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WE MOVED INTO OUR NEW COMPOUND AT IMBASENI!
On 31st July, after a month of building, painting, gardening, and getting the new place ready for at least a basic level of occupation, we were thrilled to finally move into our very own place.
It took three lorry loads, several more small truck loads, and a lot of man, woman, and children power to haul furniture, clothes, toys, and equipment, but after 3 days we were pretty much sorted and organised (and Wendy, Faith, and Rebecca were absolutely exhausted). Right from moving day, the new big kitchen has been working well, the nursery classroom has been in operation, and the chickens have been laying eggs in their new home!
Just one week after moving, staff know their new roles, children have sorted their clothes and belongings, 9 children have started school at a new primary school which they like (and which has a much better reputation than their old schools), and we see smiles and hear laughter every day here.
It is lovely and we feel a great sense of peace and freedom here. We just had some visitors today who told us the atmosphere here is wonderful.
Other highlights:
• Birthdays in July: Mariam (7); Alex (13) – we celebrated Alex’s birthday with fireworks and sparklers and the kids loved it. Apparently the neighbours didn’t appreciate the loud booms as much as we did!
• Sandekei made a visit home and was greeted with so much love and excitement by his family and tribe he was quite overwhelmed. His grandfather tried teaching him a little bit about goat herding!
• We were thrilled to have Dr Audra Fox over from the USA for a brief visit – she provided some much needed medical advice for the children and our staff, and also help decorate the new compound.
• Careen, Riziki, David, Arnold and Joshua started school holidays (on the day we were moving house!)
• Moving week also coincided with our being given 15 new bicycles from Dan Austin at www.88Bikes.org. It has been so hectic the kids haven’t really had a chance to even try out their bikes, but we are getting to it – the Imbaseni compound is far off the main road and a great safe place for the kids to learn to ride. Awesome!
• We welcomed volunteers Carolyn and Eileen – with us for three weeks to help our younger children with their reading skills. They came with so many fantastic resources, and we have seen tremendous progress in our kids, especially Mahija, James and Zainabu.
Seeway Trust is a registered charity no. 1074868
right Eileen and far right Carolyn help with the younger children.
above All right, let’s get it shifted, and the first lorry load arrives at Imbaseni
left and below Tired and hungry, but we’re in!
right Audra painting
below Boys enjoying the bikes from Dan Austin
right One of the bedrooms
below The new kitchen