https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/what-we-do daily 0.75 2021-10-31 https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/home daily 1.0 2021-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267927626-F763XUEQQYYW6JAVLOIH/Kids+are+interested+in+the+APT+workshop+March2016.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267962448-S9HKFF2PFBJK3WXHFRKB/PAD+PROJECT.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267958652-XDANWYON6R2QQP18DBO7/IMG_5124.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267974980-0KTK4IO42Y1A04BM7154/O%26L+fundraiser+for+School+Farm+project+Sept2016.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267980977-O3FX0ETICQG0G0HOIL4Z/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+12.02.03.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268010947-169TNJ6FPORWIN7CN3LP/IMG_6130.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268042374-PVXH4AG0X11QNAZDBXKT/IMG_2705.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268091035-V03KRXWA8L7OTBKI0TJ0/IMG_4907.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268047224-HP9QUCXEO0HWTY3XY077/IMG_4942.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268080912-54F3JRZ0ZCZOPC1AGLQ5/IMG_3803.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268066441-LABS9W8IEEKQ6HP7MIDD/IMG_2609.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268091248-3OG569DN7CJF9JA0G9A5/IMG_2629.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268096523-T0Q0H3SGF0QFSBWUNQ93/IMG_3777.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268106416-QIZZ8HDX3WVMFMT7AK7T/tinypeople.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268072430-BG573J2BFMF2LDWM5TAF/Vol+2.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268097198-IM3LMASM6OJTPKXDSW6J/kenya+649.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268083801-49EF5W92FTCPZY50P2U3/FKK+-+Football+picture+-+Thomas+%26+Tony.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268128920-JG0DFQSZF3TF06UHAZDX/P1160797.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598268107346-P7O0LQ7P88Y1A6BC91BU/volunteers+1.JPG Home https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/our-story daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/economic-empowerment daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598202170202-83S7KSX3KQCY2MMU00MZ/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+17.59.50.png Economic Empowerment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598205427191-IYTBJC1HJJW946NBXBQR/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+17.59.25.png Economic Empowerment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598205462420-QIDUJHLJ080YQ5LEDT0O/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+17.59.39.png Economic Empowerment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598202807473-7B4KCF3S9FNS9AIF0KOV/chick+project+kitheo-Jan2018.jpg Economic Empowerment - Chicken Projects It has been identified that keeping chickens offers our families an opportunity to raise their income and improve outcomes for their families. Typically families are given this project through self help groups. Funding is provided for materials to construct chicken houses and the families work together to support each other in the construction. FKK then provide 5 vaccinated chicks, feed and training on how to rear poultry successfully. Regular visits are made subsequently to support the mothers with any issues they have faced. This intervention has proved positive, and in some cases the self help groups have gone on to form a table banking group to support themselves in improving their families livelihood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598203676521-26Q1OS4XFCE2Y99MTM7O/IMG_7776.JPG Economic Empowerment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598202958509-FWUAY2L0I2HTWBYZOKKS/group.png Economic Empowerment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598203313228-Z0EOAQYK4AMIVGD7STYR/IMG_3159.JPG Economic Empowerment https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598206091398-RUO8P0J27I4L58ED5AAT/IMG_2834.JPG Economic Empowerment - The impact of table banking… Micro finance has the power to improve lives and bring lasting change. Small loans are given for a variety of reasons, to buy seeds, buy items for resale, set up a small shop, sew school uniforms. These small loans help hard working people make a living on a daily basis. The opportunity for women with no material collateral to access funds usually denied to them by the normal banking system, is often the difference between subsistence living and making a small profit. This small profit can improve food quality, health or to send children to school. Research shows that through financially empowering parents and carers children have brighter futures, and there is a reduction in the numbers living in extreme poverty. Through supporting livelihoods and developing resilience within the community, the micro finance groups become a central holistic plank in building up the wealth, health and ongoing well being of these vulnerable communities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598203909527-WKNV8A4OK2WVJFPFRRT6/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+18.31.28.png Economic Empowerment - John Mugambi, John Mugambi, a local farmer had a water pan installed on his land in 2017. Excavating the water pan was challenging as the land was rocky, a single boulder took 5 men 3 hours to get out. However his pan completely filled to 50,000 L capacity with run off water during the first rainy season. The water was then pumped into the 240 L tank, shown here, and from there it feeds by drip irrigation out over 1/8 th acre, where John had successfully established vegetables. Now being in control of his own water supply John can stagger planting to ensure a more continuous cropping season, and gain a higher market price. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598203790561-JBWWQ6LBJWZPZRYR7NKY/IMG_2834.JPG Economic Empowerment - Within the Community of Lairaingi we have been working to empower local farmers through building water pans, and supporting them with table banking and ongoing support. The community formed themselves into a self help group in 2017, and since then we have supported them with water pans and water tanks. This project has been much assisted by the support of the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta. The water pan project involves constructing a 50,000L water pan which is lined and roofed, with a pump to a drip irrigation system. This technology has potential to make a significant impact on household incomes. 1/8 th of an acre can grow 2000 plants; as an example if these were cabbage at 25 ksh per cabbage one growing season can generate 50,000 ksh. When 1000 ksh can feed a family for a week, this is a significant contribution to the family economy. https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/annual-reports daily 0.75 2024-10-25 https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/permaculture daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1600879243032-439GNICK8LQTDTPCCW6A/IMG_6130.JPG Permaculture - Background For many years rainfed agriculture has not provided the community in Tigania West, Meru County Kenya, a secure food supply. These communities face regular food shortage due to lack of rains and degradation of the land from tree felling and subsequent soil erosion. Typically families have no piped water, no electricity, erratic food supply and the majority struggle to pay school fees. Mituntu Polytechnic sits on high ground 1km above the western corner of the land where we hope to build a Community Farm. FKK have a history of supporting this polytechnic, providing annual sponsorship to students since 2012, bringing piped water in 2015( now very intermittent),and in 2018 installing a 50,000 L tank for harvesting water for sanitation and a 75,000L water pan for irrigation. As a result FKK is a recognized stakeholder of the Polytechnic by the Board Of Management and community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1600879474860-F0IOICOFIPSFRALBJAA4/IMG_6337.JPG Permaculture - In 2019 a group from FKK and the polytechnic travelled to the Drylands Natural Resource Centre to see how the DNRC had used their centre to mobilize the local community. Following this visit it was agreed that this was a good model and one that could be used in Meru with the Polytechnic acting as a permaculture demonstration centre for the special units and also the wider community. It was envisaged that the 15 acres of land owned by the polytechnic and not being currently utilized could be developed along permaculture lines. This plan was agreed by the Polytechnic management mid 2019 and since then Nicholas from the DNRC has undertaken two training sessions at the Polytechnic, the first to develop a permaculture master plan, and the second to break down the ongoing work into phases, to provide further education. Phase one was planned to be implemented in 2020, but due to COVID was delayed. We hope this will be implemented in 2021. Permaculture has now been included in the polytechnic timetable and all students attending (approx. 80) will have permaculture as a support subject. We believe that focusing support on the polytechnic at this stage gives us the greatest chance of spreading awareness of this shift in agricultural thinking throughout the community. In addition establishing farming self help groups around the polytechnic starts to form a structure that can eventually evolve into a Community Based Organization to manage the large 100 acre Community Farm when the title deeds are secured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208841831-UJLRQC155N2CLVEMR9XD/school+farm1.JPG Permaculture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208725618-FWYRSW2WUQNDPL63MCH7/farm7.jpeg Permaculture - The community of Tigania West comprises mainly of subsistence farmers relying on rain fed agriculture to sustain them. Recently there have been several total crop failures due to lack of adequate rainfall. This is creating severe food shortages and famine. This affects the whole community but in particular the disabled community. In 2016 the Sub County nutrition officer assessed 30 disabled children in this locality and found that 4 had severe malnutrition, and 11 had moderate acute malnutrition, this equates to 50% being assessed as malnourished. FKK have been working alongside all 14 special units across Tigania West to remediate this situation. A feeding program was established in 2013, children with disabilities are fed morning porridge and lunch during term time. This program was evaluated in 2016 and seen to be effective but not sustainable if funding was always required from overseas. In 2017 it was agreed with the Special Units and District Education Office that Irrigated School Farms would be built at each unit. Special Needs children have a vocational curricula, a school farm would enable them to learn farming techniques and also to grow food to be used in the feeding program. Funding was secured through Rotary to build these farms, all 14 will be complete in 2020. They comprise of water harvesting off the school roofs, storage in 75,000 water tanks, with a drip irrigation system. With funding from Lush Cosmetics special unit teachers are being trained and supported to develop the land along permaculture principles. From 2019 Special Needs youngsters have been working on these farms and harvesting food. We are now on the journey of developing a support network around each farm to ensure they develop and support these special needs communities for years to come. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208802718-4WRD7DOC8KIGFBNLP1G5/Kunene+Special+Water+Melon+Harvest.JPG Permaculture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208494983-Y5S7OYVMD9N6ZDR6Z8WB/perma3.JPG Permaculture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208492563-1YB299XAVWZDLAIZO0DN/perma2+%281%29.JPG Permaculture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208495491-6C4DCWGGGOJSS237QP0Q/Perma+1.JPG Permaculture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598208507442-QVLU4O137ILDXELZME7E/gilbert.jpg Permaculture https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/donate daily 0.75 2022-11-25 https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/our-ethos daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/student-support daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1600886721973-UP5BG0AY7Y3MMWEVSORF/IMG_1566.JPG Student Support - Student Well Being Training Currently within Kenya there are limited services for young people with mental health issues. Young people struggling with their mental health are often met with prejudice and ignorance. Poor mental health is elevated by family breakdown, substance abuse, stigma, pressure to perform at school and lack of channels to speak up. Currently we deliver limited training and support in this area, however we are currently looking for donors to support a rolling psycho-social education program to be delivered by people with lived experience of mental health. The program will be a combination of formal education and activity-based learning and will be delivered within secondary schools. Through this program we aim to enable young people to have an understanding of their feelings, identify coping strategies, develop a wellness plan and increase personal resilience and self-efficacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267290583-CNZ1WYV9CH0TJ1S5EQ39/educationIcon+%282%29.jpg Student Support - Sponsorship Friends of Kianjai (FKK) support secondary school students through two distinct sponsorship programs. The first specifically supports families living with HIV/AIDS. FKK and Soteni have partnered to support high school orphans and vulnerable children in Kianjai Ward and her neighborhood with: Educational support to minimalize high school dropout. Psychosocial support to reduce incidences of drug abuse increase self-esteem, and increase HIV awareness. The second program operates within Kianjai only and supports vulnerable children at risk of not entering secondary school, or at risk of dropping out of school due to lack of funds and general support. Funds are given to 13 local secondary schools, each school operates a bursary program which is overseen by the local church, PTA and FKK. In this way decision making on who benefits is passed down to the grassroots and agreed collectively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598293415637-AI2VKL2JGK43DOOV6GPC/PAD+PROJECT.JPG Student Support - Washable Menstrual Pads https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267663463-2UUTWTZJ59WKDJGWFUMD/cynthia+gives+reproductive+health+training+-+Oct+2018.JPG Student Support Cynthia gives reproductive health training https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267667161-9QQSD8NWS0B7FLBOLVEX/Oliver+Oct+2018+-Reproductive+Health+training.JPG Student Support Washable Sanitary pad packs for the girls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267676030-0Z72HGZDM07H4U6DO9LP/sanitary1.JPG Student Support https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267712695-0P7L301LJVJKNOHQBMS7/schoolchildren2.png Student Support https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267710675-096RWPW509NA8YVGA6ID/wellbeing1.JPG Student Support https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267712684-8HXU8A0XHVN3CJSX37CH/wellbeing2.JPG Student Support https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267722403-AHCYKHV2RTVI4I2U61QJ/IMG_0032+%282%29.JPG Student Support https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598267736854-ES9WAADW1ABEC8G8TCRE/IMG_0103.JPG Student Support https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/special-needs daily 0.75 2021-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598291867408-DVUWRQEYPW39H3PTZQUL/school+farms+square.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598287941965-EOM23Q87L4OR2MF6C7NJ/20160302_105730210_iOS+%282%29+%281%29.jpg Special Needs - Making assisted aids in the Appropriate Paper Technology (APT) Workshop Over the last few years FKK have been increasingly aware of the limitations that the children experience because they have no assisted aids. The lack of suitable chairs, standing frames or wheelchairs means that many Special Needs children are living without dignity and in pain and discomfort. Many children are in this situation. If we tried to provide typical specialist chairs for these children the cost would be exorbitant, but we can provide good quality aids cheaply, by using Appropriate Paper Technology (APT), basically making them from card and paper! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598288214351-BUZ3DWFBU01DA00CPSCF/Screenshot+2020-08-24+at+17.53.54.png Special Needs - Continued… Using this technique which has been developed for Africa by Cerebral Palsy Africa, we can create chairs and standing frames from resources that are normally thrown away to literally lift these children out of the dirt To help address this need funds were raised in 2015 to build a workshop to manufacture assisted aids. The workshop was opened in Feb 2016, and a small physio team from the UK visited to train a local group on the technique. Now a year on the workshop is operating with four parents of disabled children there on a regular basis and the local Orthotist there once a week to assist in measurements. In the first year they produced over 40 aids. Click the button to follow the story, and watch the videos below… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598292112048-ECONB886UFVH24HJA3AA/feeding1.jpg Special Needs - Special Unit Feeding Program Special Unit teachers have identified the following three benefits of the feeding program since its inception: Reduced absenteeism in Special Units A higher number of disabled children enrolled in the Special Units Better Physical health of the children In the words of one teacher, ‘In fact I have seen a big change since we introduced the feeding program. Our pupils have really improved health wise. Children who were very much emaciated have improved. The little they get at school is helping them. They go for summer holiday for one month and when they return they are not as strong as they were when they left us. At home many only get one meal a day. This challenge is very common, I hear it from every special unit teacher. The special units get little or no support from the govt or the families. Every school is supposed to get 2000 ksh a year per enrolled special needs child from the govt, but some units have received nothing for six years. A typical child gets 1050 a year but that money always comes through. It is complete discrimination. Main stream learners are asked to bring funds to supplement the govt monies, and many do. Special needs parents will not top up as they do not value education for their children. Many of our children don’t have uniform, but if we asked that parent to buy uniform we would never see that child again.’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598270992313-S2LT9CY2YII9C629LAB0/20160304_132037534_iOS+%281%29.jpg Special Needs - Such children living with disabilities can develop very severe complications as they have not received early intervention. Stigma is also great in the community. Most people do not understand that disability is nobody’s fault; genetic and medical complications have caused the disability in the vast amount of cases. For the last five years Friends of Kianjai Kenya (FKK) have been working alongside Special Needs teachers and health professionals across Tigania West to improve outcomes for these children. We have introduced Community Workshops to educate parents and the wider community, run feeding programs and a mobile physiotherapy clinic– but for some children more is needed. Traditionally the parents and guardians of special needs children have received no education or support on how to care for their child. This has been hugely stressful and often overwhelming for the parents involved. We believe that through a child specific health and education program parents and guardians of special needs children will be able to support their children to lead meaningful lives despite their physical and mental limitations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598291891724-5FVFC3SOKX4TP06RRM78/IMG_6057.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598291941519-GSFC4ZL6SUE4POXU7JN1/P1160724.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598270063995-9AFLCD2410APJP83Z3M3/SpecialNeedsIcon.png Special Needs - About Rehema Centre Enabling children and empowering parents within the special needs community in Tigania West, Meru County. Rural life is frequently hard regardless of whether you are disabled or able bodied. With recurring droughts and subsequent famines many parents struggle to feed children, and many children drop from school due to lack of fees. But set within these already challenging conditions, children living with disability also frequently face isolation, abandonment, acute malnutrition, minimal access to medical services, and in many cases, are living in extreme poverty and squalor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289895714-YJMACN9GJRWLIDIIG4GX/IMG_4942.jpg Special Needs - Continued… Mr Mwiti Nkanata, a Special Needs Teacher in Tigania West writes, ‘In the Kenyan education system every child has a right to education including the disabled. We however have many challenges facing children with disabilities. Many disabled children cannot reach the special schools or units,the special unit teacher will visit their homes regularly to give advice and moral support to parents. While at home these children are mostly locked in the house or tethered behind the house to hide them from visitors and allow their care takers to go to work. By doing this, these children are exposed to harsh weather conditions, hunger and sometimes rape cases are reported. During our home visits to these families some of the things we encounter are extremely disturbing. Sometimes we meet children with complex disabilities suffering from severe malnutrition, lacking a bed or bedding, infected with jiggers while others are kept completely naked. Most of these children live with their aged grandmothers. After the birth of a disabled child many mothers are deserted by the father. Many mothers get remarried leaving the child behind, remember the mother has to keep news of her disabled child as top secret, failure to which her marriage will break. In most cases these children are seen as a big liability to the family.’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289830854-JSZFXGN6Z1VB92YHG66T/IMG_4906.JPG Special Needs - The Problem: Across the world there are many attitudes to the origins of disability, the status of disabled people and the desirability of their presence in the community. In many cultures disability is attributed to the presence of sin in the disabled person or his or her parents. At other times it is seen as a result of a curse, an evil presence or punishment from God. In many cultures disability is seen not only as something ‘bad’ but also as shameful, casting the whole extended family under a shadow. Such an attitude can result in disabled people being literally invisible in the community, kept in homes away from the sight of others. In terms of the provision of resources they are a low priority and this can cause further health and social complications for them. Since such beliefs are widespread across many cultures, it should come as no surprise that they can be found among the Meru people. The effect of this negative cultural mindset is enormous for disabled children and their families. The combination of poverty, ignorance, and alienation places the mothers under intolerable pressure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289683379-DIQ0R13POOSE18N4JH6W/FKKfootball2018+%281%29.jpg Special Needs - Disability Awareness Day Annually we hold a Disability Awareness Day for these families, providing transport and a fun day out with sodas and lunch so they can join together and share a sense of community. FKK have been sponsoring the Disabled Children Awareness and Fun Day events since 2013. The purpose of these days is to encourage the local communities to come together to share experiences, enjoy food, and celebrate what their special needs children can do. An important part of these days is educating on the medical causes of disability, attempting to break down the misunderstanding that disability is the result of a curse or sin. We invite a wide cross section of the community to join us to further spread this learning. Numbers are growing year on year as this is a very popular event! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290020501-SZNQQL4IQYE7D4DV4W0J/IMG_6058.JPG Special Needs - Aims: - Educate on the causes of disability. Parents and the wider community have no understanding of the medical reasons behind disability. This ignorance feeds the myth of disability being a curse and bad omen. -Educate on wider health issues. Many of the carers of these disabled children do not have secondary education, they need education on nutrition, water hygiene, first aid etc. We run regular Community Workshops on these topics. - Encourage Peer support. Mothers and grandmothers can gain strength and encouragement from peer support. We have initiated the forming of 13 disabled family self help groups. -Provide Medical Support. Due to the hidden nature of disability, and lack of treatment conditions can become significantly worse. FKK are funding weekly mobile physio and nutrition clinics to support families. In time we hope to expand these clinics to offer a wider medical intervention. The need for this can be seen in these words of Mr Nkanata, ‘Many of our disabled children in special schools, units and homebound programs have acquired disability after suffering from preventable diseases like malaria, meningitis, measles and polio. A good number of these cases could have been prevented if proper medication was done at the right time. A good number of mothers with children who have acquired disability simply say the illness was not diagnosed in time or there was no money to take them to hospital.’ We provide a transport allowance to enable the special unit teachers to support families in these situations where possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598291498202-Z1NNBWGXXXDDEAZNLQNW/IMG_3764.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598291461206-KUN5NMEXLMVJ9UGQAL3O/IMG_0299.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598286642172-M6FWEZFRBNCQWH9J4AW8/image.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598292496270-7Y59J5I0JSHPKKIPRQOW/Susan+and+Machaku+special+unit+caregivers.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598286657563-5T8LYJRWXZTW528BOXZI/20160302_105730210_iOS+%282%29.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290918900-9IA1KXUALG9HOUJYZ5JZ/playgroup20.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290914630-92U4S13OW8578CZI3QJD/Mother+to+mother+playgroups.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598292434534-BE9I6GH0S3ZSO8NWW82E/feeding3.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598286698050-3756VUBE7RVD3PTU9KG7/FKKfootball2018.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290949362-AAK9WA4YN9L46JLDOPQE/Screenshot+2020-08-24+at+18.42.21.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598292509501-SYUY63WQFN7EV1M7HZ8L/feeding1+%281%29.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598286662650-E3M3YUMBGK5Z4944A5TD/image+%281%29.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290966804-RHSIUAAHRT2BUR67301B/Screenshot+2020-08-24+at+18.42.42.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598292512602-CHJ8FA0D7PC885KS5LRA/co1+%281%29.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598286691878-YGFC1IZBGWUU8CG4FTUM/Rehema++Centre+Sign+May+2018+%281%29.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290979097-QLL46QF8G6ZD0GOKQ8GG/Screenshot+2020-08-24+at+18.42.53.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598292506300-PZV5DHLMWZQCVNIGT7LR/IMG_0080.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598286701376-ORDJ6TS9LL3GVW2OJPNH/SpecialNeedsIcon+%282%29.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598290998447-MZN6UG1AQRKIMYEYG575/Screenshot+2020-08-24+at+18.43.12.png Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289751550-X4ATHD6CB0SPX8L7TFSQ/IMG_2609.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289773565-DM0I5S5LWO28W4BAL5F7/IMG_2626.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289776566-HT09H3XT8VIJI5CE0AWI/IMG_2959.jpg Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289780505-QU9OI4X6EBNIKCGU00WQ/IMG_6060.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598289784233-M62X6VQHCXUR4U59DN49/IMG_2562+2.JPG Special Needs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598291023033-XGIDXSXT7LHGK64QGSGT/Screenshot+2020-08-24+at+18.43.30.png Special Needs https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/meet-the-team daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598181197068-4967QT1DVQUURPVNOXRV/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+12.02.28.png Meet The Team Nkanata Mwiti Over the last twenty years I have worked as a special needs teacher in Tigania west sub county where Friends of Kianjai Kenya have been supporting children with special needs and their families. Before the entry of FKK in this community in 2011 people had a lot of stigma on disability. As a teacher I used to visit families where I met disabled children tied with ropes behind their houses. Today this is a thing of the past because FKK has helped to eradicate stigma through community outreach projects. I love working with FKK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598180930031-VSX877OSVXLY8JSWFPKG/IMG_3041.JPG Meet The Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1600895297892-JDNEVYIUJMNVNQR42W3K/JG.jpg Meet The Team Jonathan Gichaara I am incredibly happy to be a part of FKK as the Vice Chair lending my grassroots knowledge of the Kianjai community in Meru, Kenya. To me this is a great opportunity to give back to the place where I was born having also been a beneficiary of the kindness of many people towards my education. Currently in the UK, I share passionately about the needs of this community and the work of the charity in offering hope and practical solutions. As a church minister, I feel called to doing life changing good through FKK as a shared endeavour among us as friends to transform lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1600941601722-I63MIRBVFWAL2VDNVR8V/Gladys Meet The Team Gladys Gesage I am Gladys Gesage. I was born in a village in Kisii, Western Kenya. I am a nurse by profession, currently living in United Kingdom. My joy is to see Children with special needs get opportunities to help them in improving their lives. It is a pleasure to be one of the trustees of Friends of Kianjai. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598196923083-P8ZLRJ80U631K93O7UEA/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+12.20.18.jpeg Meet The Team Elizabeth Gichaara I was born within this community, I attended a village school and trained to be a teacher before starting a family of my own. I am passionate about supporting children and young people with learning difficulties. I am currently living in the UK and meet weekly with a group of like minded Kenyans who support the work of FKK through prayer and regular giving. Seeing the impact of our work within the villages makes me very happy to be involved as one of the trustees of Friends of Kianjai. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1600941524056-QS4VVQCD5CF14TY2SUWG/IMG_2446.JPG Meet The Team Peter Gitonga I was privileged to join secondary school supported by a Community fundraiser, and later on I trained in community development. Growing up, I was always passionate and looking forward to giving back to my community, by God's grace I've had that opportunity. Since 2014 I have worked in life changing charity projects, giving hope to the vulnerable population in our community. I'm especially delighted to work with the dynamic, passionate and humble team of volunteers at FKK to deliver help to my community. God bless FKK and her supporters, thanks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598181439851-HGNG41QKDXDUMQW92SG6/Screenshot+2020-08-23+at+12.16.38.png Meet The Team Sally Livsey I fell in love with Kenya when at 17 I visited a family friend living in the foothills of Mount Kenya. It is a joy to be able to share my skills in Finance and Art-making with this special community. Following an invitation from friends in Kianjai I was able to bring my own son and daughter aged 17 to volunteer with me. Caroline and I have been friends since aged 11 and the energy of friendship has developed so many more wonderful relationships here too. So much has been accomplished! Challenges have been overcome and opportunities grasped by our friends who live here, and to share in this work is a life- affirming gift to me. https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/contact-fkk daily 0.75 2020-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598957296755-3TXCMZE4CHFIOM2MAGVT/Background+web.JPG Contact FKK https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/fundraising daily 0.75 2020-09-23 https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/volunteers daily 0.75 2020-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198045282-RRGQAJM0V3TJEO7UYIE5/IMG_3777.JPG Volunteers - Volunteers! We have been happy over the years to facilitate overseas visitors visit the rural community of Kianjai, each person has brought with them their own unique skills and energy. The ages of these volunteers has ranged from 10 to 75, and their backgrounds have been equally varied, but they have all come with a willingness to work alongside the local community and improve outcomes. Volunteers have joined us with specific skill sets eg Physiotherapy, Water Engineer, Accountant, Sports Coach, Teacher and we will endeavor to place people into a project where they can share their learning in this area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198257904-ERPEY8UZOYSKLCOX3E2E/Volunteers Volunteers - In addition, volunteers have joined us with the simple energy of wanting to help out, we have been happy to set up opportunities for them to share their stories with sponsored students, help make assisted aids, support farming etc. All volunteers are asked to pay their own airfare and make a contribution to FKK towards the cost of their accommodation and transport. DBS checks are mandatory. Our volunteer opportunities do vary year to year, and as we are a small charity we cannot meet every request, but do contact us if you are interested in this possibility. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198654860-RSKEOYDRY79UPLI1WFF1/FKK+-+Football+picture+-+Thomas+%26+Tony.jpg Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198706654-2GRODQS8WKXZNNE2N908/volunteers+1+%281%29.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198688543-BWPFY5PT3WLKWKVVE0L3/IMG_3105.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198702851-N1CSYNTDWA3MUSSO9BUB/O%26L+fundraiser+for+School+Farm+project+Sept2016.jpg Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198696903-E58VCLYJKG9GLR32QPGY/IMG_3733.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198698365-ROCR51NCJLBUKIIHX809/IMG_3777.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198696716-NQ6JFC3AM2NIBNGX7YRQ/IMG_3806.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198674300-RY3W1DRY30AEMQ620VQR/kenya+649.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198725303-S0F43UXGCKJM6R2OBOF1/P1160660.JPG Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198714859-4FTVQJ4GXJAWDPTDG5LG/tinypeople.png Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198693162-EPVMPODQSS1KYK2QOO8Y/Vol+2.jpg Volunteers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598198754233-VJGP1BRE1P93NNEAJDU3/O%26L+fundraiser+for+School+Farm+project+Sept2016.jpg Volunteers https://www.friendsofkianjai.com/joinus daily 0.75 2021-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598958540451-PMND7EOXVDXG8EJIOXH1/FKK+new+logo+%282%29.jpg Get Involved https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/50336419-c8aa-4834-ab2b-05aa135d536e/Screenshot+2021-10-13+at+19.47.50.png Get Involved https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598958697174-REB3A4MKKYICK87BXC8H/Screenshot+2020-09-01+at+12.11.30.png Get Involved https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f305beba7d02836d60e7662/1598959005104-682L0WP21KTBUUK1Q1L3/1495494673-jd04_84463.png Get Involved