After a wonderful time in Austria, we've settled back in well in Kijabe and into our various roles. Thank you so much for the many enriching visits and encouraging conversations. It was lovely to breathe in a little bit of home this summer. Even though our European travels sometimes disrupt our routines here, it's incredibly valuable to be "in another part of the world" and to reconnect with long-standing family and friends.
Back to school…
After almost two years of training with the caregivers at the children's home, I (Lisa) have now completed my regular work there. Last month, we held a closing celebration in our garden, characterized by mutual respect. It's wonderful to see how some of the women have developed in their self-confidence, their knowledge of attachment parenting, and their ability to pass on helpful principles to the children. I, too, have had the privilege of learning a great deal about Kenyan culture from them!
“Back to school” is the motto for me regarding my upcoming project. At the beginning of this school year, I started a „trauma-sensitive school“ project at the Cornerstone Preparatory Academy. This school is part of Naomi's Village. Its catchment area includes underprivileged children from the surrounding refugee camps as well as the approximately 90 children from the orphanage. Currently, poverty assessments are underway. Only those children who are among the poorest in the region will be admitted to the school.
Many of the approximately 300 students have experienced trauma. Since they spend most of their time at school (Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.), it is crucial that the school is a safe place to learn where re-traumatization does not occur. About half of the teachers are new, and some of them have a very authoritarian teaching style.
Together with a team of Kenyan teachers and administrators, I organize training sessions and develop programs to enhance the social and emotional skills of both teachers and students. It feels great to be working in a team again!
500,000 clinic visits
At Banda Health, we (David) are currently celebrating a major milestone. The clinics we support have now documented half a million patient visits in our clinic management system, BandaGo, as of last week. Each individual visit represents a person (and their loved ones) who sought and found help at one of these clinics during a difficult time in their life.
This is our vision whether we're chugging through the countryside, sitting in front of a screen, or discussing solutions. From one of these personal encounters, you can... HERE read.
Drought and famine
…about the effects of drought You may have already read about the situation in East Africa (not just in Kenya, where over 4 million people now need humanitarian aid) in the news. It's heartbreaking to see every day how people who already have almost nothing have to make even more sacrifices. My friend gets my organic waste to feed her chickens, and she has to make sure the poorer children in the neighborhood don't eat it themselves and get sick. Maasai are selling their cows for a third of the normal price. No water, crop failures, and increased prices are forcing many people to consider school and hospital visits as "luxuries"—so education and healthcare are the first things to be cut. Mumbi's bakery isn't making any money at the moment either, since almost no one can afford baked goods.
Rain for the success of the next harvest would be very, very important for the country!
| Thankful… | Hopeful… |
| – for reasonably peaceful elections in Kenya – for a wonderful time during your stay at home – for good friends here in Kijabe – for a good start to school for the girls in the 6th and 8th grades Lisa has a dedicated team at the school. | – for an end to the drought and famine – that the country's new leaders act in the interests of the people – for successful partner searches for Banda Health in Malawi and Bangladesh – that Lisa manages to balance her various responsibilities well. |
Here are a few more impressions from the last few months.:
Layla's first job at the café; Noemi's basketball team won second place in all of Kenya; Noemi's friends' trip for her 14th birthday; blessing of Lisa's nephew, Luis; Layla's birthday party; and of course, a dance performance was a must for Grandma's 60th birthday.
Tax deductibility of donations
Thank you to everyone who financially supports our work. We would like to remind you that your donations are tax-deductible in Austria (as well as in Germany, Switzerland, and the USA)! However, in Austria, this is only possible if you provide your name and date of birth to Hilfe die ankommt (Help That Arrives). HERE Here you'll find all the information you need.
Greetings from Kenya.
Be blessed,
The Miners
