Steve, Jon, Tanya & David (from ACET) spent 2 days with Mama Eunice, Patrick, Lillian & all the children at RFCH in Yala, Kenya.
After being woken in the early hours of Saturday morning by a torrential tropical rain storm, Steve, Jon and Tanya were picked up by David (of Acet), and set off on the four and a half hour drive to the Kenyan border at Busia. Patrick came from RFCH to meet us and we drove to the Home arriving in time to have lunch with all the children & workers at the home. Afterwards Lillian introduced every member of the staff individually and we exchanged greetings, whilst the Rianna girls lined up outside ready to perform their songs and traditional dances.
During the afternoon we toured the compound with Eunice and Patrick and also reviewed the current plans to add more classrooms to the school on the Yala site. Two new classrooms have been added recently & there are plans to add more.
On Sunday we spent the whole day with the children at the Home. We took a gift of brightly coloured t-shirts (see Photo) and were greeted by a sea of colour as we entered the compound! Sunday afternoon is the children's time to relax and we joined in their ball games and David introduced them to the rules of cricket. It soon became clear that Eunice already knew the game when she leapt up, grabbed the bat and slugged a few impressive balls! It was later discovered that she used to play cricket at school!
It was great to spend quality time with the children and have the opportunity to talk informally with Eunice, Patrick and Lillian. We were delighted to see Betty who had recently graduated when we met her at Yala last year. She is now working as a teacher, teaching geography and ki-swahili in a boys secondary school in nearby Mumias. Betty was supported through her school & university fees by Rianna's Fund.
When we headed back to Uganda the following day we also gave a lift to William who is currently being supported through school fees. William recently passed his 'A' levels and was on his way to register for an IT degree at Makerere University after collecting his certificates from his secondary school in Iganga, eastern Uganda.
It was fantastic to spend time with the children at RFCH & they all looked very healthy & happy. We were told how Linda has now become the first of the children to pass her exams to enable her to go to Secondary boarding school. The staff & children were so proud & told us about how all the girls in the Home went to the bus stop to see Linda leave for her new school carrying her new umbrella & dressed smartly in her uniform. Recently, Linda went back to RFCH for the school holidays & all the children wanted to know how she is getting on. It has inspired the other children to study & pass their exams.
On Monday morning Steve, Jon, Tanya & David travelled back across the border to Uganda to Jinja to meet up with John K & other members of the ACET, Uganda team. The next week will be spent visiting the current Rianna's Fund projects in Uganda & also looking at new projects to support. The current projects will include visiting the new schools at Malongo & Buvuma island following last years trip to Uganda.
Rianna's Fund
March 2011
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