Clean WATER, a clean toilet and a clean shower for everyone. This months newsletter contains the stories of two wonderful donations, our next big project and our opportunity to participate in a fundraising course in Kenya, amongst other new information. I want to thank Caroline and Bert & Miranda for their faith and trust in our foundation. We use their donations for our 5th Wash Shower & Go project for the medical clinic in Maramu and the village of Maramu.
– Fashion High Tea
You have read it already in the previous newsletter: Caroline Pouw (born in Kenya) has organized a Fashion High Tea in Apeldoorn on September 9. I am extremely pleased and honoured that I received an amount of €750,- for Pamoja for Kenya on that day. What a fantastic initiative by Caroline! With this annual event she wants to bring cultures together and collect money to support a good cause. This year, she opted for Stichting Pamoja Kenia because she wants to help me to achieve my dream to give people in Kenya access to WATER. Our foundation has been in the spotlight during the Fashion High Tea in a beautiful way. I have given a presentation on what Stichting Kenya Pamoja is and does. I also had a stand where guests of the high tea could buy articles. That also has raised money for our Foundation.
– Bert en Miranda Kanter
Earlier this year I was called by Bert Kanter who told me that he and his partner were getting married in June. They didn’t want any gifts, but wanted to donate money to a good cause. Through the site of Wilde Ganzen they found Stichting Pamoja Kenia. Just like us, they think everyone has the right to water. Therefore they have chosen Stichting Pamoja Kenia as the good cause to donate the gifts of their wedding day to. The yield was € 1,000. Philip Kahindi has made this donation basket of sisal and has send it for the wedding of Bert & Miranda via regular post. 
I want to thank Caroline and Bert & Miranda for their faith and trust in our foundation. We use their donations for our 5th Wash Shower & Go project for the medical clinic in Maramu and the village of Maramu.
Our next project:
Water for the medical clinic and the inhabitants of Maramu
Our next project is the construction of a well with water pump and a Wash, Shower & Go at the medical clinic in Maramu. This medical clinic has an outpatient clinic for pregnancy and childbirth. That cannot exist without water and sanitary facilities. That is why we, in consultation with Hassan Mweusi, the Ward of Kilifi County, have chosen for this location. The 600 inhabitants of the village Maramu benefit also. They will get access to drinking water and sanitation too. For this project we need €12,000.-. We want to have it ready by the end of March 2018. We have submitted this project for funding to Wilde Ganzen. The water well project will be execute again with Gilbert Odera and his team of Flo Flo, the local masson will execute the sanitation block.
Fundraising course in Kenya
We got an offer from Wilde Ganzen to let two board members of the Kenyan Department of Stichting Pamoja Kenia take part in a local fundraising course in Kenya. The course is given by Change the Game Academy (www.changethegameacademay.com). Wilde Ganzen pays 80% of the costs, Stichting Pamoja Kenia pays the other 20%. Philip Kahindi and Morris Buru Aziz participate in this course. They have had a training in Nairobi, in which they especially learned about the technique of fundraising. The focus is: help yourself in your own country. Kenyans can develop Kenya themselves. It is important that the local community has the ownership of the project. The course is taught by Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), the counterpart of Wilde Ganzen in Kenya.
It started right away
Philip and Morris started with fundraising in their local community immediately.
Soccer team
Philip has started to set up a soccer team in Matsangoni. He tells about it: ‘I have gathered some good football players together to form a football team. These guys have a lot of talent for football, but get little chance to play. By putting a team together, they can take part in the competition. The ticket sales for the games provide money and part of that money goes to Stichting Pamoja Kenia. And if they win the cup, that will provide even more money for the foundation. The guys also do tasks to raise extra money, such as cleaning the toilets at school. With this project we kill two birds with one stone. The guys can develop their talent and we pick up money for Stichting Pamoja Kenia. The boys are now training for the competition which starts in about four weeks. They play in shirts and soccer shoes that are sponsored by Geert Kroos of ResiRest. Thanks a lot, Geert!’
ResiRest
ResiRest is a global travel platform that connects locals and travellers all over the world through food. ResiRest offers the opportunity to eat a local home lunch or dinner. In this way the local people benefit from tourism in a reliable way without making big investments. Philip, in consultation with Geert Kroos of ResiRest, has organized this also in Matsangoni. Based on hygiene, hospitality and security he has selected a number of local chefs. They earn an income when tourists come to their homes to eat real Kenyan food.
Safaricom
Morris has approached Safaricom (Kenya’s largest phone provider) with the question whether they want to support projects of Stichting Pamoja Kenia. We wait on their answer …..
Nominated for The Voice Achievers Award!
The Committee of The Voice Magazine Achievers Award 2017 has nominated Marion van de Voort (me) and Stichting Pamoja Kenia for an award. This prestigious prize is awarded every year to individuals and business institutions that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of Africa. I have gotten the nomination because of my entrepreneurship and contribution to the local community. In the letter which I got for the nomination it states: ‘You are an icon that inspires the younger generation. An example for Africa and the rest of the world.’
The awards will be presented during an event on 17 November in Amsterdam. The Voice magazine is a magazine that appears in the Benelux since 1999. The magazine reports on important developments and events taking place in Africa.
Our products in the assortment of Fair Plaza
Fair Plaza is a wholesaler for shops with a good story, including third world shops. They have included a part of our products that are hand-made in Kenya, in their assortment. We rent a wall in the shop of Fair Plaza, where buyers of the shops can make their choice. In this way we can increase our revenues and contribute more to Stichting Pamoja Kenia.