GIVING HOPE TO 60 STAFF AFFECTED BY COVID-19

The threat that COVID-19 posed to our survival cannot be overstated. With our entire 60 staff sent home forcefully on March 2020 due to the pandemic lockdown with no pay and with no hope when to resume work,  we were not sure how many would ever come back when finally the lockdown is lifted, so when the Kenya Government allowed full re-opening of schools and other institutions on 4^th January 2021, to us it was pure miracle that out of sixty (60) staff, fifty three (53) managed to come back. This ensured continuity since it would have been very expensive to look for other qualified  staff.  The retention in both locations where we are currenttly working were as follows:

a)      Staff Retention - Nairobi County

The total number who reported back were 44. Out of this 13 teachers for Primary and 9 for the Secondary School while the rest from other departments. We have restructured and now forty four (44) staff managing the Nairobi's work. This was also necessary because of the effect of lockdown on our sources of finances.

 b)      Staff Retention - Kisumu County

In Kisumu county, we have a total of nine (9) staff, eight (8) teachers and one (1) foster mother working in the children Rescue Home. All the staff in Kisumu county came back despite the long days of suffering without any pay.

Staff Remuneration Challenge

Our greatest challenge now is the staff remuneration. Generally the entire economy of the nation is affected, money is hard to come by, businesses are closing down and the circulation of cash is limited. Many parents and guardians cannot afford to take their children to school and paying the staff is now a very uphill task. Those of our parents who were able to pay some little amount to help us subsidize are now not able. The need of us taking care and ensuring children are in school is paramount but this is impossible if staff are not retained. To retain the staff, they need to be paid regularly, something that we are struggling with due to the effect of COVID-19.

Staff Motivation

The fund that our supporters enabled us to collect in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic was a sure motivation, for this money was paid to the 60 staff who were by then staying at home. The money came as a surprise to them and this must have contributed to the majority reporting back. The effect of pandemic is seen by the many institutions which totally closed down. We know of some non-profit organization who could not survive.

For us we want to appreciate you, our donor for your contributon. You are the reason for us to continue serving this year 2021. Thank you for making us have hope that our vision of transforming the poor communities is on course.

Staff Budget Deficit Appeal

Our  total budget per month for staff remuneration is Kshs 550,000 ($5,500). Of this from our analysis since January we are able to meet comfortably from our own internal income generation 40%. We are appealing to you to commit monthly to help us meet the remaining deficit to help us retain the staff. No institution can be effective without qualified committed staff.  Our appeal is that it is now we are feeling the effect of the COVID-19, our sources of income have gone down and unless we find an alternative source of subsidizing the staff remuneration, it would not be easy keeping the staff. 

Thank you for choosing to support us and we trust that our partnership will continue. Please feel free and share our work with your friends, family and networks. Attached also are the photos to help you understand more of our work.

Yours Sincerely,

Luke Jakoywa.

When COVID-19 lockdown threatened to end a vision that we have pushed for the last 18 years by abruptly forcing the entire 60 staff in both our projects in Nairobi and Kisumu Counties, we were stranded and wondered what to do. From March upto October 2020, they were at home and we could not give them anything to give them hope. To make it worse by the time of lockdown we were already in arrears in salary payment. Adding to the effect of lockdown our situation was made worse.

However, we thank God for GlobalGiving fundraising platform. During the September Little by Little fundraising campaign, our appeal to you our donors was on how to help us give hope to our staff. During the campaign our target was US$18,000 which we had anticipated to help in cushioning our staff and give them hope as we were uncertain how long the lockdown would last.

On behalf of Sheepcare Community Centre, I take this opportunity to thank you for putting a smile on the face of our staff at least for the month of October 2020. The total remission from GlobalGiving for month of October was US$4206.67 (Kshs. 420,667/=) which we used to clear part of the arrears from a total of Kshs767,000/=.

The Kenya Government started school re-opening in phases from October 2020 where candidate classes namely Grade 4, Grade 8 and Grade 12 were recalled back to school. This made us to recall a total of 20 staff plus other staff who were recalled earlier working in other departments apart from education. Now we have a total of 34 staff in both Nairobi and Kisumu Counties. Having that number of staff and no income means more arrears is being accrued and our committed staff are still suffering particularly realizing that November month is already ending.

We sincerely thank you but urge you to commit at least US$10 monthly to make sure we retain our staff. Our greatest need is on how to motivate and sustain our staff. No organization can exist without staff. Thank you so much and with your support, we will fulfill our vision.

• Table of Remission (DOCX)