were met with a number of issues. Firstly, we had no water for several days. When we did finally get water we noticed a leak and discovered our solar tank and heater was damaged, with water leaking through the roof, into the attic and then the bedroom. Thankfully we did manage to get it resolved rather quickly. The following day it was the fridge / freezer. Due to a number of power cuts and electrical surges the fridge / freezer was damaged beyond repair. This was particularly annoying as it was plugged into two surge protectors but despite three electricians having a look at it, it could not be repaired. This required a trip to Nairobi and to buy a new one and get it transported back to Kijabe. Through this bumpy return we noticed that we have a lot more patience, resilience and tenacity to deal with such issues and are pleased to say that right now everything appears to be in working order!

At the start of January Caleb turned 7 and both boys have returned to school and continue to enjoy it. One of the highlights of Term 2 is the Titchie Water Day. The closest comparison in the UK would be some sort of cross over between the summer fair and sports day. It’s basically a carousel of water based activities that the kids absolutely love. Anna is growing fast and is on the move, she started crawling this month. Rachel is doing well and starting to work from home a bit more supporting the child sponsorship department. Sean continues to work with the leadership team at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy. In Kenya the academic year follows the calendar year so January has seen the start of a new school year. It has been a busy start to the year with a visit from the Ministry of Education, receiving the KCPE (Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education) exam results and the first set of KCSE (Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education) results. We are really proud that our KCPE results are back in line with our pre-COVID pandemic results and that we have performed above all other local schools. There is still a long way to go though. The target is to be one of the highest performing schools in the county and nation; to take orphans and vulnerable children, some of the poorest in society and to give them an education that breaks the generational chains of poverty and empowers them to write their own future. It is encouraging that at the start of this year we are starting to see some green shoots of progress as we get closer to realising that vision. After what has been a difficult two years and at times frustrating and disappointing when it felt like progress was slow, it is now obvious that roots were growing beneath the surface. and we are optimistic about the year ahead. The trench work for a strong foundation was being laid and now is the time to start building!