BEADS for Education Newsletter – December
2003
Dear Sponsors and Friends,
During September, 2003, I visited Kenya
in the company of Antonette Boody, sponsor, and Veronica Tella, board of advisors
member. I am always overwhelmed to witness
a sponsor meeting her sponsored girl for the first time and this was no exception.
This unique opportunity is available for all sponsors who would like to visit
with the girls, their families and the Dupoto Women’s Group.
We divided our travels between the Isinya Sponsorship Region
and the remote and beautiful Amboseli Wildlife Sponsorship Region, where we
visited all the sponsored girls and most of the schools. We were entertained many times with “welcome
songs” and invited into many homes where we were honored with ‘nyama choma’
(roast goat) and many cups of tea.
During our stay at the Amboseli Sponsorship Region (started
in January 2003), we attended a meeting with 14 elders of the area. The elders,
the leaders of the community, praised the sponsorship program for their daughters.
Their only concern is that we work hard and fast to find sponsors for
other girls.
Patrick Papatiti leading the elders meeting. Debby Rooney and Van Houten seated.
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Sponsorships continue to increase and we have 91 in hand with additional prospects.
Each girl is guaranteed the opportunity to continue her education as far as
she is capable; two of the Nabulu Girls Group began college in September 2003.
I was fortunate to be in Isinya the day that Ann Maina left for
Teacher
Training College
and Lorna Sironka enrolled for a degree in Pharmacy. These girls are the future of the BEADS programs,
not only as role models, but as future sponsors themselves.
PROGRAM ASSISTANTS – Rukia Kadidi and Patrick
Papatiti continue to further their education and increase their responsibilities.
Rukia Kadidi, Program Assistant/Isinya Region,
has entered her second year at Tangaza
College in Social Ministries.
In addition to supervising the Dupoto Women’s Group handicraft business
and managing the Isinya sponsorship region, she is also training the Amboseli
Wildlife Sponsorship Region program assistant, Patrick Papatiti.
Patrick Papatiti, Program Assistant/Amboseli – Papatiti was
selected due to his commitment to women’s issues, girls education AND his highly
influential position as leader of the Maasai warriors (Moran). This honor was bestowed upon him by the community
elders. Papatiti will lead 1300 warriors
from this region for life. Tradition calls for Papatiti to shave his warrior
hair at a ceremony (Eunoto) which marks the end of warrior-hood and the beginning
of the next phase of life as a junior elder. Although Papatiti’s Eunoto will not take place
for a few years, he will ceremonially shave his hair in January as he returns
to finish high school. (Warrior dress is not allowed in high school!) BEADS secured a sponsorship for Patrick, feeling
that his education will be critical to his ability to lead the sponsorship program
and influence the entire community.
Amboseli warriors - Patrick Papatiti, far left.
AMBOSELI
WILDLIFE SPONSORSHIP REGION
I visited
all the sponsored girls - 17 at Rombo
Girls Primary School
in Loitokitok and 5 at Kimana
Secondary
School. I was VERY pleased with the quality of the
education the girls are receiving at these schools. It was a stark comparison with the ill-equipped,
understaffed and poorly trained teachers of the local public schools in the
region. Our determination to link sponsors for this region is a major priority. Our goal of a highly educated core of Maasai
women to lead this region can only be realized by providing sponsorships and
a quality education.
The lack of communication facilities and the
rural and spread-out nature of the Amboseli Region continues to impede the organization
in this Region. I thank all the Amboseli sponsors for their understanding and
patience as we are still waiting for school reports and letters from last term.
BEADS – NEWS FLASH
O Magazine (December
issue) features our BREAK the CHAINS of Illiteracy Campaign. Key chains produced
by The Dupoto Women’s Group in Isinya, Kenya,
are pictured on the index page as the lead in for the entire gift section!!
Donors contribute $15 and receive a beautiful
hand-crafted key chain. The campaign is designed to promote BEADS ability to
expand the sponsorship program and provide the DWG with a steady income. Attached
is a separate flyer about the campaign and how you can help.
Our recent media attention includes ELLE/Canada
(May 2003), Ms Magazine (fall 2003 issue), Heart and Soul Travel Magazine (September
2003) and the African Wildlife Foundation Newsletter (fall 2003).
GRANTS and DONATIONS
Friends of
Kenya, an organization of returned Peace Corp Volunteers from Kenya,
awarded BEADS a $1000 grant for improvement of school facilities and to expand
the workshop program for the sponsored girls. As all the elementary level girls
in Isinya attend Top Ride
School, Headmaster Peter Waweru is
organizing the grant distribution. AIDS/HIV training workshops in conjunction
with the Peace Corp have resulted in 4 Nabulu Group girls and 3 Dupoto Women
fully trained as AIDS/HIV trainers. The workshops will continue until every
sponsored girl has received AIDS training and all girls in high school are certified
AIDS/HIV trainers.
Top Ride girls display their AIDS training certificates. L to R: Catherine Nchumuya,
Betty Tonkei, Queen Kisoso and Florence Nasai.
Water is always a concern and a portion of the grant has been
used to purchase a water holding tank in order to conserve water during the
dry season.
Peter Waweru, Headmaster of Top Ride Academy, with the water holding tank donated
by Friends of Kenya.
TOP RIDE LIBRARY
- Books make the students very happy – just look at Maisa’s smile in the attached
photo montage. A generous donation of
$1000 began the start up phase of the Top Ride Library. The book and periodical selection will be coordinated
by Headmaster Waweru and BEADS board member Erkia Martin and will be designed
for the entire community. The library will also provide volunteer opportunities
for the sponsored girls.
Top Ride students love the books donated by Doug Walker and many other donors.
Local
Kenyan Contributions – Contributions from
the local community for the Nabulu Girls last
town clean-up in August, 2003 consisted of 5 rakes, 5 hoes, 5 shovels, trash bags, gloves
and SODAS for all 150 participants. Sodas are a treat most students only get
3 times a year at the town clean-up. The Dupoto Women’s Group also made a contribution
of beading supplies for the Nabulu girls to make their own products. This program not only maintains traditional
beading skills but also helps to teach the girls basic business procedures.
Junior Achievement Kenya will provide training
for the girls.
The effectiveness of our programs can be measured by the local
community’s commitment. I consider this a milestone for the BEADS programs.
Kenya
Wildlife Services began environmental
education programs with a tree planting project. Their education program and donations of seedlings
have enabled Top Ride to plant 120 trees. Each student cares for one or two trees they
call their own! The program goals are
to beautify the school, stem desertification and provide a resource for environmental
education highlighting alternative sources of fuel.
PRODUCTS
The Dupoto Women’s Group is at full production making key
chains. The BREAK the CHAINS Campaign has provided full employment and a steady
income for DWG.
Thank you very much for your continued support
of the sponsorship program, the women’s products and your efforts to promote
the BREAK the CHAINS of Illiteracy campaign.
It is only through your contributions and efforts that we can continue
to succeed – changing one life at a time.
Sincerely,
Debby Rooney
BEADS/Founder