Classroom finished and fish ponds coming!

Martin sent photos of the third classroom which is now finished. He reported that the drought has damaged some of the maize crop but that the vegetables are growing well thanks to buckets and buckets of water hauled to the plot.

I was so excited to hear from Bill Kirby, an aquatic biologist in Texas who has been working with Martin to plan a tilapia farming project. Bill has raised enough money to have two 20'x40' ponds dug in the half acre plot near the river and also to buy piping and nets. Tilapia are native to Kenya and are quite easy to grow. How wonderful that the children will have such a good protein source!

Emmanuel Nyongesa

At 5 a.m. one morning last week the night watchman heard an abandoned child crying that he was hungry. He appears to be about 4 years old and his name is Emmanuel Nyongesa. He was suffering from malnutrition and Martin also thinks that he may have had polio. His health is improving with regular meals at Kisima.

Construction

Hopefully Martin will be able to finish the third classroom with the last money that was sent. Good progress but still a long way to go!

Construction materials being unloaded...

Kisima growing

There are more children at Kisima--now 101, most of whom are still sleeping in three rented rooms. A dormitory seems a long way in the future. A more immediate need is for an additional latrine. Currently there is only one, with a boys' side and a girls' side but Martin has started construction on a second one. Real bathrooms are badly needed as well.

Otherwise the children are well and happy and the garden and crops are growing well. This week a wire transfer of funds will be sent including money from our church (Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Loudon TN) garage sale as well as donations from several church members, some of my wonderful friends, and a local doctor who grew up in Kenya. In addition to feeding the children hopefully significant progress can be made on the new classroom. Another exciting prospect is the possibility of starting a small tilapia farming program. More on that later.

Garden plans

Martin has rented some land for a garden. Here is what he plans:

"...there is ½ an acre of ground near the river which we want to plant vegetables on. I think of purchasing a manual pump for irrigation. We shall put the seeds in nursery in July, transplanting will be done on August, where by we will need some fertilizer for the best results. These will be a big relief for the children on the side of vegetables that is self reliant.In the school compound, we are going to put seeds in nursery, this Month. We shall have four nurseries two for standard 3 & 2 who will plant cabbages, two for standard one and kindergarden who will plant kales (Sukuma-wiki) we just want to make them proud that they are owning something and start developing positive attitude in farming."


I love it that the children will be involved--a good experience for them and great to have the added nutrition.

Hail damage

Martin writes that the maize crop sustained substantial damage during a recent hailstorm but that it was recovering slowly. Hopefully the harvest will still be a good one. In much better news, a wonderful friend from Kokomo wired money to install a water tank, rent two acres of land to plant, and finish the shelter for Barb the cow. Martin will have enough money left over to start the foundation for another classroom. Progress!

Maize is growing well

Martin reports that the maize is growing well and that they are finished weeding. Also:

"I assigned some people to dig a latrine and they are through. The soil from the latrine has been transferred to in between a mud classroom and a cow shade. I have made in a such way that it appears like a hill, I have planted grass on it and I hope the children will enjoy relaxing there.

Garden - we need to restrict our cow to a certain position. If we can have a wire mesh of about 28 meters long it will be very useful. From there I suggest we plant sukuma wiki, cabbages, carrots and tomatoes on our Garden."

It's so nice that the children will be having vegetables in their diet.
In more good news, the Social Concerns committee at church voted to donate $1000 from our recent garage sale to Kisima. Martin and the children will be very grateful.