News from Tumaini Home of Hope

On arrival at the home it was decided that as I am a landscaper by trade I was the best person to oversee the creation of the gardens at both the home and school. Christina O'Sullivan donated £2,500.00 in order that the children would have a safe and enjoyable place to play and I was determined to ensure her dream reached fruition!
I only had 2 weeks in Kenya so I spent the first week organising labour and materials and the second week overseeing the projects at both the home and school. I have written a short diary of events below.
Day One: I had arranged for 10 men with tools to report to the home. 2 men without tools turned up, typical! However Moses, a good Kenyan friend of mine went into the village and returned with 2 more men. Work started straight away with the preparation of the ground. Late that first afternoon the soil I had ordered finally arrived, Kenyan time of course (pole, pole) slowly, slowly!!!
Day Two: Anderson, Tumaini Childrens Home driver came and picked me up from the hotel at 8am. We arrived at the gates to find 15 men looking for work. I chose 8 men and explained what we were trying to achieve. Also spent on preparing the areas.
Day Three: At last the materials started to arrive, hooray! Sarojee, which is the local hardcore and black soil arrived in small Lorries, one of which got stuck in the school car park and took 2 hours to be moved, why me I thought I've only got 4 more days to complete Christina's dream!!!
Day Four: The river sand arrived today which was to form the base for the astro turf. Kenyans had never seen anything like it before, they nicknamed it the carpet and we all agreed that the children are very lucky to have the only carpeted playground in Kenya! We set to work by levelling and compacting the sand.

Play Equipment
Day Five: Word had got around the local community that work was available at Sirio School and Tumaini Childrens Home and I arrived to find more men asking for work. I chose several strong looking men and proceeded with the days work. I tried to erect the play frame but so many bits were missing I gave up. The grass arrived today, it is planted in individual clumps, not on the rolls we are used to in the UK. The new swings, seesaws, netball post and football posts arrived. This was the hardest day and I needed to push the men (and myself) hard. We had so much to do and little time left. The Astro turf was laid and the play equipment painted but then the heavens opened and we all got soaked through! I desperately needed a Tusker (local beer) but with so much to do I soon forgot my thirst.
Day Six: Anderson and I spent the morning visiting local plant nurseries. I selected a range of shrubs that filled the mini bus to bursting point. More grass was planted, the gates were painted and the plants were laid out ready for planting. I also took delivery of the bench I'd arranged to be made for the mothers to sit on while the children play. The bench has been named 'Christina's Bench' and looks great.

Playing
Day Seven: The early morning starts (7.30am) and late finishes (6.30) were starting to take their toll on both me and my family. This had been our first holiday for over two years and I was spending more time working and away from my family than when I'm at home, but I had to crack on, there was still so much to do. I phoned my friend, Dave that Sarah and I had travelled to Kenya with to ask for his help. Time was running out and we still had an awful lot to do. Dave kindly obliged and together we finished the play frame that the charity had sent out to the home almost 2 years ago. The plants were finally planted with the organised but chaotic help of the children. We finally finished as the sun went down at 7pm. The children came out to play in their new garden and that was all the thanks I needed, the look on their faces, the smiles and the laughing made the hard work worthwhile. JOB DONE...Phew....now where's that Tusker???
I would like to thank Anderson (Tumaini's wonderful mini bus driver) for all of his invaluable help and contacts. Moses, my great Kenyan friend, for taking charge of the labourers and interpreting for me. And last but by no means least I would like to thank the late Christina O'Sullivan. It was Christina's dying wish to see the children enjoying themselves in their new playgrounds. She never did manage to visit Kenya but I am sure she is looking down at the home and school with a big smile on her face. Thank you Christina, God bless.    Steve Turner