Help 250 Disabled Kenyan children go to school

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. Thanks 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 met 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)

60 children With Disability from St. Francis Small Home in Suwera and children with hearing impairment from St. Francis Nyasaland will never forget this day of 27th October 2012. This is the day when 33 Danish Gymnasts performed great gymnastic at the St. Teresa Secondary School in Kitale. This was an amazing day. The children had never had an opportunity to interact with local community and international guests of this level. It was a special day when they children were entertained and also they demonstrated that Disability ins not Inability. The children performed different songs and dances for the community and guests. ' I am so excited and so happy today.I have never seen such a big day where we are also recognized" John, a children from Suwera. At TYSA, we are committed to ensuring children with Special Needs access education, play and participate in community life. Such an occasion could not pass such children. The National Danish Performance Team had gymnasts whose family have such children and it was quite emotional to see the situation in Africa. On behalf of St Francis small home and St. Francis Nyasaland which are the only institutions in the community which offer special support and education to Children with special needs, TYSA is very greatful for your continued support to this initiative. We are coming to the end of year, and this children need special Christmas offer! Will be greatful for your kind donations towards making a Christmas souvenir for the children. We also need extra support to pay schools fee for these children.

We have continued to witness great testimonies of the work that we do in the community. Last week, Mr. Machabe shared his experience with us;

' It has been a along journey for me.  I have go through hard times and challenging moments in my pursuit to my dream of becoming a tailor. Iam very happy that finally I have done my examinations.I did not  know this was going to be true. I have done Grade 1. This was an importnat stage in my life. From here  I can now take further courses in diploma and pursue it to higher levels. Currently iam making clothes for school children in my village at small fee to keep me going. I hope in future to be a lecture at the polytechnics offering dress making and tailoring. I want to Thank the GlobalGiving friends who through TYSA have made  me who Iam today.  I believe that you will continue to support me and other children to achieve their dreams. Iam  so excited and happy for your support' Mr. Machabe

TYSA continuously endeavor to ensure children with disability have access to educational and recreational opportunities.

Through this project, we have witnessed increase in awareness of the needs of children with disability. Primary schools have created safe spaces for the children with disability to learn and participate in fun activities. Currently over 15 schools have running programs for children with disability within Trans nzoia East district. This is a big improve from the last three years when only few schools had initiated such centers.

On 15^th June, during the Trans nzoia East Education Day, children with disability participated fully in the events of the day. St. Francis Suwerwa School which has the highest number of children with disability presented various entertainments to the guests. These children included the blind, hearing impaired and they sung beautiful songs that touched the hearts of the guests and participants. Using the interpreter, the children shared critical community issues affecting them including abuse and access to equal opportunities. The children emphasized the importance of education as an avenue to their personal and community development.

‘We are very excited to be recognized and given opportunity to share our talent with the community. It’s our desire that this continues into the future’. John.

In the coming days, we are planning to host the children with special needs as part of the TYSA celebrations of acquisition of a Vehicle which was donated by MIVA of Netherlands. This is in recognition that such a vehicle will be used to support children movement to excursions and learning. We do invite you to be part of this celebration and supports the children.We expects over 100 children to participate.

Links:

• Dumb Children Recite Poem