Through GlobalEyes

I have some very hopeful news - I met with Ron Cordes the other day, you probably remember him as the gentleman who visited with Margee in October and invested in the electricity for the CRM building. Ron has a family foundation - The Cordes Family Foundation - and he was very impressed by the work you are doing and wants to help more. We talked for a long while about how you make CRM and Tropical Focus work, and some of the things we can do to improve operations and expand capacity. There were three major points that came out of the meeting:<br /><br />o The Cordes Family Foundation will subsidize half of the budgeted operational costs of CRM to provide a cushion for both CRM/TF and GlobalEyes, to work to elevate the living standards at the orphanage and to reallocate some of our funding for sustainable development projects.<br /><br />o I told Ron about the eight additional children that Tropical Focus had identified as in need of housing, and we discussed some of the options for expanding the CRM building. GlobalEyes would like to work with Tropical Focus to develop a plan, including a detailed budget, for the renovation of the small structure on the CRM property into a workable living space to accommodate additional orphans. Is this still a realistic solution? <br /><br />o Finally, Ron is a Rotary Club member, and we decided that GlobalEyes should work with Tropical Focus to connect with the Kisumu Rotary chapter to collaborate on the development of a permanent CRM compound with housing, a school, and agricultural projects.<br /><br />I would love your feedback on these items.<br /><br />

1. Prof. Margee’s team from University of Pacific donated to us $ 5,000 for use in completing electricity installation ($ 1,000) and for CRM food and domestic supplies plus Dago Thim school feeding ($4,000). However, schools operations have not yet been stable, with head teachers calling on pupils to go to school one day and the following day they are asked not to report. Even when calls are made for school days, very few pupils turn up so we felt we should wait some more days for stability before embarking on the school feeding program at Dago Thim.<br /><br />2. There has been worsening of events for the victims of post election violence. We continued conducting assessments and came to learn that a big group of displaced people are camped at various police stations around Kisumu – sort of the administration have not revealed their details for fear that surrounding community can attack them at the camps. They inform people that all displaced people have been moved out of Kisumu. I sent our staff and they saw with their own eyes the situation at Kondele police station in Kisumu. Today Caren and myself accompanied them and found the situation terrible. There were 53 people in total, comprising of women, men, children and some youth. They were initially hostile and only after we talked to a pastor who has been visiting them that they accepted to talk to us. We found they did not have meal for today and for days to come, no soaps, women begged for sanitary towels, children were worn out and tired old men who just kept themselves in tents. A woman and two old men had 3-day old medical prescriptions from a government hospital. The situation was bad and we could not hold. We said we could use some funds from our account to provide for some urgent needs. Perhaps incase we get some funds later towards support of such victims, then we shall replace. <br /><br />We bought them 3 bags of maize, 27 tins of 250 gm cooking oil, 27 packets of salt, 27 loaves of cabbages, 14 pieces of bar soaps, 53 pieces of tiny toilet soaps, 12 pieces of sanitary towels, 16 quick snack sets (juice and crisps) for kids, some cabbages and the prescribed medicines. One woman pleaded with us to buy for her petroleum jelly. We spent about Kshs. 18,000/=. It was indeed a great relief to them when they saw us come back with the items. We estimated the supplies would take them some 4 days – I’ve attached various photos that we took as we distributed and as we discussed with them. These people will probably need relief support for some 5 more months before they can establish other habitations.<br /><br />After the Kondele case I visited Riat police station, which is some 500 meters from Tropical Focus offices and the police revealed that they are holding one similar victim (Called Nyamweya Ombati). Mr. Ombati’s father is believed to be also hiding in another police station. Their shop, located just on the fence of Bukna Primary School was burnt down. They however do not want surrounding community to be aware due to risk of attack by the same community. Similar groups are in other police stations around Kisumu and other supporting organizations cannot cope.<br /><br />The police station groups of victims increases the needs for support to victims of post election violence hence the budget is higher than what we had communicated before. For this additional group, about Kshs. 700,000/= would be necessary to supplement their survival for the next 5 months.<br /><br />3. For our other activities, we have yet encountered some challenge with purchases. Prices have escalated compared to budgets we had prepared for most activities. For instance, we bought hard wares and realized we overshot by about Kshs. 12,000/=. Cement which used to cost Kshs. 600/= before the post election conflicts currently costs Kshs 900/=. We are yet to buy bricks and will need to pay Mason and also complete labor payment for pit digging. I do not really k now how we’ll fill the gap. Costs of supplies for Children Rescue Mission have also increased. <br /><br />4. Following donation as on item 1 above, we still have costs for office running not covered.<br /><br />5. Electricity wiring at CRM and Tf building is now complete. We paid installation fees to the power company and are awaiting connection – probably in 4 weeks if security situation does not worsen.<br />

1. We have been visiting households of individuals affected by post election conflicts and found them in real pathetic states, especially those who lost their source of income through burnt places of employment, displaced employers and lost and injured providers of the households. I hope what is raised will provide some relief to them.<br /><br />2. Dago Thim Primary school latrine construction already began. We visited them on 15th Jan and found about 20 feet of the pit already dug (see some photos attached). The full depth will be 30 feet and we expect this to be done by Monday 21st Jan. Caren also already bought sand and ballast. Bricks and other materials are however not yet bought. Our plan was to buy this next week, hopefully if situation in the country will not be too bad. Schools opened on Monday but pupils were told not to report during the 3 days of demonstrations.<br /><br />3. We bought materials for wiring of the building housing Tf and CRM on Monday 14th Jan and work started immediately. The technicians will probably be through today since only little work was remaining by yesterday evening. <br /><br />4. On finances, out of the wire you sent on 10th (Kshs. 94,828/=), we are only left with about Kshs. 40,000/= for the latrine construction, having spent about Kshs. 15,000/= on CRM food and domestic supplies for Dec, about Kshs. 12,000/= on Tf office running for Dec (see attached sheet), about Kshs. 10,000/= on Pamela Atieno’s support and Kshs. 14,000/= on sand, ballast and labor deposit for digging of latrine pit. <br /><br />I’m not sure if Margee sent some cash as she had mentioned but we checked our bank latest on 15th Jan but there was no credit yet. From 16th to 18th Jan we were/will not be able to check due to demonstrations.<br />

1. Security situation now calming down – public transport back although vehicles few and prices are up by over a third, some shops operating.<br /> 2. On our activities, the children resumed on Monday, all of them except Frank and Ronald whom we are expecting to come on Friday. George also has not come but he called and said he is coming tomorrow (10th Jan).<br />The good news we have is that we went to our bank on Monday 7th January 2008 and found the cheques (which we got from Margee and her team in November) cleared (on 24th Dec 2007). We withdrew the cash on 7th January 2008 and went ahead to implement budgeted items immediately.<br />3. We also managed to purchase items for Pamela Atieno on the 7th January and delivered them on 8th January 2008 (yesterday). We bought for her beddings worth Kshs. 5,440/=, domestic utensils worth Kshs. 1,531/=, household consumables worth Kshs. 770/= and gave her cash of Kshs. 1,800/=. We spent Kshs. 500/= on transport. All expenses on Pamela Atieno was Kshs. 10,041/=. We were accompanied by the Areas Government administrator – Assistant chief – when we delivered the items to Pamela. Pamela as well her children got highly excited on seeing the delivered items. Team from Tropical Focus who delivered the items were Tobias, Caren and Caroline (Newly recruited as a Fields Officer). Pictures were taken during the delivery and are attached elsewhere. Pamela told us to convey lots of thanks to all who donated for her help and to Veronica.<br />We will now go ahead with the construction of Dago Thim latrine because we shall replace funds that we temporarily borrowed from the Dago Thim latrine budget which we used on CRM budgets for previous months. So far, we withdrew the funds on 7th January and Caren will organize for commencement of pit digging and procurement of hardware needed for the first stages of construction.<br />4. We also withdrew cash budgeted for electricity wiring and Tobias (myself) will organize for the materials and technician to do wiring. Unfortunately when we visited Power & Lighting company, they said installation fee is Kshs. 35,000/= and not Kshs. 15,000/= as they previously advertised. We budgeted only Kshs. 15,000/= for the installation fees so Kshs. 20,000/= more shall be required.<br />

1. Thanks so much we got the Kshs. 94,828/- that you sent to our account on 10/12/2007. The account was credited on 10/12/2007.<br />2. So far out of that ammount, we withdrew 85,000/- for CRM foods and domestic supplies for Dec 2007 (16,000/-),Pamela Atieno\'s needs (10,600), Dago Thim Latrine (50,000/-) and Tropical Focus office running for December (9,000).<br />3. Out of the withdrawn ammount, we have used about Kshs 13,000/- for CRM needs, and Kshs. 9,000/- for Tf office running. We still have Pamela Atieno\'s cash at hand because she had travelled to another District 100km away to seek traditional medications so we were awaiting her coming back. She came back on 21st so yesterday we went to discuss with her how she best prefers the items to be purchased and we agreed that we purchase after the elections heat have cooled down.<br />4. Unfortunately, because there were alot of pressures on some needs, we decided to temporarily borrow cash intended for the latrines to cover for some of the amounts that we are awaiting to be cleared in terms of checks. We borrowed Kshs 50,000- from the latrines account into purchasing the modem (12,500/-), pay some outstanding bills (Kshs 30,000/-) and Tf office rent (Kshs 8,000/-). So we shall replace these as soon as the checks are cleared.<br />5. We anticipate the checks to be cleared after the elections so we shall implement the latrine project soon after 28th December 2007.<br />6. We intend release 9 of the CRM children tommorow to have chrismas with their closest kins, following request by the kins. They will be back on 26th and 27th December 2007. We would not wish them to stay long because they may not get proper foods.<br />7. We have some good news on staffing; Tropical Focus has been joined by Ms Clera Asembo as a Programa Officer (The post is directly after Executive Director). She is a 25 year graduate of Kampala International University, Uganda. She garduated with Bachelors in Community Development. Clera has wide skills on Project planning and management, Community Rehabilitation, Rural Development, Community Development, Human Rights, Gender Development, Sustainable Development among others. She is joining as a volunteer. We therefore expect our work to be more efficient from January 2008.<br />8. We are also in the process of recruiting another volunteer, Caroline Anyango, who holds a certificate in Social Work.<br />9. We have not yet installed power, also due to delays in check clearance. An unpresedented news is that the rates we had budgeted for seems to have been changed by the power company to Kshs 35,000/- from Kshs. 15,000/- that they previously advertised on Newspapers and Radio, when I visited, they said it does not apply (this seemed to be campaign tool). So it means in addition to what we are anticipating from checks to be cleared, we shall need additional Kshs. 20,000/-.<br />

1. Thanks so much for the funds for Dago Thim latrines, Pamela Atieno\'s support, CRM December activities and office running. We highly appreciate all the support.<br />2. We have not yet bought the internet modem but we shall from the funds from Margee and her team after clearance of cheques they issued to us. Clearance of foreign cheques at our bank takes 21 working days - that is wednesday 6th Dec 2007. The case is similar for power wiring and installation, we received cheques which are yet to clear.<br />3. Inluding what you are sending, all items for CRM and Tf office running are now covered apart from Tf office rent for December.<br />4. We expect to get the funds that you transfered to get to our account on 4th Dec 2007.<br />5. I\'ve noted your comment on separating the accounts.<br />

1. We were visited by a team from Stockton USA in November 2007. We are so greatfull to their visit and support that they provided during the visit. The support comprised of text books for CRM children, domestic supplies, support on electricity intallation, internet communication, school fees for an orphaned girl, staff salaries up to Dec 2007, women tailoring start up funds and office running to Nov 2007. We already spend Kshs. 30,000/= on George\'s salary for Aug to Sept, used Kshs. 8,000/= to clear some outstanding bills for CRM and for CRM foods and domestic supplies for Nov 2007. We are awaiting cheque clearance for the remaining funds - takes three weeks to be cleared - by 1st Dec 2007. The funds provided by Prof Margee and her team will as well cover foods for CRM for Dec 2007 since there is s special offer on the modem at Kshs. 12,500/=<br />2. Thanks so much for the funds raised for Dago Thim latrine. We shall start the construction as soon as we receive the funds.<br />3. Schools attended by CRM pupils as well as Dago Thim closed on 29th November 2007 for chrismas holidays. The CRM children were in top five in exams performance appart from 2 of them. Most of them advanced in positions.

One thing to note is that we must count the funds Margee and her friends brought separately from GlobalEyes, as I cannot account for them. Please do keep them separate in your accounting books.

1. Dago Thim Latrines - we are still fundraising but it is moving a bit slowly. I am exploring some other fundraising options to speed things up and I will inform you of our progress.<br /><br />2. Thanks for the figures on the new children; I have taken notes and I will update our support targets.<br /><br />3. George allowances for Aug and Sep 2007 - I believe Margee will resolve this when she visits next week.<br /><br />3. Government registration - that is great news that this process is moving along. Let me know if there is anything we can do to help.

1. There is high need to take care of more children. These needs keep arising. Currently there are a total of 11 children taken care of. There are some 4 more children whose cases are extreme and we feel we should include. For all the 4, the additional costs of food and other domestic suppplies per month would be about Kshs. 4,400/= equivalent to Kshs. 17,600/= per quarter.

Thanks so so much for the support towards school supplies for the children. We bought uniforms and shoes for the kids yesterday and from tommorow they will be really smart and more motivated to attend school. We told them it came from GlobalEyes and they have passed lots and lots of thanks. The wire transfer for the school suppplies microgoal was Kshs. 32,064/=.

We managed to bring back the new boy called Mege who had run away. He was councelled and now seem to be having changed attitude.

Unfortunately, one of the kids called Frank (he was among those whose videos were taken) was single parent orphan and has lost the other parent (a week ago), becoming total orphan.

The children are now total housed within the compound of Tropical Focus and this place seem to be better for them than the previous place.

An official from Government's Children's Department visited Children Rescue Mission and gave us go ahead to forward our applications for registration. We are now processing needed documents including health certificates, crime free certificates for staff and such others.

Schools would be soon closing but for Dago Thim, we can work on the latrine even during holidays because Caren is the headmistress and easy to reach any time.

1. I have transfered KSH 32,064 (500 US) for CRM educational needs. It seems that TF has collected a smaller amount than anticipated upon receiving wire transfers in the past, and I inquired at my bank as to why that might be happening. I discovered (I wish I would have realized this out sooner!) that it is better to transfer in KSH so the exchange rate is set and you will not be charged any additional fees by your bank for exchange. Please confirm with me when you collect the funds.

1. We will launch fundraising for Dago Thim latrines very soon.
2. I have taken note of the electricity and motorbike information and thank you for the update.

Thanks alot for the micro-fundraising.

There are new developments: -

1. Agnes got admitted to a teacher training college and will be leaving next week.
2. We have an idea of shifting the children to the bigger compound of Tropical Focus. We can then leave only one room there for use for Tropical Focus office work. Scholastica would then shift to stay at the former compound of the children's home or I will move so that I could offer more of my time to Tropical Focus and the children's home.
3. Kenya Power company reviewed cost of power installation so that one now pays an initial Kshs. 15,000/= while the rest as instalments with monthly power bills.
4. For transport, agents from India have introduced some cheaper motorbikes in Kenya which are as low as Kshs. 80,000/= which can be very suitable for use at the children's home.
5. So far, we brought in 3 new children at the home, while 2 left. So they are more than previous number by 1. We had inteded to add 4 in addition to the replacements but these will depend on availability of funds.

1. Thank you so much for the report on the Swim Against Malaria activities, financial reports and child profile information.

Regarding four more orphans, we can include that in the next goal (after latrine) and I will announce to the donors in the next newsletter.

Regarding the woman needing urgent help, I will include her story in the newsletter and urge people to donate in support of her.

1. We conducted activities for Swim Against Malaria in August in addition to one done in July. We procured and distributed a total of 75 mosquito nets during the events. A separate report summary is attached on e-mail. Photoes are also attached.

The financial statements for May, June and July 2007 have also been pending. We have attached them on separate excel files.

It is unfortunate the check for Red Rhino Orphans could not be credited into our account. The bank informed us that the dating indicated were stale.

We had intended to use the funds from Red Rhino to cover CRM outstanding bills on food and domestic supplies. Because we assumed the check would be cleared soon, we went and withdrew cash which we had deposited for George's salary up to Dec 2007 from the account and used that to clear outstanding bills.

We received the baggage from Dr. Bertrand's house in good order, together with the printer. However, we discovered that the printer requires 110 voltage power, while Kenya domestic grid is 240 volts. We'll arrange on our side to get necessary adapter.

1. We conducted three malaria control awareness events out of the funds raised from the Swim Against Malaria - a separate summary report in Ms word is attached.

We as well purchased and distributed 75 pieces of mosquito nets - during the awareness talks.

Unfortunately, the Red Rhino cheque did not go through to our account. The bank informed us that the dates were stale (I'll scan and send).

In connection to the above, we had earlier withdrawn funds meant for George's pay and used it to clear outstanding bills, as we had anticipated the cheque. We did not know it might not go through.

We used the other Kshs. 10,000/= also to clear outstanding bills for May and June.

We received the baggage from Dr. Bertrands house in good condition together with the printer (thanks so much for these).

Unfortunately the printer requires power of 110 V while Kenya grid is 240 V. However, for this, we will obtain an adapter here.

Some 3 kids were shiften by their guardians who wanted them to be nearer places where they stay. We have already replaced them.

1. So much thanks for your visit. A lot of regards from the kids, George, Agness and Caren.

George's pay is actually covers up to Dec 2007. We confirmed from our records and receipts.

We discussed and assesed situation at CRM and concluded that gas stove would be the most convenient. We would go for a stove with self lighter for safety. I (Tobias)would be refilling and delivering to CRM.

A suitable gas stove is Ksh. 4,300/=, 15 kg gas cylinder4,095/=, while refilling is 1,995/=.

Activities for the Swim against malaria are probably next week. We've discussed with a medical personnel from our district public hospital who will facilitate community awareness talks, during which mosquito nets will also be distributed.

Please, confirm on what name (donor) to put the Ksh. 10,000/= you gave to CRM, for receipting purposes - sorry for this inconvenience that has delayed sending of the receipts to you. Otherwise we have receipted the US$ for George's salary and the 322.07 just awaiting sending together with the Kshs 10,000/=.

Our plan for the donation is to cover some pending bills for CRM and anything on top for food for the orphans.

We have informed Rose to collect the bag and printer from Dr. Bertrand's house, she has his contact. We'll give her a letter of authority from Tropical Focus.

We procured water tank and delivered to CRM on 11th June 2007 - more details on separate e-mail of today. Ther is currently great need for the food and cooking supplies for CRM Feeding programme at Obede still not ongoing

1. We’ll have the official presentation of the water tank to CRM on Monday 11th next week.

On the potential goals, goal 2 are of immediate needs. As well there are some unpaid bills already. Goal 1 will be necessary about two weeks to resumption of term three while goal 3 are necessary at least before end of term two, otherwise they are pushed to after start of term three. On the costs, it would be necessary to adjust the budget on the latrines, since there are two labor charges involved; one for digging latrine pits, each at about Kshs. 15,000, then construction labor at about Kshs. 10,000. Obede school feeding is still not ongoing.

This online com log system is quite good and fast, however, I've been unable to use it in my blue tooth/cell phone connection - somehow, the providers have configured it so that a session only lasts few minutes, so it disconnects before I finnish typing in.

1. Obede School feeding is still suspended. There is still no agreement about payment of cooks and cooking fuel.

We are arranging for official presentation of the water tank next week - we'll confirm the exact dates.

On the potential goals, they should not be introduced at the same time; the need for food and cooking supplies for CRM are immediate, while goal 1 will be needed about 2 weeks to date of resumption of term three, while goal 3 can be introduced before end of term two or after start of term three.

Schools reopenned on the 7th of April 2007.

We have not resumed the feeding at Obede because of lack of parents payments for cooks wages and firewood.

We made a formal application for registration of CRM as a childrens home and Ministry officials are yet to visit the home.

We are not doing well financially, we have borrowed some Ksh. 10, 000 since about 24 th of April, plus some medicines arround 10th April.

I discussed with the owner of the land to be donated for CRM activities - a relative - and he said he would proceed with further formalities only when he is sure that a project is to be done on it.
Local contributions are not performing well due to changes on job of some 2 members.

I (Tobias) have joined Kisumu Rotary, although I'm yet to learn of their activities and membership requirements.

Regarding the feeding program at Obede - perhaps our third micro-goal could be to recommence the efforts there.

Let us know what happens with the registration of CRM and glad to hear you joined the Kisumu Rotary.

Regarding the financial strain and plans for CRM expansion - we will try to put an expansion plan together this summer, but we will focus on getting the debts repaid and maintaining enough funds so that there is no need to borrow.

I am not sure what happened with the printer but I suspect it is in Nairobi. I will ask Margee to bring it with her when she visits in June.

We will hopefully be launching our website later this week or beginning of next week. I will have Scott get in touch with you about the Tropical Focus page.

I will add rows to the financial log.