Maintain Hope – Summer 2010

Early on Sunday morning, August 1st, 45 people reported for duty together with Maintain Hope directors, Gerry O’Donoghue and Sue Riehn, at a very special little place about an hour from Nairobi in Kenya, writes Esther Reddy.

The previous day had been spent travelling to this destination – an orphanage on the outskirts of Ngong which is home to 172 children. The title orphanage is not used in this place, instead it is called Shelter. Here the children have a home, receive rehabilitation and an education.

The group of volunteers, many of whom are from or are working in Co Kildare, divided into three groups. One group had previously agreed to work exclusively with the children for the two weeks of the trip. A lot of preparation had gone into planning the activities, teaching and guidance which would be undertaken with the children. It would be a facet to the trip that would be physically and emotionally challenging, but our volunteers were up for it!

The remaining group of volunteers divided in two. The bigger group had the task of building four classrooms alongside the main Shelter building. The younger children, up to about 6 years, go to school in Shelter, there is one classroom on site. All the older children walk to school, at least 4km there and back. It is a walk that not only is tiresome but the children can be the targets of attack. Sending the children out to school is an expensive business, fees have to be paid. By building four classrooms on site, Maintain Hope would provide a safe place for the children’s education and would save Shelter the expense of school fees.

The smaller building group undertook to build accommodation for people who work and live in Shelter. This may seem a contradiction if these people already have “living accomodation”. However it seems it’s just not that straightforward. For example, one lady, who is the social worker for Shelter, lives in a room which is approximately 3m x 3m with her two sons. During the night House Mothers are on call to be there for the children if needed, but invariably this lady’s door is knocked upon. Building her and her boys their own house about a half kilometre away from Shelter means that she will not be on call 24/7 and she will have a front door to call her own!

The house which was to be built by the second building team would be semi detached and would comprise of two apartments. Each apartment would have a kitchen\living area, a bedroom and a shower room\ toilet. Again it would be on the Shelter site, but a distance away from the main buildings and dormitories so as to allow for privacy and a feeling of “getting away from work”.

After a brief “Briefing” on August 1st it was all hands on deck. Foundations for all building work had previously been put in place by Kenyan workers so all that was left to do was to build walls, put roofs on top, put in windows and doors, paint them and plaster, all in 12 to 14 days! And bear in mind, none of the volunteers build for a living! The experience and expertise of volunteers who have been travelling and building with Maintain Hope, some since 2006, was drawn upon. Some local workmen were employed to help along the way but before long people who may have done very little or none of this work before, became skilled at mixing cement, laying blocks, filling and pointing, nailing trusses, treating them, putting them in place and roofing the trusses.

Huge progress was seen on both sites each day. And all the time the children were receiving the best of care, love and attention from the group of volunteers who became known as the Outreach Team. All things didn’t run smoothly all the time, certainly there were obstacles and set-backs. But thankfully all these were overcome and after 12 days of really hard work the fruit of all the labour was evident!

The house which was built as accommodation for some of Shelter Staff was roofed, plastered and wired with windows and doors in place. Local workmen have been employed to put final touches in place. A rudimentary garden was constructed in front of the house. The idea was mooted to give the house a name. Maybe it was a bit of Kilcullen influence, but the name Tearmann (which means Shelter ) was settled upon. Lessons were given in how to pronounce the word and it was very well received by the Shelter Director.

The builders in charge of the classrooms were under a considerable amount of pressure to have completed the building by Friday 13th August as an official opening was to be held that day with state officials in attendance. A daunting task, but with true Irish spirit it was completed. Celebrations were held. The children sang and danced – such rhythm and energy was a joy to witness. Speeches were made when efforts and generosity were praised. Mary, the director of Shelter told us that “Giving life a new hope” is the motto of Shelter and the new school is to be called Hope Springs Academy, which marries the motto of Shelter and Maintain Hope together. Gerry O’Donoghue spoke of how the children of Ngong, Kenya were born to green hills and a beautiful country, just as is our experience in Ireland. However, he said, the difference is that these children’s chance was taken away from them. The efforts of everyone connected with Maintain Hope has been to give back that chance, a chance which is as equally deserved in Kenya as it is in Ireland.

On August 16th the Maintain Hope crew travelled home to the family and friends who made it possible for us to go to Shelter in the first place. Six of us had travelled from Kilcullen: Gabrielle Keane, Patricia Mc Donnell, Lorraine Schwer, Lacey Mullins, Holly Bathe and Esther Reddy – and add in Betty who is always so pleasant and helpful in the Credit Union, she’s now an adopted Kilcullenite. On behalf of all these people and Maintain Hope we would like to sincerely thank the people of Kilcullen and surrounding areas, friends and families for all your support in making this such a magical and rewarding trip.