On behalf of Team Bushbells, I just want to thank you so much for all your support this year. It means a huge amount to us. I’ve attempted a poetic summary of our year, that was 2023….
]]>
]]>
]]>
Don't you find with the lazy summer afternoons - it's easy to get lulled into a gentle passing of time. SO why fight it! Despite rather inclement weather - it's still been a happy time catching up with family and friends which is for me, perfection.
]]>
As a result, they have set Bluebells school up with their own tablet and special link, and from now on – there will be live yoga lessons for the children, which they participate via the live stream zoom link provided. I too, was joining in and watching it from the UK – just fantastic. Oh the wonders of modern technology and the the generosity of amazing people.
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give" - Kahil Gibran.
Hayley said, “Hi Jax. It was a pleasure to visit your beautiful school. We loved the feel and energy from the staff and kids - thank you so much for letting us see this very special place. The students are a credit to you and the Bluebells Team!"
Thanks Hayley and Lewis, for your kind words and we SO appreciate you connecting us with our wonderful teacher @dileesha_dharmakerrthi for our online classes! And thank you to Luke for making that connection - more ripples ! I love it all.
Joy UNABOUNDING .....I was lucky enough to attend the college for my A levels, and was following in the footsteps of great uncles who also attended the college in the 1920s. Whilst my home was in Kenya, I was so well looked after and immersed in such a full and exciting curriculum that I never really missed home!
The connections and friendships I made there continue to be a very important part of my life and I recently attended the Diamond Anniversary celebrations of my English teacher PJBleB! He was without doubt one of the biggest mentors in my life – so positive and upbeat and the timeless values we were taught then, still stand true today.
Some 42 years on, one of PJBleB’s granddaughters Tess is current headgirl. Having heard about Bluebells from her mother Emma (who visited Bluebells school with my parent in Watamu, 3 years ago), I have been very honoured to have been made one of the school’s chapel charities this year.
We had a fabulous 2 day sale in March, and moneys raised have gone towards the new office build for Mwana (under construction but almost complete) and Eastbourne’s support will augment equipment for the fledgling drama club.
A huge thanks all around. As the Rev’d James Wood (headmaster of Eastbourne College) said in 1867,
“In Eastbourne, out of Eastbourne, alike, let your character be known for good. Be brave, be generous, be pure, be true.”
All this and more has certainly been endorsed by its current alumni – and to Tess, Emma and all their friends and colleagues alike, I say another grateful THANK YOU!
Eastbourne Sale
From L-R: Sally, PJBleB and I; Emma, myself and Tess; Emma, Mwana, Mama Anna at the school
Mwana's new office taking shape - thanks to funding from Eastbourne College
]]>Lara who was with us for 4 weeks in January and February also worked with our tailors and helped enormously with the cut of patterns giving welcome advice on improving shape and fit. She’s thinking of a career in design and fashion.
Our volunteers have also recently partnered with KWEST (Kenya Watamu Educational School Trust). They help Connie and her team take free books into other schools, to encourage and assist children with their literacy, reading and language skills. It also gives them exposure to other educational environments and shows how well looked after the children are, at Bluebells School. (See various photos below).
Without fail, lunches are always a big treat for the volunteers at the school and as one said ‘Mwana gives us the best food in Watamu.’ Phoebe, another recent volunteer came back and sent me photos of her cooking mandazis back in the UK – as taught by Mwana!
There is plenty of variety on offer when volunteering, from buying curriculum books (kindly donated by St Ronan's School Kent - again pictured), to choosing new chairs, school visits and sorting out stock. As one of our volunteers said, “I can’t stop thinking about my time spent there – it was all incredible and I am already planning when I can go back to help some more!”
Do get in touch if you think volunteering might be for you?
]]>
With help from all sorts of people, including my American partner Sonya, who runs Holding Hands Africa, we were able to build a new ‘tiny tots’ class room and a fabulous playground for them, taking inspiration from recycling old /disused tyres. Their joy is palpable to see, and both are a fabulous addition for the school. Huge thanks to all concerned.
New Tiny Tots Classroom, completed January 2023. Sonya from HHA pictured with Bluebells' pupils
New Playground - such fun!
]]>2022 has been a year of smiles, my parent’s platinum anniversary and joyous tears,
To the loss of our great Queen and I am sure many inward fears
Of rising costs, and threats that they say will engulf us all,
So to avoid such calamity, let’s reframe and cherish success to enthrall
And give us moments to fill our hearts with joy and gladness
And bring forth tales of laughter, colour, rainbows and occasional Bushbells’ madness;
You’re all part of this Bushbells story by the love and support you have shown
So here’s to all of you - we say Thank YOU – and let’s reflect on how we’ve grown…..
In the Spirit of Christmas Giving here are The Twelve Days (with a difference)
Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your munificence....
]]>
The wish list this year included putting in proper windows to make the classrooms secure. Up until now they've just been an open space - and anyone could potentially jump in a make light pickings. Nine ‘outer’ windows have been made secure and we’ve up-cycled green bottles to add some unique decoration too.
A corridor with necessary roofing, concrete pillars and drainpipes has also been built, and a new classroom is under construction for the youngest pupils to have a place to rest and play - leaving older children space to concentrate on learning.
Thanks the amazing support of one kind sponsor, we are also putting in a fabulous playground – with bright coloured tyres and climbing frames which will be a huge addition to the children’s play area.
My thanks, as ever, to SO many people who make this happen. Sincerest thanks to: Sonya of Holding Hands Africa and her kind sponsors; Lucy Macnamara, CEO and founder of Aspiga, and her friend Mans and Woldingham School who have funded all of this through their annual Dineen Lecture, where Lucy was the keynote speaker. Read more here.
My wish is that they can all come and see for themselves in person, the wonderful additions they have made possible for this blossoming little school. Christmas JOY – for sure!
]]>We’ve got the Egyptians to thank for the tradition and the Greeks for the cake.
The birthday tradition dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who believed that when pharaohs were crowned, they became gods. So their coronation day was their ‘birth’ day.
It was the Ancient Greeks who adopted this tradition and added cake. Why cake? Well, the Greeks needed an offering for Artemis, goddess of the moon, as a tribute on their birthdays. Apparently the Greeks baked moon-shaped cakes, decorating them with lit candles – to shine like the moon. Et voila – the tradition was born.
So, cakes have always been synonymous with joy and celebrations. The graduation of the tiny tots to the ‘primary’ school at Bluebells was no exception. Robes (made by a local parent) – adorned with glitter by some, were worn with ‘mortorboards’ to signify their academic success and progress.
Graduation day was also the end of term. A day of music and laughter, dancing, singing and drama. Tilda, one of our volunteers who’d been working at the school, sang a particular beautiful rendition of ‘Alelullia’ (see my insta post on this if you can for the live action!) And the day culminated in the bringing out THE GRADUATION CAKE. A wonderful sight to behold and a HAPPY way to end this long term.
So go ahead, make cake your day!
Hungry yet?
]]>
I have a confession to make! I don’t like shopping and so it’s something of a paradox to me, to persuade you to ‘buy Bushbells’. For any newcomers to this newsletter, it was our trusted and loved colourful Kikoy Pull-ons that kick-started our very first fundraising campaign to build that very first classroom. You helped do this with your valued purchasing power!
Since those heady days, we’ve diversified a little - but not much. Our essence and ethos are the same. We’re a small community with people at the heart of what we do. Four tailors, a beadworker and a few basket weavers create our collections.
Personal favourites at the moment are the new colourful Sisal Baskets that have just arrived. Use them to store logs, shopping or shoes. Use the smaller ones for bathroom/study/bedroom ‘tidys’.
I LOVE my Key-rings and they always make fabulous little presents. They’re 100% made from all off-cuts, so happy sustainability going on there.
And I’m never far from a Kikoy or two. Have a browse. And for this weekend only we’re giving away – yes GIVING away, a beaded Maasai Bracelet with every order.
Looking beyond our little horizon, I had a lovely chat with my friend Lucy Booth who has just returned from Kenya. She runs Kenya Treks – a travel company set up to help a group of Kenyans run bespoke trips for small private groups in and around Nanyuki on the north west side of Mount Kenya - just near the Equator. Kenya Treks arrange high quality camping trips on the mountain and in the wider Laikipia region, and give back to their local communities. Have a look if something like this whets your appetite, I highly recommend them.
And aside from all things Kenyan, another organisation I love to support (and they’ve supported us) is School in a Bag: born out of the Piers Simon Appeal, a charity, set up in memory of Piers who sadly lost his life in the Indian Ocean Tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004. School in a Bag delivers rucksacks filled with stationery, learning resources, eating utensils and a hygiene kit to disadvantaged children around the world. To date, the initiative has delivered over 133,000 SchoolBags to children in 52 countries. SchoolBags distributed internationally are numbered and trackable via the School in a Bag website - however, in October 2021, School in a Bag developed an unbranded and non-numbered SchoolBag to provide for the influx of refugees who are resettling in the UK. To learn more about their response to the conflict in Ukraine, please read more here.
The cost to sponsor a SchoolBag is £20 and to ensure equality amongst the beneficiaries, the SchoolBags are all identical with brand new contents within each consignment. Perhaps you can give someone a little bag of 'hope' this year? After all, "Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of any burdens behind us". To fund a SchoolBag, please click here.
]]>
Aren’t you glad that we live in world that has Octobers? As I write, the sky is blue, the balmy sun warms, the leaves are turning into earthy russets, oranges, reds and terracotta’s – filling our souls with more gold than we can count. As Albert Camus said “Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower”
There has been SO much change since my last newsletter. Long, hot summer days passed in a blur. And then that news...
We’ve all had time to reflect on what our beloved Queen’s reign meant to us. Much has been said and written about her, and for me, it was how she led her life with gracious dedication, and with a smile that lit up any room. One of the most extraordinary images I saw over those weeks of media coverage was this one above. Have a look at the cloud silhouette – and who do you see?
Talking of Smiles - today is International Smile Day. Founded in memory of Harvey Ball – who ‘created’ that first iconic smile on a badge back in ’63 😊 The thinking behind today, is to enhance this world one smile at a time. If you see someone without a smile today - give them one of yours, it’s a gesture of kindness and you could just change someone’s life.
We’ve got 4 volunteers heading out to Bluebells School in the next four weeks to work their magic at the school – think of ‘value added’ and if you’re ‘into’ Instagram – do follow their stories and progress there. Their curriculum has been concertinaed due to a prolonged closure, with recent elections, so the volunteers will be busy helping the students 'catch up'.
Bluebells remains a safe place for the children to learn and thrive – which is so important in this topsy turvy world. As consumers, you have the power to make change, and thanks to your ongoing support, we continue to be able to make a big difference to their lives. Let's buy less and buy better: give less and give better.
]]>
I have worked in the stock room, and been stock tidying, sorting, and data entry and, data entry onto the website, as well as packaging up orders. It's been fascinating watching the whole process.
I am a keen seamstress and as part of my volunteering I have also enjoyed sewing colourful bucket hats and scrunchies out of kikoy offcuts at home. I have learnt so much about the work Bushbells does, and the administration involved. I can really recommend supporting Bushbells to fulfil the volunteering criteria for D of E.
I am also a proud owner of some kikoy pull-ons which I love to wear and are very handy as D of E pyjamas! It's been an honor to have the new 'softie' fabric named after me too!
Rose pictured in her reversible bucket hat, the new Rose fabric, and sorting out baskets !
It’s almost a year since we lost our Master Tailor Sammy – a day that I will never forget. His memory lives on in everything we do, and all that we try and bring to you started off somehow with Sammy cutting, stitching and trialling the garment.
Our team of tailors have all done so very well in his absence and the clothes we make are of the same high standards that Sammy required.
In response to his tragic loss, we set up a ‘go fund me page’ and I was staggered at your kind and most generous response. When in Watamu in earlier this year I obviously visited Sammy’s grave. He is buried on his family’s property.
His simple house had a whole pile of bricks beside it and Katana (Sammy’s son) told me that bit by bit his father had been buying bricks when funds permitted, so that in time he could rebuild his house as it was basically old and crumbling.
I was thrilled to be able to tell Katana that with this funding; we’d be delighted to undertake this project for him and his two sisters. The former house still stands, and month by month a new one has been going up. It’ll have three much larger rooms and an open area too, as well as a covered veranda, and an area with a flat roof which could double up as more covered room space. It’s simple in its design to allow maximum air flow and good ventilation. And we’re in the process of getting quotes for solar panels which would enable the family to have some form of electricity.
It’s spacious, solid and will carry Katana and his two sisters forward in a secure home for the next generation. It’s a wonderful legacy to leave them, and on behalf of the three of them, I save a massive THANK YOU again to you all for such generous support. It just shows the power of community, and you are all part of that Bushbells community so thank you thank you.
]]>
We’ve had three fantastic volunteers this July – Briony, Oscar and Harry and it just so happened they were all there together at the same time. They’ve been busy – from teaching lessons (exams permitting) and having fun creating art, to buying paint for some DIY, and last weekend they organised a school trip to Local Ocean - which is a another wonderful community project.
It’s always a favourite destination of our, as they children learn so much about the benefits of protecting their local marine environments as well as their inhabitants and of course Turtles! It’s a wholly interactive experience and teaching the children at grass roots level can only have a positive impact on the future of the marine environment.
During their tour, they learnt about the protection of mangrove and coral reefs, as well as the endangered turtles. Through the examples in the beautiful gardens, they also learnt about the hazards of marine debris and pollution and raising awareness on anti-poaching.
The volunteers then organised for the older children to head to the beach. Briony was horrified at the amount of marine debris washed up at the beach at this time of year but the children still love the opportunity of the big beach space.
If you’re resourceful, can think on your feet, enjoy community work and want to help children, consider volunteering with us for a fully immersive experience.
]]>For those of you who’ve been following our progress for a while, will know that Katana is Sammy’s son, and he is almost nearing the end of his time as an undergraduate at an international university in Nairobi, where he’s been studying accountancy for the last four years.
As part of his course work, he’s required to secure a three month internship. So Katana was absolutely delighted that the Crab Shack in Debaso signed him up. It means he is based at his home in Watamu, which he loves as he’s so family oriented.
He started at the beginning of June, and loves it. He sends me updates regularly, and was particularly pleased when a whole lot of accounts that he had to check were wholly approved by the CFO.
The Crab Shack, rather like ‘Bushbells’, is a community based organisation. It’s not far from Debaso that stands at the edg eof the mangrove forest over Mida Creek.
The Boardwalk and Crab Shack were built by Dabaso Creek Conservation Group to promote eco activities, protect the mangrove forests and provide education for the Mida Creek fishing communities. Access to the restaurant is via a 200 metre boardwalk, which gives guests a unique opportunity to absorb the beauty and magical atmosphere of the mangrove forest and channels leading to the creek.
The menu is all locally sourced, and includes fresh fish, prawns and crab samosas (their signature dish!)
The crabs are sustainably farmed as part of another DCCG eco initiative and the fish are caught by local Creek fishermen. Eating out here really does support the local community and all profits go towards DCCG conservation and educational activities. If you’re around in the next 6 weeks – do make sure to ask for Katana.
As he said to me – my office with a view!
]]>
I’ve talked about the ripple effect…… I know someone who knows someone else who said they could fix this, and someone else DID!
Looong story short. One of my oldest friends, Susie (we were at the Banda School together) introduced her friend to our school. Ali happens to be the Head Teacher of The Banda, and she very generously organised for a massive donation of books for Bluebells School. In addition, Susie went along to talk the Banda pupils about the provenance of this little school. It’s all so interlinked – from us having been pupils at the Banda, to my mother having taught tennis there for over 10 years. Our tailors work from Susie’s house and without all this, we would never have been able to create the funding to build the two schools.
Are you keeping up….!?
And if this wasn’t enough – Ali and the Banda School have also donated TEN – yes TEN computers to the school, and over the Jubilee weekend (their half term) - these 10 computers were installed into the school. Richard (Banda’s amazing IT man) fixed it all up for us, and the solar power that was funded by Sherborne School back in February is enough to power them all.
I find this progress quite INCREDIBLE, when you think that 7 years ago there was literally scrub and bush on this site, and now it is going to become the computer hub for this area and benefit not only the children, but wider community at large.
As Susie said to me only this week, despite the sadness and broken dreams and suffering of so many in the world at the moment, hang onto the good and keep hoping, as there is still so many acts of kindness in this world. Thank you Susie, Ali, Richard and all the gorgeous Banda children. As their motto says, ‘Aduus ad stellas’ which broadly translated means – Give children wings, and we’ll teach them how to fly’. The children at Bluebells school will now surely take flight thanks to the kindness of so many. JOY and JUBILATIONS for our Queen (in June) far away Watamu side – YAY !
]]>
Our tailoring team are robust and in good health. We’ve taken on Mahenzo, Sammy’s eldest daughter as a trainee – as she’s keen to become a tailor to make her father proud. Ruth is back at work following the recent birth of her son Peter in November and they are always so grateful for the support we give.
I was particularly pleased to see this little memorial garden at the school planted up in memory of Sammy. He’s always in our hearts.
Meantime, they’ve been working hard and our shelves are bursting full of colour and joy and gorgeous products for you to enjoy!
L = The tailors and me. R = Joseph creating another pair of pull-ons for you.
L = Ruth with her newborn baby Peter plus her twins Josphat and Andrew. R = Sammy's memorial garden.
]]>
I know someone who, years ago, called her son Bear. “He’ll be adventurous with a name like that,” she said. As it happens, he’s grown up and now runs his own travel company. Fortuitous perhaps – did his name shape his destiny I wonder?
I’m off to the sun to visit my team of tailors, visit the school, work and chat and make plans beachside, Watamu side. Lucky me – as it’s been two years since my last working visit.
I am sure I’ll have lots to report – but meantime a simple improvement is to plan ahead. To that end, we will no longer will be stocking belts physically in store, but you can have any design made for you – to your very own colours and specifications. This avoids waste and unwanted stock. No downside – you will just have to wait a couple of weeks to get it. But at that price, it’s no hardship! Let me know whilst I’m out there if there is anything you’d like to order?
Well, I like the sound of Twenty-twenty-two 20-20-2. We all have high hopes for January, but it’s off to a sparkling start with its name. I love the alliteration and say it fast – it’ll make you smile, and it's a palindrome. Today is 22-1-22. Say it out loud, digit by digit… 2 2 1 2 2. Now the subject line makes sense? I have happy feelings about this year, and I hope it brings you all sorts of ‘happies’ too.
Meet Mahenzo - she's the eldest of Sammy's two daughters and she's just completed her tailoring course at college. She's been busy rolling these tassels for our popular keyrings (using all our offcuts) and she's going to be working for us whilst Ruth is still on maternity leave. I'm so proud of her and I know her darling father would be too - keeping it in the BB family.
Our new classroom for Grade 6 has just been finished. We have two gorgeous volunteers working there at the moment (see below!) - and two more coming in February. Get in touch if volunteering appeals to you.
Finally - we've got an amazing video for you to watch here. You’ll see why we do what we do – thanks to your ongoing support. Keep well.
A happy healthy twenty twenty two just for you.
Christmas is always a good time to pause, reflect and take stock. As 2021 creeps towards a close, there are many highs despite the biggest loss of our Master Tailor, Sammy, in August. Thanks to your valued and continued support, we've summed up our year thinking of the Twelve days of Christmas. This year, we have...
And always remembering Sammy who is forever in our hearts 💙
There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even when they are gone, the light remains.
Our tailors are taking a well-deserved Christmas break and so are we.
Our offices are now shut and will re-open on 4th January 2022.
Any orders placed in this time will be dealt with then.
Wishing you a joyous and peaceful Christmas time. Keep safe and keep well, and thank you for all your fantastic support - it's always a team effort here at Bushbells and we couldn't do it without you.
✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨
]]>
]]>
Usually my summer newsletters are full of sunshine and the abundance of warmth, and glowing colours.
But I can’t pretend to be joyful at the moment. I am sorry to be the harbinger of sad news, but I know that some of you won’t have seen my social media posts.
Last Sunday, 8th August, our deeply loved Master Tailor Sammy, tragically lost his life. It all started with malaria about 2 weeks before. This then spiralled into a bad spell of sickness whereupon he was taken to a hospital in Malindi. There he was treated for pneumonia and put onto a ventilator for oxygen. His strength rallied, and that that was the last time I spoke him. The following day he had to have dialysis for his kidneys (he’d had type 2 diabetes for the last 5 years which was being treated). And he slipped peacefully away at 10pm.
It's all happened so very quickly and we are all in total shock. Sammy was THE reason and the WHY for Bushbells. It all started with my mother and me all those years ago wanting to find him more work to boost his income, after he’d been widowed with 3 young children to support.
There would have been no Bushbells without Sammy. And our success is entirely due to him. The two schools we've built from profits earned from our sales are all thanks to him and the beautiful clothes he made, together with his ‘girls’ – Lilian, Rahema and Ruth – who complete Team Bushbells.
It's Sammy's name you see on every single label. He was a tailor like no other. He cut without patterns and could copy anything you asked him to make. Nothing was too much trouble, and he was adored by all who knew him. His quiet and gentle manner combined with his winning smile and committed 'can' do attitude was unique. He was one of the best friends I've ever had.
Please forgive us as we lie low and come to terms with this huge loss and gap in our lives. We feel our 'Bushbells' heart has been ripped out. Spare a thought for Sammy’s three children. We’ve set up a ‘GoFundMe’ page to give his children an immediate buffer of financial support, as they have no parents now. The link for this is: https://gofund.me/7a54e129
Sammy was buried yesterday. Over 2,000 people attended his final farewell – such was his standing in the community and he was deeply loved by all who knew him.
I said to Katana his son, that tears are the price we pay for loving someone. Sammy is now unfettered by human chains and will be flying high on the backs of rainbows and sunbeams, colourful kikoy stitches and golden threads, and the treasured memories we all have of him, will be in our hearts forever. No one can ever take these away from us. Treasure your Bushbells’ pieces you have and think of him when you wear them – he’d love that. And he’d love to see the colour he’s brought into so many people’s lives.
For the remaining month of August – we’ll be donating 15% of any orders you make, to his children. Please just write SAMMY in notes and we’ll know to put it to one side.
On behalf of his family, and Team Bushbells, we say Asante Sana, and thank you for your continued support. Stay well – life is so very fragile. As Sammy used to say everytime we spoke, ‘OK my friend, Keep On Keeping On…..’
“Good night, sweet Prince. May hosts of angels sing you to sleep”
Godspeed darling Sammy. Rest in peace.
The first half of this ‘summer’ term has gone well. Only 5 weeks in, and Mwana our principal, reports that the children have settled back quickly and continue to be as keen as ever to learn. They love their 2 new, airy and re-configured classrooms - new construction which we undertook during the Easter holidays. This week we paid for three of our teachers to attend a local teacher-training seminar.
Tomorrow, 5th June, is World Environment Day, and we’re pledging to donate £2.00 for every purchase you make over this weekend to planting more trees. This time we want fruit trees, namely mango and avocado. Both provide nutritious fruit, excellent shade and each tree off-sets approximately 500 Kg of CO2 over ten years (a conservative estimate).
Team Bushbells with the tailors and some of the senior school children will be doing their ‘beach clean’ on Tuesday 8th June, to mark World Ocean Day. It’s not too late to stop the harm of single use plastic, and certainly their continued involvement carries this vital message back to their own communities.
“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people” ~ Chinese Proverb.
Enjoy the warmth of summer to come!
]]>
Happy May Day everyone and for me, this beautiful picture of bluebells sums up where we are at this time of year! It really is a magical time, especially after the cold April we've just had.
Meantime, school-side, Watamu-side, things are never idle. Despite it being holiday time for the children, Mwana our principal, has been over-seeing the 're-configuration' of two classrooms. To provide more space, without a complete re-build, we've funded a team of 'fundis' (builders/fixers) to remove the interior walls between two classrooms, absorbing the office and staff room - to make longer and bigger classrooms. The office and staff room will be merged into one, in another part of the school. In addition, a shaded 'passageway' has been added which will look very smart and mirror the building on the other side of the square.
Using odd bricks and extra bits of wood, she's also asked the construction team to build a chicken coop and is keeping chicken and goats at the school. They will provide eggs, milk and additional manure for the 'shamba' / veg garden. She's very resourceful and the photos reflect this.
Our tailors too, have had a month's break, and have used this time to visit families, and harvest their crops - but I know more rain is needed.
Kenya still remains on the 'red' list (and vice verse if you want to travel there), but the good news is, as of today, travel for Kenyans from county to county is now possible - so easing of restrictions in some places.
The next school terms starts on the 10th May - and fingers crossed all the building works will be complete by then.
Have a glorious May one and all!
]]>Society is unfurling, nature is uncurling and the lighter evenings ahead bring the promise of much longed for reunions – pole, pole (slowly slowly, in Swahili!)
Our community is our story, but we believe that we can give back to both people and the planet. We want to to introduce you to our new environmental initiative, our ‘Climate Club’. We are partnering with Greenworld Campaign, a reforestation initiative that is based along the Kenyan coast. Their holistic approach entails partnering with local communities starting in schools and drawing in parents and other key local stakeholders.
With your support and Greenworld’s guidance we’ll be establishing a ‘food nursery’ and a small tree planting programme at the heart of Bluebells School, to expand and improve our already established shamba (vegetable garden). The new 'Climate Club' will take ownership of this project and help nurture the seedlings into a fully functioning and productive vegetable garden. Children and their families will receive seedlings to take home, as well as training on how to plant, maintain and harvest these seedlings at regular workshops. This last month, 40 tree seedlings were planted, new gardening resources bought, and trays of seedlings started, but we need more: one for each child (that's 150 trays!)
For every key-ring you purchase - just write KEYS4SEEDS' in the notes at checkout - and we'll ensure that a child receives an established tray of seedlings to take home, nurture and grow.
Together we can do this, one little leaf at a time!
]]>