Geoffrey Kimwandi Kageha

We are deeply saddened to announce that Geoffrey Kimwandi Kageha, one of our sponsored students whom we have supported through secondary school into university, has died in hospital on Friday 6^th May after complications further to a diagnosis of advanced Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Geoffrey, a diligent student and enthusiastic sportsman will be dearly missed by all whose lives were touched by him. We send our heart-felt condolences to his mother and siblings from the FDC family and our sister organization, Karen Street Children’s Trust.

Geoffrey had been pursuing a degree in maths and computer science at Machakos University.  It had been a dream of his to complete tertiary education and become the breadwinner for his family.  He was already helping to support a sister through her secondary education doing casual jobs whenever he had the time. That this hard-working and generous-spirited young man’s life has been cut short so tragically is a great loss to so many.

Inspired by Iggy

By very popular demand Brett Sievwright (Platinum Credit), very kindly returned to give our students another inspirational talk on 22^nd April.  Brett brought with him his right hand man and Financial Director, Ignatius O’Bara – or Iggy to his friends and colleagues.

Both Brett and Iggy spoke.  Brett talked to the students about the ‘VUKA Revolution’ which, in brief, captures the principal pillars for development and success, which we think are worth listing:

Discipline          Honesty                   Hard work

Consistency      Persistence             Excellence

Planning            Consequences       Relationships

Objectives                Gratitude

Ignatius spoke to the students of his own life experiences and challenges.  Iggy was brought up in Kibera with his family and was 1 of 23 children! Life was very difficult and he grew up surrounded by bad influences, gang mentalities and the effects of drugs. Many of his friends have fallen but Iggy had decided himself, without the help that is now available, to adopt the principles of VUKA. Had Iggy accepted his father’s advice he may have been an ‘askari’.  Iggy’s decision to walk to the library every day, work hard and never give up is an inspiration to us all. 

Coffee and kikoys  

Many thanks to Clare Norman for organising a coffee morning and kikoy sale in aid of Friends of Dagoretti Children last week at her beautiful home near Winchester. When her coffee and mouthwatering muesli bars were not being consumed in the kitchen there was a rush on the kikoy towels, kikoys and notelets in the sitting room - 'product placement' was key and Clare and her team of models and sales agents did us proud - raising a phenomenal six hundred pounds at the final tally - which will go towards the educational costs of two of our students, whom this Winchester crowd have supported for over a year now! Many thanks to all who supported us again and to Clare for organising such a lovely morning! 

Clare (right) sets up with Sally

Happy Shoppers