Our Last Meeting - Cathy Booth - Umoja Orphanage Kenya

Sergeant Richard introduced Chair for the day Chris

Welcome to Guest Speaker Cathy, Noel & Bronwyn from RC Caloundra Pacific and Guest Derek

Welcome back Warryn & James

Thanks for the photos Dave

Presidents Report

ROMAC table needs another four spots
There is a free Yamaha piano being offered - any thoughts

Cathy believes in the "power of many”
She is a farmer’s daughter from Charleville, an ex-school teacher, and has four children and five grandsons.

She is also grandmother to a foster child through Rotary Australia World Community service RAWCS.

“Umoja” means unity and togetherness
It is located in Kenya - Bronwyn and Noel have visited
It began in 2012, with 15 acres of land

The Orphanage is a project for RC Bundaberg Sunrise and RAWCS

They have hosted 200 volunteers since 2000 from 15-year-olds to people in their 80s

Local contractors dug the well and built the caretakers cottage.

They have a generator through Australian aid

They try to help the local Muslim community as much as possible

Have treated 3000 at their free local health clinics

Clothing, wheelchairs, crutches, reading glasses, water barrels, trade skills

Covid…
Income from this Safari car hire stopped - “sell everything" -donations dried up as well as their income through teaching

Then floods struck

Post Covid
Chickens 500/2 weeks, farm – hydroponics, donated tractor, second bore and solar, 2023 Flood, four years drought before,

Exterior wall is the latest project - theft is a problem, it cost US $102,000

14 volunteers in June
School bus donated

“Our” children - first were two abandoned as 5yo’s
Abused girl,
Goal is to re-house with kin

Hamish was 5 kg as a five-year-old in May 2024. He has epilepsy
Two houses - boys and girls

After Covid, they set up their own Safari company. There is 10% off for Rotarians.

Up to 28 children come and go from the orphanage

2 x 10,000 L water tanks, hydroponic greenhouse, fence, furniture, water tower

$100 a month to sponsor or $1200 a year

94.5% of every dollar goes to the project, the rest goes to RAWCS red tape

Questions:

Deborah about polio vaccine – yes

Elaine ask about "orphanage" – "children in need" now "children's home”

"Pay" locals - they are not keen to volunteer

Derek noted poverty and lots of kids go hand-in-hand -contraception?
“Free”, but it is a patriarchal society and the more children a man has the greater his status, and of course AIDS is rampant.

Staff are paid US $130 per month

Chris asked about prices are they? "like Australia”

Darryl – biogas? managers looked into it and said no - Nine cows and tree cuttings – pigs are alright not allowed due to the Muslim community.

James asked about the wall and what it protected them from – people stealing food… "Workers know what’s there”

Elaine – solar electric – yes.

Chris thanked Cathy – Bronwyn and Noel gave a"quick snatch shot" - visited three times – the children are progressing. Never felt un-safe. “Fixing things" is the biggest issue

There are resorts to stay at for volunteers – white sand

She cries every - the work is life changing

Sewing – two teenagers on Sunshine Coast Glasshouse Mountains challenge

Safari – "amazing" – recommend to anyone

Chris – "maintenance" his key.