This month was exceptional for our two homes Effatha and Betania, where they planned together with a community engagement component to go visit the parents of Paul Ndungu and Paul Nderitu. The plan was to visit the parents and together live the mission of home at their respective houses. The two homes carried some food to prepare and cook together with family members on that day. The day was well planned where different roles were divided among the people; some members of the surrounding community were invited also to share this moment together. Meals were shared together, sharing of experiences and the blessings from the parents. This activity supports the mission in our homes where core members lived before joining L’Arche Kenya. All families of other core members will also be visited in the course of this year to be able to share the same mission with their families.

Nobody is so poor that they cannot give anything, and nobody is so rich that cannot receive anything.

A few guardians and parents of core members organized and visited one of the parents who have not been feeling well at Gatundia. They held a moment of prayers, sharing experiences they faced as guardians and parents and later shared the gifts they had carried for the family. They were challenged by the commitment of this parents and the distance she covers when attending guardian’s meetings.

From this experience they promised to be visiting parents who are committed to the mission of L’Arche and learn from them.

Peter Wachira was born in the year 2021 as the only child in the family in Ndindika dispensary, and when he reached seven months started having medical conditions that led him to have severe fever and convulsions that led to be hospitalized. After three months he was discharged from Nyahururu County and referral hospital and the caregiver noted that the child was not developing normal comparing to other children. Through one of the caregivers who was attending therapy she was referred to kinamba outstation for further assessment and support.

The child was assessed and found to have delayed milestone and malnutrition and with the pysiotherapist developed an individual rehabilitation plan with some objectives as below:

1. 1. NHIF Enrollment
   2. Therapy for gross motor skills
   3. HBR
   4. Issuing of HEEP

After several months of attending therapy the caregiver mother started mistreating her due to the condition that the beneficiary had. The caregiver opted to rent her own place and live with her child.

The caregiver was supported with a livelihood project of green grocery and also selling of charcoal and boiling cereals.

Through the project the caregiver has been enabled to be financially independent so that she can be able to fulfil basic needs and other needs the beneficiary might have. She also able to save two hundred and thirty shillings per day. She’s able to cater for the medical needs of the child when going for medical check-ups and purchasing of drugs. The caregiver is grateful for the support given to her and for giving an ear to her cry for they have restored her hope.

1. 1. To open another business of selling clothes
   2. To enroll in NHIF
   3. To enroll the child in school when he reaches age.

John Maina Gachanja  – DIA (Champion of Upendo PWDs SHG)

He was born in nyahururu and later migrated in kinamba in the year 1982.He came to know about st martin after his daughter got sick and they visited different hospitals for consultation, but the child was not changing even after many interventions. A friend of the caregiver referred him to st martin to be supported with the intervention of the services that were offered. The child started attending therapy in 2013 for she had delayed milestones and due to the reception, that they received from the office he developed interest of being a volunteer. He started approaching caregivers with children with disabilities and referring them to kinamba outstation to be supported with therapy and other services the year 2015 he was recruited to be a volunteer in the Programme of community Programme for persons with disability and later he was recruited as a disability inclusion agent in L’Arche Kenya. He narrated that during the day-to-day work that they do it has its challenges where by some of the caregivers are not receptive to the ideas of how to support the people with disabilities and other families hiding their children. In mobilization most caregivers do not want to be engaged in the process due to how people take advantage of them. Since he started volunteering, he has been able to win caregivers love and support to their children through the experienced he lives with his daughter who has disability. In the year 2024 he was selected as champion to represents the one of the livelihoods groups as a chairperson in kinamba in role of supervision, doing home visits and support the group in creating opportunities for the group to get more funds for economic empowerment of the group projects and individual projects. He has started writing proposals for funding of the group and approach the agriculture officer in the county for group support. He is grateful to the opportunity of being involved in the livelihood projects. Through the funds given for the project he was able to do poultry project and hopes the project to succeed and that he can reach many beneficiaries and give them support.

If I would be required to paint the face of peace and tranquility, Dennis’ would lead the collection. He is what would be clichéd as the silent listener to every conversation. Dennis has multiple needs and requires the support of a caregiver in many ways, but he is still able to smile at life and live a day at a time. He is very intelligent and knowledgeable and yet he waits until his turn comes up to engage and take part in the conversation at the table. He reminds me of how one can derive peace in vulnerability and weakness. Earlier this year, as we were developing his person-centered plan, he proposed to have a project of rearing a cat for a pet. We recounted this story and laughed our heads off at the table and he just smiled without taking any offence.

When in need of a caring person with motherly instincts yet has no child of her own look no further. Anna is the most concerned and caring individual that I have ever encountered and yet she does not make it a big deal. At one moment you will find her moving to every room in Effatha to invite people for meals and she will make sure that we have spared some food for each person not present at the table on that day. One evening while the heavy dark clouds pregnant with rain were gathering in the sky, I noticed her face full of concern and restlessness. She came to me in a speed equivalent to running to inform me about the clothes drying outside in the yard that were unattended. Although, I had all the reasons to brush off the idea of getting them to some sheltered place, I could not resist her persuasion. Anna will talk you out of any conflict in the most non-violent way and yet with a bit firmness enshrouded with love. This affirms the words on our charter: “Core members have gifts and leadership that the world needs…” Did I mention that she is the best at miming –such a talent!

Allan Muteshi (Kipchumba Daddy) is quite a character! He is not only the funniest person but also the person you can cross paths so easily. The latter is because of nothing wrong rather by the fact that his nature does not allow him to understand jokes and figures of speech hence he will most probably take many things out of context. Despite this, Allan is still a very warm and welcoming person who is kind and generous.

Sometime last month, the whole cabinet of Laikipia county came over to Effatha for their meeting and paid a courtesy visit to the members of the home later after the meeting. After all was said and done, Allan ran to his room and picked some of his best paintings and handed each member a piece. This gesture left me speechless knowing how precious his collection of paintings is and for him to offer to give them out.

There has been a total paradigm shift from whom he was while joining the community ten years ago from a correctional Centre for deviant boys although he was just a child in need of care and protection. By then he was uptight and easily irritable at any provocation. Currently, Allan helps to collect milk for the home which he does with a lot of enthusiasm.

She sat at the table with her face beaming with joy. You could see her pupils dilating as she posed that infectious smile and laughter. Each member of the house took turns wishing her the best in her new year. All these beautiful words were making her so emotional, and she could smile occasionally along the way. A tear of joy could be seen rolling down her cheeks and she did not seem to bother wiping it away. It was certainly a great day in her life- her birthday!

Njoki is the youngest and the newest member among the core members in Effatha. She joined the community in 2021 being a rescue case and she came in so shy and not sure of herself, however, over time, she is a great pillar of strength in the home. Her infectious laughter will leave you defenseless and you will not help but join in. Although she has no speech, she has a voice, and she communicates amicably. She is the greatest dancer you will ever meet who will not shy away from any song especially the latest urban tone. Through her we have learned that love truly gives life and it is mutual.

One of the core members comes from a very needy background. He is the fifth born in a family of eight. He used to stay home with his mother who was the sole bread winner of the family. Due to poverty, he was not able to enroll even to a special unit around and thus he needed to be rescued when the situation at home worsened. When he came to the community, however, he was able to open up to life and he is one character that every visitor to Effatha will not forget long after going back home. He is a welcoming, generous, kind and so funny as well. He loves feeding rabbits even while singing for them. Indeed,” God loves a cheerful giver”.