We have Moved!

Thanks for checking in, we have moved our regular updates to our new home page. Our blog will now be updated within our main website.

Please click on the link to take you to our new site www.educationforlife.net

Thanks again for supporting our work here.

Xx Glyn & Jane

Virtual Kili Climb

It's the start of the new school year so we thought it would be good to start with a walk. Not just any walk but a "Virtual Kilimanjaro Climb." The idea is not just to walk, but to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. If you could go straight up and down the mountain, the distance would be approx 12 kms, so as a school from Nursery to High School we will attempt the distance in the soaring temperatures of Mombasa. There will be markers on the way just like the real climb so for example the Nursery children will only walk to Marangu Gate while High School and staff will aim for Uhuru Peak. The photos show students, staff and some parents joining in and having fun on our last walk!

Last time we did the climb we managed to raise around £800 and use the funds to buy much needed text books for the school, Nursery equipment and a table tennis table. This year we are aiming for over £1,000 to help Tumaini Timbwani buy much needed school equipment and help needy students with a bursary.

If you are not able to join us in Mombasa on the 26th February to walk then could you sponsor us? Follow this link to Just Giving to see how the fundraising is going.

Thanks. Xx Glyn, Jane & Maureen

Mwaka Mpya

Mwaka Mpya, that's Swahili for Happy New Year. We would like to wish you all a very Happy and Blessed New Year.

Tumaini Timbwani has opened for Term I, 2010 and would like to say a special welcome to new members of staff who have joined us this year. Ann is our High School Laboratory Technician, Lucy Class 1 Teacher & Sarah Kiswahili Teacher for Primary School. We would also like to say a special thank you to Mr. Duncan who has taken up the position of Primary Head Teacher. Together we are looking forward to an exciting year as Tumaini continues to grow.

Thanks again for all your support through 2009 and we look forward to giving you regular updates throughout 2010. Xx Glyn, Jane & Maureen.

Happy Christmas

We would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas from everyone at Tumaini. We are having a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas. It's been all hands to the deck decorating "the room with no name, but many uses." As you can see they are enjoying a much deserved cup of tea. The children really enjoy decorating the place and it adds a really festive feel; especially as the weather is currently pushing 40 degrees! Mtavi and Nasib worked really hard to build a stable and manger for our Nativity Set and the children really love our woolly characters. Now the decorations are up and rehearsals are complete we are ready for our Christmas day service and performance by our very talented children (and puppets).

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year. Xx Glyn, Jane, Maureen & June.

Graduation Ceremony

We have come to the end of another school year here at Tumaini, it's been a great year as was reflected in our Nursery Graduation and closing ceremony. Top overall student in upper primary was once again Emmanuel Shikku who achieved an average score of 415/500 over the year, he was very happy to receive a bicycle, especially as next year he will be in Std 8 so will not be eligible for the competition. I know the competition will be tough next year, keep up the good work!

We would like to thank everyone who has helped make 2009 a great success and look forward to Standing Together in 2010! Xx Glyn & Jane

RainMan Fire Fighting

This week we have been really blessed to receive a donation of Fire Fighting equipment to the school. Thanks to Cheryl Robinson from Nebraska, USA who asked Marc & Alex from RainMan to make all the arrangements. This realeased funds that had been set aside for this to be used for other needs. The excitement mounted as we could see the water pumping through the red fire hose, then suddenly water shot out under amazing pressure. The RainMan will pump 300 ltrs of water per minute, that's a lot of water! Certainly enough to give a few hundred kids a good soaking! We certainly had a lot of fun learning how to use our new pump, if you would like to see some more photos and see if it's possible to knock a coconut out of a tree follow the link
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/timbwani/RainmanOctober2009?feat=directlink

On a more serious note we are really thankful to all those that have helped us to bring some security and piece of mind to Timbwani as there is no Fire Engine in our area! Xx Glyn & Jane

Home at last!

Thank you so much to everyone that visited me and prayed for me while I was in hospital. Last Thursday I was admitted to Mombasa Hospital with a Rotator Cuff Tear, which means that somehow I tore tendons in my left shoulder and in the process broke off a piece of bone that was then floating around in my shoulder joint. I'm pleased to say the operation was a success, the tendons are repaired and the bone removed. I'm back home and resting but have to go for physiotherapy for the next 10 days and then have the stitches removed, but at least I'm able to use my arm now. The hospital staff were amazing and really looked after me, I think they were a little surprised at the amount of visitors I received, especially on Sunday. As you can see I had a room with a view, if you have to be sick it's certainly a good place to be! Thanks once again Xx Glyn & Jane