Open Hand Childrens' Home - visit by Elfu Bobbers

On Saturday the 15th of September, Open Hand Childrens' Home workers, kids and Elfu Bobbers got together at the orphanage in Kasarani in the north of Nairobi for a day of fun and smiles. Elfu Bobber Sandra and Open Hand coordinator Alice organized to have rain gutters, water tanks and bunk beds ready for installation. While some of us were busy getting dirty planting in the garden outside the home and digging a futile attempt at a drainage ditch, others worked on the most important task: preparing a delicious lunch for us all! The chefs donned their white caps and made sure that no one could complain of an empty belly afterward. Aside from completing all the work, thanks in part to the presence of some real fundis, nice converstations were had and new friends were made. Before the Elfu Bobbers had to leave, the children made everyone boogie with their interactive songs that taught non-locals the names of a few important body parts in Kiswahili.

Solar Power for Lusi Community children!

The Lusi Community Orphans Project is local organization near Kisumu that trains orphans in skills such as beekeeping, chicken and dairy farming and crafts. The project generates income from these activities, which is then passed back to the orphans in the form of food, clothing, educations grants and training.

In mid-2005, Elfu Bob supported the project through the purchase of solar panels and accessories to power a refrigeration unit. The fridge is used to store the milk that the project sells to neighbours, as well as vaccines for the chickens that the orphans raise.

Aside from keeping these products from spoiling, and spreading an environmental message, the solar powered fridge has been the talk of the surrounding villages. We hear that when the Lusi orphans first started selling the cold milk, the village elders thought that the children must have dug deep down in to the ground to place their milk churns in order to create such a cold drink! Income from milk sales and healthy chickens has also increased, making more money available to pay school fees for the children. If anyone is visiting the Kisumu vicinity, please stop by and have a nice cold glass of milk!