LSF's mentoring program

We meet every sunday from noon til 4:30. We practice computer skill, discuss health concerns, plan community events, act as big brother and big sisters to TWAAYF's kids, eat lunch together, and have fun. We even go to the beach and take field trips!

Madaraka Community Nursery School

Madaraka is a nursery that educates young children regardless of their ability to pay fees. Four trained, volunteer teachers enthusiastically teach 120 kids each day, mainly though art and song. And the best part, our 3 year olds at Madaraka can read and write short words! Twaayf Youth started Madaraka in 2007 to educate their kids, they now educate there own along with many others who would not otherwise have access to early childhood education because there are no public nurseries in Kenya. It's another example of the great work TWAAYF has done, and evidence of what they will do.

TWAAYF Children's Development Center

Here are a few shots of the Children's Center, minus the main building, which I did not find a photo of. These are of the main open space/play area, the kitchen, our table/Mato's tin house, and the boys bed room with their new bunk beds.

Our OH SO cute young ones!

Popo, Victor, Junior, Patty, N'dongo and Kababa- our six youngest.

The Three Musketeers

Mato, Kwame, and Me, Gabrielle- our team of three knows no obstacle too large, no day too long, and no bike ride in Mombasa traffic to daunting. Though I'll admit that when we are riding in Mombasa traffic I'm scared out of my wits and Mato and Kwame have to ride in front and behind me to make sure I survive.

DHL Field Day

These are pictures of our field day with DHL. DHL hosted TWAAYF, LSF, and another youth group for a day of field games, football, dancing and eating. Mato MCed the whole thing, which he is great at, and our kids had a wonderful time. Plus TWAAYF's football team won their match and took home the DHL cup.

TWAAYF Kids

These are the kids of TWAAYF Children's Development Center, where I spent most of my time while in Kenya this past summer. The Likoni Scholarship Fund and TWAAYF are now partners. The young people who run TWAAYF help us to run LSF, in particular Martin helps us each week with our mentoring program. I spend lots of time with TWAAYF's kids, and this Jan, we will add TWAAYF's primary age students to LSF scholarship program. We are joining under one umbrella name, are fundraising as one, and will continue to create new programs together, long into the future. Together we will be more successful at creating change in Likoni than either organization could be on its own.

LSF's first meeting

Likoni Scholarship Fund's first group meeting! Our scholarship students and their parents join us for a day to discuss our plans and our goals for everyone. Kwame and I introduced our ideas for a mentoring program and a micro enterprise training class and we asked everyone to give suggestions for what to include in these programs. All in all the meeting was a success.

Madaraka Field Trip

Here are photos of Madaraka's trip to Shelly Beach. Madaraka is the nursery school started by TWAAYF in 2007. The youth of TWAAYF created Madaraka to educate the orphans of TWAAYF Children's Development Center, but now it provides early childhood education to 120 children, half of whom attend for free.

photos of our July 26th, 2008 clean up of Shelly Beach in Likoni

These photos are of the beach clean up LSF and TWAAYF organized together in July. It was our first collaborative effort and jump started our partnership. The clean up was aimed at getting plastic off our local beach and at getting youth involved in community service. We invited almost every school in Likoni and ended up with over 2,000 participants. The DO of Likoni (head of local government) said the event was historic, that it was the most successful community action event ever organized in Likoni. We feel good about that!

After the clean up participants gathered for music, snacks, and to preform for one another. Over 20 student groups sang, danced, acted, and entertained the crowd during our post clean-up party.