Vulnerable Children: Our Partners

In 2013, Dorcus asked us for some instruments for a music program they wanted to launch. Upon hearing the need for instruments Katelyn Churchill, a graduating 5^th grader in the US collected over 100 recorders from several schools in her area. Many music books and teaching charts were also donated. Within weeks of receiving the recorders, the children at Lenkai were performing a small concert.  Lenkai has a music instructor that comes down from Nairobi on a weekly basis.  All the students in the school have received blank staff books to learn how to read and write music.  The growing music program now includes keyboards, drums, guitars, violins, and dozens of finger pianos, as well as all the original recorders.

These children will benefit additionally when they apply to a university. The vast majority of schools in Kenya do not teach music so these children will be sought after by the universities, with many of them receiving scholarships.

Dorcus shared that they have seen many of the Rescue Center children responding very well to the program.  This has increased their self-esteem and has, in-turn, helped them with their studies. Music has become a great therapy for the trauma these young lives have encountered and continues to bring healing.

In August of 2015, one of the older girls who has dedicated herself to practicing the violin has excelled tremendously. She entered and won a district completion.  She then moved onto regional and won that too. This was the first time anyone from the southern area has competed and won with a violin. She moved onto the national competition and won 4th in the nation!!! We are SO very proud of her and her dedication to learning a very difficult instrument! In September she was invited to play at a ceremony that the First Lady of Kenya was attending to unveil a women’s community initiative. What an honor for her and the entire Lenkai School! And to think it was started by a 5th grade student who did what she could with what she had access to. Just a drop in the lake, but the ripples will be surely felt for years to come.

Dorcus is a very outspoken advocate for the girls who have been traumatized from the practice of FGM and early marriage. She is working closely with the government and other local leaders who are dedicated to engaging the community in proactive and preventative measures. Dorcus works with the youth as well as the matriarchs of the communities to educate them on the harmful effects of FGM and to share other creative ways that celebrations can occur for the girls passage to womanhood. She is also a strong voice against early marriage and a huge proponent for girls education. This is one of the biggest needs within the Maasai community and one that prompted the opening of the Lenkai Rescue Center.

Facts about FGM:

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
• The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.
• Procedures can cause severe bleeding, problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, and infertility, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.
• Globally, it is estimated that over 140 million girls and women have undergone some form of FGM.
• FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It is also against the law in Kenya.

This major sustainability project is one that has been at the top of the list for John and Dorcus over the past few years. They identified it as their biggest need, one that would unlock much need resources for other areas within the school and rescue center. In the fall of 2015, Just One Africa was able to raise enough funds for the drilling of the borehole, high capacity pump, water storage tank, and a building for selling.

This single project will impact the school by allowing them to redirect funds they were using to buy water when the local water sources had been shut off. The borehole will open up the income-generating opportunities of selling it to others who need clean water. It will also allow for a future car wash on the edge of the school property which will bring in additional income. The water will be used in the newly constructed bakery and kitchen allowing them to keep the students well fed and healthy! The consistent water will be a huge help in the newly planted gardens that they have started allowing them to be less dependent on outside food sources that are needed to feed the kids.

All in all, this has brought about a huge relief as the water supply has not always been consistent in the area, and was a growing problem and stress for the school. Thanks to the donors who helped us accomplish this very significant project, Lenkai’s future is looking more and more sustainable in the most important ways!

As the school has reached it’s full capacity, the ability to care for all these children needs to be increased.  The original kitchen, while adequate in the beginning, needed to be expanded. Just One Africa partnered with them to build a new and more adequate kitchen, which also doubles as a bakery. This income generating project provides the opportunity for breads, cakes, and pastries to be sold to the growing local community, supporting the school and rescue center.

The crops that are growing, because of the borehole, will be used in the lunch program allowing the programs to  come full circle. It will be an incredible blessing to the students as they will be able to learn with a full belly. A consistent source of income from the sales of the baked goods will allow Lenkai to establish a strong foundation.

We are very grateful for the support of our donors who made this important project possible.