Story
Our two week visit with friends to The Walk Centre was certainly an experience that neither of us will ever forget, a real mix of emotions, both high and low. Our time there has led us to become involved with the charity on a long term basis and we will be returning to Kenya in the near future.
During our stay we spent much of our time working at the school, either teaching or preparing food for the children.
Patrick also spent time helping with building work on some of the homes on the rubbish dump and in the slum areas. An idea of just how poor these homes are can be seen in the pictures attached:
The children have a basic human need for education, nutrition, medical care and emotional support and it is clearly evident to us that the work of The Walk Centre is making real and life changing differences to both the children and their families.
Whilst the children are full of fun and smiles most of them have serious emotional and health issues to deal with such as malaria, dehydration and malnutrition and it is thought that approximately 30% of the children could be HIV positive. Most of them have troubled home lives, some are orphans and are often brought up by a relative (maybe a brother or sister), or sometimes a neighbour if all the relatives have died or abandoned them.
We made several visits to the families on the rubbish dump during our stay where many of the children live. This is a place that is beyond description. There is every type of waste you can imagine, including hospital waste and the people have no choice but to live amongst it. However, one thing we noticed was the absence of children on the dump during the day, as they are now all at The Walk Centre School – an amazing achievement in the five years since it was founded! Currently the school feeds 240 children six days a week and educates 120.
Every single penny of the money donated prior to our trip has gone directly to the front line and is making a valuable contribution to the work of the centre. There is no administrative erosion of the money. Here is a list of just some of things that we have used the money for:
New kitchen equipment including washing up bowls, sponges, large wooden cooking spoons etc. Food (including beans for much needed protein). New water tanks and bowls which enable the children to wash their hands before eating. Wooden classroom chairs to replace broken plastic chairs. Soap for personal hygiene and laundry. Cement to repair the classroom floors. Educational materials. Building materials used for the homes on the rubbish dump and slum. Contribution to the relocation project.
The Relocation Project.
Whilst regular income is needed on an ongoing basis to run the school, the charity has also established a project to relocate families from the rubbish dump and give them a better quality of life to that which they have unfortunately become accustomed. For a cost of approx £3,000 The Walk Centre is able to purchase a plot of farm land, build a basic home and provide seed and education so that an entire family can become self-sufficient. The land will be retained by the charity for a period of three years, after which, if the family has made a success of it, the title will be transferred to them. This is an amazing project that helps people to help themselves, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty. So far, enough money has been raised to relocate the first four families in December this year! However, the aim is to raise enough money to relocate many more - currently approximately 115 families (roughly 1000 people) – but it can be done! If you would like to learn more about, or support the work of The Walk Centre please visit www.thewalkcentre.org or contact us. This site remains live should you wish to make a donation. Once again thank you so much for your support. Patrick and Clare Maher.