News

May 2007

The work in Makobe, Kenya continues to grow. There are two new buildings for the Makobe Primary School currently under construction and scheduled for completion in mid June. One of the buildings is six classrooms in size. These classrooms are slated to be occupied by the student general education population. The second building is a two classroom wing that will be occupied by the special needs fully included children. It is exciting to see these facilities near completion.

A group of 25 travelers from the United States will be visiting Makobe, Kenya for several days in July. Besides, visiting the children's home, the travelers are prepared to help with painting the exterior of all of the classroom buildings. The travelers will also build new desk seating for all of the school's classrooms. We are very excited about the new upgrades for the Makobe Primary School.

August 2005

Warren Ferguson and friends will fly to Africa to climb Mr. Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. To reach the 19,341 foot summit requires negotiation of 5 climate zones, ranging from tropical rain forest to arctic cold. The 7 day climb is climaxed by a moonlight ascent on the summit over frozen scree with a foreseeable wind shill factor of minus 40 degrees and an oxygen level half that at sea level. To prepare for the climb we have walked and run over 1,500 miles of the most arduous terrain available in sunny Southern California. Sound good so far?

I suppose it's fair to ask why an ostensibly sane 70 year-old guy would undertake to do this. Thankfully the answer is simple. It is to raise funds for the support of a small orphanage in Makobe, Kenya, that our Moorpark Presbyterian Church has co-founded with another church. The effort has been formalize in the Baraka Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

Presently, the Baraka board is overseeing the care of 26 HIV, orphaned young children. Beyond arranging for their food, housing, medical care and education, the Foundation has also drilled a community well and greatly improved the school available to all the children of Makobe.

Mount Kilimanjaro

July 2005

Baraka Foundation members return from visit to Makobe Children's home
We are pleased to report that 21 aids orphan children in the Children's Home, 17 special needs children, and a handful of high school boarding students are being cared for by the foundation. Baraka Foundation care includes meals, housing (in most cases), school uniforms, health care, clean water, and a loving family environment. The addition of the clean water well supplying the Children's Home as well as the local school and the rest of the community has improved the health and living conditions tremendously.

As you revue the Baraka Foundation website please compare the early 2001 news pictures with new pictures included from the board members visit. The contrast and improvement is very moving.

Thank you to all of you who are regular supporters of this very special and successful project.

The New Water Tower

Pen Pal Letters

New School

Meeting with the school board

New Water Pump House

Kids singing in the dining room

The Children's Home

The Children's Home

High 5's

News Flash

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE WELL WATER PROJECT IN MAKOBE KENYA

We are excited that for the first time beginning in August, 2004 there is clean well water providing the community with safe drinking water.

No longer will disease from unclean water be a problem for Makobe.

The water storage tanks provide enough water for the village for several days.

August, 2004

Recent travelers have just returned from visiting Makobe and the Children's Home. There are many exciting new developments.

A new clean water well has successfully been completed and delivers clean water to the local Makobe School, Makobe Village, and Makobe Children's Home.

Moving drilling rig into position at Makobe

Rig set in position and drilling begins.

Monitoring progress of drilling

Building #1 of Makobe School has been completely refurbished with a new roof, new walls and floor, and new paint. It looks beautiful. Pictures of the latest developments will follow!

School before refurbishment

Children enjoying newly refurbished school

Thank you to all who have participated in this incredible project.

July 6, 2004

LATEST... EXCITING PROGRESS IN MAKOBE

• All of the funds have been raised to complete the Well-Water Project.
• The drilling rig has been purchased and is on the way to Makobe along with a team of experts.
• The well will be drilled and will be functional by the end of July.
• A team of U.S. travelers will arrive in Makobe next week to help with many projects including: laying of pipe, painting building one of the school, and teaching children's classes. The Makobe project is being blessed!
  

BREAKING NEWS ON THE MAKOBE WATER PROJECT 5-27-04

Over 85% of the funds required for the water project have been raised to date. The following activities are taking place:

• The drilling rig has been ordered and will move to the Makobe site within the next few weeks.
• The pipe and casings have been ordered and will arrive at the site soon.
• Efforts are continuing to raise the balance of the funds needed for the project.
• Please send your contributions now for the completion of this very important project.

BARAKA LIBRARY PROJECT

The Baraka Library project has received over 1800 books for the beginning of a children's library in Makobe. The books will begin shipping to the school in Makobe in the next few days. These books will be going to the Makobe School which currently has only shared books for the teachers. We rejoice in this excellent project for the enhancement of children's education in Makobe. If you would like to be part of this project please contact us now. Your donations for the shipping costs are much appreciated. Please help with this important mission.

Latest Braking News from Makobe

MAKOBE BECOMING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY ONCE AGAIN!

• Board Members return from visit to Makobe Children's Home March 2004
• Makobe chicken project underway to help "self support" the special need children
• Water well drilling and construction of Makobe well to begin May 2004

As you can see by these pictures, funding for the school is needed.

• School repairs underway at this time
  • New roof for building one
  • New walls and partitions
  • New blackboards
  • New paint

   

• Volunteers from Westlake Village, California collecting books for a new library at Makobe School

PRAY THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THESE VERY IMPORTANT PROJECTS.

2003 Baraka Team arrives in Makobe July 8, 2003

Pictures and more news to follow, pray for the safety and great project results of these travelers.

Click on picture for larger view

July 31st, 2003 - Team returns with incredible construction results, as well as successful children's summer school. Please see the pictures of near completed facilities here.

email: info@barakafoundation-usa.org