Prepared by:

Wyclif Gitonga

Proper nutrition during the school years for children is essential for their psychosocial, physical, and cognitive development. Sadly, hundreds of kids in Kenya miss school due to hunger, which has a detrimental impact on their capacity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Most families in the vulnerable communities we serve, struggle to provide three meals a day. Students' overall academic performance is greatly impacted by their lack of nutrition. CLCL bridged this gap during COVID by introducing a school feeding program in four schools within Meru, Kenya. Last year, the CLCL Board of Directors decided to fund this initiative permanently as part of the annual budget, due to the success and importance of the program. 

Hundreds of children's lives have changed since the school feeding program was implemented, allowing them to learn and be nourished in a way most never experienced before, particularly during school days. Schools have marked an increase in children's enrollment to a total of 815 pupils, compared to 753 pupils in 2023. The program has not only increased enrollment but also improved students' overall academic performance. One school improved from a mean of 221.22/500 at the start of the feeding program in 2021 to 253.5/500 in 2023. This can be attributed to a drop in the cases of absenteeism and truancy among the pupils since the kids are assured of getting a meal, possibly the only one for the day. 

As a witness to the impact of the school feeding program, a head teacher said: “Absenteeism, a specter that haunted our classrooms, has receded under the warm glow of full bellies. The energy pulsing through our students now translates into brighter classrooms and attentive hearts. The teachers too bear a lighter burden, witnessing the blossoming smiles of their pupils as a testament to the tangible impact of your kindness.” This is an indication that the availability of a meal has improved the concentration of the pupils as well as their ability to learn. 

The feeding program has also generated support from both the local community and National Government. For instance, MCK Ndiine Primary School lacked the organizational framework and funding necessary to support the feeding program before CLCL implemented it. As stakeholders in the school, the parents gave extra cooking supplies, particularly at the beginning of the program to support the initiative. Now, the parents are even paying for plates as well as the cook's salary. In addition, the school has received support from the National Government through the area member of parliament in North Imenti Constituency, who, through the NG-CDF (National Government-Constituency Development Fund), donated a modern kitchen to enhance hygiene when cooking and serving. The school could have not received this important resource if the feeding program had not been in place. 

We are delighted that CLCL is joining other organizations, including the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to acknowledge that school feeding initiative is a safety net that addresses hunger and promotes access to education and health among the learners as well as promote community development. Through your donation, you can be part of this initiative that seeks to provide at least a meal a day to learners in our sponsored schools in Meru, Kenya.

As part of CLCL-Kenya’s NGO registration last year, we are required to have an annual audit of CLCL-Kenya’s books conducted by a Kenyan Certified Public Accountant. We are pleased to report that we recently completed the 2023 audit and came through it with flying colors!

Our auditor, Mauku Njau and Associates issued the following opinion: In our opinion, the accompanying Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the state of financial affairs of the Organization as at (sic) 31st December 2023 and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the NGO ACT. 

Along with the opinion, our auditor also included a few recommendations for human resources and bookkeeping. All of the recommendations are relatively easy to address, and our E.D., Wyclif Gitonga has already begun to implement them. 

Our donors, sponsors, and board members can all be assured that CLCL is putting its resources to the best possible use. We wish to thank Wyclif Gitonga and our bookkeeper Joshua Barua for their excellent jobs in running CLCL and in reporting its activities.  

If anyone has questions, or would like further information on the audit, please feel free to contact Jennifer Wynne at jennifer@changinglenseschanginglives.org. 

We are excited to announce that in a little less than three months, we will have a team visiting Kenya.

We are looking forward to meeting new and old friends, visiting our sponsored children, having a feeding program at the informal settlement of Mathare, seeing our new Meru CLCL offices, and so much more! In preparation for the trip, we are making yarn dolls, like the one held by the little girl in the picture at the top of this newsletter, to give to the young children. When we distributed these dolls on our 2022 trip, we had no idea how excited the children—boys and girls—would be to have a doll. Most of the children we support, particularly those living in Mathare, have few if any toys. In the picture, you can see that in addition to holding her doll, this precious girl is also holding some material. This is a jump rope which the children make from old rags. Needless to say, they greatly appreciate whatever we can give them. 

In the next few months, we will be raising money to buy supplies for the trip (including yarn!) and items we will be giving out while in Kenya. One of our projects is to host a dental clinic at one or more of the primary schools we support. We are even bringing a dentist with us! While the Kenyan government will not allow us to perform dental exams, we can still teach dental hygiene and distribute toothpaste and toothbrushes. Due to a tightening of customs restrictions, we will be purchasing the dental supplies in Kenya rather than bringing them with us. While it would be wonderful to receive donations of toothbrushes and paste here and bring them with us, by buying the supplies in Kenya our money can give a little boost to a Kenyan shopkeeper, and we don’t have to haul even more luggage than we already are! 

We will also be visiting schools and giving them much needed school supplies and books. It never ceases to awe me how thrilled the children are to receive school books. I always come home from Kenya feeling lucky and that I take much in my life for granted. 



If you would like to donate to help us purchase dental supplies, books, and other important items, please click the link below. I promise you will put a smile on many faces! 

Prepared by:

Wyclif Gitonga

Mark is a fifteen-year-old boy in the 10th grade at one of the top secondary schools in Meru, Kenya. Mark has been living with his elderly grandmother since his childhood, after the death of his mother when he was barely six months old. He has grown up without knowing or meeting his father since he abandoned him after his birth. He knows the pain of never meeting his father all his life. That notwithstanding, Mark has been under the loving care of his aged grandmother. Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke in August 2018, and has been relying on her only daughter for personal hygiene, grooming, feeding, and any help she would require since then. 

The stroke added insult to injury, as that increased the poverty level in their family as they sold most of their household items to support their ailing grandmother. Mark’s sponsorship with CLCL has been a big relief to the family because the organization has been paying his school fees, which has greatly eased financial burden on his family. Since his sponsorship, Mark has not lacked a thing, including food, school fees, and uniforms, as well as affirmations from his sponsor through the shared letters. This has helped Mark acknowledge that he is loved by not only his family but also the CLCL fraternity. However, due to unavoidable circumstances, he has lost his sponsor. In the absence of a sponsor, Mark risks discontinuing his studies due to a lack of school fees and other basic commodities necessary for his well-being. 

Mark wishes to become a civil engineer after completing his high school studies in the next two years. Unfortunately, his dream may be cut short since his education depends on his sponsorship. In addition, with his grandmother’s condition, he may need emotional support only a sponsor can offer. By sponsoring Mark, you will not only fund his education but also become a source of hope, knowing that you are cheering for him. Because of your sponsorship, Mark will complete his high school and university education and achieve his dream.

Reminder, CLCL Now Accepts Zelle! 

 

CLCL is excited to announce that you may now send your donations to us via Zelle! Simply instruct Zelle to direct your payment to: info@changinglenseschanginglives.org.  

As with your checks, CLCL does not incur a fee when you send us money via Zelle. If you want your donation to benefit a specific program, please send us an email telling us where to direct your gift, and we’ll do it! 

Of course, we still accept your cash and PayPal donations!