LISA'S SCHOOL PROJECT
Newsletter June 2020
Well, here we are in these very strange times and I’m hoping you’re all staying safe and well.
Those of you who follow on Facebook will already know some of the following news so sorry about that.
All the schools in Kenya including Lisa’s School have been closed since March. There is a terror that the virus will reach remote areas like Archer’s Post because of the lack of healthcare. There is a curfew after 6pm and markets have been closed. This, of course, is leading to real hardship. The tourist trade has stopped so people who had jobs in the lodges or were driving or the women who made jewellery now have no income. For some time the government has been promising food aid but to date none has arrived. Like here, many children rely on school meals so we are sending money from time to time to buy food for the families of Lisa’s school children and the sponsored children, it’s a drop in the ocean, I know, and it’s difficult when the rest of the community is suffering but there is a good sense of community and there are a couple of charities working in the area.
We are taking the opportunity to do a lot of school maintenance, replacing windows and locks, painting anything that stands still long enough and most importantly tackling the termite issue with special toxic insecticide which wouldn’t be sensible to do if the children were present. It’s just amazing how quickly the termites chomp through doors and desk legs. We are so lucky to have Patrik to organise it all.
Talking about being lucky, we now have Diana on
board who used to work for Freeman Safaris but now has Luna, the most gorgeous baby ever. Brian suggested her so that he can step back from the day to day running of the school. We’ll be forever grateful to him for all the work he’s put in, free of charge, over the years. The project would never have got off the ground without him and it’s important to have someone on the ground to deal with legal issues, staffing etc. I’m very confident that we have an excellent team in place.
We had sad news about one of our pupils called Santarian, she was taken ill and visited the local clinic who advised that she needed to go to a large hospital. Her parents, like most others had no money so just took her home. As soon as Patrik knew this we sent money to get her into Nairobi, she was diagnosed with TB in her brain and was given treatment but sadly had a stroke and died. 
Your money also paid to get her body back home and to give her a funeral. Her parents sent their thanks to you.
On a brighter note our little pupil Lepetan, who is visually impaired, now goes to a special school about 30 miles away, he boards and was very excited to have a bunk bed. There was another boy in the village with the same problem so we thought it would be nice for them to go together so we also pay for him. They were settling in well before the lockdown. Another example of where your money
makes such a difference.
Life is hard enough for the people without the massive locust swarm which swept through the area and an outbreak of malaria following heavy rains. I never, ever forget how fortunate we are to live where we do with food banks, healthcare, and a welfare system which helps up most of those who fall through the net.
The 2 girls at university have also had their studies cut short. One is studying community health and HIV management and the other, statistics. Hopefully they will be able to pick up where they left off soon.
The fundraising continues to do well, all of you lovely people who make monthly donations, Gianni who is still cutting the hamlet’s grass and being paid instead of a gardener, he’s part of the Swiss contingent who as ever are as generous with their time and money, the Soroptomists, Crickhowell Rotary Club, the Carpenters Classic car club, people making masks and cards for sale, children doing sponsored runs in Geneva, the generous Australians who after having their cruise cancelled because of the virus donated the money they would have spent on drink ( although unless they would have been permanently sozzled it was far more than that) the photographer donating all his judging fees, the American child sponsors, etc etc -too many to thank here individually but thank you all so much for your continued support.
We are no longer collecting uniforms in this country, up until now, Brian’s safari clients have taken out an extra bag but as there is no one travelling for the foreseeable future we are now in a position to get them made and bought locally which will be better for the local economy. In the ten years that the school has been open we’ve not had to buy any uniforms out of funds, people have scoured the charity shops and others have donated them. Thank you yet again.
So, stay safe and well until next time
Liz
Lisa's School Project is a UK Registered Charity No. 1142900
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