Christmas 2025

Update from - Kitale, Kenya

Email and pictures from Theresa 2025

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How it all began in 2011

We started in 2011 with ten children. Since the first appeal in 2011, we have raised 14,304 euros. We have passed on 100 % of the money. The children's education has been a priority right from the start. Thanks to our former local landlady Theresa and our friend Marco, who visited the children every year, we were able to maintain contact and manage and control the payment flows. Theresa has a huge heart and provides the children not only with material things but also with the odd experience, as you can see on her Facebook profile can see.

E-MAIL FROM THERESA

Dear Tobi and Ulli,

A bit overdue but here is the requested catch-up on how the various kids are doing and some photos. It has been a difficult few months. More of them are now in high school and university so the costs are more than primary. In addition, I have a few kids with special needs and health issues and their care is very expensive as health insurance here is difficult to get for kids from unknown backgrounds with previous conditions and one in particular will require heart surgery soon.
 
Read complete e-mail
Abel
Left to right back row Shadrack, Alimlim, Kelvin, Akai Front row Haron, Morgan, Rehan, Alam
Jayden age 1 with growth on spine - was operated on and he is now learning to walk!
Dorcas age 14 after fitting new legs!
Marion, Shadrack, Jesse, Philip
Morgan, Akai, Alam, Alimlim
Alam and Rehan
Alimlim and Haron
Baby Jesse
Back row: Alimlim, Haron, Dan, Alex Middle: Rehan, Shadrack, Alam, David, Front: Marion, Jesse
Norah with classmates being fitted for school uniform
Faith, Mercy and Samuel

Intended use of all proceeds

  • School fees
  • Tuition fees
  • Examination fees
  • School uniforms
  • School supplies
  • Medication/doctor

Bank details/PayPal

Tobias Ebert
IBAN: DE40120300001001597648
BIC: BYLADEM1001
Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB)

PayPal: tobias.ebert@laolaweb.com

As this is a private initiative, it is not possible to No donation receipts be issued.

Engagement Africa 10

Pictures of the university from 2018

Pictures of the Karibuni Lodge from 2016

Engagement Africa 5
Engagement Africa 6
Engagement Africa 9
Engagement Africa 7
xmas
group
hb
Engagement Africa 8
ph-shad-momb

Africa, why not?

Engagement Africa 4
Engagement Africa 3
tractor
car
loo

E-MAIL FROM THERESA 2025

Dear Tobi and Ulli,

A bit overdue but here is the requested catch-up on how the various kids are doing and some photos. It has been a difficult few months. More of them are now in high school and university so the costs are more than primary. In addition, I have a few kids with special needs and health issues and their care is very expensive as health insurance here is difficult to get for kids from unknown backgrounds with previous conditions and one in particular will require heart surgery soon.
 
Here are some of the kids:
 
Shadrack, Philip, Marion and Kelvin - these four are in Nairobi but all lived here. Shadrack has just finished his degree (Biochemistry and Molecular Engineering) and is actively looking for work but jobs are not easy to find. Philip also is finding it difficult to get permanent work and has a succession of part time or short term jobs. Marion is training in a hotel to be a chef - once she qualifies and is working, I would hope she can make a good living. Kelvin is just starting accountancy studies. Nairobi is not a cheap place to live but, unfortunately, that is where their courses are. All of them come back here during breaks.
 
Daniel who is 19 now and has finished training as a plumber, moved into his own place last month closer to work - he has become self sufficient now and has plenty of work. 
 
Abel and Jacob - both former street boys who we helped put through school and college. Abel has a degree in Horticulture and has found some work on flower farms. He is trying to complete a masters degree in hopes it will improve his prospects. He is currently working in Kakamega part time. Jacob did a degree in computer forensics and we have helped him start a small cyber cafe business in Eldoret so he is managing to care for himself at last.
 
Alex - has severe medical issues (neurofibromatosis and severe scoliosis in addition to some heart and lung issues). Alex failed his primary school exams and his neurofibromatosis makes it difficult for him to study so he remained here with us for a few years learning crafts such as knitting and crochet and beading but what he could sell was not really sustainable. Last February, I took a risk and invested in a small school stationary shop for him in a local village near a friend of mine who keeps an eye on him. Alex is very shy of people as he is very embarrassed by his appearance but it is a small community and my friend has done a lot to make sure he is welcomed there. Again, it is not likely he will ever really be totally independent - I buy most of his stock and pay the rent - but the little he does earn helps him buys some food and have his own little bit of money. Alex does not have a good prognosis and his condition is slowly deteriorating. He loves having his shop and it has done a lot for his happiness and self esteem and while he is healthy enough to have it, it is worth it to me to subsidise him. He comes back here for breaks and we visit regularly. 
 
Morgan has finished school and some computer and programming courses. He is currently working part time in West Pokot for a German friend of mine who is trying to set up a small local training hub (cyber, computer lessons, carpentry) and Morgan has been working to do that and doing well at it. Being a small charity and only part time, he is not totally independent yet but getting there. 
 
Akai (17) and David (17) are both in form 2 of high school now. For both of them it is just keeping up with school fees for the next few years. David had cancer during 2020 but is still in remission thankfully. - we travel every 6 months for check ups.
 
Alimlim(14), Alam(12) and Rehan (12)are all still in primary school but Alimlim will progress to high school in 2026. Haron is also in the same class as Alimlim but he had major open heart surgery 9 years ago and, unfortunately, will need further surgery this year. We are currently ‚doing the rounds'of various specialists and hospitals to see what can be done for him. He had two heart valves replaced and a vein repaired in the past (he has rheumatic heart disease) and we were told at the time that the valve replacements might need to be redone when he grew bigger. He is now at that point and one is leaking into his lung so this will have to be dealt with soon. This will be costly and we are looking at all the ways we may be able to reduce the cost and fundraise. Just his checkups, transport and medication is already very expensive and is not covered by insurance. He himself wants to be a surgeon when he finishes school and I hope he gets that chance.  
 
We also now have 2 year old Jesse living with us - he is perfectly healthy and so far not expensive. His mother is working in Nairobi but while training her salary is too low to pay for childcare but, hopefully, once she gets on her feet, he will join her.  
 
There are also several children who did not live with us but we help with medical costs or school fees. We have one girl who ran away from a childrens home and, as she is now 18, they are reluctant to take her back and she has been staying with us. Melissa has been found a place to do a clinical course in Kapenguria and will start next week - we are travelling soon to find hostel accommodation for her - she will stay with us during her breaks. 
 
Adam (12) is a child I fostered when he was a baby - his mother was a teenager and single mother and we cared for him so she could go back to school and get back on her feet. She is now caring for him but I pay for his schooling as there is still no sign of a father. 
 
Sammy is a little boy that I helped with surgery as a baby - he was born with his intestines outside his abdomen and it is a miracle he survived at all. He still has to be careful with diet and had another surgery in February. He is 12 now and I pay all his medical and school fees. His family really are incredibly poor.
 
Norah is another girl who I paid for surgery for and she will go tomorrow to get new crutches and a walker. She will also need further surgery. I pay for all this and her schooling.  
 
In addition, I help pay for medical consultations and hospital visits for a group of children with special needs who attend a small residential home in Kiminini - all from very poor backgrounds. The Catholic Church subsidises the home and enables them to attend a local school. I pay for the medical needs where I can. Tomorrow a group will travel to an outreach clinic from Kijabe (Nairobi) for assessment and some follow-ups - most cases are simple limb surgeries but some are more complicated eg hydrocephalus. 
 
Also, two of the staff at Karibuni have children with medical issues. David, who has been our nightwatchman for many years, has a son, Hillary, with severe epilepsy and I pay his medication of EU20 per month plus for his specialist checkups. Judy, who is a widow, works in our kitchen. She has a 16 year old daughter, Salome, recently diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (the same as Haron). So far, it is not as serious as his but she still needs monthly injections and medication for it which we try and help with, hoping she will be ok without surgery.  
 
I help another boy who was in a children's home but his father took him out - then the father died and the home wouldn't take him back as he was too old (he is now 18). He is in his final year in high school. A friend of mine has been helping out with his school fees but I am responsible for him during the holidays and for transport, food, medical. David is his name. 
 
I am sure I have left someone out and there are always people coming asking for help for a child's surgery as you can imagine. 
 
I have attached some photos.
 
We hope all is well with you all and once again, so many thanks for all your help.
 
Regards from Theresa and all at Karibuni
 
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