Kisima Child Care Academy - School and Orphanage

Sponsor a Child

Kisima’s director reports that once the children know they have a sponsor they hold their heads higher, have a spring in their step, and show a renewed dedication to their schoolwork. Sponsor a child for $300 per year. Younger students require two sponsors for full support while older students need at least three. The cost of books and exams during their last two years is quite high. Sponsor a teacher for $400 per year. Each teacher needs four sponsors for full support. When you choose or are assigned a child it would be great to write a letter to introduce yourself and include a photo. The kids LOVE to receive photos. Please do not send packages because they may not arrive. The address to send letters and photos is Kisima Academy, P.O. Box 74, Postal Code 50211, Naitiri, Kenya.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

July 15, 2012 Newspaper article

Mary Doerr, who went on the March trip to Kisima, wrote a nice article in the Petoskey News-Review:
http://www.petoskeynews.com/community/pnr-northern-michigan-residents-reach-out-to-children-in-kenya-20120713,0,2852723.story
Check it out!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

July 14, 2012 Computer learning

In an area where hardly anyone has even seen a computer the Kisima children are learning how to use one. This should be a big advantage to them in the future. The computers are heavy, old IBM Thinkpads without even any WIFI capability but they are tough and perfect for learning. The one disadvantage is that charging them takes a lot of power from the school's solar energy system.

July 12, 2012 Class gardens

In addition to the fields of maize and beans there are several garden plots where they raise kale, carrots, sunflowers, and arrowroot. Classes 4, 5, and 6 each have their own garden where they raise, respectively, maize, millet, and beans. Not only are they contributing to the school’s food needs but they are learning valuable skills as well.

July 10, 2012 Cleaning

It's so good to see the children taking pride in their school and environment by picking up litter and mopping the classroom floors.

June 12, 2012 Lots of activity

The children are enjoying all the things we brought/installed while we were there.

The maize has been planted and is doing well. In the past Martin has been able to grow about half the maize needed. Recently he was able to purchase another acre (below) so they will be able to closer approach self-sufficiency.

April 27, 2012 Very sad news

Mary Young, right, was one of the group that visited Kisima last month. She became ill a week or so after we returned and died this week. She was a wonderful, caring person who gave selflessly to the orphans. From Martin:

"I am very saddened with the untimely and sudden death of sister Mary Young. Surely it is unbelievable and unbearable remembering that it was just the other day we were with her doing good to God's people. I am very sorry and much affected because as Kisima community we have lost a great friend. It is not easy for somebody of her age to have been so courageous to make such a long trip to Kenya and more so Kisima and commit herself to the demanding task that she was doing.

There is nothing we can do but pray for her beloved family that has been left behind unexpectedly. We pray that may God stand with Steve in these difficult times and also stand in the cap of her most loved mother and give him comfort and love that he received from her. May God also give him strength to put up with the difficult situation and understand that God loved her most."

April 12, 2012 Shoes!

All 102 orphans have new shoes. Many, many thanks to Nancy!

Introduction

Kisima Academy was started by Martin Simiyu, an extraordinary man who has really responded to God’s call to serve. In 2006 he, his wife, and their three children moved to a rural area in western Kenya to start a school for orphans. In March 2008 Kisima consisted of three mud classrooms and the children sat on the dirt floor for their lessons. They walked a mile for water.

Seven years later with the help of friends, Christ our Savior Lutheran Church in Loudon, Tennessee, and John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Annandale, Virginia, there are ten brick classrooms, two hand-dug wells, cows, chickens, tilapia fish ponds, and most important, food for the children. Boys' and girls' dorms were built in 2011 thanks to the generosity of the Nancy Bryant-Jerry Taylor Foundation. Martin farms four acres of maize and beans and each class has a garden to grow vegetables.

Much progress has been made but there are still many needs to be met, among them more land and simple housing for the teachers who live onsite.

Donations go to For the Kids International, Inc., 7201 Countrywood Ct., Springfield, VA 22151. Please be sure to specify that it is to go to Kisima Academy. When you send a donation to Kisima, 100% goes to the school. No money is used for administration.

Bonnie Lefbom
Gerda Fink
Denise Patton
Nancy Bryant
John Ndiritu