Once again we have finished another term, and once again, the majority of children of Thomas Barnardo’s have improved in their marks! We owe a special thanks to head-teacher Mulema who has continued to raise Jonathan Gloag Academy’s academic standards and facilitate a positive and productive work environment at the school.
After closing school, the children’s holiday routine involved family chores, working for no pay (as the children call it), homework, games, and generally having fun. Many TBH children attended a two-week holiday camp at JGA. This holiday tuition taught useful and fun skills such as making mandazis and designing original arts and crafts.
Two well-behaved and hard working children of TBH were selected to journey with a group of twenty five students and three teachers to Amboseli National Park here in Kenya. This was donated by the Juhudi Children’s Club.
There they not only saw the wild game, but climbed a mountain, had special art sessions in which they were trained in drawing landscapes using charcoal, and were educated about the environment and man’s impact on it.
Another holiday activity many children were involved in was the Beads Club here at TBH. Mum Jane facilitated a group of about 20 children who were taught specific new ways of making artistic necklaces. These necklaces were much more involved than just putting beads on a string! The knots and loops and special designs took time for the children to learn, but then provided much enjoyment and a finished product worthy of admiration. These necklaces were taken to Scotland to spread the name of Barnardo’s, and to give well-wishers there a chance to participate in supporting the children of TBH.
The children too young for the Beads Club were invited to a “Fun Week” at the Go Down Arts Center. Acrobatics, hip-hop dancing, puppet making, and potato prints were just a few of the invigorating activities the children engrossed themselves in over the well-organized week of events.
The whole home went for a special outing on Wednesday, August 29, to Splash Water Park here in Nairobi. All the children from toddlers to teenagers swam, rode the slides, and splashed each other without end on this rambunctious field trip!
We had the joy in August of welcoming Dr. Ann Gloag and a large group of her family and friends. They offered much assistance, from helping in the nursery to updating our computers and phone system.
Five of our older youths who have finished their secondary education have just left for Perth College in Scotland. Paul Otieno, Absalom Olande, Francis Ndungu, Francis Muchoki, and Tom Wambua are currently pursuing their various interests, including hospitality and management. We threw them a farewell party where their fellow Barnardians sang to them. Then the boys were invited to the front to share words of advice and wisdom, and say their last goodbyes. It was a poignant moment, and they will be missed.
Thomas Barnardo’s believes in keeping its staff informed and educated on current practices in their relevant fields. The managers of Thomas Barnardo’s went for on engaging training session this month, keeping them updated and building their teamwork, and the staff of our sister home, Soila Masaai Girls’ Center had a team building session.
Also active in community education, Thomas Barnardo’s this month organized an Adoptive Parents Meeting on August 18 for parents of children adopted from Thomas Barnardo’s. In total, 84 parents attended! Honored guests and instructors were Josephine Mongare, a lawyer, and Ken Ambetsa, a professional child’s rights activist and member of the Kenya Advancement of Children Rights. During an informative meeting, the parents learned of their legal rights and the legal issues surrounding adoption, and in small group sessions the parents were able to and support each other through listening to and expressing themselves about the experience of rearing adopted children. The parents, who come from a very mixed background, were very receptive and expressed a great desire to have more such forums in the future.
On Friday, August 31, a career choice training and personal development program for the class 8 and secondary students was held at JGA. This half-day seminar was extremely helpful according to the attendees. Anne Waithera, a form three Barnardian has now set her sights on becoming a surgeon!
August also brought the completion of construction and preparation for the commencement of the Tool Bench Training Center. This job skills center on the TBH campus will provide training and certification in plumbing and water projects as well as teaching the students carpentry and working with wiring and electricity.
Our children are encouraged to improve in their schoolwork as well as in their behavior and cooperation at home. Those children who had worked the hardest and improved their marks at school as well as behaved well at home, working very hard to complete their tasks, were rewarded on Saturday, September 1, and accompanied by our chief administrator on a special outing to Maasai Ostrich Resort.
Now the students are preparing for the school opening on Tuesday, August 4. All the rucksacks are being washed, shoes polished, books being organized, and clothes arranged.
We look forward to the success of this coming term, where are students will continue to improve, our volunteers will continue to serve faithfully, our caregivers and teachers will continue to dedicate themselves tirelessly to betterment of our children, and friends, donors, and well-wishers, with their persistent hearts of kindness, will continue to collaborate with us to improve the lives of the children under our care.