Today we repeated our food program as well as feeding children a supper meal to carry them over to tomorrow. We have been reaching out to as many children as possible regardless of wherther they are in our records or not. The main aim of this has simply been to help children, and give them what they need to keep them going, while their families resettle themselves. This is in no way a hand out, but a path to empower people who have been stripped of the bare necessities. There is a timeline and this isnt forever, but if a child is hungry and weak, this is  where we have come in by feeding them, encourage them and with this action, smiles and appreciation radiates, even without words said.

This is why we stared KCC two years ago, to empower people.

Part of the support we have received this week is going directly into running this event. We have advertised the event with posters and banners on a farmers truck that has been driving around the area all day today, along with MYAA and word of mouth. We hope many people come and receive what they need to cope with the fire aftermath. There are a lot of things we can not do, but this  kind of outreach is right within our strengths so this is what we have decided to do.

Today we cooked uji (porridge) for 347 children with mixed liquid multivitamins right down in the community. It was: school; outside; all day; with 150 more children. It was a combined effort with MYAA, volunteers, school staff and local mothers all helping help record, prepare, cook, serve, wash hot porridge. Kenya Red Cross treated minor aliments, recorded names, and distributed to all the familes non food items to help get people started again. These included blankets, tarps, soap, mosquito nets and cooking utensils. For many people they have lost everything in their procession. That’s food, photos, documents, cash, medical documentation, school uniforms & books, shoes, furniture and personal items.

The burnt out area started to be cleared today, with stacks of corrugated iron, charcoal, timbers all being stacked and cleared. The land lords that rent shacks to the community are now set to rebuild in a matter of days. This cost comes from the land lords as it is their business and livelihood and already some have started this process but we estimate it could take around 3-4 months before this is completed as the scale is large. It is also hard to say how many people will remain here as the number of occupants was very high making it very difficult to guess how many people will hold onto KCC. However for many people this was home and they had their life, families and work right here. The mood in the community is mixed but over all people have come to the reality of what has taken place, and will wither decide to move on or start again here.

Tomorrow we are cooking even more food than we have done today as hunger increases in women and men. We are plannning to feed everyone and anyone who asks. We are also distributing school books and pencils to students from two primary schools so they are able to get back to school, minus a uniform, along with cooking food all day long.

Shelter has been provided by some of the local churches on their grounds and also with the provisions or tarps from Kenya Red Cross. Tonight people will have blankets and somewhere to sleep. On Monday night people simply slept outside or with friends and family in other areas around the outskirts of the damaged area.

We are hosting a community wide two day Medical Camp this Friday & Saturday that is open to everyone. We are running the camp from the school and will be serving cooked food at the camp also. This camp will cover Minor Aliments, Immunizations and Growth & Monitoring, Family Planning, VCT (HIV testing), Public Forums and Pharmaceutical.

People in general are holding up and making use of what ever little they have. Its hard to give any idea of normality again.

Our main focus is children but we are trying to help as many people as we can. Getting people fed, children back to school and treated as necessary.

Since posting last night we have been amazed and inspired by the support received from so many people across the world. Through Facebook shares, comments, offers for help, emails and donations. Every type support, means something. It all ads up to a bigger picture and has given us room to make an impact. So thank you everyone who has made contact and got involved. We truly appreciate it.

On Januaray 23, 2012 KCC slums fell victim to a fire that has destroyed a significant block of KCC slum settlement, leaving thousands homeless. We estimate that it is close to 85% of homes that have been destroyed within the main section. There have been no causalities or injury’s reported but the fire has cleared the slum leaving behind a completely burnt out community. The fire started around 5pm and the cause of the fire was by a small fire inside a shack that caught the roof and shot up an electricity pole. The fire consumed the slum at an alarming rate due to the time of the day and hot and dry temperature.

KCC Slum Project will be cooking uji (porriage) for the children in the slums from 7am tomorrow morning down in the slums. This is where we need as much support as possible. We have budgeted to feed 300 children for 3 days to start, however this number could increase. We are therefore asking anyone willing to send support for this emergency  through the DONATE link on this website.

Kitendo Childrens Charity is also planning a long term solution for these children so their education and well being is not ruined by any future fire tragedy’s.  One of the ripple effects of this event could be the mass exodus of families from the area and thus taking children away from Kitendo Childrens Charity reach. We need donations and support to build and make a permanent place for these children.

Please get involved by spreading this around everyone you know and making a donation.

For more information please email: kccslumproject@gmail.com or call +254 714281294

27-28th January 2012

10am-4pm at KCC School

Registration 20ksh

Children to accompany their parents or guardians

All welcome

“56 children are now walking to primary school.”

Their life has changed because of this. Once they were standing idle in a slum. Now, they have a uniform on, a school bag on their back with supplies, and school and exam fees met. It means so much.

This has been made possible because of people from all around the world have given. Watch out for photos and more evidence, of where the money goes to make life different for children living in KCC slums.

To all our child sponsors, thank you. 

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Thank you,

KCC

We are 2! Party time!

Today, we celebrate two years of work in KCC slums. We are humbled and amazed by everything that has taken place over the past 2 years.

It has been with YOUR support that we celebrate and smile today.

We just can’t say thank you enough to all the volunteers, visitors, online supporters, donors, sponsors, individuals, schools, businesses and the local community here in Kenya, for making a difference by supporting our work.

This last year, we have been able to help:

• 150 children with free education, life saving food & nutrition, medicines and doctor visits;

• 7 young mums in a support group and income generation skills;

• 15 youth trained as peer educators;

• 3 local young women trained as professional Early Childhood Development teachers;

• 1 primary school educated on safe sex-HIV/AIDS-drugs-alcohol-life skills-health & hygiene;

• 700 patients from the wider KCC community received public health care through 2 Medical Camps;

• 180 people counseled and tested for HIV.

So from all of us,
Thank you.