Newsletter October 2023

News from Kisumu

  • Kisumu Shakers sitting  volleyball
  • Project Care: St Clare PIP part 2
  • Project Therapy: donation (auxiliary) materials
  • Project Sport: Kisumu Shakers

Activities

  • Bottle box Jumbo Den Dungen 
  • Web shop

Agenda

  • Jeu de Boules PLOP
  • Volunteers in Kisumu
  • Music in the church
  • Christmas market Eigen Herd

News from the board

  • Board member Lisanne and Nel to Kisumu
  • Let’s introduce ourselves…
  • Change of board composition

Kisumu Shakers sitting volleyball
In 2023 we had the pleasure to meet the Kisumu Shakers. A club of very enthusiastic adults who practice sitting volleyball in Kisumu. The positivity and perseverance that this club radiates is enormous! We were allowed to train with them and immediately they stole our hearts. On the spot we set up a campaign and members of two volleyball clubs from the Netherlands donated money, with which we were able to donate a net, balls and pump to “the shakers”.
Upon returning to the Netherlands, the board of Amara Foundation decided to support the club on a more structural basis. As with all our projects, the content of the support lies with the club itself. We think it is very important that they come up with a plan themselves, to which we do not necessarily want to project our Western views.
The club will use the money we donate to empower the members of the club. All members have a disability and therefore have difficulty finding a job in Kenya. Within the empowerment project, they want to give some members access to vocational training. In addition, they want to give members who already have their own business a boost. The third project they want to take on with our donation is for the purchase of materials, such as balls, for the club. We think it’s great that they don’t just want to spend the money, but really want to use it as an investment and therefore to strengthen the members of their club. It is great to offer support to a second sports club in Kisumu within our sports project. Stay informed by following our website and social media.

Project Care St Clare PIP and Harambee
In the previous newsletter we mentioned the PIP, Puppet Interview Programme, follow-up training that we might want to offer to two St. Clare employees in order to be able to further improve the supervision of the relocation of children even better. The follow-up training has now taken place. We received nice photos but also a thank you letter from the social worker. We would also like to share it with all friends of Amara.
“Hello, l hope all Amara members are fine. We at St. Clare are good. We managed to attend the three days training from 5 to 7 September on the advance level in counselling. It was so nice. We have been equipped with more skills and techniques in this field of using puppets, in a special way. It has an added advantage on my career as a social worker. l thank Amara members for giving us this wonderful opportunity. I am so humbled. Thank you once again.“

In August, a Harambee took place. A Harambee is a Kenyan custom, in which the community raises money for charity. St. Clare organized a Harambee to raise money to provide the entire compound with a proper fence. Unfortunately, it turns out to be necessary, in this difficult time for many Kenyans, to protect your property extra.


Project Help to Individuals
Our last loan went to a mother of one of our children from the project therapy with partner who tarted a sale in corn etc. We regularly receive a refund. Good to see that it is still possible in these difficult times. The expansion/renewal of an existing business was put on hold due to various demonstrations in recent months. We assume that this will soon be continued again and we will be kept informed of the state of affairs soon. With some other loans, we notice that life after corona has become more expensive and sales have not kept up. Repayment is often not possible or very difficult in those situations. We will continue to monitor it.

Project Therapy
Nynke brought some neck and back braces to our therapist. These are immediately used for people who come to the hospital and can use them well. Rachell also took bandages and tape material in her hand luggage at the last minute, which comes in handy at the therapy. Thank you Heckert & van Lierop and Susanne van Leuken. In August, our head therapist Samoo saw all the children again during the holiday period. For Byrone, a new walking frame proved necessary. Other questions were
special medication that was temporarily needed for one of the children and new splints were also made. For the mothers and children a moment to see each other again, to chat and to laugh. Evans and Steve went on a trip to an amusement park with their school.


ACTIVITIES

Bottle box Jumbo Den Dungen
€285,75 was raised by this action! What a success again. Everyone who contributed their bottle to this: Asante Sana!
Web shop
Take a look at our web shop! We have several new figurines made from soapstone!

AGENDA

  • PLOP in Uden: Sale products from Kisumu for members
  • 1 to 17 November volunteers Anita and Ronni in Kisumu: keep an eye on our social media!
  • 19 November Music in the Church in Langenboom
  • 10 December Christmas market Stichting Eigen Herd in Uden

News from the board

Board member Lisanne and Nel to Kisumu
Board member Lisanne and friend Nel will visit Kisumu from October 17 to November 16. From Kisumu we will keep everyone informed about our activities on Facebook, Instagram and website. See you then!

Change in board composition
At the beginning of this year, we, Maria and Lisanne, announced to the board of Amara Foundation that we want to stop our duties as board members as from January 1, 2024. We have both worked with great enthusiasm as board members for Amara Foundation. Maria from its foundation in 2007, Lisanne joined a few years later. Together we have gained many beautiful and unforgettable experiences. Together we made the trip to Kisumu many times and carried kilos of luggage in our suitcases and bags. In addition, we also enjoyed the contacts with “the friends of Amara” here in the Netherlands.
We will of course continue to support Amara Foundation, and our “family in Kisumu”, and will continue to work for Amara, but outside the board work. We hope that we can continue to support Amara Foundation with our friends, family and acquaintances. With confidence we hand over our work to Evelien, Carmen and Martine and hopefully to a new fourth board member.
Are you interested in working for Amara? Let us know and we will talk to you without any obligation.
ASANTE SANA… KWAHERI

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF KISUMU!

Evelien Hommes-Romonesco – Carmen van Bergen – Lisanne Henuy-Rooijakkers – Maria
Vermeer – Martine Plantinga

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