TO DAY, as days and weeks turn into months and years, THINGS are changing! AND not always for the GOOD. We had reported some two years back that the Government was trying to push through a Bill which would affect the income of non-government organisation from overseas. At the time there was a lot of opposition and the Bill dropped out of sight - THIS WEEK it is back again. In Tuesday's Daily Nation we find on page 9 the headline -NGOs fault foreign funding rule.
'Draft law seeks to limit cash,
from international donors,
to only 15% of organisations budget.'
Behind this is a determined effort by Government to profit from overseas donations that so far pass through the hands of NGOs. It seems Government expects Donors to still send whatever they have previously sent, but direct to a central collecting Office in Nairobi. This Office would then send on to the NGO 15% of their declared Budget, and keep the rest!! There is of course a continuing outcry AGAINST this. If it is not heard, then it is obvious that many NGO's will have to pull out - we would be one of them.
Government says they want to encourage NGOs to develop internal sources of self sustaining income in an effort to assist develop job opportunities etcetera. For some of the richer NGOs this 'might' be a possibility, but for the small charity it would be out of the question. Currently NGOs nation wide receive some Ksh. 300bn annually. It is very unlikely that the Government is thinking of handing out the 75% they hope to keep for themselves. This would without doubt mean that the poor will be the more deprived than they already are. NGOs would pull out and take their aid and services with them. All of this I have noted before. I REGRET that the Government is STILL pursing such strategies. I regret their disinterest in the welfare of their own poor and needy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The photo is recent, and was taken from directly opposite to it, on the other side of the drive way.
Exactly, God Willing, from where we hope the NEW House will be built. We hope the ground will be cleared and the foundations in by the New Year.
For those who have lived in Jacaranda since 1975 when we first took it over, it will have both good and bad memories. It IS also an OLD house, as houses go, in Eldoret. It has its own history. However, is not a well planned house, and that part of it to the left and centre of the photo is fragile, being made of mud and wattle.We had planned to knock it down partially, leaving the right hand - breeze block - intact as a Store and Laundry. 108 boys and girls have been at home in this house, including some 37 who are currently resident there as in the photo to the left. Not all look forward to the change.
BUT the NEW Jacaranda will be just a little bigger, much easier to run and much brighter.
Situated between the two new Cottages of Tyndale and Drakely built in 2007/8 it will form a pleasant row of houses on the pattern of Green Cottage, where Esther and I live.
THERE is also a suggestion (by our Australian friends that visit with a Team of Students and staff annually), that if it might be possible to re-arrange and convert the OLD house it might be usable as a Hostel for the Team when it is here, and thereafter as an occasional Guest House for those visiting, or wanting to have a Retreat or place to relax. We have passed this idea on to those who are putting up the funds to build the NEW house, and they have assured us they would be happy if this could happen without further expense to ourselves. At least this decision has time to be considered since nothing will happen to the present building, and none of the children will move, until AFTER the New one is up and ready for habitation - probably sometime in March / April 2015. Hope you will all be praying along with us as building commences, and we consider change and resettlement.
RIGHT NOW our Secondary School Form 4 students are sitting their National Exam. NEXT WEEK the Primary School Class 8 students will sit for their own National Exam, closing their time in Primary. THEN the School will shut for the Summer - and we will commence the long 8 week holiday!! So far the weather is very good, and at least this year, for the first time, we have the full use of the Swimming Pool to help out with recreational activities.
Last year Kenya suffered a sudden increase in Examination Abuse - more exam questions, even whole Papers, leaked, and especially by mobile phone. This resulted in our School banning mobiles on campus, but it has in fact not been easy to enforce. THIS year the problem has continued, and the PRESS has again drawn attention to it. It is not merely a case of students cheating, but even Teachers and HEAD Teachers are involved in passing on information illegally. Some have already found themselves in prison. MOBILE phones my be very convenient and attractive but they are a greater evil than a blessing in the general sense. I noticed today on SKY that there is discussion as to whether or not such phones are not replacing the art of normal conversation. I believe they are, and at the same time changing our social behaviour for the worse. Certainly they are being well used in co-ordinating crime. I have one myself. I rarely use it, and much of the time I switch it off in order not be interrupted in other social behaviour. It otherwise cuts into conversation, into the business of Preaching and Teaching and so on, and so on.
This week one of our own students (not from the Homes) was found with a full answer sheet to an exam whilst attempting the Paper. He was taken out of the exam and he will not be allowed to re-attempt it - though he will still be able to complete his remaining Papers. After all has been completed the National Council will review his case - a long process. We hope he will be our only case this year.
May God Bless you all, each one, as you pray on for us and for the children in our care. WE lift up our hearts to God for you every day in Thanksgiving and Fellowship.
John and Esther
No comments:
Post a Comment