Pamoja

Treasurer needed!

Nick — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:45:00 GMT

Due to relocation our treasurer has had to step down and we are looking for someone to take over the UK books (which are in good order!)

If you have the following attributes (or know someone who has) we would be interested in hearing from you:

Experience of book keeping
Agree with who we are and what we do (please browse round the web site)
Are able to give two to three 1/2 days a month to do the work
Want to get involved in a charity that really makes a difference in Africa

The holder does not need to be a Trustee of the charity but often has been the past.

We are based in Chandlers Ford, near Southampton and have several meetings a year. So being local would be a great help.

If you are interested, please contact us.

Famine in Kenya continues... our help is needed

Nick — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:56:00 GMT

We have received the following request from Rev Daniel Mathuva. Please pray for the overall situation in Kenya and consider making a donation. If you make a donation to support this need please also contact us so we can make sure your donation gets allocated to famine relief. We will see how we can respond at the next trustees meeting in early September.

Dear Pamoja trustees

Greetings to all, hope this finds you fine. As much as we are doing well spiritually and we have every reason to thank God for life, things in Kenya are getting out of hands. The drought is so servere that in many places people are going a week without food and only boiled water. Animals have died and people are following. It was report in the news that last week alone 7 adults passed away due to lack of food. Where there has been hope in passed rivers have dried and have affected the main rivers in kenya. No doubt whatever means the government has, it can not by itself do this alone. No amount of money is able to support kenya and sustain its people this point of time. This kind of situation needs God's intervation. You cannot imagine a country without enough water for its people, no food, and every thing seems to be getting worse every day. In such country life is unberable.

For one visiting the city of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, one will not be able to tell the suffering in the country. One is welcomed by modern buildings like any other city in the world and many people moving and very welcoming but the truth is outside the city, in the villages, slums and the country side many people are at risk. They go without food for days, the government food is not for all and only few get that food. In the slums people are considered to be in the city and non boths abpout them.

Friends and God's people the famine in Kenya reminds me of the famine which was during the times of the prophets and one prophesied that God will send a famine in the land that has never been seen. Is Kenya suffering due to its own sins, might been, but will God's people that are called by his people close their eyes and watch when their feelow human being are dying. Please dear friends and God's people am sounding a trumphet call and let it be heard by all and come for our rescue. I do know that everyone is affected by the world resession but ours is more of a curse than economic resession.

Come for our resue, speak with friends and fellow believers.

Thanks

God bless you

Daniel Mathuva

Famine in Kenya

Nick — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:53:00 GMT

In the run up to the UK Trustees meeting on the 20th Janurary we received the following request from Rev Daniel Mathuva:

Many people are going without food, already about 6 children have been announced dead due to lack of food. This might not be understood well by most UK people who have never gone hungry, but brothers and sisters I humbly appeal to you if there are some extra coins in our account or there are some kind people willing to support in providing food, we welcome this. The drought is bad and rains have failed in some areas for years.

In response to this a significant some of money was sent to Kenya and is now being used to address some of the needs. We expect this will be an ongoing situation. Please pray for the overall situation in Kenya and that the rains will come. If you make a donation to support this need please also contact us so we can make sure your donation gets allocated to famine relief.

Times columist states "As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God"

Nick — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:21:00 GMT

Times columnist Matthew Parris wrote an article stating that "As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God". We thought this provided an interesting perspective on the work of Christians in Africa.

Here is a quotation from the article:

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

The full article can be found here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

Pamoja News Letter August 2008

Nick — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:07:00 GMT

Please find attached our latest news letter with an update on the situation in Kenya after the election violence, news of the Endau clinic, information about the tractor that we have been donated, a progress report on the classrooms at Magina, the background to a new work Daniel is doing with the street children in Nairobi and various other updates.

Daniel Mathuva visiting the UK from Monday the 9th June till Wednesday the 11th June

Nick — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:55:00 GMT

Daniel Mathuva, the Pamoja coordinator in Kenya, will be visiting the UK from Monday the 9th June to Wednesday the 11th June. You are invited to come and meet him from 6PM till 10PM on the Monday at Tim and Sheena's house and hear all that is going on in Kenya at the moment. If you need directions please contact us.

Kenya in Crisis: Pamoja Emergency Appeal

Nick — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:42:00 GMT

Riots in Kenya

Many of you will have heard in the news of the crisis in Kenya since the election results were announced in December 2007! The opposition party has challenged the result, which saw the incumbent president Kibaki returned to office. Many independent observers believe the result was rigged.

The demonstrations and rioting that followed have led to the death of several hundred people and much of the killing seems to be tribally motivated. The governing Kikuyu tribe have been targeted by the opposition, which is mainly Luo. The Kikuyu have then retaliated and very quickly chaos has spread.

Slum areas of Nairobi have been badly hit with hundreds of people being evicted, fleeing for their lives, or having their homes burned. Many are now homeless finding shelter at sports stadiums or at the show ground.

The situation remains tense as peace talks broke down on Friday and the opposition has called for more demonstrations this week starting Tuesday until Friday. This is a discouraging development as things had begun to quieten down but the demonstrations could very easily spark more violence. People are already nervous about moving around and the children who were going to return to school this week will no longer do so.

Further information can be found on the BBC News web site.

Pamoja families

We have spoken to Daniel Mathuva (Pamoja Country co-ordinator) this past week. One of the worst areas that experienced violence was the Kawangware slum area. This is one area in which Pamoja works and sponsors children to go to school. We do not know the full extent of the impact on Pamoja families but do know of some families that are homeless. Most shops have remained closed and many have been looted.The food supply chain has been disrupted around the country and as a result food prices have more than tripled. People are coming to the churches looking for help, shelter and food. Many mothers are saying that the only thing they have to feed their children is water.

Kisumu

Kisumu is another area that experienced much rioting. Millicent who runs the Pamoja Care Centre outside Kisumu (in Magina) has sent a message to all the kids at the Centre not to come back after their break with their families and guardians because of the violence in that area and the lack of food.

How can we help?

We have had requests for assistance at this very difficult time. Daniel has visitors to his church everyday looking for help and the church wants to assist, not only with food but with temporary shelter. Some families have have lost all their things so blankets, sheets, cooking pots, stoves, utensils are all needed to help these people to become independent again.

Please consider helping our brothers and sisters in Kenya at this time!

Please PRAY:

for peace and a resolution to the fighting
for a just resolution of the crisis
for churches as they seek to help those around them
for those affected - that they can piece their lives together again quickly
for the children who have witnessed atrocities during this time of unrest

God commands us in the Bible to take care of the poor, the widow and the orphans.

If you feel able, please DONATE:

you can now donate directly on line via the charity choice web site
or send your cheques made payable to "Pamoja" to P O Box 341, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 2RJ
gift aid forms are available on the giving money page

Thank you for your support!
100% of any gift you give will go to Kenya

Pamoja Newsletter November 2007

Nick — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:42:00 GMT

Attached is the Pamoja newsletter published November 2007. Please feel free to pass it on to anyone who is interested.

Magina Primary School Building Work Continues

Nick — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:40:00 GMT

The first Pamoja primary school is being constructed at Magina near Kisumu. We plan to open this in Jan 2008. The school will have some fee paying attendees that will (we hope) cover the costs of the school and also contribute to the orphanage at Magina. This will also give the kids on the education program access to good education in English.

June Gets a 3 Year Visa

Nick — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 08:23:00 GMT

June, one of the UK Trustees, has not a 3 year visa and work permit for Kenya. This is great news as this means that she will be able to remain to help with the work in Kenya. June has already been in Kenya for a year.

Pamoja AGM, 7:30pm Saturday 13th October 2007, Velmore Chapel, Chandlers Ford

Nick — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:10:00 GMT

The Pamoja AGM will be 7:30pm on Saturday the 13th October at Velmore Chapel, Chandlers Ford. Come and here about a very busy year for Pamoja and our plans for the future. Refreshments will be provided. Please bring a friend.