GlobalGiving.org: Education and Livelihood for 250 youth in Kaplamai

YOUR DONATIONS GETS BACK A SHUTTERED GIRLS' DREAM

Gichuki Francis — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:31:35 GMT

Mercy Atoo welcomed by Mashariki High School Matron (Right)

Your Donations Gets back a Shuttered Girls’ Dream

Miss Mercy Atoo Ipara is an 18 year old girl who had lost hope in life. She was desperate. TYSA through Education and livelihood opportunity project gives her a renewed hope. Here, she narrates her story

I always wanted to be a journalist. When I finished my secondary school last year, I wanted to join a journalism school. However, my examination points were not enough to secure me a place.

I spent most of the time home, doing domestic chores and closed up in the home compound. One day, a neighbor came home and said, Atoo you used to be a good player. Are you still one! Yes, I said. Good in Soccer! She exclaimed.

After participating in various sports activities organized by TYSA, Atoo as she is commonly known started opening up to her friends.

One afternoon, the TYSA Executive officer was talking to each of the 25 girls in the soccer team. When my time came, I was not sure what to tell him. He is kind and always encourages us to open our hearts and minds. I gathered courage and told him my desire to be a journalist and the difficulties I am having especially money to continue with school so that I can get better grades.

TYSA executive officer then told me to consult with my mother before we could discuss further. Meanwhile TYSA executive Officer through friends in Uganda started to explore possibilities of her joining a High school there. This possibility was possible. When we looked at what Globalgiving friends have given through the project, we felt it could take her to school for two terms. So we made a decision to support her with this money

When I came back to see the Executive Officer, I told him that my mum has no money. So I have just to stay home again.

We informed her that TYSA together with good friends through the globalgiving will support her and that a school in Uganda has already been found.

Am so happy!!! So Happy!!. Thanks to all, my dream has come back to life!!!!

Atoo is now in Mashariki High School in Kampala Uganda and will finish at the end of year 2009

You’re continued Support will see her achieve her dream….being a journalist... Hopefully she will live to write this story to the future generation. Give your donation for a worthy course!!

Mercy Atoo at the Headmasters' office of Mashariki High School K

Mercy Atoo in aprevious soccer training session at TYSA Sports C

SAMSON TABOSWA FIRST DAY IN ELDORET SEPCIAL SCHOOL

Gichuki Francis — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:40:32 GMT

Samson Tabsowas being welcomed to Eldoret

SAMSON TABOSWA FIRST DAY AT EDLORET SPECIAL SCHOOL Master Samson Taboswa is a 12 year old mentally challenged child. His parents are poor and could not afford to take him to special school. TYSA through its sports program for disabled persons realized the need of this boy. Through globalgiving- education and livelihood opportunity, it has become a dream come true for Samson family and the local community to see the boy admitted in this special school. We still have 11 children in our waiting list with disabilities that need specialized educational support Samson was quite elated to meet children like him at the school on Friday 10th May 2008. He freely interacted with them and felt at home. This is only the beginning. We shall need your continued support so that the boy can gain from this specialized school. It cost US$ 600 per year to provide special education to Samson. This covers school fees, uniforms, beddings, personal effects, and transport among other costs. On behalf of Samson, TYSA, Samson family, the local community, we want to thanks all of you who have contributed their dollar to help support Samson’s special education. May God bless you many times.

Samsonm Taboswa dressed in his school uniform

Mentally Handicapped Boy Finally gets admission in a special school

Gichuki Francis — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:51:27 GMT

Master Toboswa,11 is mentally handicapped and has no speech.

Mentally Handicapped Boy finally joins Special School. After 11 years of waiting, Master Toboswa has finally secured admission at Eldoret Special School. Thanks to your donation through Education and Livelihood Opportunities. He joins the school on 6th May 2008.When we visited the school last week he was happy and in good mood. He moved round the school interacting with other mentally handicapped children. The school is in Eldoret town, 100 Kilometers away from Kitale where he lives. We are excited to have this boy join this school. The family members are very poor and could not afford to pay the school fee at this special school. We count on your continued donations to see him through the rehabilitation process. We shall keep you posted on his progress. Next time you see him, he will be in full school uniform!!! Thank you for your kind donations

Master Toboswa ,11 at Eldoret Special School where he will be st

OUR RESPONSE TO THE POST ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA

Gichuki Francis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:06:35 GMT

Due to the nature of and complexity of the effects of post election violence, we were only able to focus on the immediate and psychosocial based ones. Some of the psychosocial effects are: Trauma, School dropout, Rape, Idleness, mistrust, despair and apathy Trauma-We did organize interactive sports, recreation activities, one on one sharing, exposure programs, and solidarity gestures within and without the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. School dropout --We worked closely with schools to admit children from the camp and or those who were staying with their relatives. Sought sponsorship to support secondary and college education for the most vulnerable girls who are IDPs Idleness-Through organized sports and recreation activities e.g. Soccer, volleyball, netball and handball, many children, youths, women and men were kept busy at the camps. Various age groups eg under 9, 12,14, youths and women participated. Over 500 participants were involved in sports and recreational activities every day. Mistrust - With the support of the local community leaders, several sports for peace and recreational activities involving different ethnic groups were organized. The participating teams had representation from each of the various ethnic communities living in the area. The players and fans wore while ribbons as a sign of peace. Despair and Apathy-- Besides sports, one on one sharing, exposure activities were offered to revitalize their hopes. The youths and children especially were offered opportunities to visit their counterparts outside the camp. This was either to play or just to share and refresh their minds. Rape-We organized for post exposure prophylaxis treatment, offered alternative safe accommodation for the victims and their children, food, clothing and Basic counseling. These cases were not in the IDP camps but in the communities, after what started as post-election violence gave rise to another evil of sexual violation in the community. What are our success stories? • 3 girls from the IDP camps obtained secondary school scholarships • 1 girl from the IDP camp secured partial support for college fees • Mentorship and leadership skills developed for one of IDP camp mobilizes • Managed to change the stereotype mindsets and perceptions that girls cannot perform better than boys or are only good at domestic chores. I almost stopped my daughter from going to play a soccer match. But now I am excited that she got a school scholarship for being the best soccer player. Said Mama Kwamboka. • Highlighted in the print and electronic media the plight of the sexually violated women and girls while offering them support. • Reduced mistrust among different ethnic communities through sports. We never expected that your team would turn up today to play against us. We thought you would think it was a bait to harm you. Said the team captain. • Involved the Kachibora Internally Displaced Persons in celebrating and marking the World Women’s day. What needs to be done? • Reconstruction and resettlement • Farm inputs grants • Agricultural and /livestock Support programme • Educational sponsorships • Income Generating Activities support programme • Peace and Reconciliation • Psycho social support programme • Monitoring and Evaluation of various interventions

Attachments:

OUR RESPONSE TO THE EFFECTS OF POST ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA (DOC)

HARROWING TALES OF RAPE

Gichuki Francis — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:05:38 GMT

One of the Rape Victims

HARROWING TALES OF RAPE

The raiders are planning to abduct 78 women to cook for them in the forest and fulfill their sexual cravings

Residents of Bahati and Munyaka in Cherangany division, Trans-nzoia district, Kenya feel dejected. They feel they could wake up from the ‘nightmare’ but this is wishful thinking. What started as post-election violence has given rise to another evil in the community.

Jane (Not her real name) narrates her ordeal

‘Last week, raiders stormed my house just after we had taken supper’ she says. The gang armed with guns, ordered his family to lie down and ransacked the house. They took valuables and demanded money as they beat the victims.

The raiders’ tried to rape my sister in law but she thwarted them away. My in-law tricked them that she was HIV positive but the gangsters retorted ‘‘AIDS is what we want” my in-law became difficult and they beat her living her for dead. My brother in law was bludgeon on the head with a gun until he lost consciousness The raiders then forced me and my brother in-law to carry the stolen loot to the Cherengany forest, nine kilometers away.

‘ We carried the loot deep into the forest on the way the gang raped me twice as my brother in law watched helplessly the gangster demanded by brother in-law to watch the act’

After a nine kilometer walk, the victims came to one of the dens used by the raiders where they were directed to leave the loot and find their way back. ‘We left the forest, but not without another round of humiliation. I was gang raped as my brother in law watched again. I begged them to leave me but my begging fell on deaf ears’

Because it was shortly after mid night, the two hid in the thicket to avoid meeting another gangster coming from their raids. ‘It was very cold and scary but we did not give up. We prayed and in the morning we went to the hospital. In another incident, 16 years old student and her sister were abducted and raped repeatedly by the cattle robbers before they escaped

‘The bandits stormed our home and stole the livestock and properties before abducting us. They took us to the forest where they raped us for 2 days before we managed to escape, Ann (Not real name). The traumatized girl now says life has lost meaning. ‘Why is life so cruel? Education has lost meaning and I don’t want to know my HIV status. My dream has been shuttered’

The residents say the raiders are planning to abduct 78 women to cook for them in the forest and fulfill their sexual cravings. Incidents of rape have become rampant. ‘After stealing the livestock, they vent their anger on women and girls, by raping them. The victims are often raped before their husbands, children and other family members. It’s a sad story ‘an area resident says.

Immediate Response by TYSA --Organized for post exposure prophylaxis treatment --Offered alternative safe accommodation for the victims and their children --Offering food and clothing --Basic counseling

We need the following Support for 10 victims of Rape US$ 500: Specialized treatment

US$ 250: Trauma counseling and debriefing

US$ 300: Resettlement (Reconstruction of housing)

US$ 250: Supply Educational materials for children

US$ 150: Sustained supply of Food

US$ 100: Supply of clothing and bedding

US$ 50: Transport

Attachments:

HARROWING TALES OF RAPE (DOC)

Displaced Girls Get Education Scholarships

Gichuki Francis — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:00:10 GMT

More girls get education Scholarships

16 Girls out of 23 students got education scholarships to join FORM ONE secondary school this year. More preference was given to girls due to the current political situation in Kenya especially those who were displaced from their homes duiring the political violence.

'Am very happy to TYSA for paying my school fees. My family house was burnt down, animals stolen and property destroyed. I had lost hope of ever going to school anymore" --Kwamboka Eunice

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!!!!!

Gichuki Francis — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:06:12 GMT

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!!! It is now a while. I have been struggling to come to terms with the most traumatizing moment in my life so far. I saw the worst scenarios, heard tormenting words and experienced hell on earth. The presidential votes tallying were delayed and allegations of rigging thus building up the tension among the voters from the two political divide of ODM and PNU. On that Friday 29th December 2007, I was traveling to Kisumu from Kitale through Eldoret to join my family after voting. I was not to reach till 14 days later.

ROAD BLOCKS I have to abandon my car at a police station near Chemilil along the Kisumu- Kapsabet high way when rowdy, marauding youths carrying all sorts of crude weapons barrack the highway. Iam now using a public means back to Eldoret hoping things would be better there. Least am not aware that this is going to be the most terrifying moment.

ODD ONE OUT Am now in a public transport vehicle to Eldoret. We took over 4 hours to get to Eldoret which normally is one hour drive from Chemilil. As I can remember there are over 20 roadblocks mounted by the local youth. I can see Fire every where!! Stones!!! Youths with bow and arrows, spears, crude weapons!!! They are searching every car that passes here. We are not spared either. They were looking for specific TRIBE to KILL. (Iam one of the tribe which they are suppose to KILL). We are 16 passengers in this vehicle and I am the only one ODD OUT. Am sure you are wondering how I survived this ordeal!! It is by Grace of GOD!

GRACE OF GOD Luckily enough, majority of the passengers in the vehicle are from the local community so they kept saying we don’t have any other community in this vehicle. The other thing that is greatly helping me go through all these road blocks and search is that my physical appearance and behavior resembles that of one of the community which they were not being fought. “What will save you my brother is that you don’t look like that tribe that we want to KILL” comment one passenger.

TORMENTED!! My whole body for the 4 hours we are on the road has thin layer of sweat. My heart beat is constantly high and fast. I have headache throughout. I am stressed, traumatized and tormented.

FROM FRYING PAN TO THE FIRE!! Now am in Eldoret town. I take refugee in our family friend. Here we thought things will be better. For three days we are confined in the house. No movement. We start seeing houses being burnt across the neighborhood. Before long the neighbors houses and school are burnt down. We decide the children and their mother take refuge in the centre of town. We remain behind for a while. Within a short time, over 1000 youths with bows and arrows, pangas, spears, metal bars and crude weapons are here. We are accosted and told to identify ourselves-which tribes we are, or show our identity cards or join them to go and KILL the other tribe (which am a member) in the neighborhood. Am in a big fix! Showing my identify card or saying my tribe is going to put me in trouble, infact being killed on the spot (early this morning they had killed three members of my Tribe in next door).My colleague tribe is not being targeted for killing. So we quickly decide to join them for our safety.

ESCAPE While on the way, a close family to my host was being evacuated by an emergency vehicle. We took advantage and boarded the vehicle and went to Eldoret town centre to join the family.

ACTION NOW Back to my home area in Trans-nzoia district over 40,000 family members have been displaced. Children and women most affected. Through Trans-nzoia Youth Sports Association, (TYSA- a community based Organization) we are offering psycho-social support among other services to the children most affected by the violence and who are most traumatized. Join me in supporting these children. Gichuki Francis, Executive Officer, Trans-nzoia Youth Sports Association (TYSA) Kenya

Too Much Cold to bear!!!

Gichuki Francis — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:32:57 GMT

SHELTER AND CLOTHING NEEDED URGENTLY!!!

The situation at Kachibora Internally Displaced Persons Camp is in dire need for shelter services. As school opens, the IDPs are now being exposed to tougher conditions. Children and old women are most affected. The school was their temporary home. It is very cold at night during this time of the year. We anticipate children and old women to suffer from Pneumonia. We urgently need:

o 500 sleeping bags o 500 Blankets o 1000 Children warm clothes o Food supplements o 100 Sleeping Tents

Make a difference by making a donation today!!!

Healing Conflict Trauma through Sports

Gichuki Francis — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:43:19 GMT

Children enjoying themslves despite the hardship and trauma

Women and children are now engaged in sports and recreational acttivities at Kachibora camp to vent out their stress related to the post elction ethnic conflict in Kenya. TYSA is providing the sports materials and personnel. We need more sports materials eg balls, nets, music equipments, uniforms, child games.

Mama Ann takes times off her busy schedule to play some soccer

Makeshift Teaching for Victims of Conflict in Kenya

Gichuki Francis — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:29:30 GMT

Make shift classess for displaced children

TYSA is trying its best to support children affected by ethnic conflict. Over 30,000 people are displced majority being children. We are seeking extra support for books, food, clothing, medication.

Teacher Claudencia teaching displaced children

Pupils attentively listening in class

Urgent Support: Children Affected By Ethnic Conflict Kenya

Gichuki Francis — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:52:30 GMT

Ann, 8 years old, does not know where parents are after the war

Over 100 children who are beneficiaries to our project have been displaced by the ethnic violnce that affected Kenya after the elections. They are spending nights in the cold, no food, clothing and are traumatised after some of their parents were killed, while some of the children are injured and need medical attention. Majority of them will not be able to go to school next week.

Girls going places

Gichuki Francis — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:05:25 GMT

The Wiyeta Girls soccer team have successfully defended their soccer title for East and Central Africa Championship.

" We are very happy to win the title again.Thanks to our sponsors" Team Captain

40 Disabled Children Get Free medical check ups

Gichuki Francis — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:00:44 GMT

40 disabled children got free medical check ups on the27th August 2007. One child got a wheel chair donated to her.

GIRLS DO IT AGAIN!!!

Gichuki Francis — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:02:44 GMT

Wiyeta Secondary School Soccer girls Retain Rift Valley Provincial title for the third year running. 20 soccer girls who are benefitting from the scholarship program helped the school to this great achievemment. The school is now preparaing for the National Secondary School soccer games in August 2007

Progress Report

Gichuki Francis — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:59:42 GMT

Great Achievement so far made in the last Two months:

Soccer Training Course 60 youth’s girls and boys acquire vitals skills in soccer coaching, drug abuse, and sports management.They are now conducting community sports tournaments

Fun day for children 150 children participated in sports festivals. They had all fun out there. 'Am so happy to be out here to day.I would be drinking local brew today if this event was not here' Joshua Kiptoo a 12 year old boy

Sports and Culture 60 Sengwer cultrural community dancing troupe performed during the festival held during the day of the african Child

Scholarships Scholarship saves 15 children from droping out of school

Teachers Volunteer 5 teachers volunteers time to offer tuition to children from poor families