I’m pleased at last to be able to inform you that we are moving into the next stage of our commercial development, and to report that the Peacemakers’ deeds have been registered in the new name of Peacemakers CBO (Community Based Organisation).

I want to acknowledge and thank Pastor Sammy, Grace Kaumer and Lucy Njiru for standing in the offices of acting trustees over the past few years. We are now at the stage of getting a management team together to be responsible for the various projects that are already underway. Christine has given a report of some of the activity at the present time.

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Peacemakers Kenya, March 2019.

Last night, we had the first rainfall in months. We have been trudging in thick dust and my hair was stained orange from the red-soil. Our bore hole is empty; the shamba is dry. Today has been hot again but people are thanking God for the looming clouds and the promise of the long-awaited arrival of the March rains. There has been the usual frantic diversion from all other activities other than preparing the plots for planting.

Since January, we have been trying to do some urgent necessary repairs on the site and in the house. The house needs a fair amount of painting and refurbishment as we are trying to make it smarter for accommodating guests. There are currently 5 bedrooms (see the Air B&B website for Peacemakers homestead) and we are creating another one by re-locating the library. The dust has been sweeping in relentlessly through the windows and under the doors. We have yet to complete putting locks on every guest door but we have made a new front door which is more secure than the last. Each room needs furnishing with a simple clothes storage place; each sink needs a good plumber; each light fitting needs replacing.

George, the German Shepherd no. 2 grew so fast that he could not share with his uncle, Jack, so Wahome the carpenter made him his own kennel.  It took nights for me to persuade him to get inside! Along with a local mongrel, Suki, the three dogs make excellent night watchmen, barking in chorus when they hear a strange noise in the night. We have also installed security cameras.

My oldest pet, Gus the cat has been joined by tiny tabby Yvette, bought really to chase away the rats from the chicken shed. In fact, we have had to demolish one shed in favour of a new structure with a solid floor. We cannot afford to lose chicks from predatory animals as we so want the poultry project to be successful.When Cameron came last November, he agreed with Isaac which projects should be concentrated on. Cameron left us with an investment for the chicks. So the chicken shed will soon be officially opened as “Cameron House”. Doesn’t it look smart?

Three new piglets arrived 2 weeks ago, chasing behind the previous litter of four. Isaac has bought a new boar with the proceeds to avoid inbreeding.

We still only have one male goat, William, seen her kissing with Suki.

Our cow Mpwenda looks huge but has still not produced…

The whole of the old piglet houses needs renovating for surplus pigs and extra goats, in time.

The greenhouse has suffered from wilt so we need to find a sponsor for soil bags to get back onto our red and yellow peppers project. Meanwhile, we will plant managu (nightshade) which are delicious indigenous greens inside. We have had no water to irrigate and plant our tree nursery. We were thrilled therefore to get a donation from the Richard Taylor Foundation for a solar water pump; to be installed in the next week… just in time to make the most of the rain.

We have been struggling to pay extortionate electricity bills hence our aim is to cut off from mains power. KPL (Kenya Power and Lighting) has the monopoly for supply throughout Kenya. I have spent so much time complaining about high bills like everybody else… We have an outstanding accumulated bill of around £390, they say, and before we are allowed to cut off their supply we have to wait until we can install solar panels.

I stay and live on site in the house. There is a youth called Sam who sleeps in the clinic as he has no family member to house him. During the weekdays, we have Wanjiko to cook and help me clean, Shadrack the computer trainer who also cuts the hedges; Dennis who looks after the livestock. Gitonga works on the tree nursery but helps with everything, Lutigia, alias  Songo, digs like a machine, helps with the animals or building tasks; Murimi helps to clean the chickens, sheep and goat. The latter three are mentally and physically challenged.

We continue to host community groups and training. We take bookings for church groups and others retreats and social functions. We have had a steady flow of people both young and old to do computer packages. Next week, our friend Fanta’s daughter is one year old so he has his thanksgiving celebration here with the current and former M.Ps and 7 Members of the County Assembly as guests. We have to call in extra cooks and helpers for such occasions.

We had a meeting to dissolve the former trustees and are waiting for the Lord to raise up a mission led team, committed to the Peacemakers mission. So currently, we are operating under the covering of Sammy Gitungu. In the last prayer time, we drew up a list of 19 people to invite to come to pray for the way forward. We also value your continued prayers. We need the Holy Spirit to stir up Peacemakers to come to our monthly prayer meetings. We are praying that God will continue to bless us and help us prosper to fulfil His plans.

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You can see from the report the progress that we’ve made but we still have costs to meet. So, if you feel led in any way to support the various needs we have, particularly in managing the electricity and installation of the solar panels, that would be absolutely fantastic. The easiest way to send your donation, however big or small, is to the Peacemakers’ account using our Donation Form  , Standing order mandate  or in the post to my home address and I will transfer it across to Kenya.

Love and appreciation as always, Brenda.

A  Volunteer In Kenya!

Three years on and a return visit to Peacemakers Kenya …. wow what a difference!
It was truly amazing to see all that had happened and the huge progress that is making such an impact on the local community : the computer room in regular use,

the library stocked with a fantastic selection of books and resources, and the ever expanding “farm”, with livestock, an incubator for chicken production and the wonderful greenhouse producing yet more plants for selling on.

It was especially exciting to see how successful the impressive café is proving. Now up and running and supporting the community with superb hospitality and such impressive food that even the guests who had rented it for the day asked to take any spare food home with them !

What hadn’t changed of course was the warm welcome, the gratitude and friendliness of the Kenyan people, young and old, where the sun shone out from their very souls.

This time my visit was predominantly to support the local schools with “Purposeful Play”, inspired by Brenda`s daughter, Kim. I was lucky enough to visit three local settings where I was able to demonstrate the importance of play to support physical development, particularly with the youngest children in Nursery and Reception classes. Not only did the children have great fun but the adults definitely did as well ! These play resources can now be borrowed from the Peacemakers` Resource Centre whenever desired, and enjoyed for many years to come.

It is with huge thanks to friends and family who supported my fundraising that not only was I able to take out a fantastic range of resources but I was also able to give money to fund the construction of a more stable and secure driveway down onto the site. This means that they have now accessibility for all. This is especially important to the visitors who arriving by wheelchair, found the route down to the worship hall, resource area and café impossible. How amazing was it that within hours of handing over the money, lovely Zongo and team were preparing the driveway and within days it had been completed !!

Provision for all, including the more vulnerable allows Peacemakers to reach far into the community, to touch the lives of so many people. Visiting families with clothes, supporting with medical needs and all with the cheerful anticipation that the steadfast truck may just need a little hand now and then !

None of this would have been made possible without the support and dedication of Brenda, working tirelessly here in the UK. And of course, to lovely Chrissie and her wonderful “right hand man”, Isaac; it is with such heart-felt thanks that my love goes out to them and all the wonderful team out in Kenya. Thank you for your incredible hospitality and supporting everything I achieved.

Some how humour and God`s love gets them through each and every day and each and every challenge !

I have returned with such very special memories and feel truly honoured that I could spend just a short while with them.
Thank you again Peacemakers; thank you Kenya !
Liz Darlington x

Summer is over and the children are starting a new year at school, an expensive time for all parents, buying uniforms and books.  Likewise for Kenyan parents too who, until recently, had to pay school fees as well or not attend school, but I’m very pleased to inform you now that the Kenyan Government do pay teachers wages for primary  school education only (not senior school) and have recently began to sponsor a classroom and one teacher’s pay for nursery education, but not all schools yet. Unfortunately there is still no ‘special needs care’.  Peacemakers has some responsibility for Kuvuria School which is situated close by our Resource Centre. It has primary and senior classes and also a handicapped residential unit. Young people of all ages from the unit attend the primary school! Christine is on the Board of Governors and is a very active member in their personal care, transporting them to hospital appointments.

At this point I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to friends of Peacemakers who have faithfully supported (and still are) a needy child through school and who have knitted green school jumpers and organised fund raising events for improving their living facilities and funding disabled toilets and wash rooms on school premises.

On Christine’s return to Kenya in July, the Irish Embassy visited our Centre to inspect how we spent their donation, they left very satisfied and pleased with the outcome.  One of the conditions of spending was to buy and erect a greenhouse to help the community to become more self sufficient.

We are endeavoring to start a Mother/Grandparent/Toddler group at our Resource Centre  and also an Adult Reading Class for the non educated adults whose parents were not able to pay school fees.  Liz Darlington who has volunteered and visited Kenya before, is planning to go again in the new year to help Grace Kauma with the next stage.  Her visit has been delayed because of the Kenyan Presidential Election’s default and the re-Election has now been scheduled for the 17th October. Liz is going to organise a Fund Raiser before she leaves for Kenya, this will help pay for her visit and to pay for the registration of these two groups and other expenses incurred.  So if you would like to support her in any way, please get in touch with me.

Kim Lambden and her colleague Dr.Len Almond have just completed an inspirational learning book for under 5s ‘Step into Purposeful Play’ and I have sent a copy over to Kenya for Grace and Liz to introduce and take into classes in Kenya. Liz will also attend one of Kim's training courses before she leaves for Kenya.

Sadly Kim’s colleague died recently but he did see their work in print.  You can view the book on her website; www.stepintopurposefulplay.com

As you know we are in a transition stage in Kenya. We have stopped paying wages and are encouraging the Kenyans to become self employed, which is a very difficult thing to achieve, simply because the communities are so poor and cannot help themselves even though they are trying. I have written several times to my MP to ask if they could divert a little amount of the huge Aid the UK sends to Kenya and Commonwealth countries, to cover overheads and help maintain the Resource Centre, but without success. We have also written letters to Business Houses in Kenya (list of names provided by Minister for Kenya ) to support financially the Centre at the same time enjoying the facilities for holding conferences there and benefiting from their investment, without response. We have had, on the other hand, a financial one off donation last year from the French Embassy and this year a donation from the Irish Embassy.  Nothing from the British Embassy although they have been approached. Also we won the Good Samaritan Award. Leading up to the General Election in August. We held election campaigns on our site and I'm sure will be used again, in the build up for the re-Election. So you can begin to see how difficult it is for the poor to have a voice and to receive any help from their own Government.

Breaking News from Kenya:

Christine is having a second operation on her eye in Kenyatta Hospital Nairobi on 17th October.  Please support her at this difficult time in prayer.  Thank you

The Presidential Election that took place 9th August 2017 was judged as default and a re-Election was planned for 17th October,  however, this has now been changed to 26th October 2017.  All our plans have come to a halt re. ECD Educational Dept. as nobody will commit themselves because the Government is still not settled.

Make sure you see our next bulletin when Tom Beak’s visit to Kenya will be featured and hopefully the situation in Kenya will be more settled.

God Bless you.

Brenda & the team

All in all, the walk was a great success from the point of view of promoting our prayers for a Peaceful Election Year.  We visited the offices of six Governors.  We were also on national television giving our message.  We raised a total of just over £1,000 which has been used to support the urgent medical needs of several children within our community.  We are still ‘Open’ for donations.

As we travelled around Mt. Kenya, many people were curious and supportive.  We were also truly blessed by the encouragement of many to keep going.  We are indebted to 75 year old Isaac Gacugo, for being inspired to do the walk. Also to his young companion; Isaac Richard who was his escort and monitor.
Thank you everybody for your support and prayers. Christine.

Malaika Tribute Award

As part of Links International's development, with whom we are partners, they are becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) – Registered Charity No: 1168872.

This means that all our friends and supporters who are giving regularly through Standing Order or intermittent gifts, are kindly asked to fill in a new Gift Aid Declaration form under this new Charity Number. Please click on this link to print off a form. Everything else continues the same!

As we grow and take steps of faith into the future, we would ask you to consider whether this may also be an opportunity to increase your giving, or just give a regular small amount for the maintenance and upkeep of the Resource Centre. Donation forms are here! Thank you so much for your investment into Peacemakers; we really appreciate your faithful support as we confront poverty and create potential. Donation form link for printing.

Tom Beak is wanting to return to Kenya later on this year and Liz Darlington is wanting to be involved in the starting of a pre-school class. Again later on this year, maybe you would like to join them on the trip! We have always encouraged young & old people to come to Kenya, and give of themselves and serve the local community. To Students and anybody that has been to Kenya in the past and taken training sessions, we invite you to come and see the Resource Centre and help us in the transition period and also in the future. In a sense, to become voluntary guardians to the project.
Students usually have to pay charities large amounts of money to volunteer in Africa, but with us its free! You only have to pay your own expenses to have a ‘hands on‘ experience from day one which will be life changing!

We are so thankful to all our friends and supporters, who’ve helped us to achieve wonderful results in financially difficult times. Helping the Kenyans to work their way out of poverty with these great facilities for their health and education, not to mention fostering a great community spirit! Let’s thank God for his blessings and allowing us to continue being part of the answer to people’s needs.
Brenda, Chrissie & the team.

We are pleased to announce…
THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF OUR MT KENYA SPONSORED WALK !!!

ISAAC GACUGO a 75 year old man walked 515 km all round Mt Kenya, visiting 6 counties.He was flagged off with great ceremony by H.E Governor Martin Wambora on 23rd January 2017 from Embu.

Joan Rushden and Chrissie completing the last day of the walk with sponsorship from supporters back in the UK. Well done ladies, best foot forward!

The walk promoted the need to help the vulnerable and the banner was promoting a Peaceful General Election campaign in 2017, for which our resource centre is a focal point for such gatherings. A short News Report Video can be seen here, and If you would like to read Chrissie's report on the walk, please click on this link.

Here is our new Incubator for hatching chicks, sponsored by the Irish Embassy.

Here is our new Piggery, almost completed. This too was sponsored by the Irish Embassy (notice the green paint!!). We still have a greenhouse to build as our part of the sponsorship deal  and we hope this will be finished in the very near future.

Here is a link to a report from Helen Maguire, who recently visited the resource centre with Andrew & Molly! I would just like to add that Molly suffers with Leukaemia and is on medication and a special diet so doesn't eat or sleep well. But Chrissie reports that Molly was eating and sleeping well whilst there. It's amazing the blessing you can receive when giving to others!

Meanwhile, back in the UK, Grace, a trustee from Kenya, was visiting her daughter in Chorleywood and spent a week with Brenda to discuss the way forward for the resource centre. Brenda held an "At home with Grace" day for people to come and have tea with Grace and ask questions about life in Kenya. It was a great time and Peacemakers was given a donation by Watton-at Stone Tuesday community group (photo right). Grace was very blessed by the warm welcome she was given.

We still have outstanding needs to furnish our restaurant ( a focal point for community gatherings and raising funds for self maintenance of the centre), for the proposed opening on the 25th March. This is the time when we have invited sponsors of the walk to bring what they've raised and join the celebrations. It will promote the wonderful facilities that Peacemakers have developed for the community's future. People have been trained & jobs provided, now we have skilled professional Kenyans to continue the work. If you feel you would like to help where there is a need, please see the list of items by clicking the link below and contact Brenda.

List of Needs to complete the restaurant

Thank you, Brenda & the team.

It was another sunny morning as we excitedly set off from Nairobi for the drive to Denis Marshall Foundation, Kathageri on Monday 20th February.
I was so pleased to see Christine again and renew friendships with those living and working there, that I had met in 2010 and 2012, and we were given a wonderful welcome.

Meeting Isaac, the sponsored walker!

It was Molly’s first trip to Kenya and she was really amazed at the beautiful bourgainvillea, gardens and centre that has been built there over the past 9 years. I could not believe all that had been achieved by Christine and her team over the past 5 years since I last visited and we were all especially impressed by the new restaurant that is about to be opened. We admired the woodwork and other carpentry done by Boniface and the Makuti roof made so beautifully by Rooney and a tutor from Mombasa for the restaurant. It is so clever how the craft room and other rooms are integral to the building underneath it.
Not only that, but the Shamba has grown with the new animals and the slightly larger area and we watched as the new Pigsty was nearly completed by Boniface and the others in the week we were there. The goats and piglets were real characters and should provide some much needed income. It is lovely that the Irish Embassy has given the award to Peacemakers’ for this. Also the chicken house is well stocked too! We saw the incubator awaiting eggs to start the cycle again!

The building attached to Kisimani  House is truly amazing with the computer suite, library and Reception area attached thanks to some funding from the French Embassy in Nairobi. What a mighty work Christine has achieved with Peacemakers’ friends fundraising and the support from the Embassies.

We were very comfortable in Kisimani house with the lovely rooms and luxury of a shower or bath in two places, and of course food a plenty on the table thanks to Christine, Fred, Wawi, Josephine and others. Andrew and I had withdrawal symptoms from the Mangoes and Pineapple and Passion fruit we were given and Molly especially liked the passion fruit.

One of the many highlights of the week was to visit the Kivuria small Home and Primary school just up the road and present the jumpers, exercise books, varied pencils and other items to the jovial and very friendly Head teacher Madam Lilian Ireri. The new Deputy Head had given us a tour of the grounds and three classrooms. Between the two of them, I think that the school will go from strength to strength, if the three teachers who were promoted are replaced, and the Government delivers on the books and new Curriculum promised. In addition, there is the underlying and wonderful support of Peacemakers International for the small Home and other children in the main school.

Money we raised was spent in Embu on a decoder (to change the analogue to a digital signal) and an aerial for the television in the small Home for disabled children. It may also help with the electrical work to get the solar panel working for electricity. Isaac, a new recruit to Peacemakers who has experience in all kinds of work (he was most welcome on our trips) had put the aerial up that morning before we visited school!

There were many other highlights including the visit to Chuka for drugs for the health needs of ladies on site and it was lovely to see a quick recovery for them. There was also a heartrending visit later in the day to give John his epilepsy drugs and before meeting his family, looking into to the muddy space he calls home. There are holes in the walls stuffed with plastic bags and it is not water or weather proof. His half-brother was given his own jersey on our visit to the school later in the week. We were shocked to see Patrick remove Jiggers from under the toenails of Eric although it was Andrew who gave them support all afternoon whilst Molly and I didn’t like to watch!! It is great that there is a campaign on ‘Jiggers’ at present.

Krispie cakes, tea loaf, chocolate tiffin and buns anyone!

On the Friday afternoon, Molly and I showed Fred, Stella and Wawira how to make Krispie cakes, tea loaf, chocolate tiffin and buns which was great fun. The next afternoon they taught us how to make chapatti dough. This was all for the guests we were expecting for the great visit from the famous Kenyan Gospel Singer ‘Daddy Owen’. In fact, he eventually arrived Sunday morning when we were at service in Chuka town Methodist Church, but he was still there when we returned. He is a very impressive young man with an increasing knowledge of the needs and the places supporting children and adults with disabilities. He was visibly moved by the wonderful work being done on the Peacemakers site. It was so lovely to see him give Christine the wonderful Malaika Foundation award.

Chrissie receiving the Malaika Foundation's

Good Samaritan award.

There I much more we could say but suffice to say that Molly said when we had been that she could live there and we are all saving hard for a further trip!
I will always remember Josephine’s wonderful singing of ‘Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee, How great thou art how great thou art! as we left feeling quite sad but with God’s Peace and Joy in our hearts.

Thank you so much to Christine and all her team for giving us a wonderful week at Denis Marshall Foundation. It was such a privilege to share Kenyan life there for a week.

May God Bless all whom we met in Kenya and may His Blessing be upon the wonderful work being done there by Peacemakers International.

Helen Maguire