Supporting Sacred Heart School, Naivasha, Kenya dream for something better
A dream for something better, Wangari Cecilia
Autumn Update
Dear Friends,
May the Grace of our Lord and His love fill your hearts. We pray for you every day by name.
I have a special bond with each one of you. My life in England fills me with good memories and I cherish each moment I spent with you- fundraising, selling bags, dining with you. We bonded together with one common goal- to give the poor a chance to fight poverty through education.
I have great news; our children have succeeded in this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and some have just left us to join the best national schools in Kenya. Ariance Girls High School, Munga’u High School, and MOI Girls School, Nairobi are among the top schools receiving children from our school.
Dear friends, I have now accepted 10 orphans from the poor nomadic Pokot people, including one 3 year old girl who will be our youngest child here. Last week I also received an orphan from the Republic of the Congo who was living in a refugee camp in Kenya.
It is very, very cold here; we have never experienced such cold in the history of Kenya. Thanks to everyone who have sent us warm coats, quilts and blankets.
God bless you all,
Karuri School News
Mary Wanjiru
Mary Wanjiru is one of our children who last month joined Naivasha Girls High School, one of the best girls high schools in the country. She joined Karuri 8 years ago. This is her story.
Dear well-wishers,
I salute you all with great joy and gratitude, as I sit down to jot a few lines and to share my immeasurable gratitude to you all our dear Friends in England. You have transformed my life like transforming night to a bright day.
Allow me to introduce myself, I am a girl by name Mary Wanjiru, I am 14 years old and an orphan. I was born in central Kenya in a very poor family. My mother was mentally ill and died when I was 4 years old. My brother and I lived with my grandmother who already had 9 children. We lived in a very poor situation, and my bed was a sack if I was lucky. Suddenly my grandmother got liver cancer and died within months at the age of 44 years. My last hope for an education was gone.
I still remember the sunset of our last day in misery with tears and I remember the sunrise of the day my life completely changed. Wangari heard about us, and came to our village. ‘Toto are you okay?’ Mum Wangari asked me as she wiped my dirty face which had not seen soap for a while.
As she drove us to school I was full of joy as I chewed a biscuit she gave us. I don’t think I had ever travelled in a car. Eventually we were given a good shower, smart clothes and had our shaggy hair cut. We were served food on a table and each received a small box of clothes, soap, tissues etc. I couldn’t believe this was mine.
In 2013 Sacred Heart Primary School became our home. This year we took our Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. I was among the best candidates who scored the best grade and have joined one of the best high schools in Kenya called Naivasha Girls High School. I want to be a surgeon and I believe I will make it.
I am very very grateful to Wangari, to the Sacred Heart School Fraternity and to you my dear friends for your golden support that has made a difference in my life. I will work so hard and achieve my goal and I want also to help the poor and destitute children.
A million thank yous, God bless you all.
Your loving child, Mary Wanjiru
Fundraising
Fundraising during the last year or so has been difficult to say the least so we were so grateful that the Northampton Catenians chose the Karuri Project as one of their Charities this year. They presented us with a cheque for £1250 in July and a huge well done and thanks to everyone involved.
Virginmoneygiving have surprisingly made the decision to close their charity platform at the end of November. We are currently looking at alternatives for those of you who support us via this method and will be contacting you separately. A big thank you to everyone who has donated to us over many years through virginmoneygiving.