The following letter was written by Chrissie Gibbard, a Peacemakers team member who has spent more than a year in Kenya. She has contributed to many projects and touched many lives whilst there. Making a difference with the help of sponsors money, gifts and visitors. Catch an insight to what life is like in Kenya by reading Chrissie's letter and also considering it's implications!

Please click on the "Full Story"  link below or CLICK HERE to download a PDF version.

Dance Festival 2010.

Remember the excellent Athletics and Sports training for Secondary Schools’ Sports Leaders in 2009 led by Kim Henderson? Just when you think that nothing could surpass the range of the skills learned, the sheer enjoyment of pure physical activity and the quality of the learning experience, then along comes the idea of having a celebration of Dance for 2010. Most Kenyan schools keep a specific curriculum slot every year for learning or adapting traditional African dances; they even subscribe to enter their students into regional or national competition. It was a real challenge to explain that we were organising something entirely different! This year, Kim had invited her colleague and friend Anne Fisher, also an experienced P.E. adviser but specialising in Dance like her daughter, Alicia, a Secondary School Dance teacher. The fourth member of the team was Katherine Henderson who has expertise in almost everything and is a G.B. tri-athlete.

They spent half day sessions with pupils and students from 8 schools; four Primary, four Secondary. They trained the excited youth in a range of dance styles - jazz, contemporary, sports, modern, choreographed by the team. The items were to reflected the range: “Circle of Life” from the Lion King, “Eat my Goal”, “Longing”, “Jazz Dance”, “ Sports Dance”, “Gum Boot Dance”, ”Good Night”, “Thriller” and “Wavin’ Flag”.

All the 170 children came together in Plainsview School Hall on the Friday to perform in front of staff and local administrative chiefs. The results were amazing and the effect of the costumed students enthralling and also very moving. To think that the training lasted for just three hours in cramped rooms or in the outdoor sunshine; two were in our own facility; the Prayer House, which lent itself brilliantly as a Dance “studio” for the day.  The outcome demonstrated the students enthusiasm and enjoyment. They were so responsive and eager to please the trainers. We wish more people could have seen the festival. All credit goes to the team who had worked so hard for the success of the venture. Our thanks go to all those UK well-wishers who supported the fund-raising, those who donated costumes, especially sports kit. The latter are now being worn by our Community Resource Centre Football Team. We also involved the support of school drop-outs in the training so that they could continue holding dance clubs in the Prayer House. The biggest thanks go to Kim and Katherine, Anne and Alicia. It was just superb!  Look out for the film coming soon to this website. The message stays the same; we want young people to enjoy their lives and learn to live and work co-operatively and have increasing self-esteem and positive attitudes, avoiding the drugs scene and overcoming the challenges of poverty and its effects. Look out! We plan to develop the opportunities by finding trainers who could come to lead drama and music workshops next year. Is there anybody out there who can sponsor some musical instruments… even steel drums?

We hope to have some photos of the event to display soon!

Kim Henderson Returns to Kenya

Following a very successful Teachers and Young Sports Leaders primary P.E. training in 2007, we were once again thrilled to see the return of Kim Henderson, P.E and Sports Strategic Manager for the London borough of Barnet. This summer’s trip’s aim was to deliver a high quality P.E curriculum for secondary school students and their teachers. Kim again led two top quality courses to  two Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) schools in districts near Runyenjes, Embu. Representative students from nine large secondary schools were engaged in being trained in Sports leadership skills in invasive games and athletics. The students were enthusiastic and actively involved throughout. Here is some feedback from those on the course:
“This kind of training should be carried out in our institutions frequently.”
“You are excellent. May peace love and unity prevail in Kenya and the whole world.”
“This is a fantastic experience.”
“Please come again, it was wonderful!”
Kim continued to astonish the Kenyans with her drive, vitality and awesome agility, not to mention her superb tutoring.

Sports equipment is very scarce in most Kenyan schools. We have used “Alive & Kicking” footballs on each of the courses. These may be sponsored at £9.50
Other needs are for whistles, plastic marker cones, football shirts, skipping ropes, etc. Please help if you can!

The Director of Education for the diocese, Mr Mugo Karuguti was thrilled with the course. He especially liked the idea of developing the Olympic values promoted throughout Kim’s training:- Respect, Excellence, Friendship, Determination, Courage, Inspiration and Equality. The course outcome will help to support the framework of sports activities which will form part of ACK’s centenary celebrations in 2010.

Rob and Katherine

Rob Parson and Katherine Henderson, daughter of Kim, arrived on 25th August. This time I came down to Nairobi by matatu and found my way, with the help of Martin Nyaga, to John and Susan’s in Loresho. Martin always responds to my text/ phone messages, saying “I’m getting near!... I’ve arrived-where are you?”.The terminus for the matatu run is in the centre of town, known as “Tea Room” and is a heaving mass of bodies and bags and a warren of streets and shops. Imagine how good it is to see a familiar face and to be led safely through the crowds to find another matatu which takes me to the Sarit shopping centre, from where I can take a taxi to Loresho. I can just about direct the taxi there now but the first time I entered John’s plot I was thrilled. You have to like cats and dogs if you stay there; well at least it helps; they have 4 dogs and 4 cats. The three old Labradors sleep outside but Jack the Russell terrier has the house as his kingdom, is unshiftable from the master bed, sleeps and sleeps with one eye cocked in order to “hoover” all the food left in all the bowls. One of the cats is very old and blind and wees on the floor if he can’t make it to the litter tray. Be careful when you step out of bed. The other 3 cats also sleep inside overnight if not on the prowl. Come the dawn and they start to roam around and play.

For the rest of the article, please click on "Full Story" just below.

 En route to the mountain, we were overwhelmed with the welcome from local schoolchildren, dancers, drummers and singers in the field of a rural school in Runyenjes, near Embu. The highlight for me was a superb choral speaking piece called “Peacemakers”, in which the dancers and singers from Plainsview School rendered an appreciation of what the charitable trust had achieved in changing how people cared about their community. I was choked up with tears.

We then had to put all emotions away to get a good night’s sleep in before the drive to Mt Kenya. My stomach turned over and over with excitement and sheer fear at the sight of what we had to climb the following morning.

This year we were thrilled to have the support of the Kitchen Tables Trust donation. This Trust is just amazing; it is supported by John Humphries, who, in his incisive and "non nonsense "way, donates funds to small charities like ours who meet the needs of children, healthcare, sustainable projects, education for all ..

http://www.kitchentablecharities.org/