As stated in the previous newsletter, our goal for the coming year is ambitious but achievable: to grow to €2,500 per month in regular donations. With that amount, we can structurally cover many operational costs, such as salaries, school fees, and food.

The third term started at the beginning of this year. In Kenya, school is paid for per term. Primary school is free, but there are still costs, namely for books, uniforms and school meals. The children are at school from 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Secondary school is a lot more expensive and we also have a number of children at secondary high school and even two at university. One boy, Ryan, attends the international school for autism. This is fully sponsored by one donor. It is truly fantastic to see how Ryan has developed over the past two years!
At the beginning of January, we transferred 9,000 euros, 1,341,010 Kenyan shillings. This was intended for fire safety equipment, staff salaries and school fees. On 29 January, 1,550 euros was transferred to The Ark, 233,434 Kenyan shillings.  This was largely intended for staff salaries, and 100,000 KES was earmarked for Isaac, who can now start his own welding business. He is being guided in this by The Ark. This will enable Isaac to take care of his grandmother, brother and sister. In the other months, we transfer an average of €650, largely for staff salaries.

.

One euro is approximately 150 KES, so a salary of 20,000 KES is approximately 133 euros. And to think that the first term for secondary high school is 82,000 KES, 550 euros(!), and the remaining terms are 20,000 KES. That is 750 euros for the first year and 450 euros for the following years. Thanks to a one-off large donation, we were able to pay the school fees for this term as well, and we still have some money left for the second term.
And at the same time, this is where we really make a difference! If we can send children out into the world with a good education, they will have a much better chance of finding work and will also be able to take care of their relatives. In this way, we help the entire region to grow!