Report from BHW Kenya Partnership Facilitator Following Visit

Key person: Robert Omundi 

On the 3rd July the Kenya Partnership Facilitator and BHW New Partnership Director visited this partnership in Rongo. We spent time with Robert and his mother and sister, met the women making soap and training for football, and visited the school. 

Recent Events

Soap Making

A group of about eight women have been trained how to make liquid soap. They purchase the chemicals from Nairobi and meet together regularly to mix the chemicals, add water and distribute it in bottles. They make 20 litres of liquid soap each time and divide that between them - some of it they sell and some of it they use.

There are several great things about this soap initiative. Firstly, there is an incredible sense of community amongst the women. Some of them have very difficult backgrounds (and are still facing incredible challenges each day) and having other women around them who support them must give them great strength. Secondly, it is a legitimate source of income (some of the women previously made ends meet through selling illegal liquor or prostitution). They are not yet selling enough soap to make a living, however, there is plenty of demand for the soap and they hope to increase production. 

Football

The football continues to develop with increased number of women wanting to join in. this is providing many opportunities for engaging the women and assisting them to make life changes.

School

The school continues to grow and there is almost 180 children now. They have upgraded the facilities although there is a long way to go with this. The children seem happy and the teachers are motivated. 

Personal Stories

Elizabeth

Elizabeth is 50 years old and has five children. She doesn't have enough money to send all of her children to school – three of her five children do not go to school. Elizabeth used to work brewing illegal liquor - she would mix the liquor with battery acid and fertiliser and was sometimes arrested by the police. After Elizabeth became a Christian she gave up making liquor and is now part of the group of women who make and sell liquid soap.

Partnership's Influence within the Community

Some of the women play together in a football team which Robert coaches. While we were there, we visited their football practice. Robert is a black belt in karate (which he is also teaching them for self-defence) so they warmed up by going through a few karate drills. 

A few people from the community were at the field when we arrived. Slowly more and more people turned up until there was probably about one hundred people watching these women play football. I suspect that it is unusual to see women playing football in Kenyan culture and particularly these sorts of women. 

There is no doubt that the presence of these karate trained, football playing women is having a positive influence on the community. Some of the people within the community know the “past lives” of these women and to see their transformation invokes curiosity.

The school makes a very positive impact in the lives of the children and their families. 

Ideas for the Future

This partnership has only really just begun (December 2016) and we will discuss the ongoing vision, progress and strategy with Robert over the next few months. His priority at the moment is recovering from his injuries so I am not sure how much time and energy he has at present to be thinking through future strategy etc.

Current Issues and Challenges

The injuries that Robert has are probably the biggest challenge for him and the partnership at present.

The other challenges are:
- Robert has a compassionate heart and he has found it very difficult to turn away children from the school particularly if he knows that they are homeless or vulnerable in some other way. The number of children at the school has grown rapidly – they have 184 children between babies and grade four. This makes the financial viability of the school difficult.
- Robert’s wife and two children live in Rwanda. Robert visits them every so often but it is hard being so far away.
- Robert’s house was destroyed by wind in mid September. He now has nowhere to live long term and needs to find a way to rebuild. 

Prayer and Praise Points

Prayer -  After we left Kenya, Robert was attacked in Tanzania and injured very badly. He needs hospital treatment. Particularly due to the physical nature of parts of his ministry (karate and football), this will be a difficult time for him and the partnership. Pray that he makes a quick and full recovery.

Pray - That the teachers at the school would faithfully teach the children with enthusiasm and wisdom.

Praise – For the many lives of vulnerable women who have been impacted through the football team, karate and soap making. Also praise God for the street children and other children who are receiving an education through the school.

Comments

While we were with Robert, we encouraged him to take in one more year of the youngest children but then take in no more children and follow those children (approximately 200) through their education rather than adding more each year. Robert mentioned that this would be difficult because the government required the school to have all grades but he will write to the Ministry to find out if the government would make an exception in this case.

We also encouraged Robert to think about getting the parents who can afford to pay school fees to pay and explore the possibility of introducing table banking to the community.