Feeding program sustainability

After waiting for almost eight months now the maize we planted on January are showing good signs that the harvesting is not far.I was happy to see the maize yesterday when i paid a visit.
The maize are doing well and we hope that come August we will be harvesting and this will help the feeding program. Thanks to all those good friends who made this happen. cannot mention your names.

The role food plays at the Centre

This is vital as children need incentive to go to school. They cannot be expected to learn with hunger on their minds. One mid day meal at school is a God send for them and hard pressed parents and guardians.
without lunch meal there is fear that children will stop coming to school resulting to going back to the quarry crashing stones and streets begging for food.

We need food or cash. If we can raise a sack of beans and rice that will give us the carrot to get the kids off the streets and the quarry and into school. Large or small your donation will be used to its fullest potential. We have the rooms, the desks the passion and will to succeed. All that we need now is your help.Feel free to contact us. ingrideducationcentre@hotmail.com or douglas_onkware@yahoo.com


The area is engaged in the mining of ballast and building stones.
Child labour is on the rise within Nairobi slums Matopeni/quarry village with No exception face rate of child labour especially within adjacent quarry farms.

Our First Volunteers-February 2010.

Our First Volunteers This year arrived on Wednesday 3rd from UK-Bryna and Helena.They were joined by Lamba and Ruthy from Swahiba network Kenya.Being the first day at the centre we took time to take them round to get the real picture of the centre.It was a very good experience indeed.The kids were happy too.Later the kids received the gift stuff the volunteers brought .it was a wonderful day and perhaps the 1 st gift of a kind this year.Bravo you all!!
Later each of them were allocated a class where the host teacher thought the kids inorder the volunteer could see what it is like teaching these young ones.Bryn teamed up with teacher Norah in Grade 3 and 4. Lamba joined teacher Grace in Baby/class together with Helena and Ruthy teamed up with teacher Linet in Grade one.
We welcome you all to Ingrid this month and more news will follow as the volunteer will be continuing teaching at the centre. more intresting Helena will be introducing French class and the kids are very happy about it.
From the desk of the Director:
Douglas Monene.
Ingrid Centre Nairobi
Kenya
4-02-2010

Shamba Planting.

We the Ingrid Centre wish to thank you all who took part and made it possible the planting of the two acre Plot that has been leased to Ingrid Centre where we will be planting maize and beans for the feeding program.
We welcome you all to join us on board and make the dream of these young boys and girls meet their lifetime dream of Education at the Centre. Feel welcome .....

The spirit of Christmas is alive and here!

We just wanted to express our huge appreciation and this Comes deep from our hearts my Wife Grace and I together with the whole big family of the Ingrid Centre and all the Good teachers who have stood by us,Working and helping these Angels achieve their life time dream in Education and a better future.We are just speechless!! THIS JUST THE BEGINNING! we have just began...the angels will continue flying.

The generosity of "A Friend" is staggering, donating 64% of the target funds needed via JustGiving site with a simple message-Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We'd like to thank all the following its incredible!!
Much thanks to- Nick, Nicola, Jack, Robert, Liz, Sammy, Simon, Charlotte, Sally, Charlotte N, Raliette, Alec, Steve, Mary, Steven, Eleanor, Mike, Leila, Bridgette, Deb,Chumo,Jeniffer and all anonymous donors too for their generosity in securing the future of the 116 children currently being cared for and given the hope of an education under our watch (Douglas and Grace). ASANTE SANA

Merry Christmas to Everyone and God bless you all.
Douglas Monene
Founder Ingrid Centre.

OUR SECOND GRADUATION CEREMONY-2009

Despite fears that the land where the angels school stands might be lost!! and we have up to Decmber 29th to secure the land.... THIS COULD NOT STOP The Angels from flying high..yes they once again flew!!! It was a wonderful Day on 27th November 2009 at Ingrid Centre where 24 angels graduated to join Grade one next year.Parents and Guardians could not hide the Joy sitting under the hot sun outside Ingrid Centre cheering and watching the Angels parade for Guard of Honor!!! The pictures tell it all have a look here.and dont forget that you donations count a lot in securing the land for the Angels.Your prayers and any kind support is highly welcome...Karibu sana!!

Ingrid Children's Education Centre: Welcome to Ingrids Education Centre

Ingrid Children's Education Centre: Welcome to Ingrids Education Centre

This from Douglas Monene’s Desk

Dear Friends of Ingrid Centre:
This is coming from deep in my heart and on behalf of Ingrid Centre Family-Surely you have all been very supportive to us, Without you we could have not come this far with the current economic crisis and food situation in the country-Kenya. We Sincerely Thank all the volunteers for the purchase of foods for the children, water Tank for storing water!Their Contribution towards children’s fun day which was a big success and the presents and gifts you brought for the kids not forgetting their contribution towards the deposit for the plot, to mention but a few. Receive our sincere appreciation; we cannot forget your generosity.
Am compelled to Mention the names of all the volunteers who took their time to volunteer at Ingrid last summer.
Beckee,Sam,Mariam,stan,Alec,Deb and Charlotte you are all God sent. Bravo to you all and your pure heart of compassion May the God in heaven bless you all.

sam and Beckee being shown how to make necklaces at the centre

Sam and Beckee at Ingrid Centre

Its nice to write you all! This Summer The Ingrid Centre was lucky to have 3 volunteers this summer, Beckee arrived on the 24th July and later she was joined by Sam.What a wonderful experince....they are wonderful teachers...Sam teaches in Grade 2 and 3 and Beckee is incharge of grade one.They are doing a wonderful job.Beckee volunteers till the 8th of August when she leaves for mercy Home in Western Kenya.
Sam will contunue teaching until 14th August.The kids are happy and we thank beckee and Sam for the gifts they gave to the kids and food donations..
We have another volunteer joining them as from Monday.Mariam will be with the children for two weeks 3RD OF August to 14th August when she too leaves for Mercy Home.we welcome you all. Ingrid Centre is open to all who could like to come and volunteer teaching the children.

Ingrid Team

Teaching Staff

Inadequate Basic Amenities

Clothing is also a major problem to the children. They cannot access education because of lack of clothes , school uniform used clothes from our well ushers is welcome.

Teenage pregnancy

The Kenyan domestic household survey shows that adolescent mothers constitute more than half (60%) of the adolescent girls in the country a big number of these girls drop out of school due to stigmatization. The Kenyan government and the ministry of education has a policy of re-admission of girls back to school after giving birth. But it remains a big challenge to mother child girl’s education due to stigmatization ridicule and abuses from other pupils. The readmission policy must be widely disseminated in schools and the community so that parents are aware of this.

Guardian negative attitudes towards educating children
Guardians mind about the education of their education of their own children rather than orphans under their care hence cutting down chances of orphans getting education , orphans start withdrawing orphans under their care hence cutting down chances of orphans getting education , orphans start withdrawing from education when hey feel unloved and hopeless when orphan girls lose hope they chooses the obvious by getting married involve themselves in prostitution leading to pregnancy and hence drop out of school before even they complete their studies

Inadequate Health Facilities

As it’s evident in other slums in Kenya. Matopeni /quarry village suffer from poor sanitation, purchasing and high rate of immortalities to mention but a few. All past and present government have not recognized this part as one of Nairobi city hence do not provide welfare services or social amenities . This can be characterized by poor toilets/latrines on top of the sewage line, one roomed tin/iron sheet dwellings without privacy. The village receives water once a week from NAIROBI SEWARAGE AND WATER COMPANY and without storage facilities many go even without water or buy at 20/= a jerrycan. The communal toilets are very dirty and in poor conditions without doors girls and women feel them to use the school toilets.
Disease such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea the children resulting death. The sick destitute children and injured orphans must walk 4 km to the nearest city council hospital for treatment. The hospital is not well equipped and lacks proper medical facilities and makes it difficult to curb and control any outbreak leading to high mortality in the community.

Inadequate Public Schools

In Matopeni /quarry village there is only one public school and one private school which charge high charges high fees that the community cannot afford due to the level of poverty . Kindergarten education is not free in Kenya and the government has no policy and proper guideline for early childhood education program. As result of the community members decided and agreed to send their children to INGRID EDUCATION CENTRE to get basic & firm foundations of education, children walk as far as form 4 km to 8 km to school

Poverty and Child Prostitution

Poverty level in Matopeni /Quarry currently is high and stands at 60% . This means that most people are living below poverty line. It’s characterized by the hardship and poverty families and individuals face. Guardians/Parents have to choose between taking their children to school or letting them go and work in the quarry because of high costs of fees, child labour is the answer for family survival when there are no jobs girls provide unpaid labour at home, around the quarry some engage in prostitution in order to meet their needs and boys turn to hawking from door to door .

Exploitation Of The Girl Child

Domestic chores for girls are numerous and demanding leading to girls having no time to study for example if there is a baby to be taken care of it is the girl child who must do so at the expense of her education . Some parents are forcing expenses of her education some parents are forcing their daughters to carry their siblings to school. Girls take the whole burden in doing housework which include cleaning , washing clothes utensils, cooking, fetching water and looking after the young brothers are sisters

Child Labour

Child labour is on the rise within Nairobi slums Matopeni/quarry village with No exception face rate of child labour especially within adjacent quarry farms
The area is engaged in the mining of ballast and building stones. Both small boys & girls accompany their parents to work in the quarry farms. Another big setback! Girls of school going age 6-17 years old are employed as domestic workers in the neighboring Kayole and Komarock estates some sell vegetables and boys engage in hawking, child prostitution in exchange of money. HIV/AIDS is the most urgent danger facing the youth and they are the most vulnerable with the highest rates of infection
The economic constrain puts pressure on girls to involve themselves in sex in exchange of money and when money is involved it’s difficult though to have a safer sex. This has led to the worst consequences of HIV/AIDS death hence increase of orphans leading to children dropping out of school when side with poverty studies show that HIV/AIDS of school drop out with current static Matopeni/Quarry SLUMS HIV/aids orphans stands at 12,000 and it’s projected to rise to over 20,000 by 1015 (MOH/NACC 2007)family headed by children are on the increase in Matopeni /quarry due to HIV/AIDS impact.