Some IGA groups in Nkunga that were supported by FH with utensils for hire chickens are now making good income from this venture! Pictured above is one of the IGA groups showing their healthy chicken indicating success in one of their projects. We hope they continue to succeed! Youth in the community are also generating their own money through the monthly contributions and rendering their services during community occasions to earn an income. The youth have learned that they can make a living even from small business and casual work ventures. Therefore rather than spending time idling, they are actively seeking ways of earning an income and then putting some money away on savings.

To motivate children in their studies, 50 packs of school stationary were issued to Maisha Bora nursery. This was a great boost for the children because most of their parents struggle to buy stationary.

Image: Club members transfer tree seedlings from the nursary bed in prepartion for planting.

The environmental club members in Nkunga have been very active in initiating friendly projects for school. They have been involved in clean up days, cutting the long grass and general cleaning in school. Recently they took lead in planting over 300 tree seedlings in the school compound. Each of the club members will take care of an assigned number of seedlings until they are strong enough. The pupils will continue to plant more trees until they restore what has been destroyed through charcoal burning and firewood. By doing so we expect a beautiful environment and in future that the climatic conditions will change for the better.

Image: Group members in Maisha Bora looking after their chicks.

Chicks were distributed to seventeen IGA group members in Maisha Bora.  Two follow up meetings on proper care of the chicks were held and later visits indicated that the members were knowledgeable of the techniques to take care of the chicks and keep records to ensure equitable distribution of the fully grown chicken and any proceeds thereof. This activity will over the coming months strengthen the capacity of the group members to generate income.  

To commemorate the birth of Christ Jesus, a Christmas party was organized and held in Maisha Bora Nursery compound where 130 children participated. A lesson on the significance of Christmas was taught even as children were engaged in singing, dancing and various games. The children were given snacks which they could also carry home to share with their families. Pictured the children are holding up their gifts.

Image: A group of students who attended a youth conference in Marsabit in August 2012 with Fh staff Rosemary Muguna.

Students from Nkunga joined 200 students from all the CDP centres in the country for a five day conference in Marsabit.  The main objective of the conference was to help students grow in their critical thinking and problem solving­­ skills, build and strengthen their self-esteems amongst other important life skills. The students from Nkunga enjoyed the 7 hour journey to Marsabit. The conference was interactive accommodating and very educative, they also made friends whilst learning­ a lot. Among the topics covered included conflict resolution, leadership, healthy relationships, Drugs and HIV/Aids. All this was geared toward empowering the youth to be effective managers of the opportunities, challenges and risks that will come their way at both personal and community/ national levels. 

If you were not aware, this year team was the largest ever taken to Uganda…

With all your support and various donations, we were able to take an additional 26 suitcases full of clothing and school materials which we were able to distribute to Kyoga primary school and two other local schools supported by FH.

It was great to see the completed medical centre building we started last year and this year we commenced work on the extra buildings (nurses quarters, water tank, incinerator, toilets etc) needed so the medical centre can become operational. Good progress was made on the nurses’ quarters as can be seen in the image above.

Thank you all again and please pray for all the local community out in Kyoga, that they may grow in faith and see the medical centre complete and serving the local community.  

Regards John Farrall – Team leader

Children collecting water from the old nearest water source in Ruhona

At Mwumba primary school a new water tank has been built at the school providing great relief to the school as now there is a far better supply of water and children do not have to walk to collect water.

One of the children called Concorde is happy with the water tank he said “We are using the rain water to clean the classrooms, the windows, the teacher’s toilets and some children use it as drinking water if they haven’t brought any from home.”

The headmaster says“Before we got the water tank, it was hard to get water since there is no water near the school. Children and adults have to climb very difficult terrain for three km.” He has hopes that they can build two more tanks to really provide the water needs for the school and the nearby areas.

During the last few months children in Nkunga were taken through various bible lessons touching on the life of Jesus. Among these including the story of Jesus’s temptation, lent season, His triumphant entry to Jerusalem, crucifixion, death and his resurrection. Children were encouraged to be firm, faithful and practice Christian doctrines. They especially enjoyed the fun filled activities such as participating in Bible study, youth camps and rallies.