Human Development and Family Science students reach out

Thursday, November 13, 2008

BY LINDY WIGGINS

(November 13, 2008  Stillwater, OK) - Human Development and Family Science students at OSU will continue to make a difference to children a world away this fall.  The HDFS Club plans to raise more funds for the Slum Outreach Ministries Nursery School in Kibera, Kenya by selling various items made by Kenyan women.

The items include hand woven bags, baskets, beaded jewelry and wood carvings donated by College of Human Environmental Sciences Dean Stephan Wilson and his wife, Kathleen.  The HDFS Club will be selling the items from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Nov. 20 in room 119 of the HES building.  One hundred percent of the profits will be sent to Kenya to help the school pay its teachers, buy things like desks and food, and achieve goals of expansion.

The woven bags, known as kiondos in Swahili, were purchased by the Wilsons while they were living in Kenya and working with the Muthale Hospital HIV/AIDS Home Care Group.  The hospital helps women who are living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom have lost their husbands to the disease.  Through the hospital, the women work together to start small businesses selling the handmade bags, baskets, jewelry, etc.    This allows them to generate money for food, medicine and school fees for their children.  

Last year, HDFS raised over $1,400 for the small school in Kibera.  This school, which provides half a day of school and one meal to over 200 children between the ages of 3 and 10, suffered extensive looting and vandalism during riots following heavily  disputed elections in December 2007.  All of the school’s desks, pots, pans, chairs and food were stolen or destroyed.

Thanks to donations such as those from OSU, the school was still able to open for the semester from January through April, even though the children had no chairs or desks.  Since then, the school has begun providing for more students than ever and has been able to hire another teacher.  The HDFS students expect to exceed their donation from last year, which was used to purchase food for the lunch program and helped fund the new teaching position.  

“It feels great to help these kids,” said Jennie Lowther, HDFS Club president.  “Children all over the world need some kind of help and support, and we really feel honored that we have the opportunity to help these particular kids.”

As enrollment continues to grow, the school hopes to expand to accommodate the children as they progress through school.  These children come from very troubled families, often struck by the loss of one or both parents from HIV/AIDS.  The daily meal provided by the Outreach School is the only nourishment many of them receive each day.  

Mumbe Kithakye is a grdauate student in Human Development and Family Science.  A native of Kenya, Kithakye played a major part in shedding light on the needs of the school.

“The school’s goal is to expand the space they have and be able to provide for the children once they get ready for real school,” said Kithakye.  “The school has been providing for mostly preschool children, however once the children were ready for primary school, there was no room in the public schools. So, their vision is to expand.”

As Kenya continues to be stricken by the effects of HIV/AIDS, facilities such as the Muthale Hospital and the Outreach School offer support to the country’s people.  With help from organizations like the HDFS Club and its caring students, these programs will continue to provide a better quality of life for children and their families battling the disease.

For more information on the HDFS Club fundraiser, the items for sale and updates on the Kenya school, visit www.ches.okstate.edu .