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Our first Kids in Kenya Summit was held in February 2007- It was a great experience for all that participated. Many great ideas and relations were formed during the two week long event. The summit was one that traveled from village to village and region to region trying to include as many of the rural areas we have provided support since our inception. The typical program included all of the Kenyan greetings as we were welcomed but we quickly got on with town hall style meetings where out of the three that were held each had more than 150 individuals attending. The elders and leaders of the village/region we were at had already prepared for our visit by having prior meetings with the community to discuss specific items they wanted addressed in their community regarding children and educational opportunities. Obviously there were many more needs than we could even begin to address but this forum allowed us to move quickly in the short time we had for each village. Once the larger meeting was concluded we held a wrap-up meeting with less than 10 elders and leaders to make sure we all understood what was expected from each other to move support forward.

In addition to the meetings we also visited nearly all 20 schools that we have kids at and almost all 30 of the kids homes meeting their extended families. The rains had put us behind schedule but with a very rapid pace which by the way is clearly not Kenyan style we got a lot accomplished. The goal of the 2007 Summit was to build rapport and understanding of those the Kids in Kenya Fund had set out to serve -were we making a difference, were we utilizing best practices, were we being aware and respectful of the elders wishes? We also had a goal to make sure we set some ground rules that each of the villages we help understood how we make decisions, how funds were raised and what commitments were needed by everyone involved.

The biggest thing I feel I walked away with was the comfort that we had taken time to truly listen to the wishes of those we were helping. The Kids in Kenya Fund is unlike many organizations, we set out to help the village reach a goal they already had not to sell a way of life to them. We respect their way of life and are there to help them coexist with the ways of yesterday and with the modern demands they are being faced. If you have ever sat in a rural African community you would understand this completely. We consistently heard that we were the first to actually sit with them and show respect and listen to their goals. That surprised more than anything else.

The last day of the Summit we held our formal Kenya committee meeting at the Chambai Hotel in Narok. Our offices are currently directly across the street from the hotel. In the formal meeting the conversations of the weeks prior were condensed and voted on per next steps, outlining of future goals and the making of long range plans. The following programs are what was condensed and agreed upon.

Child Sponsorship: a program that was geared towards capturing support from the safari tourist has extended to organizations here in the United States. Sponsorships give Kenyan children an opportunity to stay safe, nourished, healthy, clothed, and sheltered while providing them a formal education. The average cost per child is $500 annually. Donors get updates on sponsored children throughout the year.

Farming for Education: Masai land (in the Mara- Rift Valley Area) is community-owned. This program provides the opportunity to have Kenyan mothers farm one acre of land, earning her enough funds to feed her family and provide an “Education Savings Account” for her biological children to go to school. In this project we work to first provide the seeds, tilling and education which costs around $200 per acre. Crops are grouped in a minimum of 6 acres to generate sufficient help during the planting and harvest season. The harvest provides food for the family, funds for the “Education Savings Account” as well as an endowment fund that provides project expansion and sustains the effort due to a drought or other unpredictable disaster.

Transport for College: A program that helps Kenyans help themselves, creates jobs and awareness of the Kids in Kenya Fund program. Once sponsored children graduate secondary school, they may be eligible for college. Working with the Ministry of Education we provide revolving loans to Kids in Kenya Fund graduates. Upon raising $10,000, we purchase a 4x4 Suzuki 4 door vehicle. The amount includes all expenses related to running a transport taxi such as: insurance, licenses, driver, mechanic and allowance for repairs. The transport operates in the Kenyan town of Narok and has potential earnings of $1,500US per month, with more than half going to support the college loan program. The vehicles are named and marked recognizing the key donors.

Annual Summit: With the expansion of partnerships with more than 20 schools and a sponsorship of 33 children from many provinces and regions of Kenya we needed a way to keep everyone motivated and heard. Once a year we plan to hold an Annual Summit working to include several town hall style meetings where we create the opportunity to sit and listen to the villages and people of rural Kenya that we set out to help. They have an active role in our success and planing for future projects. Thanks to our Kenyan committee members our last summit was a great success and hopefully one will be able to held in late 2008 (the summit was planned for early 2008 -but was cancelled do to the post election unrest)

Child Wellness Center: With some hard work and planning we hope to eventually have a home base to work out of and provide a camp for Kenyan kids to come together to what we call "leadership Retreats" The camp will be located in the Mara allowing Kenyan school kids to hold field trips in the Mara Reserve to see the animals and than stay overnight at the Child Wellness Center for lodging and to learn about international concerns and participate in workshops like "Art in America's, first designed by Amy Hufnal a teacher in the US. The Child Wellness Center once fully operating will play host to US visiting teachers and healthcare providers, provide overnight lodging for Kenyan students visiting the Mara, Provide leadership conferences and workshops addressing international concerns and education about tribal relations in Kenya. While we have the opportunity to purchase the land we still need to raise funds to make this dream a reality. Eventually the Center will also hold and academy to teach primary and secondary school to area children.

While we had a 2008 Summit planned to move our efforts forward I am sure many of you if not all reading this are aware of the hurdles Kenya faces post elections. While daily routines appear to be getting back to some normal operations we are well aware this will be a difficult year. The 2008 Summit was cancelled and will be carried on via ongoing emails, written letters and phone calls. We will travel to Kenya and hold a smaller meeting once it is clear we can travel safely. Our focus right now is getting communications with all of our sponsored kids and rearranging the schools per tribal concerns. The problems are very very real per tribal issues and is amazingly heightened right now.

Please feel free to contact Evans or I if you have any questions or comments. Please consider making a donation to one of the programs outlined above.

Email: Jamey Ponte or Evans Nyachoi