THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDCARE TRUST - KENYA

STREET LIVES

December 2000 - page 3

New Kitchen

Liyavo Village Community Project is home to 150 children most of whom have spent at least some of their few years living on the streets of Kitale. Since the projects inception in 1992 it has relied on temporary structures for food preparation, which although adequate none of the structures ever had running water and hygiene was always of great concern. Over the last few months a large area used for dinning and recreation has been covered and a purpose built permanent kitchen has been added opening on to the dining area. With running water and washable surfaces it has already enhanced hygiene and simplified food production and service.

The interior of the new kitchen

The new kitchen
adjoining the dining/play area

NB. The covered area will be slowly extended.

Drawing by Amo Omari, 11 yrs, no fixed abode

Kick Polio Out of Kenya Campaign
ICT-K again participated in the ‘Kick Polio out of Kenya’ campaign which aims to eradicate the disease from Kenya through wide reaching immunisation campaigns LVCP clinic was a local centre for the October 21st and 22nd champagne. The turnout was good but unfortunately throughout the region vaccines had been underestimated and people had to be turned away by midday of the 22nd. The exercise will be repeated on November 25th and 26th when hopefully sufficient vaccines will be available. During the campaign house to house calls where made by the KAPLIVO Community Health Workers and 4 cases of paralysis where identified of which one is still awaiting results from stool tests in Nairobi. The three other cases have been diagnosed as the result of damage to the nervous system caused by cerebral malaria. There is no cure for this condition.

Water- the most valuable commodity The trouble with water is that the more accessible you make it the more it is taken for granted. Ask someone who carries water 2 km to their home if they would leave a tap running while they brush their teeth. Then we should ask ourselves the same question. As globally the amount of fresh water is reducing while populations continue to grow everyone has to become more conscious of, and responsible for this most valuable commodity. Since we drilled the bore well for the LVCP Children’s Centre water consumption had gone out of control - some days the children used over 9,000 litres of water. Through a combination of limiting pumping and washing times with water awareness programmes we have now reduced consumption to 1,500 litres per day, about 10 litres per person per day and drainage of clean water is directed into the garden.

SPECIAL APPEAL

Cerebral Malaria: Fifteen year old twins John Mulongo and Benson Mukhwana like their neighbour, ten year old Philman Ambali, have been partially paralysed by cerebral malaria. All are paralysed from the waist down while Philman also has difficulty coordinating his arm movements The paralysis is permanent and only through rehabilitation and with wheel chairs will they have any hope of mobility and futures. Both the families moved to Liyavo during the ethnic clashes that rocked Kenya during the early 1990s and have never felt safe enough to return home. They live on 1/4 acre plots donated by the government to homeless families. Practising subsistence farming and earning a small income during the harvest seasons when work can be found casually on some of the larger estates. Bethany Crippled Children’s Hospital has the only specialised unit in Kenya that can help these children. The hospital is staffed by volunteers and needy cases are subsidised by the African Inland Church. Costs will be minimal but remain well beyond the means of the 2 families. Please contribute.

Youngest in the family

Josephat Ekiru, is the name we were given by the District Children’s Officer as he pleaded with us to take the boy. Josephat had been found a few kilometres from Kitale by the roadside, with his mere 3 - 4 months of age he was suffering from exposure and what later turned out to be malaria. The baby had been taken to the police who admitted him at the District Hospital where Josephat recovered quickly, within a week he was eating a healthy amount of baby porridge and gurgling contently. Police had been doing their investigations meanwhile and 2 families had come forward to claim him. ICT were asked to take Josephat on temporary placement while the police established
(A) who are the true parents of the baby, and
(B) what the circumstances were that left the baby abandoned on a roadside. In this unusual case of 2 families claiming the same baby it was feared that Josephat may be abducted from the hospital.
All the children and staff at LVCP were in a state of excitement at having a new baby brother, the girls especially bathing, dressing and pampering him and so it was with some sadness, although in the best interest of Josephat, that on 11th October (3 days after his arrival at LVCP) Josephat was handed back to his biological parents.
Josephat had been abducted from Kitale District Hospital 2 days before he was found abandoned. The abduction had been reported to the local chief and the police. His parents were very relieved to find him safe and well.

Many Thanks and a Sad Goodbye

For many Europeans the prospect of volunteering to work in Africa is appealing though most end up either passing up the opportunity or spending a couple of years as young adults and then returning home to enter a career, family, etc.
Gesa and Fabio, a married couple from Mallorca, did things the other way round. Their family having grown up they decided to offer their many skills to ICT-K. As mature adults they were able to help enormously and push the LVCP forward. From Fabio’s wealth of manual skills to Gesa’s caring motherly relationship with the kids the project blossomed. Many of their initiatives are now firmly embedded in the daily routine and running of Liyavo.
Many thanks from all the kids, staff and management in both Kenya and the UK.

If you would like to help or require more information, contact us:
ICT-K, PO Box 1745, Kitale Kenya.
Tel: +254 54 31323
Fax: +254 325 30246
e-mail: ictk@africaonline.co.ke
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