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/

Let me tell you what we have managed to achieve just this year because of your continued support and generous donations.

In Kenya during the month of August, we had a very successful Sports Primary Teachers Training week (Residential Course) held at Moi High School. Kim Henderson, the England National Sports Trainer led the course, helped by 5 students in their gap year. This was followed by a Sports Leaders Training Course for youth who are members of our re-hab DACA groups(Drug Abuse Campaign). Both courses led to a 'Certificate of Attendance' being awarded to all those who completed the whole week.

..For the rest of Brenda's summary and pictures, please click Full Story below..

We have now received the last of the sponsored money for the Trek up Mt. Kenya, that took place in September 2006.The final figure raised is a BUMPER £28,194.49p.

Well done the trekers who put themselves through physical stress and altitude sickness, to achieve almost the impossible, and well done all their sponsors who in their financial support of the trekers, saved lives in Kenya and met needs in a variety of ways.

A very successful event!

Sunday the 18th of July was a commendation day for Peacemakers international when four young adults received commendations for their hard work and selfless commitment during a 4 to 6 month stay in Kenya, all at their own expense.
The event was well attended by family, friends and supporters of Peacemakers International.

For any one new to the Peacemakers website we would highly recommend clicking on the "About Us" link on the left of the page first. This will give you an understanding of who we are and what we do. Then feel free to explore the projects and news pages for greater information about the work we do.

Although the website is a little out of date due to extreme work loads over recent months, do not be fooled. The work of Peacemakers is very much in full swing and making a real difference to peoples lives in Kenya.

Feel free to use the Contact page to email us or phone (01920 830317) if you feel you could offer your skills, time, gifts or money to help or sponsor people in Kenya. You'll be surprised at how much a small amount of helping others can benefit your own life or business!

As you can read in Tom Beak's report, the young adults are having a very full and productive time in Kenya. They are making a very real difference in the community and finding it very rewarding!

If you click on the "Photos of events" link below you'll be able to see some of the events and get a feel of what volunteering with Peacemakers can be like.

We are very proud of what Chrissy and all of our volunteers are achieving.
God bless them.

Photos of events

On the 10th of November, Four ‘young adults’ set off for Kenya; set for adventure, full of ideas of Kenyan lifestyle and culture. Many of our expectations, based on geography books and stereotypes, were soon to be proven wrong as we quickly discovered a rapidly changing Kenya. What has been proven true, however, is the

warm welcome and generosity of the Kenyan people; despite increasing levels of hardship and poverty. Not too sure where to start, what I do know is that the word ‘amazing’ has been exhausted, ‘overwhelming’ is an understatement and ‘dinner’ means buttocks in Kiembu.

We have now been living in Kathageri for over 2 months and are more than at home here. Living under Madame Grace’s unwavering hospitality at Plainsview Academy, we have been lucky enough to experience the real Kenyan way of life.

Under the guidance of our Boss/Mother Chrissie, we were soon stuck in many areas; visiting local orphanages, hospitals and schools. Soon it was Christmas, and with numerous stories of a snow-covered England, we all looked forward to a blistering hot Christmas. It rained.

 

 

Christmas was a very successful time for Peacemakers Kenya, with the Plot looking more and more homely, we were able to host a party on Christmas eve for the children of Kigumu orphanage. Soon a large crowd had assembled and enjoyed games, presents and a nativity play like no other expertly performed by the Kivuria drama group (one of the 1st beneficiaries of the Peacemakers Prayer house). A great day, marked with a lot of happy faces.

With the arrival of Sophie’s parents, Jackie and Dave, we treated ourselves to a short break to Samburu National park to welcome in the new year on Safari. Joined by a large number of Baboons residing in our campsite (stealing our eggs), camping under the stars, with entertainment provided by Samburu warriors, this was truly a unique way to celebrate the new year!

 

The new year has brought a lot of new challenges; opportunities to work for longer periods of time in certain places. This has meant very successful weeks spent working with children in Embu Hospital (particularly the abandoned baby unit), as well as, holding teaching posts at Kivuria Primary school and here at Plainsview itself!

 

At the moment, we are enjoying being busy, still learning new things everyday and getting increasingly inspired by everything we see and do. The ideas of ways to help and improve quality of life for many people in this community are continually flooding in, the only problem we have from now until we return home is finding time to complete them all!

 

This is definitely an experience I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone. If you are willing to help and keen to interact with the local community, there is no end to the good you can do. Plus, with the imminent completion of the Peacemakers Open House, accommodation will be made that much easier.

 

Tom Beak

The Oasis Project are holding a Community Christmas Wreath Festival at Watton Methodist Church Hall on Sat 5th Dec 10:30am  -- 3.00pm

Please come and view the hand made exhibits from various village groups and vote for your favourite.

Peacemakers will be represented with our "Helm of Life" wreath and a stall selling African jewellry and crafts. There will be a Bazaar with various stalls ( flower club, knit & natter, traidcraft, cards & crafts Tombola etc).
Refreshments will be available.

In the morning there will be a street organ player raising funds for Diabetes UK
and the event will be closed at 3.00pm by the
 Aston Hand Bell Ringers.

For more details contact: 01920 420 645.

DO COME ALONG IF YOU CAN.

Are you able to volunteer? Several young people have already joined Peacemaker teams.
Take Hannah and Charli for example. After visiting a variety of continents they arrived in Runyenjes, Embu, to volunteer their help in setting up a Plant Nursery for the community centre. Here were two gap year students who certainly didn’t mind rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty. See the photos of the planting. They also helped get the prayer house ready for painting! Thank you Hannah and Charli, You were brilliant!

If you feel you would like to volunteer your services, for whatever length of time, we would be able to make good and valuable use of you. Please contact Brenda Marshall via the websites contact form.
Thank you.

For more photos, please click on the "Full Story" link just below.

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.