Moving Day at Facing the Future!

The teachers at kids at Facing the Future were so excited to move into their new permanent facility that we just had to share the excitement from their moving day!

 

 

More Great News from Kibera

What a difference five months has made in Facing the Future’s progress!  With bathroom facilities (a rarity in the slum), its own tank to ensure potable water, and income-generating ventures (kerosene pump and CFW Health Shop), FAFU is poised to become a model child development center in Kenya.

When the YMCA team traveled to Kibera in March 2011, this is what the site looked like:

Clearing the site for construction

Now, just five months later, we continue receive news and images of the wonderful progress being made on the facility, which presently serves more than 100 infants, toddlers, and primary school-age children.

 

 

 

 

FAFU children receiving medical services

The New Canaan YMCA’s World Service project in Kibera is made possible by generous donor support of our Annual Support Campaign.  To learn more or make a gift, contact Susan Cossette Eng at (203) 966-4528, ext. 142, or by email at seng@newcanaanymca.org.

 

 

 

Facing the Future Phase One Almost Complete!

Four classroom units at Facing the Future’s new Child Development Center in Kibera, Kenya are nearing completion!  Phase One of the Center’s plan calls for five units in total, as well as permanent toilet facilities–a rarity in Kibera!

As shown in these photos which we just received from Simeon Ajigo, FAFU’s Executive Director, the 100+ kids are already occupying the completed spaces and enjoying bright, airy classrooms and daily meals, and they now have a computer in the center.  Once an internet connection is established, the children are looking forward to “virtual playdates” with our kids here at the New Canaan Y!

FAFU’s New Center Takes Shape!

We just received these photos from Carter Via, our partner at Cross-Cultural Thresholds who traveled with the team during their March visit.  Carter has just returned from Kibera and reports that construction on FAFU’s new center is impressive. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all of our generous donors for their support.  You have made quite a difference in the lives of these children, and our “small act” half a world away continues to grow.

Amazing Progress on Facing the Future’s Facility

It has been two months today since our team landed on the ground in Kibera, Kenya, and Facing the Future’s new permanent facility is really beginning to take shape.  This is what the site looked like as it was being cleared during our visit:

and after we had worked with Facing the Future’s team to prepare the foundation footings:

Today, we were thrilled to receive word from FAFU’s Executive Director, Simeon Ajigo that the first two classroom units will be ready by the end of May and that the 125 children will be relocated to the new site by the first week in June.  Check out the progress:

It’s always worthwhile, just more so sometimes. . .

Time and again, we are so touched by the families we meet through our Special Needs Initiative.  Their love, inner strength, and human compassion continually inspire us on a deep and personal level and make all of us proud to do the work we do.

Check out this article from our friends at The Daily New Canaan:

http://www.thedailynewcanaan.com/neighbors/brotherly-love-inspires-prep-student-reach

Celebrating Abilities: Y Hosts World Down Syndrome Day

This past Sunday, March 20, we were thrilled to partner with CT-based 21 Strong to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.  21 Strong is a group of families located in Fairfield County who came together because their lives have been enriched by Down syndrome.  

Organized by Down Syndrome International, World Down Syndrome day has been observed in March since 2006.  The goal of the celebration is to promote awareness and understanding of Down syndrome, and to mobilize support and recognition of the dignity, rights, and well-being of people with Down syndrome around the world.

More than 200 people joined us for music, Bouncing Bears, art and sensory activities, Wii games, and sports.

This special event, hosted by our Special Needs Initiative, was free and open to all in the community.  Explains Marisa McBride, YMCA Director of Special Needs Programming, “Our Special Needs Initiative is all about celebrating and supporting the unique abilities within our community, and hosting an event like this gives us the chance to provide a fun day for families who are affected by Down syndrome as well as to educate others in an effort to make the already inclusive environment at the Y even stronger.”

Rain in Kibera: Last Day

Today was the team’s final day in Kibera.  While the group had been fortunate to have warm, dry weather during their stay, today was another story altogether.  Using makeshift, antiquated tools, the group continued its work on the new classroom building in monsoon rain conditions, handsawing wood to create foundation footings and to build new classroom benches. 

Heavy rain makes the conditions in Kibera worse than they already are.  With no paved roads and no drainage, garbage and human waste flow freely through the slum.  Of all the things one’s senses take in, the team is most taken aback by the smell.  “It’s the most horrible thing imaginable,” said Kevin Cowser, “But life in Kibera continues.”

Our team is confident that Facing the Future’s facility and sustainability plans will be among the best in Kibera.  “Once this project is completed, FAFU will be one of the best models for child care centers in Kibera because of its income-generating business model,” explains Craig Panzano.  “With the kerosene pump business as well as the CFW Health Shop–along with continued training of FAFU’s staff and recruitment of effective board members–the center will be in a good place to serve these children.”

At the end of the day, FAFU’s kids had the opportunity to “meet” children in the New Canaan Y’s Rainbow Station childcare center via Skype.  With faces pressed against computer screens on either side of the globe, the children waved, smiled, and sang songs to one another amidst shouts of “Hello New Canaan!” and “Hello Kibera.”

In New Canaan, we showed the children a world map printed off the Internet, circling New Cannan’s location and Kibera’s and connecting the two with a big line.  “Mr. Craig and other Y people are over here building a new school for children just like you,” we explained.

In Kenya, Kevin had to improvise.  Dripping water in the dry earth with his water bottle, he sketched the two continents, connecting them together with a drip of water 15 feet apart.  “Remember,” he said, “that the only thing that separates us is water.  When I see the sun going up at home, I will know it is going down here, and when you see the sun coming up here, you will know it is going down at my house.”

As the group departed Kibera for the last time, there were an abundance of hand-shakes and thank you’s.  “They were suspicious of us at first,” explained Craig.  “So many people come into Kibera and don’t come back.  We were one of the few groups that kept returning, and a bond develops.”

We look forward to nurturing this partnership and helping FAFU bring hope to these special children.  We shall keep you posted as we see more of the progress on the new permanent center. 

Thank you for support and well wishes for the team!

Kibera Day 3

The Y team and our partners on the trip from Cross-Cultural Thresholds continued work on the site for Facing the Future’s new classroom building today.  Led by Carter Via, Cross-Cultural Thresholds was also our partner organization on the Y’s 2007 trip to Kibera.  In addition to the New Canaan YMCA, Cross-Cultural Thresholds has also been providing funding to this project and FAFU’s operating costs.

The group (which includes two Y Board members, David Squier and Kevin Cowser) also met with FAFU’s Board of Directors today.  Among the items discussed:  how to improve our partnership with them, strategic plans for FAFU moving forward, and ensuring complete financial reporting and communication of results.

And finally, the big hit of the day…

Thanks to Kevin’s efforts in securing product donation, the kids at FAFU all received a brand-new pair of Crocs today.   (Yes, the team hand-carried 200 pairs of shoes over to Africa with them to ensure they arrived safely…big duffle bags!!)

Kevin Cowser helps a toddler find the perfect pair of Crocs

And a video. . . listen to the laughter and excitement!

Want to help support the Y’s World Service Project?  Stop by the Y front desk and check out the Ocean Waves sunglasses fundraiser.  $20 from every pair sold will benefit Facing the Future, and remember $200 feeds one child for a year in Kibera!

Providing Hope for Youth

A 14-year old girl being helped by Facing the Future shared this poem during the team’s visit yesterday:

After Aids

 After aids killed our parents,

relatives took and sold our property, physically abused us,

and denied us basic rights, finally we started roaming aimlessly,

far and near the neighborhood, looking for food because

hunger was our big problem. 

Later it became unbearable, and now on the crossed roads we

remember our dear parents; with their kind and lovely care,

luckily you have come to rescue us, and we are very grateful. 

May God bless you always.

 ”Thank You”