This what it's all about...

Emmaloba primary organized the distribution of uniforms last Thursday to 60 needy children. The school was at pains to demonstrate that the selection had been done openly and fairly, so we had to read out names and give the new clothing publicly. The age groups and ability levels were well represented. The children sang songs of thanks while the tailors from the village were still ironing the shirts and dresses.
The grant to Emmaloba is now complete. The micro finance group is paying back at a prodigious rate, and four have already tapped their second loan, spurred on by the idea of gaining more capital. Some of them are braiding sisal ropes for sale in the market, some are making mandazis (donuts). On Thursday we talked again of the cow dung fuel and they were shown how to make liquid soap.
A Rotarian in Kakamega donated a number of pens and pencils and sold me the rest at cost, so we had 10,000/- shillings remaining (about $150) even after giving a donation to ensure that all the senior class was able to pay registration fees for their final exams. The head teacher called me from the senior classroom to say that he wanted to build good desks for them since the ones they are using are small and broken. I could hear the children clap in the background. This will also give some work to the community.
The water is still somewhat of a problem in that the dry season has been prolonged well into March in that area. The well serves the school and a couple of local families, but it has already been deepened three times and we have now hit solid rock, so it will have to stay as it is. When the rains come (they have been threatening for some time) the water will flow again.

After the uniform ceremony I left our two young women to meet the micro finance group while I paid a quick visit to Ebumbayi. It is only about 5 kilometres away but buried in the hills down a narrow, rocky lane. The new head teacher, whose email I posted a few days ago, says he is already seeing progress with children and parents. I met the chairman of the school management committee who is pleased with the changes. Two of the young teachers attended part of the Virtues workshop three weeks ago and are using Virtues strategies to good effect.
I also met a widow with two children at the school. Both children are losing vision with the elder almost totally blind. The mother had taken the girls to the local eye hospital where they had tests, but the doctor who could diagnose was not there. They will have to return in ten days. The school had raised the fare for the first visit. I was able at least to give the bus fare for their return (about $15) The head master has email and has promised to let me know what the hospital says.
The terrain is steep and rocky and there is a serious problem of water. I will add a picture of where the children go to fetch water. It is likely to be impossible to dig, and so we might look for a harvesting and storage solution. One of the problems is that people have planted right up tot he stream although regulations say there should be 20 metres left. Thus the water is severely contaminated with run off and chemicals from the fields and it would be no use to put a well close to the water source.
It was good to meet so many people who are so grateful for the little help we can offer. I always tell them we are just the messengers and their friends are away in Canada.