Christmas at Miriu for the most needy students and the elderly

A lot of the Miriu community celebrate Christmas at their churches in a similar way to christians all over the world but for our poorest, the celebrations can stop on leaving church. For too many, food is scarce and basic home essentias can be in very short supply. The church group Acts of Mercy are determined to do what they can but they are few in number and have so many families that need help. Their kindness can only reach a few. So it has been a real pleasure for SSF to link up with this impressive and very charitable local group to bring even a small touch of Christmas to as many as possible.

Below are just a few of the elderly and young who have had something to make Christmas just a bit more in keeping with our own expectations.

Esther with a new blanket and a bag of basic foods eg maize flour.

Patrick with a blanket and I think crop fertiliser.

Shadrack with his blanket and food.

Maxwell with his blanket. He and his large family have a lot of health issues.

Martha Bilo who is an Acts of Mercy member works at the nearby secondary school. These young girls came to her with one of their biggest problems...obtaining sanitary materials.

A very easy problem to solve if there is just a little bit of spare money.

(L to R) Linet, Ann, Kate, Lilian & Trizer

These 5 girls all come from the neediest of families. In some cases they have no parents who can support them or in others the parents can hardly feed themselves and their children. So sanitary protection is way down on their list of priorities in their homes and yet it is easily and cheaply remedied with just a little money.

The Boys were not ignored and a number got a large bar of soap.

Sevone is a partial orphan having lost his father. So his mother must not just look after the family but somehow find a way of covering his fees.

Sevone has 5 siblings. So at least by Sevone going to secondary school, his main meal of the day is covered by his school fees....just as long as his mother can cover the monthly fees. Sponsors paying school fees also provide these meals for their sponsored students whilst reducing the burden on the remainder of the family.

Charles, Daniel and Austine. A total orphan and 2 partial orphans. But school is soo important to these very bright lads. Their futures will depend on them completing school with positive grades.

Stanley Barack

Finally the latest on Joyce

Joyce's situation is mentioned on another page. She is 76 and is not in good health but is bringing up 6 grandchildren! So I am sure 2 bags of food are very helpful for a brief period of time. The 6 grandchildren are aged between 16 and 3 and are from 4 of Joyce's daughters. She buried her eldest daughter last week. I am not sure if any of the other 3 are still alive.

Austine (her eldest grandchild) goes to Martha Bilo's school. Although SSF does not support this school with sponsorship, through the work of Acts of Mercy we are trying to support some of their weaker students in whatever ways we can.