These are early days however it will be for our Tracy and her dream of setting up her Big Sisters’ Project.

Latest news from Kenya and Tracy but first her story!

Tracy Monica Ochieng is a young teenage girl from Mathare in Nairobi.  We first met Tracy at a concert that the boys and girls put on for the Mountains of the Moon Team from Australia.  This was 2011 and Tracy had just completed primary school and gave an amazing speech of welcome to our team.  Tracy and many others were sponsored by the Orphan Rescue Kits that were raised by PDG Fred Loneragan in his year as District Governor for District 9700.

Tracy Monica above gives her inspirational speech

Here is a copy of her hand written notes:

Mathare Speech

The Mountains of the Moon team included Past District Governor Fred Loneragan and we decided to sponsor Tracy to secondary school.  So in 2012 Tracy was accepted by the Bishop Okoth’s Secondary School for Girls in Kisumu.  Kisumu is on the shores of Lake Victoria and a long way from her home in Nairobi.

Tracy has graduated with high marks from High School and we are now sponsoring Tracy into the United States International University.  Tracy will graduate in another two years with her Bachelor of Journalism Degree.  Then Tracy aims to go back to Mathare to start her Foundation; Tracy’s 200.

Below: Tracy before classes recently:

In March 2019 Tracy came to Australia as a key note speaker to our Rotary District Conference. This amazing young lady wowed here audience. It was inspirational and this was and event not to be missed.

The remaining two projects are receiving funds as and when needed.  In the main our sponsorship for the vulnerable and at risk girls from Mathare in Nairobi.  Part of these funds will go towards the Rotary Club of Gigiri in Nairobi for education of the children of Mathare.  A project that we have been with since 2007.

The first photo below is a moment in time in Mathare taken during our last visit in 2015. The team was being shown three of the schools in Mathare.  This photo says so much and it was taken as we walked from one school to another.  The constant stream of children saying “How are you, how are you?” can be felt here.

Also the young girl just out of school with her back pack and wearing the compulsory uniform speaks volumes.  Probably her little sister in the coloureful dress greeting her is happy but poignant.  Next I see one of the problems in that Coca Cola is one of the main causes of diabetes.

Most of all I see tin shacks the children are standing in front of, which are the appalling homes they have to suffer, as can be seen in the photo.

The second photo is of the presentation to Legacy Wagga Wagga.

All in all a great effort from the Rotary Mount Kenya ANZAC Day Team.

Click on the images for a larger view.

The service starts at 34 seconds into the clip, the sound was off! We feel it was one of the highest ANZAC Day Services at 4,200 metres. It was cold and we had just had 2 feet of snow overnight and very windy so we decided not to hold the service at the summit of 4,985 metres.

“I saw this and wondered…..how thoughtful and supportive some people are…. they are from rural and remote regions of Australia but thinking about others in a far away land like Kenya….. (Education for Kenyan Children’s projects)

The 7 of the climbers who will be heading to Kenya next month (April) for the Rotary Mount Kenya 2015 Climb with the other Rotarians and a behind the scene support from Kenyans in their community…. As part of the mazoezi, they climb The Rock (The Rock Nature Reserve, NSW 2655) (see the pic). Before the climb, they had Uji+Chai na mandazi then they came down for Nbuzi choma and plenty more…”

Point Lenana after a snow storm this is where we will be on ANZAC Day 2015

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1. Legacy Australia

2.  Rotary Education Projects in Kenya

3. HIV/AIDS Clinic in South Africa.

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THANK YOU!