Braeburn Schools

BRAEBURN KISUMU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

At the end of last term our Student Council went to a local Children’s Remand Home to distribute various items the students bought with the Ksh30,000/- they raised on the Fun Day.  It is always sad when children are remanded in custody in any country, but even more so in Kenya, where the conditions are poor.  I realise that the children may have committed crimes, but regardless of this we must rocgnise that giving the children sanitary wear, soap and blankets is quite simply a Human Right and I was therefore proud that the Student Council chose this worthy cause.  Here is a couple of accounts of their day.
Carmel O’Dolan, Headteacher

Remand
On the way to the Remand home there was a lot of litter. When we were there we were introduced to the children that live there. We were shown round the young boys and girls rooms and the older boys and girls’ rooms. When we saw the boys toilets the manager told us that the boys broke through the wall and escaped the remand home. Because of that accident, the manager decided to make a wall and add two metal gates/doors to make sure that the children won’t escape from the remand home. After that the manager showed us the lunch room, class rooms and the TV room. The small boys and big girls did some singing and dancing for us, then we all introduced ourselves. After that we gave out bed sheets and blankets, soap, biscuits and juice. Then we left and went back to school.
By Miriam Bechtel

The Student Council visited a children’s remand home in Kisumu on the first Saturday of the vacation. Reindert and Annie gave speeches and we all introduced ourselves to the kids. They were aged 5 to 18 and were all there because the police arrested them. It is meant as a temporary holding area for juvenile offenders until their court cases are processed. We distributed soap and blankets to the kids and donated some juice and biscuits for a snack. We all learned a great deal and had fun interacting with the children there many of whom were our own ages.
Isaiah Grace

A few weeks back, Braeburn School U13 A’s played the Slumdwellers Football Academy from Kawangware.  We wanted to give the children from SFA an opportunity to interact with the Braeburn pupils and also a chance for the SFA boys to play on a grass pitch!  Prior to the start of the match, the boys sang the Kenyan National Anthem and all players shook hands.  From the start it was obvious that the SFA boys had amazing touch and composure and in no time they were 3-0 up.  Braeburn battled back, but the first half ended 4-0.  At this stage it would have been easy for the Braeburn boys to loose faith and give up, however they kept on battling throughout the second half and were unlucky not to score a consolation goal as the SFA ran out 8-0 winners!

The Slumdwellers Football Academy is located in Kawangware.  They have many teams from U18 and below, offering the street kids of Kawangware the chance to do something productive with their days instead of walking the streets.  As well as the coaching, the children are offered a meal (for most the only meal of the day) and for a fortunate few, the SFA offer them short term accommodation to make them feel special.  Although they manage to play amazing football when they train they only have 5 balls, 10 bibs and 10 cones to work with!

After the match both sets of players came together and the mutual respect was evident to see and although the Braeburn boys were hammered they were very gracious in defeat and learnt a lot from the game and the experience.

Raad Swais - Braeburn Schools Primary

Village of Hope Centre - Ngando (off Ngong Road) were delighted to receive a donation of children books from Braeburn Schools.

The Centre offers after-school tuition to primary school children, and often provide activities during the school holidays.

SAFARI NJEMA – Circus Show
Braeburn Theatre, Sunday 3 February 2013
Braeburn Supports the Development of Arts and Culture in Kenya

Sarakasi Trust is a performing arts development organisation working toward building capacity in the performing arts sector in Kenya. The organisations' core stems from a firm belief in the use of Culture for Development and the positive role that culture can play to eradicate poverty.

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Since its establishment in 2001 the Trust has run a training and outreach program that continues to touch lives of thousands of children and young adults growing up in the slums of Nairobi every year. In addition Sarakasi's lively and now famous international exchange and performance program has seen literally hundreds of artists benefit from the experience and often the financial benefits that performing on the world's stages can offer.

Vision:
Arts and Culture for a better world!

Mission:
To develop, facilitate, support and promote performing arts and culture for social and economic advancement of society.

FAB (Friends at Braeburn) VISIT NAIVASHA KSPCA
Saturday 2 February 2013
Braeburn Supports the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals

On Saturday 2nd February we went with a small delegation of (FAB) parents and students from Braeburn to the KSPCA in Naivasha. The reason for our visit was to hand over a donation of Ksh93,162/-, raised through a number of different FAB fundraising events held in 2012.

The Naivasha branch of the KSPCA was the lucky recipient of this money as a result of a survey asking the Braeburn School students which projects they would like to support. As FAB already helps a lot of schools, social organisations and orphanages, the students decided they also wanted to help the rescue animals!

The KSPCA will use the funds for rebuilding the old kennels for the dogs and they have already bought hay for the donkeys.

The kittens and the puppies were particularly favoured by the students. All these animals still need to find a nice home……..! The KSPCA can always use any donation of animal food, toys for animals, blankets, etc. So if you are going to Naivasha just pass by, they are on the South Lake Road.

FAB Charities Sub-Committee

Every year, every child on Vision Africa's child sponsorship programme has to make Christmas cards for their sponsor. This would prove quite costly for Vision Africa, however for the second year in a row, they have been able to find materials in the donations for their recycling project. This has meant that Vision Africa have not needed to spend any money on Christmas Cards!

In addition the recycled paper donations have gone as far as Nyamwanga Primary School in Western Province, Seed of Hope in Kitui and Mbeere Children's Home near Embu.

Below are some photos from the different schools that used the recycled paper to create their sponsor christmas cards.

You are never too young to make a Christmas Card - Kibera Mpira Mtaani's Nursery School

Intense concentration on the important task at hand - Kirunguru Special School

Not too busy to show their appreciative smiles as they make their Christmas cards - Kandara Children's Home school

Items donated by Braeburn to the Vision Africa recycling project, were gratefully received by the children of Kandara Children's Home Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre.

Amongst the items were books, quiz sheets and green manilla paper which has already been set aside to create Christmas decorations for the holidays fast approaching.