International Service – Rotary Club of Wishart’s ongoing project with the
Street Children Assistance network of Nakauru (Kenya, Africa)

 

S.C.A.N.N.

             
Please visit the website for further information

 

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 Africa appear almost insurmountable, however, the greater the number of educated children that eventually are able to contribute to their society, the faster other issues can be addressed effectively. The end result of SCANN’s impact is a greater number of children move from “no hope” to at least a chance in life, and maybe an even greater contribution to their society. 

 

Contact.

            Local Australian Contact:-

            Jeanette Rich….. Wishart Rotary Club  

Box  295  Mt. Gravatt Queenslland   4122

            07  3361  8583 (Bus) 07  3243 3254  (Home) 0403 253  510 (Mobile)

.         e-mail jric4641bigpond.net.au

Bob Lemon…….. Wishart Rotary Club

0429 300739  

mailto:mblemon@bigpond.net.au

            PO Box 4370 Eight Mile Plains, Queensland. 4113

SCANN -The Institution    Addendum

Street  Children  Assistance  Network  of Nakuru

is one of Kenya’s foremost charitable institution for the homeless. It was founded in 1998 with the intention to provide a caring home for street children and orphans who have no other alternative or hope for the future, except to turn to crime.

 

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 Egerton University. Their  cry  of  joy “WE CAN DO IT!!!”  resounded around the whole SCANN organisation when this occurred.

 

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 5 acre property is owned by one of the Trustee organizations. Although a minimal rent is paid.  The rest of the Trustees provide their services on an honorary basis.

 

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 Menengai High School but could not raise the school fees.

 

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 3 in 1990 in Kayole Nairobi.

 

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 Nairobi to Nakuru to his aunt Nyambura who was in a stressful situation herself & could not cater for their needs. She brought George & his brother to SCANN.

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 Nairobi and was awarded the green belt. He won the KATA competition in the junior Rift valley Karate competition, He is very good in acrobatics and karate, he likes reading and is an excellent orator. The future for him (and his brother) is open with significantly more opportunity than before his involvement with SCANN.

 

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 Australia and New Zealand, with all donations tax deductible..

 


 

 

 

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