UPDATE: Message From Jane Rogo

Jane Rogo extends her deepest thanks and appreciation for all the help and funds that have been sent that have enabled the purchase of the land and building construction. There will be a Christmas luncheon on Thursday, December 21st for the children and where clothes shall also be presented to them.
In addition, there are plans to construct a gate for the center using the bricks that remained from the center's construction.

PHOTOS: Building construction by Yaw Pachi members and the children

UPDATE: Progress Report

We would like to thank all those that have donated towards this project, notably Dr. Ulla and Fred Emillson and Jennifer and Chris Brannigan.

The children being sponsored are Stephen, Rogers Otieno and Thomas Ojing.

UPDATE: Progress Report

PROGRESS REPORT

I went back to Kenya in July to visit family and friends. At Sagam, I saw Auntie Jane and my cousin Fredrick. I also took care of the cows and went all around the village finding out different corners in order to fix my bicycle and a football. We had guests stay with us while we were home. They are good family friends named Chris (Prof) and Jennifer Brannigan. They were from England and made significant contributions to the GR DREAM CHILD TO CHILD PROJECT. Jennifer sponsored Levis Opiyo Mkanga and Chris sponsored Jane Andi, making advance contribution of 10,000 shillings to the orphanage. Their children have also made pledges to sponsor an orphan each. We thank their family very much for this kind gesture and look forward to successful partnership. I have personally sponsored two children their names are Ruth Awino and Lilian Okello. My project is running smoothly so far with a target of 20 children in the coming year.
I am open to any contributions you may have.


By: Gordon Rogo

UPDATE: Progress Report

We are currently setting up the account in Sagam to which funds shall be transferred to. Upon completion of this set-up, all interested parties shall be notified with instructions.
There shall also be a description of the intended budget, provided by the Yaw Pachi Center.

Yaw Pachi Womens Group showing the way

Yaw Pachi women group was started in 1993 in a very humble way. It was like any other women group where members are involved in ‘Merry-Go –Round’ activities.

The group benefited from CARE- Kenya by having some training on farming methods. Through the training, members managed to plant different crops in their Shambas especially bananas.

In the year 2000,the group decided to start Yaw Pachi center for orphans. This happened when the members realized that manyChildren were losing their parents and being left under the care of theaged grandparents or guardians. Most of the deaths are HIV/AIDS related.

At present we have sixty orphans26 total orphans; 11 mothers dead; and 23-father dead. The number has been limited since that is the number the group can manage. All the children have been divided into twenty groups 0f three each. Since there are twenty members in Yaw Pachi women group, each member is therefore allocated three children. The children however maintain their home backgrounds but the caretakers make follow up in terms of social life and education. We feel a bit relieved now on the side of education facilities since our government has offered free primary education.

Our youngest, who is a total orphan is not yet in school and is living with an old grandmother who is physically disabled.We have three in secondary school –one in form three and two in form two. Raising school fees for the ones in secondary school has proved to be a struggle. There are two doing their last year in primary school and therefore hoping to join form one next year.

We run a feeding program at a center, which consist of a house donated to us after the owners died. Due to limited resources we provide food once a week basis. Our humble prayer is that one time we should be able to run the feeding program on daily basis.

This will only depend on the availability of funds. We surely hope that God will answer our prayers when the right time comes.

In 2002 we benefited from a donation courtesy of UNDP. The funds to the tune of Kshs.850, 000 from UNDP helped the group to start a dairy project, which started with five heifers. Additional funds of Kshs. 400,000 from UNDP this year helped us to get eight more animals. So far fifteen members have dairy animals and five are still waiting to benefit. Milk from the animals has helped us to improve the quality of tea we serve to the children. We get about 80 litres of milk per day and marketing of this volume of milk has proved difficult. It has also improved the living standard of the members who have benefited. After every member benefits, we hope to extend our generosity to our neighbouring groups so that the whole area can benefit also.

We have also benefited from DERO CULTURAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, which has donated library books to the center. We encourage the children to come to the center on Saturday afternoon so that they make use of the books. We tried our lack for the National AIDS program (Through CACC funds) but failed to get any good response. We also work in collaboration with Viagroforestry project that has managed to train and provide us with seeds for fodder crops.

At the end of every year, we normally hold Christmas luncheons and buy for the children some gifts. This is simply to prove to the children that despite their being orphans there are people somewhere who care.

In 2003 December the group held a cleaning up exercise at Yala Sub-District Hospital where the children and the members participated very willingly. The children learned that they also have something to offer to some other needy cases somewhere. We had planned to carry out the activity annually even though we skipped it last year .We promise to take off again at the end of this year and to continue with it on yearly basis.

Our future and main aim is to have a way of taking care of these children fully in terms of shelter, food and education for those in secondary school.

We are at an advanced stage of mobilizing and initiating a youth group affiliated to Yaw Pachi. This will enable them to learn from the success and challenges of Yaw Pachi in order to build a stronger and vibrant youth organization.

WAY FORWARD
-Getting sufficient resources to help in running the feeding program on a daily basis
-Establishing a dairy plant to help improve the marketing and income to women farmers
-Ensuring that all the members get a dairy animal to increase the production and income of the group

Contact Person:Mrs. Jane RogoTel: 0722-617012

Originally posted by Khama Rogo at the Sagam website.

Yaw Pachi Children

The following infomation on the orphans is provided by the treasurer of the Yaw Pachi Women's group, Jane Rogo....

* Attends Secondary School

STEPHEN OORO
He was born in 1989 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. The father William Ogola died in 2003 and the mother Sella Auma died in 2002. He is living with a physical disabled grandmother.
VICTOR OTIENO
He was born in 1990 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. Both parents are dead, The mother died in 1997 and the father died in 1998. He is the first born and the only surviving child. He puts up with a paternal grandmother.
ALICE AWUOR
She was born in 1991. She is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. Both parents are dead, The father, Francis Owino, died in 1996 and the mother, Consolata Owino, died in 1997. She has only one surviving sister. She puts up with an aged paternal grandmother.
EUNICE NGOLO
She was born in 1987 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. Both parents are dead. The father,Clephas Onyango, died in 1997 and the mother, Mary Onyango, in 2000. She is the second last born in a family of six. She lives with a stepmother.
SAMSON ODANDO
He was born in 1993 and is in Standard Four at Sagam Primary School. The father, Jactone Arwa, died in 1995. The mother is alive but abandoned them with his only brother who is in Standard Four and her whereabouts are unknown. He lives with an aged grandmother.
BARRACK OWINO
He was born in 1991 and is Standard five at Sagam Primary School.
The father, Jactone Arwa, died in 1995. The mother abandoned them with his only brother, who is in Standard Two and her whereabouts are unknown. He lives with an aged paternal grandmother.
AMBROSE OCHIENG
He was born in 1993 and is in Standard Six at Sagam Primary School. The father, Calmus Ogola, is a peasant farmer and is alive. The mother died in 1999. He is the last born in a family of five children.
MERCY ANYANGO.
She was born in 1992 and is in Standard Five at Sagam Primary School. The father, Lucas Odhiambo, is alive. The mother, Josephine Odhiambo, died in 1995. She is living with a stepmother.
EVALINE OTIENO
She was born in 1989 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. The mother, who is a single parent, died in 1989. She is the first born and the only one alive. She lives with an aged maternal grandmother. She also takes care of two other orphans.
LINDA AWINO
She was born in 1993 and is in Standard Five at Sagam Primary School. The mother, who was single, died in 1995. She lives with a grandmother.
NANCY ATIENO
She was born in 1991 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. The father, William Ouma, died in 1998. The mother, Ruth Ouma, is alive. She is the fourth born in a family of five children.
FAITH AKINYI OWINO
She was born in 1986 and is in Form Two at Esalwa Secondary School. The father, Francis Owino, died in 1996 and the mother, Consolota Owino, died in 1997. She has one sister and lives with a grandmother.
SELLA OKINDA
She was born in 1996 and is in Standard Six at Sagam Primary School. The father, John Okinda, died in 1999. The mother, Alice Okinda, is alive. She is the only child.
MERCELINE AKINYI
She was born in 1991 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. The mother, Eunice Atieno, died in 1997 and the father, Pascal Ariembi, died in 1998. She is living with her grandmother.
EVALINE ATIENO ODONGO
She was born in 1992 and is in Standard Four at Sagam Primary School. The father, Martin Adongo, died in 2001. The mother, Susan Adongo, is alive. He was the first born in a family of three children.
KENNEDY OTIENO ADONGO
He was born in 1994 and is in Standard Four at Sagam Primary School. The father, Martin Adongo, died in 2001. The mother, Susan Adongo, is alive.
FRITZ OGONDA
He was born in 1993 and is in Standard Five at Mindhine Primary School. The father, Baker Omole, died in 2001. The mother, Rose Omole, is alive.
OSCAR OCHIENG
He was born in 1989 and is in Standard Seven at Mindhine Primary School. The father, Moses Siguru, died in 1989. The mother, Mary Omole, is alive. He is the last born in a family of four children.
NANCY ACHIENG
She was born in 1993 and is in Standard Six at Sagam Primary School. The father died in 1981. The mother, Loice Masime, is still alive. She is the last born in a family of seven children.
DOUGLAS MBOLA
He was born in 1991 and is in Standard Five at Sagam Primary School. The mother, Rose Agola, who was a single mother died in 1993. He lives with a grandmother.
GRACE AUMA
She was born in 1995 and is in Standard Three at Sagam Primary School. The father, Odera Onyango, died in 2000. The mother, Elizabeth Onyango, is alive.
LINET ACHIENG
She was born in 1990 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. The mother, Beatrice Alwala, died in 1996. The father, Wilfred Alwala, is alive. She is living with her grandmother.
BENEDICT OKINYI
He was born in 1990 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. His mother died in 1999 and his father, Camulus Ogolla, is alive. He is the fourth born in a family of Five.
MICHAEL OTIENO
He was born in 1993 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam primary School. The mother, Serah Were, died in 2000. His father, Raphael Were, died in 2001. His only sister is in Standard Seven.
SARAH OTIENO
She was born in 1990 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. Her only brother is in Standard Six. She is living with a grandmother.
IAN OTIENO
He was born in 1994 and is in Standard Four at Sagam Primary School. His father, Michael Oliech, died in 1998. The mother, Beatrice Oliech, is alive. He is the last born in a family of six.
KEVIN ODHIAMBO
He was born in 1995 and is in Standard Four. His mother, Tabitha Atieno, died in 2004 and the father, John Nyapola, is alive.
DENIS ODHIAMBO
He was born in 1988 and is Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School His father, Musa Oreso, died in 1995 and his mother, Jane Oreso, died in 1996. He is living with his grandmother.
EMILY OTIENO
She was born in 1994 and is in Standard Six. The mother, Jane Atieno, who was a single mother died in 2004. She lives with a grandmother.
*LILIAN OKELLO
She was born in 1984 and is in Form Two at Sagam Secondary school. Her father, Patrick Okello, died in 1983 and the mother, Monica Okello, died in 1991. She lives with her sister-in-law.
BORNROGER OMOLO
He was born in 1989 and is in Standard Six at Ahono Primary School. His father, Nicholas Omollo, died in 1994. His mother, Perez Aoko, is alive.
ALOICE OMONDI.
He was born 1988 in and is in Standard Seven at Ahoho Primary School. His mother, Caroline Achieng, died in 1996. His father’s whereabouts are not known. He is living with his grandmother.
STEPHENE OWINO.
He was born in 1985 and is in Standard Eight at Ahono Primary School. His mother, Caroline Achieng, died in 1996. His father’s whereabouts are not known. He is living with his grandmother.
ROSEMARY AWUOR.
She was born in 1998 and is in Standard Three at Sagam Primary School. Her mother, Philister Atieno, died in 1999. Her father, Gordon Obura, is alive. She is living with her aunt.
er father, Gordo Obura is alive. She is living with her aunt
RUTH AWINO.
She was born in 1995 and is Standard Three at Sagam Primary School. Her mother, Awino, died in 1995 just a few hours after delivery. Her father, Absalom Odera, is alive.
DAWSON ATIRA.
He was born in 1993 and is Standard Five at Sagam Primary School. The mother, Rose Ngola, died in 1996 and the father, Edward Khamaiti, is alive.
*BRIAN ODIA
He was born in 1989 and in Form Three at Barding Secondary Shool. His father, Joseph Amimo, died in 1996 and the mother, Goreti Amimo, died in 2001. He is living with an uncle.
RODGERS OTIENO.
He was born in 1996 and is Standard One at Sagam Primary School. His father, Michael Ochieng Omenda, died in 2000. His mother, Prisca Atieno Ochieng, died in 2005. He is living with an aunt.
FAITH AKINYI OGOLA.
She was born in 2000 and is not yet in School. The mother, Sela Auma, died in 2000 and the father died in 2003. She is leaving with a physically disabled grandmother.
LEVIS OPIYO MKANGA
He was born in 1998 and is in Standard One at Rabuor. The mother, Rose Akinyi, died in 2002 and the father, Willis Mkanga, died in 2003. He is living with an aunt.
PAUL MUTUMBWA
He was born in 1985 and is in Standard Eight at Ahono Primary School. His father, James Otiato, died in 2001 and the mother, Esther Otiato, is alive.
MAGARET AWOUR ACHOLA
She was born in 1995 and is in Standard One Sagam Primary School. His father, Moses Achola, died in 2001 and the mother, Grace Achola, is alive.
HENRY ATIENO.
He was born in 1991 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. His father, Jacob Omole, died in 1997. His mother, Margaret Omole, is alive.
RICHARD OCHIENG.
He was born in 1990 and is in Standard Eight at Ahono Primary School. His father, Wilfred Owino, died in 1996. His mother, Anne Achieng Owino, is alive. He is the first born in a family of five.
JOSEPH ONYANGO.
He was born in 1991 and is in Standard Five at Ahono Primary School. His father, Wilfred Owino, died in 2001 but the mother, Anne Owino, is alive. He is the second born in his family.
PETER OUKO.
He was born in 1993 and is in Standard Two at Ahono Primary School. His father, Wilfred Owino, died in 1996 but her mother, Anne Owino, is alive.
CLARA ADHIAMBO.
She was born in 1996 and is in Standard Three at Sagam Primary School. Her father, Barnabas Owino, died in 1999 and her mother, Margaret Owino, died in 1997. She was the only child and she is living with her grandmother.
PERES OTIENO.
She was born in 1992 and she is in Standard Four. Her father, Dishon Ong’are, died in 1993 and her mother, Beatrace Atieno Ong’are, died in 1996. She is living with her grandmother.
VINCENT ODUOR
He was born in 1998 and is in Standard Eight at Ahono Primary School. The father, Dan Otieno, died in 2001 and the mother, Anjeline Akoth, is alive.
BUKERES ODERA.
He was born in 1996 and is Standard Four at Ahono Primary school. The mother, Eveyline Atieno, died in 1998 . The father, Charles Odhiambo, also died in 1998. He is living with an aged grandmother.
CAROLINE ATIENO.
She was born in 1992 and is Standard Five at Ahono Primary School. The father, Christopher Ogolla, died in 1994 and the mother, Agness Ogolla, died in 1998. He is living with a grandmother.
JACINTA ANYANGO OILE.
She was born in 1990 and is in Standard Five at Ahonop Primary School. The father, John Oile, died in 1993. Her mother, Otieno, is alive.
LEONARD OCHWO.
He was born in 1992 and is in Standard six at Ahono Primary School. The father, James Otiato, died in 2001 and the mother, Esther Otiato, is alive.
PRESTON ODHIAMBO
He was born in 1987 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam primary School. The father, Benjamen Otieno, died in 1991 and the mother, Perez Otieno, died in 2002. He lives with his grandmother.
MIRIAM ACHIENG
She was born in 1991 and is in Standard Seven at Sagam Primary School. Her father, John Were, died in 1998 and the mother, Jane Were, is alive.
JACINTA ANYANGO OMORO.
She was born in 1993 and is in Standard Seven at Ahono Primary school. Her father, John Omoro, died in 1998 and the mother, Dorcas Amolo Omoro, is alive.
EVANS ODHIAMBO
He was born in 1991 and is in Standard Four at Ahono Primary School. The father, Tom Ahenda, died in 1998 and the mother, Maurine Awuor Aheda, died in 1994. He lives with his grandmother.
CAROLINE AKINYI.
She was born in 1990 and is in Standard Six at Sagam Primary School. Her father, Philister, died in 1999 and the father, Gordon Obura, is alive.

Yaw Pachi Center for Orphans

Yaw Pachi ('open your mind' or 'expand your horizon') is one of the very active women's group in the Rabuor-Sinaga area. Here is more information on the orphanage from the treasurer, Jane Rogo...

Yaw Pachi Women group was started in 1993 in Yala Township location, Yala Division, Siaya District, Nyanza Province. The main purpose of the group was to come together, share and learn from each other on a variety of social and economic issues.

In the year 2000, members decided to form Yaw Pachi Center for Orphans after they realized that many children within the neighborhood were being left orphans with no one to take proper care of them or under the care of aged grandparents or careless guardians. It is important to note that over 90% of the deaths are HIV/AIDS related.

Yaw Pachi runs an orphan centre for children who are mainly affected by HIV/AIDS. Currently the Centre takes care of 60 orphans. They come to the centre every Thursday for meals and every Saturday for communal and Private Studies at the Library.

Each of the 20 members have been allocated 3 children to take care of. They have a responsibility to see to it that the basic needs of the orphans are met. In their individual capacities, the members go out of their way to buy clothes, food and even medicine for
the children they are assigned. The load has been eased a little bit through the income from milk sales.

The orphan Center is located at a house donated by a family after the owners died.


OBJECTIVES OF YAW PACHI ORPHANS CENTRE.
To provide food, Shelter and Clothing to 60 Orphans under our care.
To meet educational expenses of the ones in secondary school – currently we have three.
To initiate and expand on income generating activities.
To create and sustain HIV/AIDS awareness to members, orphans and the community.

CHALLENGES:
The centre can currently manage to feed the orphans on once a week basis. Even though each member has been allocated 3 orphans to take care of, more often they are burdened considering the fact that they also have children and families to look after.

THE WAY FORWARD...
The Center hopes to progress in the following ways:

The Centre is committed to regular meals on a daily basis to the orphans. This will reduce the burden on their care takers at home. On education, the centre wishes to settle School fees for orphans in secondary schools. We anticipate the number to increase to 6 next year from the current 3.

The GR Dream project aims to target and fund each of the 60 orphans. The main focus of the funds would be
1) on clothes, food and medicine. The main goal is to help provide food on a daily basis, rather than on a weekly one.
2)The orphanage also hopes to raise money for secondary school fees for the children. There are currently 3 orphans that are in secondary school. (Public Primary school education is free in Kenya).

We shall have a better estimate on costs and needs once the budget is provided. It shall be posted on the blog.

Strategy

There are several things that we plan to do over the next few days to get the project up and running. More details will be given in the coming days
1. Set up an account at the bank near Sagam. Funds will be transferred to this account from an account set up in Washington, D.C.
2. Set up a contact person/trustee in Sagam that will be
-collecting the funds and ensuring that they are used to an assigned child.
-providing a weekly update to be posted on the blog on what the money is being used for
-providing pictures
3. Setting up the child-to-child assignements.

We are trying to get pictures and some information on the children in order to give them a face and an outlet.

A Vision

Name: Gordon Washington Rogo

Age: 11

School: Kent Garden Elementary

Location: McLean, VA

Hobbies: Basketball

Quotes: 'I hope that this project will get more
popular around the world so that other people
can sponsor orphans all over the world. People
can then help orphans in their daily lives.'

Western Kenya: The focus of the GR Dream....

Below is a map of the region that Gordon is targetting.....
The map below is Western Kenya. The Yaw Pachi Center is in Sagam village of Marenyo Sub-location, Yala Township, Yala Division in Siaya District.
It is near Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, which off the coast of Lake Victoria.