5th ANNIVERSARY
On the 15th of September
we celebrated five years since Wambui Muiru opened Familia Moja Children’s Home
in Mang’u.
Our aim remains the same as five
years ago: to provide the children a nourishing diet, appropriate
accommodation, clothing, access to healthcare and quality education; while
ensuring that they receive the physical and emotional care required to become
healthy, successful and fulfilled adults.
Familia Moja Children’s Home based in
Mang’u, Kenya, started with 15 children and now has grown to house, educate and
care for 35. Visitors to Familia
Moja have said it has the feeling of one big happy family - the children are
happy, healthy, and full of love, energy and laughter.
Without the support from the local
Kenyan community as well as people in Australia, Europe and North America our
dream could not have come true.
A big thank you to Baba
(Wambui’s Dad, who the kids refer to as Guka which means Grandpa) for
donating a goat to help us celebrate the occasion.
VISIT FROM STEINER SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM AUSTRALIA
During the month of September,
Familia Moja hosted a group of 10 students from Steiner Schools in the
Dandenongs in Victoria and Sydney. This was a great opportunity for the children of Familia Moja
to interact with 15 and 16 year old students from another country.
Whilst staying at Familia Moja the
students helped out with day to day running of the home, maintenance of our
vegetables garden and helped run art & drama activities with the kids. Thank you to Julie Sale for her
enthusiasm in arranging the school trip. Read more about their trip here
CO-FOUNDER TALKS ABOUT FAMILIA MOJA
Jess White visited Matthew Flinders
Girls Secondary College during August to give a talk about Familia Moja at the
school assembly. Thank you to
Jenny Gibson for arranging this.
EDUCATION UPDATE
Our term 2 school results showed
improvement from term 1 to 2, seeing the kids improve their results is one of,
if not the biggest rewards of running Familia Moja. Helping these kids have a good education will give them the
opportunity of life above the poverty line, where in the future they can look
after themselves and potentially their extended family.
During the month of September Kenyan
Primary and Secondary Schools were disrupted due to teachers striking over
wages. Fortunately the dispute has
been resolved and all students have returned to normal studies.
BUILDING PROJECT UPDATE
Over the past nine months since we
started construction of our home we have completed; excavations, foundations,
ground and 1st floor walls, a site house/future shop and connected
the building site for electricity. We can now proudly say that we have completed the frame for
roof, and are putting the iron sheets up next week.
However we urgently need funds to
keep the building project progressing, as once we complete the roof we will have zero money remaining to continue
construction. Which means the
building will be put on hold for a short period while we raise the funds to
commence the windows ($15,000), doors ($13,500), plumbing ($8,000) and electricity
($9,500).
Please dig deep, skip going out for
dinner one night this week or some other luxury and make a donation to help
Familia Moja finish building it's own home. 100% of all donations go direct to
Familia Moja!
Donations accepted via:
Direct Debit in Australia
Account Name: Kesho Community
Foundation Inc.
Sort Code: 013006
Account Number: 184143427
Credit/debit card internationally http://www.givenow.com.au/kesho
MPESA in Kenya - Wambui Muiru 0725 698 192
VOLUNTEER PROJECT JAN 2013
We currently have nine volunteers
joining us in January for our second ever-volunteer project.
The aim of the second group
volunteer project is to help finish the home and set up activities around the
home to help Familia Moja take those next steps towards becoming
self-sustainable.
Volunteers will raise funds for
locally sourced building materials and the wages of qualified local builders as
well as assisting with building activities.
The volunteer project runs for 4
weeks from the 7th of January to the 1st February 2013. Please email jess@familiamoja.org if you are
interested in taking part.
FUNDRAISING THANK YOUS
Fundraising events are a great way
to support Familia Moja by not only raising money for the home but also spread
the word about the work that Familia Moja does in Kenya. We appreciate the time
and effort friends of Familia Moja put into organising holding these events in
their workplaces, schools or communities.
Thank you to past volunteer Lara Phillips and Mark Shute for holding a trivia
night/photography exhibition this at Illawarra Master Builders Club in Wollongong,
New South Wales. Mark spent six months volunteering at Familia Moja earlier
this year.
Thank you to Simon Nolan from Wembley Primary School in Yarraville, Victoria
Thank you Rachel Ellis from Melrose Primary School in Wodonga, Victoria.
Thank you Rachel & Haley Ensman from Rochester, New York.
Thank you Rachel & Haley Ensman from Rochester, New York.
Want to help but can’t afford to
donate? Organise your own fundraiser for Familia Moja today, email jess@familiamoja.org for more
information.
FAMILIA MOJA PARTNERSHIPS
Thank you to Patrick Furze from Lords Lodge Backpackers in Prahran for their
first donation from our partnership.
Are you planning a holiday soon?
Book your next domestic or international travel through Travel Associates in Melbourne, as they will donate 50% of their
commission to the home for any business directed their way by Familia Moja
supporters. This includes flights, accommodation, travel insurance, car hire,
tours etc.
BOOK YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY AND HELP FAMILIA MOJA
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 Meredith at Travel
Associates via phone, email or in person. Contact details below.
Meredith Thompson
Freedman & Turner Travel
Associates
Suite 3, 1-3 Faussett Street, Albert Park VIC 3206
Phone 03 9690 0667 Fax 03 9690 0887
BUY ART AND SUPPORT FAMILIA MOJA
A reminder that you can still
purchase artwork from both the Three Bags Full photography exhibition and the 31
Pillows exhibition. 100% of proceeds from both go towards helping finish the home.
To view and purchase artwork please visit:
31 PILLOWS
PEOPLE & PLANET CALENDARS AND DIARIES 2013
Last year, Familia Moja partnered
with People & Planet in Melbourne raising over $8,750! This was enough
money to cover the total running costs of Familia Moja for three months i.e.
cover rent, wages, electricity, food & water and medical costs.
Familia Moja is once again
partnering with People & Planet to sell Calendars and Diaries for 2013,
this year we aim to raise over $10,000.
If you would like to buy a calendar
or diary please email jess@familiamoja.org
2013 editions will retail for $25
per calendar and $23 per diary plus postage.
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