News from Tandaza

2019

Tandaza Trust has some significant and exciting plans for 2019. Since its inception the Trust has impacted on the lives of over 500 individuals amongst Nairobi’s street families. This is set to continue this year.

The Trust plans to continue and expand its SILC and Sports Therapy programs. More Alpha courses will be run. In addition, the Trust will work with its clients towards starting a community project that they can run as a group to generate income. The goal is to reduce reliance on the current food program and increase independence in a sustainable manner.

Land and the agricultural program

One of the most exciting developments ahead for 2019 is the acquisition of new land and the re-establishment of the agricultural arm of the Trust’s activities. This project suffered a major setback in early 2018 when the Trust lost the land that it was farming following the sudden and unexpected termination of its lease. The good news now is that the Trust has been donated 1 acre of land in Isinya, a rural area outside of Nairobi. In addition to this generous donation the Trust is negotiating to purchase two adjoining acres. The first acre is expected to be transferred to the Trust in April and it is expected that a farm manager will be established on the property by September. The Trust is exploring the best cash crops and animals for the land ready to start in September. The agriculture program will provide regular income as well as an opportunity for clients of the Trust to learn important agricultural skills that will improve employment opportunities.

Australian Friends of Tandaza supported the original agricultural program, viewing it as a valuable contribution to making the work of the Trust sustainable into the future. For the past 12 months funds raised by AFoT have been kept in trust in Australia in anticipation of being able to assist the Trust purchase its own land. It is going to be very exciting to watch this come to fruition in 2019!

In addition to the agricultural program the Trust is planning to generate income to support its programs by establishing a charity shop along similar lines to the Salvation Army or St Vincent De Paul’s here in Australia. The Trust is currently seeking sponsorship from a large telecommunications company to assist with this project. Please join us as we journey alongside the Trust in these exciting ventures that will transform communities.

For more stories and regular updates please follow Australian Friends of Tandaza and Tandaza Trust on Facebook by clicking on these links.

Tandaza Trust’s Savings and Lending Program – January 2019

Anastasia is a single mother who was struggling to feed, shelter and educate her children. Early in 2018 she joined the Trust’s SILC program (Savings and Internal Lending Communities) and was able to take a small loan to establish her business. Anastasia now sells confectionary and clothing accessories to support her children. She continues to be supported by the Trust in making informed choices.

SILC is a concept that involves small groups coming together under an organizational structure and agreeing to contribute a small amount to the group each time they meet. The money is then divided into “soft loans” amongst the group members at a mutually agreed interest rate. The money and interest is returned at the next meeting resulting in an ever-increasing amount of funds available for further soft loans. SILC helps the participants to understand the benefits of saving and supporting each other. During 2018 41 women and 37 men across 4 groups took part in the SILC. The two womens groups and one of the mens groups have met with great success through the determination of the group members

Invaluable partnerships…

In November a group of young people in a ministry called Teens Influencing Life Today partnered with Tandaza Trust and a number of the Trust’s clients to clean up the Kariwa area where many of the clients live.

Tandaza Trust is grateful for the partnership of a number of people and organizations including Australian Friends of Tandaza. Thank you to all the supporters of the Trust through AFoT.

Food Program – June 2018

Three days a week, in three different areas of Nairobi, Tandaza Trust provides a food service program amongst street families. It is estimated that 60-80 persons regularly benefit from this service. As well as meeting immediate need it provides and opportunity for the Trust to engae with families about more life changing opportunities they can offer such as counselling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, vocational skills, business education and table banking.

Engaging with young men – April 2018

In addition to the wonderful work the Tandaza Trust does with women and children on the streets the Trust works with young men and boys. Eight boys are currently engaged in a carpentry course, providing them with invaluable employment skills while a total of 21 young men and boys from the streets join the Trust volunteers for regular soccer matches providing an opportunity for engagement and mentoring. On the 12th April the Tandaza team won a football tournament played on International Street Childrens Day.

January – February 2018

2018 opened with an unexpected setback. The owner of the land on which the Trust operated the Agricultural Initiative and the Transformation Centre terminated the lease at very short notice. This was initially a stunning blow to the Trust and to AFoT and particularly to the women involved in the program. It has however resulted in a move towards a brighter long-term future for the work of the Trust.

Faced with this unexpected crisis the Trust has secured a smaller block of land rent free for five years on which to re-establish the Agricultural Initiative. This will allow the Initiative to continue to provide vital funds through the production and sale of produce. The Trust has reformulated its strategic plan to raise funds to purchase land and re-establish the rehabilitation centre. The purchase of land will secure a permanent location for both the centre and the Agricultural Initiative allowing the lives of disadvantaged women to be transformed with brighter futures in line with the initial vision of the Transformation Centre.

AFoT’s Memorandum of Understanding centred around funding the Agricultural Initiative as a funding sources as well as a skills training program. With the unexpected changes to the Trust’s situation AFoT has worked closely with the Board of the Trust in Kenya to ascertain how AFoT can continue to support their work. As the Agricultural Initiative is now, with the help of funds raised by AFoT, equipped with a greenhouse and irrigation equipment AFoT has determined that future fundraising will focus on assisting the Trust in their pursuit of funds to purchase land. Funds raised in Australia will be kept in trust here and invested to gain the best return possible until the time that Tandaza Trust in Kenya is ready to make the land purchase.

Happy success for Grace – November 2017

It was such a happy moment for the Tandaza Trust family as an exited Grace Makena who came from the streets and is now ready to begin life again having completed her rehabilitation process. With support from Tandaza Trust, she started a business and will now be able to look after her son.

Winnie Graduates! – June 2017

Winnie has transitioned from the Trust’s program back to her community where she has been reunited with family and friends. She has begun work on a farm. Her journey through the Tandaza Program has been a life changing one.

“A Taste of Tandaza” – August 2017

Australian Friends of Tandaza launched its fundraising recipe book

“A Taste of Tandaza” at its third Annual Walk. A collaborative work of recipes from both Australia and Kenya the team was very excited about its completion.

Celebrating Nancy’s Graduation! – May 2017

Congratulations Nancy! Nancy has graduated from the Tandaza programme and is now enrolled in a beautician’s course! Wishing you all the very best for the future Nancy! We are also celebrating the news from Tandaza about the bumper first crop planted as a part of the Agricultural Initiative! Two great and exciting blessings!

New Accommodation Wing open! – February 2017

On Sunday 12th February over 60 adults and 25 children gathered at the Tandaza Trust Transformation Centre for the official opening of the new accommodation wing. It was an amazing celebration of growth and blessings. The accommodation wing was built by a team from the Glenmore Park Anglican Church in Australia who travelled to Kenya specifically for that purpose. The kindness and work of others including members of the Kilelelshwa Covenant Community Church, Australian Friends of Tandaza, Carolyn Lucas and Renee McClelland amongst others, have contributed to its furnishings and equipment. This new accommodation wing means that the Tandaza Trust can now accommodate up to twenty women and children and provide for them opportunities to build a better future. It is a new beginning.

Family and Friends Day at the Orchard – November 2016

On Saturday 26^th November Australian Friends of Tandaza Inc held their first Family and Friends Day. This was a special event for Members and invited guests. We were very privileged to have the day hosted by Deb & Dave Bush at their Fairlight Orchard in Mulgoa. Deb and Dave not only opened their orchard to us but generously donated an abundance of peaches and nectarines which were sold to raise funds for the Tandaza Trust Agricultural Initiative.

What a fantastic afternoon it was! Guests were greeted in the orchard packing shed where they were able to learn more about the workings of the orchard, experience the sorting and packing process for the fruit and go on an escorted educative tour of the orchard itself.

Kenyan handicrafts and jewellery were on sale. Harry the horse made a visit to the packing shed to the delight of everyone. And then there was a sausage sizzle and the most sumptuous afternoon tea available to take the edge of any hunger. All reports indicate that it was an enjoyable afternoon and funds raised for Tandaza Trust were fantastic. Our special thanks again to Deb, Dave, Olivia and Cameron Bush.

Nancy – September 2016

It is every girls dream to one day grow up to become a success in the society. However, some of our paths are rockier than others. 19 year old Nancy’s path has been very rocky.

Nancy is the last born in a family of four. She born and raised in Dandora’s Korogocho slums. Her mother, an alcoholic, left when Nancy was two years old.

A Good Samaritan found Nancy and paid her school fees until she finished primary school. unfortunately this support could not continue into secondary school and Nancy came under the care of her brother. After a year he started mistreating her and eventually threw her out. Nancy had no option but to live on the streets where she got entangled with a gang.

Nancy abused drugs like bhang and miraa as a means of seeking solace. Eventually, she met up with the street ministry team and has started her recovery journey at Tandaza Trust. She has now rekindled her hopes

of becoming a hairdresser as she follows in the footsteps of her sister Helen who has just finished the Tandaza Trust program.

Click here to read the full August/September Bulletin from Tandaza

Susan’s Story of Hope – July 2016

Susan was born in 1987 near the Buruburu estate, Nairobi. She was the fifth child in a family of eight. When Susan was only seven, she was forced to the streets due to abject poverty. Dark, cold alleys became her home and garbage cans provided morsels for her and other street children. Aged 9, Susan was helped to get back to school, but she dropped out in fourth grade and returned to the streets.

Life on the streets was very hard. Susan became a mother to five children. Three of them died due to the harsh conditions and Susan’s health deteriorated. Then Susan came into contact with Tandaza Trust. She has since left the streets and is currently undergoing medical and psychotherapeutic treatment. Despite the suffering she has gone through, Susan believes that her life will be transformed and she foresees a better future for her two surviving children.

Click here to read the full July Bulletin from Tandaza

HAVING AN IMPACT – June 2016

Australian Friends of Tandaza were very excited to receive a write-up in the Tandaza Trust News June Bulletin! It included mention of our market stall and a link to our webpage.

“Tandaza Trust is blessed to have such amazing friends, who are already making a significant difference in the lives of our beneficiaries.”

It is wonderful to know that, even in these early days of our association, we are making a difference.

Click here to read the full June Bulletin

CELEBRATING SMALL VICTORIES: PENINAH’S STORY – May 2016

When Peninah Muthui joined the Tandaza program in July last year, she did not know how to read or write. Peninah has never been to school. When her parents separated in 1998, Peninah’s mother had no money for tuition and school fees. Peninah moved to her aunt’s place in Mombasa in the hope that her aunt would take her to school, but the aunt turned her into a house help instead. Peninah returned to her village where she met the father of her two boys. Life was very difficult and Peninah ended up living on the streets with her children. They were sleeping hungry in the cold alleys. Peninah was begging to survive, and was arrested. Depressed, Peninah started drinking, mostly illicit brews.

Through Tandaza Trust’s Street Ministry Peninah heard about the Tandaza Transformation Centre in Kiserian. Eager to leave the streets Peninah joined the programme at the Centre. Peninah has been sober for over 10 months now. Peninah has flourished at the Centre and staff attest that to her positive attitude. She is always willing to learn and showing initiative. Peninah turned 28 recently. To celebrate she decided to put the catering skills she has learnt at the Centre to good use. She baked a 3-level cake from scratch! This delicious cake was shared with the others, including staff. Tandaza staff see such a transformation in this young woman’s life! She continues to be a role model for the other women.

For more stories and regular updates please follow Australian Friends of Tandaza and Tandaza Trust on Facebook by clicking on these links.