Five Boys Sit for 2008 KCPE Exams

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E) kicks off on Tuesday the 10th of November 2008. Five resident boys from Kivuli Centre will be sitting for the examinations, which cover five subjects (English, Mathematics, Kiswahili, Social Studies and Science) over a period of three days. On day one, there will be English Composition in the morning and Mathematics in the afternoon. The boys who are sitting for the exams are Kelvin Mbagaya, Jackson Musumba, Emmanuel Obaga, Eric Misee and Martin Mbugua. They are confident of success and the entire Kivuli community wishes them well.

Three Kivuli boys Excel in Drama Festivals

The drama festival is an annually event in Kenya, in which all schools are allowed to participate. The competitions take place between May and August, incorporating all forms of drama with the main purpose of helping the youth to learn and appreciate their culture. It is also an event that provides room for tapping young talent.

In this year’s drama festivals, three Kivuli boys made it through to the national level, which took place in Kisumu, Nyanza province. They were competing in drumming, and after taking the first position in Nairobi province, they qualified for the final competitions in Kisumu, which went on for one for one week.

Although competition was fierce, the Kivuli boys did well - they beat 32 schools to scoop the 4th position nationally. They were awarded certificates each and they hope that next year, they will make it to position one. Those in first positions usually go to State House and there they entertain the President and other dignitaries. We wish the best for them and encourage them to put in more effort.

Water Crisis in Nairobi

Over the past three months, A water crisis has afflicted  most parts of Nairobi. The ministry of water attributes the crisis to a shortage of enough rains over the past few months. People are now struggling to get water and most have to walk long distances to get the precious liquid. It is not free of charge either, and water prices have risen steadily from 5 shillings to 10 shillings, and some other vendors are even selling it for 20 shillings. This is quite expensive, bearing in mind that most Kenyans are unemployed. Also, one jerrican is not enough if you have a family – you need at least 5 jerricans so as to meet the various water needs of the day. A jerrican is 20 litres and this cannot be enough to cook, wash and drink for a man with, say, a family of five.

The Kivuli Center water project has helped many families, thanks to its never ending supply of clean borehole water that is safe to drink. Here, community members line up and fetch water for a very small fee - 2 shillings per jerrican. People line up to fetch the water from dusk to dawn, with some walking  long distances past many other water selling points because they find the price at Kivuli affordable.

Kivuli Wrestling Club

Feeling strong enough? Well then, there definitely a place for you in the Kivuli Wrestling Club. It started earlier this year when young men, some from around Kivuli and others working in various Koinonia projects, sat together with Fr. Kizito and decided to start the sport. Here, young men flex their muscles and with their bare chests try to slam their opponent’s back in the sand. The wrestlers to train on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm and from there proceed to take a quick shower.

Wrestling is a sport that has been practiced in Africa for a very long time. Long ago, young men used to wrestle in front of elders and community members during important ceremonies and functions. It is from here that village warriors were identified and given the blessing by the elders to lead the other warriors in times of war. The motive of the Kivuli wrestlers is however not to become warriors but rather because of the fun that is associated with wrestling, and more importantly, the preservation of culture. Come and get your back slammed down. Won’t you?

KOBWA Broiler Project

The Kivuli Old Boys Welfare Association (KOBWA) is a self help group registered in Kenya under the Ministry of Sports and Gender. It was started in Kenya by former street boys who went through all phases of rehabilitation, human formation and reintegration at Kivuli Centre. Most of the boys live in localities around the Kabiria area of Dagoretti Constituency, Nairobi Province. Due to this closeness to Kivuli Center, they intend to start a broiler project at their former Home, where they hope to be allocated a small piece of land to erect a simple structure for the broilers. A proposed location is either behind the Danilo and Luca Fossati Training Centre or behind the dining hall, whichever suits the Kivuli management. Their mission is to empower members spiritually, emotionally and financially, while their vision is to help reduce poverty levels in the country.

Kivuli Work Camp 2008

The work camp is an annual event in Kivuli when young men and women from Italy come and stay for one month. The young men and women are selected by AMANI, one of Koinonia’s partners, and during their stay and interaction with the Kivuli community, they mutually get to learn, share and appreciate one another’s culture and backgrounds. They also make good friends. This year’s work campers arrived on 2nd August and departed on 28th of the same month.

A word from the work campers who left:

Dear boys,

One day, many people from different parts of Italy decided to write a letter to AMANI because they wanted to meet you. After a very hard selection, we were chosen……we were the best!! Then for several times we got to know each other, to prepare the program and to collect the materials for activities. The time was running fast (haraka haraka) and in our thoughts, fantasies, wishes and curiosity were piling up. Finally, the special day came! The flight was very long and boring but we couldn’t wait any longer to meet you. Looking out of the window, we noticed the big difference from our reality……but from the very first moment we entered the blue gate, we felt home. It was on a Sunday morning and most of you were in church. We were shy and afraid that you were not going to like us but your smiles were the warmest welcome you could give us. That’s why we thank you from our heart because from your welcome, we got the energy to face the month ahead. We would like to thank John Kanene, the educators and all the Kivuli staff for their collaboration, kindness and support in our activities, interest in knowing each other and sharing with us the project with the children.

We had a lot of fun when we organized activities together, when you were particularly enthusiastic and collaborative and when you were smiling. We appreciate your involvement in cooking Polpette, Tagliatells and chocolate salami, especially when you were using Polpette snowballs. We were surprised and amazed by your artistic talent in painting and drawing even in the most crowded and noisy conditions. It was a pleasure for us to do something good for your place. It is something that will last. How many laugh seeing Pankiko, Santanna, Bombshell and Golden arrow (different playing groups during the work camp) playing together the Treasure Hunt, the Naval Battle, the Olympic games and diving deep into the swimming pool? We liked especially holding hands in the 1, 2 make a circle and were very proud of you during Fr. Kizito’s birthday. We saw your talents in acrobatics, juggling, dancing and singing. We enjoyed so much staying side by side with those who did not perform.

One month passed away too quick and it was time for us to leave. We miss a lot playing with you, watching you train after dinner, dancing with you, seeing you laugh and chat, sharing dinner with you especially Chapati and Ugali and above all we will miss coming to your dorms and wishing you Buonnanotte.

A New Roof for the Dispensary

The dispensary in Kivuli caters for the good health of the boys and the surrounding community at large. The fee offered to the community members is very affordable in contrast to the other private hospitals. They specialise in tuberculosis management, dental, VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing) and other health education services. It also provides comprehensive care and support for people living with HIV and Aids.

Recently, a large nice roof was built outside the dispensary so as to better the services and also make life more comfortable for the patients. It is an all weather roof and thus in any eventuality that it rains, the patients no longer have to scamper for safety. Now they can also sit comfortably under the shade of the roof when the sun gets hot.

Kivuli Boys Participate In Two Football Tournaments 

The Kivuli boys are a wonder to see……especially when they are playing football. They have two teams, one for boys under 14 years of age and another for those under 16. During a recent tournament dubbed “Taifa Moja Soccer Tournament” (One Nation soccer tournament) which was played four months after peace had been restored in Kenya following the post election violence, the Kivuli under-14 came first in Kawangware location after defeating all the other teams in the competition. For this victory they were awarded 36 T-shirts and two leather balls thanks to their splendid performance.

There had also been a previous tournament organized by Don Bosco – Karen dubbed the “Jesus Cup Tournament”, in which the Kivuli under-14 team emerged 2nd out of 36 teams. Tone La Maji, another Koinonia centre, defeated Kivuli in a final that was highly disputed with accusations that Tone la Maji has fielded some overage players. The victors got a certificate each and T-shirts as well.

The Kivuli under-16’s are not bad either although they aren’t as good as the younger under 14 team. They managed 3rd and second places in the two tournaments respectively. They also got certificates and T-shirts each. The captain for the under-14 team is George Munyua, while the one for the under 16’s is Dennis Namale. They both express confidence that come next time, they will inspire their team mates to victory. We wish well for them too.

Two Comboni Lay Missionaries prepare to leave

Every year, two Comboni missionaries of German origin do come to Kivuli. They stay for one whole year and during their stay, they take part in various activities under various departments in Kivuli. This year’s outgoing missionaries, Andreas Nibler and Tomas Mecha, came to Kenya in September last year and are leaving this September.

Andreas worked in the Children Department while Tomas concentrated his efforts in the Youth office as the youth coordinator. Andreas used to teach mathematics in the evenings to those in upper class and on Saturday afternoons, he held a computer class with them at the Kivuli computer school. Tomas on the other side achieved the combination into one, of all youth groups present in Kivuli. He accompanied the Karate team to Mombasa where they won 4 cups to scoop position 1 and were recognized as the newest and youngest club to participate in the competition. They both enjoyed their stay in Kivuli and the only time they became worried was during the post election violence that jolted the country after the 2007 elections. Tomas leaves with one request –“allocate more funds to the youth groups.”

Kivuli’s Best Performers in the Last School Term

Studying is compulsory in Kivuli and no excuses are allowed. Even little Joseph and James have to complete their daily homework for them to stay on the safer side. The third and last term of the schooling year commenced on 1st September 2008 and will be running all the way to late November.

Among the best performers last term were Ian Stanley, who scooped 411 marks out of 500, David Kwea who managed 404 out of 500 and Eugene Shilakho, who capped it up with 403 marks. That was splendid of them and a challenge to the rest.

Baptism Day Beckons…       

On Saturday 11th September 2008, if all goes well, 44 Kivuli boys will be baptized in a grand event that will mark the beginning of a new life in Christ for them. However, for all of the boys to be successful, they must all pass their pre-baptism tests, which entail recitation of various prayers and answering a written test. We in Kivuli are praying that all of them fair well.

Kivuli Acrobatics Intensify Training Ahead of Italy Trip

The Kivuli acrobats and jugglers have no time to waste as they train to attain perfection ahead of a forthcoming trip to Italy. They are scheduled to leave fromNairobi on 21st November 2008 and will stay there for two to three weeks. During their stay, they will get to perform in front of large audiences in various parts of Italy. Not only do they somersault back and forth during their performances, but they sing, dance and mime as well.

Malaria No More…at Least in Kivuli

A good day is seen in the morning…or so they say.

On 1st October, well wishers from PLAN International came to Kivuli with a van loaded with new blankets and brand new mosquito nets. They were received by Evelyn, a worker with the Riruta Health Programme who had organized for the donations. Receiving the donation of 64 mosquito nets and 20 blankets, Lucy Wambui, a social worker in Kivuli, acknowledged that there was need to take preventative precautions towards protecting young ones from contracting malaria. She thanked PLAN International for the donation and expressed hope that they would continue in the same heart and spirit.

Asked for his opinion about the new mosquito net on his bed, Joseph Mwathi, the smallest boy in Kivuli simply said,  “It is like a new house.”

Water Scarcity Still a Crisis in Nairobi

The water shortage is still the most worrying concern perturbing residents of Nairobi. Almost everywhere in the city, it has become a common trend for residents to walk long distances in search of water. The Ministry of Water attributes this to the dry spell that has hit the country over the past few months.

Kivuli Centre is still a favourite source of water for many, not only for its “sparking clean” water, but also because its pricing of the commodity is far below that of most vendors. The Centre charges 2 shillings a jerry can, while the cheapest vendors elsewhere charge 10 shillings. There are even some who are charge as high as 40 shillings a jerry can, especially those pulling carts and selling their water to people who cannot bear the tiredness associated with carrying heavy jerry cans over long distances.

The Water Ministry has not promised any present solutions to the water problem. Rather, it maintains its position that only long rains will make the difference.

The Nairobi Agricultural Trade Fair…Learning Experience

The Nairobi Agricultural Trade Fair is an annual event held in October each year. It is usually a big event running for one full week and all Agricultural corporations are granted the opportunity to showcase their expertise in their various disciplines. It is a learning experience for school children as they get to inquire from experts on various scientific fields.

This year’s Show started on 1st October and ran all through to the 5th of the same month. The Kivuli boys were not left behind. On the 3rd of October, they got to see for themselves some of Africa’s fattest and healthiest cows. They also got an insight on how various industries operate and after various stops at different stalls, it was time to visit the large arena and there was a lot of entertainment provided by various professional performance groups. It was all smiles for the boys and everyone cursed the darkness for popping its head way too soon.

No one wanted the day to come to an end.

Kivuli Scouts Go Camping

The Kivuli Boy Scouts went on camp for three days at the Rower land camping site in Nairobi. The camp was part of an annual meet where scouts from various districts converge to share their skills. The scouts do most of the activities themselves while their leaders keep a close watch and offer assistance where necessary.

The Kivuli Scouts reported to camp on 3rd October and came back on 5th. Kivuli has some very young scouts, including Joseph and James, who also struggled to keep their eyes wide open during their three day stay at the camp.

The Kivuli Tong Il Moo Do Martial Arts Group

Tong IL Moo Do is a martial arts group under the Kivuli Youth Sports Office. The phrase “Tong IL Moo Do” means “the art of harmony” in Korean, and the group’ s motto is “advancing bravery forward with discipline”.

The martial arts group was started in Kivuli in September 2007 by instructor Robinson Murundo, who presently holds brown belt in the same discipline. It began with 5 members but has since grown into a large group of 20 members, four of whom are female.

During the Kenya Open Tournament held on Saturday 27th Septembers 2008 at Peace House, Nairobi, the Tong IL Moo Do group beat six teams from Nairobi and Mombasa to scoop position 1 in KATA and position 2 in sparring. They returned home to Kivuli with two trophies, which was an exciting achievement.

Listen to us street children

Poem by Samuel Ngugi

One takes a French leave,

Welcomed by strange friends,

Given a cold shoulder,

For no news is good news.

Out of the frying pan into the fire,

Cold, rain and even police are our best enemies,

Mosquito, lice even dogs attack us in all directions,

For no news is good news.

Hi waiter, can you help me with the menu? Just a dream to us,

Eating left over as our favorite diet,

Some even forget they are vegetarian for we don’t choose what to eat,

For no news is good news. 

Night gets even longer,

Living from hand to mouth,

Trying to take the bull by his horn all day,

For no news is good news.

Birds have their nest,

Kings have their palace,

But for us, the cold verandas and streets are for us,

For no news is good news.

Taking what does not belong to us,

Ending facing music in all directions,

Kill that one strange voice toward us,

For no news is good news.

Did any of us choose to be “chokora?”

Only a few of us,

Left by our parents after the monster Aids took them away, 

For no news is good news.

Born with great talents,

Using them to make both ends meet,

Trying to turn over a new leaf with them,

Only god will help the news be good news.

We have dream,

That one day people will treat us equal,

That they will stop discrimination over us,

That the news will be good news,

Looking forward to the future,

Hoping that we will shine,

Wishing that our tomorrow will be best,

For the news might be good if we try to make our tomorrow be best.