|
|
|
HOME :CALENDAR: WHAT IS ROTARY? : WHY JOIN ROTARY? OFFICIALS : ACTIVITIES : HISTORY : BULLETIN : LINKS (District & R.I). HELP FOR HOMELESS
KIDS : PROJECTS : PHOTOS : CONTACTS : |
|
|
|
International
Service – Rotary Club of Wishart’s ongoing project with the |
|
S.C.A.N.N.
Rotary Club’s Involvement. S.C.A.N.N.
is a project that the Rotary Club of Nakuru has been associated with since
its inception, and in fact it was the
effort of the Gilani family and the Nakuru Rotary Club that was the
precipitating and continuing driving force that has made it successful. Rotary
clubs from Wishart, Vancouver, Wellington (Florida) and an Edinborough
suburban Rotary Club have provided funds that combined with a Rotary
International matching grant to provide security walls and bio products
during this current Rotary year (2007/2008). The Project. There are many
projects within the SCANN operation that await funds.
The list is almost limitless, as the need is even greater after the
significant intake of homeless children following the very recent political
unrest. Examples of uses that funding is put to.: ·
Specific sponsorship of a child or a
number of children. ·
Additional beds, lockers, clothing,
educational items. ·
Desks (for attendance at school ..
the Government provides “free” education but that does not include a desk and
chair to sit at. Costs of projects. Whilst
it may appear to be a little back to front, once an amount is suggested, a
number of options to select where the funds will be applied can be supplied
and the sponsor or donor can nominate where the funds are to be applied. Why select SCANN as a beneficiary. The
problems that exist in Contact. Local
Australian Contact:- Jeanette
Rich….. Wishart Rotary Club 07 3361
8583 (Bus) 07 3243 3254 (Home) 0403 253 510 (Mobile) . e-mail jric4641bigpond.net.au Bob Lemon…….. Wishart
Rotary Club 0429 300739 SCANN
-The Institution Addendum
Street Children
Assistance Network of Nakuru
is one of In 1998, Whilst Mr Murtaza Janmohammad
(a practicing optician) was president of the Nakuru Rotary Club, an issue was
addressed by the Club that had been bothering him and others in the Club for
years & causing them significant concern. The Gilani family precipitated action with the Rotary
Club President, resulting in the Gilani family’s brainchild evolving into
SCANN. The Gilani family, successful
entrepreneurs in Nakuru, Kenya & involved in various charitable
initiatives, together with Murtaza Janmohammad and other Rotarians, watched
for years the ever increasing presence and sad conditions of young
impoverished children that hung around town, raiding garbage cans for the
occasional bite to eat. The majority of these children slept
out in the cold without shelter, sleeping on cold shop verandas, underneath
or on top of kiosks and even in the gutters, shivering in the cold with
nothing but rags to keep them warm. They (The Gilani family and the above
Rotarians) decided, with the help of a number of other established charitable
and reputable organisations, to establish a soup kitchen and an emergency
shelter for homeless children. Despite
its meagre beginnings, the SCANN Rehabilation Centre has over the last few
years become one of the most active and effective charitable organizations in
Kenya. The Centre is currently housed in a five acre lot and now comprises
three dormitories, four classrooms, a dining room, staff housing and a
library. The centre has sufficient facilities
to house up to 200 children and prior to the recent riots had 140 residents
ranging in age from 3 to 17 years. SCANN filled to capacity during the
unrest. A
substantial portion of the land is made available for cultivation. The
children are taught and encouraged to plant fruits and vegetables for their
own consumption. The
children receive food, shelter, clothing, medical services and education. In
addition children are encouraged to participate in activities such as
acrobatics, karate, soccer, dancing, music, writing and recitation of poetry.
The
last report (prior to the unrest) indicates that of the 140 residents, 80
attend government primary schools, 9 attend secondary schools and 4 are
enrolled in techno-vocational courses. The remaining residents are
either new to the Centre or are too young to attend formal schooling. Instead
they attend classes at the centre and will attend formal schooling once they
are sufficiently rehabilitated and sufficient finances become
available. Older
boys have been rehabilitated and have completed their techno-vocational
courses. SCANN is proud to have found them gainful employment in
the private sector. These
boys now live independently as productive members of the society. The patrons, volunteers and other
associates of SCANN were deservedly proud when SCANN’s first resident reached University. John Ndolo, completed O-levels and attained a B+ grade.
He now attends Child Selection Criteria: SCANN research indicates
that there are many orphans and destitute children on the streets. A
number of these are runaways or are children whose parents do not want them
or cannot afford to look after them. The priorities are to identify
children who do not have a home or a family and suffer all day and night
existing on the streets. The administration and
Trustees make regular forays into the streets, generally at night, to
identify street children that have no homes. The children are taken to SCANN
and in the days following, case histories are compiled and then presented to
the District Children’s Officer who further investigates and then forwards to
a Magistrate, who grants SCANN the official guardianship of these children. When any of the children
are found to have family members capable of looking after them, the Centre
acts as a go between the parties and opens dialogue with the family members
with the purpose of convincing them to live up to their obligations. Costs: The cost of maintaining a
child at the centre and providing food, shelter, clothing, education and
extra curricular activities is K Shs 25,000
(US$ 270)(Aus$ 300) per year. (Because
of currency movements this amount may have varied) Or KShs 2,000 (US$ 22.50)(Aus$25) per month. For such a minuscule
amount a destitute child can receive 24 hour care, shelter,
food, clothing, education, medical care and an opportunity to become a full
fledged contributing member of society. There are no administration costs involved except for the
ancillary staff and utilities. The Every cent that is received from donors is therefore utilised
for the benefit of the children. The accounts are audited
by a firm of Public Certified Accountants on a regular basis and are
available for inspection upon request. INTEGRITY of SCANN. Today,
SCANN’s well being and operations are guided by representatives from not only
Rotary but include Lions, Salvation Army and others. SCANN not only provides
the children with a home and three full meals a day, it looks after their
educational, health and leisure requirements and also provides a platform for
their social and and wide range religious development. Case Histories. John Musyoki Ndolo ( Case Number 050/061) was born
into a very poor family of eight children in 1984, & had to drop out of
school because the family could not raise the school fees. He joined
the street boys & loitered around all day, with a future that was as
hopeless as it could get, when someone brought him to the centre His case
history was assembled and later confirmed that he had been admitted at SCANN
agreed to support him and admitted him, and funded him back to school. In 2003 he
sat for his “O” level exam & in 2004 the K.S.C.E. he has achieved a
performance level higher than 70% of the class & has become a good team
soccer player & exhibiting leadership qualities. He now has
the opportunity of a significantly brighter future. George Njugun (Case No 038/073) was the second born into a family of His father
& mother separated somewhere around 2000, when his mother disappeared
with the youngest child. His father
a drunkard and without work, having no regard or time for George and his
younger brother, spends what ever funds he gets on Chang’aa. (the local
equivalent to alchohol) George was
in school up to Std. 3 but dropped off due to lack of all basic requirements.
He and his brother ran away to the streets after being brutally beaten by the
father. They
finally found a lift from George is very intelligent and performs very well
academically, achieving 1stor 2nd in the group of 81. He now achieves a 1st more regularly. George was voted as the best upcoming Karate
participant at an international karate competition in Kuria Waharo was 4
years old when he was first brought to SCANN. His case is unique Kuria’s
mother was mentally handicapped and “resided” at the doorstep of the Barclays
Bank at Kenyatta Avenue. She had been raped several times and Kuria is one of
the two children borne by her. When found by SCANN, the mother wasn’t even aware of
where the children were or what they were doing. SCANN was granted
guardianship over Kuria and his elder brother Macharia. However Macharia, was too steeped into the
life of a “Street Child” to be rehabilitated and ran away several times. Kuria was a traumatised child and found it
difficult to believe that anyone could actually take care of him and that he
didn’t have to fight for every scrap of food he ate. He found it very difficult to converse in a
normal manner. Following a little counselling and special care and attention,
Kuria has settled down and has become a lot more secure and has made numerous
friends. He excels at studies and is a
natural and talented acrobat. Quotes from a Kids at SCANN. “Before I came to SCANN, I was not happy with my life
at home”. “My mother left me when I was very young”. “My father used to drink … used to beat me … and there
was no food in the house”. “He had no money to send me
to school.” “I ran away to town, begging for food,
eating from the dustbins, sleeping on the verandah … It was so cold”. “One day three boys beat me and left me with so much pain”. “Lucky for
me, one man came and brought
me to SCANN. Now I don’t have
to worry about food, school or where to sleep. I am happy to be at
SCANN. May God bless every one of You”.” Notes.
Bob &
Louise Lemon of Wishart Rotary Club have visited SCANN, and have met with the
Nakuru Rotarians, and the Gilani family.
The words they use to describe the Gilani family are “Angels in
disguise”.
SUMMARY. The Rotary Club of
Wishart is co-ordinating donations for SCANN sourced from
|
|
|
|
|
TOP : HOME : WHAT IS ROTARY?: OFFICIALS
: DUTY ROSTER : ACTIVITIES
: PROGRAMME : HISTORY : BULLETIN : LINKS
: HELP FOR HOMELESS KIDS : PROJECTS : PHOTOS : CONTACTS :