Friends of Lenana
There and back again by Christian Mario Lohr
A lot of things can change in three months.
That was the first thought that passed through my mind as my taxi dropped me off at the entrance of the slum leading to the Hanne Howard Fund.
I’m pleased to report that it’s all for the good though. When I was told that Hanne had already left for Canada for her yearly trip I was curious to see the changes the last few months had brought and also how things were holding up without Hanne’s guiding hand. Diego, Riyad and I had often discussed the implications of Hanne leaving for a longer period of time and had agreed that there was a danger of things unravelling without her presence.
I know a lot of people will think that this is a discriminating statement towards the local staff but sadly there are certain truths that cannot be refuted. An outsider is resistant to certain pressures that a local person would be faced with and receives more respect. That doesn’t mean that it’s easier. There are incredible cultural barriers that have to be overcome and there’s always a chance of things going wrong. But for a Fund that is just starting out the factors mentioned above are incredibly important. I’m sure that in years to come the Board will be perfectly capable of running the HHF but until then Hanne is vital for the survival of the center.
To my relief our fears were unfounded. The HHF is in great shape. So many things have improved over the last three months that it was almost impossiblegate to take it all in. The first thing that struck me when I arrived was the new look of the gate. Now with the words “Hanne Howard Fund” written in bright and friendly yellow letters on the black gate it is finally possible to find the HHF. Before it was almost impossible to find the HHF without knowing exactly where to look for it. A small change but an important one. To further increase public awareness there are plans to put up signs along the main road.
Christian is part of a team that is making a documentary on Lenana and the HHF called “Kenya’s Path”. To read the rest of Christian’s story, click here
Our growing scout troop with drama added
The HHF Lenana scout programme is in its second year and running smoothly. Our recent investiture ceremony brings our troop size to 36 scouts with 29 of them fully invested and 19 in full scout uniform.
 |
 |
During the ceremony, the scouts affirm the scout promise and recite the scout law. Then they are given lessons in what is expected of them as scouts. The scout leaders who are carrying out the investiture do this, and they must not include the leader who has been training the scouts. This is so that the scouts who are unfit to be invested may be identified.
After this is done, the new scouts are awarded certificates. The scout leaders then take time to entertain the new scouts with the help of the already invested scouts that may be present. Finally, the new recruits are declared scouts and they immediately gain permission to wear the scout uniform. They have the scarves and the world badge put on them and they can then join the others.
 |
 |
The Dagoretti Division leaders who carried out the investiture in April at our compound were really impressed by our troop, especially their ability to conduct themselves even without their leader in command.
Out of the hundreds of scout troops in Nairobi, our troop is 1 of 10 troops to be invited to participate in a field trip this summer to Namanga, Kenya to compile a report and make recommendations on the desperate conditions that exist there. This report will form part of a presentation at next years world Rover Moot in Nairobi. While the Moot is for Rover scouts aged 18-26, our troop will be represented as a team or contingent. I feel we should be proud of ourselves!
The drama team, aka the HHF “Parrots”, has also not been resting on its laurels. They have performances under their belts that many could only describe as out of this world. In April, the Parrots put together a string of performances that left most people awed. One of the most notable was “The Cake” a narrative about engaging in extra and pre-marital sex. The drama activities of our scout troop also puts it a good position to be among the entertainers at the Moot. This will be a plus not just for us but also for the local scout association.
With these achievements and more, we can then only look forward to even brighter days ahead. It is with much appreciation to our donors( without whose financial support all this would not have been possible) that the kids and I compile this report.
Petre Muchene, Scout Leader and Drama Teacher.
Little Wachu’s story
Little Wachu and her mentally challenged mother joined our program in January 2008 after living on the streets for 2 years. Mama Wachu’s desperate mother and family never gave up hope of finding them. In Nov/09 their prayers were answered and little Wachu now has a loving and caring grandmother who comes to visit her at our compound at least once a month and brings us fresh produce from her “shamba” (farm).
Little Wachu was close to death when she reached us. She suffered from extreme malnutrition, worm infestation and epilepsy seizures. The mother could not give us much detail or information. She could not even remember the birth date of the child. Her size and mental state led us to assume she was around 3 years of age. It turned out, she was nearly 7!
Proper medical care and good nutrition has resulted in a total turnaround for this child making her a bundle of energy and activity. But her patterns and behavior alerted us to the possibility that she was mentally challenged like her mother. A professional assessment confirmed this.
As the housemother I was initially opposed to the idea of sending her to a boarding school for the mentally challenged. I tried to find a nearby special school that would address her needs, but luck was not on my side and boarding school became the only option. The dreaded leaving day arrived and the Grandmother and I took her there. She took to the place like duck to the water. Seeing her in her new crisp uniform looking smart and smiling broadly was a blessing and I knew this was the right choice. I left with a happy heart!
There are not that many schools for special need kids in Kenya. These schools are very expensive and placement is tight. But luck was on our side and Wachu was accepted. Here her wild energy is channeled and she is taught discipline and has to adherence to basic rules.
I could hardly wait for visiting day! What a wonderful surprise awaited me, the smiley and contented face of Wachu! She recently was allowed to join the classroom and is eagerly learning to formulate her first words. We all are looking forward to her return for the holiday month of August and to hear her speak rather than shriek!
It’s birthday time!
My daughter Cindella, the youngest charge of HHFL, turned one on May 29, 2009 and what a blast it was!
Birthday celebrations are foreign in the slum. Most kids in the program do not know their exact birth date making celebrations difficult, besides, celebrating our birth date is simply not part of our cultural heritage. Nevertheless, all the kids understand “party” which in our world means cake, juice and if you’re lucky, even ice cream !
The party took place in the evening after school and the children were beside themselves with excitement. We were determined to have a birthday cake but we have no oven. So we improvised and made one using a charcoal jiko. Aside from being a very good learning experience it was lots and lots of fun for everyone and the end result was fantastic!
This was the first birthday party that our kids have ever witnessed. Their eyes nearly popped out of their faces when we walked in with the lit cake! They all wanted to blow the candle and we had to relight it several times to please all of them. Cindella was equally enthralled! The funniest moment was when we asked them to sing Happy Birthday. They had no idea what this meant. Once they understood the concept and learned the words and music they delivered an eager and enthusiastic rendition and I could not help but thank God for the bounty he bestowed on her for my little daughter is a very lucky girl for sure!
The kids are eagerly awaiting Cindella’s second birthday, as this type of celebration relates to her in their minds.