Newsletter July 2024

  • News from Kisumu
  • Kenya in the news
  • Activities
  • Web shop Maasai bling bling
  • Wandel3daagse Langenboom
  • TRAP-IN Uden
  • Bottle campaign Jumbo Uden
  • Materials to Kisumu

  • Agenda
  • Maria Chapel Maurik Langenboom
  • Visit to projects board member Evelien

  • News from the board
  • Board member Evelien and her daughter to Kenya
  • Expedition Kenya will be continued!

NEWS FROM Kisumu

It is rare for Kenya to be in the Dutch news, but recently this has been the case. Abundant rainfall in
some parts of Kenya has led the government to decide to keep schools closed for longer than
planned. In addition, there are many demonstrations against the government, initially directed
against a tax increase on daily goods. Although the president decided not to introduce this law, the
protests continue, as young protesters in particular want to impeach the current president.
Fortunately, there are reports that everyone involved in our projects and contacts is safe and doing
well.

PROJECT CARE
We are pleased to announce that Sister Lucy of St. Clare is back after a long period of illness. Our
social worker Celestine has been extra busy for a while, but we hope that there will now be a period
of rest and that Sister Lucy can start again in good health.

PROJECT HELP TO INDIVIDUALS
Amara supports a number of women and men with a microcredit. For example, Molly has been able
to redecorate her school canteen and George has been able to boost his life as a welder. Of course,
before the start of a microcredit, the plans are discussed and how the money will be repaid. We are
therefore very happy if people do indeed succeed in building a life and repaying the loan. For
example, Jackline, Moses’ mother, has been able to successfully open a shop and has already been
able to repay more than half of her microcredit. A great example of the direct impact we can make
with donations.

PROJECT SPORT
From the Netherlands we were able to transport football equipment to Kenya again. Through Richard, our board member in Kenya, the materials then ended up at the football club. Great, of course! On June 16, our Urusi contact person received a beautiful photo with the text “Eve, Urusi is very happy with the materials.”

PROJECT THERAPY
Since April, a new therapist has started at our work experience place:
“Hello, hope this finds you well, i am Levis Wanyonyi Wefwila an Occupational therapist working with
Amara Foundation at Saint Antony and Saint Martins. I graduated with a diploma in occupational
therapy from Kenya Medical Training College Machakos campus.
I studied Occupational therapy to; fast to improve the quality of life for people living with disability.
Secondly The impact of occupational therapy, how it has really helped people live independent life. I
have interest in Occupational therapy and I enjoy practicing. Having worked with other facilities that
deals with disability cases am well equipped to work with Amara Foundation. I am passionate about
helping those able differently in this schools. I was interested to work with Amara Foundation
because am ready to push the goals and objectives of the foundation,  I enjoy practicing as a therapist
and seeing my patients achieve skills they’re missing.
My comprehensive education in occupational therapy ha s equipped me with a strong foundation in
principles, techniques and best practices. Through hands on experience I have developed skills in
assessing patients needs, designing tailored treatment plans and  implementing effective
interventions.
I am passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable to support your goals as a foundation while furthering
my professional growth.”

ACTIVITIES
Jewellery in the sun
Summer has started and hopefully the weather will be fantastic. Did you know that Amara also sells
beautiful summer jewellery these days? In addition to the beautiful Maasai bracelets, we now also
have colourful anklets and necklaces in our range. All made by Maasai women like Ngoona who can
support their families with the sale. Do you want to shine extra this summer or do you know
someone who loves bracelets, anklets, earrings and necklaces? Then take a look at our web shop for
beautiful Maasai bling!

Three-day walk
The evenings of 4, 5 & 6 June were dominated by the Evening three-day-walk in Langenboom. Amara
Foundation has been linked as a charity for several years now. A warm welcome with a decorated
entrance at “De Blaauwe Bes”, more than 150 walkers including children, parents and also free
walkers joined. The beautiful weather certainly invited us to walk along, enjoy the music at the rest-
and end place and not to forget to finish with a freshly-made ice cream with milk from local farmer
“Thelosen”! And don’t forget, specially made in Kisumu, a keychain slipper in Amara colours for
every walker. A total of €1570 was raised, of which €590 in sponsorship money was collected by the
children from family, neighbourhood and friends. What a great edition this was!

TRAP-IN Uden
Whitmonday 20 May, the municipality of Maashorst was dominated by the jubilee edition of the
TRAP-IN. This 50th edition had a special touch where the chosen charities all got the chance to be
present with a promotional stand. Amara Foundation was allowed a stand at the 1st coffee stop.
Board member Carmen and her daughter Kenza displayed the beautiful handmade products this
morning, explained Amara’s projects to passers-by and there was also a sale for a nice amount.

Volunteer Lia Mickers had a double role and was allowed to provide musical support with her “Choir
without notes”. As a goal, we also received a check worth €3500!

Bottle campaign Jumbo Losplaats Uden
The month of June was dedicated to the Jumbo bottle campaign. Many people have donated their
deposit vouchers to our projects at the Jumbo at the Losplaats in Uden. Thank you very much for
that!


Materials to Kisumu
Thanks to Bo from producentenreizen-kenia.nl, some travellers brought materials to Kisumu for us in
June. Ina, Annelies and Fieke met Wiljan at Schiphol Airport, who each handed them a suitcase or
bag weighing about 20 kilos. As a result, we were able to provide a lot of bandages and orthopaedic
aids for Samoo the therapist and a filled first-aid kit for the Urusi football club, a set of football kits
from Rinico tent rental complete with water bag and also football boots. Thank you Christien and
Harry (WSD) for all the bandages! And certainly also Heckert and van Lierop for all orthopaedic aids
such as back orthoses, ankle braces, thumb orthoses and ankle orthoses. Jaap and Harm van de Vorle
from Rinico for the football uniforms and Gebroeders de Regter and Sjoerd Selten thank you for the
beautiful (backpack) bags in which we could put everything nicely organised in the suitcases and
bags.

AGENDA

  • Our Lady’s Chapel De Maurik Langenboom focuses on Amara Foundation. Enjoy a walk in the
    Maurik this summer, light a candle for your loved ones and support our projects.
  • 5 to 19 July 2024 Visit Kisumu: Board member Evelien and daughter Fem visit Kisumu’s projects
    Follow our socials for updates!

Board member Evelien travels to Kenya with her daughter
On Friday, July 5, I, Evelien, left for Kisumu together with my 14-year-old daughter Fem. It is the first
time for Fem that she has made such a long journey. I’m looking forward to showing her our projects.
When I first travelled to Kisumu and decided to join the board, she was only 10 months old. Now she
comes with me and can see the foundation with her own eyes. We start with a two-day safari,
followed by a visit to all our projects in Kisumu. I’m curious how Fem will feel about this: different
food, limited wifi, and the serious evaluation interviews that are on my to-do list and that she will
sometimes attend. Fortunately, she can play with the children in the children’s home while I have
serious conversations with the sisters and the social worker. In the hospital, she will be present at
these meetings or look around the therapy department. We’ll also help out in Molly’s businesses: a
school cafeteria, a barbershop, and a salon where nails are groomed and hair braided. We will
participate in the training sessions of the sitting volleyball and football clubs, visit the art market and
go to the workshop of our card maker. And hopefully we can also visit a large boarding school where
Fem ‘be at school’ for a while. While we complain about our full classes of 32 children, there are
sometimes as many as 75 children in one room! In short, lots of new experiences, both for Fem and
for me. We will definitely post a few things on social media during our stay and share our
experiences in the next newsletter.

Expedition Kenya gets a sequel!
After a successful pilot in 2020, Amara Foundation will once again travel to our projects in Kisumu
with a group of students from Heerbeeck College in Best. During the pilot, we travelled with 7students and 3 supervisors; this time, in October 2025, we will go with 20 students and 4 supervisors.
The programme includes visits to a children’s home, a boarding school, a school for the disabled and
an art studio. We will also play sports with the football and sitting volleyball clubs and explore the
beautiful nature of Kenya on a safari. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, the students will
prepare for this trip by learning more about Kenya, improving their own skills, saving money for the
trip, and co-organizing three events for the Amara Foundation. Keep following our social media as we
would love to welcome you to these events.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF KISUMU!
Evelien Hommes-Romonesco – Carmen van Bergen – Esther van Rooij – Nynke Bosker-Haagsma –
Martine Plantinga

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