Helping young Kenyans survive and thrive in Kisumu

Water, water everywhere!

It’s been raining very heavily in Kisumu recently, 3 or 4 inches falling in a single day. The humidity afterwards is unbearable. However that’s not what has caused the flurry of activity in the photo.

The water supply to the workshop had stopped delivering any water and that was a real problem especially for two of our trainees who live on-site as nightwatchmen. So the Water Board were called into action. They managed to re-establish the water supply for the workshop but whilst doing so they fractured another nearby water pipe. The result was that free water was gushing out of the ground much to the delight of the local women! They are used to having to buy water to wash their family’s clothes and dishes so this plentiful free supply was a cause for much amusement and enjoyment. It was a case of taking advantage whilst the bonanza lasted.

Building their families a home

Meantime two of the trainees are beginning to use their newly learnt skills to build a home for themselves and other members of their families. That’s Bonaventure 3rd and Kennedy 2^nd from the right in the photo. They have passed their initial exams, they have a bit of experience, and are now able to be loaned out on occasions to local builders to help install doorframes etc. They earn a few shillings, and Paul’s advice to them is to invest their earnings in building a small family home. It’ll be a long job but it’s a good start on becoming independent. It’s a struggle to get some of the trainees to smile, they often feel that they do not have a lot to smile about but the training at Paluoc, and the success that they have enjoyed has certainly begun to bring a smile to some of their faces. New recruits are always being sought.

When there is something more to be seen of their new homes we’ll post a photo. Meantime its back to training, and making more school desks and benches.

Thank you for your help and support!