SUMMARY END OF YEAR MEETING AT RAY OF HOPE LEARNING CENTRE

Date-15^th. Dec 2011

Agenda.

1.      Review progress of the children in 2011

2.      Discuss  way forward in 2012

3.      Any other matter arising

Present.

1.      Mrs. Florence Muyunro

2.      Mr. Alfred Gatimu

3.      Mrs. Evalyne Wenaloba

4.      Mrs. Hendrika Muyodi

5.      Mr. B. Barasa

6.      25 Parents/Guardians of children at Kileleshwa and Learning Centre (We expected 36)

Agenda. I

1.      Progress.

 

Parents were grateful to Ray of Hope to have bought all the requirements for the children at school. They all had adequate stationery and new uniform.

 

It was noted that children both at Kawangware and Kileleshwa had passed their end of the year examinations. They all had scored above 250 pass mark required for promotion to the next class. Some of our children were given presents in appreciation of the academic performance.

Teachers at Kileleshwa were impressed by the academic performance of Ray of Hope children and called to inquire from the centre in case any of them missed to be at school.

It was noted with regret that the following four children had problems:

a)      Floice Anindo: 8 Years old in class 2 in 2011. Pupil stays with her single mother who is HIV Positive. The mother sometimes leaves her alone with a mature uncle who works in a bar. The child was reported 4 times to either have missed school or reported to Kileleshwa very late alone.

b)     Westein Dogori: 11 yrs and in class 4 in 2011. He does very well in class at Kileleshwa   and teachers send for him when he misses school. Sometimes he does not go to school but hides and goes to the ghettos to play with other street children. He is suspected to be associated with drug addicts in Kawangware.

c)     Oliver Odwory: Class 3 in 2011. Unkempt boy at Kileleshwa.

d)     Waylong Bulimi: 10 Years old at Learning Centre. He stays with a single mother. He occasionally sneaks and hides with other street children though he is followed up by the staff at the learning centre and the social worker.

Recommendations.

Mrs. Florence Muyundo promised to call the guardians of the above children and discuss with them how they can be assisted to stop  the above truancy behavior

NB: Parents/Guardians of the above children sent representatives to the meeting.

It was reported that the children did not have any major medical concerns during the year apart from Bernard Okoth who was admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital , thanks in part to the availability of  Ray of Hope Medical Services that managed the minor ailments  the children had.

Food: We had adequate  food purchases the while year- though prices were high and uncertain most of the times- thanks to Ray of Hope- including Kermit Washington for donating money to buy foods.

 No nutritional disorders such as anemia or ringworms were noted.

We appreciate the visitors who supported the centre morally and financially.

Agenda 2- Way Forward 2012.

 The participants were informed of reduced donation from well wishers due to economic hardships in USA just as it is in Kenya.

Below were the reactions of the parents:

Ø     They would to know early the  names of 10 children who  have been sponsored in 2012

Ø     Participants wanted to know the fate of the children listed below who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 2011 and one  at the LC The Centre does not with no learning materials for class 6.

Name	Sponsor	Remarks
James Odinga	Romona	She personally promised the child that she will pay Form 1 fees in 2012
Ian Sivimbi	Nakmarran	No information
Rex Angode	Bob Hansan	No information
Richard Omondi	None	LC. Does have learning material  for class 6

Ø     It was noted that the following children were personally promised sponsorship by the following visitors.

Name	Class in 201	Sponsor and Remarks
Richard Omondi	6	Naima- No information
Samuel Odongo	5	Pastor Karen- No information
John Wawire	8	Craig -on availability of progress reports- reports not available due to non payment of Ksh 1000 to school.
Juma Muhongo	8	Craig- on availability of progress reports-to pay Ksh 1000 for report
Sharon Ehiza	3	Robin- No information
Susan Manjala	2	Chris Kitchel- No information
Cynthia Shickei	2	Chris Kitchel- No information

Ø     Parents talked bitterly about the false promises to their children and one of them wondered where she will take her child since the child had waited for too long, even the younger child had overtaken her educational standards.

Ø      Parents pleaded to be supported with transport and hoped that Ray of Hope will continue transport their children to school even after being emphasized that their were funds.

They said some of their children were too young to carry heavy bags.

They had fears that traveling alone to school will reduce the bondage that the children have over each other. Some of them might go back to the streets,

Ø     Parents would like to know the fate of their children before it is too late. It there is no sponsorship, ROH should give them recommendation letters to enable them get schools.

 Other issues

Ø     James Odinga who stays with a Good Samaritan was identified as the cleanest and well behaved pupil.

Ø     Parent will check the tidiness of their children everyday before they go to school and when they come back from school.

Ø     Parents will attend meetings at the school when requested to.

Ø     Life is becoming ever hard with expenditure in Nairobi sky rocketing. Some parents have no jobs but are staying in Nairobi so that their children can attend school at ROH. Such parents requested ROH to take their children to identified boarding primary schools so that they move out of Nairobi.