Educate 80 Orphan Adolescent Girls in Kenya

Keeping contacts a Live

Last year 2012 in October, at the first ever East Africa Streetworldworld forum in Kigali Rwanda, Gichuki and Ojilo from TYSA meet Sara and Katy from Soccer Without Border (SWB) Uganda. These interactions created opportunity for greater understand about what organizations are doing in the region. As a follow up to this spirit, Gichuki from Friday 9^th and Saturday 10^th November 2012 visited SWB and Whizzkids for an exchange learning. Early this year in January, 10 young leaders form TYSA were hosted by SWB during its annual festival in Kampala.

Katy and Sara  who are volunteers at SWB Uganda on 25^th to 28^th March 2013 visited by TYSA for an exchange learning.  After two days at TYSA, they had this Lasting Impressions:

We are very impressed with TYSA approach to its beneficiaries and partners especially the schools. We participated in one of the secondary schools parents and students meeting. It’s here that TYSA shares its experiences with the parents

We have learnt how TYSA trains young leaders in different skills in order to take lead in the implementation of the activities. This is particularly important as it ensures sustainability of the organization and programs.

We are impressed by the fact that distance is not a barrier to TYSA outreach activities. We covered over 100 kilometers in a day

TYSA has built a strong trust with schools. We received warm welcome from the teachers and students. I could not believe that students follow instructions on the spot without delays and they enjoy every moment of the activity

It’s amazing how TYSA uses simple innovative storytelling to evaluate it impact in the community and its beneficiaries

We have crossed the border and heading to Mbale. Thank you for everything. Your work is truly inspiring. Talk soon. Sara and Katy

 For the two days Katy and Sara were with us, they had an opportunity to visit our beneficiaries and interact with them. These interactions rekindled memories of the past , opened new opportunities and lessons learnt;

Small but Big

When I was in nursery school, I learnt a game which I still played while in the university. I was impressed to find that TYSA is using the same game with children in the remote rural schools. Katy. This game is called on the river on the shore. This game improves the children’s listening, thinking and jumping skills. This game was used during the several activities contacted in schools that were visited.

A sloppy pitch

The St. Teresa’s form two students raised so many challenges affecting theme during the parents meeting. Katy and Sara listened attentively and through translations from Kiswahili to English, they understood the challenges facing the students.  When the school management gave them opportunity to address the parents and students, Katy came in handy and shared this analogy. As footballer, you find a sloppy pitch and you have to play for 90 minutes on it. What would you do! Would you start leveling the pitch!  Would you quit! The wayfoward is to adjust yourself to the pitch and achieve your goal. You must know how to balance in this pitch and what gears to put on.  This confirmed what TYSA motto is:  play, Learn and Act.

Control Ball ; Control Life

While in Uganda last November, Gichuki advised the children at SWB that if they can control a ball, they can control their lives. This was echoed by Sara and Katy to the students of St. Teresa’s Secondary school Tartar in West Pokot. It’s amazing how the girls are ambitious in life. They are talented in football. They are the Kenya champions 2012! TYSA has strong conviction and program on how to translate the skills and values gained in the pitch to normal ordinary lives of the beneficiaries.

 Let Me Play

Learning almost came to a standstill in all the schools that we had games. Children came running to the field of play. Their eyes bright radiating enthusiasm and hope. Every play moment was highly participative.  When the bell rung for them to go back to class, they were very sad and urged us to continue at for some extra minutes. Even the children from other classes were eager to join the games.

We have crossed the border and heading to Mbale. Thanks you for everything. Your work is truly inspiring. Talk soon. Sara and Katy

Dear.

Warm greetings from TYSA.We hope this email finds you well and in good health.

An organization that started 10 years ago as Self Help Group then to a Community Based Organization has now been transformed into an NGO. TYSA is currently undergoing a significant moment in its history. We are developing our next 5 year strategic plan. We are preparing to remain relevant as we reach out to larger and diverse audience.

You have travelled with us in this journey over the years. You know us and you have interacted with us in one way or the either. You have meet our staff, you donated to to our projects and or participated in our programs and we believe you understand us

We are now inviting you to join us in making our next 5 year strategic plan truly strategic and inspirational one. A strategic plan that will propel TYSA into the next level and still remain relevant to its Vision and Mission. Your broad, strategic experience will enrich this strategic plan by  your new perspective.

Please feel free to tear this Strategic Plan into pieces and it will be our responsibility to put them together again and come out with an enriched plan that will serve the organization and its beneficiaries. Your critical analysis is highly welcome.

We want to thank you in advance for taking time to input into this strategic plan that will transform TYSA into a more relevant organization in the 21^st century.

It’s our desire to receive your feedback by Tuesday 12th of February 2013 so that we incorporate it in the final draft which we shall share with you.

Looking forward to your unwavering support

Gichuki Francis

TYSA Executive Director

• TYSA NEW STRATEGIC PLAN (DOC)

New Year Post Card

Dear TYSA friend,

At TYSA we are proud to serve over 5,000 children by providing safe and inclusive play across the Trans Nzoia County. Everywhere children depend on TYSA coaches, football facilities to have safe and productive play sessions and our education scholarships. They're also learning more than just physical skills; they learn life skills such as team building skills, cooperation and problem solving skills and computer skills. Our highly motivational and inspirational exchange learning is popular among the children and youth Your contribution to TYSA ensures that these children continue to receive these daily life lessons. As you decide your year end contributions please consider making a donation to TYSA today. The more than 5,000 children will thank you. And remember for only $186 you can sponsor one child for an entire year to receive education, life skills, and play. Thanks for your continued support. We wish you and your family happy holidays

From NDALILAH CAROLYN

All was well when I joined high school. My performances were very pleasing even my parents liked it. My girl friends were also good to me. It all stared when my peer group changed. They advised and gave me stories about my life style and encouraged me to accompany them also. Although it was not easy to do that, I did for the sake of keeping them company and happy.

By bad luck, the game was not on my side. I just tried to do as my friends said it is enjoyable.Wooi!!I conceived, on knowing this I neither told it to my parents nor my friends. I kept it as a secret, but in this group only one girl did not perish and she is still schooling.

It was all revealed on 29th February 2012 when our school carried out pregnancy test. I was among the victims on the list, I was very afraid but the nurses told me that it was not the end of my education. They encouraged me that all will be well and I will continue with my schooling with less fear until the last day. I was a bit scared but I got a little courage.

However my parents were called and told this. That was the day hell broke loose, but I thank God my parents understood this situation although it was a bitter experience to my parents. When I went back home, my parents asked me politely who was responsible for that, although my parents were not pleased with this, my last performance in form two were very pleasing, but I was pregnant. I tried my best, struggled and got a C+ (PLUS) grade and became position five.

On 16th of March 2012, it was when I left school and went home for a short period. I just delivered two weeks after school. After one week my parents left to seek job for our upkeep. I was very ashamed of having a kid while in school, but that was not all. After a month, I decided to ask my father through the phone to allow me go back to school.

My grandmother took me back to school, I promised before my grandmother and principal that I will not repeat the same mistake again and concentrate with my education.

Tasks became mountains to me. Catering for the child after school doing home chores and doing my evening studies made me confused. My studying time was divided; things were not so easy to me. I tried my best and did not loose hope.

After some days I sat for the second and third test, the final results was a grade c (plain) and became position fourteen without doing the first test. This results encouraged me to work extra hard. My grandmother promised to look after my baby.

After attending the TYSA Girls Training Camp, I have learned how to deal with the difficulties. I have learned how to be with my child, study and also have time for my friends too. Today, I am very strong in school. In fact, I was chosen the class prefect after the training at TYSA.

I now have a good story to share with my friends who have lost in life and are no longer accessing education and also those in TYSA and community at large. Even if school fess has brought more problems to me, I hope and looking forward to join university and if possible to go overseas for further education. I will reduce the poverty circle in our family.

I believe someone is listening to my plight and would support my school fees which is US$ 200 per year!

It was a long journey to Oyugis, on the way, I happened to see many things I have never seen e.g. crying stone, being in kisumu city etc.

I enjoyed the climate in Oyugis as it was very hot and you can sleep without covering yourself at night. I also learnt that those people in Oyugis are very courageous and can speak before people. During the tournament we had no fear because it was a peace building tournament. In between the tournament we tought by some elders on the importance of living in peace and cooperating as youths. It was an enjoyable topic.

We had very enjoyable moments because we were warmly welcomed and where we slept was much secured, we were given both quality and quantity food.

It was a very peaceful tournament because we were given equal opportunities and there was no any discrimination. These reflected a peaceful match. I also learnt the importance of living with other people in peace.

I am so delighted and look forward to more opportunities to experience diverse cultures and learn from others.

Teresia Wangare

When I was chosen to be among others to participate in Oyugis tournament, I was very happy for such a privilege. We played very well but at the end of the match we were defeated, but we didn't loose hope. After having played that we didn't managed to continue in the next quarter, so we had to come back to Kitale the following day. When we were coming home we reached at kisumu town and we posed to the lake Victoria and we boarded the ship and enjoyed ourselves in the water. After that we entered our cars and continued with our journey to Kitale.Reaching Kitale our director who is Mr. Francis Gichuki came with tysa van then we left to our homes. The journey was very safe and enjoyable; I thank the almighty father for his mercy.

Marion