Friends of Kiandu

This is a message to all the big-hearted teachers out there…

We Need Your Help!

Have you ever been curious about volunteering in Africa? If so we have an extraordinary opportunity you could be a part of.

We need your help to launch an extraordinary program which aims to dramatically improve the quality of the lives of some gorgeous children in Kenya. This is a very unique project and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

If this sounds interesting to you then read on!

About Us

Us four Aussies in Kiandu with some of the kids

‘Friends of Kiandu’ is unlike other volunteering organisations you’ll come across. We are about as grass roots as you can get! In 2009 4 mates from Sydney embarked on an adventure to see how we could improve the quality of life and education of the children of Kiandu village in Kenya.

While we were there the main focus was on fixing up the very dilapidated Kiandu primary school but also inspiring the community to value education, teaching the school to fundraise and also inspiring them to help themselves.

We achieved a lot while we were there in a short time and we have now joined forces with a group of ex students of Kiandu primary and together we are all continuing working towards our vision for the Kiandu kids.

For the full story about our journey please go to www.kiandu.com and also watch the kiandu story movie. (Be warned – you’ll fall in love with the kids!)

The joy of being a small grass roots charity is that we do not spend any money on paid advertising and our operating costs are minimal meaning that any money we have raised or had donated goes straight to our Kiandu projects

Our Challenge

One thing that we realised at the end of our last adventure in Kiandu was the fact that even when we complete fixing the school for the kids, they faced some huge challenges that were destroying their quality of life before they could even finish school. So when we got home we set about finding a way to address these problems.

Beautiful Kiandu Kids

The main challenges for the kids are drugs (particularly glue sniffing), crime, gangs and an attitude of hopelessness and powerlessness.

The kids often make life-altering decisions that led them down a destructive path before they really understand the gravity of the their choices. We realised that we needed a way to educate them about these things and empower them before it was too late.

The Next Adventure – Launching Student Support Program Kenya

In 2011 we are going back to Kenya to launch the ‘Student Support Program’ but to do this we really need the help of some committed teachers!

The ‘Student Support Program’ is a dynamic, peer led program. Its aims are to help students develop the skills, understandings, attitudes and strategies to improve mental well being and help them respond positively when faced with challenges. Key skills learnt are resilience, assertiveness, decision making, problem solving, goal setting and leadership.

It empowers students to support each other and contribute positively to their community. The program is integrated into curricula and sustained through all year groups.

It will work in a similar way to the Peer Support Program in Australia but tailored to the specific challenges and needs of the Kenyan children.

There are already 52 schools in the Kiandu district eagerly waiting to take part in the program but in order to make this project happen what we need are some dedicated volunteer teachers as our partners.

Matt, Mellissa, Sam and Franca Metting with Parents and Teachers

Teachers – Do You Want To Join Us For A Life Changing Experience?

We need proactive and committed teachers to step up to this amazing challenge and join our team for the experience of a lifetime! We ourselves are not teachers so we need your expertise to make this happen. We would particularly love teachers who have experience in running the peer support program in their schools.

What Is Involved?

Over the coming months you’ll be helping us finalise development of the program in conjunction with our team in Kenya. You may also need to undergo the 2 day training in the Australian peer support program if you have never done it (no cost to you).

Then it’s off to Kenya to launch the program in Kiandu. This will mean helping to train the 52 teachers (during a 2 day training session) and then also helping the teachers to get the program integrated into the school culture in the weeks that follow.

The Basic Details

You would need a minimum of 2 weeks in Kenya. Currently we are aiming to launch in the Easter holidays break 11 – 25th April 2011.

Your costs once on the ground are minimal. In fact I’m 100% sure you’ll never ever find a cheaper, more authentic volunteer opportunity through any volunteer travel agency.

The accommodation is comfortable, safe and quite lovely….and its free! After our host mumma Mary saw the work we did last time she has kindly offered to have us and anyone we bring with us back as her guests as she knows we’re there to help the community. She’ll take great care of us.

Airport transfers, food, etc, can all be organised by our team and host mumma for minimal cost and they can also help to organise safaris and fun excursions for you as well. You will have to pay for your own flights and travel expenses. Maybe if you’re strapped for cash you could get your whole school involved in some creative fundraising to get you there!

If Your Interested Get In Touch Today!

If you have questions or you think you might be interested and want more details shoot me an email or give me a bell on 0401 359 559

We would love to have you on our team. We really cannot make this happen without you!

Kindest Regards,

Mellissa

ps – Please pass this message around to any teachers you think might be interested.

I have been thinking a lot about Kiandu lately. Perhaps it is because I myself am undergoing some further education. I am learning about something i am passionate about and in 2 years time I will be able to do something I love for a living. What a beautiful gift that is. I can choose to further my education. I can learn if i want too! I feel so grateful for that.

Then of course you can see why i am thinking about my wonderful friends in Kiandu too. They don’t have the choices that we have here. They have so many challenges in the way of simply getting an adequate education to raise them out of the cycle of poverty – let alone getting an education a good enough for them to live out their dreams. 

Over the Christmas period another of the goals on our to do list for the school was acheived. The roofs of the school were painted. The roofs needed painting to stop them rusting and getting holes (which is no fun when it rains). This will preserve the roof for much longer than having it exposed to the elements and it also looks really lovely too!

Our committee were also able to buy more desks,books for the library and are now in the process of getting an electricity connection! Also in the pipeline is re-structuring the library including acquiring some new furniture and then the commitee are wanting to do a finish and a painting of the classrooms.

This year is, I beleive, going to be a big year for the kids and the community in Kiandu. We have all the improvements on the physical structure of the school going on and we are still working towards getting the peer support training over there in August/ September this year.  This will be the first program of its kind in Africa. It teaches the children leadership, goal setting, positive decision making skills and more. This will be an ongoing program run in school time. There are 45 other schools in the district wanting to get involved with peer support so we will make sure we give them all the training and materials they need to make it work. It’s all very exciting!

Package of pictures, book and letter from Globe-Wilkins, sent to Kiandu

In other equally wonderous news – The Kiandu pen pal program is up and running. The children in Kiandu received a package of letters, drawings and a beautiful book called ‘Whoever you are’ by Mem Fox from Globe-Wilkin’s School in Marrickville. I have recived word that they are very excited to have pen pals from ‘Aussie Land’ and are going to work on sending something back to the kids here down under!

There is plenty more we need to work on before our vision is achieved but we are making good progress now and there will be more funds made available for the school very soon so more works can take place. The future is looking brighter for Kiandu for sure. 

Our committee members in Kiandu wanted me to pass their new year regards to all colleagues, friends and well wishers in Australia and thank you all for your support.

I’ll close by sharing this wonderful quote i saw recently…

He who opens a school door, closes a prison - Victor Hugo

I heard this wonderful quote the other day and i wanted to share it with you - ’If you think your to small to make a difference you’ve never been to bed with a mosquito!’ – Anita Roddick 

I love this quote. I believe it too. I believe we can all make a difference and bring joy and peace to others (and ourselves in the process) if we choose too. This quote reminded me of a story I heard years ago that really inspired me. Its effect has really stuck with me and when i think back, made a tremendous change in my life.

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed 
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. 

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.  
The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?  
You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, 
and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”

I used to be so dismayed by the state of the world and my inability to help the situation until i heard that story. I teaches us to feel empowered to make a difference and to know that each and every life is precious so any small happiness or hope you can bring to a person is well worth the effort. Any effort to make a difference is worthwhile!

Some of our wonderful committee

Speaking of making a difference – our wonderful committee in Kiandu continue to be inspirations to their community every day. They are  running leadership programs in Kiandu and they are preparing food for the children during their exams so they can concentrate. Can you imagine what it would be like to try and concentrate on an exam when you have not been able to eat properly for days or weeks? These exams can mean a huge difference for the future of these children. It  means continuing education if they get high enough grades and can mean getting into a better school. 

What else is news? Well some of the classrooms now have brand new desks and chairs! Check em out! Not only that but now the children of standards 7 & 8 also have lockers as well. The good works are continuing on bit by bit, day by day.

Brand new desks and chairs!

The committee are also now working on an irrigation project for the school. This will ensure year round healthy crops in the schools fields instead of being dependent on the rains. What a great idea!

Over the Christmas break there will be some more works done on the school (including furnishing the library and filling up its shelves) while the children are away so I will give an update on that soon.

At the moment it is looking like me and some Aussies will be back in Kiandu in September next year. We will be  launching ‘Peer Support Africa’ at Kiandu primary in the hopes that we can teach the children leadership, goal setting, positive decision making skills and more. This will be an ongoing program run in schools by teachers and students. There are many other schools in the district wanting to get involved with peer support so we will make sure we give them all the training and materials they need to make it happen when we come out next year. I can’t wait to see everyone again!

Our committee have also been working on the Medical Clinic in Kiandu. Through their previous efforts the clinic was established and now they are continuing to improve it.

I am truly Inspired and moved by the magic and the momentum that is still happening in the small village of Kiandu. It reminds me of the starfish story and it certainly shows that one small act of kindness can create a ripple effect that can continue for a long time after the pebble was thrown. 

The Medical Clinic

Recently our wonderful and dedicated committee members (who are mostly made up of ex students of kiandu primary) visited the school for a very special event. They had a special presentation day with all the teachers and students. They were very excited to give them a whole bunch of new books for the library we built! They were also able to present the school with a cheque for ksh789100.00 which they will be able to use for fixing up the school and paying teachers wages. This is desperately needed funds. General motors also kindly donated prizes to old students, teachers and pupils.

the children at kiandu primary with their new books!

One thing the old boys have been wanting to do for a long time was burn down the old decrepit toilets as a ceremony in honour of the progress we are all making to modernise the school. Now that we have the new toilet blocks the old unusable ones were finally burnt to the ground. I wish i was there to see that! Those toilets were really crazy.

Soon the committee will also have the money we recently raised for Kiandu Primary as well so the school will get another injection of funds. This is all wonderful and positive stuff. Thank you to everyone is is getting behind this great cause.

Presenting a cheque to kiandu primary school

One of the old toilets burning to the ground

the teachers with their gifts from general motors

the children creating something very special

Little people can teach big lessons sometimes. Maybe the little kids at Globe-Wilkin’s Preschool in Marrickville can teach you, through their actions, that you can do something to make a difference….and have fun in the process! 

A little while ago a very special teacher named Simone Morcom heard about what we were doing over in Kiandu and she decided she wanted to do something to help us out. Together with her class they worked and worked on a very special project for us.

Here is what Simone wrote to me about it..

Hi Mellissa – How are you going? I Loved your Blog about your work in Kenya and all the hard work you guys did!

It really inspired my teaching and hence the children from my Pre-school have created 2 wonderful art works that they wish to be auctioned and the proceeds to go to the School (in Kiandu).

The Children have also put a letter together for the children at the (Kiandu) school. We have been very busy and excited about this experience and through it all I have been teaching with a hidden agenda, to encourage the children to reflect on their privilege and use it to help others! So it has been a wonderful learning journey for us all!

The Children would love to develop a relationship with the Kiandu Kids and we were hoping that that may happen! I have some very passionate children from the pre-school that would blow you away with their re-count of why we are doing this work! It brings a proud tear to my eye everytime!

I was thrilled and touched with what Simone and her kids were doing and told her we’d be excited to have their paintings in our charity auction. What an amazing teacher!

As the date of the charity auction drew closer the school had a little party to say goodbye and good luck to the paintings and even the mayor of Marrickville came to the ceremony! He had heard about what they were doing and wanted to come and show his support. 

Simone and the children at Globe-Wilkins Preschool

We entered the 2 very special paintings in our charity auction on September 5th. Here they are with their descriptions..

‘Just No Ordinary Tapping Sticks’ 

This painting is titled- ‘Just No Ordinary Tapping sticks’. It was created as some of the children viewed the Kiandu website and together we thought about how we can use our privilege to help the Kiandu children. We then came up with the idea of an art work that would be based around something we were doing already – that being ‘tapping sticks and Aboriginal art’. We combined the two themes and over 3 months created a wonderful art work that represents many Aboriginal symbols entwined with some hidden tapping sticks that the children had originally traced around. Each Aboriginal symbol used is located on the back of the artwork, with the meaning attached. The children were fascinated that the children in Kenya had no toilet paper and “they used books to wipe their bottoms” was repeated over and over again! The Children also continued to make comments about the pictures of the children with face paint on exclaiming many times “hey we like face painting and popcorn too!

'Just No Ordinary Tapping Sticks'

‘Working Together’ 

The art work was inspired through a book called ‘Whoever you are’ by Mem Fox. The story starts “whoever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world. There skin may be different from yours, and their homes may be different from yours…….” Through this beautiful story, we have really reflected on the importance of ‘working together’ regardless of skin colour, age race etc….. This art work was created together as a large group of diverse people. It is a very textured painting that children and staff have been working on. Recently, a child stood back and exclaimed, “it’s done”! And that was that! The painting was complete after his words and we were so excited that the decision to complete this painting came from a child.

'Working Together'

When it came time to auction the paintings on the night Simone stood up and described what these paintings meant to the children and how hard they had worked on them. The people in the crowd were visably moved by what they had done and the paintings really were beautiful too. Simone was so happy when “Just No Ordinary Tapping Sticks’ sold for $600 and ‘Working Together’ sold for $780. What a great result! What an amazing lesson for the children. You can make a difference if you try. That money will go a long way in Kiandu. Thanks guys!

Package of pictures, book and letter from Globe-Wilkins, sent to Kiandu

Since then I have sent over to Kiandu a package that Simone gave to me from her and her kids. It included the book ‘Whoever you are’ by Mem Fox -  The book that their ‘Working Together’ painting was based on. It also included photo’s of them and Franca and Sams visit to their school plus pictures and notes from the children as well as a letter telling them about themselves and what they had done. I know the kids in Kiandu will be so thrilled to receive these gifts and we are hoping to start a pen pal relationship between the 2 schools now.

Thank you Simone and everyone at Globe-Wilkin’s Preschool. You guys really did a very special thing – We look forward to a continuing a relationship with you and the kids.