Magina & Kisumu are in western Kenya situated near Lake Victoria. Malaria is a big problem in the area as is high unemployment. AIDS is rife here, 33% are HIV positive, the highest in Kenya. Millicent and Eric Ojuki are a couple that have cared for about 20-30 orphans for a number of years now. Eric comes across parents who are dying of AIDS and helps the children once the parents are gone, some of the orphans are just living on their own. They wanted somewhere to house the orphans, so in March 2004, Pamoja bought a 2.1 acre plot of land in Magina for a building that could accommodate 26 children and house parents, with a kitchen, dining room and wash rooms. The plot is even big enough for the orphans to grow their own food. Pamoja also helps Millicent run a Micro Finance Scheme.
Over the past seven years, the orphanage has been completed and is running smoothly under the direction of Millicent. It is a lovely environment: the trees Tim has planted have grown well and there is not only room to grow plants but also to keep some animals. Soon after the orphanage was completed, it also became clear that there was a need for a school in the area, so more land was purchased, more teams went out from UK and USA to work alongside local builders, and a school was completed.
In Sept 2004, a group of 5 supporters from the UK went out to start on the orphanage with local builders. The building work is now complete and the orphanage is running smoothly under the direction of Millicent. The plot is proving to be exactly what those who bought the land for Pamoja had hoped: it is a pleasant environment with the trees that Tim planted doing well, and with room to grow food and keep some animals. After the orphanage had been up and running a short while it became clear that there was also a need for a good school in the area. More land was purchased, and more teams of volunteers from the UK and USA travelled to Kenya to work alongside local builders to build a school. At the start of 2012, Mier Pamoja Academy has 160+ pupils in classes ranging from nursery and pre-school through standards 1-8. There is a field for the children to play in, with playground equipment and plenty of space for football!
The plan is, God willing, to continue to expand the school at the rate
of one or two extra classrooms per year. Please pray that not just that the necessary finance is provided, but also that the right staff are called to the school: it is so important that the school retains and builds on the reputation for good Christian education that it has gained in the local area. The school is currently #3 in the district. Please also pray for Eric and Millicent, who are two very special people and are so important to the continued work of Pamoja in Magina.
