*Children:
- Launched our Transition Program by teaching classes (Budgeting, First-Aid, and Job Seeking Skills) to our first round of 4 students, and helping them find places to live off-campus.
- Finished the Girl's Night sleepovers to teach the girls in small groups about the Biblical view of sexuality and body safety.
- Finished praying individually with each of the children at the Home.
- Assisted our choir kids in attending the provincial choir competition, where they placed 2nd and will be going to Nationals in August!
*Administration:
- Completed updating the Policies and Procedures for the Home, and now need to submit them to our lawyer for review.
- Drafted new contracts for all our staff, which will begin August 1.
- Compiled files on all staff including all information required by the Child Protection Act.
- Hired a social worker who is trained in counseling to work with our children full time.
- Updated all children's files with behavior records, academic and medical records.
OCT 2011 - MAY 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
*Children:
- Applied for Kenyan IDs for all of our students over the age of 18 years.
- Developed policies for a new Transition Program to assist students who are over age 18, have completed post-primary schooling, and are "ready" to move into independent living in the community. We are waiting on the processing of the Kenyan ID cards for our first 2 students, as the IDs are needed to obtain employment, and finding employment is a necessary part of the Transition Program.
- Amy prepared a Budgeting and Money Management Class for our transition students, teaching Biblical concepts of working, planning ahead, giving, saving, and debt. She will start teaching this class to our upcoming transition students in the next week or so.
- Began a new process of carefully documenting all incidences that significantly affect any of our children emotionally, physically, or spiritually. We are hopeful that this new system will help us to follow through on action plans that will help resolve the problems occurring with our kids.
- Earlier this year, we hosted a "Kumbaya Night" for all of our post-primary students in our back yard. We sang worship songs around the campfire, had popcorn and hot chocolate, and tried to make it a special evening for the kids.
- Amy and Jennifer have been doing Girl's Night sleepovers at Jennifer's house with small groups of 4-6 girls at a time. We have been using this time to talk to the girls about the Biblical view of sexuality, teach them about HIV, answer any questions they might have, and encourage them that it is GOOD to stand up for their right to safety despite what this culture might teach them.
- Jason hosted a guy's night for the boys at the Home in class 8 and above. They ate a lot of meat (!) and watched the movie, Gifted Hands. Afterwards, they discussed various aspects of the film as a group. It was encouraging to see these boys get involved in the discussion and to recognize the value of perseverance despite difficult circumstance.
- Amy recently began a Biblical counseling course through Mending the Soul with several other missionaries in our community. It should take approximately 3 months to complete.
*Facility Improvements / Repairs:
- Jason has been absorbed with the construction of our new Kuku House. No, this is not a new home for our family... "kuku" is the Swahili word for chicken! The new kuku house has been recently completed and will soon house 200 chickens at a time that we will raise as broilers and sell to local restaurants as an income generating project for the Home.
- Jason has also overseen construction of new latrines for the staff at Bahati Academy, in addition to multiple repair projects around the Home.
*Administration:
- Just carrying on!
JUNE-SEPT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
*Children:
- Began looking into alternative placements for several of our older children who will be graduating from our Children’s Home soon and entering young adulthood.
- Coordinated multiple outings for our Home kids, including a day hike, a day of soccer playing with kids from another children’s home, and Jason took multiple older students to visit a newer Children’s Home in Bungoma so they would have an opportunity to serve and encourage the children there.
- Registered 24 new children for CRF sponsorship at Bahati School.
- Began a lunch program for the CRF children at Bahati School.
- Welcomed a new team member, Jennifer Ashlock (formerly living in Mbale, Uganda), whose primary role will be spiritual discipleship and mentoring of the children at the Home.
*Facility Improvements/Repairs:
- Coordinated and hosted two teams who came from the US to build 80 new desks for Bahati school, and paint the classrooms at the school.
- Finished researching various income generating projects, and decided with the staff to pursue two projects: The first is a “bean investment” where we have planted an acre of beans in the field behind our house. After harvest, these beans will not be eaten at the children’s home, but rather will be kept for re-sale when bean prices go up again. The second is a chicken project, by which we will raise broiler chickens for selling to local restaurants. Jason has been drawing plans for the chicken coop to house 200 chickens, and working through bids with contractors before beginning construction. Without any solicitation, we have received “random” donations for most of the money we will need to start this project! We are so thankful for God’s provision for this important project that will allow us to become more self-sufficient.
*Administration:
- Have been working with the staff at the Home to improve Biblical conflict resolution skills.
- Have been working with the staff at Bahati School to analyze our projected budget for the coming 2012 school year. In conjunction with this, have analyzed fee structures and academic performance of neighboring schools for comparison so we can modify our fees and enrollment to remain competitive with similar schools.
