Familia Moja has had a great start to the year, with much progress on the building site, a successful opening night for this month’s photo exhibition in Melbourne and some great new partnerships. We are gearing up for a busy year, full of exciting events and projects, which will culminate in the children moving to the new home.
This month the home was abuzz with the return of the high school students for half term. Everyone was excited to hear stories about their new schools and we are so pleased to hear they are enjoying their studies and making new friends.
Welcome Rasto and Siblings
After a brief absence, we are very happy to welcome Rasto back into the family. We prepared and took Rasto to secondary school in late January after he spent some quality time at the home. Rasto’s return was followed by more good news as we also welcomed back his sister, Auma and the new arrival of his brother Lazaro. Auma is happy to be back amongst her friends and family at Familia and Lazaro has been welcomed into the fold by all. Before his arrival at Familia Moja, Lazaro had no one to directly care for him and had been moved from household to household. Both Auma and Lazaro are back at school, are happy and in good health.
Rasto can also put his mind at rest knowing that his younger siblings are safe and well and back at Familia Moja. He can now focus on his studies and hopes to do well so he can be a good role model for his brother and sister.
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| Auma |
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| Lazaro |
Building Project Update
The building project is coming along at a steady pace and we are almost ready to lay the second floor. The suspended slab will be laid in two stages and completed in early May and construction of the walls will begin in June.
As you can see from the pictures below, with a lot of hard work and perseverance, the building is progressing really well. It’s hard to believe that only a few months ago the site featured only trenches and piles of rocks.
We have also started digging a well on the site, which will provide water for consumption and for irrigation of the vegetable garden once it is established. In addition we recently processed our application to connect electricity to the site.
Although, we have been progressing steadily, in order to finish the building project, we still require another AUD$60,000 in funding. To raise some of these funds, our aim is to get 1000 people to donate a minimum of AUD$30 to the project to ensure we can finish building by the end of the year as planned.
Can you give up going out for dinner or a few drinks this week to help Familia Moja finish building its very own home? By donating, you will be contributing to a new and exciting chapter of Familia Moja and the children’s lives. The children will have a home to call their own, with room for more, and the home will have taken its first and important step towards self-sustainability.
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| Wamburu, the foreman and some of the workers at the building site |
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| The new home in development |
You can donate on the GIVE NOW website to the Kesho Community Foundation by clicking here
Or by direct deposit as below:
AUSTRALIA
Bank: ANZ
Account Name: Kesho Community Foundation
BSB: 013006
Account Number: 184143419
* Kesho Community Foundation is a registered Incorporated Association in Victoria, Australia. Jess White co-founder/development partner of Familia Moja is a board member and Treasurer of Kesho Community Foundation. 100% of donations received by Kesho Community Foundation go direct to Familia Moja Children’s Home. KCF transfers from Australia to Familia Moja in Kenya on a quarterly basis to reduce the cost of bank fees.
KENYA
Bank Branch Number: 012
Bank Name: Diamond Trust Kenya
Bank Address: Diamond Trust Bank Thika Branch Thika Kenya, KENYA
SWIFT Code: DTKEKENA
Account Name: Jess M White
Account Number: 0020171002
Residential Address: Mang'u, Gatukuyu Kenya, KENYA
UNITED KINGDOM
Bank: Natwest Plc
Branch: Putney
IBAN: GB02NWBK60171186283405
Swift Code: NWBKGB2L
Sort Code: 601711
Account Number: 86283405
Account Name: Jess M White
Volunteer Update
One of our group volunteers, Mark Shute from Queensland, remains in Mang’u putting his experience in construction to use on the building site.
Mark has also been hard at work, helping the kids celebrate their birthdays. For Margaret Njoki’s birthday, Mark took Margaret and the children whose schoolwork or behaviour was the most improved, for a tour to Fourteen Falls in Kilimambogo.
Mark has been a great support to the workers on the site, to the kids at Familia and to the Muiru family and we thank him for his contribution. Mark writes his own blog. You can read about his experience in Mang’u here.
If you would like to volunteer at the home, click here to find out more.
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| Fourteen Falls at Kilimambogo for Margaret Njoki's birth |
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| Mark on the worksite |
Three Bags Full Exhibition
From March 15th to April 14th, Three Bags Full café in Abbotsford, Melbourne will host an exhibition of photography taken by Familia Moja Co-Founder and Development Partner, Jess White. The shots were captured during Jess’ time spent working with village communities in parts of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The photos are a window into the everyday lives of members of these communities. All funds raised through the exhibition will go directly to the Familia Moja building project. To find out more about the exhibition, or to buy the prints online, click here.
Three Bags Full Café, 60 Nicholson St, Abbotsford
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
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| "New Tools" Emma Njeri in front of newly purchased tools to work the land at Familia Moja Children's Home |
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| "Walking" A mother and her baby walking through the village of Manjeri, two hours east of Kampala in Uganda, 2007 |
Familia Moja’s resident artists return to host an art exhibition
James Drinkwater and Lottie Consalvo, Familia Moja’s resident artists and art teachers, recently returned to Australia via Berlin. James and Lottie have relocated to Newcastle in New South Wales where they plan to stay for a year or two, doing what they do best, making art.
James and Lottie’s art classes, held both at the home and the primary schools the children attend, were a great success. It has been amazing to see the children break free of the rigid Kenyan education system and express themselves through art. Not only did they thoroughly enjoy themselves, they exposed some incredible raw talent, which was beautiful to see.
Lottie and James also spent their time in Mang'u talking to local artists, visiting galleries and making their own artworks using local materials.
We are all extremely exited about the upcoming art exhibition, 31 Pillows in Sydney, curated by James and Lottie, featuring their work produced in Kenya and works created by the Familia Moja children during their art classes. The exhibition will open on the 14th of June at the Damien Minton Gallery Annex Space in Redfern, Sydney and will run until the 16th June with a preview dinner to be held on Wednesday the 13th June. Make sure to mark the dates in your diary. All funds raised through the exhibition will go directly to the Familia Moja building project.
Damien Minton Gallery
61-63 Great Buckingham St
Redfern NSW 2016
Opening Hours: Wed-Sat 11-6pm
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| Lottie Consalvo and James Drinkwater chatting to a local Kenyan artis |
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| Felistas and the incredible mural painted by the kids at Familia Moja |
Sponsorship Update
Education Sponsorship
At Familia Moja, we are committed to providing the best education possible for all of our children. At present, most of the children have education sponsors however we are still in need of 11 more education sponsors; 8 primary school and 3 secondary school. We see education as of the utmost importance and as a tool that not only provides the children with prospects for the future, but also with the ability to make educated choices about their lives and their communities.
To sponsor one of our children through primary school the cost per year is AUD$405. The cost of secondary school sponsorship is approximately three times this amount and varies based on the school.
If you would like to sponsor education for a child at Familia Moja, or find out more information, please click here.
Food and Shelter Sponsorship
The cost of living in Kenya continues to rise and the monthly budget is becoming higher and higher. Providing quality food and shelter for the children is our primary concern and we are always in need of food and shelter sponsorship.
The cost of food and shelter sponsorship for one child is AUD$96 per month ($24 per week).
If you would like to sponsor food and shelter for a child at Familia Moja, or find out more information, please click here.
National Health Insurance Sponsorship
We are seeking a sponsor to cover the National Health Insurance Fund fees for the children. This is extremely important as it covers our medical costs if the children are admitted to hospital.
If you wish to sponsor the NHI fees, the cost is 39,600KSH per year (AUD$440, CHF415 and USD$465).
To sponsor NHI fees or find out more information, please contact jess@familiamoja.org
Reminder to book your travel through Escape Travel, a Familia Moja partner
Escape Travel continue to support Familia Moja by donating a percentage of their commission to the home for any business directed their way by Familia Moja supporters.
To ensure Familia Moja receives this commission all you need to do is mention "Jess White / Familia Moja Children's Home" when you book with Jennifer at Escape Travel via phone, email or in person.
Note: This only applies to the Little Collins St store in Melbourne. Contact details below.
Jennifer Thiele | Escape Travel
3a 459 Little Collins Street | Melbourne | +61 3 8636 4555
jennifer.thiele@escapetravel.com.au
Lords Lodge Partnership
March has brought an exciting new partnership for the home. Lords Lodge Backpackers in Prahran have kindly offered to match dollar-for-dollar all donations received at their hostel. A big thank you to Lords Lodge owner, Patrick for his contribution.
Lords Lodge is a hostel in Prahran Melbourne, owned and operated by young, friendly and knowledgeable Melbournians who love travellers. The hostel is a 150 year-old historical mansion full of charm and character. It is small and cosy, with a friendly relaxed atmosphere, offering good quality clean budget accommodation in Melbourne.
To book accommodation at Lords Lodge, click here.
Give Now Donations
Online donations are now available via Give Now here
We are pleased to be able to offer a clear and transparent way for our supporters to donate.
Keep up with our plans and news by following us on Facebook and Twitter and share this blog with your friends and family. We thank you for helping us support orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya.
For any further information, please contact Jess White on the contact details below.
Jess White
Founder / Development Partner
Familia Moja Children's Home
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