The Hanging Committee say "No"!

"The Hanging Committee" is a body which, despite its somewhat menacing title, is in fact a harmless and worthy group of people responsible for deciding who can hang or display their pictures - in this case, in York Minster.
We had asked if we could display our Photographic Exhibition, "Children of Hope", in the Minster, encouraged to approach them by the Archbishop's wife, Margaret Sentamu, who spoke at the Guest Preview of the Exhibition in Kendal in October. However we were disappointed to receive their decision today that on this occasion we can't be hanged - rather, hung - in the Minster. However they invited us to apply again in 2013.

As we incurred the considerable expense of getting all these photographs printed and mounted for the original Exhibition, the more often we can display them, and the more places people can have the chance of seeing them, the better the value. So we said, "Yes, please!"

Any visitors to this Blog who can suggest any other possible venues, please get in touch!

chriscjenkin@aol.com

How supporters appear!

It is interesting how people are attracted to supporting the Kasese Street Kids.
Recently at an amateur orchestral workshop I overheard a girl talking about training for the Great North Run (half-marathon). I chipped in and told her that I had run it in 2008.
This led to a chat about what I had been raising funds for, and after an exchange of emails she found this Blog.
She now tells me that in April she is running in the Edinburgh Half Marathon, and wants to raise money for Kasese Street Kids; between us we are trying to get a logo designed by friends for her to wear on her tee shirt!
This is so very encouraging for us.

Future events
Speaking engagements are slowing down now; we have one in Carlisle in February, in Sedbergh in April and in Windermere in October.

Carlisle Cathedral: March 16th - 31st: Our Photographic Exhibition, "CHILDREN OF HOPE", is being mounted in the Cathedral south aisle for two weeks. We have been sending out publicity about this through the Carlisle Diocesan mailings - email and post. So every Anglican church in the Diocese will receive a poster, and an article for their parish magazine. (Whether it will be used or go straight into their recycling bin depends on each vicar!)

Contact: chriscjenkin@aol.com
Contribute: www.justgiving.com/kasesestreetkids

Why they end up on the streets

Why do children end up on the streets?
There can be many different reasons, and each child has a story to tell - sometimes a horrifying and heartbreaking story.
But it can be as simple as orphans living in poverty. The picture above shows a family with six children, looked after by the grandmother (I am not sure who the other two adults are - they are not the children's parents, who are dead.)
This old lady simply cannot cope - not only financially, but with handling six lively children, who - as in any family - can be rebellious and defiant.
And sometimes a child in such a family decides that they would be happier living independently on the street, and runs away to the nearest town.


What can be done?
Help and support can be given to the caring grandmother - such as instructions how to make a garden to grow food, and setting up savings and credit schemes. Enos Kyibibi, Director of the SKILL Centre, is involved in such support.
Likewise runaway children can sometimes be helped to return to their family, though this is not always appropriate, such as where there has been abuse.

Here is Enos outside the new SKILL Hostel.

http://justgiving.com/kasesestreetkids

chriscjenkin@aol.com