Author Archives: mattatlamplight

Update January 2016

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School news

Christmas is the main school holiday in Kenya, so after a good break and some Christmas barbecues the new school term started on the 4th January. At the moment four boys are at secondary school, one at university, two at college, and the rest at primary school.

A number have graduation exams this year so we’re encouraging them to work hard, and have arranged some mentors who are giving extra tuition and support to help them achieve their potential. One of our boys is at university and has got some of his friends to help with this, and there are also some that have come to the home as part of the support we get from the local Rotary Club.

To support their learning we are hoping to equip a new library / study room at the home, with a range of reading books in English and Swahili, other study materials, and a computer.

comedy night

Comedy at Tumaini

Some friends of Ben organised a comedy night at the home as a fund-raiser.  There was plenty of side splitting laughter thanks to some some big-name Kenyan comics, as well as some of the children from the home.  And as a result a local hospital has offered full check-ups for all the boys at the home, and six months’ free medical cover.  The local MP who came along has offered 5 secondary school bursaries for the boys.

Living Below the Line

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As a child I remember not wanting to eat my dinner and being told about all the people around the world who’d be grateful for a plate of food like that.  I think I got a fair amount of trouble for answering “well send it to them then”.  It didn’t really mean anything – the kind of poverty where someone would be grateful for my brussels sprouts wasn’t something I could grasp – and still can’t, really.

That’s one reason why this year we’re going to try living below the line.

The line in question is the extreme poverty line – or £1/day.  That’s what 1.2 billion people have every day, all year round, to cover housing education, health care – and food.  The Live Below the Line challenge encourages us to eat and drink for £1 a day for five days, as a way of raising money and our awareness.  Between 27th April and 1st May thousands of people around the world will be taking it.

There are official, well-known charities that you can support, but a few of us are going to be doing it to support Tumaini: the money we save (and anything else others wish to donate) will go to the home to ensure that the boys continue to receive nourishing food every day.

Even before we’ve started there have been some interesting negotiations with the children about their participation – porridge without milk is absolutely inconceivable, so we’re going to have to make sure we budget for milk!

If you’d like to find out more about the Challenge, there’s information (and recipes!) at www.livebelowtheline.com/uk.  It’d be fantastic if you’d like to take the challenge, or sponsor us as we do it.

Quizzing 2015

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PUB QUIZ IS POSTPONED

UPDATE: We’ve just found out that the venue double-booked the room, and at such late notice (after 5pm today) we’ve not been able to find an alternative.  The Quiz Will Go On – just not tonight.  We’re really sorry for any inconvenience.

 

 

It’s that time of year, the annual Friends of Tumaini pub quiz.  Pit your wits against the fiendish questions posed by your quizzical quizmaster Helen.

Or just come along, have a bit of a laugh, and help us raise some money to support the children in Nairobi.

The quiz this year is on Wednesday 1st April.  As always, we’ll be downstairs at the Melton Mowbray pub, with kick off at 7:30pm.  Tickets £10 on the door.

FoT Annual Pub Quiz – 12th March

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Come along and try out your quizzical skills at our annual pub quiz.  All proceeds go to support the work at the home, and you’ll also get the chance to see the film made by the boys on the big screen.

Melton Mowbray pub, near Chancery Lane, 12th March, 7pm for a 7:30 start.  Tickets are £10 which includes a free drink; food is also served (but you’ll have to pay for it!).

Noye’s Fludde supporting FoT

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We’re extremely grateful that Queen’s Park Junior Singers are supporting Friends of Tumaini through their production of Noye’s Fludde, an opera by Benjamin Britten.

Around 120 children from North-West London will be performing alongside a handful of professional musicians at St Mark’s Church, Hamilton Terrace, London NW8 9UT on 16th November 2013.  There are two performances, at 4pm and 6.30pm – so do come along if you’re around.

There’s full details on their website at http://www.noyesfludde-qpjs.com/

Any surplus income from the performance will be donated the Friends of Tumaini.

Noye’s Fludde poster

Sponsor a triathelete!

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One of our supporters, Brad Hart, is doing a triathlon to raise funds for Nyumba Ya Tumaini.  Find out more (and sponsor him) at their events page.

They are competing in ‘The Cutlass’ (that’s the hardest-core one) involving at 1500m swim, 20km on a bike and then a 10km run.

Print sale

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Looking for something different?

Our friends at AdHoc Galleries have very generously agreed to hold a special Friends of Tumaini print sale.  These are things you will not find in Ikea or on anyone else’s wall.  Prints from around the world and in a range of styles have been brought together in what promises to be a fascinating art exhibition and sale.

There will also be cake.

All proceeds from the sale will go to Friends of Tumaini.

Drinks in chambers fundraiser

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You are invited to join the Trustees of Friends of Tumaini, supporting Nyumba Ya Tumaini children’s home, for a

Drinks Party in Chambers

Thursday 17th October 2013

6.30-9pm

£25 includes drinks, canapes and a donation to Friends of Tumaini.

We will be showing a short film about the work of the charity.

Thomas More Chambers

7 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP

R.S.V.P.