Good News

Two bits of good news (after the sad bit in the earlier post):
(1) Caitlin, the Durham student doing the Kielder Marathon in October to raise funds for the Kasese Street Kids, now has a Justgiving site - http://www.justgiving.com/CaitlinJohnson2012  .  She has chosen a logo, and is training hard. Do support her! 
(2) The Tebay Primary School (Tebay is the village two miles from our Cumbria home in Orton) has been raising funds for us. The Year 6 pupils were doing a "Business Enterprise" project; they were making cakes and selling them, and the boys sold ices (and got ice cream and hundreds-and-thousands everywhere!), and emailed yesterday to tell us that the profits were for the Street Kids. Thanks so much, boys and girls!
chriscjenkin@aol.com  

Street Boys In Trouble

We have just heard that Enos, the SKILL Director, together with a local Probation Officer, were asked to visit the Police Station, because eight boys had been arrested and are being charged with being idle and disorderly. They have not yet been taken to court; Enos asks us to pray for them.
This episode is a reminder of the realities of their life. I am sure that such an experience is not new to most of these lads. How many of us, living on the streets with no means of support, would always be able to resist the temptation to be involved in petty crime, simply in order to survive? I am not excusing dishonesty - if that is actually what they are guilty of ("idle and disorderly"? I wonder what that means in practice?); but I think those who have helped to build the SKILL Hostel will be understanding.
It is also a reminder that it will not always be easy to care for the children, and keep them on the "straight and narrow". I am sure they are no angels! Many of them will have been badly damaged by their harsh experiences. So let us indeed pray - for the boys, and for Enos and his team as they try to help and guide.
One more thing - the Probation Officer urged that a fence be built around the Hostel, in order to help to control the children. He said this was necessary before the District Probation Office gives an operational permit.
chriscjenkin@aol.com  

A Marathon for the Street Kids

Good news - Caitlin, a student at Durham University, is to take part in the Kielder Marathon on 7th October, on behalf of the Kasese Street Kids and the SKILL Hostel.

She wants to wear a special logo on her tee shirt and a friend called Will has been drawing various designs. I am not sure which one she will finally choose!
She will soon be setting up a Justgiving site for sponsors - it will be published here when it is up and running.
We are delighted that Caitlin wants to do this. How did she hear about SKILL? At an amateur orchestra rehearsal day a year ago I (a very amateur trumpeter) overheard this young violinist mention her training for the Great North Run, so of course I chipped in and told her about my participation in 2008. One thing led to another... and after various exchanges of emails her sponsored Marathon is less than three months away. We hope that Mary and I can go over to Durham next term to do a PowerPoint presentation about the Street Kids, so that her supporters there can understand more about the project.

24 Children come to SKILL Centre

 24 children - including three girls between 8 and 17 - came to the SKILL Centre on Saturday. Here are a few of them, with a new member of staff (in the red shirt):

One of the things they did was to have a meeting with Enos and new staff members, to discuss what rules should apply. Here are some they all agreed:

1. No stealing at the Centre
2. Fighting is prohibited
3. No alcohol, opium/marijuana or cigarettes at the Centre
4. Not to go out of the Centre without permission
5. No teasing others.

All those rules were agreed by all the children; they suggested that whoever is caught doing any of these things be brought before the disciplinary committee, which will include some children.

Here is another picture of them that day - having fun doing handstands indoors!

So far the children are not staying at the Centre, as there are no beds or bedding yet, so they still are having to sleep on the streets. But they will be getting some instruction in both tailoring and carpentry - Enos has been able to obtain a few tools, needles etc, for this. 5 children want to join the carpentry group, and one to do tailoring; it is hoped in due course to add vehicle mechanics, driving and welding.
Watch this space!
chriscjenkin@aol.com

Appointments made

Sixteen people applied for positions at the SKILL Hostel - Patron, Matron (we might call these house-parents), cooks and security guards.
All were called for interview on the 25th June, and four were appointed by the panel.
These were:
Baluku Richard (34) and Byada Margret (32)  - patron and matron.
Masereka Daniel (32) - chief cook.
Mbambu S. Valeria (26)  - cook.

The other news we have is that all work on the building is now finished inside and out - including the cladding stones along the foot of the walls. Here is the cladding work in progress earlier:
The next major thing needed is interior furniture, especially bunks and bedding, which will cost over £1,000.
chriscjenkin@aol.com