GrG Blog

To supporters of GrG   “Grandmothers raising Grandchildren”

As in previous years I visited Ahero, Kenya again in 2011.  Which is important to see first hand what is needed most.With assistance of Moses Warah and Alfred Olweny, who showed me the way to their homes, (without them I would not been able to find them !) walking through fields, some of them we could not reach because of flooding .

Home we could not reach because of flooding

Kids having fun…

During my stay there were 2  biweekly meetings each with regularly planned food distribution of : flour – cooking oil – Waterguard & soap. At the last meeting, we added a new feature, distribution of multiple vitamins for young children.

A  donation of  “Vitamin Angels”  was send to me before I left for the grandchildren Damaris Aoko Alando  one of GrG members will be in charge of distribution and safe storage of the vitamins.

Alfred Olweny  explains how to administer the vitamins

The grandmothers listen carefully to instructions ..

 and are very grateful for the additional supplement to the bi-weekly food distribution.

Damaris Aoko taking the vitamins to storage.

Grandmothers going home with goats and food carrying  on their head..

As in previous years, GrG sponsored a treatment session by Nadermo  a NGO which treat people for the most common skin diseases, not only for members but also for neighbors, 103 people attended. Free medication was supplied.

 

 

 

8 chickens and 10 new goats were distributed to the most needed members, plus funds were left to build 5 goat sheds for members who kept their goats inside their home during the night for safe keeping.

 

We had our yearly children party with cookies & fruit juice, for the grandchildren of members plus neighborhood kids, more than 50 attended. A drawing contest was held with lots of prizes and gifts.

This year and  in future special attention will be given to education of the older grandchildren. GrG assisted 16 students with filling  in the forms, arranged for photographer to have their required pass photos taken and sending in the applications for sponsorship by  KEF (Kenya Education Fund)

Filling in implication forms for KEF with help of Moses Warah and Alfred Olweny, for next school year.

Grandchildren who applied

 

For the students who will not be accepted by KEF ( they will be informed by the end of the year) arrangements have been made  at  : AIC (African Inland Church) Ahero Training Centre for vocational training of : Hairdressing  – Dressmaking – Bicycle& Motor repair and assembly or Computer training.

Elaine Neufeldt, donated a laptop for the grandchildren who will receive computer training to practice, at this time it in care of Alfred Olweny.

A Rossmoor resident gave me a sample “Rag doll” with cloth and pattern, it was given to AIC training centre,  to raise funds. In return GrG will receive discount for tuition.

GrG sponsored :

a : Kevin Otieno the oldest grandchild of Phillister Oyoo for training  by AA of Kenya (Automobile Association) for Driver course of Commercial vehicles

b : Maurice Odhiambo, grandson of late Jenifer Apat, who was accepted at  Egerton University but was only able to raise 50 % of the required fee, GrG  paid the balance

Moses Warah : is in charge to provide supplies for meetings of grandmothers.

Alfred Olweny :  will be in charge to arrange for education of grandchildren.

Damaris Aoko  :  distribution of Multi vitamins.

 

To close “GrG” like to pay a tribute to  chair lady the late Jael Akott.  She chaired  the last meeting when I was there, the next morning she collapsed working in the rice field and died at age 52. She was a hard working generous women who raised 8 children and was raising  several grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all.

To supporters of GrG   “Grandmothers raising Grandchildren”

Here a brief report of my recent visit to Ahero Kenya.On my arrival I was welcomed by the members with song and dance and gift of beans and bag of ground nuts.

 

 

Together with Moses Warah the coordinator and his assistant Alfred Olweny we visited the grandmothers at their homes, (mud huts) to see first hand how they and the kids they raise are doing and what is needed most.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The good news most of the goats have multiplied, although one of the grandmothers informed us that the only way to keep the goats safe was to have them spend the night in the same hut, often the goats are very noise. We arranged to have a simple goat shed build next to her hut. Another grandmothers whose hut had collapsed and only was able to partially rebuild it, GrG provided funds to have it finished before the long rains

 

At every meeting which takes place every two weeks, members receive : flour cooking oil – Waterguard (a product to treat water for drinking) and a bar of soap.

 

 

 

 

Other activities:

1: GrG funded  a visit of Nadermo, a local organization, trained by German dermatologist, Dr. Wilfried Schmeller to treat the most common skin disease, free medication was provided.

 

 

 

 

2: Thanks to the Lions club of Rossmoor Walnut Creek, we where able to give school uniforms for the most needy. More uniforms are needed

 

 

 

3: one new members was added this time who claimed and insisted she was 1000 year old ! for sure our oldest member.

4: goats for new members.

 

 

5: a party for the children who where provided with clay to make dolls.

 

 

6: visit to water points for which funds where provided

 

 

7: All members will receive improved traditional clay water pots, with lid and tap, in order to keep the treated drinking water without contamination.

 

 

8: large order of basket was given to prepare for 2010 Christmas season.

 

 

 

 

At the last meeting  saying good bye in Luo;

 

 

“Oriti wanenore higa mabiro”

“ Goodbye and see you next year”

 

Ahero  July 2010

Thanks to the support of our donors we continue to assist the grandmothers in Ahero.

 

 

As of today we have provided each family with the following:

• Mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

• Flour and cooking oil at each bi weekly meeting to help with family meals. Some of the members with large families receive extra supplies.

          

• Goats and chickens to help grandmothers create a small income.

• Waterguard to help provide safe drinking water at home. We get this from “SWAP” (Safe Water & AIDS Project) with whom we have a close working relationship. We also give a bar of soap each month.

“Water Points” were created so that grandmothers do not have to walk great distances daily to get water. The water is piped to these points from a Boya Water Supply.

• Portable Stoves to replace the traditional way of cooking on 3 stones heated by burning wood. The old method produces a lot of smoke and uses a lot of wood which can be hard to get. The stoves were purchased from SWAP. 

Our primary goal is to improve health, as result of a substantial reductions in the carbon monoxide and indoor air pollution while also reducinglabor and being more cost effective.