Christmas Construction Updates

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Merry Christmas from Tenderfeet!

Construction on the Tenderfeet school foundation continues, slowly but surely. Please see photos below. Notice the beautiful red soil in the photos. One of the main reasons this land was chosen over many others is because of the soil quality.

Red soil is the ideal soil for construction, it doesn't shift or settle like clay soil, which is a nightmare to construct on and can wreck foundations in the long term. You can also see the new Tenderfeet water tank, which is absolutely necessary due to water shortages and problems in Nairobi.

Deepest thanks go to the Collette Foundation as always. They have been working with Tenderfeet for years to realize this dream, and have been the sponsor of both the land and building. None of this would be possible without their commitment to the vision of Tenderfeet having a permanent home.

This photo shows the truck that visits to supply water.


Here is Margaret with the piles of large stones used for walls.

Building materials with the caretaker building in the background.


The foundation for the school rooms. There will initially be three classrooms, an office, a kitchen, and a storeroom.

The new water tank.

Tenderfeet Profiles: Collins Onyongo

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Collins Onyongo is seven years old and in first grade. He is a quiet student and works hard in school. His father died of AIDS several years ago, and his mother discovered that she also is HIV positive, though she didn't want to admit it for a long time. Many HIV victims deny it at first because they are ashamed and will be treated badly by some in the community.

Collins has an older sister named Arian who also went to Tenderfeet, but she is older now and has started High School this year, thanks to a sponsor. It's very rare for kids from Kibera to go to High School, and Collins hopes to go as well.

Collins mother has been very sick in the past. She is very smart and hard working, but because of her illness, she lost her job selling lottery tickets. At one point in 2007, the family was locked out of their own home because they could not pay rent. They also had no food. Then the Tenderfeet teachers found out and started helping. The rent was paid, food was purchased, and Collins' mom was taken to the doctor. Things are much better for the family now.

In the past, Collins was also sick frequently. He was tested for HIV, and we found out he is HIV positive and has the disease. Thanks to the ARV drugs he is now taking, he is feeling strong like any healthy boy. Even though Collins has HIV, he is treated just like any other student at Tenderfeet, a place where he is loved and knows he belongs to a special family.
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Fundraiser for Tenderfeet Graduates

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This year, five children will "graduate" from Tenderfeet. The school teaches children up through 2nd grade, so students going into 3rd grade will move on to the next level.

The five children are pictured right. From left to right they are Sharon Kwamboka, Ian Aloo, Sofia Kemunto, Brian Mungai, and Brian Nyaanga. All have been at Tenderfeet for 5 years.

The new school year starts in January. For these five kids, it is a huge step and normally one that is devastating for slum families.

Primary school is supposed to be free in Kenya, but when you add up all the hidden fees, cost of uniform, PE kit, books, and school supplies, the minimum to start school is about $90 US. That's 3 months earnings for most of these families.

What typically happens is that the child's extended family collects contributions and fundraises in the community, but has to make harsh sacrifices in the process and still may not be able to raise enough.

The stress and pressure can be almost too much for families to bear. This is especially tough during Christmas time when families are already short on money due to the fact they are expected to visit relatives in the countryside.

Even if enough is raised, there are lots of associated expenses in the first term and children are sent home in many cases. It often happens that such children get behind over time and never catch up fully.

I hope I've managed to convey the immense difficulties facing these young children. That is why a fundraiser was organized at ION Geophysical in Houston, Texas.

ION has been a great friend to Tenderfeet over the years -- many employees are sponsors, and fundraisers have been held to assist with important Tenderfeet needs.

The theme was "A Holiday of Giving," in line with the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. It is a time when Americans reflect on and give thanks for the blessings they have, as well as remember and reach out to those who are less fortunate.

The fundraising team printed photos of each of the five children, as well as the school expenses they each faced ($5 for a math text book, $15 for school shoes, etc.). These photos and cards were attached to a "leaf" and many leaves were assembled in a colorful display (see photos).

ION employees who came through the break rooms on one of several floors could pick out a leaf and sponsor that child's particular need (for example, new shoes for Sharon).

The response was wonderful and enough money was raised not just to cover the minimum needs but also to purchase a second uniform for each child. In addition, a surplus amount will be used to assist new students arriving at Tenderfeet.

Now the Tenderfeet graduates will be off to school next month with big smiles on their faces. They will be ready for a strong start now that they will be fully equipped for school, thanks to the kindhearted and generous employees of ION.

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Two Members of the Tenderfeet Family Pass Away

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We've had some very sad news recently at Tenderfeet. Two dear members of the Tenderfeet family have succumbed to HIV/AIDS.

Susan Wanjiku was the house helper for Mama Margaret. At any given time, there may be 10 children staying at the small house Margaret lives in, which means there is so much cooking, cleaning, and washing that needs to be done.

Susan was a sweet and quiet woman in her thirties. She had acquired HIV through her husband who passed away.

I stayed in Margaret's house for two weeks this year, and was fortunate enough to spend time with Susan during that time. I always enjoyed her smile and kind spirit. I think she got a chuckle or two out of my strange American ways of doing things. The world needs more gentle souls like Susan's.

The other member of the Tenderfeet family that was recently lost was a young boy named Clinton Rwoti. He's the boy in the front row of the photo, he has the red jacket and is on the left.

Clinton became a Tenderfeet student in 2006. The photo of him was taken in January of 2007. When I visited in September of 2007, he was already missing a lot of school because of his health.

Whereas a lot of young people that are HIV positive respond to the ARV drugs, Clinton unfortunately was often struggling with his condition.

His family fled Kibera during the 2008 post-election riots and settled in a rural community.

When his health recently became much worse, he was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, but they could not save him. He passed away in the hospital.

Margaret was informed through a friend after Clinton's untimely death, and didn't know until it was too late he was in the hospital. She was heartbroken to see such a precious young person taken by this horrible disease.

Almost every child of Tenderfeet has been affected by HIV/AIDS in one way or another, many lost one or both parents to the disease, and some are even infected themselves. Our hope is that through education and love we can fight the disease on behalf of wonderful people like Susan and Clinton, so that the next generations will not know the suffering and tragedy that this generation has faced.
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