October 18

We finished checking the remains of the container and most of the electronic equipment ready for distribution.
We met Ben, a student we sponsor, who is finishing at the Medical Training Institute to be a Clinical Officer (rural doctor) There are only 2,000 medical doctors in Kenya (pop 34 million) so Clinical Officers are highly prized. Ben told us that his15 year old brother who was epileptic died suddenly in July. Epilepsy and cerebral palsy from head injuries and birth trauma are very common amongst children. Ben’s dad had to borrow money to pay for the funeral, which has stretched the family finances even more.
One of the Secondary schools in the diocese had received water from us as well as computers over a couple of years and started a rudimentary computer programme. Because of this initiative they were successful in acquiring a government grant for a new computer lab but had no furniture. On Thursday we were able to donate 12 tables (for two machines each) and some chairs as well as a filing cabinet and books from the Rotary container. They scrambled all evening to set things up for the official opening on Friday. There was a great celebration of the whole community to which we were invited and Pat did the ceremonial ribbon cutting. They hope to open the facility to former students and probbaly the whole community. It is a very nice centre with an efficient and knowledgeable teacher.
The government has produced e learning packages for the Math & Sciences curricula. We are hoping to help to supply language packages for English and Swahili. In such a rural area the students have little opportunity to practice English. They are therefore at a serious disadvantage in their school leaving exams which are all set in English.
PS I have tried several times to attach a picture to this post but without success. My connection is just too slow. I'll keep trying